Chapter 462 – The Price of a Knight (2)
In wars within disputed territories that are settled by agreement, the payment of ransom for captured prisoners is conducted under the supervision of neutrals belonging to the Mediation Zone.
Exceptionally, hostages affiliated with the sponsors who supported each faction may be negotiated for independently, without going through the Mediation Zone.
This was one of the post-war rules established to bring a cleaner conclusion to conflicts.
"Ghhhm."
Thus, Grand Lord Kardric, captured by Cain of the North, had been dragged to Medilon at the request of the East, and was now confined in an underground solitary cell.
One of the magic stone lamps fixed to the ceiling was broken, completely dislodged, exposing a menacing metal rod.
"To think they can't even properly maintain a single chamber for me. Just how much did those neutral bastards embezzle in the middle…."
Kardric grumbled irritably.
A sealed chamber, closed off on all sides.
For that reason, his limbs didn't need to be restrained separately, and thanks to the air circulation provided by the magic item, there was no risk of suffocation… but for a Grand Lord who had wielded power at will in the East, it was unbearably suffocating.
'Still, at least I've survived.'
Once he returned to the East, he would have to tread carefully and watch his words, but the responsibility for losing the Competition rested with the dead Count Cheolp.
He had merely followed his leader.
If need be, he could offer up the wealth he had secretly amassed to Marquis Gerdom, the head of the Eastern Grand Lords, and buy himself immunity.
"Damn it…!"
The losses pained him deeply, but it was far better than being expelled or executed, so he forced himself not to dwell on it.
Instead, he cursed the dead Cheolp, Melconi who had been defeated by a mere young Magus, and the deceitful Shinseong who had concealed his true strength, soothing his frustration.
…Creak.
At that moment, the thick door opened.
A light, just enough not to sting the eyes.
Three shadows advanced, silhouetted against it.
Kardric blinked.
"…Hm? Neutrals? Has the negotiation between East and North already concluded? No, it shouldn't be time yet. But those ropes…"
Craaaack.
"Khk."
The rope tightened.
If Kardric stood on the bed and small chair in the solitary cell, he could just barely reach the height where the magic stone lamp had been fixed.
Dangling.
There, not the light of magic power but a black shadow was hung.
If there are those who claim to belong to neutrality, never trust them openly, always keep suspicion.
Life.
A fortune of gold.
Threats against family.
Happiness that can be seized in a single choice.
So long as the heart exists, and there is no absolute binding force, humans who proclaim themselves neutrals can change their behavior at any moment, according to circumstance.
***
The single-story building atop 47 steps, the conference hall of Medilon.
As before, the factions occupied the cardinal points of east, west, south, and north, though naturally the representatives had changed, with the exception of North and South.
From the West, in place of the Mercenary King, came a bespectacled man known as one of the Sovereign's closest aides, 'Helmer', accompanied by guards.
From the East, in place of the deceased Count Cheolp, appeared an elderly 'man', neatly dressed, aged with elegance.
The West could be understood, but from the East, which had suffered the greatest losses, one would have expected at least a Grand Lord of Marquis rank to attend.
Instead, a completely unfamiliar figure appeared.
'…Who is that?'
Unia tilted her head inwardly.
She had collected much intelligence on the East, but had never once encountered any description of that old man.
And more than that—
'He looks dangerous.'
A subtle sense of vigilance rose within her.
Outwardly, he looked no different than an old butler of some manor, but the gaze hidden within his expression was as sharp as a blade.
At the very least, he was not without ability.
It wasn't only Unia who sensed it—Cain and Isabella too had their nerves raised, directed toward the old man seated in the East.
Silence.
Their gazes crossed.
The old man of the East wore a faint, kindly smile, while Gideon of the South kept his hands clasped and face stern.
"Hmm-hmm. Then…"
The moderator at the center cleared his throat to ease the heavy air, and spoke firmly.
"From the West, Sir Helmer Rosinande, from the East, Sir Seden, from the South, Lord Gideon, and finally from the North, Lord Arein, have all been confirmed as the representatives attending this meeting."
The roll call finished.
Today's meeting was less about discussion and more about formally announcing the results of the Competition that all already knew.
If there were no objections, ownership of the massive mines would soon be transferred to the North.
