小婕子的第一次好紧

Chapter 19

As soon as Kane finished his question, one of the corrupt vassals raised his hand.

“I-I’ll speak first!”

It was another farm owner, with charges similar to Baor.

“Speak.”

“I-I’ve enjoyed all the benefits in Rehinar without paying taxes. I overworked my tenants and underpaid them using the excuse that they were not working well.”

When Kane raised his hand, the farmer closed his mouth.

“Old man Daniel, what kind of punishment does this deserve?”

“…For disrupting the order in Rehinar… It’s execution.”

“Execution again, huh. Who’s next?”

“My crime is lending money at 250% interest…”

“250%?”

Kane interrupted the moneylender again, issuing a subtle threat.

“Do you want to fucking die?”

“I-I got 500% in return!”

“Isn’t the maximum interest rate 25%?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“So you’re a bastard who sucked the blood out of our loyal men.”

All of this was damaging to Rehinar, which meant it hindered the family’s wealth.

“Do you know what the worst thing about you all is?”

Kane looked at each person one by one.

“It is a lie that you exploited the loyal mmen for the sake of Rehinar.”

Everyone’s faces darkened.

“I admit my wrongdoing, but… I also supported the Duke’s army financially.”

“If we hadn’t supported the army, Rehinar would have already…!”

Kane’s eyes gleamed. The air crackled with tension.

“Supporting the army was a ruse, and you probably leaked military information to Dyer.”

“Absolutely not!”

“You can’t accuse us based on mere suspicion.”

“We want to speak with the Duke!”

The corrupt vassals protested. They were scared of Kane but found courage in numbers.

“You’re all gravely mistaken.”

“Pardon?”

“Who said you’d be given a chance to defend yourselves? I don’t offer such mercy. This is a summary judgment for all of you.”

Everyone was horrified at Kane’s words. The atmosphere froze. The threat of death seemed real, prompting a final desperate resistance from the corrupt vassals.

“You can’t just kill us like this.”

“Bring the evidence. If you kill us without just cause, the empire will rise in revolt.”

“That’s right. The Duke wouldn’t allow you to kill us so recklessly.”

Everyone started speaking up, but the more they did, the more Kane’s smile twisted.

* * *

At that moment, the mercenary captain who had lost consciousness woke up.

“Ugh…”

The excruciating pain was still there.

‘Kane Rehinar… He’s no ordinary man. He knows how to torture people. He had us completely fooled all this time.’

The atmosphere was thick with tension, almost palpable.

His skin prickled with awareness, sensing the danger.

‘He’s been deceiving the world for quite some time.’

Even without directly fighting him, the captain could sense Kane’s formidable power.

The pervasive menace in the air wasn’t something that could be cultivated just by staying confined to one’s estate.

It was the kind of lethal aura that came from having killed thousands.

‘At least five years! He’s been deceiving the world for that long, damn it.’

He realized they were doomed. Everyone here had betrayed Rehinar and aligned with Dyer.

Some had even played a part in the plot to overthrow Rehinar under Dyer’s orders.

‘I need to find a way out. That’s the only way to survive.’

Those without mana couldn’t understand the monstrosity standing before them.

But he instinctively knew.

Clutching his severed shoulder, he approached Kane.

Thud.

He immediately fell to his knees and bowed deeply.

“Forgive me. I must have lost my mind. Please, forgive me just this once.”

Everyone gathered was shocked by the mercenary captain’s actions.

“Mercenary captain, what disgrace is this?”

“And you call yourself the leader of the Blue Wolves!”

The corrupt vassals’ last hope was the mercenary captain.

As long as he was alive, they had hope.

The Blue Wolves under his command numbered 200, making it the largest mercenary group in Rehinar.

They believed that if they could survive the immediate crisis, they could pressure Kane Rehinar.

But to see him kneeling!

This was completely unexpected.

Despite this, Kane remained unfazed.

“Don’t apologize. I’ve already decided to kill all of you.”

