‘So that’s how it feels like to shoot someone.’

Strangely, it didn’t really feel like anything… until he looked at the spot he’d shot.

‘Okay, now I feel kind of bad… or not.’

Aside from just discovering that Elvar was a pedophile, Reivan didn’t think the man was a bad person.

That said, Reivan still needed a few pieces of information from him. In particular, Reivan needed to know who facilitated the deal between the Silver Cross and a clothes merchant. It was something that had happened before Reivan was even aware that organizations in Arkhan’s underbelly were thinking of expanding into Aizen, so he naturally had very little information about the subject.

Reivan basically just wanted the man to spill the beans on who introduced him to the underground organization. He hadn’t even intended to get violent on the businessman, but the fool’s taste in sexual partners disgusted Reivan.

Perhaps this was the time to beat some sense into the sicko. He couldn't allow this bastard to stay anywhere near the places his little sisters frequented.

“I…” Elvar wiped the drool from his mouth as he glared up at Reivan while cradling his bloody shoulder. “I have connections.”

“I am aware, Mr. Elvar.” Reivan rolled his eyes. “Unfortunately, all of them are as useful as your younger brother. You'll have to do better than that.”

“Not all of them are useless. I…” The man hesitated for what seemed like an eternity before he finally said, “I have a connection with an Aizenian minister.”

Reivan’s eyes widened before he caught himself, pretending to be unmoved. Unfortunately, the knights on either side of him failed to do so.

With a clear of his throat to gather everyone’s attention to himself and away from the knights, Reivan chuckled at the man. “Aizen has a different way of governing than the republic and empire, you know? Perhaps you mistook a clerk or an administrator as a minis—”

“I’m sure,” Elvar emphasized. “They’re a high minister.”

“A high minister…”

This time, Reivan couldn’t hide his surprise.

Specialized departments and whatnot aside, all civil officials serving in Aizen’s governance started off as civil associates before becoming Administrators — officers that managed a team of associates and handled all sorts of other tasks that a Minister assigned to them.

After showing merit, and if a position opened up, then they would be promoted to Ministers. Show more merit and ministers get promoted to High Ministers.

And a high minister that’s given a very large responsibility such as managing one of Aizen’s cities is bestowed the esteemed title of Grand Minister.

Purely in a bureaucratic aspect, the only position higher than a Grand Minister is the Primero or otherwise known as the Prime Minister — who obtains this position by being personally appointed by the current king.

Seeing as the Primero was a special case where even a no-name Administrator can become the most important bureaucrat in the nation, the normal ranks from lowest to highest were associates, administrators, ministers, high ministers, and grand ministers.

Without question, a High Minister held a very prestigious position in Aizen's government.

‘A high minister is colluding with this piece of shit?’

The lack of notification from [Essence of Falsehood] meant that there was some truth to Elvar’s words — which consequently made Reivan’s mood worsen.

Still, perhaps he was jumping the gun.

“Mr. Elvar…” Reivan rubbed his chin in thought. “There are varying grades of connections. I myself know quite a lot of people, but if someone were to ask me if I would do them a favor? The answer would be a resounding NO for most of them. Do you think just introducing yourself to them once is enough to call it a connection?”

Elvar shook his head, still clutching his bloody leg and shoulder. “It’s not like that… he... uh..."

"Stop wasting time and spit it out."

"W-wait! Don't shoot! He helps me sneak in more goods than what I declare! Th-that's why the tariffs I pay are much lower! I c-c-could even sneak in restricted goods like wands!”

“I see…”

‘But why, though…?’

It was an Aizenian tradition that people in high governmental positions don’t get salaries. But this only applied to the Primero and the grand ministers. High ministers still obtained quite a few benefits, including a hefty sum of lumens per month.

What could Elvar possibly have that would make a high minister take such a huge risk?

Under Reivan’s questioning gaze, Elvar reluctantly divulged the truth. “He… well, the minister has feelings for me…”

Reivan frowned, wishing he’d heard wrong. “...Excuse me?”

“I said that… he likes me.”

‘Yeah, that’s what I heard the first time…’

“Mr. Elvar…” Reivan massaged his temples and looked at the man strangely. “Do you mean as friends and colleagues or…”

“Romantically. He, uh, he likes me in a romantic way...” Elvar bit his lips and cast his gaze downward.

‘Holy fuck…’

Reivan wasn’t that shocked about the homosexual preferences of the High Minister in question. From the very start, the first king of Aizen had already prepared the common populace to be a bit more... accepting.

What stunned him the most was the fact that the fool chose to commit treason just to impress a romantic partner.

'The guy's not even a hunk. Why would you commit treason for this sallow-faced piece of shit!?'

His mind raced as he processed the revelation.

The foreign merchant’s admission had revealed that even Aizen wasn’t safe from having unsavory individuals ascend to positions of power. Those who were already in influential positions were not impervious to the allure of personal gain either, willing to exploit their authority for their own selfish pursuits.

