Chapter 219

Once a prominent action leader in Shatren, Marf was in a complete mess.

Right after he screamed in terror and shook uncontrollably,

The man whose foot he stepped on grinned and squatted in front of the kneeling Marf.

“Hey hey. Why scream so loud that it hurts your ears? Look up. You should smile.”

Being stepped on with his broken hand bones felt like every pain imaginable. To laugh at a time like this is madness.

But Marf forced his head up and tried to laugh as much as possible.

Otherwise, he couldn’t even guarantee what would happen next.

If he knew even a little about what the man had done in the Empire, he’d be scared stiff.

“I think there were many opportunities to ruin Shatren.”

*Thud.*

“Since Shatren strawberries and grapes became premium, the residents’ obsession has already been focused on fertilizers anyway. Honestly, I thought no matter what I did, Carsein wouldn’t be able to restore Shatren.”

*Thud.*

The man’s shoe pressed Marf’s face into humiliation.

“But even if that wasn’t the case, there were plenty of opportunities to ruin Shatren. How could all of this be undone and the territory return to normal? Huh? Huh?”

Despite the shoe pressing his face, Marf remained silent, unable to say anything.

*Knock knock.*

“Excuse me, but there’s an urgent report I need you to see.”

“Report? Ugh. So troublesome.”

The man, looking displeased, got up and went to receive the report.

Only then did Marf breathe out the breath he had been holding in relief.

“Huff, huff. Huff…”

After catching his breath, he clenched his fists and sighed.

‘What the hell…!’

How did it come to this?

It was supposed to be a flawless plan.

Shatren was known as a land of abundance, but he didn’t quite agree with that. It wasn’t poor, but it wasn’t rich either.

Even though Shatren had the conditions to become the best territory, it showed sluggish growth for quite some time.

He clearly knew why it was sluggish.

Brem, the village chief, who kept prices steady despite the high demand for the two famous fruits of Shatren—strawberries and grapes—was the culprit.

So, he waited for an opportunity while trying to make connections with other territories. He needed to pull the power from that old fool first.

Then, by chance, he met a man and received a very tempting offer.

*”We don’t want that brat Carsein to rule Shatren either. Our intentions overlap, don’t they? We’ll pay you a fee, so use it to achieve your goal.”*

It was a win-win situation, or rather, a win-win-win.

Not only was he annoyed by having to serve that trouble-making brat as the lord, but if handled well, he could easily remove him.

If he could lead the territory astray, he could pull the foolish old Brem from the village chief position and take control. This way, he could finally guide Shatren down the right path.

Their condition was not just money but also the premiumization of Shatren strawberries and grapes. If that happened, he would gain the nobles’ recognition. In that case, this territory would practically be his. Only he knew the truth.

He welcomed it eagerly and agreed to it.

No matter what, he would ruin Shatren.

He would make it a noble’s land, turning it into the territory they desired.

Promising to become the new leader of Shatren to those backing him, he plotted to change Shatren.

By secretly spreading fertilizer and reducing the harvest, he even succeeded in chasing away the young brat who used to hold the symposium.

He weakened Brem’s power and steadily increased his faction’s standing within the territory.

He obtained the commission fee by introducing fertilizer and even helped the residents with the business, pocketing a tidy sum.

All that was left was one decisive move to completely seize control of the territory.

*”…It’s all because of that brat!”*

That brat appeared again unexpectedly.

A mere commoner, not even a noble, who was probably just picked up by luck!

*”Carsein Bargrand. That brat ruined my entire plan…”*

The secret of the fertilizer he had hidden was exposed.

The signs of secretly ruining Shatren were all revealed by that brat.

The prices of the premium crops started to drop again.

*”Yes. It’s all because of him. No one else but him!”*

Carsein Bargrand.

It’s all because of that brat ruining my plan!

While Marf was spitting out his anger,

the man behind him whistled and approached.

*”Ha. You really can’t do anything properly, huh, Marf?”*

“Guh?!”

*”Hey. If you had put that determination into actually doing something properly, right?”*

His face was pressed humiliatingly again by the shoe.

*”You. The crops in Shatren actually caused a large-scale issue, didn’t they?”*

“*…Y-yes, but…*”

*”Damn it. If you hadn’t revealed it, people might have paid less attention. But now, revealing it and having to explain has made it clear that Shatren will go back to how it was, didn’t you think?”*

“*…!*”

Impossible.

Did they really succeed in explaining the large-scale issue?

*”That’s impossible.”*

How could they accept that the food they ate was actually a monster so easily?!

*”Haha. This guy really isn’t helpful at all. But, your determination to take over Shatren might still be useful.”*

“*Keh!*”

Something was put in his mouth.

*”Chew it thoroughly and swallow it. It’s good for you.”*

“*Wait a moment. What is this…!*”

*”Want to bring down Carsein? Try it. It suits you perfectly. Hahaha!”*

What is this? What’s going on?

His whole body felt strange… *Gulp?*

Words wouldn’t come out.

His vision turned into a sharp green, and the world around him changed.

*”I didn’t want this at all!!!”*

Before losing all his senses and sight, the last thing Marf saw was…

A tree trunk piercing through his body perfectly.

*”Tsk. Even one survivor from the Kingdom of Wederos is causing such a hassle.”*

*Tap tap.*

The man flicked his hands lightly.

