Chapter 283: Episode 283

The commander of the Peshant Imperial Army was dead. It was none other than Karen Daike, the head of a family that had been rapidly ascending the rungs of political power. The culprits were the dungeon soldiers from the mountain range—the very same force that had been crippling their advance into the Naksen Plains with relentless supply raids.

The imperial army immediately reported their commander’s death and requested reinforcements, but the situation was dire. Their supplies were gone, their S-rank-equivalent commander was dead, and the constant threat from the mountains had ground their operations to a halt. With morale at rock bottom, any further advance was impossible.

The imperial army began its reluctant retreat to the capital. The royal court, meanwhile, launched an investigation, their suspicions falling on a southern dungeon known as Holamont.

—

[The complaints of the Rough Rock Tribe have been resolved.]

[The complaints of the Balak soldiers have been resolved.]

[The complaints of Balak’s main forces have been resolved.]

[The complaints of the dungeon residents have been resolved.]

Back in Balak, the commotion Hyena had caused was neatly settled by her personal apology tour. Or, more accurately, it was handled by the dungeon’s master, who had a change of heart—with the help of a few well-placed bribes.

“I’d forgotten myself,” Taehyun announced to the assembled dwarves. “My sister’s mistake is my own. You are all precious to me, and I’d appreciate it if you’d accept this and put the matter behind us.”

“Hmph. The demon has finally come to his senses,” one of the dwarves grumbled, his eyes widening as he examined the gift. “Wait… is this Mithril equipment?!”

That took care of the Rough Rock Tribe.

“You all went through a lot as well,” he said, turning to his core soldiers. “I am truly sorry. As a token of that, I’ve prepared some new equipment and accessories.”

“We’re not so easily satisfied,” one of them replied, a sly grin on her face.

“Hmm. How about a voucher for a full day of rest?”

“That’s a good start. But Taehyun, some of us were hoping for something a little more… special.”

“…Alright,” Taehyun sighed. “Those who are interested can accompany me to the Demon Realm Auction for a… vacation.”

“Really? You mean it?”

Next were the main forces.

“I am sorry for the trouble,” he said to the rank-and-file soldiers. “I’ve brought you the most expensive soldier rations, purchased directly from the Gronz Merchant Guild…”

The soldiers erupted in a cacophony of cheers.

“Melden,” Taehyun said, addressing the city’s representative. “I heard my sister caused quite a few problems in Myol.”

“Oh, we are quite alright, sir,” Melden replied hastily. “A little understanding is all we ask…”

“One week, tax-free.”

“You are truly a wise and benevolent ruler, Sir Taehyun!”

And finally, the dungeon residents. By providing separate compensation to even the non-human races, the fractured relationships began to mend. The troublemaker herself, meanwhile, demonstrated her remorse by signing a formal contract.

“If this ever happens again, there will be no forgiveness,” Taehyun warned her sternly. “I’ll banish you from Balak without a second thought. Understand?”

“Waaah! I was wrong! Please don’t abandon me, Brother!” Hyena wailed, clinging to him.

“Sigh. Then why did you cause so much trouble?” he said, softening slightly. “Still, seeing you so repentant, I suppose you really are my sister. But never forget this: I am the Dungeon Master of Balak. Anything that obstructs the operation of this dungeon must be dealt with. That includes you, so be very careful.”

“Okay, I promise!” she sniffled. “I signed the contract, and I’ll make sure nothing like this ever happens again. So please, forgive me.”

Fortunately, with her favorability maxed out, Hyena was terrified of being abandoned. The experience must have dredged up memories of her time as a slave raider. No matter how many hardships she had overcome, at her core, she was still just a high school girl. Her troublemaking had been a desperate cry for attention and care—the actions of a soft-hearted younger sister.

“I’ll let it go this time, since I was also at fault,” Taehyun conceded. “But from now on, you need to do better. Remember, what’s good for the dungeon is good for me.”

