Chapter 55: Pride That Can Only Be Protected Through Strength (3)

Gedwin’s explanation didn’t end there—it continued on.

“The mercenary and adventurer guild masters are in league with him! They’ve been embezzling the materials and cores from monster subjugation requests and selling them off separately!”

At those detailed accusations, Conrad’s face turned completely pale.

For now, it was best to wait and see how the lord, Shtefan, would respond.

“Now then… Administrator Conrad, give your explanation. As you said earlier, if this man’s words are false, shouldn’t you clarify that? You’re not trying to deceive me, are you?”

At the calm request, Conrad slowly stepped forward—unlike before—and spoke.

“They are clearly lies. How could I ever deceive you, my lord?”

“Then, explain it.”

“How can I prove the words of a man I’ve never seen before? Without proof, whatever he says is obviously false.”

Indeed, without any evidence, Gedwin’s words were as good as lies.

Of course, both Shtefan and Raion knew that well.

“Gedwin, is there any way for you to prove what you just said?”

“T-That is…”

When Gedwin failed to answer, a faint smile appeared beneath Conrad’s beard.

All dealings had been done verbally, not in writing—there would be no trace left behind.

It was then that Raion stepped forward.

“You said the mercenary and adventurer guild masters were also involved. How about we summon them and hear from them directly?”

“Not a bad idea. I’ll order the guards to bring them immediately.”

With Shtefan’s approval, Raion turned his gaze toward the entrance.

“I anticipated that and called them here in advance.”

With that shout, the door opened, and in walked the Adventurer Guild Master, Hamil, and the Mercenary Guild Master, Jaizen.

Both men carried bundles of parchment in their arms.

Sensing something unusual, Conrad’s eyes began to dart frantically.

“We greet His Highness the Prince and Lord Shtefan.”

Hamil and Jaizen bowed respectfully to the lord.

“Good. Do you know why you’ve been summoned here?”

“Y-Yes, we do.”

Their reaction was that of men gripped by fear.

Their eyes briefly turned toward Patrick, who stood behind Raion.

Unaware of that tense undercurrent, Shtefan continued.

“According to the mercenary Gedwin, you’ve colluded with my territory’s administrator, Conrad Vivalous, to embezzle funds and goods. Is there any truth to that?”

At that, Conrad was nervous but believed he’d be fine.

If the two of them confessed, he wouldn’t be the only one to die.

Naturally, Hamil and Jaizen—who had committed the same crime—would also be punished.

But of course, that would require evidence.

Hamil was the first to speak.

“It’s true. We’ve been embezzling funds together with Administrator Conrad.”

“That’s right. I’ve been doing the same.”

As Jaizen followed with his confession, Conrad couldn’t help but cry out in shock.

“W-What nonsense is this! Don’t you dare lie to the lord! What have I ever done to you for you to say such things?!”

As Conrad shouted, Shtefan raised his hand to silence him.

“Calm yourself. Nothing is certain yet.”

He turned back to the guild masters.

“Do you have any proof to back your claim?”

At that, Hamil and Jaizen stepped forward and held out the parchments they had brought.

“These are records of the funds and goods that were transferred to Administrator Conrad.”

“Mine are the same.”

Conrad’s face, which had regained some color, once again turned ghostly white.

A clerk nearby took the bundles and handed them to the lord.

Shtefan examined them carefully.

Just as the two had said, each parchment clearly listed sums of money and goods tied to the name of Administrator Conrad.

Even the dates were marked, making the evidence undeniable.

“With all this before me… Conrad, what do you have to say for yourself?”

“It—it’s all forged! My lord, I have served this territory and our family since the previous lord’s time! How could I possibly deceive you like this?”

Even after seeing the records, Shtefan found it hard to believe.

He couldn’t accept that Conrad—the man he had trusted like family—had been embezzling the territory’s funds through such vile means.

But the evidence was too clear. Conrad could no longer escape.

“To think you’d disappoint me this deeply! Bring it here at once!”

At Shtefan’s command, the clerk stepped out and returned moments later—his hands full of parchments similar to the ones before.

They were the same parchments Raion had given Shtefan on his first day in Kanas.

Fuming, Shtefan grabbed the bundle and hurled it at Conrad.

Pak!

“Even after seeing this, you still dare to talk like that?!”

Not knowing what those parchments contained, Conrad picked up a few sheets and began to read.

They detailed not only the embezzlement from the mercenary and adventurer guilds but also the funds diverted directly from the lord’s own estate operations.

Naturally, Conrad was horrified.

