“Huh?”
Because it happened in the blink of an eye, the scammer could only watch Dien’s actions in a daze. Soon, Dien and everyone watching confirmed that the right cup was empty.
“It’s empty. That means I won, right? Since the right one is empty, the ball must be in the left one, shouldn’t it?”
Silence fell at Dien’s words, but soon, the surrounding spectators—excluding the scammer—cheered.
“What do you think you’re doing, just opening the cups like that!”
The scammer, shamelessly ignoring his own deception, grabbed Dien by the collar and shouted. His face was as red as a beet. On the other hand, Dien’s face remained composed.
“Is there a problem?”
“You’re not supposed to touch the cups!”
The facade of hospitality toward a customer had already vanished. His vulgar and crude behavior continued, causing the expressions of those watching to twist in disgust.
“You never said I couldn’t touch the cups. Or perhaps there was no ball to begin with? Shall I open the left cup myself as well?”
Dien’s voice settled into a calm, chilling tone. The flustered scammer tried to reach for the left cup, but his hand was suddenly blocked. Dien had accurately snatched his left hand—the one currently hiding the ball.
“Don’t touch it. I will do the confirming.”
With one hand pinning the scammer’s, he placed his other hand on the left cup.
“Everyone! Was there any problem with my actions?”
The crowd began to shout, criticizing the scammer’s behavior.
“No problem at all!”
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“You just didn’t want to give him the bronze coins from the start, did you?”
“Open the left cup too!”
The murmurs of the people grew louder, and Dien continued to cast a cold gaze at the man. The scammer’s eyes shook as if hit by an earthquake, and he finally released his grip on Dien.
“It’s triple the bet, right?”
“Ugh…”
“Bring it out now. Before I call the guards.”
“Dammit.”
The scammer swallowed hard as he glanced at the pot. Three times the amount bet was equivalent to a year’s worth of earnings from his scam. Driven into a corner, his expression turned malicious, and foul language began to spew from his mouth.
“You’re dead meat now, kid. I’m going to make you regret what you did.”
“Finally showing your true colors.”
He acted without caring whether the people were watching or not. He waved his hand and shouted toward one direction.
“Hey! Over here!”
As soon as the scammer shouted, a group of thugs who seemed to be waiting began to cause a scene.
“All of you, get lost!”
He had called upon a gang of thugs who were in league with him.
“I said get lost!”
Men with menacing faces began to forcibly disperse the crowd. As six large men swung wooden clubs, the area became deserted in an instant.
“As I thought, there were people backing you up.”
Dien’s eyes grew cold as he watched the scene. This was the capital, the place with the best security in the kingdom. To think ruffians would act so boldly in such a place. Whether they were exceptionally brave or the security was full of holes, it was a situation that made him frown.
“Hey, kid, do you want to die? Why come to someone else’s place of business and cause trouble!”
The six men surrounded Dien, puffing out their chests to flaunt their size.
“Trouble? You’re the ones causing trouble right now.”
However, Dien didn’t even blink at the appearance of the thugs. He had expected this kind of situation to unfold from the start.
“This brat! Maybe a few punches will knock some sense into him… Leave the money and get lost!”
“Do you people even know who this is!”
Seeing this, Nue rushed over like a bolt of lightning, trying to push the large men away. However, she lacked the strength and was pushed back, falling to the ground.
“What do we have here.”
Seeing that, a flash flickered in Dien’s eyes. His chest felt hot enough to burst, but his eyes were colder than a snowy mountain. The ruffians were surprised that Dien, who they expected to be terrified, remained unfazed. They even hesitated for a moment at his frost-laden gaze.
Dien spoke to them in a chilling low voice.
“If you don’t take your hands off right now, you’ll spend the rest of your lives crawling on the ground.”
“What is this brat talking about? Haha!”
Dien’s expression began to harden even further.
“I am giving you a chance right now. A chance to live.”
His posture was straight and his eyes unwavering. Despite the low tone, his presence felt as grand as a mountain. The thugs felt goosebumps for a moment, but they did not change their attitude.
Just then.
“What’s going on over there!”
Discovering the commotion, the Capital Guard was running toward them from a distance.
“Hey, you guys, what’s the matter?”
“Hahaha, it’s nothing, Captains~ We just had a small problem at our place of business.”
The group of thugs bowed 90 degrees to greet the arriving guards. They rubbed their hands together, sucking up to the guards. What was even more absurd was the guards’ reaction, calmly accepting the greeting.
“We’ll handle this ourselves, so please go about your business comfortably, Captains.”
Soon, something was exchanged between the pockets of the thugs and the pockets of the guards. Because they saw Dien as just a powerless kid, they acted so brazenly.
“Process it quietly.”
The guard smiled as he checked his pocket. They glanced at Dien and were about to leave.
However.
“You lot… state your affiliation and names.”
Dien’s eyes flashed as he blocked the guards and the ruffians.
“What?”
Dien pointed his finger accurately at the two guards.
“I’m talking to you two.”
“What is this kid saying—”
“Capital Guards taking bribes from ruffians while neglecting their duty of protection. I told you to state your affiliation and names immediately.”
Feeling something was wrong, the guards’ faces stiffened, and they took a step back.
“Could it be…”
The guards’ bodies froze. Taking advantage of that moment, Nue, who had regained her balance, shouted out.
“You fools! This is Master Dien, the eldest son of the House of Portran!”
At Nue’s words, the faces of the guards and the thugs were dyed with despair.
***
The minds of the guards and the thugs raced frantically. However, Dien did not give them time to think of excuses.
“Two guards. Neglect of duty regarding your protective obligations. Furthermore, you accepted bribes, so this is a severe disciplinary matter.”
