Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 254

“…”“…”

A deep silence flowed through the splendid reception room.

The two merchant leaders, sitting across from each other in a place where even the attendants had left, just stared at each other in silence.

They were in the same place, doing the same thing, but their expressions were strikingly different.

Neumann, the guest, had a warm smile on his face like a bear that had found a lot of food, while Angela, the owner of the East Merchant Group, sitting across from him, raised one eyebrow, clearly expressing her discomfort.

“That’s amazing.”

After a while, Angela spoke first.

“That’s really great. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, but there’s a limit to that. You’ve lured the prince of the Everan Kingdom?”

“I told you before that you must never touch him.”

Despite the voice full of mockery, Neumann simply chuckled pleasantly, unfazed.

At this point, no matter what insult was thrown at him, he was in a position to laugh it off, so Angela couldn’t help but feel even more upset.

Unlike last time when there was no hospitality, today Neumann was presented with luxurious refreshments.

Even with that small difference, Neumann was able to enjoy the feeling of victory.

Neumann smiled gently and picked up his teacup.

“You must be having a hard time, Sister. Didn’t Count Eckhart say he wanted to cancel the contract to take over the store?”

“He’s not blind. But Drayton was quite the sight, I must say.”

Angela’s pointed reply came back.

This happened as soon as he took over the store, so he must be pulling his hair out by now.

In an attempt to somehow make up for the loss, the Khan Union was releasing a new product from the Elven Kingdom.

In the meantime, not only did the East Merchant Group completely withdraw from the store, but to make matters worse, rumors spread that Count Eckhart had used the store to take revenge on his sons who had turned their backs on the family, and his reputation fell to the ground.

The East Merchant Group was unlikely to be shaken by such gossip, but things were a little different for Drayton, who had no base near the capital.

Besides, most of the merchants were currently desperate to impress the Khan Union, so there was no place to give strength to Drayton’s shop.

Angela clicked her tongue.

“They’re still holding on somehow, perhaps for the sake of saving face, but I guess they have no other choice.”

With the loss of the East Merchant Group, the Khan Union pointing their swords at him from the front, and Neumann Merchant Group glaring at him at even the slightest attempt at maneuvering, Drayton was helpless and had no choice but to take the fall.

The leader of the East Merchant Group shot Neumann a resentful glare.

“You’re doing something worse than what I did.”

“As Sir Arendt said, it’s much more fun to kill someone slowly.”

Neumann looked very pleased as he answered like that.

Thanks to that, Angela, her frustration rising even further, sharply retorted.

“Sir Arendt’s character is very bad.”

“Heh, I suppose so. It would be painful to say it twice.”

But Neumann didn’t even blink an eye and took the documents out of his pocket.

“Sister, it seems like the outcome has already been decided, doesn’t it? We must still have some calculations to make.”

“…”

It was a wager agreement they had made some time ago.

Beneath the statement detailing what each person had bet, Neumann and Angela’s signatures were clearly engraved.

In contrast to Angela’s distorted expression, Neumann suggested in a rather cheerful tone.

“You said you would give Sir Arendt some of your shares? How about giving him one of the East Merchant Group’s businesses?”

“…When I think about it, it’s a funny clause. It’s a bet between you and me, so why does it benefit Sir Arendt?”

“It is also very beneficial to me. Sir Arendt is not only my business partner but also my biggest customer.”

There was no way Arendt, who was already busy, could manage the business himself.

Since Neumann would end up operating it on his behalf, it would be a profitable business when just collecting the commision.

“That disgusting guy.”

“You can send Sir Arendt a list of businesses and have him choose one himself. I will handle the acquisition process on his behalf.”

Whether Angela swore or not, Neumann just smiled happily.

Angela finally gave up and leaned back in her chair, clicking her tongue.

“A bet is a bet, so there’s nothing I can do. I lost.”

It was a clean declaration of defeat, typical of her.

Neumann nodded with satisfaction and asked.

“What are you going to do about Count Eckhart? Oh, this is just my personal curiosity.”

“I’ll have to settle it. If the shop had been running smoothly and served as the Count’s stepping stone, it would be a different story, but now, maintaining any relationship is meaningless. And…”

Angela, who had paused for a moment, frowned.

“I don’t want to be at odds with someone who can even drag in a foreign prince.”

“You finally realize it.”

Neumann swallowed his words as he answered playfully.

It wasn’t just Prince Llewellyn.

He suddenly wondered what Angela’s expression would be if she found out that he had barged into the Crown Prince’s office and taken money.

“But it’s not completely over yet.”

The next moment, Angela’s voice came and brought Neumann back from his reverie to reality.

“You never know. Maybe Drayton and Count Eckhart will show unexpected talent and revive the tea shop. Then things will be different.”

“Do you think Mr. Drayton can save the store?”

“Hmm…”

Angela thought for a moment and then gave her answer.

“It might be difficult to open a tea shop, but it might be possible to change the business and settle down, since I transferred the ownership of the building along with the shop.”

But in fact, that was an unrealistic story for Count Eckhart.

Since the original purpose was lost, there was no need to take the loss.

Angela added, taking a moment to pause.

“Even if I say that… honestly, in the current situation, it would be better to hand it over to someone else.”

In fact, that was the wisest choice for Drayton and Count Eckhart.

It might be a little bitter, but the sooner they give up, the better.

