Chapter 74
Chapter 74
Bilpu, who rented a secluded bar located in a narrow alley, hung a sign reading Kylock Arms and greeted customers who arrived soon after.
“Are you really who you say you are?”
He tilted his head as he looked at the documents and checked the list, their status, and the amount they had borrowed. The three men who entered the building gave off the impression that they were all vassals of the Duke of Bellstein.
Before working under the Marquis of Cavill, Bilpu was active on a pirate ship, so he was not familiar with the outfits of the vassals.
Still, in general, there would be a lot of middle-aged to old-aged people, but these people were too young and their looks were outstanding. But he had to believe it. Because the three of them pretended to be nobles and the documents held true to their status.
‘The list and identity are a clear match…….’
He wondered if it was a sneaky counterfeit, but it was certain that the nobility’s plaque was clearly marked by the Empire.
One with black hair was too big as if showing he was a warrior, and the other with brown hair looked like an ordinary young man, but he looked too young.
The last person, Viscount Rufus, who wore a deep hat, was the most suspicious one. His elegance that somehow radiated from head to toe did not belong to a mere Viscount, but from a much higher nobleman.
He resembled a great aristocrat like a Duke or higher.
However, Bilfu himself decided not to suspect because the man had a deep wound on his face, unlike normal noble vassals.
“Thank you my Lords, I’m done checking. Please, understand that this is a terrible world these days. You are very welcome to our humble company.”
He clapped his hands with a business smile. Then the clerk sitting in the back brought three glasses of whiskey and placed them on the table.
“Is there a reason why you’re going to cut interest in half?””
Asked the young nobleman with brown hair.
“Hahaha, you are all specially qualified customers, so I am able to give you such a benefit. The main point will be explained by our master, Kylock Arms.”
When Bilfu finished speaking, the door to the other room swung open and a long curtain was drawn in front of it. You can’t see the inside from the outside, but there’s a small gap inside that makes the outside easy to look at.
Marquis Cavill’s eyes rolled to and fro.
At a glance, he thought that the person wearing a hat was unusual.
“Excuse me, can you take off your hat for a moment?”
“Are you suggesting that only I show my face here? You also have to show your face.”
“If you show it first, I will do the same.”
Viscount Rufus, who moved slowly, took off his hat.
Bronze hair and black eyes.
He obtained documents that recorded the hair and eye color of the Bellstein vassals. It was, of course, through the information guild that they acquired such data, but it matched without a problem.
If people didn’t know better, the striking young man could be called a Duke because of his handsome features. His cold impression and overbearing atmosphere somehow made the opponent fall in awe.
‘He could make any woman cry. But if I remember correctly, the Duke of Bellstein was blonde and red-eyed.’
After the Marquis’ little doubts were erased, he raised his hand and beckoned to open the curtain. Then he opened his crooked lips.
“Hello. I’m Kylock Arms. I am so happy to meet you like this. Everyone please sit down.”
As Viscount Rufus was sitting, Louivid’s blood-red eyes shone even more sharply as he identified his opponent.
It could be said that his eyes were similar to a lion’s who started to hunt.
In Louivid’s head, the description of the Marquis retold by the capital’s portrait he received from several people, passed by. Excluding two portraits that depicted him as a ridiculous middle-aged man, the features were almost identical.
He had gray hair that was turned over with a pomade, dull eyes, a gloomy hawk nose, and his thick body looked solid. Age wise, he was around his late fifties to early sixties.
Originally, the Marquis had red-brown hair, so it looked like he had simply changed his hair color.
‘He was complacent because he thought no one in Bellstein would recognize him.’
Louivid pressed down on his hat and rolled down his cold eyes.
His outfit was also quite splendid, from the fur scarf around his neck to the dazzling gold ring and the gold necklace as large as a medallion. To put it simply, it was the clothes close to a clown.
The three Bellstein vassals were the one’s that seemed more dignified.
Kylock Arms placed a rag-like bag full of flimsy gold coins on top of the table.
“I think that information is more valuable than money. I need the help of the Lords.”
Kylock Arms, no, the Marquis of Cavill had quite a long tongue and talked for over an hour.
Tired of hearing more, the three of them looked at each other’s faces.
In short, I’ll give you money, so hand over Bellstein’s information. If you don’t, I’ll snitch to the Duke that you have illegal slush funds.
Well, he guessed as much.
Louivid pondered for a moment how to cook that shameless raccoon. He was already recording everything he said.
Although usury was illegal in the Duchy, the Marquis of Cavill could not be punished.
Strictly speaking, he was a nobleman under the direct control of the Imperial House, so he could be punished by handing over the data to the imperial judge, but that was not good enough.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
‘Should we punish those who commit illegal acts in an illegal way?’