“What must I do to earn your forgiveness?”

“I have no intention of forgiving you.”

“Please, just give me one chance.”

The mercenary captain pleaded, pressing his forehead to the ground.

“I’ll do anything you ask.”

“Anything?”

“Of course.”

“Then hand over everything you have.”

The mercenary captain’s face hardened.

“You mean documents and the people as well?”

“You’re quick. Bring everyone involved, and I’ll consider letting you go.”

“Understood.”

The mercenary captain started to stand up.

“You stay here and send your subordinates.”

At Kane’s words, the mercenary captain clenched his teeth tightly.

‘Cunning bastard. He’s keeping me here to prevent any escape.’

“Understood.”

The mercenary captain pulled a flare from his bosom and fired it. A red light burst in the sky.

Boom—

Soon, the Blue Wolf Mercenary Corps rushed in.

“Captain, what’s going on?”

“We saw the emergency signal and came rushing… SHIT!”

“Captain, your arm!?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Seeing a fair number of his comrades gathered, the mercenary captain entertained a foolish thought.

‘Should I just take out the Young Master?’

Nearly 200 men. Retired soldiers who had once fought on battlefields. Each one was a 1st Class novice mercenary capable of handling mana.

If they all attacked at once, maybe they could kill the Young Master.

‘No, that woman is strong enough to have saved the Young Master from the Demon forest… Gah! Why didn’t I think of this sooner! Idiot.’

He realized late that Camilla had rescued the Young Master from the Demon Forest. If he had remembered this sooner, he wouldn’t have even considered resisting.

The Demon Forest was dangerous even for 3rd class knights and mages.

The mercenary captain abandoned his thoughts of a coup.

“Hey.”

Kane called the mercenary captain.

“Y-Yes, command me.”

The mercenaries were bewildered by the captain’s behavior. He was essentially a tyrant. Causing havoc in taverns without paying, drinking all day, and harassing innocent women were his regular activities. He boasted of unchecked power within the territory.

Yet here he was, bowing his head to someone who seemed like a mere youngster.

“Why is our captain bowing to that wimp?”

“How should I know?”

While the mercenaries were puzzled, Kane’s voice reached the captain’s ears.

“How long do you need?”

“How long for what?”

“To bring me what I want. How long do you need?”

“Two hours will suffice.”

“I’ll give you one hour. Make sure to bring everything.”

The mercenary captain nodded.

Kane seemed to find the situation quite entertaining.

He sat down completely, taking his seat.

* * *

For the corrupt vassals gathered there, an hour felt excruciatingly long.

It was a hellish period, filled with the fear of death as they waited for the mercenaries.

“We followed the captain’s orders, but aren’t these all the people we’re supposed to protect?” one clueless mercenary said, pointing to the captured individuals.

The mercenary captain shouted, “Shut up and stay still,” glancing nervously at Kane.

“We’ve got everything, and captured everyone, my lord.”

“One hour and two minutes. You’ve exceeded the given time.”

“My deepest apologies.”

The number of people they had captured was around 100. It was far too few. There were many more corrupt individuals than this.

“Captain! Why are your men doing this?”

“Tell them to let us go.”

“How much have I paid you, and this is what I get?”

Among the captured were middlemen, trade route managers, gate record keepers, and various other professionals.

“Are you bad at your job, or are you trying to deceive me on purpose?”

Kane’s cold voice rang out, startling the mercenary captain.

“W-What displeases you…?”

“I’m displeased with everything. The main targets are missing, aren’t they?”

Those captured were mere figureheads. They were proxies or puppets. The true culprits behind Rehinar’s downfall were elsewhere.

‘Stay hidden like rats. I’ll slowly tighten the noose around your necks.’

In fact, Kane knew exactly where those in league with Dyer were hiding. He didn’t need anyone to capture them. He could have just snuck into their places at night and killed them.

But he chose not to.

