Chapter 60: Side Effects (2)

The Labyrinth city planned by Kim Hyunwoo was receiving tremendous attention, as it was a territory that had never existed before in this Continent.

As a result, the number of mercenaries in Lartania currently far exceeded that of the territory's residents, creating a virtuous cycle due to the numerous positive effects.

However, naturally, where there are advantages, there are also disadvantages.

Opening the Labyrinth city and circulating Magic Stones, which would essentially be considered the sole province of lords in this world, likely did not look favorable to other lords.

Yet, Kim Hyunwoo had the confidence to plan and introduce the Labyrinth city immediately with minimal preparation.

He was confident in growing Lartania amidst these lords.

Of course, the Lartania territory was not in a particularly favorable environment for growth.

Initially, there were no resources around the Lartania territory that could be made into special products, and above all, a nation had already been formed around Lartania.

In fact, Lartania is no different from being in the middle of the Calan Kingdom, the Norba Kingdom, and the Eastern Union Clan.

Yet, knowing this, Kim Hyunwoo was confident and even thought that the current situation was not too bad.

After all, the three neighboring countries were definitely needed to grow Lartania according to Kim Hyunwoo's plan.

Anyway, in conclusion, Kim Hyunwoo had already anticipated that various diplomatic problems would arise sooner or later after creating the Labyrinth city.

"I am Kutra, an envoy directly sent by Duke Landaron."

"...Ah, yes."

"Let's cut to the chase. Duke Landaron wishes for you to become his vassal."

"...A vassal?"

"Yes. You will continue to operate the territory, but it will belong to the honorable Duke Landaron."

Frankly speaking, he had not anticipated this situation at all.

Kim Hyunwoo truly felt absurd looking at the greedy envoy, who was visibly overweight.

Of course, it's not that he hadn't foreseen such a situation.

In fact, he had almost first anticipated this kind of scenario.

After all, the actions of Landaron present before him were the first thing that came to mind when considering the best way to swallow Lartania whole for free from the opponent's perspective.

"If Lartania comes under Duke Landaron, you will gain the solid support of a mighty force. Of course, a modest price must be paid for Duke Landaron's gracious mercy."

Kim Hyunwoo was convinced by the overweight envoy's last words that the envoy was trying to 'make a pretext'.

Given that the Lartania territory was not affiliated with any nation, the current situation involved spouting nonsense to create a pretext for 'war' to consume the territory.

As soon as Kim Hyunwoo realized that his guess was true, he couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

Of course, he had easily anticipated that such a proposal would come.

"What do you say, I believe it's a very good offer-"

Contrary to Kim Hyunwoo's expectation that the envoy would subtly agitate him, the envoy was blatantly ranting to create a pretext.

Therefore,

"Do you really think it's a good offer?"

"You're asking the obvious."

"You're talking nonsense."

"...What?"

"I said stop talking nonsense."

Kim Hyunwoo, wiping away his smirk and frowning, spoke, and the envoy from Landaron, seemingly incredulous, finally processed his words and spoke with a trembling voice.

"What did you just say?"

"Don't you get it? I asked why you're spouting nonsense. Or should I explain it more clearly? I feel like strangling you right now and burying you next to your parents' graves - like that?"

The envoy's head turned red instantly at Kim Hyunwoo's harsh words.

"You'll regret those words."

However, even amidst this, as if he had achieved his objective, the envoy twisted his mouth and spoke, but Kim Hyunwoo responded with a smirk.

"If you've said all you want, get lost, you pig."

A clean dismissal.

The envoy stormed out of the office, his face reddening again.

"Sigh-"

Elena, standing next to Kim Hyunwoo who had just sighed, spoke as she watched the envoy leave.

"...I feel like I keep saying this, but is this okay? That envoy is from the Landaron territory."

"I know. He's one of the three dukes of the Norba Kingdom, right?"

"Yes, that's right. To my knowledge, it's the territory with the largest military force within the Norba Kingdom."

Elena nodded, her face showing a bit of worry.

However, Kim Hyunwoo, who had been frowning as if he had lost his temper just a moment ago, quickly returned to normal and reassured her.

"It's okay. Besides, considering the nonsense he came with, he was here to create a pretext in any way. No matter how I had avoided it, it would have ended up like this anyway."

