In an instant, the atmosphere in the audience hall plummeted.
“How… how rude.”
“What is that wastrel saying…!”
“He dares to ignore the Marshal’s kindness….”
The officials’ eyes glared at me sharply. The pressure they radiated was so intense my cheeks felt a stinging sensation.
“It seems there are many here who want it more than my family does.”
I looked around with a smile. Then, I spoke to the first person whose eyes met mine.
“Would you like to have it instead of our family? I’m willing to yield it to you.”
“Ahem—! I have no merit, so I am not qualified….”
“Then, what about you over there?”
“My family is too humble to handle such a thing….”
Now, they were busy avoiding my gaze. Like Marshal, like subordinates. This was exactly why they couldn’t stand their ground despite possessing such a wealthy territory.
“Marshal. Just give me some money instead. A fief for a family that only deals in money? Ugh. It’s a bother. A total bother.”
“Your father has already been appointed as the Governor of the Lucifell Star System. The duties of a Governor and the management of a fief are not that different.”
“Why did that old man accept that? Anyway, I’m not interested in such a destitute countryside. I plan to wander around until my family returns to the Center.”
I took a ‘do your worst’ stance. At the same time, I displayed the traits of an unfilial son.
“Oh, right. I heard Marshal Poena is quite beautiful. Maybe I should wander over that way.”
The sound of teeth grinding could be heard from somewhere. Even so, no one could say anything. They probably thought I was exactly the type of guy to do something like that.
These guys must be in a bind.
If they don’t grant the territory and I’m not there? They’d be anxious because my father might just surrender without a fight.
‘And why did you give me the medal first?’
They probably want to lock me up by fabricating some non-existent crime. I’d be useful as a hostage to pressure my father. However, since they already gave me a medal in front of reporters, they can’t do that. The Marshal had made the worst possible move.
“Such… such things. It won’t be too late to do that later.”
The Marshal began to look flustered. It was a situation he had never considered.
“I’m the type who has to do what I want immediately to feel satisfied….”
“Even if you go, Marshal Poena won’t meet you. I will send you as an official envoy later.”
Entrusting an envoy position, which is essentially just being a figurehead, to a wastrel like me? Yeah, right. Who knows what kind of trouble I’d cause? If I threw some flirtatious lines as a joke, it would bring total disgrace to him.
“Oho. That sounds a bit tempting.”
“In exchange, you will accept the fief.”
“But is that okay? Can I be the one to decide that?”
“It doesn’t matter. Under Imperial Law, you are the successor of the Park family.”
This is why you need a good successor. If they fall for a strange scam somewhere, the whole family takes the hit.
“Then, give me some troops. The world is quite chaotic these days, so how can I go to such a desolate place with any peace of mind?”
“Several families have struggled to gather 100 ships to support the Lucifell Star System.”
100 ships. At a glance, it might sound like a lot. However, it’s nowhere near enough. Even if we somehow hold out, there will be no rescue. They’re basically telling us to fight gloriously and die.
And those ships are probably just patrol frigates.
“Just give me 50 ships.”
“Is that true?!”
“Make them Light Destroyers. If I drag around small fry, it’ll just be frustratingly slow. A man should gallop through the vastness of space with speed; that’s where the style is.”
Everyone wore an absurd expression. The price of a Light Destroyer is at least three times that of a patrol frigate. With options included, the price can jump up to tenfold.
“Fine. I shall do so.”
The Marshal accepted. His expression said he’d rather just give them to me than keep bickering.
“And please hand over some strategic materials.”
He probably has no intention of giving these. They likely plan to abandon the Lucifell Star System once the war breaks out anyway. Giving supplies to a place they intend to abandon is a waste.
“I will support you with that gradually later. Right now, because we’re running the military factories, the Center is also lacking materials.”
“Then, I won’t go.”
I took the ‘do your worst’ stance again. The pits around the Marshal’s eyes grew darker. His gaze glared at me as if he wanted to kill me. But he soon regained his composure.
“What… what is the reason? Even if you take them, you won’t have any immediate use for them.”
Strategic materials refer to advanced equipment or dark matter. They are used in space industries like ships or stations.
