The Founding Monarch Became the Mastermind

Chapter 71

“Honestly, I’m a bit dazed. I’ve never seen a person change so suddenly like that. It was as if he became a completely different person in an instant.”

At Yonas’ words, after concluding negotiations with Boris Pamel, Si-on let out a small chuckle.

“I think I understand why that guy Boris changed like that.”

“…?”

“You said he seemed to have a strong sense of responsibility, right?”

“Yes. When I first saw and spoke with him, it was hard to believe he was the son of Count Pamel.”

Despite the crimes committed by Count Pamel and their unfortunate ties, Yonas didn’t dislike Boris.

(It’s not because he suddenly changed and asked to become a vassal of the Si-on Ducal family.)

Truthfully, he liked how Boris didn’t make excuses and took responsibility like a man.

“Right. The fact that he opposed his father to the very end and was placed under house arrest shows he didn’t suddenly develop a sense of responsibility—he was always like that. Do you think a person like that would have closed their eyes and ears while locked in the tower?”

“I doubt it. Especially since he was originally meant to be the next Count of Pamel.”

“Exactly. Even while under house arrest, he would have been well aware of what his father was doing and how the county was being run.

So, how do you think someone with such a strong sense of responsibility felt, hearing how the Pamel County was falling apart while being unable to do anything about it? What about you—how would you feel?”

“…Just imagining it makes me furious, Grandfather. If it had been me, I might have died of frustration.”

“Exactly. You’re also someone with a strong sense of responsibility. Now imagine Boris, in the position he was in, would have felt even more pressure. For more than a month, he must have been under immense stress. Like this.”

With that, Si-on slowly poured water into a cup.

But the water wasn’t drinking water—it was the kind prepared for washing one’s hands or face.

When the cup was about three-quarters full, Si-on paused.

“When the king’s envoy rescued Boris from the tower, he was probably at this level. And then, suddenly, his father dies, and he’s thrust into a position where he has to clean up all the messes his father left behind, half by choice and half by force.”

Si-on poured a bit more water, the liquid nearing the brim.

“And in that state, he had to meet with you and the king’s envoy for negotiations.”

A small trickle followed.

“The cup was filled to the brim. Even though Boris had a strong sense of responsibility and a sturdy mental fortitude, he had reached his limit. And then, at that precise moment, the king’s envoy revealed the truth about Count Pamel’s hidden real estate and secret funds.”

Without hesitation, Si-on suddenly poured the water rapidly into the cup, causing it to overflow onto the table.

The water soaked the table, but Si-on didn’t stop.

Continuing to pour, he said, “If just a little water had spilled, Boris would have thrown all dignity aside and hurriedly put his mouth to the cup to drink it, driven by his strong sense of responsibility. Even if he had just barely exceeded his limit, he would have tried to endure and handle it.

But the truth the king’s envoy delivered wasn’t at that level. When water spills out like this, do you think you’d be able to drink from the cup?”

“No, of course not. It would be pointless.”

“Exactly. So Boris made his decision right then and there.”

Si-on picked up the cup and deliberately tipped it over, spilling the remaining water.

“Ah! You mean he decided to start over from scratch?”

“No, it’s not just that.”

Si-on gave a sly grin before tossing the emptied cup to the ground.

Clang!

Though he hadn’t put his full strength into it, Si-on’s immense power shattered the metal cup into pieces.

“He decided to destroy the cup itself, the one that had been giving him so much stress. If the Pamel County, which had been a source of endless stress, ceased to exist, he wouldn’t have to deal with it anymore.”

“Ah…!”

Though the cup had shattered, Si-on continued to pour water onto the ground, causing Yonas to gape in shock.

Finally stopping, Si-on picked up another cup from the tray.

“Boris decided to get rid of the cup that was the Pamel County. Instead, he chose a new cup—the Si-on Ducal family. Why?”

Si-on answered his own question, pouring a decent amount of wine into a silver cup.

“So he could drink wine instead of that stale water he couldn’t even drink before. To free himself from the stress that had been tormenting him. And also…”

After downing the wine in one gulp, Si-on wiped his mouth and continued.

“So he could easily deal with the other ‘Pamels’ who had relied on his dead father to act out.”

“……!”

“Now do you get it? Boris isn’t crazy, nor is he simply driven by revenge. He calculated how he could completely take control of the Pamel County and properly manage it, and that’s why he spoke to you that way.”

“…I thought he was just unusually skilled, but he’s terrifying.”

“Haha. No need to be scared. At the end of the day, he’s nothing more than the leader of a pack of defeated stray dogs. No matter how hard they try, for the next several decades, the Pamel County won’t even be able to raise its head properly in front of our duchy.”

“Of course. After all, we have you, Grandfather.”

“What? It’ll still be like that even if I’m not around.”

“What? But, Grandfather…”

“‘What?’ You think you can just take it easy? Looks like Handler’s already slacking off.”

“Ah! No, that’s not what I meant, I…”

“Well, I suppose you can slack off a little until today. Since starting tomorrow, you’ll be buried in work.”

“Ugh! Ah….”

Yonas’ face instantly grew pale.

Though they had dealt with the rebellion and punished the Pamel family, the Si-on Duchy’s administrative affairs, which had been a mess for almost a year, were just beginning.