He planned to make those who conspired with the enemy suffer slowly, suffocating them until they died.

“I gave you a chance, and you failed to deliver, so you must pay the price, right?”

No sooner had Kane finished speaking than he extended his hand to the side.

[Blue Tiger’s breath has been activated.]

Camilla’s sword was drawn to him as mana flowed from Kane’s hand.

Whoosh!

In an instant, light flashed in the air.

“Argh!”

The mercenary captain’s remaining arm was severed clean.

“You only get one chance.”

His voice was cold and unforgiving. The mercenary captain could only endure the pain without resistance.

Meanwhile,

“Young Master, what is the meaning of this?”

“You need to explain yourself.”

The mercenaries showed their hostility.

“Guh… S-Stop! Do not… show disrespect to the Young Master…!”

The mercenary captain’s labored breathing could be heard.

Despite this, the mercenaries did not retract their hostility.

“Remove your killing intent immediately, you bastards!”

The mercenary captain roared in anger.

Even with both arms severed, he was still a former Class 3 warrior. The Class 1 mercenaries couldn’t possibly contend with him.

“Quick to catch on. I was ready to kill everyone if they resisted, but that’s a pity.”

The mercenary captain’s eyes trembled violently. Everything Kane said was sincere.

Kane handed the documents the mercenaries had brought to Daniel.

“Old man, transfer all these documents to Rehinar.”

“What are you planning to do about the aftermath?”

“Is it a problem to cut out the rot? Expecting loyalty from those who only act in their own interest is foolish.”

Most of them had already secured land in Dyer, not bought with money but received in return for their loyalty to Dyer. If they could escape with their lives, they might not live as comfortably as now, but they could still live well enough.

In their minds, Rehinar was a doomed family. Once it fell, the value of the land they owned in Dyer would skyrocket. Even if they handed over their interests here, it wouldn’t be a loss.

But all of this was part of what Kane had planned in Hatzfeld.

“Old man, just handle the task I’ve given to you.”

“Hmm…”

“If it’s too much for you alone, select people who have been loyal to the family.”

“Even so, this is…”

“Just set the foundation. I’ll manage the rest myself.”

Kane’s handling of the situation was seamless, as if he had done such things many times before. Even the experienced Daniel was taken aback.

Kane then turned his gaze to the mercenary captain.

“You all, follow me.”

* * *

Kane led the captured individuals to the western gate.

“Why here?” the mercenary captain asked.

Kane kindly answered, “You are being exiled. You have no right to remain here.”

“Ex-exiled? Why are we being exiled?”

“Are you telling us to go out there and die?”

“Outside is the Demon Forest! Are you sending us to our deaths?”

Beyond the western gate lay the Demon Forest, a land teeming with mutant monsters known as demonic beasts.

“Yes, I’m telling you to die.”

Kane’s face remained serene. He showed no sign of concern, even if many were to die.

“Most of us don’t even have mana!”

“It’s not Rehinar’s duty to protect traitors like you. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Kane was resolute, with unwavering eyes.

The mercenary captain ground his teeth.

‘So that’s why he cut off my arms!’

The realization hit the captain with a chill. Kane had acted with a predetermined outcome. He had been played by the Young Master.

“Guards, why aren’t you opening the gate!”

Screech—

At Kane’s command, the western gate began to open.

“Try surviving in the Demon Forest without Rehinar’s protection.”

The corrupt vassals trembled with fear. Their terror seemed to spread quickly, as everyone looked stricken with panic.

“I-I’m not going out there!”

“I don’t want to die…”

“The monsters will tear us apart…”

As the terrified vassals turned to re-enter Rehinar, trying to flee from their fate, a sudden impact stopped them.

Smack—

Kane had conjured a droplet of mana that exploded on one vassal’s head, killing them instantly as they tried to turn back.

“Try going elsewhere, and I’ll kill you myself,” Kane warned coldly.

The corrupt vassals were paralyzed with fear, their bodies frozen in place.