"First, I will list the fortresses occupied by East, West, and North."
The territories seized in the Competition were, literally, spoils.
However, by the rules set by the South, the faction that gained control of disputed territory was obliged to pay thirty percent of its taxes to the Southern Alliance for the next three years.
The moderator recited the names of the fortresses one by one. Among them were castles seized directly by Cain and Unia.
The twin siblings, who had made an overwhelming debut with their achievements in the Competition, straightened their chests and lifted their chins.
"…Up to Derkadil Fortress. North has obtained a total of three fortresses. Now, I will announce the results of the Competition."
The moderator swallowed, moistening his dry throat.
"With the death of representative Count Cheolp, the East is eliminated. With the surrender of representative Mercenary King, the West is also eliminated. Thus the sole remaining representative is Lord Arein. As no major violations of the rules were found in the process, by the name of the Mediation Zone, Medilon, we hereby declare the victor of the Competition to be the North."
A rolled certificate was placed before Liam.
Unbinding the cord and checking the script, he found it certified ownership of the massive mining complex within the disputed territories.
For a moment, Unia wondered if she had been worrying needlessly… but as expected, the moderator was not finished.
"And furthermore…"
The moderator's gaze turned eastward.
"In addition, a major upheaval occurred in the East a few days ago. At present, all Grand Lords except Grand Lord Kardric are dead."
***
The East was ruled by a total of twelve Grand Lords.
Even excluding Cheolp, there should still be eleven surviving Grand Lords.
'And they all died overnight?'
Liam clenched his fist under the table, glaring at the moderator.
"Explain in detail."
"That is…"
"Stop, moderator. Whatever has occurred in the East, I shall explain myself."
The old man, introduced as Seden, rose from his seat.
"First, allow me to introduce myself. I am Seden, an old man representing the 'Revolutionary Army' of the East— in other words, the righteous knights of the East, and I attend here on their behalf."
…Revolutionary Army?
Cain, never having heard of such an organization in the East, cast a questioning glance.
Seden spoke.
"To explain briefly… the so-called Grand Lords had ruled the East for many long years. For a land without a master, they lived as powers for no small length of time. But all of you must already know. The more their rule continued, the worse the state of the East became."
There was no one unaware of the cruelty of the Eastern armies.
Even the Competition had shown it.
They had taken mercenaries of the West hostage, subjected them to brutal torture, burned them alive, skewered them on long stakes, and displayed them beyond the walls… all for base pleasure.
Leading such men, permitting such deeds— it was plain to see how the Grand Lords ruled their lands.
"The Grand Lords left festering wounds to rot, even tore them wider. The East has simply rotted away. Can grass grow on a rotten field?"
Though the Land Without a Master was designed to be ever rife with conflict, it was still, in the end, a place where people lived.
To call oneself a lord and plunder the people unconditionally to fatten one's belly was no different than devouring one's own flesh.
But the future is far, the present is near.
Many lords had overreached, and in the end, their stomachs burst or were slit open by others' blades.
Betrayal, rebellion, revolution.
In this land with no master decreed, such events were all too common.
"We were once vassals of the Grand Lords… but as men, and as knights, we could not abide tyranny that went beyond all bounds. We wished to save the East. Yet their power was too overwhelming to act rashly, and so for years we hid blades in our bellies, waiting for the perfect chance…"
Seden let out a heated breath.
"And at last, we have fulfilled that wish. The fattened pigs who toyed with the people— we slaughtered them all."
"…Of all times, why now?"
"Precisely because it was now that it became possible. With the East's unexpected defeat in the Competition, chaos spread, and a gap opened. Strictly speaking, it is thanks to the North. As the 'new power' of the East, I offer you deepest gratitude."
Seden bowed sincerely toward Liam.
"…"
Liam was dumbstruck.
Not only by the sudden thanks from Eastern rebels, but by how hard it was to fully grasp the situation's abrupt turn.
"Wait."
Then, Isabella stepped forward.
"New power of the East… what do you mean by that?"
"Simply what it sounds like. We declare that we will not inherit the footsteps left by the Eastern Grand Lords."
A fresh resolve to remake the East differently than before— yet for the North, this could not be glossed over.
