Episode 23 You crazy bastard, why are you doing that! (3)
Zwalter was there, as were the other vassals, but he couldn’t help but raise his voice.
Touching the Forest of Demons was a problem of a different level than the accidents that Jiselle had previously encountered.
“If you poke around in there, all that’ll happen is monsters will pop out. Why bother going in there? You’ll lose so much! Don’t you know why I’m leaving you alone?”
From Homer’s mouth came out harsh words one after another, without any regard for manners.
But there was no one there who thought about anything like courtesy towards the Archduke.
Albert listened to the profit and loss with sharp eyes.
“It turned out to be a useless place because there were too many monsters there. It means that the cost of developing it would be greater than the benefit.”
“Your Highness, I think you are overconfident in your own abilities. Do you really think that you have become stronger because you defeated Prince Cain? Oh, really.”
When even Randolph joined in to oppose, Giselle clicked her tongue inwardly.
I expected there would be opposition, but the reaction was much stronger than I expected.
‘Hey, I knew it.’
It was impossible to obtain permission because all three of my father’s sworn brothers opposed it.
When Giselle remained silent without answering, Homer shouted even louder with his face turning red.
“Why on earth can’t I just poke around here and there?”
“Brother, you are too excited.”
Randolph spoke quietly, grabbing his collar. But Homer paid no attention.
“Have you forgotten what that guy has been doing? At least, if you are the grand prince of a territory, you shouldn’t cause trouble!”
He raised his voice.
“Don’t you secretly sell your military supplies and gamble with the money? Don’t you get caught trying to set fire to the castle gate because you’re in a bad mood? Don’t you slaughter and eat the military horses because you want to eat their meat, and melt down all the knights’ armors because you want to make legendary swords!”
As Homer continued speaking, Giselle’s expression became increasingly strange.
‘Did I really do that?’
It happened so long ago that I had forgotten.
“Aside from that, the Archduke has caused more than one accident. But what is it this time? The Forest of Demons? Just how big of an accident are you trying to cause! Absolutely not!”
Jiselle avoided eye contact and pretended not to know.
‘I don’t remember.’
To them, it may have only been a few years or months ago, but to me, it was a long time ago.
But I remembered that I had caused a lot of accidents, so I spoke with some sincerity.
“Don’t worry too much, that won’t happen again. Do you trust me?”
I tried to lighten the mood by smiling slightly, but it had the opposite effect. Homer grabbed the back of my neck and staggered.
“Ugh, ugh. This piece of shit… … I’m laughing right now… … .”
Zwalter, who had been quietly watching the two people’s battle, sighed and asked.
“Are you trying to make money by developing the Demon Forest?”
“That’s right. The only thing worth making money in the territory right now is the forest resources.”
“Yes, it’s something we’ve already considered since the previous generation. However, we can’t sacrifice our soldiers when we’re not sure if there are any valuable resources. Even if we had the information, we don’t have the capacity to do so right now.”
“Yes, I know. So this time, I will try to do it without using the power of the spirit.”
Jiselle is also not unaware of Yeongji’s situation.
But he had a reason why he had to pioneer that place.
‘Only then can the territory become economically independent.’
Even in the previous life, the Ferdium estate was swayed by the surrounding estates until it eventually perished due to poverty.
Even now, if the enemies cut off the money supply, it was obvious that they would be shaken by that alone.
To prepare for what’s to come, we need to find a way to make money.
But this was a reason that did not work for Zwalter, who did not know the future.
“What are you going to do with no money or troops?”
Then, Jiselle looked around at all the attendants and answered confidently.
“I will provide the money and troops. I know that you don’t have any money in your territory anyway. I only ask that you allow me to build a garrison and recruit troops within your territory.”
At those words, Albert, the treasurer, asked quickly. He was curious about the fact that the reckless archduke was raising money on his own.
“Your Highness, how much money do you have? Pioneer work isn’t something you can do with a small amount of money.”
