The Duke’s Madness

Arthur looked at the woman who identified herself as Sugar Haibin and tilted her head.

‘Is this really Barance’s daughter?’

I don’t want to be prejudiced about my appearance, but to be honest, Barance was far out of human form.

However, Sugar Haibin in front of her was a beauty that anyone would pay attention to.

From nob le mt l dot com

No matter how much he tried to find a corner, Willet murmured as Arthur looked alternately at the two fathers and daughters, who had no resemblance anywhere.

“The Prime Kingdom… Crown Princess? So, are you telling us to escort a member of the royal family?”

Barance smiled brightly.

“why? Are you scared?”

“… To be honest, I’m scared because nothing good comes of being associated with the royal family.”

“Ha ha ha! Is that [ghost] in the world scared?”

Barance laughed for a long time wondering what was funny, then lowered his head.

“But, Willett, think about it. There are no good things to do with royalty, but there are always great rewards if you do it right.”

“… … .”

“The mission is very simple. All you have to do is escort my daughter to the train station in Kaun, the capital of Prime Kingdom. In terms of time, it only takes three days.”

Willett’s gaze narrowed.

“Isn’t that enough to put in the Seven Emperors’ manpower?”

“yes. If it was normal.”

“… … ?”

“Sooner or later there will be a war with the pirates. That’s why I don’t have enough troops to get out.”

Willett’s eyes widened.

Bonnie, who was next to her, was no different.

‘… War?’

‘The pirate and the Seven Emperors… suddenly?’

Like skilled brokers, he did not reveal his agitation, but he could not hide his surprise.

If what Barance said earlier is true, then it means that the two forces that divide the back streets of Arcane are colliding.

Of course, I do not know whether the war mentioned is simply a conflict or an all-out war, but either way, the repercussions will be enormous.

In the meantime, Barance, who had been drinking tea, explained again.

“There are many other reasons besides that. As the confrontation with them has been prolonged, there have been too many rats in our organization.”

“… … .”

“Now I’m more suspicious of my allies than the pirates. That’s why I bought a lot of goblins and left it to the progress of this black market.”

Willet, who came to his senses, asked a question.

“I don’t know with my limited knowledge. A sudden war at this time… .”

Barance burst into laughter.

“suddenly? How long has it been a day or two since they crossed the line?”

“… … .”

“We have seen enough to see. Now is the time to speak with blood, not words.”

Willett kept his mouth shut.

In the meantime, Barance raised a finger.

“what… The story got a little out of the way for a while, but it makes sense now, right? Why did I put on a show like this and recruit brokers and mercenaries?”

“… … .”

“When war breaks out, the pirates will be the first to target Suga. Enemy families are the most useful pieces in war.”

Bonnie, who was silent, nodded.

“Roughly… I can understand the situation going on. By the way, Mr. Barance?”

“Speak.”

“For mercenaries and brokers to accept requests, they must be rewarded accordingly. Can I hear what it is?”

Barance smiled brightly at her question.

“Would you like to pay for your lives?”

“… … ?”

“It’s a joke. I guess it wasn’t fun. hmm… I don’t have anything in mind, what do you want?”

said Bonnie, rubbing her tense, stiff hands.

“Anything?”

“Sometimes the black market opens… If you want anything, I’ll get it for you. One for each mercenary.”

“… Can I save you with another mercenary?”

“no. There’s nothing good about it because the story has spread a lot. All I want is to take my daughter and leave for the Prime Kingdom right now.”

Bonnie stroked her chin.

‘I pretended to agree, but there are too many holes?’

Even if everything said so far was true, there were too many places that didn’t make sense.

Because of that, Bonnie was worried, but to be honest, the answer was fixed.

‘If you refuse, I will die on the spot. Believe that, and Barance will come out like that… .’

Bonnie, speechless, glanced at Cassel.

He hadn’t been able to join the conversation for a moment, and he was just blinking his eyes.

“Kassel.”

“… Why are you calling me, Bonnie?”

“I will leave it up to you.”

“My judgment?”

“yes. Will you accept the request?”

Cassel stroked his chin and nodded.

“hmm… It’s not polite to refuse when the client is right in front of you.”

“… … .”

“But I think we’ll have to negotiate a bit for the quest reward. Is that possible?”

At Cassel’s question, Barance gently raised the corner of his mouth.

“What do you want? A young swordsman?”

“I am looking for a person.”

“… person? hmm. It’s a tricky yet difficult request.”

Barance stroked his chin and asked.

“I can listen, but it will take time. As I said before, we will go to war. Can’t it just be stuff or money?”

“Then can I take one of the knives hanging in the exhibition hall?”

“I can listen to that much. Take whatever you want.”

Cassell gave a satisfied smile.

Meanwhile, Willett glanced at Arthur.

“What are you going to do?”

“Me? hmm… .”

Arthur stroked his chin.

‘how will we do it?’

Listening to the story, there were many interesting corners.

First of all, of all the things Barance has said so far, the fact that the placenta is a lie is the most fun.

‘That person named Suga is a daughter… It sounds like you’re serious about going to war with pirates, but everything else seems like a lie?’

