Chapter 74

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 74

Chapter Title: Counterfeits Exposed

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Things are turning out far stranger than I'd anticipated."

In a way that made my intentions to resolve the issue feel pointless, I ended up returning to the duke's residence alongside the duke himself.

Though his intervention had temporarily dispersed the crowd, if someone stepped up to stir things again like before, the same chaos could easily repeat itself.

That meant we needed a more fundamental solution in the end.

And so, the emergency strategy meeting that was hastily convened included the duke and me, along with Lady Rainy, who'd barely managed to slip away, and Liam.

"It feels like someone was deliberately sabotaging us."

I voiced the suspicion I'd been harboring all along.

But why? And for what purpose?

Most of it was based on ideas we'd come up with first, so there shouldn't have been any competing businesses.

As I pondered how to back up my flimsy theory, the duke pulled something out and placed it on the table.

"This is...?"

I widened my eyes at the familiar object.

Why on earth would he bring a limited edition that's now nearly impossible to find all the way here?

"Isn't this the original Ghost Duke Edition tumbler we made first?"

Sleek body, the illustration drawn on it, even the signature.

It matched my memory perfectly, so I looked at the duke without a shred of doubt.

But then.

"Liam."

"Yes, Your Grace."

Ignoring my words entirely, the duke beckoned with his hand, and Liam stood up.

And in his hand was... a hammer?

"Pardon the intrusion."

Before I could even react, the heavy hammerhead smashed the tumbler to pieces.

Crash!

I let out a silent scream in front of the tumbler that shattered with a deafening noise.

"Wh-what... huh?"

But something was off.

No matter how I looked at it, the hammer Liam held was just an ordinary one.

Could something like that smash partanium so easily?

It's a mineral renowned for being so tough that even engraving it is difficult.

And among the shattered fragments of the tumbler, the stains visible were unmistakably rust marks.

"N-no way."

That left only one possibility.

Sinking back into my seat, I stared blankly at the duke and Liam in turn with a dazed expression.

"This is a fake?"

"Indeed. Did you know counterfeits like this were circulating?"

"...No."

Since it was something I hadn't known at all, I couldn't hide my utter bewilderment.

The tumbler right in front of me was so exquisitely crafted that it was indistinguishable from the one I'd poured my heart into making, even to the naked eye.

In other words, there was no way to tell them apart by appearance alone.

Moreover, no average person would think to smash a tumbler or thermos with a hammer.

Toward me, who had fallen silent, the duke spoke with firm conviction.

"This arrow is aimed at the ducal house."

"Pardon?"

"Since this morning, nobles from the capital have been reaching out."

Apparently, while I'd been meeting Ashley and heading to Lady Rainy's workshop, something had cropped up for the duke as well.

As I listened intently to the duke calmly recounting the events, I could only let out a hollow laugh in the end.

"Ahaha."

"They're saying people who drank or ate from the tumblers produced by the ducal house's business are complaining of stomach pains."

"Ahem... Duke of Brail, this is Duke Ludwig. No other reason for calling, but there's a rumor that harmful substances are coming from the thermoses distributed in our territory..."

How could all this happen simultaneously?

'This doesn't make sense.'

At the same time, the duke voiced something eerily similar to my own thoughts.

"This is something that simply cannot stand."

Why on earth was this happening?

If someone was truly threatening the ducal house as he said, what was their motive?

To top it off, this wasn't even in the original story, which only deepened my confusion.

Ah, the original story.

Suddenly, a hypothesis flashed into my mind.

'In the original, there were no comic books, no blackout curtains, no tumblers or thermoses.'

In that case... arrows aimed at things that were mere devices to highlight the protagonists in the original could naturally arise now.

In truth, the character Duke Kaian Brail had barely any presence in the original, so my business ventures might have unintentionally drawn attention to him.

'Plus, if I recall, the original setting mentioned the duke having imperial blood.'

