Chapter 50

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: There is No Mercy Chapter 50

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"Ah... Understood."

"Hurry and find it. I hope you remember I don't have much patience."

The butler swallowed hard at the chilling words before responding and quickly left the room.

Once the butler was gone, Bellieta averted her gaze.

Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the beautiful mermaid painting hanging on the wall.

'Bellieta is smart, outstanding, and highly capable, but she lacks wisdom. That's exactly why I told her she could never surpass Sierra. Cast aside your stubbornness and let go of your pride. Then you'll see much more. Only then will you truly...'

"What do you know...?"

A book flew at the painting on the wall, crashing into it before thudding to the floor.

Bellieta's eyes, twisted in rage, blazed as she hurled the book.

The sound of glass shattering into pieces filled the room.

Only then did the nagging voice in her head fade away, and Bellieta's expression relaxed.

Slowly forming a smile, she leaned back in her chair and reached out to the side.

She picked up a stack of books and turned to the first page, her lips curving softly.

"You're wrong, Roth."

I'll prove I'm right.

That I can surpass Sierra.

Having regained her calm, Bellieta's hand slowly turned the pages.

The quiet rustle of paper turning echoed through the room.

A carriage pulled up to the conference venue held in Brilloxen territory.

As I stepped down and moved toward the building, the guards at the entrance stepped forward to block me.

At this unfamiliar experience of being stopped, I slightly furrowed my brow, and the guard behind struck the lead guard on the back of the head.

"Ugh!"

"It's the Brilloxen Lady! We're sorry—this guy's only been here a month."

I gave a bright smile to convey it was fine to the two who grabbed the offender's head and bowed deeply with him, then entered the building.

With representatives from merchant guilds gathering from all over, the corridors were quite crowded.

I headed to my assigned room first, unpacked my light luggage, grabbed only the materials needed for the conference, and stepped out—only to spot a familiar face coming from the opposite direction.

"It's been a while, Miss Sierra."

It was Kestian, the eldest son of the Pallieva family.

I'd seen him at the last military supplies conference, and now here at the merchant guild meeting too.

I approached, responding to his clear, refreshing greeting.

Kestian held a rather thick stack of documents in his hand.

As we exchanged words, he noticed my gaze, glanced down at the documents, and grinned.

"Would you like to see?"

"What's that?"

"It's the bomb business investment plan I showed you last time."

"It's out already? Wait, more importantly, isn't that bomb a product the Pallieva family is developing directly?"

Kestian shrugged and handed me the top report.

It was an official document stating the imperial family and military's position against granting the Pallieva family a monopoly.

With the emperor's seal stamped on it, it looked like it hadn't even passed the council.

I handed the report back, and Kestian's mouth opened calmly.

"It passed military review and was submitted to the council, but it didn't even reach the upper house before being shot down. They say the Bozbon family opposed it fiercely. Officially, bomb production requires military permission, but that's probably not the whole story."

No need to spell it out—it was factional infighting checking Pallieva.

With Bozbon entrenched in the council, passage was out of the question.

Without Bozbon, the council factions centered on Pallieva could push it through easily, but Bozbon wielded even greater influence than the imperial family itself.

"So you're seeking joint investments?"

"It's the next best option to getting permission without council approval. No choice."

"Must be tough. For Pallieva's heir to attend such a minor merchant guild meeting in person. You've got impressive drive."

"To win hearts, you have to move yourself."

Kestian lifted the corner of his mouth, meeting my eyes with a peculiar glint.

That look made me flinch for a moment, wondering if he meant me.

He held my gaze steadily before smiling and waving lightly.

As if to say that's it, he turned his head with a casual gesture and nodded toward the back.

"The conference hall seems tense. Is it always like this?"

"Who knows."

I deflected with a smile, and Kestian tilted his head.

His enigmatic smile tugged at his lips as he slowly nodded up and down.

"I'll be waiting in that room over there, so contact me if you need help. Good luck with the results."

Kestian walked away with a calm smile, his footsteps steady.

I watched his back for a moment before turning and entering the conference hall.

As soon as I did, the door closed behind me, signaling everyone had arrived.

"Then, let's begin the meeting now."

With the announcement, agenda items came up one by one, followed by presentations.

I flipped through the documents, reading the relevant details.

With final approval in my hands, I needed to grasp every detail accurately.

Once agenda discussions wrapped and votes were tallied, I'd make the final call on approval.

There were often complaints, but running a guild against Brilloxen's wishes was tough, so most grudgingly accepted.

The meeting dragged on like that when the door burst open and Jin rushed in.

Wondering what was wrong, I tilted my head from my seat as he hurried over and whispered in my ear.

"...You need to come right away."

"What's going on?"

"You have to see it."

I stared blankly at Jin, who wouldn't say what but insisted I come.

Knowing he wasn't one for such rudeness, I withdrew my gaze from him and looked at the facilitator.

He nodded at my glance.

"Let's take a short break."

I stood as his voice rang through the hall.

Following Jin's lead out of the hall, we headed to the open lot behind the building where carriages were parked.

"This way."

Jin stopped in front of a small carriage in the corner, held up his palm as if to wait, then slowly opened the door.

"Urgh...!"

With a crash and clatter, a man tumbled out past the open door.

I stepped back to avoid him as he rolled down the carriage steps and hit the ground, narrowing my brow.

"...Gilbert?"

The man slowly looked up at me—it was Gilbert.

But unlike his familiar face, his condition was horrific.

His whole body was caked in blood, especially around his mouth.

His trembling body and head, eyes soaked in terror—it was gruesome.

Gilbert looked at me, his eyes regaining a spark of life as he struggled to open his mouth.

"He... ugh..."

No coherent words came from his open mouth.

Jin grabbed his jaw, forcing it open, and shook his head.

"They cut out his tongue."

Gilbert reached out weakly with a face steeped in despair.

As his arm lunged forward, perhaps to grab me, I stepped back, and blood-mixed tears fell from his eyes.

Gilbert waved his hand in the air a few times, making some gesture.

Wondering what it was, I watched until it clicked, then pulled out a handkerchief and spread it on the ground.

"Write it here."

Gilbert dropped his arm onto the handkerchief on the ground and scrawled something with his bloodied fingers.

After scribbling a bit, his hand shook violently, and he started foaming at the mouth.

Jin rushed to help, but Gilbert convulsed fiercely before going limp and collapsing.

Jin checked his pulse and shook his head.

"He's gone."

"..."

It had all happened so suddenly.

Gilbert's appearance, his death, this whole situation.

I withdrew my gaze from him and picked up the handkerchief where his hand had stopped.

The shaky handwriting was illegible in places, with few words.

[Others... danger... family...]

Knowing death was near, he'd listed just a few key words.

I couldn't tell who killed him from this alone, but it was enough for now.

Crumpling the handkerchief, I called to the knight behind me.

"Contact Riphert immediately and strengthen security for the servants rotating out today. Now!"

The knights gave curt replies, assigned roles, mounted horses, and rode off.

I watched them go, biting my lip as I tied my hair back tightly.

"You two, head to Gilbert's family's home. Jin, locate Rita right now and report back. I'll go myself."

"That leaves no escort."

"I'll handle that. Move!"

I pushed Jin's back as he hesitated to leave, then bit my lip and looked down at Gilbert.

I'd planned to oust this man, but not like this—in such a gruesome death.

And above all, his value to me was still valid.

I hadn't meant to exile him now.

I tore my gaze from his blood-soaked form and moved at once.

This was no time for a meeting.