CHAPTER 76

"Hey, can't you hear me? You red-headed idiot."

Jaxon ignored him again.

Watching this, Encrid was newly grateful that he had brought Jaxon along.

What if it had been Rem?

"Is he calling me now?"

It would be lucky if a word came out before an axe did.

Jaxon just ignored him. How fortunate is that?

Though, the one being ignored must be quite upset.

"You bastard, I'm Pollid Rockfreed!"

So what.

Jaxon communicated with his eyes.

Fortunately, before things escalated, Leona came down.

Leona came down with her nursemaid, smiling brightly.

"You're late."

"Late? That guy you brought as a guard, what the heck is he doing..."

"You sent him, didn't you?"

'Huh?'

Leona walked over lightly and stopped Pollid's rant with a question.

Pollid tilted his head, wondering what she meant.

Leona's hand sliced through the air.

Slap!

'Wow.'

Encrid admired inwardly.

Leona had slapped the guy across the face without any warning.

It was a swift swing and a resounding smack.

The guy couldn't speak for a while, so stunned by the slap.

Pollid, his head turned, looked at Leona with wide eyes.

"You said it. You crazy bastard."

Leona's clear and sweet voice echoed.

Encrid thought he should revise the answer he had given to Krais.

That woman was harsh. To others.

Clang, clang, clang!

Many drew their swords and weapons.

With one slap, the atmosphere turned deadly.

Encrid didn't draw his weapon but stood behind Leona.

Jaxon stood beside him, and the Fairy Company Commander silently stayed in her place.

"You, you, you crazy bitch, are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Finally, Pollid grabbed his slapped cheek and spoke.

"You'll be the one to die. Do you know where you are, throwing money and using forces carelessly? Did you think that wouldn't be noticed?"

Encrid watched, wondering what was going on. He thought things were getting interesting.

The Border Guard's inn also served as a meeting place for the trading company.

They didn't build officers' quarters within the unit.

Thanks to that, the inn business flourished.

That's why these people gathered here.

The innkeeper's eyes widened as he watched from the hall.

Suddenly, there was slapping and people drawing weapons against each other.

Having experienced various things, even he looked bewildered.

The owner rolled his eyes a few times, then decided and turned towards the kitchen.

He gave up.

He was a wise man.

There was no way to stop it or intervene anyway.

The fortunate thing was that all damages caused here would be compensated in the name of the Rockfreed Trading Company.

That's why he remained so relaxed.

As he went into the kitchen, he subtly signaled to Encrid.

'Nothing major will happen, right? It'll be okay, right?'

Encrid had a casual acquaintance with the innkeeper, Allen.

Encrid nodded slightly, making sure others couldn't see.

Leona was not stupid. Therefore, she wouldn't create a situation where swords would be drawn.

So even though the atmosphere was tense, this was all the commotion there would be.

"That's why you're so stupid, your predecessor didn't entrust the company to you."

Leona began to speak.

She seemed indifferent to the other's defiance or force.

It was as if her entire demeanor screamed that no matter what happened, they wouldn't dare touch her.

Encrid felt a strange sensation.

It was purely because of Leona's displayed attitude.

'Bold.'

What should this be called?

It's the skill of cutting off the opponent's chance to resist or say anything.

"Tell me where you are. Right now."

Gritting his teeth and yelling, Pollid inadvertently opened his mouth, cowed.

"B-Border Guard."

"That's right, you idiot, this is the Border Guard. Do you hire thugs or guilds that swindle back-alley drifters here? Even knowing I have the escort of the Border Guard's standing army?"

"I-I didn't do that, I never, I didn't know about the Border Guard escort until later..."

He was overwhelmed.

Pollid's hands shook and he muttered nonsense.

Swish, clack!

In response to Pollid's babbling, the man behind him drew his sword a little, then put it back.

The sound snapped Pollid back to his senses, and he changed his tune.

"It wasn't me. Where did this false accusation come from!"

The picture was becoming clear.

'He probably prepared to deny everything before coming here.'

Yet, caught up in the atmosphere, he almost spilled everything.

"Tch."

Leona clicked her tongue. Then she pulled out a chair and sat down. Crossing her legs in leather pants, she took out a cigarette from her bosom.

"Light."

The nursemaid held up a candle to light it.

"Sit down. Aren't we going to discuss the succession rights?"

These were the words of the woman who had caused a standoff with weapons drawn. Smoke from her cigarette wafted up from her lips.

Pollid roughly pulled out a chair and sat down.

Who would be at a disadvantage if a fight broke out here?

