Chapter 541
My Villains Episode 541
68. To the capital(14)
Because of the times, the banking industry is treated as a variant of usury in this world. It is common all over the world for loan sharks who play with money to be criticized, and Milanol's bank, which has been run by Pasagum owners for generations, was also not a business loved by the public..
It seems that they are making efforts to change public perception by providing high-credit bills, providing safe deposit services at low usage fees, and paying more than the market price when securing a deposit. . However, since the main source of income was still loan interest, such efforts rarely saw the light of day..
‘Strong’ collection experts were essential to get the principal back from customers who were like day robbers who thought of loan contracts as nothing more than a tissue to wipe their hands with. Bad debtors who were visited by agents hired by the bank tended to run to the bar or market with broken limbs or saffron eyelids, and it was natural that the bank's notoriety would increase each time they did so..
The main customers were city-dwelling merchants, craftsmen, and mercenaries, but nobles and wealthy people would also knock on the bank's door when they needed urgent money..
Of course, for the wealthy, borrowing money on the street was not something to brag about, so valuable customers preferred to receive service out of sight of their peers..
Because of these complicated circumstances, except for a few cities where commerce was booming, all of the fifteen bank branches in the kingdom were located in somewhat obscure places. If you find a sign with three yellow coins somewhere between the main street and the back alleys, that's a bank..
The situation at the royal bank was similar. The location where the branch was installed was quite far from the plaza, even in the commercial district. This means that there is a considerable distance, both physically and socially, from Gwanggwang Avenue, where the major facilities of the royal capital, such as the royal palace, noble residence areas, various cathedrals and monasteries, and the royal university, are concentrated..
He sat down on the back of the saddle and told the above story non-stop..
From near the castle gate to the outskirts of the port area, until I reached an open space lined with temporary houses and yards, all I heard was the various reasons and circumstances that make it difficult to obtain information about the Street of Glory..
I was quietly listening and then glanced back at him..
“…… Are you watching? I'm afraid you might scold me and ask why you didn't know about the information that Marquis Eavon mentioned.?”
“uh—”
The man's mouth stiffened comically, and I burst out laughing..
“Do you want me to criticize you for something like that? And the distance from here to the royal capital must be well over a thousand kilometers, so it is natural that it is difficult to obtain information..”
He spoke gently and soothingly, but Mongchi instead pouted with a dissatisfied face..
““It’s because all the bank guys are stupid and lazy.” " huh‘?”
“The bank is there for me. But I don't know what's more important..”
It was about 200 years ago that the 'Three Swordsmen', a secret society from the Eastern Continent, split into three organizations: the Jeongma Swordsman, the Wioe Swordsman, and the Pasagumsul. The three sword lords settled in Mittergeland, Amir, and Milanol respectively, and the sub-organizations thus created are the ‘Witch Hunting Group’, ‘Assassination Order’, and the Bank..
In this process, it was more than 150 years ago that the bank's sign was first hung. 150 years is enough time for its identity as a secret society to become blurred among those who have run the bank for generations.
The descendants of those who swore to protect the sacred device said to have been created in ancient times in preparation for future tribulations are no longer proud of being members of the Three Swords Association. What they love is not an old secret society, but a huge business called a bank..
“The bank serves Jeonju, not Pasageomju. It's clear that he's ignoring my orders and running errands for rich people..”
In that sense, Kshan, the actual head of the 'masked shadows', is considered an oddball among the bank's leaders.
got a grade.
A banker who puts more effort into self-training and training as an assassin than counting coins and persuading customers.…….
Moreover, in accordance with his old rules, he placed a young woman from the East in the position of swordsman, and upon hearing her call, he abandoned the branch he was managing and flew to Eisbovald..
The sight of a golden spoon who inherited a huge fortune dedicating his life for the forgotten oath of his ancestors seemed strange even to the people of this world..
The branch of the royal capital doesn't listen
hey?”
“It's not just that they don't listen, they're also incompetent. Even if there are a lot of people providing information, we can’t manage it..”
It is said that K'shan also knew to some extent what Eabon mentioned. However, when information was shared with Kshan at the point in the capital, it was only reported as 'recent rumors floating around in the capital,' so the report did not reach Mungchi..
Mungchi decided that the fact that the branch of the royal capital did not properly check the information meant that it did not take his orders seriously. That's why there's a hint of death in your eyes while you're criticizing them..
“Well, we can’t just rebuke. To those people, you will look like a stone that has been rolled around.……
“It was a good thing I didn't tell you that Poi and I were going to the royal capital. Better not believe it until you see it in person..”
“Well, do it that way. If you go and tell them who the owner is, they will listen well from now on..”
It was only after making such a fuss for so long that Mungchi released the information that Kshan had given him..
First of all, the Marquis of Eavon was talking about a curse and a sorcery, referring to a strange phenomenon that was prevalent on the Avenue of Glory..
“……It's a disorder of consciousness.?”
“That's what I said. It is said that a normal person becomes deaf and mute overnight. They always act like they're half asleep, and they don't eat unless you feed them, so they say they look like living corpses..”
“It’s a living corpse… … . That's trending? like a plague?”
“yes. People in the capital call it ‘servant’..”
“Servant disease? why? I caught a lot of servants?”
“no.”
