In the carriage heading from the northeast to the east, Darrhan Bridend felt uncomfortable.

Even though he had eliminated the obstacle, Duke Gwendhill, who had been a nuisance and hindrance, he still couldn’t fully enjoy the taste of power.

‘Why now?’

The timing of the appearance of the Marquis, who had so far quietly stayed inside the fortress, without any presence, was extremely annoying, especially given Duke Gwendhill’s absence.

Now, when the nobility should step forward, take control of public opinion within the empire, and lead the atmosphere, the presence of the Marquis was distorting everything.

Especially in recent social circles, the Marquis’s movements were a hot topic.

“Marquis demanded a mountain on the northeastern border as the price of an alliance!”

The mountain that the Marquis demanded was known externally as an ordinary, unremarkable mountain.

Various speculations arose about the seemingly irrelevant intention of the Marquis.

“No, why a mountain?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to ask for the land conquered during the Great War?”

“A mountain bordering the country is originally impossible to own, and why hand it over to someone who is not even a citizen of the empire?”

The atmosphere dominated by the curiosity of what the Emperor was thinking about approving it was prevalent.

Moreover, as it was passed without any dissent in the noble assembly, the nobles couldn’t help but be interested in the Marquis’s actions.

Soon, it was revealed that there was an unregistered hidden village in the mountain that the Marquis had successfully taken over.

“Did you hear that? There was an enormous treasure in the Marquis’s mountain!”

“Hohooho, I heard that the Emperor knew about it and took advantage of the situation, didn’t he?”

“The person responsible for omitting the village registration in the middle also received a severe punishment.”

Various rumors about the treasure successfully taken by the Marquis spread with numerous conversations.

Among them, the hidden village that secretly existed drew the most attention from the nobles.

The combination of the treasure taken by the Marquis and the unregistered hidden village seemed too suspicious to be a mere coincidence.

When the curiosity of the nobles reached its peak, Darrhan Bridend finally appeared before them.

“But there’s a plague in that village.”

Darrhan Bridend, who didn’t collapse despite the plan going significantly awry, was not someone whose hands and feet were completely tied.

“How unexpectedly the Marquis changed her position to protect ordinary peasants rather than wizards. How bewildering it must be for her. As experienced individuals, let us step forward to help alleviate the burden.”

The nobles couldn’t help but agree, as the situation suggested forming a good relationship with the Marquis.

Darrhan had already prepared the former physician of the hidden village who had long avoided the situation.

“Go back.”

“Yes, yes? B-But if I go back, the residents won’t leave me alone…”

“I intend to personally help with your tearful complaints. Go.”
Although the symptoms of mana addiction were resolved, Marquis Matapju could not refuse the visit of the nobles who came to offer help. Even if he rejected their sincerity, he had to reciprocate.

If he refused, the village would become chaotic with the arrival of the first guests, creating an opportunity.

“Secure Welcoming Herbs from now on.”

Darrhan had firmly instructed his subordinates about the priority.

The crimson poison herb was currently the most important ingredient for Darrhan, worth enduring all this trouble.

“Matap and the mercenary corps.”

It was a perfect combination to spread rumors.

Additionally, they were easy prey for Darrhan.

He couldn’t lay a hand on the land granted with the Emperor as a front.

How about a ‘person’ with many weaknesses and flaws?

“When it leaves my grasp, it should be expected.”

A beast that dared to lick another master’s hand without knowing gratitude must naturally suffer the consequences.

Once the belly is full, it’s hard not to entertain other thoughts.

Darrhan’s eyes twinkled.

“If you adapt to fate and die, you wouldn’t have seen such a miserable sight.”

If he had been abandoned and died foolishly used by others, he could have peacefully died without tasting futile hope.

Darrhan stood up, genuinely pitying their foolishness.

Up until now, Darrhan had been sure.

Between Marquis Matapju and the village, there was still a ‘gap.’

“Oh, that’s what Hofzak meant.”

Finally facing Marquis Matapju, Darrhan laughed, seeing through Darrhan’s true feelings as before.

“Do you think I’ll be misunderstood that Marquis Matapju is gathering a new force within the empire to incite a future civil war?”

“Of course, I don’t make such ‘misunderstandings,’ but as you know, ‘misunderstandings’ often start from small doubts.”

Darrhan, representing the nobles, remembered Marquis Matapju’s attitude from the last time the Emperor used him as a shield.