182nd Chapter: How About That? I Found It Quickly! (2)
The man enjoyed the gazes directed at him and spoke in a leisurely voice.
“I am Glen from the Tower of the Bloody Flame. I will purchase as much food as possible.”
Upon hearing his identity, the people wore even more surprised expressions.
The Tower of the Bloody Flame is currently known as the best tower in the North.
Moreover, Glen himself was quite famous, being a Mage who had reached the 6th Circle and took care of external matters for the tower.
Glen glanced around, wearing a face that seemed to say this should be enough.
Indeed, the others could only swallow dryly, unable to open their mouths properly.
“Offering 1 gold for a sack of wheat? This so-called best tower in the North really does have a lot of money.”
“Crazy fools! How are we supposed to manage if we buy at that price? Are they bragging about their money?”
For the impoverished territories of the North, it was an utterly unattainable price.
They were just trying to buy food to survive until the next harvest season, but if they bought at that price, their territory would go bankrupt before the harvest even arrived.
However, the tower had relatively few people and an overwhelming amount of money, so they were in a position to afford it.
Glen, who held all the authority from the tower, confidently continued.
“Oh, I heard there are Runestones, and we will purchase all of them as well.”
As soon as the topic of Runestones came up, a greedy light sparkled in the eyes of the others.
“Is it true that this brat lord possesses Runestones?”
“Oh, we should have snatched that earlier.”
“Ugh, to think such treasure is in the hands of this loser. What a waste. Truly a waste.”
The others were also aware of the Runestones. The lords who had heard the rumor back then all pondered how to seize them.
Though Ghislaine was unsure since he only traded with the tower, he didn’t think it was completely baseless gossip.
Of course, everyone had given up when they heard the news of Marquis Branford becoming Ghislaine’s guardian.
Glen smiled as he awaited Ghislaine’s response.
“Food is definitely the priority right now. After some time, it will be hard to obtain even with money. Meanwhile, I should also see how many Runestones are left. Money can always be reclaimed later.”
Though it wasn’t apparent, the Tower of the Bloody Flame was raised by Duke Delphine’s family.
Naturally, Count Desmond was unrestrained in spending money, knowing he would attack Ghislaine eventually.
Aside from the relationship with the duke’s family, Ghislaine was a significant nuisance from the tower’s perspective.
“The Tower of the Bloody Flame is still holding out. There’s no doubt this brat will provide the Runestones.”
They were tightening their grip with a lot of money to ruin the Tower of the Bloody Flame.
However, despite where they obtained the Runestone from, it was still functioning perfectly, driving the Tower of the Bloody Flame mad.
Ghislaine chuckled as he surveyed the bustling people around him.
“What a bunch of hilarious fools.”
The Tower of the Bloody Flame would inevitably receive support for its deficiencies from the Duke Faction.
Yet here they were, shamelessly asking for food and Runestones.
Indeed, they were something extraordinary in more ways than one.
“They’re just trying to secure a little more food. Probably checking the remaining amount of Runestones too.”
Having fallen victim to the Runestone trap, it must have been infuriating for them. They surely wanted to seize all the remaining quantity.
Ghislaine narrowed his eyes and scrutinized the faces in the crowd.
“A lot of them showed up.”
There were quite a few tails from the Duke Faction that weren’t apparent on the surface like the Tower of the Bloody Flame.
Some were already in cahoots with the Duke Faction, others had their retainers completely turn without the lord’s knowledge, and some merely came to watch events unfold.
After calling out all the territories associated with the Duke Faction, including the Tower of the Bloody Flame, Ghislaine declared, “I won’t sell food to these territories, so everyone go back.”
Naturally, both Glen and the residents of the called territories looked bewildered.
Not even negotiating prices, and despite offering several times more money, to say they wouldn’t sell?
“What do you mean by that! Why won’t you sell to us?”
“Please tell us the reason!”
Even amidst the protests filling the great hall, Ghislaine shook his head.
“Go back, don’t ask why. It’s my wish. Pull them out.”
At Ghislaine’s gesture, the knights rushed in and started dragging out those who had been called.
