The Mad Dog of the Dukes House - Chapter 68



Only Krnovel

Episode 68 20. Preliminary Investigation (2)

3.

The ‘qualifications’ she spoke of were as follows:

“… … So, you mean, rescue the elven slaves from the southern border city of Leven?”

“There is no slave trade in Thebes anymore. I buried all the slave traders in the ground. That is why the city chosen by the slave hunters is Leven. There is still a slave market there. There is a lot of prey in the south for them to target, such as war refugees and deserters from the southern kingdoms.”

Poina took a sip of the tea in her cup.

“I recently got information that elves are being traded there. Actually, I want to go and rescue them myself… … but the situation is not favorable.”

“If Poina-nim moves herself, her existence will be revealed.”

“Yes. Right now, I have a lot of family members that I am responsible for, so I can’t move around freely.”

She is an 8th circle magician.

Its mere existence is considered a strategic weapon.

It is remarkable that she has remained in Thebes so far undetected by the Empire’s intelligence network.

But what if you move around recklessly and your identity is discovered?

She will move immediately from the Imperial Guard and the Magic Tower. It won’t be difficult for her to avoid pursuit on her own, but Poina is currently the leader of a large organization called Caligo.

It meant that it was not easy to make the choice to abandon Caligo in order to save his people.

“So you are saying that you will give me that task.”

“That’s what it is.”

“If you’re talking about trading elf slaves… … . Not even a dog or a cow would be able to approach them.”

“I heard that it is a membership-only operation. I heard that there are exceptions for very high-ranking people.”

High status that gives access to the members-only slave market.

The ability to handle work on your own.

There aren’t many people who can satisfy those two conditions. And among them, the only one Poina can choose is Charon.

Caron smiled subtly as he thought about it that far.

“I feel like this is a business that I’m going to lose money on.”

“Are you so heartless that you would argue with your friends about their losses?”

“Hey, the closer you are to each other, the more you have to keep your balance. So, let’s summarize it like this: I’ll take all the risk, and if you take that risk, I’ll introduce you to the elves… … No matter how you look at it, the price isn’t right.”

“Why are you guys acting like this? Your Majesty, if you want to enter the Southern Forest, you definitely need my help.”

Poina narrowed her eyes and glared at Caron. Caron shrugged and replied.

“Please think about the difficulties faced by those working in the field.”

“Is this really true?”

“It’s not that I’m not doing it, I’m just asking for a little more. There’s a good term called hazard pay.”

Poina laughed softly at Caron’s witty remark. Then she nodded while raising both hands.

“That’s why people who are real do it more? Okay. Tell me what you want.”

A great wizard who has reached the 8th circle can perform ‘miracles’.

for example.

“Subspace pocket?”

A miracle that transcends the limitations of space, like a pocket of subspace.

Poina laughed in vain at Caron’s words.

“Wow, you really have no conscience. Do you know that even a great wizard would have a hard time making a subspace pocket?”

“Hey, it’s just one pocket.”

“That’s not just one pocket! Starting with space creation, fixing coordinates, continuing magic, auto-casting, etc., you have to design a magic circle that can operate numerous magics at the same time. If it were easy to make, even dogs and cows would carry a subspace pocket.”

Poina, who speaks passionately.

Seeing her come out like that, I guess it must be difficult to make.

“Can’t a great wizard do that?”

“Getting the materials is a problem in the first place. You have to liquefy the highest quality magic stones to draw the magic circle, and get high-quality leather to process it with magic. It really costs an astronomical amount of money, you know?

“This can be solved if you just have money.”

“I can make it for you if you can get the materials, but it will take a long time. The production period alone is at least three months. Even if you roughly calculate the cost of the materials, it would be equivalent to the annual budget of a local baronial estate… … . Ah.”

Poina, who was quickly continuing her explanation, soon realized that she had made a slip of the tongue.

For a moment, I forgot that the boy in front of me was rich.

“If you save the elves, I’ll make you a subspace pocket.”

Caron, who had caught the right number, said with a smile.

There were about three subspace pockets in Cheonghaeseong, but their capacity was not very large.

At most, it has the capacity of two large carriages.

The beings known as archmages are all arrogant and eccentric, so they won’t make one even if you offer them money.

“That’s why it’s convenient to have a close archmage.”

“… … No, these days, there’s no need to spend that much money on artifacts… … . Transportation methods have also improved… … .”

“It’s romantic. Romantic.”

“Why are you burning a year’s budget for something as simple as romance?”

“Because that’s romantic.”

At those words, Poina let out a deep sigh and slowly nodded her head.

“Okay. If you just save my people, what can’t I make for you?”

“Or the dew of the world tree is also fine.”

“You were born with a conscience, right?”

“maybe?”

“… … I’ll just make you a subspace pocket. One that’s big enough. Okay?”

“Negotiations completed.”

Charon stood up from his seat and extended his hand towards Poina.

“It was a good deal, by the way.”

“It must have been a good deal only for you, my lord.”

“So it’s a good deal.”

Since you’re heading south anyway, stopping by a border city isn’t that difficult.

It’s a very satisfying deal, as you can complete missions and earn extra income in the form of subspace pockets.

“What are we going to do after we rescue the elves? Surely you’re not asking me to escort you to Thebes? Then the unit price will be higher… … .”

“… … I’ll take care of that, just get me out of the slave market.”

Anyway, he’s a terrible guy.

Poina looked at Charon and stuck out her tongue.

‘If I had been born in a back alley instead of a noble family, I would have been truly successful.’

For Caron, being the boss of the underworld might have been a better fit than being a young master.

“I will definitely complete your precious request. I promise this on the name of the Duke of Reston.”