*”This one is taken care of for now. Hey, Count.”*

“*…Yes.*”

*”You know you’re in the same boat as this scum, right? How could you fail to destroy such an easy territory and end up in this mess?”*

“*…*”

*”We know both the Kingdom of Wederos and the western tribes are stumbling blocks for us, right?”*

“*…I will handle this properly this time.”*

*”Oh. So you’re not asking me to spare you like the others? Good. I’ll give you a chance.”*

*Plop.*

The sword plunged deep into the ground.

A dense mana wave gave the Count Retelvik a shivering sensation.

*”If you fail, you won’t know what will happen to you. Better prepare yourself.”*

“*…Yes.”*

With a chilling smile, he pressured him, leaving the Count with no choice but to bow his head.

In front of him, a person was completely transformed into another form.

This future wasn’t far off. Perhaps, he would turn into that ghastly figure if he failed.

*”Now… there’s no room for hesitation.”*

Because of this incident, all the plans he had set up to obtain Shatren were scrapped.

***

Time passed as usual.

After realizing the problem with the soil, everyone in Shatren worked hard to neutralize it.

Two harvest seasons had passed, and today marked the third.

It was time to analyze the results from the data collected.

Just recently…

*”Who the hell used the fertilizer again!”*

*”Is there someone else taking orders from another territory?”*

*”Then we’re just destroying ourselves, aren’t we!”*

*”Why did you do such a thing? Why, for what reason!”*

On the other side, the residents responded.

*”You think we used the fertilizer?”*

*”We took everything out in front of the Lord. We submitted all the hidden ones too!”*

*”Isn’t it more likely that someone else took the order?”*

The residents were split.

Currently, a major issue arose in Shatren.

Both quantity and quality had been on a steady upward trend, but now they were headed downward again.

*”No. More accurately, it’s returning to its original state.”*

Today, a common issue emerged in both the strawberry field and vineyard.

Harvests drastically decreased, and crops withered.

The reason was evident from the residents’ conversations—the fertilizer had been found again.

*”But they’re deliberately creating division like this.”*

This cannot be ignored.

*”Stop it. Do you want to show me fighting among yourselves and blaming each other?”*

“*…!*”

*”No! We didn’t mean to…*”

*”This is no different from when you were manipulated by Marf and almost lost the territory. If that’s the case, I won’t rely on you.”*

*”I’m sorry. I panicked and got short-sighted.*”

*”I acted ugly because I felt suspected. I’m truly sorry.”*

This initial handling is settled.

If anyone starts suspecting who ordered the fertilizer and who spread it, it will spiral out of control.

Probably, someone wanted this to happen.

*”If anyone suspects someone else in this incident, I will exclude them myself. Furthermore, if this leads to division, be prepared.”*

Although it’s a strong warning, it must be done to plant the fear in the residents.

Afterward, I immediately signaled Talpon.

Talpon seemed to have something to say, as he readily moved to a different seat.

We changed seats and immediately began discussing.

*”Regarding this incident, we can’t help.”*

*”What?”*

*”Well, the fertilizer doesn’t smell.”*

It doesn’t smell?

*”Doesn’t that mean it’s not the fertilizer we know?”*

*”No, not exactly. I’ve observed the changes, and I think this is the same fertilizer you collected. However…*”

Talpon furrowed his brows and continued.

*”They might have used some method to remove the smell from the fertilizer. That’s what I suspect.”*

To remove only the smell.

It seems unnecessary to do so.

If they were spreading fertilizer, it would be easier to persuade the residents by offering them more money, like the 35 traitors including Marf.

But if they didn’t do that and only removed the smell of the fertilizer…

*”They planned it. To neutralize the power of Talpon and the Rilfetten Tribe.”*

Moreover, to create division among the residents.

This is a matter of a different dimension than before. They are determined to bring Shatren down.

*Ring!*

*Marker point reached.*

*Main episode in progress.*

*Episode XI. The source of contamination begins.*

*Find the real culprit and prove their crime at the symposium.*

Given how cunning this approach is, the opponent is not to be underestimated.

Dealing with external interference is no small feat.

*”But we won’t let them have it easy.”*

I had anticipated this to some extent.

***

Arriving at the location, Talpon frowned and said to me.

*”…Carsein. Your words seem to be true. It smells.”*

As expected. Any flaw in the plan serves as a clue to those who know the truth.

Those guys didn’t take the winding path from the newly built trail on the middle slope of Mount Waglew; instead, they came directly through the treacherous straight path into Shatren. Hence, there’s only one route.

Therefore, they must have triggered the trap laid along the way.

*”There it is. Looks like they stepped right into it.”*

By stepping on the trap, the strong scent would have lingered on them.

*”What are your plans moving forward?”*

*”The ones who contaminated Shatren directly. We need to gather evidence and prove it.”*

*”Are you planning to storm their base? Wait a bit. I’ve prepared everything. We’ll go with the Rilfetten Tribe.”*

*”No, this time I’ll act alone.”*

*”What? That’s dangerous, Carsein!”*

Talpon’s eyes widened.

*”Just look at the number of them. There are quite a few. Going in alone is suicidal! I recognize your skills, but this is reckless!”*

*”It’s not about storming in, it’s about sneaking in.”*

*”Sneaking… in?”*

*”Yes. There’s no need to break in. Actually, breaking in would be worse.”*

Moreover, it might alert them.

*”I’m just going to retrieve the evidence. No need to worry.”*

*”…Hmm. I see.”*

*”Just give me a rough idea of where they are. I’ll move tonight.”*

Moving at night means my fiancée’s nagging will surely follow.

Hmm. For that, I need her permission.