Chapter 327
Episode 100. What kind of punishment is this…? (3)
“The disciplinary meeting is over?”
Telrot nodded without expression.
“May I ask what the verdict was? A three-year ban on leaving the premises? Surely they wouldn’t have finalized such an absurd punishment without even hearing from the person involved.”
“Do you think it’s a ridiculous penalty?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I think.”
“In what way?”
“Because it’s a punishment that has never happened once in the history of Runcandel. A ban on leaving the premises literally means stripping away physical freedom, which is unacceptable for a Runcandel knight. If word got out that I was under such a ban, it would make a mockery of Runcandel’s reputation.”
As Jin spoke clearly, a faint smile flickered at the corner of Telrot’s mouth—an ambiguous smile, neither quite a sneer nor a genuine grin.
“You’re right. But the punishment you received stands as is. Three years of confinement.”
“Are any of the elders still inside?”
“Planning to go in and argue your case?”
“Yes.”
“Do you really think the elders will rescind the punishment just because you protest?”
“I appreciate your concern, but I’m good at making the impossible happen.”
Jin met Telrot’s gaze and said this firmly.
A few seconds of silence passed. Just as Jin was about to move on without waiting for a response, Telrot lightly grabbed his shoulder.
“I’ve put your punishment on hold. So stop fighting it.”
Jin’s eyes widened.
“You put my punishment on hold…? You, the Chairman of the Hommin Council?”
“Yes.”
The suspension of the punishment was clearly an act of support.
So Jin recalled a truth known by most people in the world: there’s no such thing as kindness without a reason.
“There’s no way he showed me favor without some motive. Chairman Hommin, huh… I only remember that he once tried and failed to seize the Colon Ruins long before I was born.”
Telrot Runcandel.
Jin didn’t know much about him. It was natural—there was no reason for him to have crossed paths with the elders in his previous life. So he had no idea what Telrot’s intentions were.
“Chairman Hommin, what do you want from me?”
Jin asked directly. Telrot chuckled lowly once more.
“You’re a sharp one. So, what do you say? Shall we have a cup of tea, old man and young man? Or would you rather storm back in and refuse even the suspension, fighting the elders?”
There was no need to hesitate.
The Elder Council was made up of three groups: the Black Sword Society, the Law Enforcement Society, and the Hommin Council.
Among them, the Hommin Council was the least influential, but Telrot, as its chairman, wielded far more power than Jin could hope to match.
If Telrot decided to suspend the punishment, then the best outcome Jin could hope for was close to that suspension.
“Tea sounds better.”
“Good. Let’s go—to my secret residence. But… you.”
“Yes?”
“Did you really plan to attend the disciplinary meeting looking like that?”
“Yes. We met at the door, so it’s a bit embarrassing you’re asking.”
“Ha ha ha. I’m glad my views differ from the other elders. If you had gone in as you were, I can only imagine how the Black Sword Society’s leader would have gone berserk.”
Telrot ordered a servant to bring his private carriage. The two climbed in side by side and set off toward his residence.
‘A secret residence?’
Clatter, clatter…
Inside the carriage, Telrot was unusually quiet. Jin didn’t try to spark conversation or show curiosity, but Telrot seemed to appreciate his reserved demeanor.
“It’s been a while since I brought someone from Runcandel here.”
Instead of taking him to his villa inside the Garden of Swords, Telrot deliberately brought him somewhere else.
They arrived at a narrow alley on the outskirts of Colon.
Since Colon was the city housing the Garden of Swords, it was essentially the heart of the Huepester Alliance. No city in Huepester was more developed than Colon.
Most residents of Colon, even commoners, had accumulated considerable wealth.
Yet, even here, a slum existed—just barely outside the administrative boundaries.
Telrot’s secret residence was right here.
‘I expected something grand for a secret residence, but it’s a slum.’
The alley was too narrow for the carriage to enter. They walked for about thirty minutes through several filthy, narrow alleys filled with garbage and destitute people.
Begging eyes cautiously watched them as they passed.
But no one dared to beg.
‘If he’s willing to have a residence in the slums, he must want to improve this place. But the way he looks at these people is harsh.’
Telrot showed no sympathy for the poor.
No, it seemed more like disdain. His eyes were filled with a murderous intent as he looked at them.
“This alley is quite long, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Most people in the world wouldn’t dream that a slum like this exists in the heart of Huepester. When you arrive at the transit gate, all you see are shiny buildings and well-paved roads.”
Jin was beginning to understand Telrot’s intentions.
Creak.
Telrot opened a dilapidated wooden door, roughly made from stacked planks. This narrow, filthy house was his secret residence.
As the door swung open, a strong animal smell hit them.
“Woof! Woof!”
“Meow!”
“Here, here. Eat up.”
Telrot handed out food to the animals with a gentle gaze. As the animals swarmed him, his gleaming armor was marked by their claws.
Jin watched quietly as Telrot fed them.