“I’ll work hard! I’ll fix my attitude and everything! Just… please don’t ever talk about kicking me out again.”

“If you behave, I won’t have to. Just conduct yourself properly.”

And with that, the crisis was averted, the flames of discord extinguished before they could truly catch fire.

—

[Gelix has returned.]

[S-rank Named Guardian, Krodin the Assassin King, has returned.]

[Holamont’s Dungeon Master, Baek Chan-hwi, has visited.]

The three architects of Karen Daike’s assassination had returned. The plan had been flawless: disguise the supply raid as a wild monster attack, drain the enemy’s resources to lure out the commander, and then lead him into unfavorable terrain for Krodin to deliver the final blow.

“Welcome back,” Taehyun greeted them. “I see you handled things exactly as instructed.”

“Now that I’m affiliated with Balak, it is my duty to see my tasks through,” Gelix replied, exhaling a plume of smoke.

“This is a no-smoking area,” Taehyun stated flatly, gesturing toward Riel and Hyena, who were coughing from the fumes.

Gelix scowled and promptly exited the Master Room. Krodin followed suit, leaving only Chan-hwi behind.

“Y-Yoo Taehyun! I helped that bastard Gelix, and the plan worked, just as you said!” Chan-hwi stammered, his voice laced with panic. “The empire is going to come for my dungeon now! You have a way to handle this, right? Right?!”

“Of course,” Taehyun said calmly. “But first, I’ll need some Zen.”

“What! Why are you asking for Zen ’now’?”

“My exclusive skill is rather expensive. You succeeded, yes, but this is a separate transaction.”

The Dungeon Protection skill wasn’t a cure-all. It had a one-month cooldown, and he was already using it to shield Katarniak. While the Frost Queen’s army was largely occupied with the Derk Empire, it was still a strain on his resources. Chan-hwi broke into a cold sweat.

“Come on, man! It only lasts for a month anyway!” he pleaded. “And you’re still demanding Zen? That’s too much! Just do it for free this one time. Please! I’m begging you!”

“It may only be for a month,” Taehyun said, his voice dangerously smooth, “but it will be enough to keep the Peshant Empire away from your dungeon.”

“…Is that true?”

“Some nobles might still call for a subjugation, of course. But if I… no, if ’Karon Daike’ takes action, things will be different.”

The Daike family’s three heirs had been whittled down to one through a brutal competition, and that one had been Karen. With him dead, the seat of power was effectively empty. If Karon—who had been hiding his identity as a Raider—were to return now, he wouldn’t be welcomed with open arms, but they couldn’t afford to cast him out, either.

“He won’t have much influence at first, not with the mess Karen left behind,” Taehyun explained. “But with the continuous support of the Anslake family, he’ll gradually build his power base. It will take about a month for him to consolidate his position within the family. After that, you can rest easy. He will focus all of their attention on the Ain Kart Holy Kingdom, not your dungeon.”

“You… you had all this planned out?” Chan-hwi gaped. “I don’t understand all the details, but if I can just avoid being destroyed…”

“If you get the gist of it, then pay up.”

“How much?”

“Let’s keep it simple.” Taehyun held up two fingers.

Chan-hwi’s face lit up with relief, and he quickly handed over a Zen pouch. It contained a paltry two million Zen. Taehyun’s expression hardened.

“Are you kidding me?”

“What are you talking about? Make it make sense!”

“I said, are you kidding me?” Taehyun repeated, his voice dropping. “It’s not two million. It’s twenty million. Empty your inventory. Now.”

“Kuuugh! You’re a monster!” Chan-hwi wailed, tears welling in his eyes as he produced another, much heavier, pouch.

—

Meanwhile, Karon Daike, following Taehyun’s instructions, had returned to his family estate, where he came face-to-face with the last person he ever wanted to see.

“You pathetic fool,” Kairan Daike sneered. “You run from the succession war, only to come crawling back the moment Karen dies.”

