Chapter 188: ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????????????? (6)

Chapter 188: Nobles of the Capital (6)

Johan was about to say that, but stopped. There were cases where even a wise and calm person outside the game would change personality once they grabbed a stone.

The strong can afford to be generous.

Johan was not narrow-minded to the point of clinging like a leech to the board Barhan took out just for fun.

Lumahr politely greeted Johan and then spoke to Barhan in Eastern language.

“Barhan-nim. You really like to tease people.”

“?”

Barhan was puzzled by Lumahr’s words. What is he talking about?

“I won’t fall for such a trick just to surprise me.”

“. . . . . .”

Barhan reflected a little. Although blind and old, Barhan had played quite a few mischievous tricks. Tricks that seemed to read the minds of visitors were one of his weaker ones.

Was that why Lumahr had such a strange misunderstanding?

“I’m not a snotty brat anymore either. I won’t fall for such tricks.”

“. . .Sir Lumahr. I don’t know about other things, but to deceive a lord, wouldn’t you underestimate his skills instead of overestimating them?”

It was a plausible argument, but it didn’t work for Lumahr. Lumahr laughed and said,

“Have you ever played a trick on me for a reason?”

“. . . . . .”

Barhan, lost for words, awkwardly cleared his throat. Although unable to see, he could feel Johan staring intently at him. It was quite embarrassing to hear about the mischievous tricks he played in his youth in front of a lord he was indebted to.

‘Really?’

Meanwhile, Lumahr was surprised. From Johan’s expression, it seemed he understood Eastern language.

“Can you speak Eastern language by any chance?”

“I had the opportunity to learn from a great teacher.”

“. . .!!”

Quite fluent pronunciation surprised Lumahr again. He didn’t know Johan could even speak Eastern language.

Among the western nobles, no one would bother to master Eastern language. Moreover, judging by the way Johan socialized with the Vynashchtym nobles, he was sure to be able to speak the ancient imperial language as well. . .

‘Isn’t he more capable than most orc interpreters?’

The intelligent demeanor, so different from what he had heard, made Lumahr doubt again.

In fact, he might not be Count Yeats at all, but an imposter. It could be another mischievous trick by Barhan. . .

“Then how about you two play a game?”

It was Barhan’s voice that ended Lumahr’s unnecessary suspicion. Barhan thought it was just in time.

In order to pay back the debt he owed to Johan, he called Lumar. However, it was a bit awkward and embarrassing to speak directly about it.

Although he owed him a favor, asking him for one was a matter of face. In that situation, this game could serve as a suitable excuse.

“Barhan-nim. I told you I won’t fall for it.”

“Then there shouldn’t be any problem playing a game, right?”

“Please don’t make things difficult for the Count.”

At Lumahr’s words, Johan also nodded and said,

“I wonder if I really need to play. . .”

Johan’s reaction assured Lumahr. It was clear they were conspiring to play a trick on him.

Of course, what Johan said was out of consideration for Lumahr. If he lost badly in the game, it would be embarrassing to get scolded.

“I don’t think Sir Lumahr is scared. Hey, would a master like Sir Lumahr be scared. . .?”

“. . .Fine! Let’s do it!”

‘Is he a sucker?’

Seeing Lumahr getting carried away by just one line from Barhan, Johan’s evaluation of Lumahr dropped inside.

From what he had heard, he thought Lumahr was quite an impressive noble, but his actions were somewhat disappointing. . .

“Instead of just playing for nothing, how about the losing side grants a request from the winner? “

“Well. . .”

Johan tried to show consideration for Lumahr again, but for the already suspicious Lumahr, it only had a different implication.

‘He’s pretending to be weak to deceive me.’

Now he seemed to know. They were trying to allay each other’s doubts this way, then Barhan would secretly make fun of him from the side. That must be what they were trying to do.

But Lumahr was not a snotty brat anymore either. He had no intention of falling for Barhan’s tricks at all.

“It’s fine with me, Count. There is no need to consider me, just play as you wish.”

