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Chapter 89
Past Affairs
"Stefan."
Emotion filled Merkat's voice.
But that was only for a moment.
"Since it's a difficult situation, hyung will understand. Later, apologize after calming your mind for treating me like a murderer."
He spoke as if admonishing gently, but to Stefan it was no different from being treated like a child.
Ĕ numӑ
"Don't make me laugh. Are you saying I... I'm barking up the wrong tree right now?"
"Do you honestly think it was hyung's doing?"
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"There's already evidence. Look at this!"
Stefan pulled out the scarf he'd been holding in his hand.
The Pascal Mercenary Company's emblem caught Merkat's eye as well.
"I know hyung-nim's methods! That dirty trick where necessity creates demand! Ever since I said I'd monopolize that trade route, this happened."
W̄ е b̄ n̂.õ v е̂l Ĕn̆ǔ m̈а
"You believe the bullshit those merchant bastards spout?"
"It's not just one person. Everyone who contracted with hyung-nim says the same thing, so how can I not suspect!?"
Merkat thought deeply at those words.
"Right, maybe those people got screwed over by hyung."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
He gave off a vibe of readily admitting it, then tilted his head.
"But where's the evidence that this hyung intervened in your business?"
Ẇӗ b ñ оv̈ é l̂ Е ń u m̄ a
"Isn't it right here?"
"This fancy scarf? Shit like this can be made anytime."
He fluttered the scarf then flung it onto the table.
"We've got 10,000 registered mercenaries in our company, and over 2,000 scarves in stock. Any one of them could've swiped one and made it look like our mercenary corps did it. You're smarter than me but can't even think of that?"
"Can you say that in an imperial court too?!"
"Wanna take it to court? You wanna go for total destruction? This bastard, you're really fucking pissed. Dragging family to court and all."
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"Cut the family bullshit. You only pull the family card when you're struggling, but when it's time to eat we're strangers, aren't we?!"
"You saying I tried to stuff only my own face? Hey, Stefan. When you were struggling I helped you plenty. Gave you convenience, did everything I could, so what the fuck is the problem?"
"Haven't I been saying this from the start? Those bandit bastards you lead killed my employees, that's the problem!"
"This bastard really insists on calling my employees third-rate trash—."
"Merkat Pascal."
Veins bulging on his neck, Merkat tried to rise from his seat.
Е n u m̀ӓ.і̂ d́
When Ferda called that name, Merkat realized Ferda was watching and bowed his head to him.
"I apologize, Regent-nim. I showed you an unsightly side of family matters."
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"I don't mind that. Sorry, but can you stop this conversation here and leave? I have something to discuss with Stefan."
"Of course. I'll withdraw for now."
Merkat bowed obediently and withdrew just like that.
Once Merkat vacated his seat, Stefan pointed at that spot and shouted.
Ӗ ñ u m а_.і̊ d̀
"There's nothing to see. It's that bastard's doing."
His face was beet red.
"Stefan."
"We need to grab him and interrogate him right now. Ask if killing 33 people felt refreshing."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"I wanted to do that, but seeing your state, I realized it wouldn't work."
"My state? What about my state?"
Е ǹ.ū m ä.і̄ d̂
Ferda looked at him with cold, calm eyes and replied.
"You're no different from a vengeful ghost craving blood and revenge."
"Revenge. Isn't that why I'm doing this right now?"
"The problem is revenge that doesn't fit the present. The revenge you're attempting now—isn't it dragging up grudges from your past?"
"I..."
He wanted to deny it, but Ferda's words let him cool down a little.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Seems like you're right. Honestly, I suffered a lot from hyung-nim when I was young."
"Tell me."
"When I got beat up somewhere, he didn't like my grit so he grabbed a wooden sword and said he'd train me, beat me half to death."
Ferda could understand that feeling to some small degree.
Since his mother died, Ferda had been treated as an illegitimate child and endured such rough treatment more than a few times.
"And I... that... no, let's stop this story."
Ẁе b̀.n о v̊ е̌ l̈ E ñ um а
"No. Don't stop."
Ferda stopped him from trying to end his lament.
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"Let it all out. All that anger you hold toward Merkat."
"Huh? Why would I do that?"
"It'll help."
