In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 281

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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This Life, I Will Become the Clan Head

 

Side Story Episode 24

 

It was quite a sight to see Chanton Sersheu’s face contort at my greeting.

 

“Don’t waste time with unnecessary words. This is a matter of life and death for us.”

 

“Unnecessary words? That’s rather harsh.”

 

I spoke as if genuinely hurt.

 

“It’ll be autumn soon, and I was going to ask if preparations for winter were going well.”

 

“….”

 

Of course, Chanton Sersheu couldn’t answer.

 

I hadn’t expected an answer anyway.

 

The situation in the Southern Region was as clear as day, and I was already aware of it through reports.

 

“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me the harvest isn’t going well?”

 

I wanted to rub salt in the wound a few more times, but I thought he might actually cry.

 

I plopped down in my study chair and said.

 

“Did you receive the letter I sent?”

 

“…I came to confirm it personally. Really….”

 

Chanton Sersheu asked with a more rigid expression than usual.

 

“Did you really find a cure for the blight?”

 

“The damage in the Southern Region is quite severe right now, isn’t it? I heard exports from Sersheu Mountain have stopped immediately.”

 

Ah, this won’t do. I need to poke at him one more time.

 

“See, I told you so. I said you’d be punished for being so spiteful.”

 

“Don’t tell me….”

 

Chanton Sersheu’s voice lowered.

 

“This blight….”

 

This black bear?

 

“Are you suspecting that I spread it right now?”

 

“Isn’t that the case?”

 

“There’s no longer any value in continuing this conversation. Get out.”

 

I pointed to the study door and spoke coldly.

 

At my change in attitude, Chanton Sersheu finally seemed to come to his senses and apologized while clenching his fists.

 

“I misspoke, Lord Lombardi.”

 

“I’m glad you know it was a slip of the tongue.”

 

I spoke without softening my expression.

 

It didn’t matter since I wasn’t actually angry.

 

If something similar happened to Lombardy someday, I would suspect Chanton Sersheu first too.

 

Most importantly, the fact that this stoic and unreadable black bear made such a verbal mistake meant he was that desperate.

 

That’s why I deliberately acted angrier.

 

It was to secure an advantageous position in the upcoming negotiations.

 

I pulled out a bundle of documents from the drawer and placed it on the desk with a deliberate thud.

 

It was a research report sent by Lombardi scholars from Ruman.

 

Chanton Sersheu’s gaze followed it like an arrow.

 

“If I give you this, what can Sersheu offer me?”

 

At my question, Chanton Sersheu answered as if he had been waiting.

 

“If that is indeed a reliable cure for the blight, we’ll pay a sufficient price….”

 

“No, no.”

 

I shook my head while picking up the bundle of documents.

 

As if I could put it back in the drawer at any time.

 

“Do you think Lombardy looks short on money?”

 

I didn’t forget to click my tongue either.

 

“Show some sincerity, Lord Sersheu. Think carefully about what I might want.”

 

After a moment of heavy silence, Chanton Sersheu spoke.

 

“…I’ll stop the terrain construction in the Tamal region.”

 

I deliberately didn’t react.

 

It meant it wasn’t enough yet.

 

“Also, I’ll promise in Sersheu’s name not to open a harbor in the Tamal region.”

 

“And?”

 

“What more could you possibly want…!”

 

“Arcadia.”

 

At the word I casually dropped, Chanton Sersheu’s eyes turned fierce.

 

Arcadia was Sersheu territory adjacent to Lombardy, located at the crossroads leading to Chesayu.

 

“My condition is to stop construction in the Tamal region and transfer Arcadia to my father Gallahan Lombardi, the lord of Chesayu.”

 

Without Arcadia, Chesayu would no longer be isolated, and naturally Chanton Sersheu could no longer interfere with Chesayu’s eastern trade.

 

“That’s!”

 

“Why? Can’t you do that much for the territory people you hold so dear? Didn’t you say it was a matter of life and death?”

 

He was silent for a while.

 

He only clenched his fists tighter.

 

I left Chanton Sersheu alone and enjoyed the silence.

 

The answer that would come was obvious anyway.

 

“…I’ll do as you say.”

 

I had won.

 

I smiled slyly and pulled out a contract I had prepared in advance.

 

It had exactly the clauses I had just mentioned written in it beforehand.

 

For a moment, an expression of ‘I’ve been had’ crossed Chanton Sersheu’s face, but it was far too late.

