Chapter 123: The Culprit’s Spies

But suddenly, among the crowd, I saw a familiar face waving.

A look that screamed “I’m sleazy” written on his forehead.

The figure who popped out and blocked my way was Cordell McNeil.

“Wait a moment, Your Grace!”

“Huh? Sir McNeil? Why are you coming out from among those people?”

Come to think of it, where had he been all this time?

His charge was in danger, and he shows up now?

What kind of slacker knight is this?

Sensing my disdainful gaze, Cordell cleared his throat and started making excuses.

“Ahem! I’m specialized in people, not monsters.”

“…”

Spouting such nonsense as an excuse, honestly, he deserved about 300 lashes without complaint.

So I tried to give him a light smack, but Cordell McNeil took a flashy backstep and retreated.

His instincts are disgustingly sharp.

“Why are you like this? It’s not like I was just idling around.”

“Then what did you do?”

“Look at this massive crowd. You think they’re out here in the boonies for no reason?”

“You gathered these people, Sir McNeil?”

“Of course!”

“Why?”

“In case things went south, to fight. No matter how strong the monsters, they can’t handle a mob. We have these, after all.”

Cordell McNeil picked up a rock.

Since they were untrained people, he must have planned a sling battle or something.

But facing crucians would be too dangerous.

Even if they won, the casualties would be enormous.

A sigh escaped me, but at least no such tragedy occurred.

I nodded roughly and asked.

“But how did you gather so many?”

“Naturally, I borrowed Your Grace’s name a bit.”

In the empire, my fame was second only to the emperor’s.

Probably unmatched by other dukes.

But if it was Cordell McNeil, a hundred out of a hundred wouldn’t know him.

There are so many imperial guards; who remembers each one?

Plus, his position was black agent, specialized in espionage.

His identity was never revealed.

So the only way was spreading word that I was in crisis.

I get it.

For Cordell, it was truly his best effort.

“But why am I so annoyed?”

“Who knows.”

“I think it’s because of your overly nonchalant attitude, Sir McNeil.”

“Ehey! No way. Anyway, that’s not important. Did you wipe out those carp bastards?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Haha! Then all’s well.”

Cordell McNeil immediately approached the people and started explaining something.

Like telling a fairy tale.

Soon, sighs erupted one after another, and someone asked.

“So, the conclusion? His Grace the Duke wiped out all those carps?”

“Exactly!”

As Cordell snapped his fingers in response, a tremendous cheer erupted.

It felt like lightning struck right in front of me.

“Waaah!”

“His Grace Carius has saved Coldwell!”

“We can finally till the wheat fields!”

“Thank you! Your Grace!”

Spreading my achievements far and wide isn’t bad, of course.

But who asked you to do that?

Ugh! Can’t even beat him up.

I mentally smacked Cordell McNeil hundreds of times while lightly waving back.

With them cheering at me like that, I couldn’t not respond.

I’m not an athlete, but fan service is important.

“Zuuuunhaaah!”

Clop! Clop!

While exchanging greetings with the people, the sound of horses galloping came from somewhere.

Thirty horses thundering in.

At the lead was the Earl of Coldwell.

He seemed to be the one who shouted earlier.

“Are you alright? Just in case, I brought all my forces.”

The knights were armed well enough for war.

But scraped together desperately, the territorial troops looked shabby.

Basically no different from peasant militia.

He said the constant battles had nearly bankrupted the estate?

With the territory on the brink of collapse, my appearance must have seemed like a savior.

“It’s all over now.”

“Sniff! Thank you, Your Grace! I’ll never forget this grace for the rest of my life.”

“Save the emotion for later. Right now, there’s a more important matter, so come this way…….”

I patted the sobbing Earl of Coldwell on the shoulder.

Walking through the wheat fields riddled with holes, I started the story.

About the black mage Ezekiel and the Earl of Mccartney’s plot.

“I never dreamed such a meticulous conspiracy lurked. What a despicable scoundrel!”

“Probably pulled this because open territorial war would draw His Majesty’s eye.”

“Should I sue or something?”

“We lack evidence for that. We only have the black mage.”

“Then what do we do?”

“There are probably spies. Block the gates and wait. In case they notice, send troops elsewhere too.”

“Will we find them like that?”

“Those sneaking through the woods to escape.”

“Hah! Rumors said you’re brilliant, but that’s an understatement. Your Grace is a genius!”

“Uh, well, not quite that much.”

I waved off the excessive praise, but the Earl of Coldwell’s mouth wouldn’t stop.

At this rate, my ears would melt from the over-the-top flattery.

I cut in at the right moment and sent the Earl of Coldwell back.

