The Holden Marquis family, which possessed the largest media organization and information network in the Arsenal Empire, had always been short on descendants.

Therefore, it was customary to register even illegitimate children as the legal wife’s offspring on paper.

But an illegitimate child was still just that. In reality, it was extremely rare for an illegitimate child to inherit the family.

Unless the illegitimate child was exceptionally talented, or the son born to the legal wife had serious disqualifications in comparison.

Unfortunately, the Holden Marquis family is in exactly that situation right now.

The talented firstborn Steve, born as an illegitimate child, and the overly timid second son Ernest.

‘But this is my chance to prove that I’m better than my brother. If I can do that, Father will have no choice but to pass on not only the newspaper and publishing company but the entire family to me. Then my mother too……’

Ernest Holden swallowed dryly and slowly raised his gaze.

“Logan, tell me what conditions you want.”

“It’s simple. Create public opinion that the Hilpin Investment Company is needed and act as a bridge with the neutral nobility.”

Ernest bristled at Logan’s attitude, speaking as if it were no big deal.

“Are you crazy, simple? Writing articles promoting business that goes against the royal family, the established powers, and national interests…… It’s like jumping into a fire pit holding a barrel of oil.”

“Well, I suppose it could be dangerous.”

“Hey, it’s not just dangerous. It could put not only me, but potentially the newspaper and the entire family at risk.”

It wasn’t just an exaggeration.

The public sentiment, which had fallen as low as it could after the long war, was barely appeased by the victory and massive war reparations, and the animosity towards the Emperor and the ruling class who started the war was barely redirected towards the Kingdom of Anes.

In this situation, advocating for the reconstruction of the Kingdom of Anes would likely result in being beaten to death on the streets or accused of treason.

‘It’s madness. Yes, pure madness. But still……’

Nevertheless, there were many aspects that made it too tempting to give up.

High risk, high return – the greater the investment risk, the higher the expected profit.

Ernest frowned, crumpling the business plan in his hand.

A moment later, Logan adjusted his posture and casually dropped a remark.

“With me and the Redford family behind it, who would dare?”

If the Redford family stepped in, it was a different story.

After all, the Redford family, who led the war against the Kingdom of Anes and already reaped massive profits from it, was essentially the cornerstone of the current Arsenal Empire.

But would such a Redford family want to invest in the reconstruction of the Kingdom of Anes, which would obviously invite criticism of them being hypocrites obsessed with money?

Ernest leaned forward, clasping his hands together.

“Did Marquis Redford give permission?”

“Of course.”

“Oh? Well, if that’s the case.”

If Marquis Douglas Redford had given permission…… At the very least, they wouldn’t be accused of treason. Still, publishing articles in the Holden newspaper that went against the sentiments of the Arsenal Empire’s citizens remained burdensome.

‘Of all times, when the Anes resistance has entered Marcel……’

Ernest’s brow furrowed deeply as he racked his brain but couldn’t come up with any clever solutions.

Losing patience with Ernest, who was whining like a puppy needing to relieve itself, Logan burst out in frustration.

“You fool, why would you carry oil into the fire pit yourself? Either have someone else do it, or make people come running to put out the fire.”

“…What? What deranged newspaper would write such articles?”

Even the Holden newspaper, considered the best in the Arsenal Empire, was being cautious.

Ernest was shaking his head, saying it was out of the question, when his eyes suddenly lit up as if a good idea had struck him.

“We buy a small newspaper that mainly deals with gossip… and sensationalize it. Make it biased and greedy enough to entice any citizen of the Arsenal Empire…”

“Since it’s gossip.”

“That’s right. Since we won the war, everyone should be compensated from the Kingdom of Anes. Conclude with the ‘Hilpin Investment Company’ trying to make more money by investing there.”

By obscuring the essence of rebuilding the Kingdom of Anes, and publishing it strictly from the Arsenal Empire’s perspective, and in a newspaper that only deals with gossip… it could garner good responses while avoiding criticism.

Logan gestured with his chin, urging the conversation to continue.

“And when people start reacting, the Holden newspaper publishes an economic expert column. Saying it’s better to invest long-term for profits rather than as a one-time thing.”

“Not bad. Bill the newspaper acquisition costs to Redford. If you need anything else, tell Raon here.”

At Logan’s gesture, Raon Lind placed one of the prepared contracts on the table.

Ernest licked his lips, eyeing the remaining contracts in Raon’s hand.