“Since I’m going to such a remote place, I should at least build a small summer palace near a sun for myself. If you visit later, I’ll treat you grandly.”
The Marshal stared at me with a dazed expression at my words. The high-ranking officials nearby had similar looks.
“Fine. I will give you the strategic materials as well.”
“As expected. You truly understand sophistication, Marshal. Ah! And one more thing.”
The Marshal looked at me as if he were completely fed up. Slumping his body, he leaned against the armrest.
“Speak.”
“I heard my servant still hasn’t been released. What’s going on with that? I’ve even performed a great service, so I’m quite disappointed. You should have taken care of this on your own.”
The Marshal turned his head to look at the Administrative Minister. After hurriedly operating something, the Minister spoke.
“He is currently serving a 30-year sentence in Holise Prison. While attempting to kidnap a singer during a performance….”
“Grant him a special pardon.”
I nodded as if it were only natural. This was a fairly satisfying result. However, everyone except me looked like the soul had been sucked out of them.
“Marshal!”
“Grrrr…!”
When I called him, the Marshal bared his gums and made the sound of an angry beast. He was on the verge of exploding. Everyone in the audience hall held their breath.
“I’m saying thank you. Hehe.”
I smiled brightly.
***
A dark underground dungeon.
A massive man was restrained by metal chains.
‘Revenge. Revenge. Revenge.’
His mind was filled only with thoughts of vengeance.
It was understandable. His clan had been exterminated by the Ants. All the adults were killed, and only the children barely managed to survive. There was a reason they were kept alive: to be used as slaves.
However.
Those Ants invaded another galaxy. The invasion failed, and they hid in the wasteland to escape their enemies. Naturally, their supplies were cut off. They had no choice but to disguise themselves as a small-scale pirate group and go on raids. During one of those raids, they were caught by a passing patrol. He, who had been a slave, was put back on the slave market.
—Bwahaha! He looks hilarious. I’ll take this guy.
He became the servant of a noble from a prestigious family.
—I want revenge.
—You’re an interesting fellow. Who is the target?
—The Ant Queen. I know where she is hiding.
—Okay. I’ll do it once I become the Head of the Family.
—I will offer you my absolute loyalty.
Su Dong-tae reminisced about the past.
‘Was he just playing with me?’
His master did not pull him out of prison. He didn’t know that it was because he had handled things so strangely.
‘I shouldn’t have trusted a guy like that.’
Su Dong-tae was trembling with rage again today.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Just then, footsteps were heard on the rough corridor floor. It wasn’t just one person, but several.
“Is this prisoner number 2901’s cell?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Open it.”
Clang!
The door opened. The guards entered first.
And then.
An-all-too familiar face appeared behind them.
“Mas… Master?!”
It seemed he hadn’t been abandoned after all. He was just a little late.
***
The iron door opened, and inside was a man of massive stature. His entire body was bound in chains. It seemed he had caused quite a ruckus.
“Mas… Master?”
The fellow looked up at me. The ratio between his body and head was extreme. There was a reason they were called the Sodu race. His body was over two meters tall, but his head was only the size of a human child’s.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Limping, I approached him and squatted down in front of him.
“Do you know the location of the Ant Queen?”
At those words, the look in his eyes became ferocious. This guy harbored a deep desire for revenge against the Queen.
‘Eternal loyalty.’
As long as the Queen is killed, this guy will never betray me.
‘An extra life.’
While playing games, there are times when you die while farming for divine relics or sacred objects. If you have this guy with you, there’s a high probability he’ll die in your place. He’s the best bodyguard in the game.
“Yes. I know.”
The fellow stuck out his tongue. A tattoo was engraved there.
It was coordinates.
Another slave of the Ants must have engraved it for him so that if anyone managed to escape, they could reveal the location.
“Get up. It is time for revenge.”
“If I can achieve my revenge, I will give you my life.”
At my words, the fellow slammed his forehead against the ground.
Boom!!
The ground shook. Blood flowed from his small forehead.
Toss!
I took the medal from my pocket and threw it onto the floor.
“Eat it. The curse placed upon you will be lifted.”
The Ant Queen controls her slaves with a brainwashing curse. They lose their will and follow orders. This guy was barely holding on through his rage for revenge.
