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Chapter 58
Just a few minutes later, Iona was able to grasp Baron Franz's entourage, the scale of the embezzlement, and his usual life and personality one by one.
Sophia, who breathed out the information without taking a breath, said with a sad sob.
"Sniff, that's all I know."
Sophia continued to hold on to the faucet as if Marsha was about to drag her away the moment she took her hand off the tap.
Seeing their excessive fear, it seemed to Sophia that Marsha and Iona were people who were used to handling situations like this.
Anyway, Iona couldn't come up with a lie that could be used to cover up while using her wits. She judged that there was sincerity in her confession.
'I don't think there's much difference from last time.'
Even in her previous life, Baron Franz had consistently committed embezzlement.
However, the time when his crimes were exposed was later than now because Hayden judged that there were no problems with the territory's management every year when he went out for audits.
In the end, it was only when Iona, who succeeded the estate, extensively reorganized the family that his tail was finally stepped on.
'The ledger was skillfully manipulated to that extent.'
His skill in deceiving costs to the advantageous side considering the changing market prices was remarkable.
Moreover, there was no error between the visible inventory and the documents, so even if they were to record the truth as it was, it was doubtful whether such meticulous management was possible.
Iona asked as if observing the maid's reaction.
“Do you know a man named Fin?”
At Iona's assertion, Sophia made a frightened expression.
It was a name that never came out of her mouth, even in the midst of selling off selling out all the vassals who sympathized with the baron.
“That, that… … .”
“I already know that the man is the main culprit in manipulating the ledger. Where can I meet him?”
Sophia opened her mouth as if to give an answer, but soon her lips parted again.
Sophia looked at Iona with trembling eyes and asked.
“You won’t kill him… …?”
It seemed that she thought that just like she was threatened with her life, the same danger might befall the man named Fin.
It was a bit surprising that she still had enough conscience to worry about others despite being a swindler.
While Iona was inwardly amazed, Sophia hurriedly defended Fin.
“He doesn’t do those things because he wants to. Really. Everyone who knows the situation says that the baron will be punished. If you have pity on him and save him, he will repay you more than twice as much.”
This, too, was a fact that Iona already knew.
In order to draw Fin to her side, Iona had the intention of using the story of 'the baron will be punished'.
'But if you ask how I knew, I have no answer.'
To avoid giving an unnecessary suspicious impression, it was necessary to prearrange the cause and effect.
Iona decided to make use of Fin and the woman she knew.
Iona asked indirectly.
"If he is not doing this willingly, does it mean he is being blackmailed?"
"Yes, yes. That's correct. Robert is an even worse bastard than you think, My lady."
Somewhere along the line, the title for Robert had changed from 'Sir' to 'bastard.'
"Why didn't anyone resist when he oppressed the tenant farmers and forcibly turned them into serfs? Mr. Fin's father, Mr. Peter, was one of those who stood up against the baron's tyranny. He managed a considerable upper estate, so if he had just stayed still, he could have protected his own well-being. But instead, he sided with the oppressed and suffered unnecessary consequences..."
Robert regarded Fin's father as a thorn in his side, always interfering with him.
Unlike the helpless farmers, Peter, the head of the guild, had the ability to contact the Count directly, which made Robert uneasy.
Robert acted as if he was representing the will of the lord, taking advantage of the count's inability to visit the estate, but this was a story that only existed when the count was unaware of the fact.
If, by any chance, the Count received a complaint or realized the truth, it would be difficult.
First, Robert captured Fin's father and imprisoned him.
Then, while the merchant company was in custody, the merchant company was forcibly seized and searched, and charged with tax evasion.
It was a matter of an instant for one of the stable upper ranks to disintegrate in the air.
"Mr. Peter naturally collapsed in shock... Fin, who had left the area for education, heard the news belatedly and returned. Fin tried his best to resolve this matter, but it was all in vain."'
In a land the Count did not look into, Robert was like a little king.
Due to the fear that people themselves might face similar situations, no one dared to help Fin and his father. This was because Robert had instilled fear in everyone through his ruthless actions, using all means and methods.
“To make things worse, Mr. Peter started to get seriously ill... … . Nome Robert has given Mr. Fin some dirty work under the pretext of paying for the sickness. He had no choice but to obey in order to save his father... … .”
At first, it was merely a plan to involve Fin in dirty deeds.
Robert intended to kill them both at an opportune moment and then use the evidence he had previously prepared to tarnish their reputation.
The problem was that Fin was too capable, and as time went on, Robert found it increasingly regrettable to deal with him.
In his dilemma, Robert decided to bring Fin down to the same level, making sure that he wouldn't dare to betray him, even out of fear of his own misdeeds.
“Mr. Fin won't listen to old Robert if his father's problems are solved, my lady. right?"
Sophia looked up at Iona with a desperate look.
Iona opened her arms and turned to Marsha.
“Marsha, write down everything she said on paper.”
“Yes, lady.”
Politely responding, Masha brought paper and a pen from outside.
Sophia accepted it but with a puzzled look on her face.
Sophia looked back and forth between Marsha and Iona, stuttering.
“What, what… …”
Iona went in front of Sophia and slowly lowered herself into a seat.
Then he tapped the blank paper with the tip of his index finger and said.
“This is your lifeline.”
“… …”
“I will guarantee your safety for a while in exchange for keeping the handwritten evidence. If you don't want to see me hand this over to the baron, you'll have to obey my orders from now on. Do you understand?”
“Yes, yes… …”
Sophia answered as if possessed.
Whatever the demand was, it meant that Iona would spare her life.
As soon as Iona got up, Sophia quickly began to write down what she had said on a piece of paper.
Iona left Sophia and came out of the bathroom with Marsha.
There was still a little time left before dinner time.
Marsha asked, looking back at her unfinished luggage.
“Shall I prepare the dress?”
“Who am I trying to look good for?”
When Iona smiled and asked back, Marsha said, “Well, that's true.” and she quickly agreed.
As Iona began to unbutton her coat, Marsha came over and helped her undress.
Iona glanced at the bathroom door and whispered in a small voice.
"I was planning to offer more money than what the baron gave."
Marsha lifted her left arm and raised her eyes, probably feeling frustrated by Iona's nice voice.
"Why would you waste precious money on a con artist? What's the point of carrying that around? Just give it to me instead."
“It is not difficult.”
Responding with a smiley voice, Iona recalled the image of Marsha taking out a knife and handing it to her.
In that situation, there was no way to question what she meant, so Iona roughly went along with it, but she never expected the situation to be resolved so smoothly.
Iona asked admiringly.
"Did you learn coercion or blackmail during our time away at the cottage?"
"Well, I've acquired a few skills over the years."
"It seemed so genuine."
“I was genuine.”
“Just kidding, right?”
Iona chuckled, but Masha remained silent.
The corners of Iona's mouth sank slowly.
Suddenly, she became curious.
"...But where did that black cloth come from all of a sudden?"
--- End Of The Chapter ----
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