The Mad Dog of the Dukes House - Chapter 211



Only Krnovel

Episode 211 67. To the North Sea (2)

3.

Riad, one of the representative cities in the North.

The atmosphere of the city was distinctly different from that of other parts of the empire.

“The atmosphere… is very tense?”

Leo muttered quietly as he looked at the clothing of the citizens walking down the street.

Even if they wore thick coats that seemed to be made of animal fur, many of the citizens walking around were carrying weapons.

“As expected, I’ve been really lucky lately.”

Caron also muttered as he looked around the city. Then Leo narrowed his eyes and said.

“Do you have any rough idea of ​​what it would be like?”

“Perhaps a monster wave? Oh, I didn’t hear any information like this until we left Cheonghaesung… … . It hasn’t been that long since I sensed the signs.”

The city was not very large.

There were not many buildings, and it could barely be called a city.

This was because Riyadh was a city where traders came and went quite frequently.

The high walls and the considerable number of soldiers guarding them gave a subtle hint of how dangerous the north was.

‘I need information.’

Of course, there is an informant for the Duke of Reston in Riad as well.

Just in case, I contacted the Cheonghaeseong side and was even told how to contact them.

I thought it would be better to get some information first and then move.

If the monster wave is detected as expected, the difficulty of this North Sea journey will increase several times.

Caron nodded and then approached the citizen who was passing in front of him.

“Excuse me. I would like to ask for directions.”

Then, the citizen wearing a white fur coat looked at Caron. He looked Caron up and down with a slight frown.

Currently, Caron is disguised as a man in his mid-20s using a doppelganger mask.

So the citizens did not realize Caron’s identity. Instead, he answered them in a curt tone.

“Are you a foreigner?”

The blunt, northern accent was evident.

“Is that written all over my face?”

“You can tell just by looking at the way they speak. What brings a foreigner here?”

“Is there anything special? I came here to see if there was anything of value.”

“I don’t have time, so just keep it brief.”

“I’m planning to go to an inn called The Refuge in the Cold.”

A tone of speech that is so blunt that it almost feels hostile.

But contrary to his tone, the citizen pointed east with his finger as he spoke.

“It’s just three blocks over there. There’s a big sign, so it’ll be easy to find.”

“thanks…….”

“I wish you would just settle this matter quickly and leave the city. We hate outsiders.”

He snapped bluntly and turned around to pass Charon and Leo.

Caron shrugged his shoulders as he watched the backs of the citizens moving away at a rapid pace.

“Brother, should we go?”

“The atmosphere is truly a work of art. Aren’t we going to get stoned to death like this?”

“Hey, it’s not that bad. Even if it’s serious, you’ll probably just get hit a few times.”

Caron nodded as if it was nothing and started walking diligently in the direction the citizen had pointed out.

As the citizen had warned, other citizens also looked at Caron and Leo with wary eyes.

‘I don’t think it was originally to this extent.’

Clearly something was going on in this city.

After walking for about ten minutes under such hot gazes, they finally arrived in front of an inn with a sign that said, ‘A Refuge in the Cold’.

Ring ring.

The bell on the door rang, and soon a bustling atmosphere inside was revealed.

But that noisy atmosphere was short-lived.

All the customers inside the store looked at Caron and Leo at the same time.

Charon received their gazes indifferently and stepped inside, then took a seat in the corner.

“Sir, please take our order.”

As soon as Caron’s voice rang out, a middle-aged man with a grim expression approached with heavy steps.

A man who is more suited to being the leader of a crime syndicate than an innkeeper.

The owner said as he put a glass of water on the table.

“Please order.”

“Two bowls of fresh wolf meat stew.”

“What a picky customer you are.”

“If you come to the North, you must eat wolf meat at least once.”

“What about alcohol?”

“Two glasses of vodka.”

“Just wait. I’ll bring it to you right away.”

The innkeeper who received the order headed to the kitchen.

After finishing ordering food, Caron let out a breath while leaning the guillotine against the table for a moment.

“Wolf meat stew? That doesn’t sound good.”

Leo muttered in a small voice.

“It’s pretty edible.”

“Password?”

“uh.”

The order just now was a code to contact the informant.

Caron waited while drinking the water the owner brought, and soon a woman approached Caron’s table.

“Can I sit with you?”

Blonde hair that reaches down to her shoulders.

And the freckles that have settled around the bridge of the nose.

A woman who appears to be in her early 20s at most.

She, with her simple beauty, looked at Caron with a sly smile, and Caron nodded vaguely.

“Or so you say.”

At those words, she sat down quietly in the empty chair and spoke in a soft voice.

“It’s an honor to meet you both. My name is Natasha.”

“As you can see, we are merchants.”

“Haha, I guess so. I was worried when I heard that you two were coming here.”

Natasha’s true identity was an informant for the Duke of Reston.

Is she a fairly well-known woman in this city?

A few citizens who were drinking nearby waved at Natasha.

“Are you trying to seduce some outsiders this time, Natasha?”

“Tom the Miller would cry if he saw this scene.”

“It’s none of your business, gentlemen!”

Natasha shot them a sharp word, then smiled brightly at Charon again.

“Although they tend to be shunning outsiders, they are actually warm-hearted people.”

“You must have been here a long time?”

“Because Riad is also my hometown.”

Natasha briefly introduced herself and then got straight to the point.

“To conclude, I think it would be best for you to leave the city, even now.”

“It’s a ban on guests… … . Why?”

“The atmosphere is not good.”

Slurp.

