Chapter 715 – 715. The Land of Pleasure (3)
Originally, the county of Ephrate was a self-governing territory until 5 years ago, and it was just a small estate on the outskirts of the province adjacent to the sea.
A full-fledged change began when the former head of the family died of old age and his son took over the family.
Viscount Ephrathe, who had no personal connections or foundations to do so, invested all of his family’s assets to start a slave market business.
“Still… Is it possible in such a short period of time to accumulate and grow enough to be recognized as a winner?”
“Well. It’s not impossible.”
It is true that it is an abnormal rapid growth and promotion, but it is not impossible.
“Actually, our family was also promoted to the duchy.”
As for the rise of the family through succession, the Olivion family to which Eira belongs is at the most abnormal level.
Originally, the small aristocratic Olivion family, which was only in name and did not even have a territory to speak of with only a baron, rose from the lowest baronial rank to the highest ducal rank.
“My sister’s family… Isn’t that a bit special?”
In fact, it was only possible because of the devoted housekeeper of one of the six heroes, the knight, and Teresina, who was originally a daughter of the count’s family.
“Yes. I think so too.”
Eira smiled at her realistic point and nodded her head.
Moreover, the fact that he was able to ascend from the rank of Marquess to the rank of duke was due to the great help of Eun-hyeon in many ways.
“So that’s great. The county of Ephrate… There wasn’t anything outstanding about it.”
It wasn’t from a family that was born with the qualities of a strong knight like Riod, but it wasn’t that he didn’t have a lot of wealth, and he didn’t even have connections with high-ranking nobles.
The fact that he was able to develop Gongji in such a state is not ordinary.
“If you just listen… It’s definitely strange.”
That’s why I can’t help but be suspicious.
Is Count Ephrate really a person with excellent business skills?
Or was he doing something illegal that they didn’t know about?
“Are there any questions in the royal family?”
I asked Lilligaeira, who was quietly listening to her conversation.
“I don’t know the details of the situation when the winner was decided five years ago, but… There is speculation that there may have been a secret deal going on that we don’t know about.”
If it was the kingdom of Pernias five years ago, before Eun-hyeon intervened, it was in full swing, divided into factions of nobles and kings, and many nobles slandered, fought, and checked each other in order to protect their interests, and it was a time when it was corrupting.
The speculation that perhaps a lot of money went into the pockets of the corrupt court aristocrats for the succession of Count Ephrathe was not an unfounded speculation.
“But… Isn’t Her Majesty Queen Yuria taking a tough response to uncover and eradicate all the irregularities of the corrupt nobles?”
“If suspicious circumstances were detected, of course we would have moved too… There was no such circumstance or evidence.”
Cha Hanseong also answered Lily’s question with a reluctant expression.
He also belonged to the Knights of Artia, and he had just taken off his rank as a rookie, and was a practitioner with a track record and experience in uncovering and apprehending aristocrats’ irregularities.
“The slave market, which is currently the main business of the county of Ephrate… It’s a bit awkward, but it’s a business that properly follows the rules and proceeds according to the law. Although we have conducted extensive investigations since Her Majesty Queen Yuria ascended the throne, we have not been able to obtain any evidence or evidence of the injustice.”
Saying that, Cha Han-seong’s face was very disapproving.
“Is there something on your mind?”
“Just… The business of the slave market itself is a bit… Yes.”
It is a difficult business that is unfamiliar and repulsive.
At least in the memory of Cha Han-seong, who lived in the country of Earth, the Republic of Korea, the concept of slavery itself was a very unfamiliar word.
Still, it was a bit of a shock to hear that the kingdom of Pernias recognized the slave business as legal and did not impose any sanctions.
It was just an unavoidable difference in perception.
About 20 minutes to walk on the road while talking like that.
The four of them arrived at the destination that was the subject of their conversation, the Countess of Ephrate.
The inspection itself by the guards guarding the entrance to the gate was not that difficult.
This territory is also a place where many slave traders come and go, and it is also a place where many tourists come to enjoy the pleasures.
The four of them, including Erin, were pretending to be adventurers, but their neat appearance and relaxed attitude naturally escaped suspicion from the guards.
In addition, Erin and Lily, who radiate mysterious energy like pheromones, lose their eyesight and shake their reason for a short moment.
It is the result of the positive effect of the nine-tailed fox and the devil’s demonic nature that flowed out unintentionally.
“Gee, pass by…”
The guards, who could not take their eyes off the deadly charm, glanced at the two women, and Erin and Lily entered the territory confidently, perhaps because they were used to such gazes.
Perhaps because they monopolized all eyes, Eira and Cha Hanseong, who received relatively little attention, followed quietly behind them.
First, we went to the hotel and got lodging.
It was naturally decided that a single room and a four-person room would be used, and that the single room would be used by the only male, Cha Han-seong, and the other four-person room would be used by three female people.
“… It is expensive.”
Lily frowned as if she didn’t like her.
The facility itself was decent enough, but the price for a four-person room per night was 20 silver coins, which was too expensive.
Eira gave a small wry smile and relieved her dissatisfaction.
“Are you okay. The Knights will handle it as an expense.”
“I could just do it myself…”
Since she had accumulated quite a bit of money while working as an adventurer in the gold tier, spending this much did not hurt Erin at all.
