Chapter 68

Pretending not to, but at that time, I was comforted.

I am not a good person.

Rather, I am a bad person.

I use any means necessary to achieve my goals.

However, even if I am called a bad person, I know that I must repay a favor when I receive one.

I placed my hands on my waist and puffed up, saying,

“Noaharizen is a damn bastard!”

When I received that comfort, I will return it with three zeros attached.

* * *

Aisa territory.

Noaharizen received a letter from Noarizen.

The letter bore the mark of the Daemond territory.

‘Daemond, huh?’

Noaharizen, with a puzzled look, slowly tore open the letter envelope.

[Blessing of Blizen is truly remarkable.

If Blizen’s blessing is used in the distribution of white crystal, it will be of great help.

I will give you a share of the distribution margin, so please have Blizen join us.

Blizen has agreed, so with your permission as his guardian, we can start the work.

For the time being, I plan to improve the blessing to better assist in the distribution of white crystal.

I believe you will like this proposal, but even if you don’t, it will be good for your well-being to agree.

-Daemond Astra]

It was an incredibly rude letter.

Noaharizen’s eyes narrowed as he reread the letter.

‘He says he will give a share of the distribution margin?’

It seems Blizen has quite taken a liking to him.

Of course, that’s to be expected.

When Blizen manifested his blessing, Noaharizen was also very surprised.

The blessing of <Teleportation> is very special.

While there are a few people who can teleport objects weighing 30 kilograms or less, the blessing of <Teleportation> that can move objects and people weighing up to 90 kilograms is a rare power that might appear only once in a century.

Moreover, Blizen has high mana, the energy source for the blessing, and also has an offensive blessing to back it up.

It’s a talent that’s as good as a gold mine.

Furthermore...

‘He’s soft-hearted like his mother.’

Even if he pretends not to, his heart is a mess.

He himself would beg and plead,

“Blizen, my son. Without you, I would have truly suffered.”

“...”

“After your mother passed away, we didn’t even receive proper treatment in Astra. For you to reach such a high rank is truly commendable.”

“...”

“Blizen, if you don’t help me, I have nowhere to stand...”

“...”

“Just this one last time... Can you really not help me just this one last time?”

To such words, Blizen always readily offered his arm.

His mother was also weak for affection, and his son is so easy to manipulate.

Noaharizen smiled slyly as he folded the letter and put it back in the envelope.

‘Let’s see... Blizen is going to be involved in the distribution of white crystal, right?’

It was a very good thing for Noaharizen.

He had successfully extracted Blizen’s blessing to create the <Teleportation> blessing stone.

‘Now the problem is the white crystal.’

White crystal is incredibly expensive.

How much funding was needed to use it for experiments?

He had to use all the funds from the Aisa territory to barely complete the experiments and create four prototypes.

‘I need more white crystal to create more <Teleportation> blessing stones.’

But now that Blizen has entered the Daemond territory...

‘I can divert it.’

That kid has many uses.

Noaharizen smiled slyly as he picked up a pen.

[It is a great help that Blizen’s abilities are being utilized.

The growth of the Daemond territory will lead to the revival of Astra.

Most importantly, Blizen is very satisfied to work with his respected brother Daemond.

I hope he will learn and grow to become a proud member of the Astra family.

-Noaharizen]

After writing the letter, he ordered the butler to deliver it to the Daemond territory.

Then, Noaharizen glanced at the letter from Daemond.

‘Daemond. What a cheeky bastard.’

Noaharizen put the letter away in a drawer and smiled slyly.

* * *

A few days later.

Noaharizen moved to the Imperial Road.

Upon arriving at the agreed location, he crossed his arms and sat in a chair, waiting for the other party.

‘When will he show up?’

After waiting for a long time, there was still no sign of the other party.

‘He doesn’t even know how to keep a promise.’

Just as his anger was about to boil over, the person he was waiting for finally appeared.

It was a muscular man, dressed so tightly that his muscles were visible.

If not for the top hat, he would have been mistaken for a noble.

Noaharizen slammed the cup he was holding onto the table.

Then, with a nervous expression, he shouted,

“You’re 30 minutes late! Count Thalos!”

Count Thalos awkwardly laughed and took off his top hat.

“There was a problem on the way...”