In other words, it meant they were withdrawing from the agreed factions of the Competition.
Invalidating the contract.
If so, this so-called new East could declare war on the North, even invade the massive mines.
Unia growled.
"Ha, is it really possible to slip free of the agreement like that? Just with one claim of rebellion? Weren't you supposed to be recognized by the Mediation Zone to even count as a faction?"
The moderator wiped sweat with his handkerchief.
"…The Mediation Zone has already recognized them."
"Handled so hastily, who would accept—!"
"It is not without precedent. Normally, gaining approval from the Mediation Zone does take considerable time, but exceptions do exist. Was North not also such an exception?"
Gideon of the South pointed out.
It was true.
Liam Arein had been acknowledged as ruler of the North without much procedure, because of the status held by the Shinseong of the East Continent.
For the North to object now would be to deny their own recognition as a power.
They were left speechless.
Glancing northward, Gideon asked Seden.
"However, there is still one Grand Lord alive, albeit as a hostage. If Grand Lord Kardric were to oppose the rebels' existence, then no matter Mediation Zone approval, you could not yet be treated as the East's faction."
"Which is why we intend to pay the ransom, and receive the custody of Grand Lord Kardric."
"Do you think, even after hearing that, we will hand over the hostage so obediently?"
Liam expressed his refusal.
Beside him, Cain turned his gaze toward the door and murmured quietly.
"It seems, it is already too late."
Bang!
Moments later, familiar faces to Liam's party entered the conference hall in a rush, cold sweat dripping down their temples.
They were the neutrals who had escorted Grand Lord Kardric, received from the North, to the prison.
"F-forgive us for interrupting the meeting, but…!"
The moderator frowned.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Grand Lord Kardric has… th-that is, he… he hanged himself…!!"
***
Grand Lord Kardric had committed suicide.
News spread that, with a rope obtained from somewhere, he had tied it firmly to the metal rod for the magic stone lamp, and strangled himself.
Thud!
Gideon slammed the table.
"A suicide, in the prison of the Mediation Zone! Surely such a thing should have been prevented beforehand. What in the world is this?"
At his rebuke, not only the moderator but even the neutrals were unable to answer.
All they could do was bow their heads and apologize profusely to everyone present, their faces ashen.
Seden stroked his chin.
"Hah, Grand Lord Kardric. For that vile man to take his own life. Was he afraid of shouldering the responsibility of losing the Competition, or did he hear of the rebellion and panic beforehand. What in the world…"
His voice was laden with bewilderment.
Even his expression was so natural, it seemed a genuinely unexpected reaction.
"Haa."
Letting out a deep sigh, Isabella brushed back her dark-green hair.
"You bastards, this was planned, wasn't it?"
"No, planned? You seem to be laboring under quite the great misunderstanding… I swear we had no such hand in it. And was it not the Mediation Zone's responsibility to care for the hostage properly? Thus it is only right that the Mediation Zone offer apology and compensation. Do you not agree, moderator?"
"Y-yes, precedent does suggest…"
"Shut up, and state what you want."
This was theater.
Therefore, conversation was meaningless.
There was no need to nitpick the details of the situation. Kardric was already dead, exactly as scripted.
"Well then, since you press so, I shall present the reason for our attendance at this meeting. To be frank, our new East does not deny the contract of the Competition. We merely wish to recover some small part of the losses suffered at the hands of the Grand Lords."
Seden extended three fingers.
"If you grant us, thirty-three percent of the annual output of the massive mine, for the next five years, with Eastern personnel included in the management, then we will abide by the contract of the Competition without complaint."
"Are you insane?"
For once, Liam responded with rare profanity, the demand too outrageous.
Already, the Northern Alliance was bound to pay twenty-three percent of the mine's yield for five years to the Southern Alliance.
If the East's demand were added, that would total fifty-six percent.
And when combined with the costs of mine development that the South had failed to cover… from the North's perspective, it was astronomical.
"I know it is an excessive demand, but we have no choice. We must eat to live, must we not? The failing East must be revived. Of course, such grace we would never forget. We would repay it."
"And if we refuse?"
"Then, until you agree, we too will have no choice but to be obstinate. By the rules of the disputed lands. It is merely the struggle of those who wish to live."
