Chapter 148. Master of strategy, Mabel2021.07.03.
It snowed the next day. A force was formed to transport the criminal Chietro to the harbor. As it is, after boarding a minority ship, he is imprisoned in Abysus fortress prison and cannot escape forever. I climbed the watchtower and watched the convoy of convicts getting farther and farther away. Because of the raid, the number of troops was enormous and the surveillance posture was also tight. It was an extravagant luxury for moving only one sinner.
‘It’s a force that’s as strict as that, so there won’t be any harm.’
Still, just in case, I told Casey that I had placed guild forces on the way. It is said that the captured intruder was interrogated after taking measures to prevent suicide, but as usual, no significant results were achieved. One arm, of course, was of no use to anyone. The most likely thing was to find an accomplice who acted suspiciously when the intruders moved to the magic tool. As a result, he went around asking his animal friends in Hwangseong, but there was no income either.
“Ehh….”
The sheep jumping up and down while watching the falling snow next to me held out a leg to me, as if he quickly got tired of it.
“hug me?”
[huh! The soles of my feet are cold.]
“It’s cold.”
I took the lamb, which had become heavy before I knew it, in my arms.
“Has Yang gained weight?”
[Huh?]
“It’s too heavy. Aren’t you eating too much?”
[What are you talking about, you stupid Mabel? I’ve always been as light as a feather!]
“That’s right. Light, our sheep are light!”
Eohhwadungdung. I had no choice but to soothe it because it was obvious that I would gossip about me to my animal friends in the Hwangseong, including the northern forest, if I were to get angry as I always did. While talking nonsense with the sheep, my eyes didn’t look away from the procession. The sheep glanced at me and asked me.
[Why do you care so much? They said that if you go into that prison or something, you can’t come out again.] While
I was troubled by Yang’s question, I rather asked back.
“Sheep. What does extraction mean?”
[extraction? that’s pulling it out I know that much too.]
The sheep glared at me with a grim face, probably thinking that I was ignoring her. I hastily made excuses.
“That’s not the case, it was the intruders who raided the prison this time. Extracting Kietro.”
[Did you use the word extraction to humans?]
“Yes. I think I became paralyzed in the process.”
Yang’s expression became serious. It was something that caught my attention.
“Do you know anything?”
However, since Yang was always on the lookout, there was no expectation that she would tell me everything. But my expectations were wrong.
[All beings have their own life force. The bare tree over there, you and me. Even in this snow falling in clusters.]
“Yes. so?”
[Perhaps the intruders were trying to extract life force from a human named Kietro. However, extracting it would be of little use as it is too feeble for vitality. Ah, if it was paralysis, did you forcefully inject ‘that’…]
The sheep who was explaining to me began to mutter to himself more and more. I asked, shaking the sheep, afraid that he would not explain it again.
“What is ‘that’?”
[huh? Did I say that?]
As expected, Yang tried to pretend she didn’t know.
“I did it. I did, so explain.”
The sheep, who had been looking up at me with a serious expression, glanced behind me. As always, Aidan was escorting behind me.
[When I went to play at the festival before, an assassin sprayed energy and was absorbed by that human.]
“That’s right. Ingredients are yet to be identified.”
[It’s my prediction, but it’s probably the same energy.]
I tilted my head.
“If that was the case, would it have been absorbed by me? Why am I fine?”
[Mabel is a child chosen by God.]
“Then what about Aidan?”
[That person is said to be immortal?]
Is it because I am the seed of God and Aidan has the ability to be immortal?
“What is that energy?”
[It’s a kind of energy that acts as a catalyst. If you maximize and extract life force with that energy, you will be able to secure quite a bit of power, if not the essence of the tree of creation. It’s a terrible thing.]
“….”
As it became difficult to obtain scattered essences, it seemed that even humans would now make them into essences and absorb them.
“Then, what exactly is that energy?”
[I can’t tell you that. I’m sorry, Mabel.]
