Chapter 139: A Trap for Beasts (1)

That afternoon.

Inside the massive conference room of the Erian Hotel.

The atmosphere was so solemn it looked dark even in broad daylight.

“Thank you all for coming despite your busy schedules.”

At the head of the table sat me, and long rows of chairs stretched out on both sides.

Seated there were many people I had crossed paths with over time.

First, Mansachs—the second son of Gold Morning and soon-to-be vice president.

Bennet Tolkien—the pride of the North, whose every move drew public attention.

Schmidt—the once washed-up drunkard who now received invitations from the Imperial Scouts.

Recently joined: Instructor Tom Reed and Inspector Tabor Tade.

“So, what’s the reason you’ve gathered all these people together?”

The question came from the most senior gentleman in the room.

Bennet Tolkien asked in a serious tone.

He had only spoken once, and yet his presence exuded the air of a powerful figure from the underworld.

“It’s just… I think the final pieces I’ve been looking for have finally fallen into place.”

Seated in the leather chair, I quietly looked over the people I had brought together.

Each one of them had stood at the top of their respective fields.

Now that the Empire was at the height of its prosperity—

The fate of my foundation would depend on how I utilized their influence.

“The groundwork for the Erian Foundation is nearly complete, so I believe it’s time we step into the world.”

Everyone focused on me, their attention sharpened by the gravity in my tone—so unlike my usual self.

“I intend to make our foundation the most powerful force on the continent, not just in the North.”

The most powerful force on the continent.

That meant I was planning to surpass both the Grand Duke of the North and the Grand Duke of the West.

“Ambitious goals are good. Even if you fail, you’ll still get halfway there.”

Bennet smiled warmly, as though he saw a glimpse of his younger self in me.

However, Schmidt—who had spent his entire life under the Grand Duke of the North—asked with a grave expression,

“Do you have a clear plan, Roger?”

Even the bold half-dwarf had grown serious. That’s how important this was.

But that didn’t mean it was impossible.

After all, I already knew everything there was to know about the Grand Duke of the North’s house—the very thing he was worried about.

“Yes, I do.”

I didn’t explain everything to him.

But I did make one promise.

“And every single one of you here is included in that plan.”

Everyone seated at this table—whether in the past or present—had once led their industries.

Some had even fallen from the top and touched rock bottom.

People who only ever succeed don’t know what to do when failure or crisis hits.

But the people before me were different.

When I came back after more than ten years, I had chosen trustworthy and reliable partners.

“First, I have a request for you, Mr. Bennet.”

“Speak freely.”

A once-renowned singer who had been abandoned by the state and wandered through the slums.

He looked at me with his one clear eye, as though I were his own precious child.

“The Erian Foundation is currently supporting numerous rising artists. However, it still lacks someone who can be called its face.”

I gave a signal to Yuria, who had been waiting in the distance.

She approached, carrying a badge and an official letter of appointment she had prepared in advance.

They were encased in an exquisitely crafted box.

“I would like to ask you, Mr. Bennet, to serve as the co-representative of our Erian Entertainment Agency.”

“……!”

Bennet stared blankly at the case I handed him with both hands.

Asking him not just to return as a foundation artist, but to represent one of its subsidiaries—

It was essentially handing him full authority over the entertainment division.

“I understand what worries you. Music and management are two entirely different fields—it must feel burdensome.”

I looked at Bennet with a careful expression.

And then I continued with a gaze full of sincerity.

“That’s exactly why I’m asking you to be a co-representative. I’ll handle the management. All I ask is that you continue to shine in the public eye, just as you always have.”

In the past, a wife who had used him for her own rise in status.

And the public who had thoroughly cast him aside.

I knew the horrifying experiences he had endured because of them.

“Let me say this clearly—I have no intention of using you for my own personal gain.”

After all, I too had once been nothing more than a miserable pawn in someone else’s game.

“As proof, I promise to share the agency’s profits entirely with you.”

For someone with such memories, there was only one way to earn their trust.

To act in direct contrast to those who had betrayed them.

“You’re saying… you’ll share all the profits with me?”

The influence and power the entertainment industry would bring in the future would be significant.

Peaceful times always gave way to boredom, and celebrities would naturally fill that void.

And Bennet was a righteous man.

When the scandal involving Edward’s sordid private life and the pleasure industry erupted—

He would be the hidden card I’d rely on the most.

“Yes, that’s right. Whether you choose to donate your share of the profits or use it to train the next generation—it’s up to you.”

“Why… are you going this far for me……?”