Seden had not stated it outright, but he had tacitly declared his intent to obstruct the development of the massive mine indefinitely.
Seden turned his head.
"I would like to hear the opinions of the others."
Receiving his gaze in turn, Gideon of the South and Helmer of the West responded.
"Mm, I could say much, but when you boil it down, this is a matter between North and East alone. It does not seem our place to interfere."
"The West is of the same mind."
Both declared themselves bystanders.
Respecting their stance, Seden nodded slowly.
"So it is said. What of the North? Will you accept the proposal of the new East, burdened with the hopes of its people for a brighter life? Or will you ruthlessly refuse?"
Subtly, he invoked the plight of the citizens who had suffered under the East.
Of course, Liam's party was not swayed by such sophistry, but neither could they offer a simple answer.
Isabella bit her lip.
'Too little information.'
If they had seized the East so completely, they must have power surpassing even that of the Grand Lords.
And moreover, the presence of this old man Seden was deeply troubling.
'If they truly have the ability to delay development of the massive mine… then the migration plans for the Dwarf village of the House Head will be pushed back.'
And the adversary was not merely the new East.
Among those present, there were factions that had secretly aided the Eastern rebellion, seeking profit.
'It must be the South.'
It was, after all, the Southern Alliance that had proposed the Competition.
Had this been their plan from the start?
Perhaps they had long been working in the shadows to eliminate the Grand Lords, and carried it over seamlessly into the Competition.
In any case—
"Do you require more time to deliberate? I would prefer an answer today, if possible."
Seden pressed them.
Naturally, Liam, Cain, Unia, and Isabella had no intention of accepting his proposal.
Yet the matter felt too grave to decide immediately without any further council.
The second hand ticked on relentlessly.
The silence was broken, not by anyone present.
Bang!
The entrance to the hall burst open.
The two doors, flung wide by unseen telekinetic force, crashed against the walls.
"I heard today was only to formally announce the results of the Competition before each faction."
A shadow stretched long.
"The atmosphere is sour."
The true apex of the North, Verden, arrived at the conference hall of Medilon.
***
"Shinseong…?"
All eyes turned to him.
Shock, dismay, and relief mingled in their gaze.
Step, step.
Verden advanced slowly, exchanging calm nods with Isabella, Unia, and Cain.
"Lord Asher…!"
"Sit."
Verden pressed firmly on Liam's shoulder as he tried to rise, pushing him back into his chair. A chair from the corner flew to him under
Thud.
Deliberately, Verden seated himself at the North's table, and looked over the assembly. Then, in a low voice, he asked Liam beside him.
"What has happened?"
"Yes, that is…"
Liam, to his own surprise, explained the situation fluently.
The rebellion of the East.
The demands of the new East.
Verden, who had listened in silence, fixed his eyes on Seden.
"You could not have thought, we would accept such a proposal."
"…"
"Surely, you brought other terms as well."
Silence fell.
Like a snake hidden in the brush, Gideon, who had been watching with bated breath, twitched his fingers.
'We had already accounted for the Shinseong's interference.'
The result would not change.
This matter did not concern only the Southern Alliance, but even mighty powers such as the magic tower of the Volcanic Island, and the Larrian Tower.
And was not the broker himself involved? No matter how the Shinseong moved, there was no way the plan could fail.
Yet there was one thing Gideon had overlooked.
"I…"
Seden parted his dry lips.
"That is to say…"
Seden──true name Serlo Broden.
Once an adventurer, who had reached the cusp of Obsidian rank, a formidable figure in his own right.
Though he had retired over a decade ago, and lived since as a broker, all he had experienced still lived on in his senses.
Having roamed the world, witnessed countless 'existences' up close, Serlo prided himself that he had never spent his years in vain.
To speak kindly, having crossed the threshold of death, he had an exceptional ability to sense danger. To speak harshly, he was so perceptive that he noticed things he would rather not.
This was the price of a knight.
Cold sweat gathered at his chin.
Face stiff, Serlo's hand trembled faintly as he declared.
"There is no proposal."
"Then, what judgment does the North…"
A shoulder stiffened.
"…????"
From behind the Competition, Gideon's eyes widened as if tearing apart.
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