The sheep, which was rarely firmly cut, escaped from my arms and landed on the floor. Then he stared at Aidan and suddenly descended down the watchtower. The snow, not knowing the speed, was falling well. Enough to cover the entire capital.
***
I had been outside for too long and my face seemed to freeze, so I quickly came into nature. Then Larimar and Xavier hurriedly ran in front of me.
“what’s the matter?”
Larimar explained briefly.
“The Countess Deverill has requested an audience.”
“what’s the matter?”
“I’m assuming you’re here to see Your Majesty after coming for the convict transport procession.”
Xavier answered in his stead, carefully shaking off the melting snow. I hesitated and slowed my steps toward the drawing room.
‘It’s so scary to see Mrs. Devellil’s face…’
Since Mrs. Devellel cared for Duke Javier, she might now resent me for expelling the duke who had been brought back to life after being judged as a criminal. No matter what he tried to do to me, to Kietro, I would be an absolute villain. When I opened the door to the drawing-room, I saw Mrs. Deverill sitting quietly and looking out the window.
“I heard you waited for your luggage, ma’am.”
“Meet Your Majesty the Emperor. I’m sorry to see you so suddenly.”
I waved my hand and asked him to sit down again. When Xavier brought the tea tray, Larimar hurriedly brewed tea and left the drawing room.
“It’s snowing.”
“yes. It rained a lot.”
“As I get older, I can’t really hate snowy days. If it even slips, the will in the drawer will come into effect.”
“Ahaha…”
It’s really hard to answer that the death of an old man is a joke. A small smile crept across the woman’s lips.
“Are the old man’s jokes so troublesome, Your Majesty?”
“Are you kidding me too?”
“Wouldn’t it be worth living if there were at least some little fun like this in a quiet life after all these years?”
When I let out a deep sigh, the wife laughed ‘huhu’ as if she was having fun. Then he held out a plate of sweets in front of me.
“Eat it. Aren’t His Majesty’s favorite cookies? It also topped with grapefruit jam.”
I’d never told Mrs. Deverill about my taste for sweets, so how did she know? I munched on the cookies and looked at my wife. He must have had something to say, but he only talked about small things.
‘If I had to say something, it would be about Kietro.’
In the end, I was the one who couldn’t stand it and brought up the main topic first.
“ma’am. Did you come here because you have something to say to Jim about the outcome of this trial?”
At my words, the wife calmly shook her head.
“That’s not it. I just wanted to see Your Majesty’s face.”
“Why?”
“I was wondering if I could say a little hello to His Majesty, who started a lonely and lonely journey.”
“Madam…”
“Your Majesty was right in this trial. Kietro The child is a clear criminal and deserves to be punished. Moreover, even Emily and Enrique betrayed their father. I don’t even have the right to say this because I didn’t properly see the corruption of that child with cloudy eyes.”
Countess Deverill did not reproach me at all. Rather, he added that he understood my deep meaning.
“The ruler is a supreme position, but he will be lonely because he is always in the highest position. But, Your Majesty. Don’t be swayed. But don’t be dogmatic either. Your Majesty is a wise man, and you will understand the meaning of my admonishment.”
I could see what his wife was worried about. This trial was the first case in which I, as the emperor, judged a criminal. The nobles began to take notice of me. It was obvious that if this situation continued, it would keep me in check. Yesterday, the servant who was like the uncle next door, today becomes my static, things will happen all the time.
“I only wish for your Majesty’s peace.”
After leaving a greeting, Countess Deverill left the parlor. Even in the midst of complicated mind, it was clear what to do.
***
The day came two days before my birthday party. Hwangseong was busy, but I, the party at the banquet, had nothing to do. It’s been a while since I went to work at ISTY’s mansion. Then Casey jumped up as if he had seen something he couldn’t see.
“Oh, what are you doing today? It’s not the day you’re coming.”
“Are you where I can’t come? It was just Casey’s guild.”