Did he think the two squads outside were deployed from nowhere?

Soon, the two began their conversation.

It was a time for them to clash with what they had prepared for the succession.

In other words, it was a series of words that Encrid couldn't understand.

"You want to inherit the trading company without even being able to interpret the trade routes? Have you memorized all the company codes? Have you?"

"T-That can be done by a steward! Besides, I am the legitimate heir. How can a woman who has been roaming outside..."

"The fact that I am qualified to inherit the company was acknowledged by the predecessor. Are you going to defy that? Claiming inheritance just because of legitimate blood? The predecessor announced my qualification publicly, yet you can't accept that, and without any ability, you want to take over the company just because of your bloodline? Others will easily accept that, won't they?"

Encrid mostly let it pass over him. From the way they talked to the way they led the conversation, it all seemed like Leona was winning.

'So he tried assassination as a last resort.'

Coincidentally, there was a group in the Border Guard that took such requests.

Should this be considered cunning?

Or just foolish?

They continued arguing for quite some time.

To Encrid, it seemed like Leona was there just to mock her opponent.

"Are you really the predecessor's son? You don't look like him at all. Makes me suspicious."

"You... What? What did you say? Are you implying my mother... that she took another man's seed?"

Pollid, fuming with anger, stuttered.

Bang!

He slammed the table in his rage.

"Phew, that's how it turns out? That wasn't my intention."

Leona, blowing out smoke, had control of the situation.

But was this woman always like this?

Wasn't she supposed to be demure and quiet?

I don't know. After all, he had only seen her for two days and exchanged no more than fifty words.

Everyone has a dual nature and isn't simple.

"You damn woman!"

"Watch your mouth, you ugly bastard."

"You bitch!"

The guy who had held back when his mother was insulted couldn't bear being called ugly and placed his hand on the short sword at his waist.

Seeing this, Encrid subtly gripped his sword.

This was a place where the Border Guard's escort maintained order.

They couldn't just stand by and watch a sword fight break out.

One of the reasons the value of the city of the Border Guard was high was because here, whether it was merchants or nobles, disputes could be settled with words rather than swords.

Of course, there were still swords and assassinations behind the scenes.

But to draw a sword and fight face to face?

That's a death wish.

Jaxon was on my right, and the Company Commander stood a step behind, as if watching.

Encrid placed his hand on the grip, keeping Pollid's guard within his sword's range.

'Step to the left on the first move.'

Draw the sword and strike from above to cut down on the head.

There wasn't time to take a proper stance, so it had to be done simultaneously with the draw.

Pollid's swordsman, within range, also reacted.

He extended his arm longer.

What kind of swordsmanship would he use?

For a moment, Encrid wished the opponent would attack. Rationally, he knew it would never happen.

But he still hoped.

'What kind of swordsmanship is it?'

How fast is he?

Faster than Rem's axe? Faster than the half-blood fairy's whistling dagger?

He wanted to experience it. To confront it. To challenge it.

It was pure competitiveness.

He wanted to measure his skill. The sudden surge of heat warmed his body.

If he attacked, he would cut him down.

A peculiar tension formed between the two.

In the midst of this, Pollid started sweating profusely.

Should he draw his sword here? Wouldn't it seem cowardly if he didn't?

A myriad of thoughts ran through his mind.

Leona despised such indecision.

He should either draw his sword or use his words.

If he couldn't do either, he shouldn't have started this.

Indeed, if it weren't for the predecessor's will, she wouldn't have bothered with him.

The strange standoff continued, and the inn grew silent.

At that moment.

Thud.

The sound of the inn door opening was heard. The heavy wooden door swung open and hit the wall.

Thanks to the person who had forcefully pushed the door open, Encrid's view widened.

The opponent also relaxed. The two took half a step back by unspoken agreement.

'Damn it.'

It wasn't Rem, but I almost drew my sword in a fight-crazed state without thinking of the situation.

Encrid sighed inwardly and turned his head.

A familiar face came into view. It was Torres from the Border Guard.

Five more people in similar attire followed behind him.

They wore brown leather armor with a grid pattern over their tunics, with dark brown coats on top, adorned with eagle emblems on the shoulders.

"We are the Royal Guard Border Patrol. We are here to arrest the instigator who hired the Aspen spy unit to cause this commotion."

"Hiss."

Pollid let out a stupid groan. His guard stepped beside him and gripped his shoulder.

Encrid was curious about their relationship.

It didn't seem to be just an employer-employee relationship.

"You involved Aspen's dogs in a succession fight?"

