Chapter 95: Was That Today? (5)
Claude’s voice trembled as he begged.
It was a completely different sight from the arrogant attitude he’d shown earlier, as if he’d given up on life.
Ghislain gazed at him with a pitiful expression.
Baron Austern, suspicious, gestured toward Claude.
“Let me take a look.”
Claude hesitantly shuffled forward on his knees and handed over a credit note for 2,000 gold.
Baron Austern’s eyes gleamed with greed as he confirmed the amount and the name of the guaranteeing merchant guild.
‘Where on earth did this scoundrel get such a huge sum?’
The Baron glanced briefly at the well-dressed young man standing beside Claude.
He hadn’t been properly introduced to the man, but it was clear that he was involved with this money.
After a moment of contemplation, Baron Austern tossed the credit note back at Claude.
“I can’t return her.”
“What are you saying! I’ve clearly brought the 2,000 gold as promised, haven’t I?”
Despite Claude’s desperate scream, Baron Austern merely laughed, revealing his yellowed teeth.
“Do you really think it’s still just 2,000 gold? Do you have any idea how much prices have risen? I’ll need at least 3,000 gold.”
“What kind of nonsense is this? She’s a person, not an object! What do prices have to do with anything?”
“I set the price for my goods. It’s not for you to argue.”
To be honest, even 2,000 gold was more than enough.
In fact, Baron Austern would profit handsomely even with just 2,000 gold.
However, there was no reason to settle for that when he felt he could squeeze out even more. After all, he held all the power here.
‘No, wait. Why not just take the money by force?’
That way, he could swallow not only the 2,000 gold but also the 3,000 that Claude would scramble to collect.
‘Heh, yes, that’s the better plan.’
At that moment, Claude, on the verge of tears, pulled out another credit note from his coat.
“I’ll add 500 more gold. I can’t offer any more. This is everything I have.”
“Oh ho, so you had more money after all.”
Baron Austern sneered as he asked,
“Where did you get such a large sum?”
“I agreed to do some work in exchange for it.”
Baron Austern narrowed his eyes.
“For small change, sure, but no one in this kingdom would pay you this kind of money. Tell me the truth.”
“I’m leaving for the Ritania Kingdom. I’ll be working there.”
“What?”
Baron Austern flinched at the unexpected answer.
He hadn’t even considered the possibility of Claude leaving for another country.
“Fine, leave or stay, it doesn’t matter to me. Either way, this amount won’t suffice. Come back when you have the money.”
“You said you’ll keep your promise!”
“I told you, the price has gone up. By the way, is the man next to you the one who gave you the money? What’s your relationship? Are you living together?”
Claude’s eyes flared with anger, realizing the Baron’s true intentions.
As the tension grew, Ghislain, who had been silently observing, stepped forward.
“This is disgusting. Hey, Baron Austern, how about you cut it out?”
The fierce pressure emanating from Ghislain suddenly constricted the entire area.
The knights surrounding Baron Austern panicked and drew their swords.
Their faces were pale with fear.
To suppress the atmosphere with sheer presence alone was something only a truly skilled individual could do.
Though the knights were just from a minor barony, they weren’t so ignorant as to be unaware of the vast difference in skill.
However, it wasn’t like the knights could simply tuck their tails and flee in front of their lord.
The knights pointed their swords at Ghislain.
Normally, they would have charged forward and forced him to his knees, but they couldn’t muster the courage.
“You insolent scum! What nonsense are you spouting?”
“How dare you act like that in front of the lord!”
“We’ll kill you!”
The knights’ voices slightly trembled.
But the clueless Baron Austern failed to notice.
He glared at Ghislain, puffed up with arrogance.
“There are five hundred soldiers in this estate! If you kill me, they’ll hunt you down!”
Ghislain scoffed.
‘Five hundred? That’s quite a lot for a barony. I guess having money really is the best advantage.’
But that number wasn’t nearly enough to make Ghislain flinch.
“Go ahead then, if you think you can hunt me down. No one’s stopping you.”
“.......”
Though the Austern Estate had more soldiers than expected, Ghislain knew that if he was determined, he could easily escape them. Or better yet, he could just wipe them all out.
Seeing the look on Ghislain’s face, Baron Austern eventually gritted his teeth and took a step back.
“...What do you want? What’s your demand?”
“What do you think? Even your stupidity has its limits...”
Ghislain clicked his tongue in irritation. Baron Austern ground his teeth in frustration but said nothing.
From the beginning, he never had the guts to risk his life in a fight.
He had only been hoping that Ghislain would be intimidated enough to back down.
But there was no way such laughable threats would work on someone like Ghislain.
Biting his lips out of frustration, Baron Austern finally muttered,
“Fine. I’ll take the 2,000 gold and be done with it. Now get out.”
Ghislain sighed, as if disappointed.
“Pity. I was hoping to stretch my muscles a bit. Fine, we’ll do that. But what about this guy?”
“What?”
Ghislain looked up at the knight still caught in his grip and sneered.
“If you’re going to threaten to kill someone, you should be prepared to face the same.”
Ghislain tightened his grasp.
“Ughhh!”
The knight gasped for air, groaning in pain as he struggled to break free.
If Ghislain applied just a bit more pressure, the knight’s neck would snap, killing him instantly.
Baron Austern shouted urgently.
“What are you doing? The deal is already settled!”
“Settled? Nothing’s settled. That’s that, and this is this. If you want me to spare this man, cough up 3,000 gold. Then I’ll let him go.”
“Three thousand gold! Don’t be ridiculous!”
“You were the one who started being ridiculous first. Do you have any idea how much it costs to train a knight? 3,000 gold is a bargain. Or... maybe this guy isn’t even worth that much to you?”
“That... that’s nonsense...”
Baron Austern started to respond but hesitated.
With 3,000 gold, he could easily recruit a knight far more skilled than the one Ghislain held captive.
He wanted to refuse, of course... but too many eyes were watching.
If he rejected the offer and the knight ended up dead, the other knights might also turn their backs on him.
No knight would serve a lord who put a price on loyalty and calculated the cost.
Ghislain had clearly aimed for this vulnerability with his proposal.
It was a devilish trap with no escape.
In the end, Baron Austern gritted his teeth and accepted Ghislain’s demand.
“Fine. Consider the 2,000 gold as paid. I’ll make up the difference.”
“I’ll be taking back what’s mine, too, right?”
Baron Austern spat his order at a nearby knight.
“Bring her.”
The knight nodded silently and left the room.
Ghislain walked over to Claude, grabbing him by the arm and lifting him up effortlessly.
He also didn’t forget to scoop up the 2,000-gold credit note from the ground, tucking it into his coat.
“Huh?”
Claude looked bewildered, to which Ghislain grinned.
“It’s mine, isn’t it?”
Claude, quick to realize, hurriedly snatched up the remaining 500 gold and stuffed it into his coat, fearing he might lose that as well.
Ghislain didn’t stop him. After all, that 500 gold wasn’t part of the knight’s ransom, and he knew why Claude needed the money.
Turning to the pale-faced Baron Austern, Ghislain spoke dismissively.
“We’ll be waiting outside the castle, so make sure you send the goods out properly. I don’t want to stay here any longer than necessary. You wouldn’t want to see my face again, would you?”
“...Understood.”
With that, Ghislain dragged Claude out of the audience chamber.
Before stepping out the door, Ghislain turned back to Baron Austern with a mocking smile.
“If you’ve got any complaints, feel free to come visit me at the Fenris Estate in the Ritania Kingdom. I’ll make sure to give you a warm hospitality.”