Chapter 143: Choose Either (One or the Other) (1)
The Northern Power.
Earl Douglas has been very uncomfortable lately.
Quaang!
“You still haven’t found those rats!”
“… sorry. We wiped out all bandits active in the vicinity, but we could not find the whereabouts of the slush fund.”
The trouble started with the Barco family.
Douglas and Barco.
The influential people in the northern and northeastern regions, respectively, formed a friendly relationship starting with a relationship at an aristocratic party.
It was a relationship where there was nothing bad about each other.
Count Douglas had no connections in the central government, but had a certain influence in the north, and Viscount Barco had connections that the Douglas family did not have.
Reciprocity (相扶相助).
Even if it’s not enough to sacrifice for each other, it’s been a relationship to the extent of helping out when necessary.
I didn’t know then.
I never thought that such a relationship would cause problems.
“Earl Douglas. Could you lend me some money?”
one contact.
Viscount Barko, who was about to go to war with Lawrence, made use of his personal connections besides the Golden Bank to raise as much money as possible.
It was a fight that was not allowed to lose.
It was necessary to prepare for any unexpected variables, and by adding money borrowed from friendly forces such as Count Douglas, it was possible to bring homer.
Count Douglas was confident of Barco’s victory.
I never thought that I would lose to someone like Lawrence, and I reluctantly lent him a large sum of money thinking that I would use this opportunity to solidify our relationship.
It’s money you’ll get back soon anyway.
Tearing Lawrence to shreds would make him a fortune, so there was no chance that Barco wouldn’t pay back.
however.
Barco is defeated.
He also died while running away at night, so the existence to retrieve the money disappeared from the world.
The Douglas family was stunned.
Because the money was unreasonably lent to them, their situation was not good, and I had to get the money back somehow.
The problem was the existence of the Golden Bank.
They had already raided the Barco family and took away everything that could be money.
kept silent
It’s not like you gave up money.
Fortunately, Earl Douglas knew the only way to get his money back.
‘The Barco family holds slush funds that are not revealed to the outside world. Golden Bank couldn’t accurately grasp the existence of the slush fund, but I got a clue about the slush fund during a drinking party with Viscount Barco. If you only secure secret funds. I can earn more than the money I lent.’
I hired an information guild.
I investigated the clues Viscount Barko said, and eventually I was able to find the slush fund.
A hefty amount of gold bars.
He loaded the gold bars hidden in the northeast area on a wagon and tried to move them to the north without anyone knowing.
It was a perfect plan.
If only it hadn’t been for a group of bandits on the way and all the gold hadn’t disappeared.
said Count Douglas.
“There is no way the thieves would have disposed of that amount of gold without a trace. Be sure to find the whereabouts of the gold ingots even if you search the entire northeast area or even the entire Cairo Kingdom. That’s not Barco’s. It is a fair price we deserve and cannot be taken away from anyone else.”
eyes are bloodshot
Now, the financial problem has been solved.
However, when I think of the hard times at that time, I still feel like my blood is gushing backwards.
surrounding area.
It dried the seeds of bandits.
Countless people died, but Earl Douglas had no intention of stopping until he personally checked the gold bars.
then then
I received a call from the information guild Black Moon.
“Lord! I finally found the whereabouts of the gold bars!”
* * *
The head of the Black Moon.
Donovan came to Count Douglas.
“At first, I thought the slush fund was in the hands of bandits. The troops carrying the slush funds were dead, and with them were the corpses of bandits who were notorious in the area. However, no matter how much I looked at the black market, there was no movement to sell gold bars. Since converting gold bars into gold coins requires special skills, they decided that they had no choice but to use the black market to secure money that they could actually use. So, as a result of continuing to hide, I found a clue to the gold bar.”
“So, what kind of bastard stole my gold bar?”
“The identity of the thieves was not a group of thieves. Northeast Alliance. They are the culprits who stole the gold bars.”
“what?!”
widely.
I got up and left my seat.
Northeast Alliance.
what the heck does that mean
“It is correct that the group of bandits attacked the troops that were moving the slush fund at first. But just in time, the troops of the Northeast Alliance caught the situation, and after defeating all the bandits, it seems that they found a wagon containing gold bars. Perhaps they are troubled. Clearly knowing that it was Count Douglas’ carriage, they chose to bury the truth and take the gold bar. As proof, a gold bar was put up for sale on the black market a month ago. It was the same number and shape as Barco’s slush fund, and the person who sent it to the black market was a minion following Viscount Conrad, a member of the Northeast Federation.”
“이런 빌어먹을 새끼들이.”
Anger exploded.
Meantime.
How much trouble did they have with the loss of gold bars?
Emotions piled up, and now that financial problems have been resolved, only anger remains.
Watching Count Douglas furious, Donovan lowered his head and stifled a laugh.
‘There is no lie in the information I have given. In fact, the Northeast Association found a wagon loaded with gold bars and made the choice to steal the gold bars, knowing that it belonged to Count Douglas. If I hadn’t informed you of this. The Northeast Alliance could have committed the perfect crime, but by turning their master into an enemy, you guys brought a crisis to yourself.’
black moon.
An information guild with a high reputation in the Northeast.
People do not know what changes they have faced.
The Black Moon was absorbed into Hao Moon, led by Lucas, and outwardly it still operated as if it were a midway faction.
blast furnace.
Information spilled on Roman’s orders.
Count Douglas, not knowing that he had become a puppet, vented his anger with a reddened face.