The dignified gentleman looked at me with an emotional expression.

I took his hand with the most harmless smile in the world and replied,

“Because you’re someone I can trust.”

In the shadows, my jet-black eyes gleamed brightly.

Everyone at the table looked on with fond expressions.

Completely unaware of the dark intentions I was harboring.

“Next—Mansachs. You’ve been doing well, but from now on, I’ll be relying on you even more.”

I pointed to the blond young man sitting in one of the seats reserved for my close aides.

With his arms crossed, he smirked and exuded confidence.

“Looks like the real scoops are finally coming out, huh?”

I looked at the young pup with pride.

Then, with a sly curve of my lips, I replied,

“That’s right. Brace yourself—because the kind of stories that’ll chill you to the bone are going to pour out.”

I pointed to the sun emblem of Gold Morning pinned to Mansachs’s suit badge.

“I’ll see to it that you beat the *Daily Times* and take the vice president’s seat.”

*Daily Times*.

Currently ranked second among the Three Major Newspapers—a formidable powerhouse.

Mansachs smacked his lips at the thought of surpassing them once he secured a key position.

“Just hearing it already gets me excited.”

He no longer took my bold promises as jokes.

If anything, he now looked at me with eyes full of expectation, as if hearing a prophecy.

“My father wants to meet with you. Keep your schedule open.”

“Alright. I’ll visit him in person.”

Even his father—Terry Mansachs, the president of Gold Morning—was now showing interest.

If Eric had joined hands with the *Daily Times*…

Then I would answer with *Gold Morning*.

“……”

Tom Reed and Inspector Tabor, the most recent additions, watched this entire exchange with tense eyes.

Among them, I turned first to the legendary instructor.

“As for you, Instructor, just focus on collaborating with the Imperial Academy, just as we discussed.”

“Sure. It’s been a while since my heart raced like this.”

Apparently pleased with the atmosphere, the instructor gave a calm nod.

“We’re going to create a time when having our foundation on your resume becomes power in itself.”

I handed out the newly designed lion badge to them first.

This would soon become the symbol of belonging to the Erian model.

“Yuria, prepare an alumni association for Erian model graduates in advance. The inaugural president will be Sonia from the Imperial Academy. The vice president—Lenny.”

“I’ll contact both of them ahead of time, sir.”

The world always revolved around bloodlines and connections.

The Grand Dukes’ houses were no different.

To surpass them, I had to build a network that could match theirs.

And for that, exceptional leaders for each group were essential.

Especially someone like Tom Reed, who had great affection for his students—he was the perfect fit.

“Now, next up is our Inspector Tabor.”

“Hearing all this from the sidelines, I feel like I’ve joined some kind of secret organization.”

I looked at the awkward man with great satisfaction.

Because I had no intention of asking much from him.

“There’s no need to be nervous. As you’ve seen, I don’t make large demands of my partners.”

Everyone simply focused on what they did best.

That’s all there was to it.

Everything beyond that was the responsibility of the person in charge.

That’s why such a person was called the leader of a group.

If one couldn’t handle such matters and pushed them onto close aides instead…

Then that person had no right to lead.

“Inspector, when I have Mansachs dig up corruption within the Grand Duke’s house, I’d like you to personally take charge of the case.”

“Before the aides of the Grand Duke’s house get to it, right?”

As expected of someone highly educated—he understood things quickly.

“Exactly. Just as you've always done.”

“Understood. I’ll get to the case before anyone else.”

After all, his nickname was Mad Dog.

When the scent of something rotten was tossed his way, it was only natural he’d be the first to pounce.

Tabor, satisfied that I wasn’t placing unreasonable demands on him, slowly closed his eyes in agreement.

“Lastly, we have Mr. Schmidt.”

“Alright. What do you need me to do?”

Schmidt let out a low chuckle, seeming to enjoy the otherwise solemn atmosphere.

But when he heard what I said next, his lips parted ever so slightly.

“What I’m asking of you may be the most important task of all.”

“What is it, with all that dramatic tone...?”

Schmidt—

A master blacksmith who had served alongside the Grand Duke of the North since the very beginning.

Now, thanks to the Luton Sword, his reputation had been fully restored, and through Echina, his products had been turned into a famous brand.

“What I’m asking may end up being seen as a betrayal of the Grand Duke.”

Still, there was one concern when working with him.

That was Schmidt’s deep loyalty to the Grand Duke.

“Betraying the Grand Duke…?”

