I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 213

Chapter 213: Those Who Rage (13)

“W-What are you talking about?!”

“We’re ruining Shatrain? That’s absurd!”

“You’re the one who ruined Shatrain!”

My words ignited the villagers’ fury, and they surged forward, their faces red with anger.

▶ Clue and Proof event activated! ◀

▶ Internal enemies identified! ◀

[ Number of Internal Enemies Discovered ]

[ 35/35 ]

▶ Prove that the identified villagers are internal enemies. ◀

Shatrain, according to the game system, harbored internal enemies.

As Episode IX’s title indicated, the goal was to eliminate these internal enemies.

Talfon had helped me identify them, but this… this was the real challenge.

Failure to prove their guilt would have the same result as always: a plummeting reputation and a bad ending.

But I could handle this.

“I’m sure you all remember. A few days ago, I issued a complete lockdown order for Shatrain.”

“…”

Their expressions said it all. Of course they remembered.

The lockdown had prevented all travel into and out of Shatrain.

The villagers had been too afraid of the consequences to disobey.

“But some of you defied that order. And those people… are standing right there.”

The 35 villagers surrounded by the guards and tribesmen began to protest.

“That’s a lie!”

“You’re just rounding up innocent people to take out your anger!”

“How can you prove we left the village…!”

But their protests were cut short, their faces paling as they realized their mistake.

They had been caught.

▶ Activating Agent skill. ◀

[ 3. Talfon ]

“These people all left Shatrain. I swear it on the honor of the Lilpet County, on the lives of my tribe.”

“…!”

The Lilpet Tribe was known as the “hounds” of the Empire, infamous for their ability to track scents. No one doubted their olfactory abilities.

“There are two distinct scents on these people. One, the scent of the mountains beyond Shatrain. And two…”

▶ Using information obtained from Agent. ◀

[ The internal enemies all smuggled fertilizer sacks into Shatrain. ] ☑

“…the stench of this fertilizer, clinging to their bodies.”

The Lilpet Tribe’s keen noses couldn't be fooled. Their scent gave them away, and even the villagers who had been doubting me began to change their minds.

“You…”

“What?! It’s not our fault!”

Cornered, they no longer denied leaving the village.

“We couldn’t just stay cooped up like pigs in a pen!”

“We have to find a way to save this territory!”

“We don’t want to starve under an incompetent lord!”

They were desperate, trying to justify their actions.

They had to leave, they argued. There was no other way.

But…

That’s exactly what I had been waiting for.

I had waited for them to admit it, to reveal their true intentions.

“A few weeks ago, Ferdi uncovered a spy from another territory. Do you remember? What if these people did the same thing?”

“What… what are you talking about?”

“You mean the incident where someone was paid to steal Shatrain’s support funds?”

“That’s right. These people were all hired by another territory. Their mission? To spread this fertilizer throughout Shatrain.”

Their faces paled as the realization dawned.

“Hired? Like that traitor?”

“That’s a lie! We don’t know anything about that!”

“They received down payments?! From another territory?!”

“That’s nonsense!”

“But… weren't we forbidden from bringing in fertilizer?”

“We don’t know anything! He’s making this up!”

“Is that so? Then I guess this will clear things up.”

-Flutter.

A stack of documents rained down on the villagers.

“Shatrain Fertilizer Acquisition Contracts…?”

“You…!”

“What… is this?”

“I thought we were all using the same fertilizer…?”

“Th-That’s…!”

“Explain yourselves! What is the meaning of this?!”

And their contents were contracts, undeniable proof of their betrayal.

Talfon and the Lilpet Tribe, using their keen sense of smell, had uncovered their deception.

“Fertilizer… jewels… and precious metals…”

“These bastards!!”

“They sold us out! For their own profit?!”

This was the end.

“You… You monsters! You deserve to be cursed!”

“W-We can explain! It’s not… Aaaaagh!”

-Thwack!

A large rock struck Map in the face.

-Ding!

▶ Proof accepted! ◀

[ The 35 traitors were hired by another territory to spread the corrupted fertilizer throughout Shatrain. ]

▶ Episode IX. The Internal Enemy cleared. ◀

▶ Successfully completed the Clue and Proof event without incurring any penalties. ◀

▶ Rewards granted. ◀

■ Reward

▶ Villager Affinity increased. ◀

[ +10% overall ]

▶ Shatrain Field Reputation Rank increased. ◀

[ Current Reputation: 80 ]

[ Rank: C ]

▶ Reputation Rank has reached C. The Shatrain villagers will now listen to your instructions. ◀

***

The 35 traitors were immediately arrested.

The guards and Talfon’s tribesmen helped restrain them.

And then, the villagers, their fury unleashed, pelted the traitors with rocks. The sense of betrayal was palpable. They had once worked alongside these people, shared their hopes for Shatrain’s revival, and now… they had been betrayed.

The internal enemies, those who had sought to destroy Shatrain, had been eliminated.

But a much bigger problem remained.

‘…They were right.’

‘Everything they said… was true…’

‘He really was… trying to help us…’

Carsein.

Shatrain’s temporary lord. He was innocent.

