Tail Catching (3)
“No matter what happens, this engagement ceremony must be a success. That’s the only way to prove your worth.”
“… … .”
Naban Bacchus quietly looked at the guardian knight that his family had given him, or rather, the one that had been given to him to ‘watch over’ him.
Sunken, sunken eyes.
There was even madness in his pupils.
Anyone who looked at it could easily tell that it was an abnormal condition caused by drugs.
“Huh! It’s time for Bacchus to go. Even though he’s an illegitimate child, he’s still in a situation where he has to sell his child to beg for money.”
“Do you want to die?”
The Guardian’s face crumpled.
He put his hand towards the handle, saying that he would pull out the sword if necessary.
“If you’re going to kill me, then go ahead and kill me.”
Naban, on the other hand, just laughed.
“I bet the Lord Ceres really likes her son-in-law who is still a young man. Oh, really? He doesn’t need to eat or sleep, so it will cost less. I’ve heard that the Lord Ceres is stingy when it comes to spending money.”
“This guy… … !”
“Relax your eyes. They’ll fall out. Don’t worry, I know my place better than anyone else. I’ll devote all my loyalty and scrape together every penny of money from the Ceres treasury and bring it back to my family. Heh heh!”
“… … .”
The Guardian Knight released his hand from the handle.
Talking about it any further would have only gotten on my nerves.
Marriage between the Bacchus family and the Ceres family.
Although both places are said to be vassals of Ragnar, in reality, the two forces are not comparable.
The Bacchus family, which once led the six sages with tradition and history,
The Ceres Merchant Group is nothing more than a group of merchants that was founded less than 100 years ago.
The union of the two places was not a good fit for the Bacchus family from the beginning.
Moreover, the daughter who was released from the top of Ceres was not even the eldest daughter, but a mere fourth daughter. She had no share in the inheritance, and even suffered the humiliation of having her right arm cut off by Theo a few months ago.
However, the fact that the marriage was pushed forward meant that the Bacchus family’s circumstances were not good.
‘If only we could resolve this crisis… If only we could resolve this crisis, our family could rise again. We only have to endure this humiliation this once.’
It is said that the four daughters at the top of Ceres will bring quite a large dowry.
For the Bacchus family, who are currently burdened with a mountain of debt and on the verge of bankruptcy, this is a level that can provide them with a breath of relief.
‘Anyway, he is an illegitimate child who was given up by his family. He said he doesn’t even have 5 years left to live, so there is no need for trouble.’
To the outside world, Naban was known as the first son of a prostitute, but in reality, he was the child of a prostitute whom the head of the household accidentally conceived on the battlefield.
If it weren’t for the gray hair that is characteristic of the Bacchus family, I wouldn’t have recognized him as my child in the first place.
So, we could push forward without hesitation in sending it to the top of Ceres.
There was also a fatal weakness: he could not live more than five days without taking medicine.
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So, I will put aside the troubles and take the money to revive my family.
The Guardian Knight was filled with such dreams.
‘You idiot. Do you really think that’ll work? Do you think that quick-thinking Quadrac and Edgar won’t know what we’re thinking?’
On the other hand, Naban could only laugh at the stupidity of the people in his family who only knew how to swing a sword and had no idea about the ways of the world.
I don’t know for sure, but this wedding might just be bait.
A cleverly constructed bait designed to swallow up the entire Bacchus family.
What if I bite into it?
When I came to my senses, I was already in Quadrock’s, no, Ed Troyvan’s stomach.
In fact, it was Ed Troyvan who recommended this marriage to the family.
On the surface, it seemed like it was an action done for their benefit.
Naban knew Edgar’s ambitions all too well.
Most of the family’s assets have already been mortgaged to various front groups created by Ed Troyban.
Only the immediate family did not know that a significant number of the family members had been persuaded to go over there.
Naban had noticed it long ago, but he kept his mouth shut.
‘There’s no need to tell me, right?’
Life is less than 5 years away.
It would be fun to just watch the family burn in flames.
‘To begin with, it wasn’t something one would do in one’s right mind to push a rookie, who was only fifteen years old, to get married.’
Phew!
It was at that moment that Naban burst into a strange laugh.
“This is a message from the Lord of the Upper House to invite you in. Please follow me.”
The general appeared before I knew it and bowed his head.
Naban and the Guardians followed quietly behind.
* * *
“It is said that a marriage alliance is being promoted between the four daughters of Ceres and the two sons of the Bacchus family.”
A cynicism appeared on Cleve’s lips as he spoke of the secret he had brought from Heukseol.
“And the city is quite noisy as many of the northern merchants send envoys to congratulate them on the banquet to celebrate it.”
“It seems that the Ceres upper house is trying to swallow up the Bacchus family and completely take over the solidarity of the ‘Northern Merchant Guild’.”
Cleve burst into laughter at Theo’s assessment.
The skill of understanding intentions just by hearing simple information is truly amazing.
How can you have such amazing insight when you don’t hear any other information from anywhere else?
“That’s right. Power and wealth. It’s like having everything. It’s like having a brand new sword that’s very cool for Ed Troyvan.”
“We might have to break it.”
“That’s what it is.”
“It will be difficult.”
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“It seems like you’re having fun, contrary to what you say?”
Theo laughed without answering.
Cleve shook his head.
“You look like a snake now, don’t you?”
Theo scratched his cheek with his index finger but said nothing.
And then I thought.
‘Was it around this time that Ceres started to swallow Bacchus?’
Theo also knew very well the circumstances surrounding this incident.
