The Returned Sword King Decided to Become a Tyrant Chapter 47
Leap or Fall (3)
Late at night.
The commander at the top of Ferniti distorted his expression as he listened to his subordinate’s report.
“You can’t contact me?”
“……sorry.”
“Tsk. This is annoying.”
The men moved to catch the runaway mob.
They stopped sending any further communications after the last report that they had entered the capital’s shopping district.
If there had been a problem, an emergency call would have been sent immediately. If there was still no news, it meant that something unexpected had happened.
But his muttered words, ‘I’m starting to get annoyed,’ were by no means a concern for his subordinates who had lost contact.
“If we had lost contact with the capital, we would have been caught by the guards in no time.”
“You idiots, I told you not to make a fuss.”
“How should we handle this?”
In response to the voice of his subordinate, who spoke bluntly and expressed murderous intent, the commander took out a cigarette, lit it, and coldly responded.
“Send an assassination squad.”
The hidden power at the top that exists only to keep information from leaking out.
Of course, the target will not be the runaway fool, but my missing subordinates.
It was at that moment that the commander brought the lit match to the tobacco leaves.
Knock knock-
“Your Majesty.”
“… … Tsk. It feels like my long-awaited rest is being wasted on some shitty thing.”
A nervous response came out naturally.
The commander slowly took the cigarette out of his mouth, clicked his tongue, and motioned for his subordinate to open the door.
The person standing outside the door was a guard guarding the entrance to the upper headquarters.
“What is it?”
“Just now, a man named El Bardo came to the top.”
“El Bardo?”
It was clearly the name of the idiot that the top was chasing.
But there’s no way the guy would know this place… … .
“What did he say?”
“Yes. He said that he wanted to negotiate and that he absolutely had to see the General. He was accompanied by two mercenaries who appeared to be his escorts and one of the General’s subordinates.”
“… … I see.”
The commander smiled with satisfaction and nodded.
I didn’t like the way he was running away from debt collectors… … I guess that idiot has finally come to his senses.
They say it’s for negotiations, but in reality it’s almost like they were captured.
“It’s annoying that you didn’t contact me, but since I caught the guy, I’ll let you off the hook for now.”
Even if we call it a negotiation, what would there be?
It would be nothing more than a cry to give them the results of the research in exchange for canceling the debt.
If there’s one thing that bothers me, it’s that the guy came with two useless bumps on him, saying he was an escort.
“What should we do, Commander? Should we kill the guards you brought and bring them in alone?”
It was the words of a subordinate who whispered quietly in his ear.
But the commander shook his head and answered arrogantly.
“No. Bring them all. I need to act like a normal merchant in front of him, so there’s no reason to kill them for no reason and arouse their guard. If you understand, then go out.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Even after the guards and subordinates left, the commander was still smiling with satisfaction.
The research of a certain scholar that came to my attention by chance.
Although the content was not yet complete and had not yet received much attention from the world, the rich scent of gold within it was enough to stimulate his sense of smell.
And now, it is not long before such sweet fruit comes to fruition.
‘Hehehe. I’m sure he’ll like it too.’
How great would be the reward if we took this research to heart?
How high will my position rise in the future?
The commander felt a rising sense of satisfaction as he stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
* * *
dripping-
As time passed, a small knock was heard outside the door.
He was a guard.
“Let them in.”
Squeak-
As soon as the commander finished speaking, the door opened and three figures appeared.
“……hello.”
“Hmm.”
The gaunt man in the middle who had just greeted him was El Bardo, a scholar he knew well. The other two were strangers.
Judging by the atmosphere, they must be the descendants of nobles who have been living off of the land. I don’t know who they are, but at best, they must be escorts who have turned into mercenaries.
The commander, who was smoking a cigarette, had his eyes fixed on one of the dogs.
“Who are you so arrogantly wearing your robe inside out in front of? Didn’t you receive proper training at the Mercenary Guild?”
“… … .”
Unlike the other guards who looked like ordinary wizards, the figure revealed between the robes was delicate.
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An immature physique that is embarrassing to even call her an escort.
But that appearance actually caused me discomfort.
It was a feeling of discomfort for no apparent reason.
“Okay! Okay.”
Anyway, all mercenaries are just scoundrels who don’t know their place and are just thugs.
It was annoying that he didn’t even respond, but right now the mercenaries he hired weren’t important.
