Episode 8 ‘This bastard… Is it okay for me to praise him?’
Dwayne internally gritted his teeth and barely managed to keep a smile on his face.
Since the main point was now, I couldn’t spoil it with just one word.
“When the family is having a hard time like these days, isn’t the sum of 3 million gold literally like rain in a drought? Thanks to Confucius’s wit, the family was able to take a huge breath of relief.”
Well done. So now give me that money… I tried to smile like an adult while saying back.
“Why is the family sighing? It’s my money? Didn’t you hear what your father said yesterday?”
One word from an immature brat made Dwayne dizzy again.
‘I couldn’t believe it, but really?’
I felt like my face was going to cramp, but now was not the time.
Dwayne struggled to control his expression. McLane Financial Administrator This was possible because servile expressions were the norm for 20 years.
‘You have to gently coax him. Gently…’
But before he could say anything, his subordinates began to cause trouble.
“That’s nonsense, Confucius!”
“You’re going to spend that much money on your own?!”
“It’s the sound of being struck by lightning!”
It was an instant before the maniac’s complexion turned cold.
“What are they doing? How dare you tell us how safe it is! Everyone get out!”
Dwayne, whose complexion was even more determined than Logan’s, was the first to yell.
The officials were shocked by the counterattack of the allies they trusted, but soon they realized their mistake and had no choice but to turn around with the look of defeated soldiers.
‘Starting with Dwayne’s food situation.’
‘No, castle wall management.’
‘Soldier equipment…’
Each person’s hopeful eyes turned to Dwayne, the last bastion.
‘I’ll do my best.’
Dwayne, who was left alone, saw them off with determined eyes and locked the door.
“Hahaha. Confucius’s subordinates were very rude. They weren’t really that clueless, but the family situation was urgent…haha.”
“Are your family’s circumstances that bad?”
‘Great!’
Although they were thoughtless subordinates, they still left unexpected results.
Dwayne refrained from tightening his fists and opened his mouth with a slightly sad expression.
“I don’t know if you know, but I owe Coopers Bank 3 million gold. The interest alone per year is…”
“150,000 gold.”
“…did you know?”
“Yes. I heard about it at Coopers yesterday. I deposited 3 million gold.”
Dwayne gulped again as he looked at the deposit certificate shaking gently in the idiot’s hand.
“Then it will be easier to say. The interest maturity repayment date is also coming, and even if you just repay that money, the family situation will be bad for the next few years…”
“It’s harvest time right now, right? Interest repayment would be possible, right? The maturity date would be automatically extended.”
‘…Why do you know so well? Even the head of the family doesn’t know much about banking…’
Dwayne was taken aback for a moment, but quickly came to his senses. That wasn’t the important thing.
“Haha. Running a territory basically costs money, and we are always in a tight financial situation. If you could help us a little….”
Dwayne’s request was that he was trying to steal all 3 million gold without even realizing it. It was much lower than initially planned.
“Would you like me to contribute to the operating expenses of the territory?”
“Yes! That’s right!”
Persuasion worked!
Just as Dwayne was about to internally cheer.
“I’m sorry, but no.”
The calm voice brought the feeling that had risen to heaven back down to the abyss.
“Why not?!”
Dwayne screamed without even realizing it.
The bloody gaze of the bastard Confucius shot at him right away, and his liver shrank slightly, but he gritted his teeth for the sake of his family.
A future in which a large sum of 3 million gold would be scattered in the air without meaning had to be prevented.
“Huh? Why are you doing that? I thought Confucius had come forward despite the opposition of the head of the family for the sake of the territory?!”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Look. Right… yes?”
“I will use this money for the family, but definitely not for immediate operating expenses. I have to look further ahead.”
It was a completely unexpected answer, but it did not soothe the administrator’s heart, which was about to explode.
‘What are you going to do with what you know? ‘Just leave it to me!’
Dwayne sat down and took a breath, suppressing the sincerity welling up in his throat.
“Far…?”
“Let’s say I settle the debt by contributing to the operating expenses of the territory. Then, how much will the situation of the territory change?”
“That’s right… with a more generous budget, it will be easier to manage funds for at least a few more years. You will have some breathing room.”
Eat.
Logan laughed at Dwayne’s answer, which was completely different from his expectations.
