097 Chapter. A New North (2)
Khan struggled to calm his boiling anger.
‘How dare these bastards… covet someone else’s property?’
This is why one must be cautious of those with elongated ears, nobles, and mages. Such highway bandits. If they only knew the hardships endured in the demonic realm… While he wished to teach them a lesson in the way of the Hoarfrost Gorge, nobles are nobles after all.
Should they all perish, the already tumultuous North would plunge into true chaos.
‘These goddamn…..’
It was Khan’s decision to not reveal the full details to them, and as a result, their greed got the better of them. Showcasing the benevolence of a modern person, Khan decided to let it slide this time.
“So, what was the initial matter at hand?”
“…How rude.”
“Rude?”
“Yes, rude. I understand that you are the barbarian warrior who, alongside the Swordsmaster Kal Elson and the Black Wing Duke’s Great Warrior, raided the demonic realm. However, that does not excuse the disrespectful manner you’ve exhibited here.”
The young one’s audacity was commendable. Judging by his proximity to the throne, his status seemed higher than expected. But he had made a mistake.
“So what?”
“Excuse me?”
“Is this your first time seeing a barbarian behave rudely?”
Khan had no intention of playing along with their petty social hierarchy.
“And besides. It was you who were rude first. Put yourself in my shoes. How do you think I feel seeing you all trying to steal the spoils that I fought like a dog for, while you just sat back and watched?”
“What are you…”
“You, the sniveling one. What were you doing when the demonic realm was being raided?”
Count Lante was rendered speechless by Khan’s question, which was to be expected. On that day, Count Lante had barricaded himself in his city, guarding his chambers with his knights, oblivious to the chaos unfolding at the grand fortress…
“Cat got your tongue?”
“I am the only city lord in the North who did not join the rebellion…”
“So you did nothing.”
Although Khan was unaware of the count’s identity, his query had unexpectedly struck a nerve. Even the pretext of not aligning with the grand duke couldn’t stand before a hero who’d directly vanquished the demonic realm.
“I personally invaded the grand fortress and prevented a disaster unknown to all. If not for me, the corruption would have not stopped at the grand fortress but engulfed Ro-Elpellan, and possibly more. I stopped it. At the risk of my own blood and life.”
“Anyway. Wasn’t it all done by the Swordsmaster of the Mercenary Guild and the Black Wing Duke’s Great Warrior?”
It was Feru, the leader of the mercenaries, who intervened.
“Neither renowned like the Black Wing Duke’s Great Warrior nor someone of known origins, just some wildling… Sure, I’ve heard barbarian warriors are strong fighters. But that only goes so far. Surely, you can’t be stronger than the imperial Swordsmaster?”
Challenging bravely, as befit a figure who stood at the pinnacle among many mercenaries, Feru’s seemingly equal stature and menacing appearance suggested he could indeed face a warrior of Hoarfrost Gorge in combat.
“Why don’t we settle it here, then? Prove that you are stronger than both the Swordsmaster and the Black Wing Duke’s Great Warrior!”
Bang! Crack!
“Worthless…”
Why bother making such a fuss.
Remaining seated on his seat, with minimal movement below his knees, Khan sent Feru flying to the ceiling with an exasperated look. His position on the raised dais naturally gave him a condescending view over the assembled nobles.
However, the nobles couldn’t muster any objection, possibly due to their shock.
‘He just flung him away so easily?’
‘Is this merely about being strong? A race without mana…’
‘Could he be the barbarian the grand duke declared as an devil’s minion…!’
However, Khan had no intention of giving those crafty ones enough time to think it over.
“How about it. If you want more proof, step forward. Either speak or shut your mouth.”
It was essentially a command to shut up. Seeing that his kind persuasion seemed to have worked, Khan smiled for the first time and said,
“Good. Let’s start the real meeting now.”
“The wyvern of Al-Rasdel was killed by me and my comrades. Naturally, its ownership belongs to me and my comrades.”
The aristocrats murmured among themselves, never having anticipated that the barbarian who had raided the demonic realm was the same person who had hunted Al-Rasdel’s wyvern.
“If you need evidence, the mayor of Al-Ranzas and the abbess of Berta Monastery will testify directly. I’m aware there are quite a few who flocked here with that in mind…”
“Regarding the wyvern carcass under the tower of Al-Rasdel. I was thinking of employing the prisoners to extract it.”
“Well, fine by me. Digging it up myself would have been bothersome.”
“But it will take quite some time. It’s not just about removing the debris hastily; organizing a system to transport and control the prisoners will also take a while.”
“Just handle it. As long as I get my share, that’s all that matters to me. If you’re willing to dig it up in my stead, I would consider transferring the carcass at a reasonable price.”
“Taking into account the costs of excavation and managing the prisoners… if we deduct those appropriately from the purchase price…”
“In return, I will take a portion for myself, no matter what. I plan to turn it into weapons, so it won’t be a large amount.”
“Understood.”
The meeting proceeded swiftly and without hitch.
As Hern actively agreed with Khan, showing no intention of opposing him, the meeting quickly unfolded in the direction Khan wanted. To the uninformed aristocrats, however, this seemed to be a different matter.
‘Hern. That opportunist wouldn’t be sucking up without a good reason.’
