Chapter 69 – The Levi Earldom (1)

A guest.

Count Levi raised his eyebrows.

“Is it important?”

“It is not important. It is one person. A trainee who has taken a request from the academy.”

“Ah, there was that too.”

Count Levi let out a sigh.

In the hope of clutching at any straw due to the growing damage, he had also sent a request to the academy.

Because he thought it might be possible if a team of about ten came.

But to think it was only one person.

“Is the brat some peerless genius?”

“If that were the case, wouldn’t the rumors have reached all the way here?”

“Tell him to wait. Say I am handling urgent business. I should at least save face.”

The butler went out again, delivered the count’s words, and returned.

“Returning to the main topic.”

“Yes.”

“From the royal family?”

“There is no reply.”

“The surrounding nobles?”

“They expressed regret.”

“Those bastards. So they’re just going to watch because it’s none of their business, huh?”

“They seem afraid of becoming the bandits’ next target.”

“Yet they call themselves nobles! A knight’s honor has fallen to the ground.”

“Should we send the knights?”

The butler spoke, and Count Levi let out a deep sigh once again.

“Only ten people, and the most outstanding fellow is a 2-star. What can we do with those?”

“Are they not those who swore loyalty to you, Master?”

“They would lay down their lives if I told them to. What I want is not a situation where our already lacking forces are reduced, but for those damn bandits to tuck their tails and run.”

“Could we not at least intimidate them?”

“What intimidation? ‘That incompetent lord has finally gotten properly angry, so let’s leave for somewhere else’? Do you think they would think such admirable thoughts?”

“As a mere butler, it is hard to be certain about that part.”

“It makes me even angrier because it’s true. He is in the drawing room, right?”

“Yes.”

“I should see his face. Since his heart is admirable. I am heading down.”

***

“He must have been disappointed. I would be too. He was glad to hear that reinforcements had finally come, only for it to be a single trainee. Wouldn’t he have been on the verge of exploding as soon as he heard it?”

Count Levi’s castle.

Henry, who was sipping the tea provided in the drawing room, spoke.

“His stomach must be burning. The bandits grow bolder by the day, and the damage increases gradually. The lord’s reputation falls steeply. If he tries to mobilize the few knights he has, he is afraid the main base will be plundered in the meantime, and sending the territorial soldiers changes nothing.”

Henry rattled off the situation of the Levi Earldom.

It was not heard from anyone, nor was it found out through the sponsorship shop.

It was simply something easily expected.

“Since he even sent a request to the academy. That means he is that desperate. Although we are the most outstanding trainees inside the academy, the moment we step outside, do we not fall short of even the weakest knight?”

[But you are different, Knight lol]

“I am different. Quite a few people know that fact, but even so, nothing changes. Because if it were a matter to be resolved by a single 2-star knight, it wouldn’t have become a worry for a noble of the count rank.”

Speaking sarcastically, Henry grinned.

“Of course, I am different from ordinary 2-star knights. There is still some time left before the count comes down. It seems about time to show you.”

[Again, again…….]

Just before chat messages could rise, Henry preempted them.

“I will use a cheat key. Is it correct to use this expression?”

[Hahaha]

[That came in too suddenly lolol]

[Didn’t the knight throw away his concept? lolol]

“I told you, I do not abandon my concept. However, I am not an idiot who rejects new knowledge either. To put it bluntly, if there is something I have watched for months, I must have learned from it, shouldn’t I?”

The expression that came out at the drop of a hat was cheat key.

Even if it were Henry’s father rather than Henry, at this point, it was worth watching and learning.

“Also, as everyone probably expects, there is only one means I can call a cheat key, right? I will open the sponsorship shop. Anyone know what I am going to do from now on?”

[Aren’t you going to buy something?]

[Obviously lolol]

[Ah hurry up lolol I’ll die waiting!!!]

[Purchased such-and-such lolol]

“Right. Since it is the sponsorship shop, I will definitely buy something. But it is not an item.”

Henry raised the tempo of the broadcast.

The viewers, numbering over two hundred, put forward various speculations.

But most of them were wrong, and before the viewers could notice, Henry brought up the main point.

“It is precisely information. There is a fact I have realized while using the shop until now. If only I had known early, I could have used it a bit more efficiently…… honestly, it is a slightly regrettable part.”

The sponsorship shop sells three pieces of information.

One was extremely expensive, but the remaining two were not.

Amounts that Henry was fully capable of purchasing.

Also, the information purchased here bound to contain content related to Henry’s ‘current situation’.

[Information 1: 9,999,999 won]

“I will skip number 1. I am curious about what will come out, but surely the day will come when I can find out someday.”

[Information 2: 1,030,000 won]

[Information 3: 158,000 won]

“These guys are precisely the products I plan to purchase. Number 2 and number 3. A total of 1,088,000 won. It feels like tears of blood are flowing to pay it, but in fact, is it not to buy such things that you mages bestowed your grace upon me?”

Comments flowing like water.

It was a kind of talk that the Henry of the past would have never done.

Because it was talk with zero nutritional value, actually meant to lift the atmosphere.

It even contained content of flattery.

‘The me of the past would have broken out in hives just thinking about it.’

But Henry had already realized.

It might be a thought that should not be had as a knight, but it could not be helped.

‘As long as I have money, I can resolve almost any problem.’

Of course, that money meant the ‘mages’ currency’.

Because like magic, it helped him resolve all the problems piled up around Henry.

“I am always just grateful. Expressing my gratitude once again to you mages who subscribe, like, and watch the live broadcast…… let’s check the cheap Information 3 first!”