“The losses will only increase day by day, so it would be better to sell it at a low price.”

“It is as you said.”

Neumann, holding the teacup, nodded leisurely.

Angela furrowed her eyebrows at the strange nuance.

“What does that mean?”

But Neumann did not answer.

He just smiled kindly and made random remarks.

“Sir Arendt is a person of many talents, but there is one thing he is particularly good at.”

“…What is it?”

Instead of criticizing him for talking out of the blue, Angela decided to join in on the conversation.

It was true that she was curious about the person named Arendt.

Neumann paused for a moment before adding briefly:

“Getting on people’s nerves.”

“…”

She couldn’t tell if it was an insult or a compliment, but Neumann looked very proud when he said that.

Angela, who had been looking at him with a begrudging expression, let out a short sigh.

“That means that it’s not over yet.”

“As expected, you are good at communicating, Sister.”

Neumann answered with a smirk.

Angela decided to let her curiosity rest here.

It was because she had a gut feeling that finding out more wouldn’t turn out well.

Drayton couldn’t even raise his head.

In front of Drayton, who was sweating profusely and barely able to breathe, was Count Eckhart, who had a blank expression as usual.

“So, it just won’t work.”

“…Sorry.”

“Even though the East Merchant Group had been backing you, you couldn’t even handle two kids and now you’re saying you’ll give up?”

Drayton had no choice but to bow even deeper as a cold voice descended upon his head.

“Honestly… I’m ashamed.”

“…”

Count Eckhart, who had been staring at him indifferently, sighed slowly.

Drayton was a skilled merchant.

So he trusted him and left the job to him, but this was the result.

The migraine that had been bothering him for several days was coming back again.

‘How on earth did this happen…’

He couldn’t figure out where things went wrong or what needed to be fixed.

Count Eckhart, who was rubbing his temples with a sigh, looked at Drayton with a sunken gaze.

A few weeks ago, he returned from a business trip to the Khan Union, showing a bright and determined spirit that he would do anything.

But it didn’t take long for it to end like this.

Drayton, who was noticeably gaunt, seemed to have suffered more emotional damage than immediate financial loss.

It seemed that the hardest thing for him to bear was being attacked by a brat who was still wet behind the ears.

The Count, who had been lost in thought, began to speak.

“Drayton.”

“…Please speak, Count.”

“Did I make a mistake?”

Drayton looked up in surprise at the calm tone of voice.

“Count, Count! What do you mean, Count…!”

“I’ve been working with you for quite some time now. I know what you’re capable of.”

The Count cut Drayton off mid-sentence.

“It was I who joined hands with East Merchant Group, and it was I who chose you to take over the store. But you see the results.”

It was a calm tone, devoid of emotions such as anger or disappointment.

So Drayton couldn’t help but feel even more nervous.

The Count lowered his gaze and sighed slowly.

‘Arendt.’

He recalled the face of the man who had once said that the Count’s family was too small to contain him.

The image of his golden eyes that resembled someone else’s, showing no emotion at all, and openly mocking him by saying that he would not take the Eckhart name even if he was given it, was etched under his eyelids like a permanent stain.

The strength in his clenched fists was palpable.

What kept nagging at the Count was himself thinking that perhaps what he said wasn’t wrong.

Arendt was kicked out because he was going astray.

He deemed him useless, as discipline had no effect.

He thought that if he got into a bad situation, he would come crawling back and bow down on his own…

In the end, not only did he find his place, but he also firmly rooted himself there, snarling aggressively at the Count’s family.

Moreover, Arcus, who had followed him obediently his entire life, was baring his teeth at his father while standing next to him.

“Phew…”

The Count, who had been suppressing his surging emotions with a sigh, changed the subject.

“It’s already up for sale?”

“Yes… that’s right.”

Drayton answered with a guilty look on his face.

“There’s no way to avoid the damage. Get rid of it even if it’s for cheap. The longer you hold on, the more you’ll end up embarrassed.”

Around the palace and castle, there were rumors that Count Eckhart had been using the East Merchant Group to plot against his sons.

It was impossible to attract new investors when the store had already suffered the humiliation of a failure, and it was a waste to invest more money in a store that was clearly only going to lose money.

It was virtually a declaration of defeat.

Drayton finally clenched his teeth as the humiliation churned in his stomach.

“…The Second Young Master, no, I will get my revenge on Lord Arendt someday.”

“Revenge?”

But the words that came back were just cold.

Drayton, lifting his head with wide, startled eyes, found himself face to face with the ice-cold expression of the Count.

The Count stared at him wordlessly with a blank expression, then muttered curtly.

“How cheeky. “Who do you think you are?”

“…”

Drayton, stiffened, hunched over again.

His two hands, folded politely in front of him, were trembling slightly.

“…I made a slip of the tongue. I will deal with it as you said.”

Reports came in from Drayton that the tea shop building and facilities had been sold for a pittance.

The story was that since there was no one willing to take over the store, it was sold to an individual who wanted to run the store on his own.

There was a detailed ledger filled with records of losses incurred, but the Count, who had a headache, threw it away without looking at it properly.

And soon after, a letter arrived for Count Eckhart.

Beneath the short sentence full of triumph, Arendt’s signature was engraved in graceful handwriting.

“…”

.

In the end, Count Eckhart hit his forehead and threw himself into his office chair, burying his back in it.