“haha. It would be nice if you could.”
Casey, smiling brightly, quickly placed a chair in front of me.
“No one plays with me. That’s why I came.”
Emily was working tirelessly to become the head of the Javier family. Although he had not yet been recognized by his retainers, he expected to achieve results soon.
‘I have to be scolded for how scary Emily is before I can come to my senses.’
Enrique was with Renesmee and Dylan today, and Oscar started emergency training for the Knights with this invasion. Only Aidan and I are left. The two of us wanted to have a picnic, but it was too cold, so we gave up. At times like these, it was best to lock yourself in and eat a tangerine while basking in the warm fire of the fireplace. I wrapped myself in the blanket the butler had brought and sat down in front of the fireplace, laying out papers on the floor. It was also a lot.
“Let’s work!”
“huh? Weren’t you going to roll around, lady?”
“I’ve come here, but I’m going to take care of the overdue work.”
“Please take me out.”
Casey’s expression wasn’t very good, probably because he was trying to fool around. I held Casey tightly next to me as he tried to run away.
“You have to work during working hours, Vice Master, right?”
“Heukheuk…”
“It’s no use pretending to cry.”
The first thing to check was the trade with Langard.
“The first trade ended successfully. However, it is said that Devlin’s repercussions are amazing. Trade was immediately cut off. Because of that, the Langard Empire is not alone in their worries.”
“The circumstances of the Langard Empire are none of my business.”
“Wow wow. Wow…”
Casey clapped in admiration. But I also had reasons for being unkind to Langard.
“Anyway, Langard has nothing to lose. Wouldn’t that be a good thing?”
“yes? Even though trade with Devlin is all cut off?”
Rather than explaining it to Casey, it was faster to let him experience it with his own body. So I asked a question instead of an explanation.
“How’s the contract with the top companies in other countries going?”
“Since Devlin openly rejects the Langard Empire, it’s not going smoothly because he’s trying to save himself. Isn’t our overseas trading business ruined like this, lady?”
Casey began to worry unnecessarily. But I was just calm.
‘How could it come out as expected!’
Veron’s move did not deviate one step from my prediction. Then it was easier to realize the next plan. I rummaged through the stack of papers, found one, and handed it over to Casey.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“Release them all to other countries.”
“Yeah?!”
Casey’s eyes widened. Aidan, who was waiting by the window, frowned and said a word.
“Noisy Casey.”
“But Master. Do you know what this is and say that? A trade contract with Duke Tristan!”
It was. What I ordered to release was the trade contract with Langard’s Tristan Merchant.
“Can I release this as it is? Morally…”
“There’s nothing wrong with it. There’s no confidentiality clause, and the morals aren’t spelled out in the contract, right?”
Casey, apparently having nothing to say, nodded quietly.
“It is, but…”
“And one more condition.”
“What is?”
I smiled and held up a finger.
“The ratio will gradually decrease by 1 percent from the next contract.”
“yes?”
He said it like nailing it to Casey, who was making a stupid face.
“Will it be a loss if I sign a contract late?”
***
A contract with a lower percentage the later you sign? The continent was excited about the unprecedented first-come-first-served contract competition. At first, everyone thought it was crazy, so there was no reaction. However, when rumors were heard that the neighboring country had entered into contract negotiations with the Evil Guild, the other countries became impatient and set up a negotiation schedule in order not to be outdone. As a result, Mabel’s prediction came true. Contracts with many countries were concluded in an instant, as if the contract with the Evil Guild had been kept quiet. The Devlin Empire wasted time without being able to respond to the wave of contracts that spread throughout the continent. At the time of the contract belatedly, he shouted that no trade with Devlin was possible, but it had no effect since the contract had already been completed. The contracts were sold like hot cakes. It was a triumph of sales strategy.
“As expected, the first-come-first-served strategy works everywhere.”
uhhh It won’t be long before the world’s money is in his hands. The real, real final master of the Evil Guild laughed grimly.
