I Became the Younger Brother of the Female Protagonist in the Novel

Apparently, he guessed me to be the owner of the gold.

I replied in a calm tone, ‘No, this is the first time I’ve heard of it’, but unfortunately, his eyes were still full of doubt.

and… … .

“… … .”

I made eye contact with him silently for about 10 seconds.

After a while, Hasla smiles as she leans on the backrest.

“Well, that probably doesn’t matter. If it’s Arden now, it can be a good companion. And whether you are the owner of the gold or not, as long as you pay the price, we will treat you as a customer.”

At his remark, I let out a small sigh inwardly.

Then, I put the prepared contract on the table, and Hasla reviewed the clauses of the contract one by one and asked me questions about the suspicious part.

“Oh, that clause… … .”

I answered exactly what Albert had explained in advance.

Then, Hasla nodded as if she understood.

After each other’s seals were stamped on the contract, a mutual non-aggression pact between Skull and Ardennes was finally concluded as they shared the same contract one by one.

“Don’t forget that this contract will be fulfilled when the Eastern Organization disappears. And if you can’t get rid of Easton… … . Well, just imagine what will happen.”

I got up from my seat and responded in a cold tone to Hasla’s threatening remark.

“do not worry.”

Leaving that one word behind, he left Skull’s general manager’s office.

I was escorted out of the mansion by a man with a stern look.

and… … .

“let’s go.”

“All right.”

Albert nodded once and followed me down the street.

Episode 22

22. Karvan’s Criminal Organization (4)

About an hour and a half after Keynes left, a great uproar broke out at Skull’s headquarters located in the slums of District 1 of Karvan City.

A member of Skull’s gang rushes to the chief’s office in a hurry.

“Wait, boss! Hey, Easton!”

Hasla, who was sitting on the sofa and enjoying wine, smiled at her subordinate’s report.

“Keuk… … . You really are the Archmage of the 4th Circle.”

An existence that is hard to find in the slums.

Even if there was a story, it would be rare for 4th circle mages to work in the slums.

Hasla set her wine glass down on the table.

At that moment, the subordinate posted an additional report.

“A little while ago, three gang members who chased down the head of Arden were lying in front of our headquarters with broken limbs. And this note… … .”

Hasla narrowed her eyes as she checked the memo she had been handed over, and then her lips curled up.

-There is no next.-

A memo with a short phrase.

“this… … . Are you quite a giant?”

Hasla crumpled the memo, got up from her seat, and shouted at her subordinates.

“Prepare for war! Kill all the remnants of Easton who survived, and we take their area!”

“Ah, I see!”

After the subordinate responded loudly, Hasla added one command.

“Beat all the gang members who were watching Ardennes, and keep a close eye on the guys below so that they don’t cause a commotion with the Ardennes guys in the future. They are now our VIP customers.”

“Yes, I will pass that on to my subordinates.”

March 7, 1249 on the continental calendar, around 1:30 a.m.

A large-scale war broke out in the slums of Districts 7-9.

A war between Skull and Easton, who have ruled the slums of Karvan City for a long time.

It was a rare war where a total of 300 people died, but Easton, who lost his head, collapsed in an instant and was swallowed up by Skull.

* * *

“… … As a result, the number of customers started to increase again. And they say that the atmosphere in the slums has recently become even more heinous.”

The poor living in districts 1 to 10 suffered more, but Ardennes could not pay much attention to the poor except for the poor in districts 11 to 13.

They even signed a non-aggression pact on purpose, so there’s no need to stir up a dispute over it.

“Once you’ve settled down properly in Karvan, expand your market to the surrounding towns and cities right away. Since we are already lagging behind other high schools, we need to grow at a fast pace so that we can somehow survive.”

“We expect to open 110 stores in 12 major cities at least this year.”

It was a slightly surprising report, but with the budget I handed over, it was predicted that it would be possible enough.

I nodded once as I went through the details on the paperwork.

“Prepare an escort thoroughly to protect the store’s transported goods.”

“All right.”

Many dangers lurked in this world.

In particular, the merchant’s carriage procession must be a very tasty prey for bandits and thieves.

There was even a possibility that human life and property damage could be accompanied by an attack by demonic beasts.

“We must be fully prepared to eliminate that risk as much as possible.”

Albert nodded in my direction.

“First of all, 1/3 of the loot recovered from Easton is used as a budget for the above.”

“then… … .”

“About five platinum coins, right?”

No, maybe more.

Gold, silver and treasures and artwork obtained by attacking Easton.

Of course, most of the art pieces that could be retrieved were statues and jewelry, but even if they were severely damaged, the original material itself did not change. I thought maybe if I sold them all, I might be able to get up to 10 platinum coins somehow.

Albert looked a bit surprised at the amount of five platinum coins, but quickly straightened his expression.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a low-end employee, but the branch managers who will be in charge of each branch are selected as trustworthy people. Be sure to write down the contract as well.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

For reference, the contract with Hasla was not cursed with mana.

If you put a mana curse on organizations and their contracts, you’ll get in trouble in many ways.

It was too complicated to enumerate and write even individual acts of the members of the organization.