"Doesn't seem like it would help much..."
Ѐ ń um̀а . id̈
"Then I'll make it an order. Hurry up and curse him and scream about what he did."
Stefan was flustered by Ferda's demand.
But in a situation where he had no choice, Stefan forcibly spat out that name.
"Merkat... you... you... son of a... bitch..."
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It started out choked up, but that didn't matter.
"You..."
Ė ǹu̇ m̀ а . i d̆
Like a dam with a hole punched in it, the emotional outpouring instantly turned violent.
"You... dirty bastard!!!"
Stefan's eyes flipped and he started screaming his head off.
"Damn that fucking bastard! I prayed for your ruin and you pull this shit!? Did I look that fucking easy!? Huh!?"
"....."
"I'll make you the same! Just like you smashed my bones when I was a kid, I'll smash every bone in your body too!"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
After that he kept screaming out the grudges piled up from the past.
About 10 minutes later, Stefan's voice wouldn't come out anymore.
"Kheok! Keok!"
"Have a drink."
"Keok keok... thank you..."
Stefan sat in his seat drinking tea.
W е b̄ ṅ о vе.l E nū mа
He slumped like someone whose energy had completely drained away.
"Feel a bit better?"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Yes, thanks to you, Regent-nim... I think I'll avoid hwa-byung."
"Then your eyes should be opened now. Let's continue the conversation."
Stefan fixed his posture again, and Ferda spoke to him.
"Bottom line—it doesn't feel like Merkat Pascal's doing."
Еnuḿа
"...Huh?"
Just a moment ago he was waving the mercenary company scarf around claiming Merkat was the culprit, wasn't he?
But now he says it's not?
"Then why did you make me curse my hyung?"
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"It meant don't get caught up in that resentment you're holding. Weren't you keeping things that could cloud your judgment stuck in your head?"
Ferda's words were dumbfounding, but on the other hand, he was right.
Ѐ n̊ùm̀.а́
Had he ever cursed and screamed like that, letting it all out?
As a kid he'd stuff his fist in his mouth and cry as a matter of course; as an adult he'd just sip hidden alcohol in a desk drawer corner and bawl his eyes out.
Right now he could pour it all out into the castle.
"You said contracting with the Pascal Mercenary Company is no different from contracting with a demon, right?"
"Yes."
"You knew that from the start, didn't you?"
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"That's correct."
"Then you could've suspected your hyung Merkat Pascal from the beginning. But you never showed that suspicion to me."
Ferda asked calmly.
"What's the reason you didn't?"
"The reason I didn't was because at the time I wasn't in my right mind..."
"Is that the only reason? Just didn't think of it?"
Ě n_ů m á .і d
At Ferda's question, Stefan shook his head too.
It wasn't just that.
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Stefan thought.
Why didn't he suspect Merkat first when this happened?
'Merkat Pascal.'
Family and enemy.
Е̃ ñ ŭ m̊ а̊
From childhood he couldn't control his overflowing blood qi.
Merkat utilized that temperament to become a mercenary captain.
He has charisma, and leadership.
Having leadership means knowing the weight of an executive that street thugs lack.
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Like a merchant analyzing another business operator, he judged everything about him as data-driven facts.
Then the answer came out with surprising clarity.
Wе̄ b̂n о v̄e l E n̆ ú m а
"...The possibility was small."
"Reason?"
"If hyung-nim retaliates just because someone doesn't contract with him... honestly, that's practically superstition. It was them digging their own graves. The truth is most of them hired cheap mercenaries, went into dangerous areas, and got screwed. They just bought cheap rice cakes and blame innocent... others."
See only what you want to see, believe only what you want to believe.
Caught up in emotion, Stefan had missed even such basics.
"So with just one scarf... my suspicion can't be certain, that's my current opinion."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Even as he concluded it himself, Stefan couldn't believe it.
Just minutes ago he was certain it was his doing, thought he'd brutally avenge him.
He judged with emotion, not reason, and was blinded by that emotion.
If Ferda hadn't shaken him out of it, he would've had to fight Merkat.
As Stefan swallowed his emptiness, Ferda heard his answer and spoke to Ruri.
"Bring Merkat Pascal back inside."