Charon silently summoned Pluto, blocking out the surrounding noise. Then he looked at Natasha as if he found it amusing.

“I’ll make the decision. You just have to convey the information.”

“Oh, sorry.”

She bowed her head politely and began to speak in a low voice.

“Three days ago, a rumor spread that a treasure was discovered in a dungeon near Riad. It was a sword that had the chill of the North. Rumor has it that it was a legendary sword.”

It’s a sword that appears in legend.

It was an interesting story.

“Keep going.”

“The problem is that uninvited guests have come to visit after hearing the rumor. The city’s day is at its peak because of them.”

“Who is the guest?”

Natasha let out a small sigh at Charon’s question. Then she spoke in a small voice.

“Imperial Guard.”

“Tell me more.”

“It’s long, so to speak.”

Natasha took a sip of water and began to tell her story quickly.

4.

To summarize Natasha’s story, it was as follows.

“1. A sword was discovered in the dungeon.

2. Upon hearing the news, the Imperial Guards suddenly showed up and demanded the sword be handed over.

3. The Candle Lords have refused their demands, but the Imperial Guards are pushing ahead.

4. Citizens are angry because of their tyranny.

“They’re not the Imperial Guard, they’re just neighborhood thugs.”

Caron nodded while eating his stew.

“People are sensitive. I would be sensitive too.”

The North has been neglected for a very long time.

On the other hand, the Imperial Guard was a military force representing the imperial family. If such people came to us out of the blue and demanded treasure, it was only natural that there would be a backlash.

– A sword that the Imperial Guard would covet. A sword that carries the cold air of the North… … Is it Ligor?

‘Ligor?’

-It’s a sword that’s been passed down from ancient times. I’ll have to check it myself to be sure.

It was certainly an interesting story.

Anyone who uses a sword would find it difficult to just pass it by after hearing that it was a legendary sword.

“What should I do about this, Brother? What do you think?”

Caron asked Leo casually.

Then Leo answered, gulping down the whole bowl of stew and wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

“Do whatever you want.”

“really?”

“Go and look in the mirror. You’re already crazy. Aren’t you interested in that sword?”

“You know me too well, brother.”

Anyway, I decided to spend the night in this city.

Then, wouldn’t it be okay to just sneak out and come back during the night?

As Charon smiled wickedly, Leo sighed and shook his head. Then he turned to Natasha and said,

“The capital is quite far from here, how come the Imperial Guards have arrived already?”

“that…….”

“Brother. The Imperial Guard patrols the North periodically to ensure that the Northern Lords aren’t planning a rebellion. Right, Natasha?”

“… … Yes, that’s correct.”

He must have heard rumors about the sword while patrolling the north.

Caron emptied the remaining stew in the bowl, then sipped some vodka to finish it off.

As the strong vodka went into my stomach, my body started to heat up. Judging by the rough aftertaste, it was cheap vodka.

But the warming effect was definitely there. It was a taste that made me immediately understand why the people of the North enjoyed drinking vodka.

“Natasha. Could you tell Count Candle that we would like to meet?”

“It is possible.”

“Please.”

I originally planned to stay quiet and then leave, but I changed my mind.

Because the Imperial Guard wouldn’t have acted without any basis.

Charon nodded at Natasha, who immediately stood up.

“Okay, I’ll be back. Could you please wait here for a moment?”

“Oh, okay. Please.”

She walked out of the inn at a brisk pace.

“Ugh, why do you pay money to drink something like this?”

Leo frowned, wondering if he had drunk any vodka.

Caron smiled faintly, looking at the empty glass.

“It’s the taste of an adult.”

“It’s just poisonous, and has no taste… … .”

“Vodka is just for its taste. By the way, hyung.”

“why.”

“Let’s start gathering our weapons.”

“Well, that’s too bad. The stew was delicious. Can I ask for just one more bowl?”

“If the poison was in the stew, even an elephant would die. If it weren’t for the Cheon Dok Dan, we would have died a long time ago.”

“That tidy guy.”

The two young men stood up from their seats as they talked.

“Is Natasha part of this group too?”

When Leo asked, Charon slowly shook his head.

“Rather than being in the same group… … . It seems like he was used without his knowledge. If he was in the same group, he wouldn’t have just given us the information.”

Caron looked around with a smile.

“Dear citizens of Riyadh, listen carefully to what I say from now on. I won’t tell you twice.”

The once bustling atmosphere inside the inn became cold.

Charon began pointing out people with his fingers. After pointing out eleven people, he spoke in a low voice.

“I would like the people I have pointed out to leave the inn immediately.”

“… … Who cares… … .”

Srrrrrrung-!

Caron pulled out the guillotine without hesitation.

An eerie blue-black light flashed.

“Please get out when I say nice things to you.”

The sword speaks louder than words.

The law was the same in the northern part of the continent.

As Charon threatened with his sword, the targeted citizens grumbled and ran out of the inn.

So, only eight people, including the innkeeper, Charon, and Leo, remained in the inn.

“There must be something in this city. Otherwise, how could they possibly be so welcoming?”

Squeak!

Just then, the door to the inn opened and a group of knights came in.

Armor engraved with a golden lion seal.

They were Imperial Guards.

“Caron, those kids… … .”

“that’s right.”

Caron nodded as if he was pleased.

“Those kids, they’re doppelgangers.”

Monsters that eat people.

They were the proof that something was going on in this city.

“It’s fun. It’s really fun.”

A bitter smile appeared on Caron’s lips.

Charon’s expression resembled that of a child encountering a fun toy.

There’s a mad dog living in the duke’s house