 

The process after that proceeded swiftly.

 

It was just a matter of signing two copies of the contract and stamping the family seal.

 

“You can refer to this for detailed research data, and I’ll send the completed medicine to the Sersheu estate tomorrow. You may go now.”

 

I waved one hand dismissively.

 

Telling him to leave quickly.

 

I needed to savor this moment.

 

Chanton Sersheu stood up holding one copy of the contract and the scholars’ report in one hand.

 

But that was only for a moment.

 

He stopped his steps toward the exit and turned around, roughly rubbing his forehead with a tired expression.

 

“We need to rewrite the contract.”

 

“The contract? Why?”

 

“Here, the clause about not opening a harbor in the Tamal region is missing.”

 

I reread the part Chanton Sersheu was pointing to.

 

The contract only contained the phrases ‘will stop terrain preparation construction in the Tamal region and never resume it’ and ‘will transfer all rights to Arcadia to Gallahan Lombardi’.

 

“Hmm, that’s unexpected, Lord Sersheu?”

 

I thought you’d slip by like a snake.

 

“You could have just used my mistake to plan for the future, couldn’t you?”

 

Then Chanton Sersheu frowned as if displeased.

 

“I don’t do cowardly things with promises made in the family’s name. Sersheu’s name isn’t that light.”

 

“That goes for me too.”

 

“What do you mean by that?”

 

Chanton Sersheu, who still didn’t understand my words, seemed to need an explanation.

 

“I mean I deliberately left out the clause about not building a harbor in Tamal. Whether Sersheu builds a harbor in Tamal or not is none of my business.”

 

“But then….”

 

“Do you think Lombardy would fear competition?”

 

I kindly added for Chanton Sersheu, who was still dumbfounded.

 

“Tamal has a good location, but the river is narrow and the current is strong, so building a harbor won’t be easy. Next time, I recommend hiring Lombardi Construction, which has experience in harbor construction.”

 

Not because it’s my family’s company, but there really is no place more suitable for building harbors than Lombardi Construction.

 

“Well, I’ve said everything I needed to say, so I’m really going now.”

 

But Chanton Seosseou didn’t move from his spot as if nailed down.

 

And suddenly he asked me.

 

“If I hadn’t agreed to the deal, what would you have done then?”

 

“…Whatever happens to the Southern Region’s crops is none of my business.”

 

I answered with a shrug.

 

Chanton Seosseou stared at me quietly.

 

Then suddenly he let out a deflated laugh.

 

“You’re not being honest.”

 

What’s he saying, really.

 

“Did losing Arcadia drive you crazy… What’s wrong with your head?”

 

“That’s just like the Lombardi Family Head.”

 

…Was I found out?

 

Actually, if the deal had fallen through, I was planning to distribute the cure for free under the Lombardi name.

 

Of course, while explaining that we discovered it by chance.

 

I couldn’t let innocent imperial citizens suffer because of the power struggles between clan heads.

 

“Stop talking nonsense and get out. I’m busy.”

 

Only at my third order to leave did Chanton Seosseou begin to move his feet.

 

Unlike before, he politely bowed his head toward me first.

 

“Then I’ll see you next at the Council Meeting, Master Lombardi.”

 

Aren’t you tired of it? The heavy footsteps of those military boots he still wears faded away.

 

Only then did peaceful silence flow through the study again.

 

“Since we made a deal, it means we don’t owe each other anything.”

 

I got up from the study chair, reflecting on Chanton Seosseou’s last words.

 

And slowly approached the window.

 

The entire view of Lombardy came into sight at once.

 

When I was young, this was the spot where Grandfather would often stand when I looked up while playing in the garden.

 

Now I looked down from the window, which had become my favorite place in the study.

 

I happened to see Chanton Seosseou getting into his carriage.

 

“I don’t do cowardly things in the name of my family.”

 

Those were the words Chanton Seosseou had said.

 

“I was going to make sure he didn’t get away with it if he had just left.”

 

He’s as stubborn as he looks, that bear.

 

“That’s why I can’t hate him.”

 

A competitor who knows the lines that shouldn’t be crossed – for me, that was a welcome thing.

 

Power without checks tends to rot, after all.

 

“Well then, shall I get back to work.”

 

I stretched once greatly, then sat back down at my desk.

 

Why a smile lingered on my lips was something even I didn’t know.

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