## Chapter 347 – 347. The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated Into The Baek Family
347. The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated into the Baek Family
“I see. Then, we can get straight to the point, Marquis. I have some interesting information. Would you like to hear it?”
At my words, Marquis Heollis’s eyes gleamed.
“…Information. This is intriguing. If it’s information from you, who grew the Korea Trading Company to a size comparable to a giant trading company in such a short time, it can’t be trivial.”
“The value of information varies from person to person. Information that is more precious than gold to some might be like a pebble on the street to others. To me, it’s neither gold nor a pebble. I might disappoint you, Marquis.”
“Somehow, I have a feeling that the information you’re about to give me will be like gold… no, like a jewel. What kind of information is it?”
“It’s nothing much. It’s just that the starting point of the great war that will happen in the future is in the north.”
“Hmm. I see. I’ll correct myself. It’s not a jewel on the street, but information like a gold mine. That is, under the condition that your information is accurate.”
If you know where a war will break out in advance, you can move quickly to gain profits. And if you calculate the aftermath of the war to some extent and maintain a good balance until the war ends, becoming the richest person in the kingdom will be a piece of cake.
“A war starting in the north… Are you perhaps talking about the northern part of our kingdom? It’s certainly a rough area, but there shouldn’t be a war of concern… Could you be talking about the countries further north?”
“Marquis, I think I’ve already given enough information.”
“That’s baseless information. There’s no way to build trust. Or is it information that the information guild also knows?”
“Surely not. If the information guild knew, it would have already spread as a rumor. And there’s no way you would have missed it, Marquis.”
“…It’s just that your abilities are too outstanding to dismiss it as nonsense. What do you want? Membership in the Kozline Trading Company? If that’s it, I can certainly push for it.”
“I will eventually join the Kozline Trading Company. Wasn’t that your intention from the start?”
“…Hmm. I can’t just leave the Korea Trading Company alone.”
“I already said what I want.”
“You mean the war business that your Korea Trading Company and my Hollis Trading Company will do together… To be honest, securing war materials is just beginning. Because of the kingdom’s eyes, it’s not easy to obtain materials. If I openly prepare war materials or smuggle them, Chancellor Helbrit will notice first and question me. That’s as clear as day.”
I knew that he was bluffing about the war materials. It wasn’t something I thought of myself, but something Yuria had immediately told me through telepathy.
The market price of war materials is rising too slowly for a giant trading company to be building up war materials. Yuria said that if a giant trading company like the Hollis Trading Company were to seriously prepare war materials, it should rise by at least 10%.
“I knew that the Chancellor had influence over the Kozline Trading Company… but is his interference that severe?”
“Hmm… The Korea Trading Company is located on the border, and the company has grown rapidly recently, so it’s natural that you don’t know much about the Chancellor… The Chancellor is more prickly, meticulous, and neat than you think. He’s also unnecessarily good at noticing things, so he immediately notices any suspicious movements. I’m only telling you this, but the Kozline Trading Company is also a leash that the Rapelli Kingdom puts on giant trading companies.”
“…Is it okay for you to speak so frankly?”
I was slightly dumbfounded. He and I were strangers. We weren’t close enough to gossip about high-ranking officials.
“I’m just stating the facts. Or are you going to run to Chancellor Helbrit in the royal palace and tattle about what happened today?”
“Do you think I’m crazy? More importantly, can I assume that the reason you can’t gather war materials is because you have to be mindful of the Chancellor?”
“That’s right. It might have been different in the past. But now that His Majesty the King’s energy is weakening, Chancellor Helbrit is the de facto highest authority. He’s also supporting the Crown Prince. Of course, his intention is to make the Crown Prince a puppet king.”
“Is the Chancellor’s check that severe?”
“The Chancellor is wary of civil war. The most likely time for a civil war to occur is when the king is old.”
“I understand. In short, it’s a problem that can be solved if the Chancellor is gone.”
“Why? Are you going to assassinate the Chancellor?”
“……”
I smiled silently and looked at Heollis. It was Heollis’s joke. But looking at his eyes, it didn’t seem like just a joke.
“I’ve investigated the Korea Trading Company. I was curious about the secret of its success. The reason is the convenient and sophisticated goods that didn’t exist before, but that alone couldn’t explain its growth.”
“Did you find out any other reasons for the growth?”
“I did. The merchants and nobles who were hindering the growth of the Korea Trading Company met mysterious deaths. They were attacked by monsters, hit by carriages, and suddenly disappeared. The Korea Trading Company is so lucky that I suspect it’s being loved by the god of death.”
He knows that I ordered the assassinations. Of course, there will be no physical evidence. There’s no way Yuria would have left any evidence, and if she had any evidence, she would have tried to blackmail me to get information about the Korea Trading Company’s goods.
“…If the Chancellor disappears, can we cooperate with the Korea Trading Company?”
“If the Chancellor disappears, we can cooperate. But you don’t know how ruthless Chancellor Helbrit is. Even the god of death wouldn’t be able to do anything to the Chancellor.”
“That answer is enough. As for the Chancellor… won’t the heavens help?”
“Now, won’t you tell me about the information about the north that you mentioned?”
Judging by how he’s urging me, he seems really curious about the information I have. I came here prepared to tell him the information anyway, so I told him the details.
“The north. Of course, I’m talking about the Hojit Kingdom and the Bishul Kingdom above the Rapelli Kingdom.”
“The countries in the north. Are you perhaps saying that the Hojit Kingdom and the Bishul Kingdom will declare war on our Rapelli Kingdom? They are certainly rough countries, so it’s possible….”
