Isn't it permissible for a villain to enjoy rolling [11]
Gillian said in an arrogant voice:
“As for the Morris Mine... as Your Highness knows, it belongs to the Morell family. No, it is the greatest mine in the empire...”
He was about to mention a huge sum that he knew deep down was a bit exaggerated.
But Arkel interrupted him with one word:
“No, that's enough.”
Gillian's speech was cut off midway.
“I won't listen to the price of the Morris mine. In any case, we have no intention of buying it.”
Jillian's eyes widened in surprise.
“W-what did you say just now-”
Arkell's next words were even more shocking:
“The Cayenne family will buy the Wencell mine.”
“Winsel Mine?!”
Gillian shouted unconsciously, then quickly closed his mouth, but he could not hide his turmoil.
Arkell's lips, which had remained expressionless the entire time, were drawn into a slight, barely noticeable smile.
'It doesn't make sense... does he know the truth?!'
Jillian gritted his teeth hard.
'No... impossible. He's just faking it to lower the price.'
He feigned a smile and said:
“Understood. I'll lower the price for you.”
“…….”
“I'll give you a reasonable price, there's no need to pretend you don't care.”
Arkell said in a firm tone that showed no change in his features:
“You don't seem to understand what I said. Whether you sell the Morris Mine cheaply or dearly, I don't care. I said clearly, what I want is the Wencell Mine.”
“…….”
Gillian swallowed hard.
Arkell continued speaking simply, as if he were talking about an ordinary matter:
“As far as I know, the Wencel Mine does not contain large amounts of mana stones, so the Morell Family doesn’t consider it important, right?”
“…….”
“So, if the Cayin Family buys it, it’s a net gain for you. As you said yourself, the timing is just right.”
“Haha… That’s really….”
Gillian smirked as he desperately tried to find a way out.
However, all Arkell seemed to assure him was that it was no joke or act; he really wanted the Wencell Mine.
'Not possible! He should be content with the Morris Mine and abandon the rest!'
In fact, the Morris Mine was not a magical stone gold mine as was common in the empire, but just an ordinary small mine.
The stones that were reputed to be of the highest quality were only apparently polished stones, and some were just poor quality.
While the mine that people do not know, Wencel is the real treasure.
It contains highly purified mana stones, rare herbs, and minerals used in the manufacture of magical tools….
'It's all in the Wencell Mine!'
Gillian's gaze froze as he stared at Arkell coldly.
The Morrill family had been deceiving others by selling bad Morris stones at high prices, while reaping hidden profits from Wencell.
To prevent the ambitions of others, they kept Wensel's truth a secret...so how on earth did Arkell Cain know about this?
Noticing his silence, Arkell said:
“Why are you silent?”
“…….”
“Didn't you say you needed money for a business?”
That was a complete lie.
His only art was to sell the worthless Morris Mine at a ridiculous price.
Arkell's red eyes sparkled as he stared at Gillian as if they were piercing his chest.
Gillian pretended to smile bitterly, and said in a sorry tone:
“You really don't intend to buy the Morris Mine? In that case... I'm sorry the deal won't go through.”
“…….”
Then he added in a formal tone:
“Anyway, I enjoyed the food.”
He got up from his seat, then turned to his servant and said:
“Ready the cart. We'll be right back.”
But Arkell stopped him with a word:
“Slow down.”
Gillian turned and looked at him.
Arkell said, staring at Gillian's dishes.
“The food is still in front of you, half eaten.”
“I apologize, but since it's over, I'd like to come back right away.”
“You don't seem to like the place. Too bad... I had prepared dessert.”
"sweet?"
Gillian raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Arkel said:
“Huan, bring him.”
“Yes sir.”
The man with the glasses, who had been standing behind him the whole time, moved and came back a little later holding a bundle of papers in his hands.
Gillian narrowed his eyes as he studied the papers, then froze.
They were newspaper articles.
Arkel took the papers from the man's hand and read the title slowly:
“An explosion in the Morris mine... a large number of workers were injured while transporting stones.”
“How did you get that?”
'How did this news reach his hands?!'
From behind the wall, where she was listening to all the conversation, Lizzie let out a little tune through her nose and laughed softly:
“Ahohoho.”
❖ ❖ ❖
She was laughing softly, covering her mouth with her palm, when her eyes met those of Hwan, who was looking at her.
She pointed to him with her thumbs up, but he turned his head in denial in despair.
It was no surprise that he looked tired.
“Huan! There is something I want you to do immediately.”
“Miss, excuse me, but I still have a little work left. I just started reviewing some documents, so—ah! Give me back my papers, please!”
“I will return it to you when you do what I ask.”
"Give it back to me! I've got so little left... Oh, all right, all right! I understand! Just don't tear it up—I will! I'll do whatever you want!"
So Lizzy got Hwan to go get her the newspaper article.
She already knew that Gillian Morrell was scamming through the Morris Mine.