However, the contract between the superior and the subordinate does not have to be very complicated.

‘Because I don’t have to betray.’

The contract with Hasla, which had only legal effect, had no choice but to leave open the possibility of betrayal. So I had to be careful while adding what-ifs.

I have additionally passed on several instructions to Albert.

Of course, he also already knew, but Albert was reminded of that part once again by my instructions.

“Since the size of the organization is also large, try building a new headquarters building. If you want to oversee the business association and the mercenary corps, you probably need quite a few members in charge of office work.”

“Yes, I just found a good site. This building will be used as the first branch and a new general headquarters will be built.”

After all, people who have learned are different.

I stroked my chin once at Albert’s answer and nodded.

“Hmm… … . Yeah, in any case, try hard. It will all be an experience.”

“Yes, I understand. then… … Enter carefully.”

“Yes, good job.”

With Albert seeing me off, I left the office of the general manager of Ardennes.

“Whoa… … .”

He threw his head back and let out a long sigh.

As Endairon sat on my shoulder, I moved my gaze slightly to the right.

-A little while ago, when I met a guy named Hasla, my heart rate went up like crazy.

“… … I got to meet such a person in person, and of course I was nervous. Honestly, I thought you were peeing in your pants.”

At my answer, Endairon chuckled.

– You’ve been patient.

“… … Are you kidding me?”

I pouted at his one word.

I, who did not even reach 150cm in height, faced a muscle monster who was 190cm tall and weighed over 100kg on an equal footing.

He was dark-skinned and dressed lightly, as if to show off his rugged, muscular body. If an ordinary person had made eye contact with him, he would have trembled with a terrified face.

To be honest, even thinking about it now gives me goosebumps.

His ferocious eyes make crime seem like nothing.

It felt like they were trying to eat me, but was it because I thought I was also the head of an organization?

I kept my poker face as much as I could to allay fear and tension.

“… … Are you showing signs of nervousness?”

– It would have been fine with just the appearance. On the contrary, I could feel the charisma from your side as well.

Should we call it charisma?

I had revealed my madness by shedding my life, even if it was small.

Didn’t they say that crazy people don’t carelessly touch things? As for me, I was thinking of playing a madman… … .

‘I was so nervous.’

I let out a long sigh once again and returned to the mansion with Endairon.

For a few days, life went smoothly.

Thanks to the backing of a large-scale criminal organization called Skull, competing merchants operating in Karvan could not recklessly touch Arden, and Arden also began to prepare various foundations to expand the size of the corporation.

Finally, on March 12, a splendid party was held in the main building.

“… … .”

I sneakily walked to the back of the main building, found a large number of people and a group of lights, and quickly returned to the second annex.

‘I heard that it’s small, but the wealth of the Spey One family is different?’

A time I admired for a while.

Did he see me after going to the main building’s patronage and then coming back?

The maids of the 2nd annex looked at me with pitying eyes and started stealing their eyes.

What the hell did you misunderstand… … .

I didn’t have the confidence to enjoy a party in the middle of a crowd.

What am I, a mediocre citizen who grew up in a middle-class family in South Korea, doing at such a fancy party?

I said while holding onto the tearful maid’s sleeve.

“I’m fine.”

The maids burst into tears at that one word.

“… … .”

I stared blankly at them for a moment.

Is it a case of adding illusion upon illusion?

Mirva also looked at me with slightly sad eyes, then came to me and held my hand, making eye contact.

“Bocchan, would you like some pudding?”

“Yes, I want to eat.”

Pudding is one of my favorite desserts.

Mirva prepared pudding at the restaurant as if to soothe a child, and I ate the pudding in a slightly subtle atmosphere due to their misunderstanding.

‘Okay… … .’

Anything you say in this situation will only backfire.

After eating the pudding, I went up to the bedroom and wrapped the presents in a box for my sister.

Among the presents she will receive today, the most expensive and useful will be my gift.

I was a little proud of that thought.

smart smart

“Brother, this is Mirva.”

When she came to the bedroom, she spoke to me with slightly restless eyes.

“today… … It seems that Lady Sophia is not able to visit.”

“ah… … .”

Well, the party lasts from 7-9pm.

As the main character, she would not be able to leave her seat recklessly.

Besides, I heard that even her fiancé, Halbert, came to visit… … .

“… … I can’t help it.”

I said with a slightly regretful smile.

Mirva came up to me and gave me a warm hug, but why the hell was she doing this?

The result of Endairon overhearing the conversation of the maids. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

-He thought this was the first time you were preparing for someone’s birthday.

“… … Well, it’s not wrong.”

Sister Sophia was my only family in this life.

Having never given anyone a birthday in my nine years of living, I began researching the maids’ birthdays, scratching my cheek lightly.

“Oh my, why is my birthday… … .”

“Maids say they have to work even on their birthdays… … . So let me congratulate you. Prepare a gift.”

Was my congratulations a little cute?

The maids patted my hair with small smiles.

Of course, when Mirva witnesses this scene, the nagging bombardment will begin.

And when asked about Mirva’s birthday… … .