Let’s just leave that cheeky brat for later… … .
“Yeah. You came to me to negotiate?”
“… … Yes.”
El Bardo bit his lip and nodded.
What a sight of someone standing proud of their appearance… … .
At this, the leader laughed and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
“Well, there was no way to repay a debt of ten million gold. It would be better to just throw away what I had spent half my life researching.”
“… … .”
“But now it won’t be like that?”
“… … What does that mean?”
“There was an additional amount added. About two million gold.”
“… … !”
Did they add an extra amount?
El Bardo’s eyebrows twitched so much that they were visible at a glance.
The current debt was also an amount that was forcibly imposed with a penalty, citing ridiculous accusations and clauses.
That’s their modus operandi. There shouldn’t have been any more clauses to add to it…
“Didn’t you say just a little while ago that all you had to do was hand over the research results?”
“Hmm… …! What are you talking about? You have to speak properly. Have you forgotten that there is such a thing as interest in our industry?”
“What on earth are you talking about… … .”
El Bardo said so, his eyelids fluttering.
“Are you lying to me and telling me there is no contract?”
He was a scholar.
Although he realized his carelessness when he was scammed, there was no way he wouldn’t remember the clause that would accrue interest of two million gold in a few days.
“There was definitely something about interest! But that was only the interest rate approved by Esteban’s royal family! If you check the contract… … .”
“Oh, is this what you mean by the contract?”
“… … !”
What the general took out was a royal ‘official’ contract that clearly had his signature on it.
Although there was no magical compulsion, it was a literal ‘official’ contract that could not be modified from the moment it was signed and was officially recognized by the royal family.
But the words written there were not what he knew.
“Cha, it says that from the date of maturity of the debt, there will be interest of 10% per day… … When I signed it, it was clear… … .”
“Isn’t this a contract that you personally checked and signed?”
“but……!”
“Oh my! This guy keeps suspecting me!”
The commander stroked his stylishly curled moustache as he looked at El Bardo in confusion.
The smile on his lips was clearly a sneer.
“If you really think they tampered with the contract, you can ask the royal family. But then you’d also be breaking the contract not to reveal the details of the investment to anyone else.”
“… … .”
“If you think about it, wasn’t it a breach of contract from the moment you brought in the escort?”
The commander who had been muttering like that picked up the calculator that was on the desk and started fiddling around.
“Let’s see… … if we calculate the compound interest on the debt, and even include the damages for breaching the confidentiality agreement… … .”
Knock knock knock
Soon, the only sound in the room was the clicking of buttons on a calculator.
The hand that would sometimes playfully erase and write as if it was a joke gradually began to get faster.
The total sum calculated in silence was… … .
“Hehehe. That would be about 17 million gold in total.”
“… … !”
“At this rate, unless we pay it back with labor, it won’t be easy to cover it up with research results, right? Hehehehe.”
The amount of debt had increased 1.7 times in just a few days.
El Bardo, who had checked the calculated amount, was so frustrated that he was even angry, and he just trembled, while the low laughter that had been coming out of the commander’s mouth gradually began to flow out more clearly.
“Kuuuuuu.”
“Hehe, hehehehe… … Huh?”
… … But it was strange.
Even though it was clearly me who was laughing, I felt something strange and stopped laughing, but the laughter did not stop.
Who on earth would laugh so cheekily in a situation like this?
Soon, the commander narrowed his eyes and began to search for the source of the laughter.
“… … You.”
“Khuhhh… …! Ah, sorry.”
The main character of the laughter was a mercenary escort who appeared to be a magician.
An ordinary appearance that can be found anywhere and old clothes that look cheap and tacky.
The commander’s face turned red and distorted with anger.
“Once I gave in to the topic of dirty mercenaries, their wantonness has no end.”
“So, I’m definitely sorry… … Phew!”
“Who dares to split me up in front of you!”
Swish-!
The angry commander’s arm swung towards the wizard’s cheek.
At that moment.
“Up to there.”
“… … .”
A cold, low command from a predator heard from somewhere.
The swinging arm was caught in the air, ignoring even inertia, and the body went out of control to the point where it couldn’t even move a finger.
The voice, which was as thin as a spell, had a strangely strong force.
and…….
Ttukbuk-
“… … .”
Ttukbuk-
“what…….”
“I finally found it.”