“I know. Anyway, I’ll take care of the money myself, so don’t worry.”
“No, how about that money… … Hehe.”
Even Albert, who was not prone to emotional ups and downs, eventually ended up laughing in vain and trailing off.
From the way Giselle spoke, it was clear that she had no concept of money.
‘Where are you planning to commit robbery? That guy is more than capable of doing that.’
Before Albert could add anything, Homer cried out in a howl.
“Please just stay still! How much longer are you going to tire us out! Can’t you just stay still? Oh, please!”
The other vassals all nodded in agreement with Homer’s cries.
Jiselle crossed her arms and took a deep breath.
‘Oh, I guess I shouldn’t have asked permission for this. Tsk.’
It was an action I took without realizing it because I was in trouble, but those who saw it frowned even more.
‘That rude guy. How can a writer called the Grand Duke be so shallow?’
Giselle was lost in thought, whether people were impressed or not.
‘No matter how much I think about it, it’s something I absolutely have to do.’
What they wanted was clear: for him to sit quietly and do nothing.
Of course, it would be more comfortable for Jiselle to play than to work. However, she couldn’t just sit still when she thought about Yeongji’s future.
Because only you know what the future holds for Ferdium.
‘Well, but the reaction isn’t that good?’
The others, without exception, just looked at Jiselle with cold eyes.
It was absurd to say that he would open up the forest of demons, but the one who said that was the Archduke who had absolutely no credibility.
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What on earth made you believe him?
And no matter how pathetic and ugly he was, he couldn’t send the heir to the estate to a dangerous place where monsters were swarming.
Seeing a colder reaction than she had expected, Jiselle realized that persuasion was useless.
‘Ha, if this was my past life, I would have just killed them all.’
During the time of the Mercenary King, anyone who opposed his opinions was fairly and equitably beaten to death.
But things are different now.
Eventually, Giselle gave up on persuading her followers.
No matter what he said or how he acted, there was no point in talking to those who looked down on him.
Jiselle looked towards her father, who seemed to have some potential.
Zwalter was rubbing his eyelids with his fingers, unable to bear the fatigue.
‘He’s my son, but I don’t know what he’s thinking about and how he lives.’
I was a little happy that the guy who always avoided me came to me on his own, but I don’t know how that feeling lasted for even a few minutes.
He’s come all this way to say that he’s going to cause a big accident, so please actively allow him to do it.
It’s typical of a northerner to be bold enough to foretell an accident, but shouldn’t that boldness have been shown in a different way?
‘If it was someone else who said it, I would have put him in jail. What a real son is.’
But since I came here to ask for permission, I had to give an answer.
Zwalter sighed and spoke firmly.
“I absolutely cannot allow this. If you disturb the forest and monsters pop out, the damage to the territory will be great.”
“Well, I guess there’s nothing I can do. Okay.”
“Oh! I said no! … … Okay? You understand?”
“Yes, I said you wouldn’t allow it.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Zwalter was a little taken aback by Giselle’s calm acceptance.
‘He’s accepting it so easily? Why?’
Jiselle wasn’t the type of person to listen well.
If he had been a man who understood what was being said, he would not have been called a troublemaker and a loser.
But how could such a guy just nod his head with an indifferent expression?
Like Zwalter, the vassals also had puzzled expressions.
“Okay, I guess I’ll be going now. It was so nice to see you all after such a long time. Hahaha.”
Jiselle smiled brightly and then turned around neatly as if she had no regrets.
Homer, who had become anxious, shouted urgently behind him.
“Your Highness! If you cause trouble again, I will really lock you in the tower! Remember! This time, all the vassals will agree!”
“Yes, yes. I guess so.”
Jiselle shrugged her shoulders and walked out without even looking back.
As he walked a little further away from Daejeon, he looked at Gillian who had followed him and smiled awkwardly.
“I couldn’t even introduce myself because the atmosphere was bad. I’m not very popular here.”
