Chapter 94: Black Talon

The interior was filled with lavish furniture, each created by master crafters. One piece cost anywhere from a few gold coins to hundreds of gold coins. The old man enjoying his cup of tea in such a room looked at the man reporting to him in disgust.

“Hah. Compensation for emotional distress? Glain, tell me.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What is this?”

“The countess is asking for a payment of 1,000 gold coins to compensate for her emotional distress.”

“Against us, the Donian Merchant Group? Against me, THE Meletoba?”

Glain lowered his head without answering. Meletoba looked at him for a moment, then continued, “So, Brant is with them on this?”

“Yes, sir. It seems like the count thinks it is shameful that an attack was made against his visitors on his land.”

Meletoba, the owner of the Donian Merchant Group, frowned at the word. He was old but he had smooth skin, displaying the fact that he had never faced any difficulties while living. He coldly looked at Glain and shouted, “Nonsense! What about that Norman kid? What does he say?”

“He suggests to give them what they want. Our ledgers have been taken, so it will be bad for us if the count reports it to the king.”

Silence fell. Meletoba was no longer angry as he thought about the situation.

“Five years… for five years!”

Meletoba stood up from his seat. He moved to the window and looked out on the warm streets of March while gripping the frame.

“I spent five years in order to purchase my own land…! And all that just vanished in a second,” he mumbled. Glain shook as he heard Meletoba mumbling in rage.

“Joseph Algony… that bastard messed up my plan. Not some enemy trying to rip me apart, but my own man! It’s all gone… just like that.”

Meletoba shook his head and let out a deep sigh.

“Do as we’re told. Give them what they want.”

“But, sir…”

“The count is right about this. They are nobles. It doesn’t matter where they are from. They even sent gifts to the count. The count will need to protect them while they are in his lands or else he will be responsible for any damages. Just give them what they want.”

“Yes, sir,” Glain answered as he bowed deeply.

‘This is outrageous,’ Glain thought as he also knew how long his master had tried to fulfill his dreams. Just one man’s greed had ruined everything they had worked for.

“Oh, and bring in every man that is related to Joseph Algony’s schemes. Let everyone see what will happen if they hurt the group.”

“Understood, sir.”

“Go on, and bring Thomas here.”

“Yes, sir.”

As Glain left the room, Meletoba clenched his fists and scowled in anger.

“Master.”

Thomas walked in and bowed. He was a man with an extremely cold expression that made people fear him with just one glance.

“Contact the Black Brotherhood and request to kill every Ainos in Khaloda Village. The reward is 3,000 gold coins. We will deposit 1,000 gold first, and 2,000 gold coins when they succeed. We will also reward 500 gold coins each for the countess and her son.”

“Yes, sir.”

“They will return to the forest soon. Make it quick.”

“Yes, sir.”

Thomas left as Meletoba watched with fire in his eyes.

“I will make you regret what you have done.”

It was only a little more until Brant would offer or give up half his land to him. Meletoba was so close to becoming the lord of the land. He spent the past five years choking the count, but it was no more. He felt his heart ache as if he had received a blow.

“The Donian name will fall to the ground if I don’t do anything. I will have everyone see what it is to like to meddle with the Donians…!”

Any damage to the Ainos would indicate that the Donian Merchant Group was behind it. He figured that all of the people who were ignoring the Donians for their own profit would cower before them. It was not time to look after the fault of the group.

‘Brant, I will have you back in my grasp soon. You will need to pay everything you earned back this time…’

*

“Sir! Be careful!”

“Ugh! Dammit!”

Billis’ head flung backward as he took a punch straight into his head. He had headgear on, but it was no use from being hammered with multiple punches.

‘This is no joke!’

He smirked and let out a laugh when he first saw the two men fighting each other with a sluggish looking glove and a weird helmet. All the knights and soldiers had about the same reaction to it. They shouted to coach the fighters and they began taunting more as the son of the countess took his turn at it.

-Look at him! He dodged like a coward!-

-I would’ve finished it with one hit.-

-Why do you fight with fists?-

-Kick him!-

-That’s not how men fight!-

-He seems to be hurt! What a sissy!-

-You’re wearing a cotton glove! It shouldn’t hurt!-

Soldiers began taunting as they concentrated on watching. Joonbum, who just finished sparring with another Ainos, pointed to Billis who was watching from the outside of the ring.

-Come! Fight me! Prove yourself with your own hands! Prove that you’re more than just talk! I will reward a man who beats me with a gold coin! Or maybe five coins.-

-I will challenge you.-

A big-bodied soldier stood up with a reddened face. Joonbum grinned.

-What are you waiting for? Come up!-

That was the start. Three soldiers fell down in three minutes, throwing up everything they had eaten. The fourth man tried his best but was knocked out with a kick to his head. The fifth man tried taunting Joonbum, but he gave up, limping on his way down.

-Is this all you’ve got? So you’re nothing but talk?-

Joonbum taunted after fifth man and Billis came up. He held back from joining the fight because the count ordered him to stay quiet, but he wanted to bring back honor to his soldiers.

‘Ugh, I should’ve stayed out.’

All the punches he took were so heavy. The punch that seemed to be very slow and sluggish at first was now heavy and powerful. He now realized why all of the soldiers fell down and threw up.

“Ahh!”

He could not quickly react to Joonbum’s punches in the beginning became he began taking all the blows from the punches. His slow punches were aimless as Joonbum dodged everything and he threw a counter-attack to his face or his stomach.

‘This can’t be!’

Billis could not follow Joonbum’s movements as he closed in and out like a lightning, throwing punches in between that felt like rocks were being thrown at him.

“Ugh!”

A strong pain jolted him from the stomach and made him fall to his knees. He ground his teeth as he got up and threw his fists.

“Sir! You can do it!”

“Hit him back!”

The fight intensified even as Billis began to score his punches into Joonbum. Soldiers began shouting in joy, but Billis could not join in on the delight.

‘He’s going easy on me.’

Billis realized this instantly. It bothered him, but he could not say anything.

The bell rang, signaling for the break. Billis backed away, but Joonbum remained and spoke.

“Sir Billis Joel displayed incredible fighting ability in this match. He managed to fight me on par with a fighting technique he had never tried before, and thus I claim myself lost on this match.”

“Whoa!”

“Hooray!”

Soldiers shouted in joy and they were provided with fried chicken and beer. Billis did not seem to be as bothered as much in the end.

“I am sorry, Sir Billis.”

“No, I am the one who needs to apologize. I apologize for shouting such words. It was an honor to have a match with you, Sir Joonbum. I was amazed by your prowess.”