A tone or facial expression characteristic of a person who is lying.

Those things came out of Barance’s face.

‘I can’t think of it as an illusion because I have two faces.’

Arthur, who was worried, raised the corner of his mouth.

The time was just right, and the incident looked interesting.

On top of that, the payoff given by someone like Barance would be better than expected.

‘Hmm…then it’s important what kind of reward I get.’

Arthur, who had finished his thoughts, asked a question.

“I want to receive the highest order.”

“… … ?”

“Is it possible, Mr. Barance?”

Barance answered with his eyes wide open.

“A top-notch spirit? Why would something like that be in my hand? Do you really believe in the nonsense spread on purpose?”

Arthur burst into laughter.

It’s a lie, that.

Because of that, I thought about pushing it a little more, but soon shook my head.

‘There’s no need to argue now.’

Right now, Barance may have the highest level of command, it seemed like it would be good to keep this in mind.

“Then give me the money.”

“How much do you want?”

“one… A thousand gold?”

Willett’s eyes went up.

Bonnie and Cassel, who were next to me, were no different.

“Dawn… You joke too much.”

The reason is that the amount of 1,000 gold that Arthur called is a first-class mercenary.

This was because it was the amount received by mercenaries who received an S-class judgment, called the best in the industry.

Because of that, Willet, who judged that Arthur had crossed the line, tried to dissuade him, but Barances opened his mouth before him.

“Good. A thousand gold.”

“… … !”

“Looking at your skills, you deserve that amount. 500 gold as advance payment. When you’re done, I’ll put you in 500 gold.”

Willett’s mouth opened slightly.

“J-Are you serious, Mr. Barance?”

“I like jokes, but I’m not one to lie to a place like this.”

Willett closed his gaping mouth.

In the meantime, Arthur and Cassel stood up from their seats.

And I said to my daughter Suga.

“I don’t have time, so please leave by the end of today. I will prepare the ticket to the Prime Kingdom County Station.”

* * *

While Barance was away for a while, Willet asked Arthur.

“Are you really going to do it?”

“yes?”

“Are you going to accept this request?”

Arthur raised an eyebrow at his question.

“hmm… But was it okay for us not to accept it?”

“… What do you mean?”

“If I had refused, wouldn’t everyone in this room die?”

Arthur’s answer slightly opened Willett’s mouth as if surprised.

“… You thought that far, did you?”

“Oh! What are those eyes, Mr. Willett!”

“no… Because you don’t know how to think like that.”

Arthur pursed his lips and grumbled.

“I always think normal thoughts?”

Willett kept his mouth shut.

After thinking about it while stroking his chin for a while, he whispered in a low voice.

“This request, something is strange.”

“… … .”

“Maybe this whole situation is a lie. Do you understand what I mean?”

Arthur nodded.

“They say Mr. Barance is lying.”

“that’s right. There will be truth mixed in, but there will also be lies mixed in. Then what are you supposed to do?”

“… Completed the request?”

“Half correct answer.”

“What about the other half?”

Willett is Barance’s daughter.

Pointing at Suga, he said.

“Prepare to run away alone if necessary.”

“… … ?”

“You don’t have to stay there and keep your loyalty. The only time mercenaries are loyal is when they receive a normal request.”

Arthur stroked his chin.

“hmm… It’s not difficult to run away, but won’t Barance-sama be angry if that happens?”

“I will take care of that.”

“… Old Willett?”

“The broker is there to handle that. You should think about how to secure your life in this quest.”

Arthur raised a corner of his mouth at Willett’s earnest advice.

“I understand, old man.”

After that, when Barance returned to the room, there were three tickets.

“It’s the train tonight. I have it ready for you to leave immediately.”

Arthur said, accepting the ticket as a representative.

“Does your daughter have any luggage?”

“I have it ready.”

With these words, Suga presented a small bag.

Arthur, who turned his gaze again, spoke to Barance.

“Can I get some advance money? Mr. Barance?”

Barances handed out a card.

“It should contain 500 gold. If you finish the job, I will put another 500 gold into this account.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“It’s good. Then can we leave right away?”

“It’s me, the sooner the better.”

Arthur nodded and moved on.

Suga and Cassel followed suit.

Barance, who had been looking at the back for a while, turned his gaze.

“… Why are you looking at me like that, Willett?”

Willett broke the silence and answered.

“Would you like to say something now?”

“what?”

“What’s the real reason you put on this show? As far as I know… .”

Willett, who was speechless, brightened his eyes.

“I know that Barance-sama doesn’t have a daughter, right?”

Barance burst into exclamation.

“Ohh. When did you even investigate my background?”

“Memorizing this floor ecology is a basic skill of a broker.”

“hmm… okay. Still, I’d better explain it to you.”

Barance raised the corner of his mouth.

“In conclusion, Suga is my daughter.”

“… … ?”

“And the war against the pirates you suspect is also true. To be precise, it is a war centered on Suga.”

Willett raised his eyes.

“What is that… words?”

“Should I say it again?”

Barances giggled.

“Chilhwang and pirates. The cause of the fight between these two factions is that child. They say that this show happened because of Suga.”