Ceres, who was reborn as the ‘Sword Family’, was one of the places that played the biggest role in Ed and Axion’s rebellion.
Ceres was that strong, having swallowed up the Bacchus family and supported the Northern Merchant Guild’s finances.
‘If we could cut that off in advance, Ed Troyvan would also lose one of his left arms.’
Theo thought that this chance opportunity was a very good one.
‘Maybe I’ll be able to see that friend, ‘Short-lived Sword.’
Short-lived and shadowy sword.
Literally meaning ‘sword of the short-lived ghost’, it was the nickname given to Naban Bacchus, who had been very active as Ceres’ son-in-law.
Naban Bacchus’s accomplishments were so great that they were vivid in Theo’s memory.
Because of that, the leader of the Whirlwind Swords was killed and quite a few units were damaged.
However, he died suddenly not long after due to a congenital illness.
No wonder the head of the Ceres family, Quadrac, left a lamenting will before he died: “I wish my son-in-law had lived just half a year longer.”
‘Maybe I can use this opportunity to draw you over to me.’
By the time Theo’s eyes had brightened sharply.
In the distance, the city where the headquarters is located on top of Ceres began to appear.
As Cleve had said, the area in front of the main altar was crowded with people.
They were all pulling several carriages or carts, and the workers were carrying large bundles on their shoulders.
I couldn’t even guess how many flags were fluttering overhead.
Northern Merchants’ Guild.
It was a union of northern upper houses and merchants centered around the upper part of Ceres.
Originally it was a simple social gathering for exchanging information, but at some point it became an interest group.
Enough to make Ragnar care.
“You are very determined to show off your power.”
There was a look of displeasure in Hazel’s gaze as she looked down at those guys.
Cleve nodded.
“Why don’t you know that sitting in that position and enjoying that power would have been impossible without Ragnar’s power?”
“Originally, when people do well, they tend to mistake it for their own ability rather than luck.”
Theo answered with the same cynicism.
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Cleve laughed heartily and shouted out loud, saying that was the right thing to do.
“Then everyone, get off!”
At Cleve’s command, Theo, Evelyn, and Hazel all threw themselves to the ground.
-Uh, uh uh… … ?
-What is that?
-Something is falling from the sky!
-Are you a person? Then why are you coming this way!
-Blood, damage!
The people of the Northern Merchants’ Association who had been standing in line in front of the main building raised their heads, then all scattered in panic.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Theo and his group landed among those people with a loud noise,
Chaechaechaechae!
“Who are you guys!”
“State your purpose!”
The soldiers and mercenaries guarding the perimeter of the main camp all aimed their swords at them.
“Theo.”
“yes!”
Theo took out the short sword he had received in advance at Cleve’s command and swung it vigorously.
Then, the lock on the single pole was released, and the pole suddenly became much larger than his height,
The curtain was revealed with force as the cloth rolled up inside fluttered in the wind.
Pearl- Luck!
A symbol of a nine-headed dragon holding a sword in its mouth.
It was Ragnar’s badge.
-Uh, that’s… … !
-La, la, why Ragnar all of a sudden!
Ragnar!
The face that represents the North, but to the northerners, it is no different from the grim reaper.
The merchants’ faces instantly turned grim.
Kwak.
Theo’s hand holding the flagpole tightened.
The flag symbolizes the authority of the great family.
He was also the face of a great family.
The fact that they entrusted such a thing directly to Theo meant that Cleve and his party trusted him.
Under the flag,
Cleve detonated the lion’s head.
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“Ragnar’s event will now begin! Anyone who tries to interfere, stop, or sabotage this will be judged as challenging Ragnar’s authority and will be executed on the spot!”
I will execute you… … I will execute you… … I will execute you… … .
Her voice resonated loudly, echoing everywhere in an instant.
The merchants, oppressed by that power, ended up retreating.
The general of the Ceres upper class, who had been welcoming guests at the main gate, became lost in thought and suddenly jumped out, bowing his head.
“Why on earth did a noble family from such a great family come to such a shabby place… …!”
Cleve said, looking down at the governor’s head with a cold face.
“Are you the Lord of Ceres?”
“Oh, no! I, I am the general manager of this place… …!”
“How dare a mere squire, not even a lord, dare to confront the executor who has come to carry out the stern orders of the lord-! Since when has Ceres been this arrogant?”
“… … !”
The governor’s face had now become so pale that it seemed as if he was about to suffocate.
-When the northern dragon moves, the entire surrounding area becomes a sea of fire.
It was a proverb that all northerners living in the North were familiar with.
A proverb meaning not to incur Ragnar’s wrath.
Especially since it is an event held by an executor who holds the ‘order of the household’!
“I know very well how Ceres regards the Great House. I must see the face of the High Lord myself, so get out of the way immediately.”
“Okay, wait a minute… … !”
As Cleve was about to take a step, the governor tried to tell him to wait urgently,
Squeak-
Phew!
Hazel, who had been standing next to him, jumped out and cut off his neck sharply.
Blood was sprayed.
“Didn’t you clearly state that anyone who tries to interfere with Ragnar’s event will be executed on the spot?”
“… … !”
“… … !”
“… … !”
The crowd, who had not known how to swing their swords so mercilessly, no longer dared to approach them.
The same goes for Ceres’ vassals and mercenaries.
Cleve ordered.
“Open the door.”
“Your name!”
“Your name!”
“Your name!”
Evelyn and Hazel lunged forward, blowing the front door and the wall apart.
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Kwaaang-
Above it, the flag Theo was carrying fluttered powerfully.
It was Ragnar’s entry.
How the bastard of the Return Sword Family lives