Kylock Arms, the fake identity the Marquis used to disguise himself, was found to be a native of Bellstein Duchy.
As a merchant with a small guild without a title, he could be penalized by taking bribes and for the crime of digging up information from a Duke’s house.
However, it seems like the Marquis had quite a lot of business and funds.
Louivid didn’t know what he was up to, but it was a little early to harvest. Moreover, he seemed to have an ultimate reason to dig up information about the Duke of Bellstein.
He sent a signal to Ellington and Commander Jarga, telling them it was time to go back.
Then Ellington jumped up and said,
“It is so unexpected and sudden, give me a little time to think. After discussion, we will send someone from our side. Then I will share the information with you.”
The Marquis had shining eyes like those of a cunning snake.
“How can I believe that? What if I lose my investment?”
“I will not take the money and you don’t have to waive interest.”
“…Hmm.”
“On the day we are caught by the Lord, our necks will be hanged side by side on the gates. I think it’s natural to think carefully.”
Louivid spoke in a sudden way, and the two people who were beside him also nodded their heads.
Assassins were waiting on the ceiling. The Marquis was deeply troubled, but for him, touching the vassals of Bellstein did more harm than good. Cavill, who was quenching his dry lips, thought that a little later he could steal Bellstein’s fortune, and the Crystal Fairy would fall into his hands, so he answered with patience.
“Okay. You can go back. When will you contact me?”
“I’ll send you contact information here. After the full moon.”
The Marquis, who had erased his dissatisfaction, said so, and smiled as he pretended to be generous.
* * *
Soliaphe felt her symptoms of vomiting blood several times a day gradually decreasing.
“Cough……”
She was still coughing blood, but she was much better than before.
In addition, she was in good shape today, and she even enjoyed practicing with a sword in the morning after a long time.
She didn’t meet her family often because she was afraid of being caught sick, but now she has been to meals, tea times, and walks. She didn’t even have to take medicine to suppress her cough.
Soliaphe recalled the figure of Luciel she had seen in the match.
In fact, it was because of Luciel, that she grabbed her sword to practice. Maybe it was because she saw the enormous potential of that little child.
The child’s overflowing vitality seemed to stimulate her.
Luciel would visit her at least once every two days, holding Soliaphe’s hand with her little hand and checking her condition. On days she didn’t come, she sent a small letter with an unsweetened snack.
[I read somewhere that words have colors like beautiful flowers. Pink horse. It’s my favorite color.]*
Note: This pun explanation is long. I put it on the end.
With the paper spread out, Soliaphe let out a small laugh. The child’s imagination was cute.
‘A pink horse, what do you mean by that?’
Seems good. Luciel…and pink?
Luciel was a cute kid who looked good in pink. Come to think of it, I think I found something similar in Louivid’s study. I couldn’t help but look at it because it was placed in a frame.
‘Well……Is this Luciel’s own way of flirting?’
Soliaphe tilted her head, but soon she smiled.
“It’s classic, but I like it.”
The child persuaded me to see the doctor every day. I still don’t have the courage to go see a doctor, but I wasn’t feeling that bad at the moment. There was also hope that I could live longer. No, I thought it wouldn’t be bad to buy a little more time.
‘Is it because the Rose of the Phoenix really gave me vitality?’
Even after she had experienced it firsthand, it was unbelievable, like a dream.
“Madam, it seems that the item you ordered has been completed.”
“That’s a relief.”
Soliaphe, who had a smile on her lips, called a maid to get ready to go out and headed to the blacksmith. She seemed to be more excited than when she went to pick up her own sword.
It had been a long time since her heart was pounding. She was excited at the thought of meeting her son, Kizef, after a long time and she wondered what the reaction of the two people who received her gift would be.
I thought I would be calm about everything since the day I was first sentenced to die after some years, but this was truly amazing.
༻━━━━━━༺✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧༻━━━━━━༺
Note: You have no idea how much time took me to understand this pun. ( ╯°□°)╯ ┻━━┻
In here, Luciel uses ‘말’, it literally means <word> and <horse>. Yes, in Asian language words with multiple meanings is not uncommon. Continuing.
She tells that <words> have beautiful colors, and tell Soliaphe that her favorite <word color> is pink. But if you write’분홍색’ <pink> before ’말’<word> it can also be read as Pink Horse!! So ‘분홍색 말’ can be either read as <the word : pink> or <a pink horse>. In the end, it’s meant to be read like “My favorite color is pink.”
Which is also strange if you have a literal translation, because she doesn’t mean she likes the color pink in itself, she like the word <pink>.
I didn’t laugh and explaining this joke doesn’t help. Sorry for my limited knowledge. It only works when you can read Korean, because it’s a pun using the Hangul dialect, so I’m unable to localize it for the English language. But Soliaphe seems to have liked it. So (□_□)…