Crunch! Snap!
The fellow chewed and swallowed the entire medal. The others standing around had horrified expressions. It wasn’t because he ate metal. It was because the gemstone embedded in the middle was incredibly expensive.
“Let’s go!”
I walked out of the dungeon. As the guards moved to unlock the chains—
Snap! Snap!
The chains binding him crumbled like chocolate. An immense aura could be felt from behind me.
The fellow had regained the true strength of the Sodu race.
***
When I returned to the hotel, a guest was waiting.
“Young Master!!!”
At first, I thought it was 07, but it was subtly different. From the clothing to the atmosphere he radiated.
‘07 said his second brother was serving as a butler in our family, didn’t he?’
I guess my family really does have a lot of money. They even have two Piccols as retainers.
“Butler. It’s been a long time.”
“Young Master. How did your hand and leg end up like….”
The fellow looked at me with a horrified face.
“It’s nothing major. What brings you here?”
“The Family Head sent me.”
“For what reason?”
“He told me to take the Young Master and stay at Marshal Poena’s headquarters.”
This was a bit unexpected. According to 07, my father is a stubborn man. Someone who could even sacrifice his life for the family’s credit.
“And my father?”
“That is….”
The butler swallowed the rest of his words.
‘I see. It’s like that.’
If the successor dies, the family’s credit and everything else become meaningless. He plans to sacrifice himself to protect that credit. He’s sending the successor to a safe place. This is the only way to protect both credit and family.
“If that’s the case, things have become a bit difficult.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I’ve signed a pledge to accept the Lucifell Star System as our territory.”
“S-Such a thing! The reason the Park family doesn’t hold territories or manors is to avoid responsibility!”
I figured as much. They could grow the family sufficiently without such things. Besides, the Human race isn’t exactly a race that focuses on local specialties.
“It couldn’t be helped. If I hadn’t accepted the fief, who knows what the Marshal would have done.”
“Ahem. Given the Marshal’s personality, that might be true. Even so, the Young Master must stay away.”
Actually, from the Park family’s perspective, nothing changes. Since it seems my father plans to die while defending the Lucifell Star System anyway.
“Are you telling me to live the rest of my life with the label of a degenerate son?”
“You already… sufficiently….”
“Forget it. Did you bring some of the family fortune?”
“Half of it.”
I nodded.
“Go and exchange all of it for Light Destroyers.”
“What?! Don’t tell me. Do you really intend to go to the Lucifell Star System?!”
“Of course.”
Just then, So Jin entered the room.
“Young Lord. I have no face to show you.”
“How many ships did you manage to get?”
“Exactly 20 ships. Even when I offered extra money, there were hardly any sellers.”
“That’s enough. You did well.”
Securing 20 ships was quite a lot. Hadn’t I already squeezed 50 Light Destroyers out of the Marshal? Those 50 ships didn’t come from the Marshal’s direct fleet but from other families. The nobles probably wouldn’t want to part with any more Light Destroyers.
“Hmm?!”
The butler, who had been listening to our conversation, twitched his eyebrows.
“20 ships? What does that mean?”
“The So family has liquidated their assets.”
“How could…!”
The butler seemed very surprised. Another family had poured out a massive amount of wealth for the Park family. In such a situation, run away? He definitely couldn’t say that now.
“Butler.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“You can get more than 20 ships, right? Unlike the So family, weren’t we nobles of the Center until recently?”
I threw the words out half-jokingly. It’ll probably be hard to get 20 ships. So Jin had already scraped up everything he could.
“I will do my best.”
“It won’t be easy. I’ve already been promised 50 Light Destroyers from the Marshal.”
The butler’s mouth hung open at my words.
“That… that many? However, it’s a bit of a shame. Wouldn’t Heavy Destroyers be more helpful to our combat power?”
“No. Then we’ll be too late. What we need is time. I’ll give you exactly three days.”
“I understand. Even if I have to go to other families and beg on my knees, I will get them.”
I couldn’t tell him not to do that. Every single ship counts right now.
Regardless of the war. If we can’t kill the Ant Queen?
Our Park family is doomed.