NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 96
Episode 96: The Deal (Part 1)
About a month after Lord Giorg ordered Argus to handle the Eald trade, a proposal for a deal came flying into Argus’s hands from Lord Hawkins.
The financial situation of House Karmais was disastrously bad. This was largely due to Brent, who had been sent by Giorg as a family servant, running off with their funds. At the same time, they had orchestrated the situation to make it seem like they were struggling, ensuring that the rumors reached Archbishop Lord Hawkins.
And just like that, Lord Hawkins took the bait.
With crackdowns intensifying and profits from the Galveit Kingdom declining, Lord Hawkins was eager to expand his trade routes and saw dealing with the nobility as the perfect opportunity. And so, he bit the hook.
“Isn’t this a trap?”
It was only natural for Roy to ask Giorg this. Giorg hadn’t expected Lord Hawkins to show up on the first try, and even he had considered the possibility of it being a trap.
“I can’t deny the possibility, but letting this opportunity slip would be idiotic.”
“Yes, you’re absolutely right.”
“Cain, you take charge of the capture. Don’t let a single one escape.”
“Understood!! Leave it to me.”
Cain responded to Giorg’s command with a voice full of determination and gave a respectful bow.
“Roy, if there are any watchers during the deal, you capture them.”
“Yes, sir!!”
Giorg then gave Roy his orders, and Roy also replied with a voice brimming with resolve.
“Cain, you know why I’m putting you in charge, right?”
“I understand—leave no evidence behind.”
“Impressive. I shouldn’t have doubted you, Cain.”
“Not at all. I’ll live up to your expectations, my lord.”
“I’m counting on you.”
Giorg laughed self-deprecatingly as he said this. Despite his high regard for Cain’s abilities, he couldn’t help but feel a bit cowardly for double-checking.
“Lord Giorg, should we take care of Argus while we’re at it?”
Roy then made a rather ruthless suggestion. Giorg chuckled wryly and shook his head. There was no benefit to killing Argus at this point, so he had no intention of doing so.
“No, he’s a living witness. I don’t plan to eliminate him here.”
“Understood. So, abduction is the way to go?”
“Yes. If we capture him along with Lord Hawkins’s group, it’ll sow doubt in their minds. If Argus also goes missing, they won’t be able to conclude it was an official arrest.”
“I see. That’s why Cain is in charge.”
Roy seemed convinced by Giorg’s explanation. While Roy could handle a simple capture, he was confident that Cain’s leadership would ensure no witnesses were left behind.
“Well then, three days from now… We must prepare to welcome Archbishop Lord Hawkins to our estate.”
At Giorg’s words, Roy and Cain bowed deeply.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
(…Will this go smoothly?)
Argus arrived at the designated meeting spot. He was accompanied by four people—all of whom were planted in House Karmais by Giorg.
(These guys aren’t here to protect me… They’ll prioritize capturing Lord Hawkins over my life, won’t they?)
Argus couldn’t help but laugh bitterly in his heart. Since the four were members of the Darkness Demon Group, their loyalty lay with Giorg, and Argus’s life was clearly of little concern to them.
The location Lord Hawkins had chosen for the deal was one of the churches in the Royal Capital of the Galveit Kingdom, ‘Iphareit.’ Argus and his group opened the church doors and walked into the chapel.
“I can’t believe… a church is the meeting spot.”
Argus’s sarcastic remark was met with silence from his four companions. They weren’t ignoring him intentionally but were instead focused on checking their surroundings.
(Cain is already in position.)
(Yeah, he’s hiding his presence well.)
The four members of the Darkness Demon Group exchanged glances, confirming that everything was ready.
“Viscount, are we really meeting in a church?”
“Isn’t dealing with Eald smuggling a bit too much…?”
Two of the group members spoke up with uneasy voices and expressions, perfectly portraying their nervousness. To Argus, they looked like nothing more than timid servants—if he didn’t know better.
“We have no other choice…”
Argus’s voice, too, was so convincing that it didn’t sound like acting at all. After all, this was his genuine response to Giorg’s orders.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
A voice called out to Argus and his group.
From the door used by church staff during services, Lord Hawkins and his entourage appeared.
Click the heart to easily show your support. (Login required.)
Support
Log in if you have an account.
Learn more about the reading experience available on Kakuyomu.