Mungchi lowered his voice.
“It is said that a servant who died with a grudge turned into a ghost or a devil and placed a curse on him. So, seven out of ten people who suffer from servant disease are nobles and rich people who harass their servants. It is said that those who are kind to their servants do not get servant disease..”
“ah… … . okay?”
It's really abusive content. Would you say it's just a rumor spreading among the lower class?.
“How many people have that disease?‘?”
“I don't know that. However, half of the court nobles and Crown Prince Adumir were also caught. Among the magicians of the Order of Dawn and the archbishops of the church, some are dead..”
“……really? A crown prince, a magician, and even an archbishop? Confirmed information is correct?”
“Uh, um-”
When I furrowed my eyebrows, the group that was talking excitedly shrugged their shoulders..
“Kshan said that.”
“……I see.”
It was not a credible story, but considering that it was mentioned by the Marquis of Avon, one of the most powerful men in Milan, it was not something to be passed over in vain. However, it seems that this is all the information that the bundle, or rather the masked shadows, have, so there is no way to check further at the moment..
“What is the story of Kellystel? They say he disappeared after the coronation.?”
Sage Kelistel is a legendary archmage, often called the ‘Counselor of the Five Kings.’ He received that nickname thanks to his active performance from the time of Ea Doom II, the ‘King of One Eye’, a hundred years ago..
He is famous for creating many extraordinary spells and magic tools, and the disposable subspace generator I once borrowed from Prince Ulkar, 'Kelistel's Emergency Gold Pouch', was the work of the wise man Kellistel..
“They say it is bad luck to serve six kings. So, he gave up his title as a royal lieutenant and left for his hometown..”
“……Because it's ominous?”
“yes. However, there are a lot of rumors about Kellystel. Kshan told me more than twenty things..”
Well, aside from being a powerful magician, Sage Kelistel is an old monster among old monsters who has lived for over 130 years. Since he is a living witness to the history of 100 of the 170 years of the Jeore Dynasty, it is natural that all kinds of stories follow him..
“••••••Hmm.”
According to the original scenario, this is a person who should have died a long time ago. The Kelistel I remember is an undead monster. Floating without limbs
The Richie Come to think of it, he was a pure crazy bastard. Because it was so strong that it made me gnash my teeth at the name theme that occasionally appeared in Chapter 6. I used a shitty spell called 'Sunny Morning in Kelistel', but it was raining flaming arrows all over the map, and I couldn't even approach it with a character that didn't have proper resistance..
I don't know the details of the story, but Kelis Tell must have ended up like that because of Ulkar in 'King of Slaughter' mode. Like most of the names that appear in Chapter 6 were like that..
“……Then, who was it, the head of the palace affairs department??”
“Count Antor inside the palace..”
“Yeah, what does that mean??”
According to the description in the bundle, Count Anthor was originally just a merchant leading a small merchant, but he was a court noble who rose to prominence after attracting the attention of the previous king, Lionel III, a ‘devout king.’.
Lionel III's legitimate eldest son, Zacharis, maintained his position and power even after ascending to the throne, but one day, the mansion suddenly collapsed, killing not only the count himself but also his family..
“That's such an unusual story.?”
“There is a rumor that he is the illegitimate son of Lionel III..”
“bastard? Count Antor?”
“yes. It is said that he was very intelligent and was given a title after managing the king's private wealth..”
It was an interesting story, but there wasn't much useful information about this collapse..
In the end, all I had to do was figure out what the story of the servants, the disappearance of Kelistel, and the accident of Count Antor's family were all about. I could guess that something was happening in the royal capital, especially the Avenue of Glory, but it was still vague, like groping in the fog..
However, the lack of information about the Avenue of Glory itself was not particularly a cause for concern. It's a long way to the royal capital, and you'll be able to gather information through several routes along the way..
What I was worried about was the bank..
The reason I was able to set out on the royal journey was because there were three forces I could mobilize..
First, of course, are my subordinates. In addition to the bodyguards I personally command, nearly five hundred elite soldiers, including troops drawn from the Silver Sword Battalion, Free Regiment, and Mercenaries, will be waiting in and around the royal capital..
If you use them well, you will not be helpless even if an unexpected crisis arises..
The second are the wizards of La-Palais Palace..
Grandmaster Nashal Anway and some of his disciples, who had arrived in the royal capital first and were investigating the circumstances of the Council of Dawn, disappeared without any sign. Accordingly, the palace decided to dispatch three Grand Masters, including Aktufir, and battle mages of their choice..
Of course, they are not heading to the royal capital to help me, but High Master Ellen is by my side. If anything were to happen, you could receive help from enormous magical power, so this was also reliable insurance..
And the third was the bank of bundles..
The bank is both a secret society with a long history and a huge business spanning the entire kingdom. It is natural to expect basic information and human and material support..
Until now, I had only seen masked shadows, so I thought they were all faithful servants of Pasagumju, but now it seems that the group's control is not absolute..
I feel anxious for no reason because I think that the King, whom I thought of as my main partner, is not perfect..
I rushed the horse and arrived at the trading post located on one side of the port area, and while talking to Fogan, Count Aeneas' confidant, I had to wrinkle my face again..
This is because, through his expression and attitude, he sensed that the Milgrester family's support for this royal journey would be limited..
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