The reactions of those being dragged away varied. Some resorted to threats, while others appealed to goodwill.
“We will never forget this! You will certainly regret it!”
“It seems you’re counting on Marquis Branford; let’s see how long that can last!”
“Please, I beg you. The Territory Residents are starving!”
“Have mercy on those poor souls!”
Listening quietly, Ghislaine couldn’t help but snort at the mention of “those poor souls.”
The lords of the North were notoriously cruel, just as the land they ruled was barren. Selling food to them would undoubtedly mean it would never reach the Territory Residents.
They were only going to focus on maintaining their army out of fear that starving Territory Residents might revolt.
To them, the Territory Residents were no different from slaves.
Even though Perdium was poor, it managed to survive all this time because Zvalter did not exploit the residents.
Ghislaine, who was well aware of this, knew such appeals wouldn’t work on him.
The summoned envoys were all dragged away, but Glen resisted the knights’ hands and stood firm, speaking in a furious tone.
“Hey, Baron! Are you truly disrespecting the Tower of the Bloody Flame right now? Do you not know who I am?”
A fierce aura began to emanate from Glen.
He was the Elder of the North’s top Mage Tower. Even nobles of decent standing treated him with respect.
How could he, a mere baron, behave so insolently? It was completely intolerable.
Yet Ghislaine’s response was even more outrageous.
“And who the hell are you?”
“W-What?! You don’t know who I am?”
Perhaps in another region this could happen, but how could anyone in the North not know him?
Although they might not have met in person, there was no way they hadn’t heard the name of the one responsible for the tower’s diplomacy.
Even without it, there’s no way he wouldn’t have heard the name of his position handling diplomacy for the Mage Tower.
Yet, the fact that he was treated like this meant they were collectively disregarding both him and the Mage Tower.
Glen, whose towering pride was cracking, glared at Ghislaine and spoke. He had never been treated this way before and couldn’t control his emotions at all.
“Baron! Look at me again and say it clearly. Do you really not know who I am?”
Ghislaine just sulked, shaking his head side to side before responding.
“I really don’t know… Claude, do you know who this is? Is he a famous person?”
‘Geez, why are you asking me that?’
Claude put on a troubled expression.
Of course, he knew who Glen was. Having a grasp on the identities of famous people was a basic necessity for those ruling a territory.
There was no way even a reckless lord wouldn’t know that. However, acting this way meant he was provoking the other party.
‘Ugh, I have no idea. What the heck does he want?’
Claude sighed and decided to play along with Ghislaine’s tempo for the time being.
“Well… I’ve never heard that name before… Is he a scroll salesman? I think I’ve seen him in the market… But he seems a bit full of himself. I wouldn’t have the guts to say something like that. Ah, I can feel the secondhand embarrassment creeping up, my hands are curling up!”
Ghislaine instinctively burst out laughing. He had hinted for this reaction, but it surpassed all expectations. It was clear that this guy was the best at being sarcastic on the continent.
Thud.
Glen’s fraying grip on his sanity completely snapped. As an Elder of the Mage Tower, he could absolutely not endure such humiliation.
“You little brats! Do you even know who I am?!”
Whooooooooooosh!
A terrifying magic power surged from every inch of the mage who had reached the 6th Circle.
With his head spinning from rage, Glen decided to use sheer force to intimidate.
Who would dare to stop him in such a pathetic barony?
“Ugh!”
The envoys around him panicked at his ferocity and quickly stepped back.
Bang!
With a malevolent expression that could rival an evil spirit, Glen took a step forward.
At that moment.
Clang!
Belinda, Gillian, and Kaor suddenly appeared with swords aimed at Glen’s throat.
Simultaneously, the knights blocked the entrance to the grand hall, drawing their swords and surrounding him.
Claude quickly hid behind Wendy.
“Ugh!”
The hot anger boiling in Glen’s chest instantly chilled.
Perhaps due to his excitement, he hadn’t even sensed the approach of the three. If this were a battlefield, his head would have been severed by now.
‘There are… such powerful people in Penris?’
