Whispers of a Scheming Demon - Chapter 104

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B

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◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈

Chapter 104: Dissent

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“I have prepared a few things you may find useful.”

The Count set a stack of documents on the table.

Johan examined their contents.

Detailed personal information on the Council members, along with charts of their relationships with one another, had been recorded on parchment.

There were also several letters of recommendation, promissory notes, and an adoption registration.

‘He took care of everything himself.’

The Count had been making every effort to help Johan ascend as Duke-King.

For now, the materials concerning the Council would be of considerable help to Johan.

Johan knew little about its members.

He only had a rough grasp of them.

Even the original work he had read did not cover the Council in detail.

Inmarok was an ensemble drama, and by nature, such stories could not cover every detail.

The Count's documents were far more thorough than the superficial information Johan had gleaned from the original work.

As he read through them, Johan smiled in satisfaction.

“As expected, Cromwell. I like the way you handle things.”

The Count remained expressionless.

“You would do well to memorize those materials thoroughly. Especially everything concerning Horentz of House Marcano. Learn every last word.”

Viscount House Marcano was the largest merchant house in the Kingdom.

They had risen from humble origins to the heights of the Kingdom through ability alone.

Its current head, in particular, was an exceptionally capable man.

Horentz von Marcano. He practically held the Kingdom's economy in his grasp. He was likely the model merchant.

Johan nodded.

“If you mean Horentz, I know him well myself. I intend to meet him first as soon as I arrive in the Royal Capital.”

Horentz had played a significant role in Inmarok.

The Authority he possessed remained overwhelmingly powerful even into the latter half of the original story.

The Count's brow furrowed slightly.

“Read the documents properly. If you look closely, you will not be able to say you intend to meet Horentz.”

Johan gave a faint laugh.

“Horentz can read other people's thoughts. Count, is that what you mean?”

Horentz could access another person's mind.

The moment he used his Authority, the target's state of mind and thoughts flowed directly into him.

That Authority was called the Mind-Piercing Eye.

As long as he used the Mind-Piercing Eye, Horentz was bound to hold the advantage in every transaction and negotiation.

The moment Johan faced him, even his most carefully guarded secrets would be exposed.

He could never meet Horentz.

The Count spoke calmly.

“You already knew about Horentz?”

“Of all the Council members, when it comes to Horentz alone, I likely have more information than even you do, Count.”

Horentz had one more secret besides the Mind-Piercing Eye.

The Count seemed somewhat puzzled.

“That is quite strange. There cannot be more than a few people in this world who know about the Mind-Piercing Eye.”

Johan shrugged.

“I am one of them.”

After a moment of thought, the Count spoke.

“...You had already learned about Yeriel as well. And now you know about the Mind-Piercing Eye. Where in the world did you hear such things?”

Yeriel and the Mind-Piercing Eye. Neither was information one could easily obtain through ordinary means.

“If you are asking about my source, I am sorry, but I cannot reveal it.”

“Cannot reveal it? Not a matter of whether you want to, but that speaking of it is impossible?”

He was correct.

Johan could hardly say the information had come from the original work he had read.

It was subject to the Prohibition.

Johan nodded.

“Yes, something like that. In any case, I will tell you one secret about Horentz, in return for your sincerity.”

Even if it was because of Yeriel, the Count had been helping Johan in every possible way.

Johan needed to offer something in return as well.

For the sake of their future relationship.

“What is it?”

The Count's face remained expressionless, but he was likely all ears.

He understood the power information held.

Johan spoke evenly.

“The one who possesses the Mind-Piercing Eye is not Horentz.”

The Count's brow tightened slightly.

“Then who is it?”

“Serena Marcano, the young lady of House Marcano.”

Horentz's daughter was the true owner of the Mind-Piercing Eye.

“...Is that accurate?”

“Of course. Think about it carefully. Horentz must have always brought Serena with him to official events.”

The Count searched his memories for a moment.

As Johan said, Horentz moved with Serena in most cases.

The Count let out a quiet laugh.

“So that was it. Now I understand. But why are you telling me this?”

Johan spoke calmly.

“We are in the same boat now. We need to share some information.”

The Count had been quite wary of Horentz.

He had always been notably passive in matters involving Horentz.

That would not help Johan's path at all.

The Count needed to wield his absolute power for Johan to achieve what he wanted sooner.

