121 Episode
Ray provoked Clemens based on uncertain speculation.
However, it wasn’t just idle chatter without any basis.
In his previous life, there existed a hereditary disease that caused muscle atrophy in specific areas during youth.
The divine power of this world could not treat hereditary diseases or symptoms due to aging, and sometimes had minimal effects on certain conditions like tumors.
Historical records mentioned that people with hereditary diseases were strongly ostracized in the past.
While they no longer burn people alive nowadays, the perception of those with “untreatable diseases by divine power” remains negative.
Therefore, for someone whose appearance is important as a merchant, having a hereditary disease would be a defect that must be hidden, even if using the excuse of having a spirit contract.
Taking it further, if Clemens’ hereditary disease was familial, and if his family suffered significant damage due to such a disease in the past, it wouldn’t be strange for an atmosphere of hostility toward El-Lam believers and devil worship to form within the family.
Moreover, Ray had another reason for risking provoking Clemens.
While investigating around the port, he learned that quite a few skilled individuals were among those hired by Clemens.
They carried light arms but exuded sharp momentum, yet they didn’t seem to respect their employer, Clemens, properly.
Judging from the situation, Clemens appeared more like a proxy for someone else rather than the true owner of the trading company, and Clemens himself seemed dissatisfied with the current state of affairs.
Thus, Ray took a risk and probed Clemens.
On the other hand, Clemens struggled to hide his discomposure easily.
Many members of the Tarannis Family had suffered for generations from a condition where muscles in specific areas atrophied.
The severity of the disease varied from person to person, but it was undeniable that it was a hereditary condition within the family.
This was also why the Tarannis Family’s healing techniques were advanced.
This fact was naturally kept strictly confidential. Yet, for someone from an empire rather than a kingdom to casually bring up hereditary diseases was unsettling.
Had someone sniffed something out?
Could he be from the church? Wasn’t he introduced as a squire from Phillip’s County?
True, there were plenty of people who concealed their identities as being from minor fiefs and played tricks.
Clemens wildly considered various possibilities and then composed his expression.
Having forcibly calmed himself, Clemens asked Ray in apparent anger.
“I do have a congenital physical inconvenience, but it isn’t hereditary. Exactly… why are you being so rude? Are you trying to exploit my weaknesses to extort money?”
“Oh, nothing of the sort.”
Ray dramatically pointed to his chest.
“Since I have a deformed heart, I’ve suffered since childhood. I barely managed to reach my current position, but the healer said I won’t live long. Seeing your similar situation made me feel a kinship, so I ended up rambling.”
“Rambling…”
If Ray had merely noticed Clemens’ disability through sharp observation, Clemens would have needed to send someone to harm Ray.
But Clemens was confident that Ray approached him with a clear purpose.
As tension seeped into Clemens’ demeanor, Ray held up a piece of jewelry adorned with large gems.
Tsssk!
“Wow, this works on gems too!”
“…”
Seeing the gem surrounded by sword aura, Clemens fell silent.
Manifesting sword energy without shattering processed minerals required extraordinary skill.
Of course, pushing high-density energy like sword aura into a gem would completely crush its internal structure.
After setting down the gem on the verge of breaking, Ray took one step closer to Clemens.
An ice spirit hovered beside Clemens, showering cold air toward Ray.
When Clemens embraced the ice spirit, Ray grinned mischievously and said,
“Perhaps we can share a drink sometime and vent our frustrations.”
Tap tap
After patting Clemens’ shoulder, Ray handed back the jewel box and turned around.
Clemens silently watched Ray’s retreating back before opening the jewel box again.
Several pieces of jewelry were missing.
“What a scoundrel…”
Muttering curses under his breath, Clemens hesitated briefly.
Should he try to tie Ray down on the pretext of theft?
Shaking his head, Clemens put the jewel box back into the case.
That day, Ray returned to Osiris Count’s manor uneventfully after receiving Clemens’ farewell.
*
Not long after, Clemens sought out Ray.
Ray and Clemens exchanged words while probing each other, wearing masks.
Afterward, Ray gathered information from Florya and various other figures, allowing him to roughly understand the current situation.
After organizing his thoughts, Ray called Jenkins, Didier, and Florya together.
“If I organize the information I’ve gathered, the current situation is as follows.”
The Empire currently faces uncertainty regarding the emperor’s successor.
The still-healthy emperor has not designated a successor after the deaths of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, leading to various power struggles throughout the empire.
The Duke Matthias family is actively making allies in preparation for the chaotic times ahead.
In the process, they obtained information that the influential Tarannis Family of Rubia Kingdom wanted a particular “relic” owned by the Duke Matthias family.
The Duke Matthias family lured the Tarannis Family using the “relic” as bait.
“The plan seems to be to give the ‘relic’, which holds little value to them, as a token of goodwill to the Tarannis Family… use that as a starting point to improve relations with Rubia Kingdom, ally with pro-Kingdom factions within the Empire, and so forth.”
In short, the “relic” itself was merely a means for the Duke Matthias family to initiate dialogue with the Tarannis Family.
