Clang!
“What the hell is that bitch doing?!”
Baron Bjor dropped the wine glass he was holding and shouted without realizing it.
The wine glass shattered as it hit the floor, and the red wine inside soaked into his precious pants and shoes, but he didn’t even notice such trivial matters.
Similarly, other nobles around him also got their feet dirty with fragments of the wine glass and red wine, but they also held their breath and looked straight ahead, as if that wasn’t the problem right now.
That was because Freya Evergarden’s declaration was so shocking.
She clearly ruined the friendly and warm atmosphere with a sudden bombshell declaration.
As soon as Freya’s statement, in front of the Emperor, requesting the forbidden Magical Beast, spread, everyone had no choice but to freeze.
But that wasn’t all.
She had done something that would not be out of place even if the round head on her shoulders was cut off and rolled on the ballroom floor, and then she stood up confidently and looked around at everyone and said.
She would report the traitors here.
“…Does she know what she is saying?”
The Emperor looked down at Freya with a face so stiff that no trace of kindness could be found, and spoke.
The Emperor’s seat is difficult to ascend unless one is of direct lineage of the Imperial Family.
However, it was not a position that anyone could ascend to simply by being of direct lineage.
He was a tamer holding the taut reins in the daily power struggles with the nobles.
It was impossible for someone with an empty head to hold such a position for decades since his enthronement.
Therefore, the Emperor was cooling his head and calmly organizing the current situation again.
‘If you are a noble treading on the land of this Empire, you know better than anyone what it means to utter the word Magical Beast to me.’
‘But, Magical Beast out of the blue in a place like this? It’s too strange.’
‘Moreover, this is not the woman’s independent act. The reaction of the surrounding family members is too calm.’
‘It seems as if they knew this would happen.’
‘But, the young man who makes Elixirs and engages in a subtle power struggle with me tolerated this even though he knew this would happen? It doesn’t make sense.’
‘Then this is… a kind of play.’
This is a kind of show.
The Emperor realized that this was a prank to divert the attention of everyone in this place and elicit a more explosive reaction.
However, the fist on his armrest was clenched tighter than ever.
‘Is she daring to ask me to play along in her play?’
It was outrageous.
No matter how great her achievements were, it was too much for a mere Baroness to do.
Moreover, the current Baroness seemed to be trying to use even him.
Was this intentional? A provocation?
But.
‘Interesting.’
“If Your Majesty permits, I will continue.”
“…Permit it.”
However, when Freya smiled and confidently asked if she could continue, even in the face of dozens of spearheads aimed at her, the Emperor accepted.
‘The head that was boiling until just now is cooling down calmly, and I am curious about what the woman will say next.’
‘Yes, I should test how far she can go.’
Nevertheless, it was a strong move to bet her own life and the lives of her family. And the Emperor strangely liked the spirit with which she could confidently present that strong move.
“Your Majesty. In our territory…that is, the Evergarden barony, there were Magical Beasts until just a month ago.”
“What?!”
“Magical Beasts in their territory?”
“Could it be for a coup…?”
Soon after the Emperor allowed her to continue, another bombshell statement exploded.
“However, I swear on my family… and to His Majesty the Emperor, that I have no intention of using Magical Beasts at all.”
“This is a kind of accusation.”
“An accusation… what kind of accusation?”
“It is because there were those who tried to sell Magical Beasts to various nobles by using my territory.”
“Huh?!”
“Is that true?”
“Oh my god!”
Every word was a bombshell declaration.
Now, the nobles in the ballroom had to feel as if their hearts were piercing through their bodies and burying themselves underground, then rising vertically into the sky, every time Freya’s mouth opened.
“…Then. Who are they?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. They are heinous criminals who dare to deceive the Empire, illegally capture Magical Beasts, store them in other territories, and then sell those Magical Beasts to other nobles…”
Swish-
After finishing those words, Freya closed her mouth and simply turned her head to look at one place.
Then, the nobles who met her gaze subtly avoided her gaze and moved to the side, as if Moses was parting the sea.
And at the end of that was.
“It is Baron Bjor.”
“!?!”
Baron Bjor, who was frozen in place with only his mouth gaping open as he met her gaze, appeared.
“Is that true?”
“…!? Y-Your Majesty! T-This is nonsense…! This is a slander!”
‘That crazy bitch…! That crazy bitch…! What is she doing now!!’
As soon as Freya’s accusation ended, the Emperor’s gaze immediately shifted to Baron Bjor, who immediately prostrated himself and loudly protested his innocence.
“Then, why did the Evergarden family slander you?”
“Th-That…! Th-The Evergarden family owes… owed our territory in the past…! Th-They are doing this out of that grudge—”
“I am sorry, Your Majesty. Baron Bjor’s territory did owe our territory, but we have already repaid the full amount and even paid the interest. If necessary, we can submit documents proving that the debt has been repaid as evidence.”
“Then, why did they slander you?”
“Ugh…! Kugh…!!!”
‘That bitch…! So that’s why she was so obsessed with documents that she never used to care about…!!’
A sudden unexpected situation.
Baron Bjor tried desperately to smooth over the situation with excuses in the face of Freya’s betrayal, but his excuses were not accepted because there were already official documents remaining that the debt had been repaid.
“I am innocent, Your Majesty!! I have never planned or committed such a thing in my life! Please do not listen to the words of that paltry and cunning woman with the tongue of a snake without any evidence!”
‘Still, there is no evidence that I did it…! The Magical Beasts are already in the Evergarden territory, and the mercenaries I hired are not my soldiers… there is no evidence linking me to those Magical Beasts!’
