Chapter 5
“I must go to Fallenberg immediately.”
“Right now, sir?”
“Yes.”
[You’ve been possessed by a demon.]
The reply from Duke Fallenberg was short and concise. But that made it all the more intense.
Enough to make Fernyan unable to bear not doing something right now.
“The entrance ceremony you’ve been waiting for is in two days. Didn’t you say you would attend the entrance ceremony to personally observe the new students?”
“Listen well, Hyde. There is a time for everything.”
A time to buy and a time to sell, a time to earn money and a time to spend money. Everything was about timing.
The short reply. From that, Fernyan could guess.
“If I miss this opportunity, my father might disown me.”
“Surely not to that extent…”
The servant who was shaking his head stopped speaking.
“…Come to think of it, it was excessive overstepping of authority. It was tantamount to directly opposing His Grace’s will.”
It could have been dismissed as just a foolish son’s overreach. No matter what others said, Fallenberg had that level of authority.
But in the process, it was clear that Fallenberg’s reputation and credibility would be damaged.
For a merchant, having one’s credibility broken was more fatal than anything else.
“Honestly, I never thought the young master would suddenly make such a decision unless he was possessed by something.”
He was possessed. The fact was that it wasn’t a demon or evil spirit, but a prophetic book.
“But didn’t you make that choice because you had some intention? If you explain that part well to the duke, wouldn’t he understand?”
“……”
He couldn’t talk about that part.
What would he say if he told them he had obtained a prophetic book?
‘At first, he would show curiosity and tell me to bring the prophetic book.’
Duke Fallenberg was an open-minded person who was ready to accept anything if it could make money.
However, that required solid evidence and confirmation.
‘If I say it’s in my head, he’ll say that a merchant has fallen into vain delusions and is trying to ruin the family.’
Of course, he would try to verify it, believing in the one-in-a-million possibility.
But the prophecies currently in Fernyan’s head were mostly about Aint Armian and events within the Academy, and that alone was woefully insufficient to convince Duke Fallenberg.
‘The only thing mentioned outside the Academy…’
Fernyan bit his lip.
Content mentioned almost in passing. Fortunately, this was a future related to money.
‘I have no choice but to gamble.’
That’s what investment was originally like.
You invest through thorough research and verification, but nothing in this world is 100% absolute.
It’s packaged with the nice word ‘investment,’ but when you get to the essence, it’s just a type of gambling with slightly higher odds.
“I’ve thought of a good method.”
“May I ask what it is?”
“The pufferfish strategy.”
“The pufferfish strategy…”
Pufferfish was a general term for fish of the order Tetraodontiformes, which had quite deadly poison and would puff up their bodies by taking in air or water when in danger.
“Are you going to assassinate the duke with poison? That’s insane…”
“How does the conversation flow that way?”
“If not that, then…”
The servant hesitated for a moment.
“Are you going to threaten the duke?”
“It’s not a threat.”
“Then what?”
“Anyway, it’s not that. Just prepare a ship.”
Fernyan deliberately avoided the servant’s gaze.
***
“The young master has arrived.”
“Bring him in immediately.”
“Yes.”
The butler left.
Scratch scratch
The man signing documents stopped his hand. He turned his head to look out the window and saw his son getting out of the carriage.
“He looks fine. I thought he might have taken some medicine and gone mad.”
If that were the case, it would be even more problematic. It would mean he tried to ruin the family with a sound mind.
“He’s been possessed by a demon, possessed by a demon. The demon that died to the founding emperor must have returned.”
Otherwise, there was no reason for a perfectly fine fellow to pull such stunts.
Knock knock-
“Your Grace. I’ve brought young master Fernyan.”
While he was lost in thought, the butler opened the door.
His son, whom he was seeing for the first time in almost a month, slowly entered. He didn’t seem particularly nervous. Rather than being possessed by a demon, he seemed to have something to rely on.
The butler closed the door and stood at attention.
“I came because I have something to tell you, father.”
“Explain.”
He muttered quietly, still with his head buried in the documents.