The Count nodded as if he understood.

“I understand your intention. From now on, it will be easier to pressure House Marcano.”

Until now, the Count had always sent an agent to meet Horentz.

He had been wary of the Mind-Piercing Eye.

Now, there was no need.

As long as he was careful of Serena, the Count could handle House Marcano with ease.

He fell silent for a while.

His expression had turned somewhat cold.

Johan frowned.

“Count, let me make this clear in advance. Do not touch Serena under any circumstances.”

The Count was likely considering ways to assassinate Serena.

Cromwell was certainly the sort of man who would do that.

He spoke with mild puzzlement.

“If Serena disappears, House Marcano will gradually lose its strength. There could be no better outcome for you.”

Viscount House Marcano was a leading house of the royalist faction.

Royalist nobles would never recognize House Myatro's autonomy.

For Johan, who needed to become Duke-King, House Marcano was a thorn in his side.

Johan spoke.

“Serena's Authority is far too useful. It would be a waste to dispose of her merely because she interferes with my plans. I will have that power.”

The Count crossed his arms.

“In other words, are you saying you will become engaged to Serena?”

“That would be the surest method. I cannot physically take another person's Authority.”

“Did you not intend to marry that silver-haired Mage?”

Johan had sent Ilea to become the Count's adopted daughter.

His intention had been obvious.

He intended to give Ilea the Staviana surname, then marry her.

What followed would be equally obvious.

House Staviana would fall into Johan's hands.

The Count had no one else to inherit his house.

The Count's only child was the daughter born between him and Yeriel.

Naria de Staviana. She was currently the Queen of the Artelga Kingdom.

As both Queen and a woman, she could not become House Staviana's heir.

She had no siblings, either.

By the structure of succession, the Count's son-in-law stood first in line to inherit House Staviana.

That place would be Johan's.

Johan spoke.

“That is right. If possible, I intend to become engaged to Ilea as well.”

The Count frowned slightly.

“You intend to have two wives?”

He had loved only one woman his entire life. He seemed disgusted by Johan.

Johan gave a faint laugh.

“Perhaps three, four, or even ten.”

The number of wives did not matter to Johan.

If necessary, he could marry a hundred.

The Count swallowed.

“Under Kingdom law, one may have only a single wife. Even I would find it difficult to tamper with that principle.”

It was a tradition and law that had endured for five hundred years.

Johan said, “Once I become Duke-King, what use will Kingdom law be?”

The duchy's laws would be newly established.

There was no need to care about the Kingdom's laws.

The Count gave him a cold look.

“...That is not wrong. But you are still a noble of the Kingdom. For now, you must follow its laws.”

Johan nodded.

“Don't worry. I am not saying I will become engaged to two people at once. First, I need to bring the young lady of House Marcano over to my side. Ilea comes after that.”

Nothing had yet been decided about his relationship with Ilea.

Johan intended to determine Ilea's role according to how circumstances developed.

The Count spoke in a chilly tone.

“Does that Mage agree with your opinion?”

“Agree with what?”

“I mean, what does that Mage think about you having several wives?”

The Count had met Ilea and spoken with her before.

In front of him, she had shown anger toward Hakain.

The cause of that hatred was clear.

It was a defensive instinct that emerged when something precious was threatened.

Ilea considered Johan a very precious person.

The Count had seen it all.

Johan frowned.

“Ilea will not particularly care. More importantly, Count, why are you asking me this?”

Johan could not understand the Count's intentions at all.

The Count let out a quiet laugh.

“You are a clever fool. You behave as though you know everything, but you do not know the most important thing. A person who cannot understand the emotion called affection can never stand above others. All human desires begin with affection, and only one who can control and use that emotion can wield others. The desire to possess all things, obsession, devotion, jealousy, and such emotions all begin with affection in the end.”

He had suddenly begun expounding his political philosophy.

Johan was thoroughly bewildered.

‘...Is saying I will take several wives really enough to provoke him that much?’

For the Count, perhaps the only romantic left in this age, it was entirely possible.

Of course, Johan found it hard to understand.

‘Change the subject.’

He had no desire for an unnecessary argument.

Just as he was about to change the subject, there was a knock.

“It is Ilea. May I come in for a moment?”

The Count said, “Come in.”

The door slowly opened.

Johan stiffened. He could not take his eyes off Ilea.