‘Ha, one of those contracts must be offering shares. That petty bastard……’

Putting his disappointment aside, Ernest’s eyes narrowed as he read through his portion of the contract.

While not comparable to shares, the condition of receiving 20% of investment returns every three months was quite exceptional.

The corners of Ernest’s mouth twitched upwards as he signed, trying to hide his good mood while grumbling unnecessarily.

“What’s the point of going through others. I’ll tell you directly.”

“I’m busy.”

“Ha, I’m busy too, you know.”

As if deeming him not worth dealing with, Logan waved his hand dismissively, sending Raon Lind away. Sending the aide away first suggested he had business with Ernest.

‘Before getting swept up again……’

Ernest brought up the part that had been puzzling him all along.

“Logan, this business…… I’m just asking in case, but… are you doing this to impress Miss Marien?”

“What if I am?”

“I knew it. Is Miss Marien from Anes or related to the resistance? Is that why she urged you to rebuild the Kingdom of Anes……”

Logan snorted in disbelief.

“How dull-witted.”

“What?”

‘How does he manage to run the business properly while being so off the mark? Then again, I didn’t recognize her properly either……’

It had been four whole years. For that long, even Logan himself hadn’t realized that Sidney Warden was a woman.

She had merely been a subordinate who kept catching his eye, occupying his thoughts, someone he wanted to keep close, and thus irritating him.

Tap, tap, tap,……

Logan closed his eyes tightly as he rhythmically tapped the sofa armrest.

A pearl in the mud, that’s what Sidney Warden was.

Like Ernest Holden, most people failed to recognize her, and if Logan hadn’t encountered Sidney as Marien that day, he would have been the same.

‘Damn, it’s horrifying just to think about it.’

Logan involuntarily shuddered as he imagined himself anxiously hovering around Sidney.

Misunderstanding Logan’s reaction as a denial of Marien’s Anes origins, Ernest mumbled with an awkward expression.

“You and Warden both… Seeing such strong reactions, I guess it’s certain that Miss Marien is from the Arsenal Empire.”

“You discussed this with Sidney?”

“I met her in front of the newspaper office. A few days ago, you also requested information about the Anes resistance, and coincidentally, you’re marrying a woman with an unclear background… Anyway, it’s a relief that she’s not.”

Despite saying it was a relief, Ernest Holden’s eyes were still full of doubt.

Logan, who knew well that Ernest, though seemingly naive, had good instincts and tended to dig persistently, wasn’t about to miss this.

‘Judging by how he’s checking with me after Sidney… He’ll probably keep poking around here and there.’

However, it was premature to tell Ernest that Sidney was Marien.

It was easy enough to imagine troublesome situations arising from Ernest meddling in an attempt to keep the secret.

‘But leaving him as is makes me uneasy too. And later, he’ll make a fuss about being the only one who didn’t know……’

It was already a fact known to Victoria Owello and Walter Asner. Knowing Ernest’s childish tendency to hold grudges, Logan let out a low sigh.

“There are circumstances I can’t reveal, but Marien is a member of the Warden family.”

The Guardian Sword of the Arsenal Empire, the Warden Count family. Who would doubt the loyalty of the Warden family?

Also, due to their severely declined family fortunes and scattered family members, it wouldn’t be easy to figure out who Marien was.

Just as Logan thought he had cleared up Ernest’s doubts to some extent, Ernest tilted his head quizzically.

“Last time, Warden said he met Miss Marien while traveling… That day when Warden collapsed… He said so, remember? Victoria stopped you that day.”

“Ah, at that time……”

Logan trailed off, recalling that day. Sidney Warden trying to deceive him with a cunning lie and……

His own inability to separate public and private matters, becoming impatient at her hesitation. The cooler Sidney’s gaze became towards such a Logan, the more inexplicable irritation and thirst arose.

Logan smirked, recalling how he had pushed with unreasonable words.

‘Perhaps instinctively I recognized her, or desperately wished it was her.’

Starting from the suspicion sparked by the vivid red mark on Sidney’s nape, he had even extracted a marriage promise from her.

As the series of events flashed through his mind like a zoetrope, Logan once again became certain.

‘Didn’t you say you disliked people who weave coincidences into fate? Sidney, you and I… We never needed to do that, we were destined from the start.’

Logan’s mouth twitched involuntarily at the thrill the word ‘destiny’ gave him. He slightly lowered his head, then slowly raised his gaze as his lips moved.

“…There were circumstances.”

“Circumstances? What kind of circumstances could there be for you to hide it even from me?”