I Bought the Villains With Money - Chapter 93

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 93.
“I’ve been wanting to go down there for a while now. Nobel is a ticking time bomb.”
Increasing the stipend had extinguished the immediate crisis, but the discontent among Nobel’s residents still touched the sky.
The money I gave was merely a temporary solution—like giving a pacifier to a hungry child.
Moreover, this year the cold had been unusually severe. Familiarity with cold doesn’t erase the hardships it brings. So this winter, the lives of Nobel’s people had grown even more desolate.
When pus accumulates, it bursts. When water boils, it overflows.
Once the weather warmed and Monster Subjugation ended, the odds of Nobel’s people rising up were high. So I had to go to Nobel before that happened.
“Monster Subjugation season is coming soon. The Silver Knights will be deploying. I’ll go with them in my capacity as their representative.”
I planned to solve Nobel’s problems while I was there and successfully conclude the Silver Knights’ expedition, thereby restoring Karman’s faith in me.
“That won’t do, Miss. It’s too dangerous.”
Matthew, who had been listening silently until now, voiced his objection.
“If you must go, you should wait until after the Silver Knights complete their Monster Subjugation. As you know, Nobel during that season is genuinely perilous.”
“I agree with Matthew’s opinion.”
Chorni raised her hand and cut in.
“Let’s go to Nobel later.”
Rumdracks uncrossed his legs and sided with Chorni. These two, who usually bickered, were now in agreement.
Was my judgment wrong?
‘No. There’s opportunity within danger.’
My conclusion was that I was right.
I had to make Nobel firmly my own at this chance.
“Nobel will think they’ve been excluded by Irenber all this time. Even after I became Acting Head of House, I’ve neglected them while attending to other regions.”
“But you sent them money, Miss.”
Jennis spoke up.
“That’s right. You’ve provided support from a portion of the profits earned through Irenber’s ventures.”
Matthew added.
Since I became Acting Head of House, Irenber’s operations had become increasingly aggressive, and profits had grown considerably. The support sent to Nobel was no small sum.
I had made up for Nobel’s increased taxes and more.
“That’s true, Jennis. But whether that money actually reached Nobel’s residents is another matter.”
Rumdracks nodded at my words. He knew the true nature of the nobility well.
I looked around at everyone and explained about Nobel.
“Because Nobel is so underdeveloped, Father gave them considerable autonomy. Too many constraints make it difficult to respond nimbly to problems.”
Reduced oversight and expanded authority feed the greed of fools.
“I need to go down there once and conduct an inspection. As Acting Head of House, they won’t be able to ignore me.”
“I’m not saying don’t go—I’m saying delay it. Is the money we send to Nobel becoming a burden?”
Chorni asked while running her hand through her hair.
The money wasn’t a burden. Considering what I’d earn from coal sales, I could double Nobel’s support without issue.
“As I said, it’s not just about money. I now have a reason to leave the Capital, and I need to earn His Majesty’s trust. For many reasons, now is the right time for Nobel.”
I steadied my breathing.
“Now. I have to go when Nobel is most in danger.”
Standing together in peril is the fastest way to build trust.
And I was going to bring Casion on this journey too. That way, it would naturally become a media story: the Prince, his ailing body dragging along for the Kingdom, accompanying Monster Subjugation.
“Think about it a little more.”
Rumdracks continued to oppose my decision.
I looked at Chorni desperately. Chorni avoided my gaze. Matthew and Jennis did the same. Not a single person agreed with me.
‘Lonely, isn’t it.’
But ultimately, things went my way.
Casion actively supported my opinion.
“If you’re going, I’m going anywhere.”
His blanket approval made my sense of responsibility weigh heavy.
Soon after, I summoned Matthew and the others again. We began planning our trip to Nobel.
***
I denied to Karman that I knew the playwright.
Instead, I handed over the two actors we’d been protecting to Karman.
And I entrusted him with full investigative authority over the incident. When I came forward aggressively to cooperate with all the inquiries, Karman’s expression relaxed considerably as he continued our conversation.
I was confident Karman wouldn’t find the author of the play even with his investigation.
Very few people knew that Rumdracks and I had written the play, and those who did would never speak our names even with a sword to their throat.
“You’re cutting off all support for Casion?”
“Yes. It was a decision I made together with Prince Casion. Instead, Your Majesty, please give Prince Casion, myself, and us a chance.”
“What sort of chance?”
I told Karman that I would become one of the Silver Knights’ leaders alongside Casion.
When a large order of knights mobilizes, two commanders accompany them.
