Chapter 25

The economic war begun by Duke Valois swept over the Aster estate faster than anyone had expected. Under the indiscriminate financial offensive of the “Silver Scales Guild,” prices in the estate skyrocketed, and the skilled miners left one by one in search of higher wages. The stewards and knights defending the estate could only pace helplessly as they watched its foundations tremble.

Aster Manor in the capital. Rian read the gloomy reports that Kael sent up daily, yet he maintained a cold composure. His eyes penetrated beyond the figures in the reports to the true nature of this war.

“Duke Valois intends to strangle us with vast funds until we collapse on our own. Meeting him head-on is like striking a rock with an egg. Then we’ll turn the trap the fox set against him.”

Rian took up his pen and sent a secret letter to Kael of the estate.

‘Kael, accept all offers from the Silver Scales Guild. Sell grain at the prices they demand, and do not stop the workers who leave. Instead, record everything about them: the locations of their grain warehouses, transport routes, even the minor habits of the guild’s key figures. We must appear to be losing. Perfectly.’

Though it was an incomprehensible order, Kael executed it without a moment’s doubt. On the surface, the Aster estate appeared to be collapsing helplessly under Duke Valois’ assault.

Next, Rian summoned Old Fox, the head of Argos in the capital.

“Prepare one of the ghost guilds we absorbed from Reinhardt, one that is the least conspicuous and has no ties.”

He then handed over several blueprints that contained knowledge from his past life.

“We’ll need craftsmen to build these. Dwarves would be ideal. These items will become the noose that tightens around the fox’s neck.”

The blueprints depicted things not found in this world: a method for producing “white coal” from monster bones and magic-stone powder, textile techniques to weave special plant fibers into thread lighter and tougher than steel, and a process for long-term preserved food using “glowing moss” that grows only in the monster forest near the estate.

While Duke Valois fixated on traditional resources like grain and ore, Rian aimed to create a new market from resources no one was watching.

A few days later, Duke Valois received a satisfying report at his mansion.

“Your Grace, the Aster estate is nearly paralyzed. The grain warehouses are emptying, and mine output has fallen below half. At this rate they’ll kneel of their own accord before winter comes.”

“Fools. They will learn well what it costs to challenge the central nobility while relying solely on the favor of the Crown Prince.”

Duke Valois raised a toast, certain of victory.

Unbeknownst to him, prototypes were being secretly produced in a remote workshop in the capital based on the blueprints Rian had supplied. The dwarf craftsmen Old Fox had recruited were stunned when they first saw the white coal: an innovative fuel that burned twice as long as regular coal with almost no smoke or ash.

At the same time, in the Aster estate, Kael completed a map marking the Silver Scales Guild’s transport routes and warehouse locations and sent it to Rian.

All preparations were complete.

Rian placed invisible traps around a black fox emblem representing Duke Valois on the map hanging in his room.

“The fox is preoccupied hunting chickens, but the hunter has mapped all the fox’s routes and habits.”

A cold smile appeared at Rian’s lips.

“Now it’s time to start the hunt.”

In the deepest darkness, the shadow was sharpening the blade of its counterattack.