He heard that the military strength was poor and there weren’t any proper knights in the territory. But when had they managed to gather such capable individuals?
The three holding swords to Glen’s neck looked at Ghislaine and opened their mouths.
“Young Master, can we kill him?”
“Lord, just give the word.”
“Hey, did everyone see that? I was the fastest, right? Right? I’m freaking awesome, aren’t I?”
Glen was so rigid he could only bite his lip.
He could feel a distinct aura of murder. If he stepped one more inch forward, or even twitched a finger, his life was clearly at stake.
“How dare these crazy fools…”
He had never encountered anyone who dared to treat an Elder of the Mage Tower like this.
As his overwhelming rage surged, he trembled, and then he heard Ghislaine’s hearty laughter.
“Do you want more? I’m just an illusion, you know. Plus, we have plenty of witnesses around.”
With those words, Glen suddenly snapped back to reality.
Glen suddenly snapped back to his senses at the mention of the horse.
It was the first time he had been so dismissed, and he was incredibly excited. If he had actually taken action, it would have turned into a significant problem.
But not yet. They are the hidden blade of the Duke Faction. At the critical moment in the battle against the Crown Prince Faction, they would appear and strike from behind as a secret weapon.
Right now, they must not catch the attention of the Crown Prince Faction.
If he carelessly moved based on personal judgment, he could lose his head at any moment.
“Hoo…”
Taking a deep breath to calm his emotions, Glen glared at Ghislaine and said,
“Our Mage Tower will never let this slide. Prepare yourself, Baron.”
“Don’t expect much.”
“I will make you regret it.”
With those final words, Glen turned away.
In any case, Count Desmond was planning to strike this territory. He vowed to personally assist and kill Ghislaine when the time came.
Mages never forget a grudge. They would make this rookie painfully feel the fear of mages.
As more than half of the people were expelled and even Glen had left, the remaining individuals began to exchange nervous glances.
‘What’s going on? Why were they driven away?’
‘Why are we still here?’
‘To go against the North’s best Mage Tower! This guy really has some guts!’
Not knowing the criteria for expulsion, they were bound to be confused.
One thing was certain: negotiating with this madman, who had no regard for diplomatic relations, was impossible.
Seeing their anxious faces, Ghislaine spoke softly.
“The atmosphere got a bit tense there. Honestly, I’m a soft-hearted person. Thinking about all the people starving in the North breaks my heart, and I can’t even sleep. I… am a pacifist.”
Those listening thought to themselves.
‘Is he really insane?’
‘Then why did he drive those people away?’
‘I had heard rumors about his lack of sanity, but could it be true…?’
An awkward silence hung in the air. Breaking the silence, Ghislaine continued.
“So I won’t accept any money.”
Everyone was taken aback at his words. Right now, the price of food was worth its weight in gold. No, it would be hard to even buy it with gold.
And yet, he said he wouldn’t accept money?
One of them, looking for clues, asked tentatively,
“Then, are you thinking of exchanging it for other resources from the territory?”
The Penris Territory was also known for its resource shortages, so there was certainly a possibility.
But Ghislaine shook his head at that question as well.
“No, I won’t accept any resources either.”
Upon hearing that, the expressions of the remaining people brightened. If he wouldn’t take money or resources, the only thing they could offer was interest and love.
‘This guy is quite clever. It turns out he was just pretending to be tough at first, despite being so soft-hearted.’
‘Ah, he’s so cute, acting like this at such a young age.’
The envoys concealed their dark intentions as they thought freely.
‘For now, we just need to get food. Who cares about the defense spending?’
‘We just have to endure this drought. We’ll have to correct his habits later.’
‘This is just a stroke of luck with the food piled up now. Do you think you’ll keep doing so well? The world isn’t that easy.’
The envoys couldn’t help but suppress their laughter, their cheeks twitching. At that moment, Ghislaine casually threw out,
“I will accept soldiers instead of money. Please send a suitable number of soldiers according to the size of each territory.”
Upon hearing that, the faces of the envoys turned pale in an instant.
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