It was Caron who sold even his family name without hesitation.

Charon stretched, then smiled and said to Poina.

“I think we’re done talking about the important stuff, so let’s go get something to eat. Do you happen to know of any famous restaurants these days?”

“You’re not even going to pass the cost of the meal onto me… … .”

“I’ll buy you food. I have something to talk about with the mayor that I haven’t seen in a while, so let’s take him with us.”

While you’re at it, you’re also getting information about Kerua, and as a bonus, you’re also getting a subspace pouch?

It was truly the best negotiation ever.

Caron smiled with satisfaction.

4.

The next day, Charon immediately boarded the train and headed to Leven, a border city in the southern part of the empire.

There was no need to stay in Thebes for long.

-I’ll relay the information through the communication channel as soon as I get it. Oh, and if you rescue my people, please contact me right away.

As he boarded the train to Leven, Charon thought back to Poina’s words.

‘… …a slave market.’

Suddenly, memories from my past life come to mind.

A place filled with terrible memories.

It goes without saying that there was no place that was not terrible for slaves, but the slave market was particularly terrible.

There, people are traded like livestock.

It is also full of dark desires.

Whether you’re looking for a slave to take care of your nights, or a slave to satisfy your sadistic tendencies.

Those with good physical abilities were sold as slaves to underground gladiator arenas or to mining companies, where they were forced to work until they died.

A being worse than a beast.

‘That’s slavery.’

My first master in my previous life was a piece of trash, a baron.

He also had very refined tastes, and enjoyed sword fighting matches where children fought each other with swords and blood was sprayed.

‘Baron Norhan.’

I still remember that master’s family tree.

I tried to inquire after being reincarnated, but I couldn’t find any trace of whether the family had been destroyed or if the name had been changed.

“There’s no way it would have died because it was just a little cockroach.”

Since this is a personal matter, I have submitted the request to Caligo.

If the men of the Baron Norang are still in the Empire, they will be caught.

What if we just figure out the material?

“I just get caught.”

I will show you a hell worse than what your old self went through.

As Caron was looking out the window and reminiscing about the old days, the train arrived at its destination.

Twelve hours after leaving Thebes.

Charon finally arrived at the border town of Leven.

As soon as I got off the train, I immediately caught sight of Leven.

“… … Look at the atmosphere.”

A high wall, as befitting a border city.

And regular troops can be seen everywhere at the train station.

It was a city with a completely different atmosphere from the vibrant Thebes.

I should say that it was overflowing with tension, but anyway, it was an impressive place with a gloomy atmosphere.

And that ‘atmosphere’ changed even more dramatically the moment I left the train station.

A dark city with poor lighting.

And the dead-looking citizens moving around the city.

Finally, there are those who sleep covered in blankets all over the streets.

The temperature difference was so stark that I felt like I was wondering if they were people from the same empire.

With that kind of atmosphere and the high walls surrounding the entire city, it feels like it’s not a city.

-It’s like a huge prison.

“That’s right.”

As Guillotine said, it felt like a prison.

The so-called fortress city.

It seemed difficult to take it down, but on the contrary, it seemed difficult to escape from the inside to the outside.

Charon thought about the lord who ruled this huge fortress city.

Count Leandro.

A man who follows the Salmon Duke family, one of the most powerful figures in the capital.

Due to the warring southern kingdoms, the one who was permitted by the Emperor to have the largest number of private soldiers.

He was the lord who ruled this city.

‘Even if we rescue the elves from the slave market, it won’t be easy to get them out.’

In contrast to the dead-looking citizens, the level of soldiers patrolling the streets seemed considerable.

Well-made military uniform and good quality equipment.

Just by looking at those two things, you could tell that the soldiers here were elite.

And the one leading those soldiers at the forefront was a knight.

“You over there.”

As Caron was scanning the soldiers, the knight whose eyes met Caron’s approached him with brisk strides.

The knight spoke as Caron looked down at the scabbard at his waist.

“Are you a mercenary?”

Leather armor with iron plates, shin guards, and leather boots.

At the same time, the lower part of the face was covered with an iron mask.

Anyone who looked at it could tell that Caron was currently wearing the typical mercenary attire.

Caron nodded in response to the knight’s words.

“yes.”

“Present the mercenary card.”

That’s a coercive tone.

But Caron obediently took out his mercenary badge and presented it to the soldier.

The knight checked Caron’s mercenary card here and there, then nodded and returned the card to Caron.

“Where is your destination?”

“This is the Kingdom of Keas.”

“The Kingdom of Keas… … . We’re going to a crazy place. Alright, try not to cause any trouble while you’re in Leven. With the influx of mercenaries, the security in the city is a mess. If you cause trouble, you’ll have to see me again. Understood?”

“I will keep that in mind.”

The level of the article is 4 stars.

As a count who must guard the border, it seems that he even has an order of knights.

Caron let out a small breath as he watched the knight’s back moving away.

“I have a rough idea.”

Knights and Elites.

A lord with this level of troops can be considered to have complete control over the city.

Because the position of Count of Change was one that held enormous power.

And the military power of the changing city is directly linked to public security.

It is impossible for a place with this level of military power to have poor public security.

However, according to information provided by Caligo, slaves were being traded in this city.

“… … That was it?”

Combining the above clues, we ultimately arrive at the following conclusion:

“Either Count Leandro is watching over you, or… … .”

Charon looked at the lord’s castle located in the center of the city. The lord’s castle was shining brightly alone in this dark city.

“… … or it is run directly by Count Leandro.”

If so, this entire fortress city might be the enemy.

Charon frowned when he realized that.

It seemed as if an eerie malice was being felt through the dull night air.

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