“And what happens after that?”
“…yes?”
“We end up in debt again, right? We have specialty products. It’s a vicious cycle.”
“Big. That’s…”
“I’m trying to break that vicious cycle. So I’ll use this money according to my plan.”
‘Uh uh. Is this the archduke I knew? ‘That bastard?’
Did the Archduke have this side? As the fundamental problem was pointed out with calm eyes, Dwayne had nothing to refute.
Still, I had to check one thing.
“Hmm. How are you going to use it for the family? Can I hear your plan?”
Dwayne did his best to get the words out in the best way possible.
“No. You don’t have to know.”
I’m crying.
With that one word, Dwayne’s patience reached its limit.
Damn it for the family. This bastard is making fun of himself. It’s definitely true.
“Hey…”
Dwayne lost his temper and was about to explode with anger.
“Everything will be shown in the results.”
The unwavering red eyes made Dwayne hold onto the thin string of reason again.
“…I will save you somehow. Definitely. No matter what it takes.”
It was an indiscernible murmur that seemed not to be addressed to him, but Logan’s deeply sunken eyes seemed to show his earnestness.
‘what…?’
His eyes look even more earnest than his own, where his budget is tight this month.
‘why?’
What is it that makes the Grand Duke, who earned a lot of money even while being criticized, look urgent?
‘It’s different…’
The look in his eyes when he pointed out Youngji’s fundamental problem seemed like he wasn’t the Logan he knew.
Looking at Dwayne with a complicated expression, Logan smiled bitterly.
Although he came to extort his money, Dwayne was a loyal member of the McLane family that everyone recognized.
I once again felt at a loss because there were so many things I couldn’t tell him.
But there was no time to wallow in those feelings.
‘It’s already come to this, so let’s leave it to Dwayne. I also gave them a little money….’
The idea that came to mind in an instant was spontaneous, but it made sense as soon as I thought it wasn’t a bad idea.
“Ah. I have a favor to ask Dwayne in that direction. For the sake of the family.”
“…What are you asking?”
“If you do me a favor, I can contribute a little bit to the family’s operating expenses.”
gulp.
“Tell me.”
“I want you to gather some mercenaries in the name of the family.”
“…You mean mercenaries?”
“Yes. Um… you don’t necessarily need to be A-rank. The price is too high, so just use mercenaries who can ride horses. Oh, a C-rank would be good. More than 300 C-rank mercenaries who can ride horses. Do you understand?”
Dwayne’s expression changed dramatically at the specific details and numbers.
“Three hundred C-class mercenaries?”
Mercenaries are arrow carriers who are temporarily supplied to supply military force for urgent matters such as war.
ED-level mercenaries are only used as errand boys and are used to supplement numbers in war.
However, from C level onwards, they are treated as true mercenaries who only play the role of one person.
Those who are evaluated as having enough strength and experience to fight against trained soldiers.
In addition, since they lived their lives as professionals, there were many who had rough and uncontrollable personalities.
If there are not just one or two such people, but more than 300 people, even Baron MacLine has no choice but to be concerned.
So Dwayne had no choice but to ask the reason.
“Why do you need mercenaries? So many?”
Since I did not have the authority to call in my family’s troops, I could not express my sincere desire for a military unit that I could use at will.
‘There’s no way they would give me permission.’
So I came up with another plausible excuse that I had thought of in advance.
“I’m thinking about going monster hunting.”
“yes?”
“I will also use my practical experience. It will be helpful for the security of the territory.”
“…Are you serious?”
Of course it’s false.
‘Forgiveness is easier than permission. First, after gathering the mercenaries…’
Contrary to Logan’s inner thoughts, his expression was shameless.
“Even if I personally requested it, it would be difficult to gather hundreds of people. Even if possible, it would take a long time. So, I hope Dwayne will collect them in the name of the family.”
That was a way to definitely shorten time.
“That’s definitely true, but…”
The logic was clear, but Dwayne was not easily persuaded.
Perhaps it was natural. Even though they were mercenaries, it was a matter of bringing in another armed group into the territory.
For whatever reason, it was something that required permission from the lord.
However, unlike Dwayne, who was deeply troubled, Logan’s expression was relaxed.