“All the nobles of the Empire know. If the frontier counts collapse, the Empire’s north will crumble. Support is still continuing, and Berchev is being rebuilt.”
What once felt like pouring water into a bottomless pot was now a thing of the past. The Berchev family was showing gradual results, and what they needed right now was time. Only that.
“I gradually interfered with the Empire’s support to not give them that time, and made Berchev borrow money from us.”
Interest was a means to delay Berchev’s reconstruction and ultimately make them unable to repay the principal. When it ripened appropriately, he planned to demand their secret swordsmanship techniques in exchange for the debt.
But his son had overturned that.
“It was the first and last opportunity.”
Considering Berchev’s potential, it was clear that unless the world ended, such an opportunity would never come again.
“Why did you do it?”
“Because I decided to make an even better investment.”
“What could be better than the secret swordsmanship techniques of the count family that has protected the Empire’s north for the past thousand years?”
“…I cannot tell you that.”
“…Fernyan.”
The duke’s hand stopped. His brow furrowed at the childish whining tone.
“Speaking nicely doesn’t make this a request. Right now, you’re not the heir but a sinner, a scoundrel trying to squander the family’s wealth.”
“It will return as even greater profit.”
“Can you be certain?”
“I can be certain.”
But seeing his unwavering gaze, he changed his mind a bit.
He knew his son better than anyone. He wasn’t the type to act recklessly, and if he did act recklessly, there would be a valid reason.
The duke was like that, and he had raised his son that way.
He realized it. The boy was hiding something.
“Then I’ll ask again. What is the source of that confidence? What did you invest in, and what is the source of the belief that made you invest?”
“…I still cannot answer that.”
“This is amazing. I never raised you to be so stubborn.”
What could it be? The duke raised his presence to pressure him to see inside. He could see the boy swallowing a groan.
“Did you really fall for Luina Berchev?”
He casually threw out the bait.
“No. I’m not foolish enough to throw away money because I’m blinded by love.”
“Then what’s the reason you can’t give me an explanation after pulling such a stunt?”
“The Arus Mountains.”
“The Arus Mountains?”
“West of the Arus Mountains, in the territory of Viscount Donertz, there’s an undiscovered Magic Stone mine. The scale is quite large, so in the long term, it should be able to compensate for the Berchev family’s losses to some extent.”
“A Magic Stone mine?”
Magic Stones were ore containing mana, considered one of the finest among ores. Naturally, they meant money. Very big money.
If what he said was true, it would be good news. But he couldn’t easily believe it.
“You discovered what even Viscount Donertz’s family hasn’t found?”
“You know I have a personally operated information organization.”
“I don’t think it’s superior to the family’s. At best, isn’t it just children’s games?”
“Children originally play by digging in the ground. Thanks to that, they sometimes pick up buried coins by luck.”
His son shrugged. That cheeky attitude was quite merchant-like.
“Currently, the Donertz Trading Company, directly operated by the Donertz viscounty, has had their ship sink in a typhoon, so their financial situation is not good. If we dig into that aspect, there’s plenty of room for involvement.”
“You’re telling me not to ask any more reasons and just accept it?”
“That’s not what I mean…”
“A Magic Stone mine.”
His tone was sharp, but he was quite satisfied. A deal. When approached with a merchant’s method, it was proper to respond accordingly.
“If what you say is correct, it can compensate for the damage you’ve caused to some extent. First, let me verify whether what you say is true.”
“Thank you.”
“Since it’s something that takes time, for now, return to the Academy and focus on your studies. When the results come out, I’ll call for you again.”
“Yes.”
“Ah, since it’s late, stay and sleep tonight. Let’s have dinner together in a little while.”
“Yes, father.”
His son bowed and left. The duke asked the butler.
“What do you think?”
“To attempt a deal with Your Grace. He’s become a proper merchant.”
“Have you ever heard rumors of a Magic Stone mine in the Arus Mountains?”
“No.”
“Fernyan knew something that even the Black Turtle couldn’t catch?”