“…That… well… you see… because you weren’t wearing noble’s clothing, I didn’t recognize you…”
“I am not angry because I didn’t receive the treatment of a noble. I am reprimanding Capital Guards who neglected their duties while holding a public office that carries the responsibility of security and order.”
“Young Master… my father is acquainted with the House of Portran…”
The guard tried to bring up a personal connection with the House of Portran.
“Shut your mouth! You should be ashamed of yourselves as guards who are supposed to maintain security and order!”
The guards trembled at Dien’s roar.
“And you lot.”
Dien scoffed as he looked at the group of thugs.
“Fraud, assault on a noble’s attendant. And causing such a scene in the Central Plaza, the heart of the capital… Above all, the crime of insulting a noble…”
The men swallowed hard, the sound of it being quite loud.
“Under Kingdom law, a sentence of execution could be handed down.”
At Dien’s final words, the men’s knees hit the ground.
“Please save us. Please… we didn’t know you were a Young Master!”
“Please have mercy…”
But the situation had already crossed the line. Dien cleanly ignored their apologies and continued.
“Guards, bring your direct superior here immediately. I will discuss the misconduct you have committed with your superior. If your superior has also been condoning such behavior, I will personally visit the Minister of War and report your actions.”
Excellent eloquence and the quick wit to organize the situation. Even his elegant appearance as he stood there was impressive. He was undoubtedly a Young Master of the administrative House of Portran.
“Young Master, please let us off just this once…”
They began to feel young Dien’s overwhelming presence and continued to bow their heads, hoping for leniency. Because of this incident, they would likely never see the scammer in this plaza again.
After the situation was settled, on the way back to the House of Portran.
“Master Dien! Are you really okay with this?”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“Those guys put their hands on you!”
“It’s fine, Nue. What would I do with their heads if I took them? Thanks to them, I walked away with three times the amount.”
Dien was heading back to the House of Portran while fiddling with two gold coins.
“Is your body okay?”
“Me? Of course I’m fine.”
Nue was also in a good mood after receiving some gold coins. Although she had been shouting about whether to kill them or let them live just a moment ago, she shut her mouth as soon as gold coins came out from their pockets. Nue wore a happy smile as if nothing had happened.
“Master Dien, may I ask one more thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“Why did you forgive the thugs but not the guards?”
Nue followed closely behind him to hear Dien’s answer.
“Nue, why do you think ruffians like that are able to run wild?”
“That’s because they’re bad people…”
Hearing her answer, Dien shook his head.
“No. The reason people like that can run wild is because the public authority that maintains security and order has been corrupted.”
“What? What does that mean…”
“Hahaha… just because.”
Nue looked puzzled at Dien’s words, but he didn’t offer any further explanation. More importantly.
“With this money.”
Walking without hesitation, Dien took the gold coins and visited a musical instrument workshop near the House of Portran. The specifications for a guitar were already in his head. After drawing a blueprint, he placed an order for production. He didn’t know if a perfect guitar would be made, but the thought of owning one made Dien genuinely happy.
***
Inside a classroom where a lesson was taking place. The current lecture was about the geography and environment of the continent.
“Since the Kingdom of Lonats is located in the middle of the continent, why does it show such a passive attitude toward intermediary trade?”
“Why has the Hario region, which is rich in underground minerals, become a representative slum area?”
The instructor, Vitali, couldn’t keep his wits about him.
“That’s… I’ll explain that next time…”
This was because Dien’s questions required deep historical knowledge. In the end, he declared surrender to the students at the tail end of the lecture.
“Hmm… I am also curious about Young Master Dien’s questions. Vitali, please explain the reason during the next class.”
“Yes, Young Master Zalz…”
A small change had occurred in their classes. Because of Dien’s passion for learning, the attitude of the students attending the lectures began to change.
‘We must not become administrative officials who lack competence.’
The students each reflected on the words Dien had said. They realized they might have forgotten the pride that noble administrative officials should possess. Dien’s words were a fresh shock to them, and they began to show as much enthusiasm for indoor lessons as they did for swordsmanship.
“The atmosphere lately is strange.”
The professors were the ones who felt the changed atmosphere the most. Within a few days, they began to feel the intense gaze of students that hadn’t existed before. Now, it wasn’t just Dien; other students were pouring out questions as well. Consequently, half of the class time had to be spent answering questions.
“Then, we will stop here for today…”
An exhausted Vitali said, dropping his head.
“Thank you!”
Dien bowed his head to Vitali. He was the only student who bowed to the commoner professor. While the other students didn’t follow his lead, they didn’t stop him either.
“Dien.”
As soon as class ended, Baran spoke to him.
“Yes?”
“I’m thinking of having a soiree at my house today. You’re coming too, right?”
“A soiree…”
A soiree was a social gathering often held by academy students. He was curious about what kind of stories were shared there, but today wasn’t the day.
“Today is a bit difficult…”
“Why?”
When Dien shook his head with a troubled face, Baran asked back.
“I start my successor lessons today.”
“Right. You were the successor for this year.”
Today was the day he received his successor lessons, which occurred three times a week.
“You’re going to have a hard time today~.”
Baran looked at Dien strangely with a mischievous smile.
“Why?”
“You’ll have to go through the initiation, won’t you?”
“Initiation?”
“You don’t know what the initiation is?”
At Baran’s words, Dien tilted his head.
“I’m talking about the initiation the guards perform.”
The guards perform an initiation for nobles? Furthermore, Baran spoke as if it were a long-standing tradition. Dien, his curiosity piqued, grabbed Baran’s arm.
“Tell me about that in detail.”