“I can’t waste it unnecessarily. Erin.”
“… Huh.”
Money isn’t that tight, but Lily really hates needless vanity and extravagant spending.
Being dissatisfied with the exorbitantly high price of her accommodation compared to the minimum comfortable facilities is a factor that shows how strong she is in everyday life.
As soon as the four of them unpacked their luggage, they moved immediately.
“We’ll meet again in three hours.”
“Yes. All right. Sister.”
As Eira started moving with Cha Han-seong, Erin also moved with Lily to gather information.
“Where are you planning to go?”
“Hmm… First of all, an adventurer’s guild?”
If it was a territory the size of a county, of course there would be an adventurer’s guild branch.
If it was an adventurer’s guild, she could receive various benefits while proving the status of an adventurer in the gold hierarchy that Erin had.
Of course, the benefits also come into play in the buying and selling of information.
“I see.”
Lily nodded at the activity that flowed more smoothly than she thought.
For Lily, who was always focused on housework as a maid and taking care of the children in the nursery school, this kind of outside activity was an unfamiliar experience.
‘It’s the first time I’ve seen Erin like this.’
At home, Erin is the youngest child who is foolish enough to belittle herself and her other wives, including Eun-hyeon, but is active in the public world.
She has a strange feeling, like watching scenes from her well-bred daughter’s social life.
She probably doesn’t know the geography of this territory, but Erin’s strides forward were without hesitation.
“Do you know where the Adventurers Guild is?”
“Huh? No? But I have a rough idea of where she is.”
Erin’s eyes were the same as the people walking down her street.
For adventurers, their own characteristics or habits are bound to come out through their actions.
The equipment you are wearing, the way you walk, the way you habitually look around, etc. Habits that have been acquired through long experience.
They come from the unconscious, and even if you try to hide them, it is impossible to completely hide them.
And, of course, adventurer guilds are located in places where such adventurers are concentrated.
Sure enough, Erin and Lily arrived in front of the adventurer’s guild building, full of hustle and bustle.
Neatly ignoring the glances around them, Erin opened the door.
A few people inside the Adventurer’s Guild building moved their eyes toward the entrance and observed Erin and Lily who appeared.
The atmosphere inside the building was more like a tavern than an adventurer’s guild, and there was no reception desk to speak of.
It was a territory called the county, but unlike the nearby Tyrnis territory, which is the same county, it was a very outdated facility.
Some were attracted by the attractive looks of the two women and made interesting expressions, while others noticed Erin’s gait and attitude that she was a formidable adventurer and even sent a wary gaze.
“…”
“You just have to walk confidently.”
Erin gave advice to Lily, who was slightly nervous as if she wasn’t used to the attention and attention of other adventurers.
“Whoa…”
Lily took a deep breath, straightened her back, and started walking confidently, quickly adapting to the atmosphere inside the Adventurer’s Guild building.
As a person who also went through many hardships, she was by no means weak.
Eventually, the two of them took their seats at the long bar table located inside the guild building.
The male bartender behind the table came over to Erin and Lily and spoke to them.
“These are the beauties I haven’t seen before. Is this your first time here?”
“Yes. This is my first time.”
“Hmm. Are you a guest? Or not…”
The male bartender checked Erin and Lily’s whereabouts.
He immediately recognized that they were adventurers, and that they were not merely drinking guests.
Sure enough, Erin took out a gold badge with the adventurer’s guild seal from her bosom and held it out in front of the male bartender.
“This…”
An insignia certified by the Adventurer’s Guild that the possessed adventurer is an adventurer with a gold rank.
“A noble person has arrived. But… We don’t have any quests worth commissioning from the adventurers of the golden ranks? Or are you here to make a request?”
Without a reception desk to speak of, the male bartender, who is simultaneously responding to adventurers, shrugged his shoulders and showed an awkward attitude.
There are three main reasons why adventurers come to the adventurer’s guild.
The first is to earn income by accepting and completing quests.
The second is when the person himself entrusts the request.
The last third is the purchase of information.
The third reason Erin and Lily came to the adventurer’s guild in the Earl of Eprate was the reason.
“I want to buy information.”
“Hmm. What information do you want?”
“Rumors about ‘snakes. There is?”
“…”
The male bartender hardened his complexion after hearing the explicit keyword.
“That…”
Eventually, as she was about to answer Erin’s question, her drunken voice interrupted the male bartender.
“Who are these beautiful girls!?”
It wasn’t enough to interrupt her conversation, and a thick forearm slung over Erin’s shoulder and wrapped around her shoulder.
“…”
Erin, upset at the intrusion of a drunkard who interrupted an important flow, frowned at her.
“Hehe.”
When the drunken adventurer, who had lost her ability to judge normally due to her drunkenness, let out an obscene look tinged with her lust, Erin’s face, feeling that emotion intact, crumpled at once.
As the hand of the drunken adventurer on her shoulder reached down and touched her breast, Erin, who had reached the limit of her patience, could not stand it.
She clenched her thick index and middle fingers and mercilessly twisted them in reverse.
Wood deok!
“Ah!”
As the drunken adventurer jumped up with her screams, Erin also spun her body up from her chair and kicked her drunken adventurer in the shin without mercy.
“Don’t touch me.”