He had worked tirelessly for their sake.

He had identified and solved a problem they hadn’t even been aware of.

And now, he had eliminated their greatest threat, the internal enemies.

And yet, they had treated him with suspicion and distrust, with disdain and hostility.

There had been signs.

The guards, angered by the villagers’ insults, had defended Carsein.

The Lusmire villagers, their close allies, had confronted them, their anger fueled by their disrespect for Carsein.

Even Count Lilpet of the West, filled with rage, had rebuked them.

And…

“Think about it. Young Master Carsein has been working hard for our sake. Which of his arguments was wrong?”

“Do you really think Brother Carsein is trying to ruin our territory?”

“He clearly cares about Shatrain!”

Trisha, Ferdi, and even Village Head Brem had tried to tell them.

And yet, they hadn’t listened.

They had been given so many opportunities.

But they had wasted them all.

Until today.

“I’ll leave their punishment to you, but I expect this to be the last incident of this kind.”

“…!”

Of course, there wouldn't be any more traitors. Now that they knew about the external interference, no one would dare to betray Shatrain again.

But…

Even after all this…

Even after gaining the villagers’ trust, earning the right to lead…

He wasn’t going to issue any more orders?

-Thud, thud, thud.

Carsein turned and walked away, leaving them speechless.

And as they watched him go, a heavy weight settled in their chests.

They had created the worst possible relationship.

Villagers who distrusted their lord.

A relationship fractured by their own stubbornness and pride.

They had turned against the very person who had tried, twice, to save their territory.

They couldn’t bear to look him in the eye.

‘What have we done…?’

Ingratitude.

The word echoed in their minds, a bitter reminder of their mistakes.

***

After that day, Episode IX was cleared.

My reputation in Shatrain had finally improved enough for the villagers to listen to my instructions.

I wouldn't face any more resistance from them.

But it wasn’t over yet.

▶ Episode X. Turning Point is in progress. ◀

▶ Identify and solve Shatrain’s problems. ◀

▶ If your Completion Rate is below a certain threshold, you will receive a bad ending based on your symposium score. ◀

Eliminating the internal enemies was a necessary step, a way to gain influence and authority within Shatrain. But it wasn't enough to improve the territory, to raise my symposium score.

In other words, while removing the traitors was essential, it didn't significantly contribute to Shatrain's development.

If I became complacent, I would still be met with a bad ending due to a low score.

So, my next task was to revitalize Shatrain, to improve its economy, to make it a viable territory that I could use as a stepping stone to escape the Duchy.

That was the only way to survive, to gain my freedom, to escape this game.

Most of the conditions were already met.

Thanks to my efforts in exposing the villagers’ mistakes, I had gained significant authority. I could freely manage a portion of their land, which made conducting research much easier.

Ferdi and Trisha were providing me with valuable information. Ferdi kept me updated on the villagers’ activities, and Trisha provided me with agricultural data.

I also had sufficient manpower.

With the guards, Talfon, and the Lilpet Tribe, I didn’t need to rely on the villagers.

But there was still one obstacle.

“We can’t get any Lohea seeds?”

“That’s right.”

I couldn’t use the method Carsein had attempted in the past.

“Lohea seeds, just like Shatrain strawberries and Shatrain grapes, require specific conditions to grow. And they won’t grow at all if the timing is off.”

“You don’t mean… they only grow in Lilpet?”

“Exactly. And even within Lilpet, they only thrive in specific areas. We don't cultivate them unless we need them for horse feed.”

So even they considered Lohea seeds too troublesome to cultivate.

This threw a wrench in my plans.

‘This is an unexpected variable.’

The game had added a new constraint, a new challenge.

“Do you know anything about the properties of Lohea seeds?”

“I’m afraid not. We only know that they make excellent horse feed…”

That was to be expected.

Carsein was the only one who had discovered their true value.

He had found the information in books and documents, so I could try searching for those resources, but… that wasn’t possible.

▶ Due to restrictions imposed by Arina in the past, information regarding Lohea seeds is limited. ◀

Arina’s past actions had come back to haunt me.

“Young Master, the carriage is ready.”

And it was almost time for the Week 5 report meeting.

If there were restrictions, I had to find a way to overcome them. Information about Lohea seeds was crucial for clearing this episode.

“I’ve prepared a horse for you. Let’s go.”

“Carsein.”

“What?”

“…Wait a moment.”

The Week 5 report meeting wasn’t that urgent, but I wanted to talk to Arina beforehand.

‘There must be a reason why he’s asking me to wait.’

Talfon wasn't just my Agent, he was also a valuable ally. He must have sensed something.

I decided to wait, and soon, I understood.

…So this was why.

“Lord Carsein.”

Brem bowed his head respectfully.

For a man of his age, it wasn’t appropriate to bow so deeply to someone as young as me. Back in my world, I would be the one bowing to him.

But he bowed.

A full 90 degrees.

“I apologize for my impudence in approaching you like this. But… would you… grant this old man a moment of your time?”

-Ding!

▶ Conditions met. Hidden Episode: Shatrain’s Apology activated. ◀

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