“How did you even… get this information…?”

“I wanted to believe in you until the very end. But does it really matter how I found out? What on earth were you thinking, doing this to the territory…!”

Shtefan wanted to say more.

But he knew well that he was also at fault—for failing to notice what had been happening right under his nose.

So instead of speaking further, he only let out a deep sigh.

“They’re framing me! Do you really think someone like me, who has poured sweat and blood into this land, would ever commit such acts for personal gain?”

“Are you seriously claiming that you have no connection to what’s written here—or to them?”

“It’s the truth! Please, believe me!”

Conrad bowed his head again and again, pleading his innocence.

Of course, Raion wasn’t one to simply watch quietly.

Standing beside Shtefan, he took a few steps toward Conrad and whispered in a low voice.

“How does it feel to see everything you’ve built crumble—thanks to a foolish prince who so easily paid three thousand gold for a monster subjugation?”

It was the very same thing Conrad had said to Gedwin and his men earlier.

“H-How do you know that…?”

“Did you really think I brought Gedwin in here without knowing anything?”

Conrad had thought it was nothing more than bad luck. He’d believed he could still get out of this.

But the moment he heard Raion’s words, he realized—it had all been a setup from the start.

“Your Highness… how could you…?”

Until Raion came to Kanas, the two of them had never met.

Naturally, Raion had no personal reason to target Conrad—or to orchestrate such a thing.

“Think of it as cleaning up the place I’ll be living in from now on. Of course, you’re just a very small part of that mess.”

He murmured so quietly that only Conrad could hear him.

And yet, Conrad couldn’t make sense of what he meant.

“What are you talking about…?”

“Anyway, your guilt is beyond question. My lord, how do you wish to punish this man?”

Shtefan hesitated. After all, he had spent decades with Conrad by his side.

If he punished him too lightly, it would be seen as favoritism.

But Raion, the prince, was watching—he couldn’t show weakness either.

Still, Shtefan’s heart wavered at the thought of a harsh sentence.

“Hmm…”

After much deliberation, he finally spoke.

“By my authority as lord, I hereby strip Conrad Vivalous of his position as administrator. All of his property will be confiscated, and once the investigation is complete, he shall be permanently exiled from the territory!”

He could have imprisoned him instead.

But Shtefan couldn’t bear to have Conrad anywhere near him again.

He’d rather send him far away—so they would never meet again.

“M-My lord…! Kanas is where I’ve spent my entire life. How could you sentence me to such a fate…!”

“Even after your crimes have been fully exposed, you still dare speak like that?”

“That’s…!”

The undeniable truth left Conrad speechless.

“I can’t stand the sight of you any longer. Guards! What are you waiting for? Take him away at once!”

He was to be interrogated further by the knights.

But Raion raised his hand, halting the soldiers.

“Please wait a moment, my lord.”

“Your Highness, weren’t you the one who demanded his punishment? Why stop now?”

Ignoring Shtefan’s question, Raion began to walk forward.

“While it may not be precise, don’t you think confiscation and exile are too lenient for someone who’s been bleeding the territory dry for decades?”

“Then what are you suggesting?”

As Shtefan asked impatiently, Raion began circling around Conrad, speaking calmly.

“Let the confiscation stand. However, instead of exile, why not have him live out his remaining days working for the territory, receiving only minimal wages?”

“I don’t understand your reasoning, Your Highness. But I can’t bear to see him any longer! No— I won’t see him!”

“You’ll have to take responsibility as well, my lord.”

“What responsibility do you mean?”

“The responsibility of having neglected your own land’s corruption. Shouldn’t you bear that as well?”

At Raion’s serious tone, Shtefan fell silent—he knew those words were true.

Raion continued.

“The guilt lies with everyone who’s been part of Kanas’s administration up to now. Am I wrong? Therefore, I believe having Conrad Vivalous dedicate the rest of his life to serving the territory is the punishment most fitting.”

It was a firm and deliberate decision.

Shtefan pondered over Raion’s words before turning to Conrad.

“What say you? After all you’ve done—do you still wish to remain here?”

Perhaps he hoped Conrad would refuse on his own.

But after a long pause in the heavy silence, Conrad finally spoke.

“…I wish to stay here and live out the rest of my days.”

Shtefan let out a deep sigh at his answer.

“Phew…”

“So it’s settled, then. My lord, do you accept my proposed sentence?”

“…Very well. We shall do as the prince says. But I doubt I can bear to face him for some time. Let us end this meeting.”

With that, Shtefan rose from his seat and left the audience chamber.

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