The Mad Dog of the Dukes House - Chapter 28



Only Krnovel

Episode 28 8. Young Mad Dog (3)

5.

After arriving in the city, Charon and his party went straight to a luxurious mansion located in the north of the city.

A luxurious mansion provided whenever important guests visit.

They were welcoming unfamiliar guests in the reception room there, which was more splendid than the mansion of an ordinary nobleman.

“Oh God! Thank you so much for saving these precious people. I was so happy when I saw your faces… … From today, I plan to go to the temple and pray to give thanks.”

The name of the man who was confessing his story while wearing a suit was Grein, the mayor of Thebes.

Grein forced a smile as he looked at the direct descendants of the Duke of Reston before him.

‘What a relief.’

When I heard that the train carrying this group had been attacked, I felt terrified.

What if anyone was injured or killed during the raid?

All of Cheonghae Castle’s forces would have rushed out and swept through the city.

Fortunately, the worst was avoided, but that doesn’t mean the situation was over.

“We, the Theban Dominion, promise to fully cooperate with this incident. We will cooperate with the investigation of the Duke of Reston to ensure that this incident is not related to the Theban Dominion.”

Grein spoke passionately with his fists clenched, but Caron, who had been quietly listening to him, had an indifferent expression.

“Isn’t it a bit different from what Hans said?”

“I guess the situation is what it is… … Mr. Grayne. Do as you usually do. You’re not usually like this, are you?”

“Haha, Sir Hans. Why are you saying that?”

“We know full well that the Theban Autonomy had nothing to do with this attack. So don’t be nervous. You seem to have changed a lot since we last met.”

Grein sighed deeply at Hans’ subtle suggestion. Then he spoke to Hans.

“If I had known it was a poisoned chalice, I would not have taken the mayoral position, Hans. What can I do in this situation?”

“Even when he was the Minister of Finance, he was full of charisma.”

“Humans are creatures of the environment. Right now, I am in a situation where I absolutely have to bow my head. It means that I am in a position where I have to take responsibility. Who would have thought that my splendid retirement plan would turn out like this?”

Caron waved his hands toward Grayne, who was about to kneel down at any moment.

“I have no intention of taking responsibility, so please sit comfortably, Mayor.”

“I am ashamed, Lord Caron.”

“Please speak comfortably. I’m not thick-skinned enough to always be treated with formality even though you’re a grown man. I think it would be better if you just called me Karon-kun.”

“How dare you speak rudely to the blood relatives of the great Duke of Reston… … .”

“Then you can just kneel… … .”

“I… … No, I made a slip of the tongue. My knees aren’t feeling well these days anyway. I appreciate your kindness, Karon!”

Grein sat down in the chair across from Caron and let out a soft breath.

The youngest grandson of the Duke’s family, who had not been revealed to the public until now.

Leo Reston, who sits next to the boy, has appeared at several official functions, but Caron has never been seen.

I’ve been curious about this for a long time.

Wasn’t Caron the son of Pale, who was in charge of diplomacy for the Duke of Reston?

“Yes, how is your father?”

“Do you know your father well?”

“Of course. Is it just your father? You are also on good terms with your maternal grandfather, Brother Ga-il.”

“Looking at the way you keep talking about fate, I can see that you are truly a politician.”

“There is nothing more important to a human being than connections, that is my creed.”

Grein drank the water that Caron had personally poured for him, moistening his parched lips.

A thirteen-year-old kid was dominating the atmosphere of the place.

One thing I found odd was that Leo and Hans took this situation for granted.

Before Caron entered Cheonghae Castle, rumors spread through the capital through his personal tutors that the youngest grandson of the Duke’s family was smart.

I thought it would be exaggerated since it was a rumor about a child from a noble family, but it seems I was mistaken.

‘There was a reason why my brother cherished his grandson.’

Despite his near-death experience, Charon’s eyes still sparkled with life. Certainly not for his age.

“Okay, shall we get to the main point now?”

“I guess you had something you wanted to say.”

“Of course. I know that the mayor has nothing to do with this incident, but that doesn’t mean the suspicions of the Theban Autonomy disappear.”