One is the Commander who actually directs the knights’ operations and tactics, while the other is the Executive Commander who manages the provisions, clothing, and overall schedule for the knights.
The Commander leading the order must earn the respect and recognition of the knights, so the position is always filled by someone of knightly origin.
However, the Executive Commander changes in criteria every year.
Sometimes it becomes someone who donates heavily, sometimes a quick-calculating scholar, and occasionally a noble fond of adventure takes on the role.
So I have sufficient qualifications.
I made the proposal to Karman.
“I will cover all the expedition costs for this Silver Knights campaign from Irenber. So please grant me permission.”
I omitted the explanation for why I was going with Casion.
Karman would understand even without my words—that by having Casion participate in the Nobel expedition, we could quell any unseemly rumors related to the play.
There’s nothing more irritating than explaining what someone already knows.
I held my tongue, and Karman did the calculations before granting his approval.
I’d been worried he might prevent me from going to Nobel out of concern for Casion, but my fears were unfounded. Karman was different from my father in that regard.
‘There was no need to worry.’
And then the days rushed past in a blur.
I informed the Irenber Household Knights that I would be departing for Nobel. Several among them objected vehemently.
Their reason was that they could not send me to such a dangerous place.
In the eyes of some of them, I still seemed like a child who would blow away with the slightest breeze.
‘Their worry is excessive.’
Though I was grateful for their deep concern, I ignored their objections so that the opposition wouldn’t grow and derail our schedule.
Some of the retainers supported my trip to Nobel.
The prevailing reason was that if I performed my duties as Executive Commander properly, the nobles and merchants who dismissed the Acting Head of House as too young would disappear.
But Count Kolkos must have had a different reason for his support.
‘He’s probably hoping something terrible happens to me.’
But no matter what, I will return safely!
I resolved this as I stuffed various items into my Magic Pouch.
Next, I selected the people who would accompany us on this journey.
Jennis was the first to join the Nobel expedition.
Beyond her remarkable talents, I simply needed someone to stay at my side and look after me carefully.
And Lebert.
I assembled a separate medical team for the knights, but I couldn’t do without Lebert.
‘In situations with trauma, without Lebert’s bold decisions, we would face far greater casualties.’
This would finally be the time when Lebert could properly gain the Trauma Treatment experience he’d so long desired.
‘Someone will inevitably be injured during combat, so I should use this as an opportunity for Lebert.’
To hope that not a single hair is harmed while fighting monsters is mere greed.
I would prepare thoroughly to prevent injuries, but I also had to prepare for what comes after someone is wounded.
Lebert, who could administer trauma treatment with greater precision than any other doctor, was essential to our expedition.
‘Every method he attempts now will later become the standard.’
The roster ended there.
Cho had grown busy with increased requests from Chorni, and Rumdracks was swamped with work at the Phoenix Bank.
Rumdracks had recently acquired a new worry. Not long ago, Julia had contacted him asking to meet.
‘Precisely speaking, it’s the Phoenix Bank Director she wants to meet, not Rumdracks himself.’
Rumdracks was currently pondering what he should discuss with Julia and what kind of game he should play.
‘Julia holds a significant number of bonds from the Brait Kingdom. Where could those bonds possibly have come from.’
I abandoned my attempts to deduce Julia’s new source of funds.
It was difficult to find any clear connection, and even if I discovered it, I couldn’t take immediate action.
‘Still, I should ask Aunt to look into it before I leave.’
I noted down the things I needed to do. I folded the notepad carefully and set it aside.
‘It seems like I’ve wrapped up most of the capital business.’
During my time away from the Capital, I intend to think only of myself, Casion, and Nobel—not Julia or Dayson.
I was preparing very diligently for the trip to Nobel when I heard a knock at the door.
“A Letter has arrived for Guardian!”
Jennis entered the room, waving a Gold Envelope.
‘Has she heard that His Highness Casion is going to Nobel.’
If she had, she would contact Casion—so why is she reaching out to me.
“Could it be…?”
The Letter seemed to contain something important related to Casion. I quickly snatched it from Jennis’s hands.
I Bought the Villains with Money (Serialized)
Author | Lee In-hye
Publisher | Kim Ju-hyung
Publisher │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd. – Tiramisu
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyeok
Address │ 11F, Ace Techno Tower 8th Building, 11 Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong, 1101)
Email │ [email protected]
Website │ http://blog.naver.com/jayplemedia1
ⓒ Lee In-hye 2021
※This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. under contract with the copyright holder,
and the contents may not be used in any form or by any means without permission from the company and author.
Violation of this may result in criminal and civil legal liability.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————