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I Got a New Skill Every Time I Was Exiled, and After 100 Different Worlds, I Was Unmatched (Web Novel) - Chapter 399: I Understand That There Are Circumstances, but I Never Said I Would Acquiesce
Chapter 399: I Understand That There Are Circumstances, but I Never Said I Would Acquiesce
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
So, after all that, we arrived at the town of Eden after about two weeks. In the distance, there were two large sailboats anchored, and although there was foot traffic typical of a port town…“Oh, so this is Eden! It’s quite lively, but… it somehow feels lonely, doesn’t it?”
“You’re contradicting yourself in seconds! Well, I get what you mean though…”
Certainly, there were people around. There were street vendors calling out to passersby, porters carrying heavy loads, and even what seemed to be a mother and daughter shopping for groceries.
But about half of those people seemed to have a somewhat downcast expression. It felt like they were struggling to endure their difficult lives, hidden in the shadows of some affluent individuals.
Well, the cause of that was pretty obvious. In fact, that’s why we came here in the first place.
“So, Hero, what’s your plan from here?”
“First, we’ll find a decent inn and then gather information from the locals. From the information we gather, we’ll obtain evidence of the wrongdoing by the lord, Baron Eden.”
“Hmm? Even though we know he’s obviously up to no good, can’t we just barge in and say, ‘We see through your misdeeds!’? I mean, it’s not like you, Schwarz, who hasn’t even lived here, doesn’t know that the lord here is corrupt, right?”
“Haha, that’s impossible, you see.”
Schwartz responded with a broad smile to Tia’s question, despite his blunt demeanor. This guy really… well, whatever.
“You see, Tia-san, in the case of noble wrongdoing, even if it’s suspicious and blatant, without solid evidence, you can’t bring charges against them. That’s because if an investigation is launched into a noble house just because it’s suspicious, it could lead to false accusations or the discovery of unrelated evidence… all in the midst of chaos.”
“Wow, it really feels like a power struggle, doesn’t it?”
Tia grimaced visibly at Schwartz’s explanation. Despite her reaction, Schwartz’s explanation continued.
“Indeed. Furthermore, there’s also the tactic of deliberately engaging in suspicious behavior and then prompting someone else to file a complaint. For example, in this case, if someone from another noble house were to accuse Baron Eden, but no solid evidence is found, what do you think would happen?”
“Huh? Um… let me see… I misspoke, I’m sorry… um, it would be… unfortunate, right?”
“Of course. In that scenario, even if someone accuses an innocent noble, the accuser would officially protest… essentially, they would be at a disadvantage. Then, failure is not an option. So, no matter how suspicious, without irrefutable evidence, action can’t be taken. In reality, nobles who understand these power dynamics tend to commit fraud quite openly. Even if they’re obviously suspicious, they know they can’t be accused without solid evidence. Baron Eden here is probably one of those nobles.”
“Err? It might not be my place to say as an outsider, but is it really okay for a country to function like that?”
“Isn’t it fine? After all, the country is still standing as it is.”
“Demon King… ugh, you’re right about that. As long as the royal family holds strong power, the system can endure. It’s about keeping the irregularities within bounds that the royal family can overlook. Even if there’s corruption, they turn a blind eye as long as it’s within reason. Of course, if things go too far, the country will act, and in such cases, even a baron like Eden wouldn’t stand a chance. It’s a mixed bag… While the nobles are allowed to line their pockets moderately, the system cracks down on major wrongdoings. However…”
At that point, Schwarz clenched his fist tightly.
“For nobles, it may be a modest amount, but for the common folk, it’s a fortune. I can’t allow nobles who squeeze the people excessively for their own gain, instead of using the wealth for the people’s benefit! That’s why I…”
“Hmm, I understand your perspective. In that case, I’ll lend my support.”
“Is that alright?”
Looking at Schwarz as if asking for confirmation, I nodded vigorously.
“Of course. In fact, why else would I have come all the way here if not with that intention?”
“Yeah, that’s right… Alright! In that case, let’s divide and gather information—”
“Hold on, Hero.”
Interrupting Schwarz, who seemed eager to act immediately upon his thoughts, I restrained him with my hand.
“What’s the matter, Demon King? Ah, right, perhaps it would be better to secure lodgings and establish a base of operations first? Seems like I got a bit ahead of myself.”
“No, it’s not that. Listen to me. Understand?”
“…Though you speak as if I never listen to others, fine, I’ll hear you out.”
“Good, that’s settled then. So, here’s the thing. Indeed, I understand your perspective, and I did agree to lend my support. However, I didn’t say I would follow your instructions.”
“What do you mean? You wouldn’t…!?”
As Schwarz began to grasp the situation, I grinned and explained “my plan” to him.
Third Person POV
“Hmm? What’s all the commotion about?”
From outside the room, the noise reached Baron Eden’s ears, prompting him to furrow his brows and set down his glass filled with wine. Surrounded by opulent furnishings, indulging in alcohol during the daytime without attending to any work was indeed the privilege of nobility.
“Hey, is anyone there? Anyone at all!”
The baron rang the bell placed on the table, but unlike usual when servants would promptly respond, today, no one seemed to appear no matter how long he waited. In a fit of frustration, he eventually slammed the bell onto the floor, but even the resounding clang failed to summon anyone through the door.
“Why isn’t anyone coming!? Damn it, have I been too lenient with the servants? I’ll have to tighten the reins.”
In truth, the baron had never been lenient with his servants. Their wages were 30 percent below market rate, and especially for the maids who performed menial tasks, they were chosen solely based on their looks and youth, lacking the skills to work in a noble household. The baron was always quick to reprimand them.
In that case, why does he employ only such individuals? It’s because seeing groveling servants gives him a sense of euphoria, different from sexual gratification. The baron licked his lips at the thought of stepping on the head of a maid kneeling and crying, but right now, the lack of response to his summons was the bigger issue.
“Anyone! Is nobody here? Jutel! Where is Jutel?”
The baron shouted the name of the butler who had served his family since his father’s time… not out of loyalty, but because it was easier to embezzle in this household… But even that garnered no response… It was then that the baron began to suspect that something was amiss within the mansion.
“Is there more commotion at the front entrance? Perhaps some ignorant commoners have come to make baseless complaints?”
There were rare instances when citizens, ignorant of their place, would come to petition for frivolous requests like lower taxes or improved working conditions… They were promptly dismissed. However, the fact that it was taking so long…
“Could it be that there are too many people? Could it possibly be a rebellion!? No, they wouldn’t dare…”
The baron’s noble status was rather low among the aristocracy. However, given that this domain harbored a key port, its income far surpassed that of an average baron estate, even exceeding that of impoverished viscounts.
Therefore, the mansion was equipped with a sufficient number of guards. Dealing with dozens of commoners, even armed, should have been well within their capabilities. Of course, if it were hundreds or thousands, it would be a different story, but he certainly wouldn’t miss signs of such a large-scale uprising.
And so, Baron Eden pondered. What on earth had happened? Should he go and see for himself? Or should he prepare to flee, just in case?
As he returned to his room, contemplating whether to check the situation from the window…
“Hey there, you’re Baron Eden, right?”
“What!? W-Who are you!?”
“Me? I’m Edda! The Great Demon King Edda!”
Emerging from around the corner of the corridor was a young woman with a provocative smile.
(T/N: LMAO THAT POWER)