Still, this was not a concern to Reivan’s current persona. Right now, he was Ken, the mysterious youth from a mysterious organization.

Of course, he still had to investigate this matter and consult his father on how to proceed — after all, he was the corrupt official’s ultimate superior.

While secretly sending a thought transmission to his father through a communication crystal, Reivan clapped his hands mockingly, a smirk behind his mask.

“If that’s how it is, perhaps you truly still have some uses, Mr. Elvar. Let’s just hope the High Minister’s treachery isn’t discovered too soon, hm?”

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“Yes…” Elvar heaved a sigh of relief but froze the moment he heard the masked youth’s next words.

“Well, now all you have to do is prove your little brother’s worth.”

Confusion and panic flashed across the man’s face. “What are you…”

Reivan tilted his head, doing his best to appear bewildered by the man’s confusion. “Do you not understand? I will spare your life because you still have some uses, Mr. Elvar. But your brother does not share those uses, and so he must die.”

“But that’s not what you…!” Elvar seemed to struggle to find the words, his breathing becoming rough from getting too worked up. “That wasn’t our deal!”

“We never had a deal, Mr. Elvar.” Reivan shook his head. “I want you and your brother dead because you know too much. But, feeling merciful, I asked you to state your uses. That was to convince me that leaving you alive would serve me more than your corpses. As for the deal you mentioned, perhaps it was all just a misunderstanding on your part.”

Elvar grew tense as Reivan's true intentions unveiled themselves. His eyes widened in disbelief and horror as he realized the twisted game that was being played.

“You…” Elvar seemed to realize something, regaining a bit of courage. “You need my help to ask the high minister for favors! Do you think I’ll still be so cooperative if you kill my brother!?”

“I suppose your full cooperation would be impossible if that were the case.” Reivan nodded in agreement. “However, Mr. Elvar, we can achieve the same — if not better — results if we just use you as a hostage, don’t you think?”

The sullen man sunk to his knees, his face slicked with cold sweat. He looked up at the masked youth in horror. “You monster…”

In response, Reivan wasn’t offended, merely smiling with his eyes. “It is you who chose to dip a toe into the underside of society while lacking the power to stay afloat, Mr. Elvar. Not me. I’m just doing what I have to.”

‘Surely you have more information to divulge. Now’s the time for you to spill any beans you’re hiding!’

Reivan naturally didn’t have any strong desires to get rid of both brothers, merely giving them a hard time so they told him everything they knew. As for their silence, he could easily achieve that by strapping a slave collar around their necks.

“Kill him.” Reivan’s apathetic voice echoed out, prompting one of the knights to point a gun at the cowering Desmor’s head.

The knight, knowing the prince’s true intentions, naturally didn’t pull the trigger immediately.

“P-please!” Elvar pleaded, his face marred by tears and snot. “Not my brother!”

“Brother…” Desmor stared at his elder brother with worry before biting his lip and closing his eyes, seemingly accepting his fate.

Just as Reivan was about to send a thought transmission for the knight to shoot the fatty in the foot, a woman’s urgent voice cut in from the side.

“Uhm!” Elsamina seemed to immediately regret speaking up, but her eyes soon filled with resolve. “P-please spare him…”

----------------------------------------

“P-please spare him…” Elsamina didn’t know what compelled her to voice her opinion or desires in this room full of people who could decide her life and death, but the words had already left her mouth before she could suck them back in.

‘Now I’ve done it…’

If she’d learned anything from her years in the brothel, it’s that men in power didn’t like people interrupting them, nor did they like it when someone had a different opinion. Especially if it came from some uneducated whore.

And Elsamina had just done all of those things by going against the youth’s intentions of killing the obese man.

Surprisingly, however, Ken signaled for the hooded man to halt. He then turned toward Elsamina with a smile. “And why should I?”

Elsamina would have interpreted those words as a rhetorical question had it come from someone like Ballor or anyone who lacked enough morals to associate with Ballor. But the youth in front of her seemed to be asking an honest question.

As such, her mind raced to provide a satisfying answer. In this tense situation, her father’s past teachings from before their family’s collapse surfaced in her mind.

In a negotiation, never expect the other side to sympathize with you. It was foolish to appeal to them emotionally.

That’s why you must entice them with benefits.

‘So first things first... What does he want?’

From the conversations so far, she knew that Ken wanted money. And likely, the new organization he would lead would be meant to generate the funds to help satisfy whatever financial needs he had.

However, Elvar and his Brother could no longer provide that.

Elsamina had no way of confirming the authenticity of Ken’s statements, but he had mentioned that his spies had already infiltrated Elvar’s businesses and could take it over easily.

‘So, what else is there…?’

Frankly, she was stumped.

With a sigh, Elsamina just decided to do her best, even though the chances of convincing the mysterious youth were slim.