"Ah..."

"So, I rather gave him a piece of my mind to annoy him. Plus, there's no need to worry too much."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. The one who picked a fight is a duke... And of course, I've already thought everything through for such times."

Kim Hyunwoo said this and soon took out paper and a pen from a drawer, smiling.

Giral, one of the Four Kings belonging to the Red Eyes and effectively the second in hierarchy among them, began moving with the beastfolk to the vicinity of the Lartania territory.

After all, Red Eyes was formed around Merilda, so without Merilda, Red Eyes would practically not exist.

However, Giral was moving separately from the beastfolk who had started the relocation, due to two of the Four Kings.

One was the rabbit beastman 'Ryu', who was somewhat unique among the beastfolk in Red Eyes but still firmly held a position as one of the Four Kings.

And the other was 'Gram', the wolf beastman with a long scar on his face.

They were very interested in the story about Merilda that Giral had first told them.

Soon, leaving the task of leading the beastfolk to the last remaining one of the Four Kings, they went ahead to see Merilda first.

At least for them, the story of Merilda told by Giral had greatly piqued their interest.

Therefore,

"Did the Boss really do that? Laughed with a 'hehe-'?"

"Yes."

"Wow, awesome, I really want to see that face."

"Hmph, so the Boss is a female after all."

"Say that in front of the Boss, and your arms will probably be torn off and made into an ornament."

"Cut the crap, you crazy rabbit."

"Both of you quiet down. And I'll say it again, never use derogatory language about that person in front of the Boss. You might just disappear on the spot if you do."

The three of the Four Kings of Red Eyes were having such a conversation on their way to Merilda.

Soon after, they were able to meet Merilda.

"It's been a while."

Merilda greeted them with a somewhat gloomy appearance.

"Gasp..."

However, at Merilda's greeting, both Ryu and Gram couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

This was because, like them, Merilda had rarely spoken to them, and she had never greeted them first.

Though the Four Kings were surprised, they soon began to wonder upon seeing Merilda's somewhat gloomy expression.

"Um, Boss. Is something wrong?"

Ryu asked, looking curiously at the Boss's change.

"...Is there a way to get rid of infamy?"

Merilda asked.

"...Infamy?"

The Four Kings looked confused, but Gram was the first to answer.

"...If you want to get rid of infamy, there's a clean way."

"What is it?"

"Just kill them all, right? If you get rid of those you dislike, there won't be any infamy to accumulate, and it'll disappear."

Those were Gram's words.

However, Merilda still spoke with a gloomy expression.

"I've thought about that method, but..."

"But?"

"...There are too many to deal with."

"Ah... We also have about dozens, but isn't it the same for the Boss?"

"...Hundreds."

"...Hundreds?"

"...About hundreds of places."

"...That's definitely a lot."

Silence came as Gram cleanly acknowledged it.

But then, Ryu spoke up.

"Um... Honestly, a realistic way to get rid of infamy might be to stay put and mend relations with those we were hostile towards while accumulating good deeds."

"...Good deeds?"

"Yes, basically, as long as you don't cause big trouble, no matter how much infamy accumulates, it naturally fades from people's memory... Plus, accumulating good deeds would be even better."

These were Ryu's words.

After pondering over Ryu's words, Merilda said,

"...Yeah, doing that might be better than doing nothing at all."

She nodded as if agreeing with her own words.

However, a few minutes later,

in a carriage headed out of the Lartania territory,

"This insolent bastard!! I'll make sure you regret this! I'll lock you in the dungeon later and use you as a boy toy!"

Listening to the ranting from inside the carriage,

"...Ryu."

"...Yes?"

"If you really want to kill someone but killing them accumulates infamy, right?"

"...Right?"

"So, as long as you don't kill them, infamy won't accumulate, right?"

Ryu could see the murderous intent in the Boss's eyes.

"Still, seems like it would accumulate?"

"What about an arm?"

"Wouldn't that accumulate too?"

"What about a leg?"

"...That too."

"What about the head?"

"......"

Without saying 'that's just killing them...', Ryu looked at her with a strange expression.

"Hmm... Boss, if that's the case, I have a very good solution."

Giral, who had been silent but was said to be quite smart among the Four Red-Eyed Heavenly Kings, opened his mouth.