Volume 5 Chapter 10: The Value of Nobility

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Author: 夜州 (Yashu)

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Cain instinctively looked at Fort at those unexpected words.

“I don’t know what he’s talking about…? There was an attack inside the city, so their guild cards should be revoked, and they should be made into criminal slaves, right? And this time there was also a client. The client should be disposed of in the same way.”

“Yes, contractually…”

Fort nodded at Cain’s words.

“Which is why I am here. I am this city’s Minister of Parliament. With just that, you can save face.”

Cain sighed at Malph, who said that full of confidence.

“So, what exactly… do you mean?”

Fort reluctantly began telling the truth about the situation at Cain’s question.

“The one who requested the attack was Ralph Vandega. Malph-dono’s eldest son. Banza and the other four basically immediately said so. So then I contacted Malph-dono.”

“First off, that name doesn’t sound familiar at all…?”

Even when he heard the client’s name, Cain didn’t recall having heard it at all.

As Cain was racking his brain, trying to remember, when Fort made a suggestion.

“You should have met him at the academy today, I think. At the welcome party…”

At those words, Cain remembered. The boy who had tried to hit on Telestia and the other two. Cain also remembered how the boy had been swiftly rejected and had to leave, having lost face.

“Ah, the one who called out to Teles and the other two and was turned down. …Oh, so then…”

A connection had been formed in his head. Cain hadn’t known why he had been attacked, but Ralph had had his reputation crushed by Cain back there, so he had requested the adventurers to attack Cain for revenge.

Cain nodded, convinced, after which Malph opened his mouth.

“My fool of a son did indeed make the request. However, he says the request was just to threaten you. That is why I, the Minister of Parliament of this city and one of the country’s influential people, came here in person.”

Cain sighed at Malph’s words overflowing with self-importance and looked at Fort.

“So what happens in this situation? I’m from the Kingdom of Esfort, so I don’t really know the laws here very well.”

“It’s probably nearly the same as what you know. The outcome doesn’t matter. Well, I think there’s at least some mercy in the fact that he only requested you to be threatened…”

“Is that so… by the way, how much do you know about me?”

“Only that you’re an adventurer and student from the Royal Academy of Esfort who was attacked and retaliated.”

Cain and Fort continued talking as if Malph wasn’t there, when one of the guards standing behind him couldn’t bear it any longer and interrupted them.

“Oy, what’s with that attitude when Malph-sama’s here?”

Cain looked at the knight, whose face was full of anger, and sighed.

“I am from the Kingdom of Esfort. I’ll be going to Tanbaal tomorrow, so I wonder if I should tell the upper management there about this?”

The knight backed down at that, still fuming.

“––All right. You want to extract money from me. How much do you want. A large silver coin? Or perhaps a gold coin?”

Cain heaved multiple huge sighs as Malph started saying things that were completely off-mark.

“It’s not a matter of money. If he were to come here in person and apologize, there would be room for some leniency, but you’re just using your position as an MP to try and intimidate me, which is basically blackmail. Although, you could apologize for him, as his parent…”

“You, quit screwing around like this!!”

Having lost his patience again, the guard reached for the hilt of his sword while sending killing intent towards Cain.

“Fort-san, what would you do if someone released killing intent and pulled out their sword here? What about the guild…?”

“Well, that’s… Malph-dono, could you have him stand down? Cain-dono is –– registered as an S-Rank adventurer in Esfort. Do you understand what that means? If Cain-dono were to go all-out, this place ––would turn into a mountain of corpses in an instant.”

“……What did… you say?”

Malph, who had been breathing hard just a little while ago, looked shocked.

Cain took out the proof, his guild card, and put it on the table.

“…I’m Cain, an S-Rank adventurer.”

Simultaneously with those words, the knight’s killing intent disappeared into thin air. While mercenaries weren’t affiliated with the adventurers’ guild, they knew about how strength was measured with ranks. And also what someone being S-Rank meant.

