NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43
As Christina opened the door and stepped inside, she greeted me politely.
“I am Christina Modina, the last surviving member of the Modina Clan.”
Dressed in tattered old clothes to hide her identity, it looked like she hadn’t bathed properly while hiding in a slum…
Whoosh!
‘They say a beauty can turn rags into luxury; it seems to be true.’
With her white hair and blue eyes, she looked like she stepped out of a fantasy world.
Though her chest was slightly smaller than Chloe’s, her figure clearly shouted, “Desire, anyone?”
“Thank you for coming here.”
Hearing that, she pursed her lips tightly and replied.
“Of course I should come, considering I can avenge my father, mother, and relatives who were thrown into the abyss by the Pereira Guild. And thank you for saving me from their clutches.”
Christina was currently being hunted by the Pereira Guild.
If caught, there was no telling when she would be killed or become someone’s slave, just like Chloe once was.
So, any ordinary person would have first expressed gratitude for saving their life.
The fact she didn’t voice her thanks until later indicated she was so consumed by revenge that she couldn’t even feel the relief of surviving.
“No need to thank me. I needed Noble Lady Modina to fight the Pereira Guild as well.”
Hearing my words, Christina sighed.
“Modina. My family has been extinct for a long time, yet you still call me a noble lady?”
Just like a CEO needs a company to run, a noble lady deserves respect only if her clan still exists.
Without belonging to any clan, she would just be ‘that once-successful A’ and nothing more.
Still, I could handle her like a subordinate.
“Currently, many families in our Empire have completely fallen, only to rise again and seek revenge. So, after we’ve completed this revenge, can’t we resurrect the clan?”
It sounded easy, but the reality was honestly a mess.
If taking revenge were that simple, I’d assure you that there’d be noble families getting wiped out every week in the Toscan Empire.
“We are collaborating now, so we must respect each other.”
Even though I was the overwhelming boss, I needed Christina’s cooperation.
I had to gather the information she provided to fulfill the Emperor’s command to sternly warn the Pereira Guild.
What’s so difficult about calling her a noble lady and treating her generously to earn goodwill?
Christina listened to my words and managed a slight relief-filled smile.
“Thank you, Young Lord.”
“Now, I’d like you to tell me in detail what happened.”
“Yes, I’ll share everything without hiding anything.”
I couldn’t shake the feeling that her blue eyes resembled looking into the depths of the ocean for a moment.
Just by her gaze, I could sense tremendous hatred towards the Pereira Guild.
It felt like her eyes could truly kill someone.
“My father managed the Pereira Guild for two generations since my grandfather’s time. He never hesitated, whether the task was clean or dirty, for the Guild and the Pereira family. When it was needed, he would directly refute the Guild Master’s orders. He took pride in that all his life.”
Business activities on the Albania Continent were akin to a kind of war.
A lot of bullets may not fly in plain sight, but occasionally people do use guns or knives to kill their opponents.
Ambushing rivals with bandits or bribing politicians to take ridiculous excuses to ruin opponents is a common tactic.
In other words, for merchants known as tycoons, I was standing atop countless corpses.
Thud!
‘I’ve already killed two.’
Christina’s father wouldn’t have lived a completely clean life as a merchant either.
He would have dedicated everything for the Pereira Guild, much like serving a lord.
“I respected such a father, and I learned all the knowledge required to run a business as a woman, to be of help to the Pereira Guild.”
As she said that, she grit her teeth.
Her fists were so tightly clenched that they turned white.
“However, my father lost in a faction fight over the position of regional head against that Alphaed scoundrel. And Alphaed framed my father with the Guild’s biggest disgrace—a massive arms provision corruption scandal.”
Smuggling, not paying debts, or kidnapping people could be forgiven in the Toscan Empire as long as one generously bribed!
Wham!
‘As long as you don’t touch the nobles or wealthy citizens!’
However, arms provision corruption was a crime that was unforgivable under any circumstances.
No matter how insensitive the high-ranking officials were towards human rights, they knew fully well that failing to adequately supply equipment to soldiers would weaken combat effectiveness.
In the worst case, neglecting to provide food could lead to rebellion.
If the military were to hold their weapons improperly, that would spell disaster.
Even if suppression succeeds, tremendous bloodshed and financial losses would ensue, along with the loss of honor treasured more than life by nobles.
Of course, corruption in provisions existed, with commanders and merchants colluding for “tolerated corruption.”
But fundamentally, it was the worst crime, bordering on treason, punishable by death.