“With a blessing stone, you can <Teleport>. Do you expect me to believe that?”

Noaharizen shouted, and Count Thalos broke out in a cold sweat.

“Just hear me out. You’ll like it.”

“What is it?”

“I was about to leave when a man contacted me.”

“A contact?”

“Yes. The man said he wanted to buy the <Teleportation> blessing stone!”

Count Thalos, speaking excitedly, made Noaharizen frown.

“...What?”

“He offered twice the amount we thought.”

“There aren’t many people who can handle that much money... Who is he?”

“A noble from another country. He said he would reveal his identity before the transaction and asked me to prepare the <Teleportation> blessing stone.”

“His identity isn’t confirmed? What are you talking about...!”

“He offered 200 million as a down payment.”

“What, what?”

“He said if I could show him 10 <Teleportation> blessing stones to confirm, he would give me 200 million on the spot.”

It was a sum of money that could make Count Thalos’s eyes pop out.

After all, both of them were now in a situation where they couldn’t scrape together any more money.

Noaharizen muttered nervously,

“But how did they find out we made the <Teleportation> blessing stone... It’s only a matter of time before it reaches the Duke of Astra’s ears.”

“What can the old man do about it?”

“What do you mean? I embezzled the Aisa territory’s funds and used Blizen for experiments to create the blessing stone. If the Duke finds out...!”

“So, just cover the money. Your son will always be there to help you.”

“...”

“If this goes well, we can cover the money before the year-end audit. Then we can leave Astra.”

“...”

“Besides, we still have to prepare the 30 <Teleportation> blessing stones we promised the Emperor.”

“...”

“Once I enter the Central Tower and become a noble, who can touch us?”

Noaharizen was born as the son of a minor baron.

He lived in poverty due to the declining family fortune, but his life changed thanks to the Duke’s daughter he met by chance.

But with her death, he was now reduced to begging in Astra.

‘Right. If I can just sell this blessing stone...’

He would have the money and power to live a life of luxury.

“When do you need it by?”

“Next week.”

“Next week?! That’s too soon!”

“The man is from another country, so he can’t stay in the Empire for long. But the problem is...”

Count Thalos glanced at Noaharizen.

“We need white crystal to make the <Teleportation> blessing stone.”

How are we supposed to get such a large amount of white crystal?

The two of them were already struggling with the costs of experiments and prototype production.

Noaharizen said,

“I have a way to get the white crystal.”

“You do?!”

“My son is helping with the distribution of white crystal in the Daemond territory.”

“So, you can divert it!”

“But the security will be very tight.”

Count Thalos, excited, said,

“We have the <Teleportation> blessing stone, so what’s a little security to us!”

“...”

“With your son helping, it’s likely they haven’t set up a barrier to prevent <Teleportation>!”

Noaharizen leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

“But how do we get someone to infiltrate? Mercenaries won’t easily agree to steal from the Daemond territory.”

“What are you talking about? Give the <Teleportation> blessing stone to some ruffians, and they’ll know what to do.”

“...”

“With such a valuable item, they’ll run off with it. We should go and get it ourselves.”

Noaharizen sighed.

Count Thalos, though his family’s status has declined, was still raised as a noble’s son.

Unlike Noaharizen, who grew up in poverty as the third son of a minor baron, he doesn’t understand real danger.

This naivety was endearing, but...

‘But without taking risks, we can’t gain anything.’

He embezzled Astra’s funds and used his son for experiments to create the precious <Teleportation> blessing stone.

If he takes one more step...

‘It will be a completely different life from being a lackey in Astra.’

Noaharizen’s eyes gleamed.

“Alright. Set the date and let me know.”

“Just as I thought, you’re bold!”

Count Thalos laughed.

* * *

A few days later, in the Aisa territory.

Noaharizen called for his son, Blizen.

As always, the son, who usually listens to his only parent, responded obediently.

Noaharizen frowned when he saw Blizen.

“Why are you so thin? Are they not feeding you in the Daemond territory?”

“...No.”

Blizen replied in a flat tone.

Noaharizen took his son’s hand.

“I’ve always said, if you’re in trouble, I’m in trouble too.”

“...”

“Take care of yourself as if you’re taking care of my life. Okay?”

Noaharizen spoke affectionately and poured tea for Blizen.