At Torres' words, Pollid's face turned pale.

Leona, however, remained calm.

'Who called the Border Guard?'

Encrid thought as he watched the situation unfold.

"We will arrest everyone."

It wasn't Pollid or Leona who reacted to Torres' words.

"Are you saying you'll detain people without evidence? This person is about to inherit the Rockfreed Trading Company. Surely you aren't taking bribes from the other side, are you?"

It was the man behind Pollid.

A man with brown hair and a plain appearance stepped forward.

He was implying bribery.

At his words, Torres frowned but then smirked and replied.

"...There's a funny bastard here."

He openly expressed his displeasure. But what he said was also true.

Why did the Border Guard intervene in a major trading company's meeting and succession discussion?

Because the standing army of the Border Guard always remained neutral.

It was a given that if trouble arose within the Border Guard, the standing army would intervene.

However, they promised to remain neutral in any situation.

If they arrested someone without evidence, it would be easy to misunderstand their actions, implying they couldn't make an arrest without evidence.

'Was it planned?'

The opponent also used his brain.

Torres knew this, which is why he couldn't just cut down the funny bastard right away.

A short silence, tension filled the air. The one to break the silence was Leona.

"Bribery? Of course not."

First, she denied the funny bastard's words.

"Of course, someone from the trading company could have brought in Aspen's spies."

She continued.

"Huh?"

Pollid was startled again by Leona's words, his mouth agape, then he closed it, conscious of the surrounding gazes.

Seeing this, even Encrid almost sighed. This was practically an admission.

"We don't know yet. That's why I called the Border Guard."

Who called? Even Encrid was surprised by this.

Leona continued.

"I request detainment until this matter is resolved. Detain both heirs. And find the evidence."

Leona looked around the room. Her ability to shift the flow with a few words was impressive.

"I heard there's an instigator on the run. Let's capture him and get his confession."

A trap, a checkmate.

If this were chess, it would be checkmate with no escape.

Would the captured man endure under torture?

They said the captured ones were taken to the unit, but no one knew who the instigator was.

They all said the leader knew everything.

That leader must be the one who escaped.

"Very well, Lady Leona. But what if he never shows up?"

The plain-looking brown-haired man turned to Leona and asked.

"Then it wouldn't be the Border Guard's concern, would it?"

Leona answered,

"From here on, it's a matter for the trading company to discuss amongst themselves. It would be proper to return to the city and ask the main figures of the company about the qualifications for succession."

The brown-haired man finished with a smile, hitting the nail on the head.

'Once they leave the city...'

Could Leona handle Pollid's guard force?

It didn't seem likely.

"I am a merchant. I don't ask for things without compensation. To the first person who finds and brings that man, I will give this."

Leona said as she placed a dagger on the table.

A long, slender blade, covered by a black leather sheath, it was a stiletto dagger.

"The Carmen Collection?"

Someone recognized it.

Encrid saw Jaxon take a step forward from beside him. A usually indifferent friend moved by a single dagger?

It was indeed a weapon of significant value.

'Surprising.'

Carmen was a famous assassin who was known for his weapon craftsmanship more than his assassination skills.

The weapons he made were called the Carmen Collection.

The dagger she just placed on the table was one of them.

A master craftsman's dagger that could stab and withdraw without leaving a drop of blood.

"Hey, why are you offering that without consulting me?"

"This is my property. Given by the predecessor."

Pollid protested, but Leona ignored him and confirmed.

"I offer this. Bring him in."

This effectively placed a bounty on the man's head.

And Encrid thought things were taking an interesting turn.

'She already ordered him to be brought in.'

Even while thinking this, Encrid was newly impressed by Leona's shrewdness.

'Call the Border Guard to buy time, offer a bounty to achieve your goal.'

She created a situation that benefited everyone.

Except for Pollid, of course.

Regardless, if they caught him, they would earn hundreds of thousands of Krona. It was enough to make everyone's eyes light up.

"I will catch him."

And surprisingly, there was someone here willing to take the lead.

"I'll handle it personally."

It was Jaxon. He didn't just say it, he seemed confident.

Encrid nodded at Jaxon. It was the first time Jaxon had taken such an active stance.

'He must really want it.'

That thought crossed his mind.

It wasn't a difficult task.

Who controlled the night and back alleys of this city, Border Guard?

The Gilpin Guild. The owner of that guild, Krais, was currently a member of Encrid's squad.

Moreover, they had already been instructed to keep an eye out and hold onto anyone suspicious.

In other words, the target was already halfway in their hands.

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