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CHAPTER 09
“Exemption from conscription is absolutely essential!”
Growing anxious, I quickly asked Julia,
“What were the minimum requirements to be exempted from military service?”
“Well…”
Since Julia was a woman and not subject to conscription, she seemed unsure and couldn’t give an immediate answer.
Just then, Lisa, who was pouring tea beside me, spoke up.
“You need to be a Count.”
“Lisa… how do you know that?”
“I used to be a bookworm when I was young.”
Lisa gave a proud smile.
‘First of all, Lennox must somehow avoid being drafted.’
According to imperial law, conscription was mandatory after reaching adulthood. That meant he needed at least the title of Count by then.
“I want a countship.”
At my words, Lisa responded,
“Then you’ll need five million gold.”
“F-Five million?”
My mouth dropped open in shock.
That much money could buy at least ten grand mansions in the capital.
Forget mansions—you could open ten luxurious shops too.
“No discount or anything?”
“It’s possible… if you earn enough merit.”
But merit was usually gained only in times of war, so that wasn’t an option at all right now.
In other words, I would have to pay the full price.
‘…Ah. So in this life too, I can’t escape the fate of being a worker ant.’
My mind drifted toward the looming future, and I gazed out the window.
Clear skies, eagles flying peacefully through the air…
As I stared at them, a scene from the original novel flashed into my mind.
Lennox smiled coldly as he looked down at the man kneeling before him.
He was no longer the 11-year-old boy from back then.
“Well, did you enjoy ruining my family and treating me like a slave?”
He had survived the battlefield and returned as a noble yet cruel man—more than anyone else.
“P-Please… Just spare my life!”
Arthur, already soaked in blood, cried out desperately.
At that moment, the eagle perched on Lennox’s right arm gave a rumbling cry.
“Oh dear, Arne says he’s hungry.”
Lennox gave a low laugh, raising his eyebrows as if he pitied him.
“For your information, eagles only eat corpses.”
“Eek!”
By then, a black aura had already gathered on Lennox’s sword. It was darker and murkier than the night sky—colder and more chilling than the night air.
Then, a cruel trail of blood painted the floor beautifully.
‘…So terrifying!’
I had about seven years until Lennox reached adulthood.
Until then, one thing had to come first if I was going to buy a title.
“Has the succession to the countship been approved?”
“No response.”
As expected, there was still no reply from Duke Dinero.
That made things clear.
‘He clearly has no intention of letting me inherit.’
If I were of age, I could inherit the title directly from the imperial family without needing the Duke’s approval. But I still had three years to go.
‘I can’t afford to wait three years.’
Quickly shifting my plans, I asked Julia,
“Did you acquire the ships and mines?”
“They’ve all been successfully purchased.”
Julia handed me the auction paperwork.
“But why did you only buy the lowest-grade magic ore mines? Wouldn’t it have been better to invest in mid-grade ores that are actually worth something…?”
“The return on investment will be greater with these. Let’s see… the remaining funds are… exactly ten thousand gold.”
Phew. I let out a sigh—I hadn’t expected Arthur’s slush fund to dry up this quickly.
‘It’s smaller than I thought.’
That greedy Arthur wouldn’t have intentionally left much, so it was probably thanks to Count Jacqueline’s original security measures.
‘Quite thorough, really.’
A painful truth for someone like me who had been dipping into that slush fund…
‘Father, couldn’t you have been just a little less responsible?’
Swallowing my frustration, I handed Julia another document.
“What’s this…?”
“I’m starting a transport business. First, take this and reach out to Tara Transport’s existing business partners.”
This was a business plan I’d been developing for years.
Originally, it was something I intended to implement gradually after officially inheriting Tara Transport. But the situation had changed.
‘Thankfully, Count Jacqueline had been earnest in training Clemens to be his successor.’
Because I had inherited Clemens’s memories, I already had a solid foundation in transport logistics.
‘And really, who says minerals with magical properties can only be used for magic?’
With a modern perspective, I realized that magic ores—unavailable in our world—had other potential uses.
‘Their energy efficiency is off the charts.’
I once tried using magic ore instead of coal in a stove for fun—and it kept the heat far longer using less fuel.
Honestly, it felt wasteful to only use it for magic research.
Then Julia murmured, puzzled.
“This was originally Count Jacqueline’s business…”
“Right. Think of it as a rehearsal for the future.”
Although… it was a bit large-scale to be called a “rehearsal.”
Still, Julia looked confused.
“Then Tara Transport… would become a competitor.”
I chuckled quietly.
She was right. Ever since Duke Dinero stopped responding, I’d been preparing to challenge the family business head-on.
‘This is the only way to rebel.’
Besides, that business had the Duke of Dinero as its largest shareholder.
Meanwhile…
“Tara Transport’s decline in sales has grown steeper.”
Tara Transport.
It was the transport business of the Count Jacqueline family—and the largest contributor to Duke Dinero’s entire enterprise.
Duke Dinero, squinting at the documents through his monocle due to farsightedness, frowned at the graph showing a steep decline.
“The competitor’s newly introduced engine significantly cuts travel time. That’s why small mining companies are now partnering with them.”
No one knew what technology was behind it, but it was faster than existing trains or ships—and the rates were the same.
Naturally, profit-driven merchants and businesses chose to switch.
Duke Dinero raised his eyebrows.
“What’s the name of that competitor?”
“They’re called ‘Claim.’”
“Claim… As in ‘to protest.’”
Wrinkles formed deeply between the Duke’s brows.
Then his aide spoke,
“The owner is someone named Agathe.”
“Agathe?”
“I did a background check. He used to run a dogfighting ring… Something felt off, so I dug deeper and found out he’s just a front. The real owner is Clemens Jacqueline.”
“Jacqueline? You don’t mean that Jacqueline?”
Duke Dinero took off his monocle and placed it on his desk. Only then did he realize the sense of discomfort he’d felt upon hearing the business name.
‘Claim. Clemens.’
Since Clemens wasn’t of age, she likely used a figurehead to register the business.
‘It’s obvious what she’s protesting.’
The Duke gave a hollow, amused laugh, and the aide—tense—quickly asked,
“Shall we take action?”
“…Hmm, no. Leave it.”
Duke Dinero scoffed and took a drag from his cigar.
“I thought that brat was just impulsive—but turns out she’s bold too.”
He had already known that Tara Transport’s sales had dipped ever since Arthur took over the Jacqueline family.
He had ignored it, assuming amateurs would eventually bring it down on their own. Plus, he didn’t want to get entangled with the Jacqueline family again.
But now?
Not only did she kick out her uncle, she had the nerve to defy him like this because he didn’t approve her succession?
The Duke’s eyes narrowed.
“This is getting interesting. Very interesting.”
Who would’ve thought the Jacqueline family could destroy a decades-old transport empire in just one month?
And the one behind it all was none other than the eldest daughter—Clemens Jacqueline.
Clemens Jacqueline. The last time he saw her was at the Count and Countess Jacqueline’s funeral five years ago, and she had looked so awkward and helpless.
He had always prided himself on his insight into others—but now he found himself intrigued by this unexpected turn of events.
Setting down the torn sales report, Duke Dinero said
“Clemens Jacqueline—bring her to me.”