“Do you know why I brought you here?”
“You want to get rid of the slums. You see potential profit in my business.”
“If I wanted, I could wipe this place out right now. Send the knights to kill all these useless people outside, have workers tear down the slums, and build new buildings. It would be easier than snapping my fingers.”
Telrot gently pushed the animals away with his hand.
“But that wouldn’t be natural. Besides, Runcandel leaves this slum because there isn’t enough wealth to justify spending on it. No matter how much money you have, you don’t waste it on useless things.”
Watching the animals cling back to him, Telrot smiled contentedly.
“You call the poor useless, but you’re kind to animals.”
“These beasts have done no wrong. The beggars have all limbs intact but still beg, so they deserve to die. I don’t keep them alive out of pity. I just see no need to kill them.”
“I see.”
“Did you know? In Drakkaen, the central city of the Lutero Magic Federation, there isn’t a single slum.”
“I know. Not just Drakkaen, but about twenty nearby cities have no poor at all.”
“That’s not because Zipple puts effort into slum relief. It’s simply because Zipple’s wealth is so vast that it naturally trickles down. It’s like it’s falling at your feet.”
Telrot was right.
In terms of financial power, Runcandel and Biment together vied for second or third place worldwide. But Zipple, the first, had wealth far surpassing the combined funds of those two.
“I believe the business you started can help narrow the financial gap between Zipple and us. If that happens, this slum will naturally transform into a respectable place without much effort.”
“You mean I should hand over a portion of my business profits to the Garden of Swords?”
“Yes.”
“If that’s the case, I’m sure I’d already be paying some without being told.”
“Nonsense. From what I’ve seen, you’re the kind of person who never shares what’s yours with anyone.”
“How much of the profits do you want?”
Telrot’s eyes narrowed.
“Twenty percent.”
Jin was inwardly surprised.
If it had been another elder, they would have demanded a much higher cut in this situation.
“You’ve clearly sized me up well. If you’d asked for more, I wouldn’t have agreed.”
“If you honestly and faithfully pay twenty percent every month, I’ll do my best to support your business. It’s not impossible to completely erase the punishment that’s currently suspended.”
Jin had already prepared himself to lose at least twenty percent to the family. He had even considered up to fifty percent, so Telrot’s offer left him with little to worry about.
“But I can’t give twenty percent just for the punishment. The compensation I get isn’t quite enough.”
Still, he hoped to gain something extra.
“What else do you want?”
“Tell me about the relationship between the Elder Council chairman and the second knight.”
Jorden Runcandel.
He was undoubtedly Rosa’s man, but Jin had learned something new from his earlier conversation with Joshua.
Joshua couldn’t fully control the Elder Council.
‘He seemed to secretly hope I wouldn’t get the ban on leaving the premises.’
Telrot shrugged.
“You’re smart but naive about obvious matters. It’s clear, isn’t it? Jorden Runcandel, the Elder Council chairman, and the second knight have a relationship of both cooperation and competition.”
“You’re right about the cooperation, but I’ve never heard about the competition part.”
Telrot’s eyes went wide.
A few seconds later, he nodded as if he finally understood.
“Ah, of course. You’re from a different era—not just from mine, but even from the senior ranks—so it makes sense you wouldn’t know. Just remember one thing: the Elder Captain hasn’t given up on his dream of becoming the clan head.”
Most who had spent years alongside Jorden already knew this.
But Jin, living in a completely different time, had no way of knowing. Everyone kept it hush-hush, after all.
—“Your actions earlier were refreshingly straightforward, but don’t be fooled. Elder Captain Jorden is no pushover. He may seem like a petty old curmudgeon, but he’s cunning and tough as nails.”
—“I’m aware. He’s the one who survived the power struggle with my father, isn’t he?”
—“Well… you could say the clan head just let it slide. But still, why did that guy go berserk like a mad dog?”
Suddenly, Jin recalled the conversation he’d had with Jed right after the rank appointment ceremony.
‘…Now I see why the Elder Captain imposed that harsh three-year house arrest. He wanted to use it to leash me and keep Joshua in check.’
It all made sense now.
The one trying to leverage the disciplinary action to strike a deal wasn’t Joshua—it was Jorden.
A chill ran down his spine.
If he’d thought Jorden was merely “Joshua’s ally,” he would have kept responding only on that assumption from now on.
“Judging by your expression, I think I’ve finally made you pay the price.”
“That was a satisfying conversation.”
“Good. You can go now. I’ll have someone send the contract for this deal to your room. But don’t forget—even with my protection, your business won’t be completely safe.”
“I’d be grateful for even just an umbrella of protection.”
Telrot spent a long time in the slums, gently tending to the animals.
Jin watched from outside for a moment, thinking,
‘The chairman of the farmers’ association is quite an unusual man.’
Meanwhile, Telrot looked at the spot where Jin had just left and thought,
‘I’m curious to see if the 12th rank can really bring fresh change to Runkandel.’