‘And, thinking about it, the place where he was attacked and went missing was Al-Ranzas, where the head of Berta Monastery is. There must be some connection…?’
“As for the Duke’s assets…”
“That part cannot be entirely claimed as yours. As you know, the assets of nobles who conspired in a rebellion fundamentally revert to the royal family, as is the law of the kingdom.”
“I am not a subject of the kingdom.”
“But the Duke was originally a noble of the Argon Kingdom. Therefore, if the royal family obstructs, it will become quite troublesome. Moreover, since the Black Wing Duke’s Great Warrior fought alongside you, a justification can certainly be made.”
“The royal family…”
They shouldn’t be interested in this matter.
‘Well… swallowing it all was never going to be easy anyway.’
Even if one calls it a border kingdom noble, this was a household that, as descendants of a fallen nation, had lived as high nobles for centuries. Judging from how many soldiers were armed for the rebellion, their wealth must have been considerable. There surely lies a significant amount of gold coins still.
Having all of it could mean completely replacing the equipment with special gear made by Dwarven artisans, but Khan had no such intention. If he were to swallow the Duke’s assets whole, the North would suffer for a very long time.
‘I’m leaving anyway, what should it matter to me…?’
But, wrong is wrong.
Unlike other uncivilized medieval folks, he couldn’t degrade himself to their level. After all, the value of gold wasn’t so significant to him since items dubbed ‘endgame’ in games couldn’t just be bought with money.
‘Still, I should take what I can.’
“As for the Duke’s assets, I promise not to touch them as long as they are promised to be used for the wellbeing of the North. Also, nominate someone untangled in political relations for a supervisory role. I will discuss the selection with those who fought alongside me in defeating the demonic realm.”
He had someone in mind for the selection. A person politically completely neutral, reluctant to engage with nobles, and a rare moral figure in this medieval era.
And now, to the main point.
“Instead, among the items possessed by the Duke, if there is usable equipment, I’ll take it. If it’s not going to cause you all to fight, you won’t be needing it.”
“The Elpellan Duchy… rather, the responsibilities undertaken by the Duke included stemming the influx of Greenskins from the land of warriors. If you take all of it, problems could arise when they do.”
“I have no intention of taking everything with me. I doubt there’s much here that catches my eye.”
“In that case….”
At this point, it was time for Khan to bow out of the conversation. What remained was for these people to scuffle among themselves, sorting their own hierarchies. Just as Khan was about to gracefully exit the stage, a young Count from the North stopped him.
“Wait. There’s a favor I wish to ask of you. As one of the three heroes who ended the chaos in the North.”
“What is it?”
“The North will soon turn into a battleground for power struggles. The true ruler has completely fallen from grace without a successor in place.”
“Get to the point.”
“I’m thinking of creating a new governing body, with the primary objective of benefiting the people of the North. It will meet the conditions you’ve demanded. We must evolve, fostering close links and increased exchanges among the cities of the North, aiding one another… just like regions outside the North.”
“If you wish to play politics, do so without involving me. Why tell me this?”
“Yes, there is a reason.”
The young Count Lante’s eyes sparkled with passion and ambition.
“To establish such an organization, we need a justified cause that we’re representing the North. Despite everything, the nobles of the North aren’t free from the original sin of the Duke’s rebellion. However…”
Taking a breath, Count Lante continued,
“If a hero who ended the North’s turmoil assists in its foundation, it changes everything. And fortunately, one of those heroes is here.”
“Just make your point. Didn’t you hear me?”
“Please, name the organization. Doing so grants us the legitimacy that we’re continuing the legacy of the heroes to stabilize the North. And you, in turn, will wield significant influence over the North.”
He’d survive in the modern world. He’d likely be wearing a golden badge on his chest were this Korea, such was his fortitude. Khan given his disinterest in power, sensed the angle of the proposal.
“Hmm…”
His contemplation was brief.
“Fine, why not.”
His acceptance was largely because he saw no reason to refuse.
“Once you’ve decided on a name for the organization, have someone inform me…”
“No, I’ve thought of something appropriate.”
Given the current circumstances, what could be more fitting?
“The Northern Emergency Measures Committee.
‘Northern EMC’ for short.”
***
With those words, Khan effortlessly exited the grand hall, leaving behind only the instruction to inform him when the Duke’s vault was opened. The finer details could wait to be relayed through Hern. What happened to the North next was up to those left behind.
‘My presence became unnecessarily highlighted, but information tends to spread anyway. Enough soldiers saw me entering the Duke’s fortress.’
Be it Pashantu with the Black Wing Duke, Kal Elson’s mercenary guild, or Raven of the White Crows, it was impossible to suppress such news.
Assuming the information was leveraged at an extremely valuable moment, the deal wasn’t bad.
“Ah, boss. Have you finished your business? Raven, that fellow, wanted me to pass a message to you. Said he’d write a letter since he dashed out and missed telling you.”
“Everything’s taken care of.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“And you? Given all you had to prepare, I’m surprised to see you out here leisurely greeting me.”
“The preparations were completed long ago. Now it’s just farewells.”
With a bittersweet smile, Ron turned, his tone heavy with unspoken thoughts.
“They’re all waiting inside. But surely, we should all say our goodbyes together, shouldn’t we?”