“Call the guys from the Northeast Federation right now! I will take this opportunity to tear the assholes who stole other people’s money to pieces!”
It was as expected.
The warlike Earl of Douglas chose to move at once.
* * *
One contact.
Fire fell on the feet of the Northeast Federation.
Even otherwise, the atmosphere was not good because of Roman, but the problem this time was more serious than that.
“How the hell am I supposed to do this!”
“Earl Douglas is the power of the North. I don’t know what will happen if my relationship with him goes wrong.”
Earl Douglas said he would wait three hours.
inside.
All of the Northeast Federations gathered together to explain this matter.
The people of the Northeast Federation, who heard the full story of the incident, said with contemplative faces.
“… Also, you shouldn’t touch the Earl of Douglas. Unlike gold coins, gold ingots are not easy to deal with. If it was a matter of tailgating at any time, it might have been better to contact Earl Douglas directly and propose a deal.”
“you’re right. Doesn’t everyone know the character of Earl Douglas? He’s not going to let this matter go unnoticed.”
Count Douglas.
He is known as the Beast of the North.
It was famous for crashing into it without thinking that it would hurt itself once it got hot.
So, regardless of how great he was, he didn’t want to play with Douglas at all.
Viscount Conrad said.
“What the hell are you all talking about? The slush fund of the Barco family does not belong to Earl Douglas. We also have money lent to the Barko family and we have the right to take our share of the slush fund. By the way, wasn’t Earl Douglas the one who stole the slush fund secretly? If he had been in an honorable position, would he have tried to steal slush funds like a rat? So don’t go in with your head down first. As soon as we say we are sorry, this problem is over.”
like he said.
The Northeast Alliance had money lent to the Barco family.
Barco borrowed money not only from Count Douglas, but also from families in the northeast, and those who rode the Barco family line in the first place had no choice but to empty their pockets.
Maybe that’s why his antipathy toward Dmitri was even stronger. Because of that, Barco collapsed and lost a huge amount of money.
Stealing slush funds.
There was a reason of its own.
At least they didn’t take money they had no right to, they thought they deserved it too.
“… Would such words work for Count Douglas?”
“It doesn’t matter if you get eaten or not. Can you guys spit out the money you earned in gold bars? We’ve already spent all of that money, and the moment we admit our fault to Earl Douglas, we may have to spit out more money than the gold we stole. Earl Douglas is a man enough to live up to. So from now on, we have to make ‘one voice’. You have to obfuscate the point by persisting in the fact that Earl Douglas struck first.”
“That makes sense.”
“Let’s follow Viscount Conrad’s words. Isn’t the water already spilled anyway?”
Opinions were gathered.
Although weak as individuals, they showed courage under the name of the Northeast Federation.
timely.
An engineer came to the meeting room and said.
“The Douglas family applied for magic communication.”
Moment.
The nobles of the Northeast Alliance, including Viscount Conrad, unknowingly swallowed dry saliva.
* * *
As expected.
As soon as communications were established, Earl Douglas did not hide his emotions.
[What the hell is this! You’re stealing my money Please explain immediately!]
Anger boiled over.
A voice like that of a lion.
Facing Count Douglas’ angry face, Viscount Conrad spoke in the calmest possible voice.
“For now, calm down. And what about ‘my money’? I fully understand why Count Douglas is angry, but the Barco family’s slush fund doesn’t belong to anyone. Like Count Douglas, we also lent money to the Barco family. If Count Douglas had clearly revealed the existence of the slush fund and claimed a greater right, we might have suffered a small loss and been satisfied with a proper compensation. But wasn’t Count Douglas the one who stole the money first?”
bit the tail
I tried to distract the point by pointing out the error of Earl Douglas.
It made sense.
It is within the scope of common sense, but the problem was the emotions that had accumulated over the years.
[These bastards stole my money, so what? it’s all my money From the moment I discovered Barco’s slush fund, the right to the slush fund belonged to the Douglas family!]
“Count. Calm down once… … .”
[Shut up!]
I cut off.
Was it three months ago?
Count Douglas once held a party by inviting nobles from the northeast.
At that time, I did not say that it was slush funds, but I did say that I was upset because I lost it while moving a large amount of money.
In the place were the people of the Northeast Federation, including Viscount Conrad.
They seemed to be comforting themselves with pretentious faces even though they obviously knew what they were talking about.
It was funny.
What had been a positive response to their consolation, even for a brief moment, turned into a great anger when I recalled it now.
[At the party three months ago, you guys gave me a fake smile and said this. I don’t know what’s going on, Count Douglas, but I’m sure it’ll work out. Do you guys think I look funny? Do you think I look like an ordinary aristocrat on the same level as you guys because we laugh hahaha?]
I couldn’t stop it.
Viscount Conrad continued to say something, but he covered his ears and vented his anger.
beast of the north.
he was triggered
He seemed unable to breathe without expressing his boiling anger.
[Listen carefully from now on. As soon as preparations are complete, I will contact the central government and apply for a territory war with you. Somewhere in the northeast area, join forces to stop it. I will clearly show you how shabby the Northeast Federation is without the protection of the Barco family.] Tak- Communication has been cut
off
.
Viscount Conrad reconnected the communication.
However, at the unanswered call, he looked back at the nobles of the Northeast Federation with a pale face.
“… It seems like something big happened.”
at that point.
The nobles felt that their minds were getting farther away.