Caron looked at the line with a smile.

“I couldn’t investigate in detail because of the panic, but the explosion that derailed the train showed no signs of magic. In other words, it was just a simple explosive.”

The final explosion was nothing more than a self-destruct magic.

The explosives that had previously destroyed the tracks were pure explosives. The kind of explosives that are sometimes used in mining.

Explosives are assets directly managed by the Empire.

In the Empire, all explosives are produced by the Imperial Arms Procurement Service and delivered directly to the military.

“There are two possibilities, as far as I can see. The first is that the explosives produced by the Arms Procurement Service were stolen, but… … . To be honest, it’s too far-fetched. It’s an agency with very strict management and supervision.”

“All gunpowder produced in the Empire is tracked by the Intelligence Service. You are right.”

“Then the second possibility.”

Charon took in the view of Thebes spread out outside the mansion. Then he spoke in a low voice.

“Smuggling.”

“… … Phew.”

“There are many smugglers in Thebes. I heard that some merchants are secretly involved in smuggling. Is that true?”

There is one country on the continent that produces quality explosives, aside from the Empire.

The Empire’s neighboring countries.

The Sultanate of Pajar.

The homeland of the six-star knight who attacked Caron, there’s a high probability that the explosives were smuggled from there.

“I think the latter is more likely.”

“Kun Karon, are you really thirteen? I’m asking this with all sincerity.”

“I’m a bit cute for a thirteen-year-old, don’t you think?”

“Haha. There’s no way Count Pale would have told you all this… … . Yes. That makes sense.”

“Just keep one thing in mind. The Knights of the Haerang and the servants of the Duke of Reston are dead.”

Grein realized that this place had suddenly turned into a negotiation table.

The little boy in front of me is trying to ask for something, listing his reasons one by one.

But there was no way to refuse.

If you spit on that horse.

‘Become an accomplice.’

It’s a perfect way to get accused of helping to attack the Duke of Reston, with the added bonus of sabotaging the tracks.

The intuition that had allowed him to survive for so long in central politics continued to send him warnings.

“You can think about it while smoking a cigarette.”

“Huh? How did you know I smoke?”

“Perfume doesn’t completely remove the smell.”

“I’m not rude enough to smoke in front of guests.”

At this point, it would be okay to make a request honestly, but what on earth is the boy waiting for?

Grein looked quietly into Caron’s eyes and thought.

‘Does this guy already know that I’m the pants mayor of this place?’

There’s no way anyone with a good head wouldn’t know that. The information power of the Duke of Reston and the Knights of Haerang is excellent.

The real power lies with the Congress, or more precisely, with the huge top brass that dominate the Congress. That is why it is right to have such discussions with the Congress.

“Mayor! Mayor!”

After a while, Grein was able to find an answer to that question.

The door to the reception room opened wide and Grein’s secretary came in.

“I’m talking to the customers. If you keep acting like this, I’m going to have to consider firing you.”

“My dismissal is not important, Mayor. In the capital… … .”

“I have already heard that Imperial Guards have been dispatched to investigate.”

“It’s not just the Imperial Guard. The Commissioner of the National Tax Service, the Commissioner of the National Tax Service himself is coming down to lead the First Special Division. They say that an intensive tax investigation will be conducted throughout the Theban Autonomy.”

“If you were the Commissioner of the National Tax Service right now, Brother Ga-il… … . Ah!”

Gail Perryton.

He has held the position of Commissioner of the National Tax Service for a long time, and is known as the Demon King of the National Tax Service.

At the same time, the maternal grandfather of this young boy in front of me.

Only then did Grein realize what Caron had been waiting for.

“Have you been waiting for this news, Karon-kun?”

At Grein’s question, Caron took a sip of water and smiled. Then he answered with a big smile.

“My grandfather loved me very much. Oh, do you know what the Duke of Reston’s family motto is, Mayor?”

“I’m really curious. What is the family motto?”

“Repay favors tenfold, and debts a hundredfold.”

“This is a really great family motto that gives us a glimpse into the greatness of the Duke of Reston.”

“There is an accomplice in this city, that’s my conclusion. So I’m going to look for it.”