“Mr. Ken, even if you could take over their company instantly, or use Mr. Elvar as a hostage to make the high minister do your bidding, this will inevitably spark… conflict. Those in the company who are indebted to Mr. Elvar or have some form of loyalty or positive relationship would be reluctant to support the usurper. And the high minister may also have unexpected tricks up their sleeves — after all, someone incompetent wouldn’t have been able to rise to such a high position in the kingdom’s government…”

By the time she finished, Elsamina was already out of breath, but she still didn’t feel like she’d convinced Ken, so she continued.

“My father was someone who admired the Star of Fortune’s maxim — Harmony breeds Wealth. As such, even if you could still obtain plenty of benefits by being forceful, in the end, I believe that there is an opportunity for long-term benefits by... by coexisting.”

“Precisely. Harmony breeds wealth,” Greyviel muttered from the side, nodding in satisfaction. “Mr. Ken, I hope you don’t mind me voicing my agreement with the girl’s opinion. Though idealistic, I am also an admirer of the Star of Fortune, so I also believe there would be more benefits to letting both of them live. I’m sure Mr. Elvar will work very hard in order to allay your doubts.”

Prompted by the old merchant’s gaze, Elvar immediately nodded vigorously, prostrating himself on the ground. “Of course! Of course, I will! I will be sure to offer all the profits to you, so please have mercy, Mr. Ken— No, Boss!”

Desmor could only open and close his mouth like a fish, but he also looked hopeful at the thought of survival.

The youth’s brows furrowed as he crossed his arms in thought, causing the brothers to sweat profusely in anxiety. After all, the results of the young man’s musings decided their life and death.

Finally, Ken heaved a sigh as he signaled his subordinate to put the gun down. He then looked at Elsamina as if she were crazy. “Ms.Elsamina, I can’t understand why you would speak up for this man. Surely, you didn’t harbor any illusions that he would treat you with respect once he took you home, right?”

“That’s…” Elsamina couldn’t find the words to answer, since she also didn’t know why.

“Make no mistake, Ms. Elsamina. This man would’ve ravaged you every chance his pitiful stamina would’ve allowed. I dare not assume your tastes in men, but I’m quite certain that doing anything with this man would not be ideal for you. Or am I wrong?”

“No. You’re absolutely correct,” Elsamina replied instantly, causing Desmor’s face to fall.

As someone who’d fallen into Ballor’s clutches before she even entered puberty, romance and tastes in men were something she’d never even thought about. All she ever hoped for in a man was that they either stayed far away from her or they weren’t too rough with her body. Even so, she couldn't help but admit that Desmor was... particularly undesirable.

“Then why did you speak up for him? All while knowing that your actions could have displeased me.” Ken questioned, his tone laced with curiosity.

“I…” Elsamina thought for a bit, trying to place a name on the emotion that she had felt. In the end, she could only let out a tired laugh. “I suppose it’s because I’m too nice for my own good?”

To her relief, her light-hearted remark elicited an amused chuckle from Ken rather than anger. “Is that so? Well then, I suppose I’ll spare the big man for Ms. Elsamina’s sake.” He looked down, his voice taking on a colder tone. “Consider yourself lucky.”

“Th-thank you…” Elvar stammered while still groveling on the ground, his expression a mixture of gratitude and other complex emotions.

As Elvar — the man who’d looked at her like a piece of merchandise to gift to his little brother — looked up at her, their positions reversed, Elsamina felt a tingle crawl up her spine. It was a feeling she’d never felt before, but her heart quickened as she gazed at the back of the man’s head while he prostrated on the ground.

She barely restricted the urge to step on it — to stomp on it, even.

‘What is happening to me…’

Of course, her rationality took over before she could do anything strange. Elsamina turned toward the youth and bowed in gratitude. “Thank you, benefactor.”

“I-It’s nothing.” The youth stuttered, his voice a little shaky.

When Elsamina looked up, she saw that the boy’s ears were slightly red and he trying his best to avert his eyes — though he failed, sending short but frequent glances at a certain part of Elsamina’s body.

‘Oh.’

It was then that Elsamina was reminded of how low-cut her current dress was and how much of her cleavage it exposed.

Feeling strangely embarrassed for reasons she couldn’t parse, Elsamina unconsciously straightened her posture and crossed her arms a little, doing her best to hide as much of her bosom as she could.

“Here, uhm... Cover yourself. If you want.” Ken pulled out a thick cloak from his spacial ring and tossed it at her.

Elsamina caught the cloak and stared blankly at it for a moment before draping it around her shoulders. It was both thick and soft, clearly made from exceptionally valuable materials. Though it only reached just below her knees, likely because it was modified to suit the young man's height.

‘It’s warm…’

Pulling the cloak close to her, Elsamina couldn’t help but smile, savoring the warmth from the first bit of kindness she’d received in a long while.