This was the decisive reason the duke accepted Fernyan’s bold proposal.
The Fallenberg ducal family had extensive information networks spanning the entire Empire and even the entire continent, but they had never heard of a Magic Stone mine in the Arus Mountains.
“Certainly… it is an unexpected matter.”
“But he’s not the type to tell obvious lies that would be quickly exposed just to get out of the immediate situation.”
“Yes. The young master is certainly not that kind of person.”
“Look into the Golden Pillar thoroughly as well.”
The Golden Pillar was a personal information organization that Fernyan Fallenberg had been building since childhood.
He thought he knew everything, but apparently not.
“Fernyan is admirable, but I’m a bit disappointed in you.”
“I apologize. I will reorganize the organization.”
“Do that. But first, send someone to the Donertz viscounty to check around the Arus Mountains area. Don’t let the viscounty’s people catch on.”
“Yes.”
The butler bowed deeply.
“Also, look into Luina Berchev. Find out in detail how she managed to seduce that blockhead Fernyan.”
“Are you saying the young master is infatuated with Luina Berchev?”
“He’s someone who won’t invest without a valid reason, and if he has a valid reason, there’s no way he wouldn’t state it.”
But the fact that he invested yet couldn’t state the reason meant his attention had been diverted to something else.
Instead of confessing honestly, he brought up a deal because he was embarrassed, and because there was some other secret he couldn’t tell.
It wouldn’t be like his son to offer a Magic Stone vein just out of embarrassment.
“Love in youth is reason enough. Looking back, it’s nothing special, but at the time, you think it’s everything in the world.”
“Yes.”
“Call Hyde on your way out. I have something to ask.”
Hyde was the servant and close aide who served Fernyan closely.
The butler left. The duke spun his pen.
“Fernyan has been obsessed with knowing that ore brings big money since long ago.”
Although he had scolded the butler, he didn’t think it was the Black Turtle’s fault.
The continent was vast and there were many buried veins. Finding veins was not easy, so even the Black Turtle couldn’t grasp all of them.
However, his philosophy was that organizations needed to be injected with tension at every opportunity to earn their keep.
“If he’s built an organization beyond expectations specifically for veins and ore…”
The duke’s lips twisted at his son’s growth, which was better than expected.
“As you wish, I won’t ask about the secret you’re hiding. At least not right now.”
That was the deal. If the compensation was certain, there was nothing he couldn’t overlook.
This was based on the fundamental belief that Fernyan wouldn’t harm the family.
“What could it be? Something that someone who loves money more than I do had to choose instead of money.”
Love’s influence would be significant, but that wouldn’t be everything.
“I must find this out as well.”
He said he wouldn’t ask, but he never said he wouldn’t find out directly.
***
“…Did I manage to get through it for now?”
Fernyan, who had left the duke’s office, sighed in relief.
“The mine is real. Father will eventually accept my deal.”
Duke Fallenberg was an efficient person. He was definitely not someone who would refuse a pile of money rolling around in front of him.
“I guess I put out the immediate fire…”
It felt like ten years had been shaved off his lifespan.
“Father will surely investigate the Golden Pillar as well.”
He probably already knows everything, but this incident will make him wonder if there are aspects he doesn’t know about.
“Even if I’m going to be caught eventually, I should pretend there’s something to delay it as much as possible.”
I should send everyone elsewhere except the minimum within the Academy.
Pretending to be doing various things across the continent.
Meanwhile, I’ll recall as much of the prophetic book’s content as possible and throw out other bait.
‘I’ll think about family matters gradually, but first, things about Aint take priority. An important incident will break out when the semester starts.’
Fernyan grabbed his head and recalled the prophetic book.
[“Winner! Aint Armian!”
The referee who checked the fallen student’s condition raised the match-end flag.
At his declaration, the spectators roared.
“Aint won!”
“Aint defeated Anton Dnerun!”]
The part where Aint Armian begins to truly distinguish himself.
“I need to see this with my own eyes.”
Following up after the fact or hearing rumors would be completely different from seeing it directly with one’s own eyes.