However, for the sake of his child, Malph couldn’t give in.

“I know you’re a high-rank adventurer… At that rank, a gold coin would be just spare change. So… with the authority of Minister of Parliament, I will make it that this case never even happened in the first place.”

As Malph grinned, Cain looked at Fort.

“Is there such a law in this country…?”

“Yes, more or less. Although it can only be used under certain circumstances…”

Fort began explaining to Cain about the authority of MPs.

If an MP or a relative of theirs committed a simple crime, if the other party was the child of a noble or a commoner, they could have the crime nullified.

However, when they used said law, they had to give a donation to the city. Also, the amount varied depending on the social standing of the other party.

If they were the child of a noble, a part of the donation to the city was deducted and paid to the noble family instead.

And as for this case, Cain, the victim, was also unharmed, and due to the fact that he fought back, the case could mostly be considered a simple one.

Having finished his explanation, Fort made an apologetic expression.

“You might be an S-Rank adventurer, but… this is our country’s law. And you have to obey laws.”

Malph said with confidence and high spirits.

However––

“But then, this time –– it’s not applicable.”

“!? …What did you say!”

Cain placed the fancily decorated proof of his nobility in front of the surprised Malph and Fort.

Seeing that proof of nobility, their faces all froze.

“Count Cain von Silford Drintor. That’s my official name.”

The law only applied to the children of nobles, but not to the head of the noble families themselves.

With how they had treated the head of a noble family earlier, it would not be strange for them to be disposed of for disrespect.

Not to mention the fact that he was the head of a noble family of a different country. Moreover, Ralph had sent attackers after a count, a higher-ranked noble.

Although there had been no harm inflicted to Cain, the death penalty would not have been out of the question.

“…No way…”

Malph’s bold expression had already vanished from his face.

“By the way, the ones your son called out to were my fiancées, a princess and duke’s daughter from Esfort, as well as an imperial princess from Baisas who is studying abroad at our academy.”

When Cain dealt the finishing blow, just to make sure, the others’ faces all paled.

Picking a fight with Esfort. That was what had been done.

Not to mention an imperial princess from Baisas, which was a major power.

If this came to light, simply resigning as MP would not be enough to calm the turmoil.

If handled poorly, Malph would be charged with the most serious crime in the country, the crime of ‘conspiring against the state’ by trying to trigger a war with two major powers, and he and his whole family might even be executed.

Malph started trembling… then near-screamed.

“Bring Ralph here right now!!”

“Yessir!!”

One of the knights sprinted out of the room.

“Sir Silford… about this case…”

There was none of the bravery and boldness from earlier left in Malph any more.

He had completely changed his demeanor to trying to keep a low profile, as if he was trying to suck up to his boss.

Fort as well, due to Cain only being registered as ‘Cain’, had had no way of knowing he was actually a count.

While they were waiting, Fort called Cayla in and asked her to make some tea.

Moreover, the smell of the newly-brewed black tea was quite pleasant, hinting at it being a high-quality product.

Less than an hour later, there was a knock on the door, and the knight and Ralph entered the room.

As soon as he saw Cain, he frowned.

“Father, what is this sudden summons about…”

*slaaaaap*!

Simultaneously with Ralph’s words, Malph stood up and slapped him on the cheek.

“Ralph! Do you even know who you tried to mess with!!”

Slapped by Malph and falling over, Ralph stood up, holding his cheek.

However, he didn’t know why he had been slapped. He got up, glaring at Cain.

“…I requested for them to threaten him, and if any problems arose, father’s influence could…”

*slaaaaaap*!

Once again, he was slapped by Malph.

“You… tried to have a count of the Kingdom of Esfort attacked! Do you know what that means!”

“?! …Count…?”

Malph explained to the completely uninformed Ralph that Cain was the head of family and a count of the Kingdom of Esfort.

Moreover, also that he was an S-Rank adventurer.

Stunned by the truth, Ralph sank to his knees.

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