Chapter 134

The excruciating pain slowly washed away, and Isaac managed to catch his breath and reach for a cigarette. He was so close to dying. It was supposed to be an act, but gauging the depth of the stab was difficult when using someone elses hand.

He would never have pulled off such insanity if immediate treatment wasnt available. But Isaac wasnt going to pass up on the fastest and easiest method when it only involved some pain. He just made a mistake towards the end.

Bring me the evidence.

Rizzly, whose face was crying mercy at Kunettes arbitrary brutality, pulled out some tongs and grabbed the bloody knife.

Do you think such blatant fabrication will work!

The knife had Isaacs blood and Viscount Aintzs fingerprints. At this rate, they were going to be hadtrapped and with no way of escape.

The only part that was remotely questionable was that this incident happened in front of the emissaries in plain sight. Was Isaac certain he could keep them silent?

What do you mean fabrication? I have the knife, blood, fingerprints, and a culprit arrested.

Do you think we will commit perjury!

Hm? I think youre mistaken. Who said were letting you free?

You cant just arrest emissaries without a criminal charge!

Feeling his wound slowly heal thanks to Reisha, Isaac felt firsthand how amazing magic was. He got on his feet, lit a new cigarette, and announced.

The elves and North Bears are combing through the city to find the assassin and his helpers. Isnt it normal procedure to arrest people of the Lichten Family, whom the assassin hails from?

Everyone was shocked at Isaac. So that huge mess the elves and North Bears stirred up was for this reason.

Hes already made his decision.

Baron Dale shut his eyes in shock. Half of his brain scrambled to assess the difference in power between the two sides. Ordinarily, he would have scoffed at the idea of going to war against some sorry excuse of a Lord that owned a single city, but the situation now was different.

The Lichten main family had lost most of their military forces in the war against Wolfgang. Their loss had set them dangerously close to bankruptcy. And their vassals had been jockeying for power while the branch families alliances were in a constant state of flux in the power struggle to become the family head.

If all of Lichtens vassals united with what was left of their military, facing off against Isaac would be a simple feat. But their opponent was a lunatic who didnt hesitate to cut open his own stomach. There was no way he would fight fair and square.

Dale could see all sorts of schemes, deceit, and conspiracies coming at them, driving a wedge between each family and vassal.

Though Isaac had no formally conscripted military, his financial power alone dwarfed the Lichtens. And legality wise, he had the legal right to demand war; requesting for outside aid or an arbitration was impossible. No. Isaac had Wolfgang for military power. Though they were in a similar state as Lichtens, they would easily crush the Lichtens if Isaac provided the Wolfgang family logistical and financial support. After all, Wolfgang had plenty of reasons to join the war.

When his thoughts concluded at that point, Baron Dale bit hard on his lip, glaring at Isaac as blood dripped from his mouth.

The truth will be revealed one day.

Isaac smirked, donned his coat, and sat back on his chair.

The truth yeah, it will be revealed one day. But will the people believe it? Between the lie that some man who lost all his money and exiled from his house attempted to kill me out of hatred, or the truth that some lunatic cut himself to take over a Marquis realm? What seems more believable?

I think they would be plenty convinced if the culprit of that truth was you, Lord.

The administrative body instinctively nodded at Rivelias point.

Ah, really? Well it doesnt matter. The hearsay of a few will never become the of the many. Listen here bratand you too, damsel. Ill tell you the truththe truth thatll be engraved into your blood and bone. What you want to believe is the truthespecially when it comes to things youre not involved in. Remember so.

Everyone was silent, unwilling to endorse Isaacs words. The rooftop was silent until Baron Dale cried out.

Do you think itll be over by just arresting us?! What about them?! How long do you think they will stay loyal to you! The truth will be revealed when any one of them betrays you!

The administrative bodys faces stiffened, and Isaacs head tilted.

I thought accounts from close aides had no legal power in the court?

If a close aide gives an account that goes against you, it will naturally raise suspicioneven if it doesnt have any legal consequences.

Thats fine. Ive been treating them horribly in preparation for a case like this. Im sure everyone will think theyre just falsely accusing me out of hatredeven if they really do betray me.

So blatant was Isaac that Baron Dale could only gulp like a goldfish.

Take them away.

A group of North Bears appeared out of nowhere and gagged the emissaries mouths as they took them to jail. Watching the scene, Isaac lit a new cigarette and looked at the administrative body.

Im asking just to make sure, but is there anyone who doesnt hate me? If there is, then I probably havent been hard enough on you. Itll be easier for me to get away in court if I make you all work harder.