“To save money meant for supplying herring to the soldiers, they bought rotten ones at a quarter of the price of a decent supply and embezzled the rest. They drastically reduced the amount of iron for armor supplied, playing around with weapons, equipment, and warhorses in various ways.”
“Even if the Pereira scoundrels were insane, they wouldn’t have touched the nobles.”
“Yes, they left the nobles alone.”
That was likely why this corruption could continue clandestinely.
Why? No matter how lacking in human rights awareness this place was, the nobles enjoyed “privileges and freedoms.”
Anyone denying this on our continent would be considered a heretic or a madman who’d engage in nonsense with their sister in a doorway.
Gasp!
‘Conversely, it implies that commoners can be exploited and harassed.’
Sure, this too would lead to a loss of honor if discovered, so it’s avoided unless absolutely necessary.
“At that time, the supply unit head of the First Division of Toscan, Count Goelyo, and the commander were in collusion. Then, when their terms ended, the Pereira scoundrel framed my father for the crime.”
From what I gathered, the Pereira scoundrel indeed seemed like a villain meant to be torn apart right now… But without evidence, it would be worthless.
“Evidence?”
“The documents submitted when the Pereira family reported my father to the Imperial Military Court, along with our family’s financial records and some documents containing soldier testimonies.”
With this, it should be possible to deal a deadly blow to the Pereira Guild.
However, it would be difficult to strike at the Pereira family itself.
Slitting the throat of the scoundrel Alphaed would be the limit.
“If we know the financial records and the amount embezzled reviewed by the Imperial Military Court, we can clearly demonstrate perjury. If all goes well, the family might restore its honor.”
While saying “if all goes well,” I was confident that merely reporting this would prompt the Emperor to restore the Modina family’s honor.
That’s because the Emperor likely wanted to issue a stern warning to the Pereira Guild.
Restoring the family’s honor could be a good means among those messages.
“But it would be tough to eradicate the Pereira family.”
Christina gritted her teeth.
“Yes.”
“Still, with this, the family’s honor can be restored, and I’ll reward you with at least a knight title. Moreover, I will grant you a fortune for a comfortable life.”
The title of knight is clearly noble status.
It’s a little laughable for a mere ‘knight wannabe’ like me to discuss it.
Unless one has land, a title without territory doesn’t hold much value.
It’s somewhat similar to buying a royal decree for nobility in the late Joseon period.
Chime!
‘Doing this is essential, for when a situation like this arises again, there may be those wanting to betray me for rewards—this is an investment for the future.’
She shook her head.
“I genuinely appreciate your words, but I cannot forgive the Pereira family that brutally murdered my family. So rather than that, I wish for you to take revenge.”
“That sounds unreasonable, doesn’t it?”
At my words, Christina knelt and begged.
“I’ll give you everything. My body, mind, and even my soul.”
The fierce aura emanating from her made me shiver slightly.
So I found my heart swaying a bit towards her, but that was absurd.
Thud!
‘The Emperor isn’t going to protect me, and I would be fighting the Pereira Guild? That’s a perfect recipe for death.’
Also, I had no plans for revenge against the villagers of Bio Village who had attempted to sell my family, akin to Chloe, into slavery.
But for others, why should I be the one to take revenge?
It was an absurd notion.
“Your worth doesn’t weigh heavier than the lives and safety of those resting on my shoulders.”
Saying that, I stood up from my chair.
“So, I will not undertake reckless vengeance to wipe out the Pereira family.”
Christina bowed her head in frustration.
“However, if you really want to take revenge, following me would be the most reliable option.”
Other tycoons would compete, and out of sheer boredom, they would hire bandits to attack rival businesses.
But they would never move to annihilate a rival outright.
Whoosh!
‘Because if they make a misstep, they could die too.’
It’s a sort of implicit agreement to merely save each other’s lives.
Just before stepping out, I turned back.
“And, finishing revenge doesn’t mean your life ends, Christina. You must find happiness for the sake of those who have passed, and restore honor to be truly happy. That would be the best revenge.”
School bullying victims often say that surpassing the tormentors in happiness is the greatest revenge.
But that’s half right, half wrong.
Sure, if I succeed better than the bullies, it does feel like some revenge.
But the perpetrator would have escaped any punishment and still mocked the victims as fond memories over drinks.
“Noble revenge is never too late, even if it takes ten years. So change your clothes and eat properly. It will be a long fight.”
With that, I asked Chloe, who was waiting outside the door, to prepare some clothes and a room for her.
My generosity fluctuated based on my mood.
But since we’re fighting together, I ought to treat her well for now.