Ẅ е ḃ n̄ о́v̂ӗ l Е́.n u m̃ а
Merkat, who had been waiting, took his seat, and the three-way confrontation resumed.
Unlike before when emotions ran high and they were about to explode, a calm current flowed.
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"Merkat Pascal. I'm done talking with Stefan, but you give me one final, definite answer."
"Speak, Regent-nim."
"Can you swear you had no involvement in the attack on Stefan this time?"
Ferda asked coldly enough to chill the liver.
Е̌n̈ um a
Merkat raised his index finger and spoke.
"I have one principle. Just as my family is precious, others' families are precious too. My employees and I take up swords for money to protect others. If we take up swords for money, aren't we no different from third-rate punks and bandits?"
"Right, thanks."
Ferda, hearing Merkat's words, gestured with his chin at the scarf on the table.
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"If this scarf has nothing to do with the mercenary company's involvement, then someone tried to drive a wedge between you two."
"Between me and my younger brother?"
Е̌n û m̊ ӓ. id̃
Merkat's eyes bulged.
As his face showed, he was genuinely furious.
"Which bastard had the balls to touch my family?"
"I think I know who."
Calmed down, Stefan replied.
"Who?"
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"My younger sister, Tilda."
Another family name came from his mouth.
"On the surface she acts like Dandolo Company is enough, but she wants Pascal Company more than anyone. Persistently, subtly interfering. And the only one who benefits from hyung-nim and me being driven apart is that bitch."
"Right, that bitch would definitely do this and more."
Merkat, who had strong attachment to family, agreed at the mention of his younger sister.
It was a strange thing.
Ѐ n̊u m̂.ӓ. іd́
"Tilda Pascal is your family, isn't she?"
"Don't even speak of it. She's a bitch you can't even call family."
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Merkat suppressed his blood, answering calmly despite his indignation.
"When my wife was pregnant with our first, you know what she tried? Sent poison to my wife under the pretense of congratulating the pregnancy. Luckily I ate it unknowingly and suffered, but if my wife had eaten it, she definitely would've miscarried. She was an annoying sister with not one cute bone, but that time she properly crossed the line."
Stefan was the one surprised by those words.
"That happened 5 years ago?"
Е̄ num̀ ӓ
"Wasn't certain so I didn't tell anyone. Making a fuss would only make that bitch happy."
For Stefan, who thought Merkat's personality would obviously flip tables and go on a rampage to kill or be killed, it was seeing an unexpected side.
"Anyway, a bitch with no ability but full of greed. Since she can't succeed on her own, she snagged bachelor Henri Dandolo to eat Dandolo Company then eat Father's company, probably."
Merkat clenched his fist with a hand the size of a pot lid.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Veins bulged hideously.
"So what will you do, Regent-nim?"
Ŵ èb̌n оv̈ е̄ ľ Еn̂ ǔ m̈а́
Merkat asked.
"We can flip things right now and drag that bitch here."
"Won't that just make the mercenary company's image worse?"
"No need to worry. If I can push that witch-like bitch onto the burning stake, I don't care if I become a demon. If she laid hands on family, she must pay the corresponding price."
Anger burning fiercely.
As a mercenary who'd rolled on rough ground, he knew well how to use anger as vitality.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"You must not do anything that directly harms her."
The one who said that was Stefan.
"What? Stefan, you idiot?"
"Think about it. Using violence isn't good. The fact that she started such vicious deeds means her plan has definitely begun. Worst case, the entire Pascal family could collapse."
"Hmm..."
Since both knew what kind of person Tilda usually was, persuasion didn't need many words.
Ẇ е̇ b̂ n̆o v е̇l̊ Еň um а
"Malice is a persistent bastard. Until we have confirmation it's Tilda's doing, we mustn't touch her carelessly."
"Then what do we do?"
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Stefan forcibly calmed his racing heart and spoke.
"First, we go back without resolving this misunderstanding. Give them what they want. Then the plan will surely proceed as scheduled."
"So we catch that bitch's tail that way."
Merkat slapped his knee.
Е̌ n úm а . і̆d
"Good. Agreed. Let's properly drag that bitch out."
"Understood."
The two brothers who almost became enemies united in spirit before a common enemy.
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