Kairan, the fourth head of the family, was a cold-blooded patriarch who had ruled for decades, the same man who had pitted his three sons against each other to test their mettle. As expected, his eyes were filled with contempt, but he didn’t order Karon away.

“I have returned, Father.”

“Do not call me Father. I have no son like you. I am only tolerating your presence because your foolish brother’s seat must be filled. Do not delude yourself.”

“…I understand.”

Kairan had already officially stepped down as the family head. With the other brother, Karun, also dead, Karon was the only one left to inherit the title. He took in the familiar halls of the mansion with a bitter smile. His own father was looking at him like he was something scraped off the bottom of a boot. He’d expected it, but the reality still stung.

Kairan led him into the grand meeting hall.

“Young Master Karon, it has been a long time,” one councilor said with a thin smile.

“I don’t like this one bit, but I suppose we have no choice,” another grumbled.

“The very thought of how that whelp Karen tarnished the Daike name makes my blood boil,” a third spat. “There’s no guarantee this one won’t do the same.”

The family councilors and the Knight Commander, Polix, were all present. Kairan gestured impatiently.

“First, explain your abilities to the council.”

“…After leaving the family, I became a Raider,” Karon stated simply. “I am currently a top-tier A-rank.”

“Tsk. So you became a dog for that pathetic Raider’s Association,” Kairan scoffed. “And?”

“There is nothing else. As you always expected, I have no talent for the sword. My only skills are enchantment-based. You know as well as I do that I never had any interest in such things.”

The atmosphere in the hall turned frigid. The councilors glared at Karon, their eyes burning with indignation.

“And we’re supposed to entrust the family to this man?”

“Not a single useful ability. And the nerve of him! I’m too dumbfounded to speak!”

“He’ll drive this family into the ground! We cannot accept him!”

A torrent of complaints and accusations rained down on him, but Karon remained perfectly composed.

“You insolent brat! Do you mean to mock this council?” one of the elders roared.

“I am merely speaking the truth,” Karon replied coolly. “That is why I can be so confident.”

“You! Get out of—!”

As the elder raised his staff to strike, the butler burst into the room, his usual composure shattered.

“V-Viscount Momonte Anslake of the Aneis Kingdom is here!”

“What?!” Kairan exclaimed.

“And that is not all! Wagons from the Balak Merchant Guild, one of the ten largest on the continent, have entered the courtyard!”

“What in the world are you talking about?!”

The hall erupted into chaos. Viscount Momonte Anslake was a major power, the operator of the Bus Raid Party, whose influence spread across the continent through four separate guilds. With his newly granted territory and his role as an agent for the legendary Balak Merchant Guild, his name carried as much weight as their own. For him to appear unannounced was unthinkable.

Kairan started toward the hall to see for himself, but it was too late. Momonte Anslake stepped gracefully into the room.

“My sincerest apologies for this unannounced visit,” Momonte said with a disarming smile. “I am Viscount Momonte Anslake. I run a small guild in the West.”

“Viscount Anslake,” Kairan stammered, “you should be in the West. What brings you so far south?”

“Ah, a simple matter. A dear friend of mine, my very savior, insisted on leaving my guild to return to his family.”

“S-savior? You don’t mean…?!”

“Yes, that’s right,” Momonte confirmed, his eyes landing on Karon. “Karon Daike. He stubbornly insisted on taking up his family’s mantle in his late brother’s place. I let him go, of course, but I was so terribly worried that I simply had to follow. Please forgive my rudeness. As a small token of my esteem, I’ve brought some of the finest goods and equipment from the Balak Merchant Guild. I do hope they are to your liking.”

On cue, guild members filed into the hall, laying down ornate boxes and heavy sacks before bowing deeply. The councilors, the butler, Polix, and even Kairan himself could only stare, their mouths agape.

Karon gave a subtle, triumphant shrug and allowed himself a small, private smile.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep