The Strongest in Our Neighborhood - Chapter 20

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

The Strongest in Our Neighborhood (20)
“Hmm, I didn’t see it when we went through the safe, so someone must have it……”
Jang Ga-in watched the mercenaries from across the dining hall, who were eating and casting nervous glances his way.
“Does anyone among you have a Communication Device, or know where one is?”
At Jang Ga-in’s question, the mercenaries exchanged looks before shaking their heads in unison.
One of them stepped forward as their representative and said he didn’t know.
“You don’t know? If I have to search your pockets and find one, every last one of you dies.”
When Jang Ga-in stood and approached them, one of the mercenaries quickly drew a Communication Device from his pocket.
“Ah! Now that I think about it, I picked this up a few days ago and just forgot about it.”
“Ha! Look at this bastard. One threat of death and suddenly his memory works. Do you think I’m a fool?”
“No, sir. I really did forget.”
As the mercenary hurried to hand over the Communication Device, Ingram took it and examined it before nodding.
“It is indeed our tribe’s Communication Device. Now I’ll be able to contact Father.”
“Good, at least that’s settled.”
Crack.
After handing a Crystal Orb to Ingram, Jang Ga-in lashed out and struck the mercenary across the face with a sharp slap.
“Ahhh!”
The mercenary’s head snapped so violently his neck made a sickening crunch, and several teeth scattered from his mouth like corn kernels, clattering across the floor.
Jang Ga-in grabbed the reeling mercenary by the hair before he could collapse and forced him to meet his eyes.
“You watched plenty of your fellow mercenaries die—watched your own commander fall—and still you hide a Communication Device and lie about it? Do you think you’ve got spare lives stashed somewhere?”
“I… I truly didn’t remember. Please, spare me.”
“This is unbelievable.”
Jang Ga-in considered killing the mercenary outright, but then he noticed children seated among the other diners and decided against it.
“This time I’ll let you live. But if you try to deceive me again, I’ll cut your throat wherever we are, no exceptions.”
“Th-thank you. Thank you for sparing me.”
Jang Ga-in released his grip on the mercenary’s hair and turned his attention to the others.
“The rest of you have things hidden away too, don’t you? While I’m asking nicely, hand over everything.”
Before Jang Ga-in had even finished speaking, the mercenaries were pulling expensive jewels and gold from their pockets.
“Look at these bastards! And here I thought you had nothing left to steal. You’re all incredibly bold!”
* * *
Crash.
The moment Baron Jabed-ra stepped into his office after the humiliating coercion by Jang Ga-in, he tore off his outer coat and hurled it aside, then drove his fist down on the table.
“Hureass!”
“Yes, Baron.”
“Bring me a Communication Device at once and connect me to Baron Daparon.”
“Right away, sir.”
Hureass rushed out and returned moments later with the Communication Device.
“Baron, I have Baron Daparon on the line.”
“Baron Daparon, this is Baron Jabed-ra speaking.”
―Ah! Baron Jabed-ra! About an hour ago I received word from a clerk that you had seen him and conveyed my intentions. Surely you’re not already giving me your answer?
“Yes. As you proposed, I will transfer fifty percent of the Centron Mine’s revenue to you beginning next month.”
―Really! I… truly? Ha! I never realized you were such an agreeable man, Baron Jabed-ra. I must confess, I was rather worried for nothing.
Daparon’s voice carried unmistakable surprise at this unexpected concession.
“In exchange, I ask that you lend me Knight Dimitrion for a time.”
―Lend you? Knight Dimitrion? Well, he’s hardly an object to be borrowed. And though he has sworn an Oath of Loyalty to me, he is one of the kingdom’s Ten Swords—I cannot simply dispose of him as I wish.
“Ah, forgive me—I got ahead of myself and spoke too bluntly. The truth is, I suffered such a grave insult to my Noble Dignity today that I need Knight Dimitrion’s martial prowess to restore my honor.”
―Your Noble Dignity was compromised? Good heavens! Who would dare insult a noble of such standing so brazenly?
“A man named Jang Ga-in. He’s connected to the Dwerberg Tribe—came to me accusing me of having their people kidnapped by mercenaries. When my captain of the guard couldn’t stop his attack and fell, I endured insults so vile I can scarcely put them into words.”
Even as he spoke, Baron Jabed-ra’s rage remained unabated, his teeth grinding audibly.
―Your captain of the guard would be Knight Morson, then… He fell to a single blow?
Baron Daparon sounded genuinely surprised. Before Knight Dimitrion had become his knight, his finest warrior had been scarcely a match for Morson.
“Yes.”
―This man must be formidable indeed.
“He scaled the defensive wall in a single leap and subdued Knight Morson with one strike—that is formidable. But no matter how skilled he is, surely he cannot match Knight Dimitrion, one of the kingdom’s Ten Swords?”
―Well, true enough. Scaling a wall in a single bound is something Knight Dimitrion could do without effort. Still, this opponent may prove to be not entirely beneath his notice. Of course, I don’t imagine Knight Dimitrion would lose, but…
“Precisely. That is why I make this request of you, Baron Daparon. Would I surrender my share of the Centron Mine without even negotiating if I were not consumed with fury? Please, grant me the opportunity to restore my honor.”
―Understood. The honor of a noble must be upheld in all circumstances. I shall send Knight Dimitrion.
“Thank you, Baron Daparon. I swear I shall repay this debt of gratitude.”
―Ha! Your concession regarding the Centron Mine is repayment enough.
* * *