It was simply something to offer before entering into complex political agreements with the Tarannis Family to show goodwill.
“It seems there’s some misunderstanding here.”
The incident that occurred several years ago in the Sigini Mountain Range is problematic.
At that time, the Empire believed that the Kingdom fabricated the existence of an “assassin sent by the Empire” to cover up internal conflicts among the rangers.
Meanwhile, the Rubia Kingdom believed that the Empire sent assassins to eliminate the Crown Prince, who had contracted with demons.
Because of this incident, the Tarannis Family, suspected of having ties to demon followers, wavered temporarily.
In such a situation, when the Empire’s ducal family suddenly pretended to be friendly and offered to trade the relic they desired, the Tarannis Family couldn’t help but suspect foul play.
“Looking at the circumstances, they suspect that the Empire or the ducal family may have set a trap using the relic as bait…”
“Hold on… please.”
Florya peeked out slightly over her fan and looked at Ray.
“You killed the Crown Prince… right?”
“Yes.”
“Did Ray…?”
“Yes, because he was about to make a pact with demons and cause trouble, I disrupted it. Pretending to be a Royal Guard.”
“…”
Florya pleaded with teary eyes.
“Can I leave here now…?”
Even Florya, with her insatiable curiosity, didn’t want to hear such overwhelming stories.
Ray chuckled at Florya, who trembled her hand holding the fan despite her tearful face.
“Come on, where will you hear such an interesting story? Enjoy it without feeling burdened.”
“…”
We’re already in this together. There’s no getting off, and trying to leave might lead to trouble.
Realizing this, Florya quietly sobbed. Having someone capable enough to mock both the Empire and the Kingdom by impersonating a Royal Guard felt oddly reassuring.
Ignoring Florya’s disappointment, Ray continued his explanation.
“So, according to my guess, the duke’s family approached the Tarannis Family with good intentions, but the Tarannis Family, due to past incidents, suspects that this might be a trap.”
Therefore, the Tarannis Family sent Clements, a member of their family running a trading company, as a frontman.
“Clements seems to be a disposable pawn meant to take the blame if anything goes wrong… Currently, it appears that the actual negotiator sent by the Tarannis Family is conversing with the Duke Matthias family.”
Based on the information Ray gradually extracted from Clemens, he reached this conclusion.
Clemens didn’t know the full details of the situation.
He only realized that the trading company he had worked hard to build was not only being seized by his family but also used as a discardable card.
Thus, shaken, Clemens began leaking information bit by bit to Ray, hoping to secure safety.
Though he didn’t reveal everything, Clemens provided some crucial information to Ray, whom he suspected might be an agent of the Church or the Empire, in order to establish a connection.
“In summary…”
Ray glanced at Didier and Jenkins.
“We should probably steal the relic.”
“Why should we take such a risk?”
Jenkins asked.
It was a reasonable question, so Didier nodded in agreement.
Ray pressed his temple with his thumb.
If the ducal family and the Tarannis Family cooperate, the influence of the Tarannis Family in the kingdom will grow even larger.
By stealing the relic and disrupting the deal, this issue can be resolved.
The Tarannis Family will likely become even more suspicious of the ducal family for breaking their promise.
Perhaps the conflict between the ducal family and the Tarannis Family will escalate as they mutually distrust each other.
Above all…
“The Tarannis Family agreed to the deal despite suspecting it might be a trap. They dispatched numerous knight-level troops and mages.”
This testimony came from Clemens.
“They seem to have anticipated even the possibility of forcibly seizing the relic. So… the Tarannis Family values this relic much more than the ducal family expected. Enough to risk armed conflict to secure it.”
The Tarannis Family is already suspected of producing devil worshippers.
If they are willing to endure armed conflict to obtain this relic, it absolutely cannot be handed over.
Didier sighed deeply.
He understood Ray’s reasoning, but the risks involved in stealing the relic were enormous.
“As a knight of Phillips Family, I should dissuade you. If we get caught stealing the relic, Lord Count will suffer great consequences.”
Ray nodded.
“I’ve already devised a way to avoid exposure.”
“…What method?”
Ray extended his hand.
With a drooping face, Florya folded her fan and handed him a staff commonly used by mages from the box.
Holding the staff solemnly, Ray spoke.
“There’s no need to worry about my identity being revealed. Everyone will remember the relic thief as a mage.”
Pointing the staff at the candlestick, Ray shouted.
“Fire.”
Whoosh!
The candlestick lit up as Ray pointed at it again.
“Ice.”
Drip!
Cold air rose, extinguishing the flame.
Jenkins grimaced and asked.
“With that level of magic, you’d be captured if a single knight approaches, right?”
“I have prepared magic for such situations.”
Swish!
Turning the staff revealed a hidden blade.
Swinging the staff enveloped in sword energy, Ray shouted.
“Lightning Blade!!”
Crack!!!
“…”
“…”
“…”
Silence descended upon the room.
Facing the knights who remained silent, Ray straightened his posture and asked.
“Am I so impressive that you’ve lost your words?”
“No, damn it.”
Jenkins cursed harshly.
Thievery (2)