The administrative body pondered about their response.

Does he want them to hate him or not? As the group maintained silence in fear of this being a trap for hell, Reisha raised her hand.

Me, me! I dont hate you sunbaenim!

Me too!

Ahem, I also dont have any ill feelings toward you. In fact, its closer to respect.

I dont have the right to say anything. I just do as Im told.

Reisha, Kunette, Lanburton, and Rizzly confessed they bore no ill feelings, but Isaac responded with disappointment.

Huuh! I see I was too easy on you. They always said you need to raise your subordinates strongly. So from now on

No! I hate you, Lord Isaac!

Bastard is the only name I use to refer to you!

Im writing a book on management called

How to Avoid Being a Hindrance to your Employees: What Not to Do, Feat. Lord Isaac

!

I am giving out lectures on how to become a respected employer, what not to follow from Isaac!

I always swear at you every time I wake up and just before going to sleep!

The administrative blurted out reactively when Isaac was about to declare that hed bully them even harder.

Realising their mistake, the administrative body slowly went back into silence, fearing Isaac. However, Isaac nodded with a look of great satisfaction instead of being angry.

Good. Work harder next time. Im sure there are people wondering about whats happening, so get back to work.

What do we do with this man?

Rizzly grabbed Viscount Aintz who was still unconscious. Isaac pondered.

Well need to get some of our money back. Throw him in the mines. And Kalden.

Yes?

Restart the reunification negotiations. We got our money.

Everyone reached an epiphany and nodded. This entire scene was orchestrated to absorb Port City. The administrative body wasnt sure what changed Isaacs mind, but with no money being directed to Lichtens, they had plenty of money to use towards reunification with Port City.

Isaac received a call even before he finished his cigarette as the administrative body left the rooftop in awe, perhaps because of the incident hed caused.

Walking leisurely into the Communicator room, Isaac smiled and waved when Mazelans face appeared on screen.

Its been a while. I assume youre staying busy?

-Whose fault do you think that is?

Mazelan glared at Isaac, unhappy with Isaacs casual greeting.

I guess it is a big incident, as a College graduate, the Lord of New Port City, and the Director of Security was almost assassinated.

Isaac nodded with a look of sincere empathy on his face. Mazelan sighed with contempt before he spoke.

-So why did you do it? I want to know the reason.

To take over the Lichtens.

-You could have done it without this!

Mazelans shout was met with Isaac snicker, as if the answer was trivial.

Why should I pay for it when I could just take it for free?

-

Mazelan looked at Isaac with his face flushed completely red, coughing in between venting out his frustration. If Isaac absorbed the Lichtens fiefwhich had been put up as collateralIsaac would need to buy out all of their rights too.

The nobles and bureaucracy would have protested this unprecedented method of gaining entire fiefs.

Though it wasnt scary, it was still annoying.

But what if it was provincial warfare? All of these annoyances would disappear instantly.

Isaac also had the justification, so no one could say otherwise. After all, this was an attack on the Lord of a fief.

Since this was a provincial warfare with everything on the line, if Isaac won, he wasnt responsible for compensating the civilian casualties in the Lichtens previous war.

Though morally Isaac had responsibility, it wasnt forced upon Isaac. So if Isaac declared that this should be done as the law states it, all recompensation would need to come from the Empires treasury while Isaac only needed to pay for recompense that occurred in the war between him and Lichtens.

This would also be something that never happened and would bring much noise, but the Empires policy prioritises civilian damages when no rewards are involved, so the first step in resolving the issue is to pay from the treasury. Therefore, if Isaac declined outright, the Empire will carry the burden instead.

Which is why Mazelan vented out his frustration for a long time, until he sighed defeat and asked.

-Are you really trying to make a new Dukedom?

I dont see why not?

-There isnt. There isnt, but

Im not liking the look on your face.

Isaac was annoyed when Mazelan scanned Isaac from top to bottom with his eyes half-closed.

-No. Well, you can do it if you want. Hm the truth is, Im curious how itll turn out too

Whats with you and that weird laugh of yours?

Isaac spoke with whole hearted disdain when Mazelan started laughing to himself. Mazelan quickly regained composure and avoided the question.

-But do you think you can handle it? I think youre doing too much for you to handle

Isaac quickly saw through what Mazelan was implying.

I can always sell my shares If I think I need to. And I hear there are many people looking for it?

-Kuhum!

Mazelan coughed dryly as if Isaac had hit the mark and proceeded to avoid eye contact.