Dimitrion had journeyed to the Diaran Territory governed by Marquis Daparon for a single purpose: to break through the Realm Barrier that had stalled his advancement for more than a decade through direct combat with formidable monsters.
When Dimitrion took residence in his domain, Marquis Daparon lavished every kindness upon him, even gifting him an Ancestral Sword passed down through generations—a gesture that successfully bound the swordmaster to his service.
Human nature, after all, demands a return proportionate to one’s investment.
Once Dimitrion became his knight, Marquis Daparon began asserting dominance over neighboring lords, and as the years wore on, he grew bold enough to impose demands that defied all reason.
Five years elapsed in this manner, and he had become the wealthiest noble among the frontier lords encircling the Crelarion Mountain Range.
“Ha, making money has never been so effortless.”
After finishing his conversation with Marquis Jabed-ra, Marquis Daparon wore a satisfied expression as his eldest son Mogoya cautiously posed a question.
“Father.”
“What troubles you?”
“Dimitrion is one of the Ten Swords from the homeland, isn’t he?”
“He is.”
“And yet, from what I observe of how you command him, it seems rather… restrained.”
“Restrained? In what manner restrained?”
“The other members of the Ten Swords have sworn loyalty to lords who, except for yourself, are counts at the minimum, with marquises and dukes above them, and the kingdom’s First Sword serves His Majesty himself.”
“True.”
“So surely you could leverage Dimitrion’s strength to absorb the neighboring territories and elevate yourself to a county title.”
“Hmm! Your words aren’t without merit. I’ve entertained such thoughts before, as a matter of fact.”
“Yet you entertain such thoughts while contenting yourself with modest gains from the surrounding domains. Just now, couldn’t you have demanded formal conquest of Marquis Jabed-ra’s lands, using the Centron Mine as pretext?”
Hearing his son’s words, Marquis Daparon found himself exhaling a weary sigh without quite meaning to.
“There is a part of this matter I have not shared with you, which explains your thinking.”
“What is it that you haven’t told me?”
“Though Dimitrion swore an Oath of Loyalty to me, it was not unconditional loyalty. It was, rather, a conditional oath—which means I cannot command him as I wish.”
“A conditional oath? What conditions does it bear?”
“He pledged that his loyalty lasts only while he resides in my domain, and that while he will defend against external invaders, he will not aid in attacks upon neighboring territories.”
Upon hearing his father’s words, Mogoya’s eyes widened in surprise.
“But Father, you gave him our house’s most treasured heirloom… and you only obtained such conditional loyalty in return?”
At his son’s question, Marquis Daparon smiled bitterly.
“Even such conditional loyalty has already yielded gains exceeding my initial investment.”
“Well, yes… but…”
As his son trailed off, Marquis Daparon continued.
“So do not harbor schemes to exploit Dimitrion further. The best we can do is use the fortune we’ve earned while he remains to expand our knights and soldiers.”
“I understand. But Father, I believe I could win his genuine affection and secure a true oath of loyalty where you could not.”
Upon hearing this, Marquis Daparon’s face registered disbelief.
“What nonsense! I’ve labored extensively to earn his regard, and yet you speak such absurdities?”
“A man like Dimitrion cannot be moved by material things.”
“Then by what means could one win his heart?”
“You know how close he is with the hunters who assist him in every monster hunt, don’t you?”
“I’m aware.”
“Though those hunters possess nothing extraordinary, he favors them because of the camaraderie that has grown from fighting at their side.”
“That much seems plain.”
“So if I became his companion as they are, could I not win his heart in the same way?”
“What? Surely you’re not suggesting you’ll accompany him on dangerous monster hunts?”
“Why would I expose myself to such peril?”
Then how do you propose to win his affection?”
“Didn’t we just agree to lend Dimitrion to Marquis Jabed-ra? I’ll escort him to the Hailong Territory and build familiarity with him along the way.”
“You think merely accompanying him and cultivating acquaintance will win his heart?”
“It’s the beginning. As we grow closer, opportunities for time spent together will naturally increase, and eventually won’t his affection incline toward me?”
“Hmm! Build closeness and familiarity, thereby winning his heart—there’s merit in that indeed. Very well. Go to Hailong with Dimitrion and return with experience.”
“I understand.”
“Should you succeed in winning his heart in time, the next lord of this territory will be you.”
“When I become lord, this place will be elevated to a county.”
* * *
“Master, there’s talk that Marquis Daparon has been leveraging your name to unfairly pressure the surrounding territories… is there true need to go through the inconvenience of traveling to Hailong yourself?”
Dimitrion let out a soft laugh at the doubtful question posed by his retainer Egoedan.
“Do you truly believe I make this tedious journey to Hailong at Marquis Daparon’s command?”
“Is that not so?”
“Why have I come to this remote frontier seeking powerful monsters in the first place?”
“Surely to ascend to a higher realm than where you stand now, sir?”
“Precisely. And when I hear there’s a formidable warrior in Hailong who defeated Morson in a single stroke, how could I not go?”
“Ah, I confess I’m curious about this person as well. Yet Master, your going there to handle matters personally may give other lords the impression that you are truly sworn to Marquis Daparon as his knight, and that is the concern.”
“Ha, does the rumor that Baron Daparon deliberately spread among the neighboring lords trouble you?”

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