Then Cordell McNeil approached immediately.

“Done? We can head back to the capital now?”

“We haven’t even resupplied food yet.”

“Don’t worry about that. I got a ton.”

He must have gathered people by inciting them and bought up hidden food stocks.

He’s got good skills for this stuff.

But we couldn’t leave right away.

“Since you’ve been sleazy all along, do some proper work this time.”

“What work suddenly?”

“Something perfect for you, Sir McNeil. Intelligence gathering.”

“Oh? That’s not hard. Where?”

“See that forest to the south? Catch those heading to the Mccartney Earldom.”

Intelligence gathering, read: ambush.

As I smiled meaningfully, Cordell McNeil’s face soured more and more.

“Can’t I not?”

“Then I’ll send you to Lady Alice Soltri. She seemed quite taken with you.”

“I’ll execute the mission immediately!”

Cordell dashed toward the southern forest.

He’d rather die than be trapped in royal bread hell.

There really were spies trying to cross to the Mccartney Earldom.

Surprisingly, Cordell McNeil caught over thirty in one night.

They were all sent to the capital prosecution headquarters with the black mage.

“Our house was saved thanks to Your Grace. Sniff!”

The Earl of Coldwell kept shedding tears while gripping my hand tightly.

His expression like he’d give me his liver and gallbladder.

I patted his shoulder and said.

“Rule the territory well as much as you’re grateful to me. Haven’t the people suffered from excessive taxes?”

“Of course. I’ll live justly, following Your Grace!”

“It’ll be tough financially at first, but it’ll be fine soon. With the plot exposed, the Earl of Mccartney will have to pay proper compensation.”

“Thank you. If I had a daughter, I’d want to give you ten of them.”

“Gasp! What are you saying? I hate political marriages.”

“Ah, so you’re a romantic. For reference, I had a love marriage too. Hehehe!”

Crying his eyes out then bursting into hearty laughter—he must be quite the devoted husband.

I left the territory with the Earl of Coldwell and the residents seeing me off.

Of course, this incident would probably be assigned to me too.

Normally, I shouldn’t handle it since I’m somewhat involved.

Risk of impartiality.

But it’s a dispute between earls.

Most judges wouldn’t dare touch it.

In the end, only I can do it.

So I must pour my heart into the judgment.

It has to be a conclusion anyone would accept.

“We’ve arrived, Your Grace.”

“Ah, good work, Uncle Brandon.”

“Hehe! It was a long journey.”

“I’ll give you plenty for expenses. Go in and rest well.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

After greeting the coachman, I headed to the office before unpacking.

Work must have piled up.

Sure enough, two documents caught my eye.

But much less than usual.

“Ah! Now Vice President Xavier handles it?”

With much of the work delegated to the Dapan Group, there wasn’t much for me.

I only handled major decisions like company direction.

“Then these must be critical.”

I examined the two documents on the desk.

One was a soap business report, the other a water/sewer and waste project plan.

Rustle! Rustle!

Sure enough, solid soap was selling like crazy.

“Oh! Already sold out the second production run?”

I’d been away only about a month.

Now in full spring, soap demand was skyrocketing endlessly.

The empire has distinct seasons, getting insanely hot in summer.

Even in spring it’s this much, so more people will buy as it goes.

“Not even that cheap yet, impressive.”

Cordell McNeil, peeking at the document, looked surprised.

I thought he only cared about women—unexpected.

As I gave him a puzzled look, Cordell shrugged lightly.

“From what I saw at Coldwell Castle, women really prefer it. That’s why I know.”

“Hah! When did you go there?”

“While Your Grace fought the carp bastards. Visited the castle to greet while gathering people. The countess is quite a beauty.”

“Uh? That remark is a bit dangerous?”

“Ehey! Would I touch a married woman? Just in case there was a pretty daughter…”

I shook my head.

Even then, scouting girlfriend candidates.

This guy is truly hopeless.

Anyway, good the Coldwell house has no young lady.

Otherwise, the royal playboy soaked in scandal might cause unnecessary controversy.

Anyway, the soap business was booming.

The premium strategy worked perfectly. Selling out.

Nothing beats differentiation for nobles’ vanity.

Especially the limited-edition pale purple lavender-scented soap was skyrocketing in popularity.

People even reserved, begging to buy.

Doing this well without me, maybe I can just skim the honey…

“Your Grace?”

As I set down the document and leaned back, Cordell McNeil called me.

An ominous feeling made my reply curt.

“What?”

“There’s another letter here.”

“From where?”

“The court.”

“…”

While away, tricky trials must have piled up.

Come to think of it, the carp rampage case will be assigned to me too.

“Can’t it just copy money or something?”