The Master of Language - T.M.L Chapter 30 (Part 1):

Franche-style meals take longer than Baritone-style ones.

When I entered the conference room belatedly, there was only one person. Naturally, it was Count Furst.

He was standing by the window looking outside, so I could only see his back.

“We’re ruined,” he said, resting his chin on his right hand and cradling his elbow with his left.

“Indeed, we are.”

It’s a relief that his voice doesn’t sound as dejected as one would expect from a ruined person.

I was about to mention the Hansis priest first but held back.

It would be fine to gather enough information and tell him later.

I went and sat in one of the many chairs in the conference room.

“What do you plan to do now?”

“I’m the major shareholder, so I’m fine for now. However, if Duke Balkan buys the shares of others, he could surpass me. Then the New Continent Company would become his.”

The empty conference room seems to speak volumes about his situation.

Well, it’s understandable to lose trust after losing an entire, most important branch.

“Legless Monkey really caused a lot of damage.”

The Count spoke in a monotone.

“Hmm. Could there have been some sort of agreement between Duke Balkan and Legless Monkey? Did Duke Balkan team up with Legless Monkey to take over the company? Without planning this from the beginning, there’s no way we could have been caught so off guard.”

Come to think of it, the Hansis priest also tried to openly persuade me. Why would he say such things as soon as we met, risking me going to the Count and tattling?

It feels like trying to remove a small seed of misfortune while already holding a certain victory.

“Anyway, it seems everyone is on Duke Balkan’s side now. Do you have any grudges against him?”

“Not at all. Even if there were, Duke Balkan isn’t the type to prioritize personal feelings at his own expense. He also invested heavily in the company during its early days. He’s thoroughly calculating.”

“Then, simply put, isn’t he trying to keep you in check? You know, you said before that you’ve been reaping what your grandfather sowed. He sees your power growing, so he’s nipping it in the bud before becoming second-in-command.”

“If that were the case, he would have just killed me.”

“Then even simpler, could it be that Duke Balkan wants to swallow this company whole? You know how greed is endless. Even those who have everything want more.”

“Even then, if I die, he naturally becomes the major shareholder. My son isn’t an adult, so even if he inherits the stocks, he can’t exercise rights. Killing me would have been the fastest way.”

“There was an assassin yesterday, wasn’t there? Maybe he wanted to kill you but couldn’t.”

“No, if he had wanted to kill me, I’d have been dead long ago. That’s not it.”

What an incredibly high evaluation.

I couldn’t help but ask more.

“In your view, what kind of person is Duke Balkan?”

The Count took a deep breath for a moment.

Then he began to speak softly.

“Duke Balkan oversees the Baritone colony in the Afrin region. During exploration, he’s the bravest general; during maintenance, he’s the wisest administrator; and during tax collection, he’s the most ruthless ruler.”

“He must be very smart.”

“Moreover, he has His Majesty’s full trust, and more than half of the nobles follow him. He’s the power among powers in Baritone. There’s no place in Baritone where his influence doesn’t reach.”

Just hearing about him paints a clear picture in my mind.

“So you’ve made an enemy of such a person now?”

“I never intended to make an enemy of him. He made the first move. I really can’t understand it. The New Continent business would have brought him great profits too.”

“Then that’s for certain. He didn’t cause all this complicated trouble just to get five native children.”

“……”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Why don’t you eat something? It seems you haven’t had lunch either.”

“Eating slows down my thinking.”

“Then at least have some coffee. I think my previous master said that coffee helps the brain work better.”

“Coffee? Hmm. Well, I haven’t had any since being in the New Continent.”

He got up and went outside.

A moment later, he came back holding two cups himself.

It’s surprising how unpretentious he can be at times like this.

He put a coffee in front of me and returned to his seat.

His face was still dark.

A situation without an answer.

“Let’s go meet him.”

“Who? Duke Balkan?”

“I think we should meet him directly. He won’t kill you, right? You said if he wanted to kill you, you’d be dead already. So don’t worry and let’s go face him.”

I spoke leisurely and took a sip of coffee.

What is this? Why is it so bitter?

“Are you alright, Ran?”

My expression must have been telling.

Damn.

I just looked cool for a moment, and now it’s all ruined.

“Why do people even drink this… Ahem. Anyway, let’s meet him and talk.”

Count Furst turned his gaze to the side. Then he slowly drank his coffee.

Wow, drinking that bitter stuff without changing his expression at all.

He put down his coffee cup leisurely and spoke softly.

“To make contact, travel to Duke Balkan’s territory… to arrange an official meeting would take at least two weeks.”

“Let’s just go. He’s probably waiting for you there anyway, right?”

“……”

“Come to me, Count Furst! Come and bow your head!
It feels like he planned this whole thing with that kind of attitude. So we might as well go, right?”

Afterwards, Count Furst silently drank his coffee. Soon, he finished his thoughts and said,

“Let’s leave as soon as we return to the mansion, Ran. I need to eat something first and wrap up company affairs. In the meantime, you do what you need to do. Just be back before sunset.”

I stood up.

“Then I’ll go look around the city a bit. I couldn’t properly see it when I was a slave.”

I opened the door and went out.

Dangun

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