“No, Marquis. They will fight each other. Although there has been a long period of peace, there is a deep-seated grudge between the two countries. They will fight fiercely. And the spark of war that starts from them will spread throughout the continent.”
“…I can’t believe it. The prince of Hojit and the princess of Bishul formed an alliance through a political marriage just 10 years ago. And you’re saying they’re going to war with each other?”
“The marriage will soon be broken. Because the son born to the Bishul princess is not the prince’s son.”
“Wait. My ears are itching. I think I just misheard something…”
“I said it correctly.”
“…Are you saying that the Bishul princess’s child was born out of wedlock? Then who is the princess’s lover? Who is the real father of the royal child?”
“You still don’t trust me.”
“It’s not information that’s easy to believe.”
“The Bishul princess’s older brother. That is, the current king of the Bishul Kingdom, is the real father.”
“……”
The Marquis’s mouth slightly opened as if he was shocked.
In short, what I said meant that the Bishul Kingdom’s princess had a child through incest and was trying to make that child the king of the Hojit Kingdom.
The two kingdoms already didn’t have a good relationship. If this is revealed, they will fight until they destroy each other.
“…Can you take responsibility for that statement?”
“Why would I take responsibility?”
“…I’m sorry. I was momentarily flustered by the shocking story. It’s not your responsibility.”
I didn’t announce it officially, I just told the information to Marquis Heollis. And for Marquis Heollis, who knows this information, it’s just another kingdom’s business.
“…If what you say is true, then it’s natural for a war to break out. Does the Hojit Kingdom know about this?”
“Not yet. They’re probably in the stage of suspecting it.”
“I can’t fully believe your words.”
“I understand. I would be the same if I were you, Marquis. However, I have given you the information. It’s up to you whether you believe it or not.”
“…This is a headache. I was going to ask you about the Korea Trading Company… but I’m worried that I’ll hear more shocking things.”
“There’s plenty of time, Marquis. And as time passes, our relationship will improve.”
After that, I talked to Marquis Heollis about various things.
“I would like to meet Lady Heollis, who will be my sister-in-law, but is she not currently at the mansion?”
“If you mean Vivi, she’s already at Count Nevionte’s banquet.”
“Is that so? That’s a shame.”
“If you’re okay with it, why don’t you join the banquet?”
I managed my rising smile and pretended not to know anything.
“I would like to participate if I could… but I wasn’t invited to the banquet. Wouldn’t it be a nuisance to Count Nevionte, the host of the banquet, if I went?”
“A nuisance? You can come with me. Besides, aren’t you the younger brother of the invited Gent? The nobles at the banquet will welcome you.”
It was possible because Heollis was the one with the real influence and power among the western nobles.
“Then, I’ll shamelessly participate. I’m very much looking forward to meeting the western nobles and my sister-in-law.”
•••
Entering the banquet with Marquis Heollis, I greeted the western nobles. They welcomed my sudden participation. Count Nevionte, the host of the banquet, was the same. Who would criticize me when I came with Heollis, who could be called the power of the west?
However, there was one person.
There was one person who was glaring at me with a face as if he had chewed something unpleasant.
It was Gent.
He probably never dreamed that I would participate in the banquet with Marquis Heollis. And he must be imagining all sorts of ominous things in his head.
‘In reality, my relationship with Marquis Heollis is only from today, but it will feel different to Gent.’
I approached Gent with a bright smile.
The eyes of the surrounding nobles are focused on me. To be a little more precise, they are glancing at Yuria, who is attending to me. Wearing a maid’s uniform, she was more beautiful than any noble lady or young lady at the banquet, and she had more dignity than them.
The noble ladies and young ladies will gossip about Yuria later, but there’s no need to worry about it now.
“Nice to meet you, Brother Gent. We meet here too.”
“…Yes. I didn’t know you would come to the banquet. I hope you haven’t been rude to Marquis Heollis?”
“Haha. You worry too much, brother. I was just talking to Marquis Heollis about the trading company, and somehow I ended up attending the banquet. By the way, brother, when are you going to introduce me to the sister-in-law next to you?”
I turned my head to the side.
There was Vivi Heollis, Gent’s fiancée, whom I had previously seen in a portrait. She had bright light green hair and snow-white skin. Her chest was an A cup, but she was tall like a model and had good body proportions.
I met her sapphire-colored eyes. She smiled awkwardly and greeted me.
“I’m Vivi Heollis, the eldest daughter of the Heollis family. Baron Eugene Prukerus.”
“I’m Baron Eugene Prukerus. You’re very beautiful in person, sister-in-law.”
“Sister-in-law… We’re not even married yet…”
“Aren’t you going to marry Brother Gent soon? It’s okay to call you sister-in-law in advance. Or are you uncomfortable with this title?”
“Ah, no. Please call me whatever you like, Baron.”
Vivi awkwardly treated me while looking at Gent’s reaction. The reason is obvious. Gent must have told Vivi about me. That we are rivals for the position of successor. In the process, all sorts of rumors must have come out of Gent’s mouth.
After greeting Gent and Vivi, I headed to the other nobles. First, I had to establish a relationship with the nobles here.
‘…But what the hell is this guy’s name?’
As I was slightly frowning because I didn’t know the name of one noble, I heard Yuria’s telepathic voice.
-He is Viscount Sebirowlog. The Sebirowlog territory is famous for its delicious apples.
“Viscount Sebirowlog! I didn’t know I would meet you here! The excellent taste of the apples from the Sebirowlog territory is famous even in my territory.”
“Hahaha. The apples from our territory are indeed famous.”