Someone comes in from outside the door and walks towards the commander.
A man with his robe turned inside out, just like the mercenary who was standing there without saying a word. And a voice that was completely unfamiliar.
However, the commander could see the predator’s two eyes hidden between the hoods.
Red eyes, soaked in blood, gleaming under the dim light.
“What, what are you doing? When did you get here… … .”
“Are you done now? I was bored to death.”
“It took me a while to be sure with only fragmentary information. But now that I’ve found a solid ledger, I guess it doesn’t matter.”
“What, what… … What the heck… … .”
A fear that consumes body and mind.
And in that abyssal swamp, the man whispered the truth.
“It’s you. The agent who passed Esteban’s technologies to the Federal Empire.”
“… … !”
However, it seemed that the goddess of fortune had not abandoned him.
Bam!
“Your Majesty!”
“Are you okay?”
“… … Huh!”
The ones who came running after hearing the commotion were two wizards.
The hidden ultimate power at the top.
And the most trustworthy escort of the commander-in-chief.
Then, the commander moved his body hurriedly as if crawling on the floor and finally reached the magicians.
‘Oh, I’m alive!’
I feel like I’ve come back from the dead.
It’s not that it wasn’t. From the moment I looked into that mercenary’s eyes, a vivid fear came over me, to the point where the thought of being killed dominated my body.
It was a fear of death that I had never dared to feel before.
‘Damn it! How did you figure that out?’
According to what some ignorant guy said, he was an agent working for the Federal Empire, not Esteban.
A spy recruited to steal technology or talent.
He’d never caught the tail before, but the guy figured it out.
‘Ugh… I guess I’ll have to prepare a new identity soon!’
I don’t know how a guy who looked like a mere mercenary knew that he had been recruited into the Federation Empire, but it wasn’t really a problem if he was found out.
Yes. At least in this place, there is absolutely no way the secret will leak out.
The wizards who had just arrived were chief-level wizards belonging to the Imperial Magic Tower, who were on the verge of reaching a high level.
“Good, you piece of trash. How dare you threaten me… …!”
“… … .”
“I won’t show you any more consideration! Don’t think of dying in peace! I will make you pay dearly for daring to stand up to me!”
The commander’s trembling fingers reached out to the three men.
“Kill him! Just leave that scholar bastard alive! I will kill him with my own hands!”
“yes!”
“All right!”
Woooooooooo-!
The movement of mana from the tips of the two wizards’ staffs began to vibrate the air.
Also, the flow of mana was so clear that it was visible to the commander’s eyes, giving an idea of the quality of the magical power that the wizards were casting.
Even at the moment when I thought that I was letting my guard down or was just bluffing, those who had been hit by the magic didn’t even move an inch.
“Kuhahaha! You’re still bluffing until the very end! Goodbye!”
Within moments, the magic was complete and the projectiles began to shoot in a straight line.
Aiming at the target so fast that you can’t even see it… … .
… …
“… … .”
“Huh!”
“Oh, this can’t be happening!”
The magic passed by so quickly that it was invisible, but the events that followed were clearly imprinted on the retinas of my eyes.
The crazy mercenary who appeared to be a wizard was hit by the magic without even lifting a finger, and the one who came in later simply raised his right arm covered by a robe.
… … but the magic was gone.
It didn’t just disappear abstractly, it literally disappeared without a trace.
It’s absurd, but the magician’s critical attack actually disappeared before it even touched their bodies.
“what…….”
The commander, who had been blinking in a situation that left only questions, could only open his mouth and try to understand the situation.
And this also applies to wizards who use magic directly.
“Hey, the mana is scattered?!”
“The magical power that had been activated… was forcibly suppressed… … .”
The source of human fear was the unknown.
Wizards were humans who loved to explore the unknown, and therefore they were also a race that had a greater fear of the unknown than anyone else.
For them, the mysterious phenomenon that they have been studying their whole lives but do not know about is the greatest fear of all…
At that moment.
“Are you done?”
The man with the hood turned over muttered.
But unlike that simple question asking if it was over, something far from simple was happening in his right hand.
“……oh my god.”
The last thing the wizard saw was a ray of light emerging from the man’s right hand.
The magic he used.
A decisive attack, wrung out with one’s own magic and activated with one’s own magic.
The red flower blooming in the man’s hand was the magical essence of his entire life.