And who would suffer the most?

“…Ah….”

He could already picture the faces of the ministers at the Twin-headed Eagle Castle, dark circles forming around their eyes as they wept.

Naturally, Yonas knew he’d soon be one of them.

“Good luck. I’m off.”

“What? Where are you going?”

“Where else? I’ve got to take care of my first subordinate who’s been working hard. It must’ve been tough for them alone, so I should check if there’s anything they need help with. Oh, and Yonas, send Piotr to the August Estate when you return to Sionia. Along with the Janstrick Mercenary Group and Blaho.”

“Understood. But, Grandfather, what about the direct lines of Fland and Rozin… Grandfather? Grandfather, wait…!”

Mounting Blackie, who had been waiting, Si-on spoke without looking back.

“Tell a few of the leaders about me. Let them know if they don’t want to get beaten, they should start behaving properly. Let’s go!”

“…Ah….”

Riding Blackie, who seemed quite excited, with Goldie following behind carrying various supplies, Si-on kicked up a cloud of dust as he disappeared into the distance.

Watching Si-on’s back with a dazed expression, Yonas suddenly muttered to himself.

“By the way, if he’s talking about his first subordinate… does he mean that wildcat of a woman? He says he’s going to take care of her since she’s been through so much, but I doubt she had it that hard.”

One thing Yonas had learned from his time with Si-on was this:

When the Founding Patriarch said he’d personally take care of someone, it meant more work was coming.

Even he had received ‘plenty of care’ from Handler in the Si-on Duchy.

“I should probably cut down on my sleep for a while. That poor woman, though.”

Though he didn’t know her well, Yonas genuinely sympathized with Jenna.

***

“Yes! Jackpot.”

Jenna, suddenly feeling her ear itch, grinned as she flicked out some earwax with her pinky finger.

“Ew, gross.”

One of her subordinates, who had followed her from the Burgos branch, scrunched up his face and stuck out his tongue.

“Gross? Come on. This just means I’m healthy. If your ears aren’t in good health, it wouldn’t be a nice clump like this, but yellow pus.”

“Ah, Sister, stop it! I can imagine it! Ack! Why are you flicking it this way?!”

“Evade! Evade! Heh, heh, heh.”

Jenna giggled, wiggling her finger at her subordinate before flicking the earwax out the window.

“Seriously. You’re the acting lord now. Shouldn’t you be a bit more dignified? At least behave half as properly as you did in front of Sir Salen…”

“Stop.”

“What?”

“Why bring him up all of a sudden? You’re making me nervous.”

“Ah! I didn’t even realize…”

Her subordinate quickly shut his mouth.

Jenna, her subordinate, and the rest of the information guild members who had stayed in the August Estate had been quite happy over the past couple of months.

The work at the August Estate?

With Salen and the Si-on Ducal family acting as a massive sword and shield, they were gods here, untouchable.

Everyone, from the vassals to the administrators, trembled in fear at Jenna’s gaze. So while there was some annoyance, there were no real difficulties.

Given the current situation, it was hard to understand how Anserman August had made such a mess of the estate.

As for the guild’s work?

Well, our ‘whale,’ Lord Si-on, was truly a god.

At the Burgos branch, it had been impossible to even dream of the secretive yet proactive support from headquarters that Jenna and her subordinates were now receiving.

At first, they were baffled, but soon, they were shedding tears of joy.

In Burgos, getting information from other branches required bending over backward and sending endless official documents, but ever since they had been assigned to the ‘whale,’ everything moved like clockwork.

Jenna, who had been in the information business ever since following her deceased father, had never seen the guild operate so efficiently.

But what she loved most of all, something that made her tremble with excitement just thinking about it…

“By the way, what’s that bastard up to lately? I haven’t seen him around.”

“Who knows? Ever since that royal secretary came by briefly, he’s been keeping a low profile. The two of them were chatting about something.”

“Hah! That field agent’s really getting carried away, huh? Just because he chatted with someone from the royal capital, now he’s acting like he’s all that?”

Jenna cracked her knuckles with a broad grin on her face.

“Hey, call Jens over. A field agent should be doing fieldwork, not lazing around. Unbelievable!”

“Sure, sure.”

Her subordinate, who was well aware that her instructions were neither fair nor part of any actual guidance, rose from his seat, curious about what kind of outrageous task she’d set for him today.

Honestly, the work here was so easy that even small incidents like these were entertaining.

But a short while later…

“Sister! Branch Chief!”

“What is it? Did you catch him?”

Jenna, who had been writing a report for headquarters with a wicked grin, raised her head.

However, the moment she saw the two people following her sweating subordinate into the office, Jenna’s smile vanished.

“You probably don’t know since it’s your first time meeting the acting lord, or rather, the Branch Chief of Burgos, right?”

Jens, who had always ground his teeth whenever he saw Jenna, greeted her with a bright smile for the first time since arriving at the August Estate.

“Please offer your greetings. This is Sir Botan, a close aide to the Crown Prince.”

“So, you’re the crazy woman who’s the Branch Chief of the Burgos Information Guild, huh?”

The instant the plump nobleman entered the office, he began cursing at her, causing the blood to drain from Jenna’s face.