If so, it was only natural he'd face scrutiny for even the slightest moves.

Though my time in Salt Kingdom was short, I'd seen countless people vanish as casualties of backroom dealings, so it was plenty plausible.

And besides...!

That face.

That body,

Those exceptional abilities...

'Damn it.'

I'd unconsciously scanned the duke from head to toe, then hurriedly shook my head to dispel the random thought.

Thinking about someone's looks in such a grave situation.

Cupping my burning cheeks, I cleared my throat and asked calmly.

"But is there any faction that might target Your Grace right now?"

"We'll find out from here on. But one thing is certain..."

The duke, who had been sitting with an inscrutable expression, turned his gaze toward the shattered tumbler fragments.

Those gleaming green eyes had never felt so ominous as they did today.

"A tail too long gets caught eventually."

"Everything is proceeding most successfully, Your Excellency!"

In the heart of the capital, at the central branch of the Stefan Merchant Guild operated by Marquis Stefan's family, a drinking party was in full swing even in broad daylight.

Stroking his bushy beard, the thoroughly drunk Marquis Stefan slurred his question.

"Yessir, how's the reaction been?"

The fox-faced man refilling his empty glass grinned widely in response.

His name was Viscount Robert, deputy head of the Stefan Merchant Guild.

Calculating and greedy, but the kind of sycophant who excelled at his job to satisfy that greed.

It was Viscount Robert who had proposed making counterfeits of the wildly popular tumblers and thermoses to sell at high prices.

"It's quiet now, but no monkey stays perched when the branch is ablaze. Heh heh..."

Having bowed nearly ninety degrees to flatter the marquis, Viscount Robert finally straightened up and leaned in close, whispering slyly into his ear.

"Just as when you permitted the counterfeits, Your Excellency, trust in me alone, and you'll rake in fortunes with a pitchfork."

"You really are...!"

The marquis showered praise on the viscount, who only spoke sweet nothings.

The counterfeit business was, naturally, a roaring success. They'd produced fakes at a mere 5% of the retail price, clearing deficits in no time.

On top of that, people who'd eaten from the unverified fake thermoses came down with food poisoning one after another, spreading rumors without the need for expensive plants.

It was killing two birds with one stone! A total win-win!

"Unlike with the blackout curtains, we saved on rumor-mongering costs too. Splendid work, Viscount!"

"Heh heh, it's nothing."

"Nothing? I'll make damn sure to reward you handsomely for your share."

"Kuhuhu, my thanks!"

Soon, the marquis, his face flushed red from the booze, suddenly changed his expression as he laughed.

"By the way... how goes the adaptation of those painters we brought from Brail Duchy?"

"Ah, that matter's progressing smoothly without a hitch."

Viscount Robert's gaunt cheeks twisted into an even more cunning grin.

Once marked as an enemy, one must crush them until they can never rise again.

Quietly contacting the painters working in Brail Duchy was part of that preparation.

"Money talks, after all, no merchants involved."

Offering sums incomparable to their prior salaries, the painters packed up and left without needing persuasion.

If Brail Duchy tried negotiating, he'd promised double the offer, making it even easier.

Beyond that, guaranteeing creative freedom and covering full relocation costs had groups of them eager to defect.

"Of course, snatching the story writer or a key artist would be ideal... but the ducal house's tight security means we're just watching for now."

"It's too soon. We'll squeeze slowly and strike at the decisive moment."

Arrogant Duke of Brail.

Toward the marquis, oblivious in his drunken stupor to his own ramblings, Viscount Robert drove the nail home.

"We've already secured a printing firm, so it's only a matter of time before the comics hit the shelves."

"Splendid."

"And we're prepared to send gifts to the Brail Ducal House anytime— just give the order."

"Yes, that's the way..."

Marquis Stefan's eyes gleamed dangerously as he began recalling the massive losses he'd suffered at the hands of Duke Brail thus far.