In fact, it is not popular elsewhere either.
Gillian shook her head and said with a pitiful expression, as if that wasn’t the problem.
“That’s okay. Are you really okay, Confucius? The forest of demons is dangerous, so it’s natural that we wouldn’t allow it. Don’t be too disappointed.”
“Why am I disappointed?”
Jiselle had a really nonchalant expression. Anyone who saw her would think that she had just given up.
But Gillian was shocked by what he said right after.
“If you don’t want to ask for permission, don’t ask. I didn’t go there to ask for permission. I was going to go ahead with it regardless of whether I got permission or not.”
“Yes? Are you just going to proceed?”
“Yes. I just said it out of courtesy, just in case. Since I didn’t get permission, I have no choice but to force it now.”
“Your Majesty, you cannot do this. The Lord himself has personally ordered you not to do this.”
If you push ahead despite the lord’s orders and get caught, you won’t be able to avoid punishment even if you’re a Jisel.
Isn’t it even the job of gathering private soldiers?
Although Gillian worriedly tried to dissuade her, Giselle just smiled and said,
“It’s okay. If you succeed, that’s fine. Just tell me the results. The answer is already set.”
Gillian was speechless at Giselle’s brazen assurance as if nothing had happened.
I couldn’t figure out what this guy was thinking as he was leaving.
“Then how do you plan to proceed? You have neither money nor troops, right?”
Then Jiselle snickered.
“Oh, Gillian doesn’t know. I have some money. I’m probably the richest person in our territory.”
“yes?”
“My rich fiancée gave me a lot of money as a break-up gift. I’m going to use that money to start a pioneering business. Of course, I’ll have to save as much as I can until I start earning my first income. Thinking back now, she’s a really nice woman.”
“A broken-up gift… …?”
Gillian looked dumbfounded once again.
A broken engagement was a great disgrace in the aristocratic world. But how could you be so proud of a broken engagement?
‘Is this fluffy… … or is the bowl big… … .’
Judging from the atmosphere just now, it seemed like the other people in Yeongji didn’t even know that the engagement had been broken off.
This is a situation that occurred because the formal divorce proceedings had not yet begun, but since the two were not going to get married, it was only a matter of time before the engagement was broken off.
Yet, Giselle never said a word about breaking off the engagement.
Gillian couldn’t be more surprised, just opened her mouth.
“For troops… … we recruit mercenaries.”
“Are you a mercenary?”
“I can’t get the soldiers I need for development right away, so I’ll have to use mercenaries. I can’t organize an army on my own.”
“How many people do you plan to recruit?”
“Two hundred people.”
Giselle answered Gillian’s question without hesitation, as if she had prepared her answers in advance.
Gillian looked surprised. Two hundred people would be enough to fight a small-scale battle.
“Are you really going to start pioneering?”
“Yeah, it doesn’t matter what other people think. What matters is that it’s something I absolutely have to do.”
Jiselle said firmly.
Gillian couldn’t say anything.
Now I feel like I understand a little why the gods used to call him a troublemaker and a loser.
Although he was worried, it seemed unlikely that Giselle would listen to him even if he tried to stop her.
I had sworn to serve him and owe him a favor that I would have to repay for the rest of my life, so I had no choice but to keep it as best I could.
“Okay, I’ll take good care of it.”
“Just hearing that makes me feel reassured. Let’s start by gathering mercenaries.”
“If you gather two hundred people at once, there will inevitably be a mix of people.”
Giselle nodded at Gillian’s concerned words.
“I know, but I can’t help it because it takes a certain amount of space to clear that forest. I have to get the useful ones separately.”
“If they are useful… … .”
“Where is the best small mercenary group in this northern region?”
Gillian thought for a moment, then opened her eyes wide.
“Are you talking about those crazy dogs?”
Jiselle answered with a strange smile.
“Yeah. Cerberus Mercenaries. Let’s put leashes on those mad dogs.”