[Purchased the ‘Information 3’ product!]

[The hidden information is revealed…….]

Following the plausible message.

Information rose up.

[The size of the bandit group is 206 people. Their leader is from an officer background of the Vallaran Royal Central Army, and suffered a dishonorable discharge.]

[The goal of the bandit group is survival. They do not enjoy plundering. Unnecessary sacrifice has not occurred, and they only wish to eat their fill and sleep in a warm place.]

“This was precisely the 150,000-won information. It is different from the content checked in the request. It clearly said one hundred people, but the information says it is double that. What this means…… I will tell you in a bit. It is number 2!”

[Purchased the ‘Information 2’ product!]

[The hidden information is revealed…….]

[Under any circumstances, what is scarier than anything is the enemy within. Especially if they are a figure who has won the leader’s trust!]

[Hunger and cold help a human make decisions. Because the thought of ‘if I stay like this, I might die’ arises.]

“It is extremely abstract. To think it is such information with zero nutritional value despite paying a million won! There might be someone who thinks that way, but in fact, it is not so.”

Henry quickly continued.

Currently, there were two pieces of information purchased.

And judging from the experience up to now, the two pieces of information had a clear correlation with each other.

“In fact, the Information 3 is precisely what can be called the core of this matter. The identity of the bandits? Such things are not that important. Of course, the fact that we uncovered the scale is important, but that is also something that can be dug up as long as time is spent.”

He thought it was a hundred people, but it was two hundred.

That kind of fact could be easily found out.

In summary, even if it was not easy, it was content that could be dug up anyway if physical time and money were invested.

There was even a possibility that the request was wrong or that the count was mistaken.

But the latter was different.

“We must think by connecting Information 3 and Information 2. Although Information 3 might feel more concrete, to put it bluntly, the content contained there is simple. The bandits are stronger than expected.”

Humans forming a group become several times stronger, and even more so if there is an outstanding commander.

Truly a story as obvious as obvious could be.

But the latter?

It contained content that was in a way obvious, but difficult to find out.

“Inside this territory, there is a person who joined hands with the bandits. That is why the expression ‘enemy within’ was used. Also, it is certain that the enemy within is in a fairly high position.”

[Does it unconditionally connect like that?? lol]

[Once you uncover it, isn’t it just a quote or something?]

“It speaks of what the bandits want. They are just hungry and cold. It means that if food and a sleeping place are provided, they have no reason to commit banditry.”

Henry had been certain from the moment he faced the information.

Because it had been a long time since he realized that the information is bound to be related to Henry’s current situation, and also that all information deals with a single incident.

“In the end.”

Henry spoke while looking at the fluctuating chat window.

“It means that there is a way other than blindly beating them to death. Rather, that way will be simpler.”

The bandits were not ordinary.

To the degree that even if they possessed twice the forces of Count Levi rather than just him, suppression could not be guaranteed.

“In fact, an earldom also differs from one to another. While there are those with influence who connected lines all the way to the royal center, there are also places satisfied with a low-grade land like this Levi Earldom.”

The count’s grade falling naturally meant the level of the territorial soldiers fell as well.

And the knights were the same.

Honestly, it was a level where even using the expression ‘order of knights’ was ambiguous.

“I do not know what kind of figure Count Levi is yet, but what must be thought of as the highest priority in the current situation is……”

“I am sorry. Because urgent business was piled up, meeting the guest has been delayed.”

“It is to win over this count first. Hello, Count Levi. I am Henry Camilton, a Class A trainee of the Royal Knight Academy.”

Henry rose from his seat. Receiving the handshake offered by the count, he examined the opponent.

The count of the Levi family was young.

To the point where he seemingly looked to be in his early thirties at a glance.

He possessed a trained body as if proving he too was a knight, and a momentum of refusing to compromise was revealed in his straight eyebrows.

“If you are Henry Camilton.”

“In the Heritz region, next to the Redwood Viscounty, there is House Camilton.”

“I can only apologize. Since I do not know well of matters outside the territory.”

“I understand. Is not a lord’s virtue to look after their own territory well?”

“By any chance, is that sarcasm?”

“How could that be? I only thought that your worries must be that deep. I will definitely handle those vermin-like bandits.”

“It is good to have overflowing spirit…… but in truth, it is difficult for me to speak indirectly. Ah, by any chance, is me speaking informally uncomfortable……”

“Not at all. I too am one who walks the path of a knight. Since you are the king’s knight, are you not a senior as high as the sky?”

“Thank you for thinking that way. In any case, speaking straightforwardly, you won’t do alone. You saw the request, right?”

“Yes.”

“I thought at least ten people would come. They said that is usually the case?”

“That is correct.”

“But why are you alone this time?”

“I departed as soon as I confirmed the request.”

“With the intention of resolving it alone?”

“Yes.”

Count Levi’s worries deepened.

But what could he do?

“I will hand over the command of the territorial soldiers to you. I know you need achievements, but do not overdo it. Because there is no dishonor as great as a trainee of the Knight Academy getting hurt in my territory.”

“If the problem can be resolved, a single person like me……”

“It is important. Extremely important. If you get hurt or die, we might even be able to expect the support of the royal family, but my position is what it is. You know what I mean, right?”

Speaking up to that point, Count Levi waved his hand roughly and left.

Frustration could be felt just by looking at his back.

And Henry.

“First, I must show him something. In order to correct that attitude.”

Based on the given conditions, he selected priorities in his head.

BJ Swordmaster