“haha.”

Groin couldn’t help but laugh without realizing it.

For some reason, this young child’s eyes have been shining strangely.

He suddenly remembered the wolf symbol, the symbol of the Duke of Reston.

The Glorious Blue Wolves. That nickname people gave the Duke of Reston seemed to fit Caron very well.

“If you look easy, you’ll get eaten. That’s a good mindset.”

And now I knew what this young wolf wanted.

“Okay, how can I help you?”

Maybe a wind of blood would blow through this splendid city, Grein thought.

6.

After the confrontation with Grein, Caron and his party were granted some rest.

The full-scale investigation will begin after Jeras arrives in Thebes.

Until then, it’s free time.

“But Caron. Why do people tremble so much when you mention your maternal grandfather?”

In a bedroom filled with luxurious luxuries, Leo, lying on the bed, asked Charon.

Caron smiled contentedly as he looked at the bottle of liquor on the table. Then he looked around the bottle and answered.

“There is something that hurts.”

“Your maternal grandfather was a civil servant.”

“Not all civil servants are the same. He is the in-law of the Halo Grand Duke, but is he just a civil servant?”

Gail Perryton is the Commissioner of the IRS.

He was the longest-serving commissioner in the history of the empire, and also held the title of ‘the most feared civil servant in the empire’ for nearly 20 years.

Caron knows a lot about his maternal grandfather.

I had already guessed what kind of person he was and how he would react when his grandson was in danger.

“The Imperial Guard weren’t really that scary, but when they brought up the Special Section 1, they froze. Are they really that scary?”

Leo lay down on the bed and started asking questions about this and that.

Charon nodded to Hans, who was sitting on the chair, and Hans sighed and began to answer for him.

“The nickname of the IRS Special Investigation Division 1 is ‘the devils of the IRS.’ They are people who will do anything to collect taxes. At the same time, they are a group with strong military power.”

“Huh? Why do we need force to collect taxes?”

“There’s no guarantee that taxpayers will always be docile. The Special Section 1 will prioritize personnel from the Imperial Guard and the regular army.”

Leo’s eyes widened at Hans’ answer.

It was a world of adults that was completely difficult for a 15-year-old boy to understand.

“Wow… … It was an amazing place… … . Taxes are definitely… … .”

“Wow, I really believe that.”

“It is a lie?”

“Does it make sense for the IRS to run such a group? Do some studying, you idiot cousin. And Hans.”

“Yes, Caron.”

“Very well done. That was a pretty plausible story.”

“… … Phew, next time, try to lie to yourself about things like this.”

“If I do it, it won’t taste good.”

They lightened the mood with such light-hearted jokes.

‘Actually, that’s not entirely wrong.’

The ‘taxes’ of the Empire are the money that must be paid for the sake of the beloved Empire and the Imperial Family. Everyone who is a citizen of the Empire must fulfill that duty.

In other words, not paying taxes is no different from disrespecting the royal family, and by extension, the emperor.

In particular, the IRS had the power to call in troops from the Imperial Guard if the great magnates or nobles failed to pay their taxes.

“The Special 1st Division was originally a place to deal with large-scale delinquents like the Giant Top. To put it simply, they are natural enemies.”

Thebes is closer to the capital city of Dekus than to the Duchy of Reston. Therefore, those departing from the capital will arrive before Xerath.

“But Lord Caron, the Imperial Guards will likely be in charge of the investigation. That’s the law. Since it’s a crime involving tracks, the royal family has the authority to investigate.”

At Hans’ concerned words, Charon raised the corners of his mouth slightly.

“That’s why I did the work in advance.”

“……ah.”

“The Imperial Guards are asked to investigate the tracks, and we’re asked by the mayor to find the man who smuggled explosives into the city.”

In this accident, three knights and two servants died. Aside from the dead, most people were injured to a greater or lesser extent.

The death toll could have been higher if it weren’t for the remaining knights and Urhan, who had received emergency medical training from the military.

“I don’t know what kind of guy did it or what he was thinking.”

According to the laws of Cheonghae-seong.

“You should be paid generously for your life.”

Life for life.

“Caron said, clenching his fists.

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