The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 143

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

Chapter 143

“Anyway, all the preliminary preparations are complete.”

Isabela looked at me with a sly smile.

Our goals this time were twofold.

First, successfully reclaim the Bakahun ducal title.

This would be possible if we caught Paul Bakken in the act of cooperating with the Dark Mages.

There were no legal or administrative problems with Borem Bakahun, who had returned instead of the criminal, reclaiming that title.

Second, somehow obtain information from the Dark Mages.

Specifically, what they were using all those live smuggled animals for.

For that purpose, Isabela, Borem, and even Alpheus had been moving busily for several days. Specifically, to ensure that other people in the Northern Region would “not sell livestock to Paul Bakken.”

Since everyone didn’t listen to Paul very well anyway, giving such instructions wasn’t difficult.

If the experiments required large quantities of animals… Paul would inevitably have no choice but to mobilize the duchy’s sheep.

‘The Dark Mages don’t seem like they’d show Paul any consideration.’

He had probably kept the sheep as a last resort, but the plan was to make that “last resort” moment arrive.

During the few weeks we waited for Leopold’s transformation, that work was all completed smoothly.

Now that Wolf-dog had arrived too, it was time to begin the operation.

“Well then, shall we slowly begin now?”

I said while checking the operating schedule of the “illegal warp” used by the Dark Mages that Harrison had analyzed.

“Based on the dates when animals disappeared, Harrison said the illegal warp would probably open tonight.”

With good timing, it was the second day since Leopold had transformed into Wolf-dog.

So we set out for the Duke’s Estate, bringing Wolf-dog along.

After transferring through several local warps.

Isabela moved directly to the Duke’s Estate pastures through a secret route without going through the estate itself.

“I was born here and raised here.”

She said with a fierce smile.

“I know secret paths much better than Paul.”

Following her, an environment with different vegetation from Rudolph Village unfolded. It was a highland area with high altitude and vast grasslands.

“When we arrived at the warp in front of the Duke’s Estate, I was too flustered to notice, but the pastures attached here are quite extensive.”

The plains weren’t wide enough to raise cattle and the terrain was a bit steep, so it was indeed suitable for raising sheep.

“Wow.”

I carefully observed the sheep scattered here and there, grazing on grass. It was my first time seeing so many sheep.

“Oh.”

Harrison, the boy from the Southern Region, was also amazed.

“More than I thought… sheep aren’t very clean? I vaguely thought their wool would be white from seeing fairy tale books, but it’s closer to gray.”

Indeed, the sheep were definitely not white.

Wolf-dog, who had once dreamed of being a sheepdog, looked like he didn’t even want to go near the sheep.

I quietly folded away my hopes for a pastoral life with Wolf-dog and responded to Harrison.

“Of course. Who’s going to bathe their wool every day? They only shear it all off when getting wool. But they are dirtier than I expected.”

Beside me, Isabela asked as if amused.

“Brisa, is this your first time seeing a flock of sheep too?”

“Yes. We don’t raise sheep in Sears.”

“Really? Then you can take them.”

Isabela immediately made the offer, perhaps reading the greed flickering in my eyes as I looked at the flock.

“If it weren’t for you, they would have all been smuggled to Sebon anyway, so naturally I can give you that much.”

“It’s truly an offer I don’t want to decline, but unfortunately, we don’t have the environment to raise sheep.”

That was true. But as someone with territory residents like rabbits to feed, I absolutely couldn’t just pass up this offer.

“But if everything goes well… I could take some of what can be obtained from these sheep, right?”

At those words, Alpheus and Isabela spoke simultaneously.

“Wow, you’re going to take the wool to make dolls for the children?”

“Of course. You want to feed the Sears Territory Residents lamb to their heart’s content, don’t you?”

The two had similar levels of imagination but completely different directions.

“Well, that’s something we can discuss later.”

I confirmed that the negotiation itself had gone well, and quietly petted Wolf-dog’s head while giving instructions.

“Now then, shall we scatter to our respective positions?”

Our party was quite large since we had brought many others as well.

Everyone nodded with determined expressions. Before the sun completely set, the Duke’s Estate’s true owner was scheduled to reclaim his rightful place.

* * *

At that moment, in the reception room of the Bakarun Duchy.

“Excellent.”

The Dark Mage smiled with satisfaction, arms crossed.

“What a relief that we can fill the quota without problems this time.”

Paul glanced at the Dark Mage with some disgust.

The pattern covering half his face was horrifying just to look at.

Because of that pattern, Dark Mages couldn’t easily reveal themselves on the continent.

‘Then what’s the point.’

Paul thought while trembling.

‘He reveals himself so easily in front of me.’

Where did it all go wrong?

In fact, he had no Bakahun blood mixed in him. However, at some point, he couldn’t refuse the temptation that came to him.

“I’ll create several witnesses and fake documents, so claim you have Bakahun blood and enter as Hes Backhun’s adopted son.”

Thanks to his pale violet eyes, he received a sweet proposal from the Dark Mage.

“Old Hes will die soon, and you’ll become the closest Bakahun bloodline.”

“B-but… th-that’s a lie…”

“Then the opportunity will go to someone else, shepherd.”

“B-b-but, if, if I become Duke Backhun, no one will listen to me! No, b-before that, I might be murdered…”

It was during the height of the civil war. Paul was always afraid he too would be swept up in the war and die.

But a fake ducal title?

When Paul was horrified, the Dark Mage laughed in the darkness.

“Don’t tell me you actually planned to play duke? That’s rather funny. No one will be interested in you anyway. So paradoxically, you’ll be able to survive by becoming Duke Backhun.”

That night, Paul had to choose his fate.

“You don’t have to decide anything anyway. What they want is a puppet. You just need to live peacefully in the Duke’s Estate doing nothing. In exchange for listening to a few of our requests.”

“R-requests? Wh-what kind…”

“Hmm, we’ll pay compensation, so it can’t really be called requests. Let’s call it a transaction.”

The shepherd glanced once at his shabby hut.

“I understand.”

After that, he walked a path of no return.

Their deal was simple.

Open illegal warps periodically in the Duke’s estate pastures, and supply the requested amount of livestock each time.

They had indeed paid money upfront. But there was a problem.

A monster wave hit the Western Region, driving up crop prices, and naturally livestock prices rose as well.

The amount of livestock the Dark Mages demanded was enormous.

Unlike crops, livestock couldn’t just be swept up indiscriminately. Moreover, after the warp malfunctioned, the retainers refused to let anything be taken away.

Especially from a Duke without authority.

“Money? We don’t need it. Who knows when the warp will break down again?”

The people of the Northern Region lived clustered together in villages throughout parts of the mountainous areas.

So when local warps broke down, they couldn’t move to other territories at all. In such situations, a single head of livestock was more precious than gold.

“After the long civil war and the isolation that immediately followed, we also slaughtered many livestock. It’ll be difficult for us too for several years until we can increase their numbers.”

Each territory in the Northern Region lost its center of unity after the civil war and no longer trusted the ‘Northern Alliance.’ In other words, the vast majority of lords chose to fend for themselves.

Paul somehow managed to purchase livestock in small quantities from various places. But he was always unable to meet the quota.

And in recent weeks… even the places that had sold him a few head out of respect for ‘Bakahun’s’ name had all locked their doors tight.

‘Ah, what should I do next…’

Paul sighed and fell into thought.

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