Nevertheless, Bjor did not give up.
Freya’s sudden betrayal was surprising, but he had already eliminated all evidence that could link him to the Evergarden territory.
“…That’s true. Then, Freya Evergarden. Do you have any evidence to make your claim credible?”
Then, as if Baron Bjor’s claim made sense, the Emperor, who turned his gaze back to Freya, asked.
“I will speak next.”
“…What?”
“Fifth Princess?”
“Why is the Fifth Princess…?”
Rachel, who had been sitting quietly in her seat without saying a word until now, stood up from her seat and walked towards Freya, saying.
“Father. About two months ago, I met with the Evergarden family and had a conversation.”
“In the process, I heard about the plot of Baron Bjor trying to use their territory for Magical Beast trading, and I secretly continued the investigation with them.”
“And about three weeks ago. We obtained solid evidence of Baron Bjor’s actions.”
Swish-
Then Rachel, who stood next to Freya, took out a considerable number of documents that she did not know where she had taken them from.
“Here are Baron Bjor’s route for capturing Magical Beasts in the north, their transaction ledger, and the list of nobles who entered the Evergarden territory to trade with Baron Bjor.”
“?!?”
‘H-How did they get that…!’
“Official, verify it.”
“Y-Yes…! Your Majesty…”
The Emperor, seeing Rachel’s confident bundle of documents, ordered a subordinate to begin verifying the documents.
“…This is!? Your Majesty! There is no mistake! It is definitely a transaction ledger!”
“Kuh… Ugh…!”
‘I clearly hid it deep inside the basement, and burned everything except the original when I left the territory and came to the capital…! How did they get that…!’
“Father. Although it is true that the Evergarden family brought Magical Beasts into their territory, it was a means to cut out even bigger and more rotten roots. I swear in the name of Rachel Obina.”
“…Fifth Princess, I will not ask now how you became connected with the Evergarden barony. And, if everything you have said so far is true, I will drop the matter.”
“So… that’s why the New Year’s party? At this point when all the nobles listed in the ledger are gathered? Haha… This is….. I don’t know whether to call it bold or reckless…”
After Rachel’s sincere declaration, the Emperor smiled and let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.
This is a perfect trap.
Bringing Magical Beasts into their territory to reassure them, and at the same time secretly stealing important data and reporting it.
Moreover, even if all of this is a lie due to the words of the princess who may have been involved at some point, a thorough investigation will have to be conducted to confirm it.
But if all of this is true, the Evergarden family has completely played with them.
“I will conclude the New Year’s party here. The officials should find those currently listed in the ledger and immediately search them out and arrest them.”
“If they refuse to be arrested… execute them on the spot.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Capture the traitors!!”
“Let go of me!! Who do you dare…!”
“Baron Bjor!! What is going on!!!”
“Y-Your Majesty! I was wrong!! Please…! Please forgive me…!!”
Following that, the Emperor checked the list of traders submitted by Freya and quickly began arresting those whose names were written on it.
Naturally, those on the list were all present at the New Year’s party, so they were captured one after another without any resistance.
“Baron Bjor! You are arrested for the crime of treason!”
“Wh-What… is going on…!”
Following that, soldiers surrounded even Baron Bjor, causing his legs to tremble.
‘I’ve been had. I should have been more prepared, I never dreamed that that empty-headed bitch would come up with such a plan…’
The worst result came from his arrogance and carelessness.
“Ha… haha… hahaha…! UHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!”
As a result, Baron Bjor twisted his waist and burst into laughter.
“Yes! I lost! A complete defeat! I never dreamed this would happen!”
“But… I will never die alone!”
Following that, Baron Bjor took something out of his pocket.
“This is me! Can you hear me! Wake up the Magical Beasts in our cages right now!”
It was a crystal ball, a magical tool for communication, and Baron Bjor immediately shouted loudly.
“I will never! Forgive you! Just like my life is over! I will end your territories too!!”
Even though they are young, he has captured quite a few of them.
If they are all awakened at once and released outside, the Evergarden territory will surely be covered in blood.
But.
“You are really pathetic.”
“What?!”
Even with her territory on the verge of being devastated, Freya smiled and appeared relaxed.
[Sir, Sir…! We’re in big trouble!]
“What, what is it?”
[T-The magical beasts…the magical beasts have vanished in an instant!!]
“…Huh?”
And Baron Bjor soon understood the reason.
About two weeks ago, Felix, having infiltrated Tene, asked her to draw a magic circle somewhere inside the underground area.
Tene, diligently (while crushing those who harassed her) completed the task, leaving behind a magic circle that designated the coordinates for teleportation.
After engraving the coordinates, things progressed quickly.
Felix, teleporting through the magic circle and erasing his presence, ‘disposed’ of the magical beasts in the cages one by one, then sent them outside. The empty cages were filled with his masterpiece, illusion magic, creating the illusion of drugged magical beasts to deceive the guards.
“Didn’t you know? There aren’t any magical beasts in the territory to begin with?”
“T-Then…! Where are those magical beasts…?”
“I’ve already butchered them and sold them off. Capturing or raising magical beasts is a crime…but hunting and selling their corpses isn’t illegal.”
Afterward, Freya handed Bjor, who was bewildered by the situation, a document.
The document contained receipts for selling the magical beast corpses to various places, including the Magic Tower and the Alchemist’s Guild.
“….Ah.”
Bjor, with all his preparations completely ruined, eventually collapsed on the spot and lost consciousness.
Thus, the Evergarden family finally completely removed the festering part of the Evergarden territory.
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