“More precisely, it’s about going after his sons. When an issue arises with Edward’s Luton Arms Division, I plan to bring the matter to light.”

Schmidt likely held little affection for the Grand Duke’s sons.

Still, no matter how little he thought of them, exposing the flaws of an old friend’s children couldn’t be easy.

“When the issue goes public through Mansachs, I’d like you to be the one to confirm and explain what went wrong.”

“Hmm... Well, it’s true that ever since that brat took over the arms division, the product quality’s dropped—probably due to cost-cutting…”

I met his hesitation with a firm and serious gaze.

“This is all for His Grace, the Grand Duke. If inferior weapons end up on the battlefield and something goes wrong...”

Just like back when I entrusted work to a reliable aide during my time as chief secretary—

“The Grand Duke, as the head of the house, will be the one who bears all the responsibility.”

“……”

At the idea that something could go wrong for his lord, Schmidt let out a short sigh.

“Then, when that punk Edward screws up, you just want me to call him out?”

“That’s right. That’s all I’m asking of you. Other than that, I’d just like you to continue leading Luton Sword with Lady Echina.”

The old master blacksmith quietly looked down at the table for a while.

Then, finally, he gave a slow nod.

“Alright. If there’s a problem, it should be corrected. I’ll advise you as needed—don’t worry.”

Soon after, he returned to his usual, easygoing smile.

Only then did I slowly close my eyes and speak to everyone who had agreed to join me.

“Thank you all for taking on your respective roles.”

I slowly turned my body.

And gazed at the enormous lion emblem embedded in the center of the conference room.

“I’ll make sure you won’t regret choosing the Erian Foundation.”

Back when I was Chief Secretary—

I, too, had been someone’s dog, unable to protect the people I trusted and cherished.

But this life is different.

Now that there’s no one above me—

I will go and collect the loyalty I was owed, with my own hands.

Thinking so, I looked out at the vast rye fields stretching to the north.

From the lofty eighth-floor conference room.

「――――――」

After everyone had left, each burdened with their respective roles—

I remained alone in the president’s office.

Absorbing the Grand Duke of the North’s house.

To achieve that grand ambition, the first person I needed to deal with wasn’t Edward.

My first target… was the eldest daughter, Freya.

Among the three siblings, she was currently in the most desperate financial position.

‘She might look composed on the outside, but inside she must be burning to a crisp.’

To make matters worse, she had recently earned her father’s disfavor due to her poor handling of the Marble Incident.

The Grand Duke of the North was not someone tolerant of mistakes.

Especially if it was a mistake made by his own children—he would’ve come down even harder.

‘That’s why she’ll be desperate to recover from that mistake.’

And the best way to destroy someone like her—

Was to lure her into making a reckless *investment*.

Freya wasn’t just a company president. She was the Grand Duke’s own daughter.

Thanks to that, she could wield the company’s resources far more freely than other heads of department.

If she saw a solid opportunity, she’d likely pour in company funds without hesitation.

She had, in fact, misused public funds in the near future.

Of course, just like her father, her investments had proven successful so far.

The Empire was at the peak of its golden age, after all.

Pouring money into almost anything would’ve brought rising stock prices.

But—

Even in calm seas, terrifying whirlpools sometimes formed.

‘There were always operation groups that exploited these overheating investment trends.’

From what I remembered, the stock Freya was most interested in was maritime trade.

After getting burned badly during the Marble Incident, she had grown fascinated with this sector while investigating it.

The fastest-growing company in that field was *Loyt Shipping*.

It was a company so peculiar, you couldn’t forget it even if you wanted to.

A newly established firm, with unclear access to actual trade ships—yet its stock had risen *forty-eightfold*.

The reason was none other than the recent trade agreement signed between the Emperor and the Northern Sea United Kingdoms.

Rumors had spread that the kingdoms were directly investing in the company, and once the Northern Sea nobles caught on, they began pouring in their money.

The rumor that a royal house was investing, paired with the overwhelming support from reliable nobles—

Who could possibly turn down such a guaranteed ticket to success?

No one could have known.

That this company, whose stock price had soared forty-eightfold...

Would crash by more than fiftyfold in just a single week.

They say when the lion is gone, the fox becomes king.

And right now, I had begun preparing a trap to take down one lioness.

“Let’s see here…”

I pulled out a cream-colored sheet of paper from the desk in my office.

And then, picking up a fountain pen, I began writing a letter.

“To Lady Echina, Grand Duke’s daughter—have you ever considered investing in a shipping company?”

Not to Freya—

But to Echina first.