'Later, when Martha finds out, she will be very angry.'
She even almost dragged the entire knights with her to storm Morel's palace.
But in the process, Lizzie had one suspicion.
There were a number of defective pieces among the mana stones extracted from the Morris Mine, so why had this not caused any problems so far?
After thinking carefully, I came to one answer: They were silenced.
It is impossible that no one has said this before.
However, the Morris Mine was still able to operate and sell, which meant they kept the whole thing under wraps.
'This is common even in our modern times. In such cases, the first thing stakeholders do is...'
…Control the media.
So I asked Huan to find out if there were articles that were published and then withdrawn shortly after their publication.
Indeed, he found one that talked about a mana stone exploding.
As I expected, the stone that exploded was from the Morris Mine.
Huan said:
“According to the words of the author of the article, an order was suddenly issued from above to withdraw and destroy all copies.”
“Hmm…as I expected.”
“He also says that this was not the first time this had happened... But, can one journalist show the truth to the world?”
I answered him with a smile:
“He won't be able to, not alone. Media manipulation by corporations is terrifying.”
"Sorry?"
Hwan looked confused, but I grinned.
“…But if there is strong support behind him, the situation will change completely, right?”
I looked with satisfied eyes at the article that Arkell was holding in his hand.
I had asked him to show it to Gillian and to say specific words.
And now…
“—We will publish this truth.”
Arkel carried out my orders to the letter.
“You may have been able to silence a small newspaper, but it is impossible to silence the Cayenne family.”
Gillian's face turned completely pale.
His body trembled, and he who noticed this kicked, continued coldly:
“The Cayenne family only wants one thing, the Wencell Mine.”
“I-Am I so crazy—!”
Arkal interrupted him with a decisive coldness:
“If it weren't for your madness, you wouldn't have allowed the distribution of mana stones that are vulnerable to exploding at any moment. Isn't that crazy?”
“…….”
“I hope you like the dessert.”
He said as he put the article aside and raised the glass of wine to sip it quietly.
I smiled faintly as I looked at him in amazement:
‘What’s this… He seems to know how to joke around too.’
I thought he was a man without any feelings, but he knew how to use harsh sarcasm skillfully.
“So, what’s your decision? I was in a hurry to get back, and I’m also not willing to keep you long.”
“…….”
“Then we did not ask for the mine for free, but rather made a clear offer for a deal.”
“Y-You…”
“…….”
"Do you think you're in a position to threaten me?! The real scoundrel is you!"
Gillian stammered, his face turning blue, and his trembling hand pointing towards Arkell, who was sitting in front of him.
Arkel said in a low tone:
“What do you mean by that?”
Although his voice was calm, an immense terror seeped from it that made Gillian shudder.
“Why do you claim that the Cain family is evil?”
Arkel stood up from his seat and took one step towards him, saying:
“We did not deceive anyone like you, nor did we sell prohibited weapons.”
Gillian fell back trembling, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly, and then he could barely speak:
“L-L-Lizzy Alheim!”
Arkl stopped and stared at him silently.
"I know Lizzy is here. If House Alheim finds out about this, what do you think they'll do...?"
“…….”
“No matter how pious they are, they will not abandon their daughter. They will invade the place with all their knights. It will be war!”
“War then.”
“Yes! Even the Great House of Cain will not survive without blood. Only two Holy Knights from the House of Eliheim are equal to the power of an entire army.”
Gillian smiled crookedly.
“Now you understand? You are not in a position to threaten me, you should beg me.”
“So then.”
Arkell answered coldly, without the slightest emotion, which made Gillian shout angrily:
"Stop pretending to be calm! I have proof that Lizzie is here!"
He took something out of his pocket that shone a delicate silver color.
'...It's unbelievable! 'Is that my hair?'
I froze as I looked at the strand of silver hair in his hand, then at my hair.
Gillian said, waving it proudly.
“Beit Elheim, they will recognize her immediately, and they will know that she belongs to their daughter.”
He smiled a malicious smile and added:
“Do not think of harming me. Before I came here, I ordered the knights to be sent if I did not return within one day.”
“…….”
“Now you understand? You realize very well what predicament you are in.”
When Arkell continued to stare at him silently, Gillian regained some of his boldness and said in a loud voice:
“Then let me impose my terms. In exchange for me turning a blind eye to Lizzie being here... what will you give me?”
"-liar."
"What?"
I came out from behind the wall where I was hiding, and the eyes of Arkell and Jillian turned to me at the same time.
“You shout out loud that you will save me, and then come to bargain with me? Truly pathetic.”
“L-Lizzy...”
Gillian's gaze shook violently as he saw me.
"What surprises you so? Didn't you say you knew I was in this palace?"
“I-I just—”
"Then what's that hair story?! Are you a maniac chasing me?"
Jillian's face froze and completely stiffened.
-
Translated by: Snow
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