“. . .Is that so?”

Johan looked at Lumahr as if to ask if he really meant it. Lying askew behind him, Gaoalkana tilted her head and asked,

“Shouldn’t you accept some consideration?”

“No, Your Majesty. A good game often comes with a worthy prize. Even if I lose, I’ll just take it as a profound lesson, so I don’t think I’ll lose anything.”

“Oh.”

“I trust you. No need to say more.”

Reassured by Johan’s guarantee, Lumahr nodded in relief. Even for him, revealing this was quite stressful. He would not have spoken up if not for Barhan.

After ending the long conversation and leaving with Gaoalkana, Lumahr let out a sigh, relaxing from the tension. It had been a devilish day.

“Barhan-nim. Please be honest with me. How on earth did you teach him?”

“It’s a secret.”

“. . . . . .”

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After finishing his report to the emperor, Johan increased security and put people from the principality in the capital under surveillance.

“What do you think about the Duchy of Runoa?”

“Barbarians?”

“. . . Never say that in front of people from the principality.”

The bear beastmen of the principality were warriors as aggressive and brutal as the centaurs. They wanted more gold, more supplies for fighting for Vynashchtym.

‘Well, I shouldn’t call them barbaric if they’re going to cause trouble in the capital because they don’t get what they want.’

The emperor delegated full authority to Johan, and Johan was lost in thought about what to do.

He wanted to call the people of the duchy into the capital and punish them, but then even those without complaints would start complaining. . .

“I have a good idea.”

“?”

“The duke’s son will soon come up to Vynashchtym. Let’s catch him then and hold him responsible.”

“. . . That’s also a way to get even those without complaints to complain.”

The surrounding duchies and petty kingdoms periodically sent nobles and royalty to confirm their relationship with Vynashchtym. They served as both hostages and envoys.

But meeting them in person to check their level of dissatisfaction, what they want, whether we can compromise, etc. was still a good idea even if they don’t capture and interrogate them. That kind of information was important.

“I guess he wouldn’t dislike hunting? I should take the opportunity to meet him while hunting.”

“!”

Gaoalkana’s face lit up. She was happy not because of the hunting itself, but because Johan was going out.

Because of potential dangers, Johan had forbidden Gaoalkana from sneaking out at night. From Gaoalkana’s perspective, it was incredibly frustrating.

“You can ride well, right? No, now that I think about it, of course you can.”

“. . . Are you going out too?”

“Wouldn’t he be so touched if the emperor herself came out to welcome him? We should take advantage of that.”

“We don’t necessarily have to move him. . . Gaïaros is the one who likes hunting, not you.”

“Gaïaros likes the military, not hunting. Don’t lie and say you don’t want to go.”

Gaoalkana made a sullen expression.

“Then at least station few guards near my quarters tonight.”

“. . . . . .”

“I don’t plan on sneaking out. Anyway, when there are a lot of people around, I can’t sleep deeply. If I do sneak out, feel free to hit me with a rod. I swear!”

“All right, I’ll allow it.”

At Johan’s words, Gaoalkana’s face brightened. She hugged Johan and kissed his cheek.

And that night, Gaoalkana, about to sneak out in dark clothing, came face to face in the corridor with Johan holding a rod.

“. . .”

“. . .”

“You won’t really hit me with the rod, right?”

????????????????????????

“Your excellency. An amazing thing has happened.”

“Oh. . . Did you really find a sponsor?”

Johan looked at Jyanina in surprise. To be honest, he didn’t have high expectations. Given the language barrier and the questionable nature of magic related to monsters.

But with a reaction like that. . .

Jyanina nodded with a confident expression.

“He came over as soon as he heard what I had to say?”

“You’re sure the interpreter didn’t mess up the translation?”

“. . . . . .”

“I’m joking. Well done. So what did he ask you to do?”

“To demonstrate my abilities in front of master.”

“Who is this person?”

“From the Duchy of Runoa.”

“. . . . . .”