‘I can’t deny it.’
He said he would give money and do something helpful to the territory, but there was no way the nobleman who came to ask for financial support would refuse.
‘If my father refuses, I will at least try to persuade him.’
So, what I was worrying about now was fully predictable.
“Then how much will you pay?”
Logan smiled at the virtual acceptance.
“I’ll give you 100,000 gold.”
“At best…”
“If you don’t like it, just leave it at that.”
Dwayne felt a headache coming from Logan’s stern attitude.
“…If the head of the family does not allow it, I can do nothing.”
“Then I should get my money back.”
“This is Confucius’s family.”
“It’s my father’s family, and it’s my money to spend.”
Logan and Dwayne’s gazes clashed fiercely for a moment.
The administrator, who was suffering from chronic budget shortages, bowed first, and the deal was concluded.
* * * After handing over a large sum of 100,000 gold to Dwayne, Logan prepared to leave the territory immediately.
It’s been a while since I returned from training, but it won’t be that long this time.
‘A month at most. That should be enough.’
For him, it was planned from the beginning and was absolutely necessary, but of course those around him did not understand.
“Confucius, are you really leaving?”
“okay.”
“No. Why on earth?”
“There are many reasons, but if I had to choose just one… To make money?”
“Didn’t you make a lot of money!”
“We need a lot more.”
“What is that…”
Rick was puzzled, but Logan was sincere.
A year later, a territorial war will break out, and 10 years later, an imperial war will break out.
What is most necessary to protect the family and survive in that vortex?
There was no need to think deeply about it.
A strong army. In other words, it is overwhelming power.
And the thing most needed to gain that power was money.
Either increase the number of soldiers or increase the number of knights. Everything costs money, whether it’s equipment or food storage.
That’s why Logan needed money.
Much more money than we have in hand now.
‘I don’t know about territory warfare, but to deal with the empire…’
I couldn’t even guess how much money I would need.
That’s why he was planning to leave the territory to establish a foundation to generate funds.
“My lord will not allow it.”
But no matter how good the intentions were, as Rick said, there was a problem.
Logan was young and had not even had a coming-of-age ceremony yet.
Moreover, if you decide to go on a trip while your family is frowning on you for one reason or another, it will never sound good.
Rick’s words were valid, and Logan acknowledged them as well.
“I guess so.”
“I see… Yes?”
“So I’m thinking of sneaking out.”
“Yes?!”
If there is no change in the flow of history, there are less than 9 months left until the Battle of Territory.
If we gave up on changing within the family, we had to bring about change from outside.
‘Fortunately, there are many things you can do outside.’
It’s so strange why I didn’t think of that until after the engagement breakup incident.
Logan was much more aware of what was happening outside the family during this time than what was happening within it.
‘It was a time when I was kicked out and wandered around the kingdom.’
And the value of using information that only I knew was infinite.
If he utilizes it, the value of the 2.9 million gold in his hands will be maximized.
‘Of course, we have to prepare for the territory battle right now. So, as quickly as possible….’
I had to find a way to increase power from outside and come back.
Of course, there was no way other people would understand his thoughts.
“What on earth are you thinking? You’re running away from home at this point! What on earth will the head of the house think…”
A representative example was Rick, who was in tears right before my eyes.
It’s only been a few months since I thought the owner had changed in a more positive way, but he started having accidents again.
He was even trying to run away from home after going through an accident within the family.
‘What should I do!’
So he lay down on the floor.
“If you want to go, take me with you. Otherwise, I will never! I will never go!”
If Logan had an accident, he had to take care of it.
He didn’t have the confidence to handle his owner’s run away from the house as the situation was already so noisy.
But Logan seemed to have a different mindset than his attendant.
“Don’t leave a letter. No one will say anything to you.”
“That’s what you think, Master!”
“…Are you going to write it directly to your father?”
“What kind of words should you use? Isn’t it going to make me angrier?”
“of course!”
If it were the head of the family who tolerated Logan running away from home, it would be a slightly different story.
But the next day.
“What is this guy who insisted so hard and even extorted money?!”
Rick had to urinate after receiving the matriarch’s brilliant killing.
I am very heartbroken due to the breakup of our engagement, so I will come back after getting some fresh air.
Posted by Logan.