Then, he patted his son’s shoulder.

Blizen knew that when his father acted this way, he wanted something.

‘The more affectionate, the bigger the request.’

Today, the degree of affection was unusually high, so he knew it would be a huge request.

Sure enough, Noaharizen looked at Blizen with a subtle gaze.

Then, he spoke carefully but affectionately,

“Do you know where the white crystal is stored?”

Blizen’s eyes momentarily narrowed.

“I don’t know.”

Noaharizen, an expert at reading his son’s expressions, knew,

‘He knows.’

Blizen is very good at hiding his feelings from others, but not from his father.

Noaharizen put down his teacup and said,

“Can’t you at least find out the coordinates?”

“I already said I don’t know.”

Noaharizen grabbed his son’s hand.

He spoke in a trembling voice,

“I don’t want to raise you like this anymore.”

“...”

“Other Astra bloodlines have their parents supporting them, but I can’t do anything for my outstanding son...”

“...”

Noaharizen gripped Blizen’s hand even tighter.

“You know, I’ve successfully created the <Teleportation> blessing stone. We can make a lot of money if we sell it.”

“Give up.”

“Blizen.”

“I’ve managed to hide your embezzlement of the territory’s funds so far, but I can’t hide it from the year-end audit.”

“So, that’s it!”

“...”

“So, that’s what I’m saying. We need to make the <Teleportation> blessing stone with white crystal to cover the funds.”

“Father.”

“We can earn money and return it to its original place. Can’t you help me?”

“...”

Blizen looked down and remained silent.

In the Daemond territory—

“Noaharizen is a damn bastard!”

—Erylot, who was fuming on his behalf, came to mind.

In the Daemond territory, they took very good care of him.

The people there pretended not to, but their kindness was evident.

‘It’s because he’s used to treating his youngest daughter with kindness.’

But his father showed no such unconscious kindness.

Noaharizen, with a desperate look, tried to persuade Blizen.

“A person needs power to keep what they have.”

“Father.”

“Yes!”

“Someone once said, if you get used to small things, you’ll eventually cross the line.”

“What?”

“When you realize you’ve gone too far, it’s hard to turn back.”

“What... Blizen, what are you saying?”

Blizen closed his eyes tightly.

Noaharizen was taken aback.

His son had never spoken like this before.

‘Could he be rebelling now?’

Just as he was worried, Blizen sighed.

“I’ll check the coordinates and send them to you.”

“You, you will! Good thinking!”

Noaharizen patted his son’s shoulder.

.

.

A few days after Blizen left.

Finally, a note arrived from Blizen.

When he thought Blizen might rebel, his heart sank, but in the end, his son was his mother’s child.

He was as soft as could be.

Noaharizen, clutching the note tightly, smiled.

‘This is the key to my rise to power.’

He immediately contacted Count Thalos.

The operation was set for two days later at 1 AM, when Blizen said no one would be around.

‘Now, I just need to live a happy and luxurious life.’

He would watch the Astra nobles squirm at his feet.

All the things he couldn’t do while pretending to be a good, loving man for the Duke of Astra.

Jewel-encrusted clothes.

Expensive jewels.

Not in this old territory, but in a luxurious, modernly decorated mansion.

‘I will enjoy it all.’

* * *

On the day of the operation.

So, Noaharizen and Count Thalos moved separately.

The <Teleportation> blessing stone could only move 90 kilograms, which was not enough for two adults.

At the agreed time, he infused the blessing stone with mana.

When he opened his eyes, all he saw was pitch-black darkness.

‘He was supposed to arrive first and prepare. What’s he doing?’

Noaharizen said,

“Light the lantern. I need to see to do anything.”

He squinted and looked around, but there was no response.

“Hey.”

No sound came.

‘What’s going on? Has he not teleported yet?’

He’s so slow.

Noaharizen frowned and muttered.

He fumbled in his pocket and found a lighter he carried for cigarettes.

Click, click, a small flame appeared.

The visibility wasn’t great, but he could see objects clearly.

“Wow...”

The shelves were lined with an enormous amount of white crystal.

Noaharizen, excited, took out the bag he brought.

‘Now I’m rich. Rich, I am!’

He whistled and started filling the bag with white crystal.

Then, it happened.

“Gasp!”

A strange sound came from somewhere.