MDK 31

Episode 31: An Obedient Dog

“Wait a moment, Count Consilus! We are representatives of the Imperial family!” Karl tried to emphasize it again, hoping there was no misunderstanding. He wanted to make it clear that Consilus’s future career and prospects depended on them.

Consilus patted Karl’s shoulder sympathetically.
“You’ve come a long way. It must’ve been tough. To think the Empire would send you out here on such trivial matters.”

“W-what are you saying…?”

Wasn’t this a completely different story? Wasn’t it Consilus himself who had been spouting all those accusations earlier? Now, he was suddenly changing his attitude?

‘No way…’ Karl’s eyes darted between Ferda and Count Consilus. No, that couldn’t be it. There was no way a secret alliance existed in the noble world.

“What are you doing?”

“Pardon?” Ferda tilted his head and spoke.

“Go ahead and call the next witness.” Ferda casually flicked his finger as if calculating something.
“There are plenty of witnesses left, aren’t there? Excluding Tesalos Welcher, who is dead, there are still thirteen others. Bring them all and have them testify. If even one of them says I’m guilty, then your job is done, isn’t it?”

The Purification Squad only needed one person to confirm wrongdoing to exert their power. But Karl already knew that even if he brought all thirteen witnesses, it would be useless. If Count Consilus, who was a key figure in the Far East, denied the accusations, then all those under him would deny them too.

“If you can’t call any witnesses, then bring out the rest.”

“W-what do you mean…?”

“The charges you brought to threaten and discredit me—don’t you have more? Bring those out,” Ferda said calmly.

The atmosphere had shifted completely. Desperate, Karl fumbled with his shaking hands and pulled something from his chest.

“I-I heard you kidnapped this girl.”

He presented a sketch of a long-haired girl. Her dull eyes made it clear—it was Mori.

‘If they’re looking for Mori, this must be Helus Povidas’s doing.’

If Helus Povidas had specifically mentioned Ferda, it meant they had tracked down the maid.

“I see,” Ferda said calmly. Of course, the threat was meaningless. Karl knew this, but in his panic, he clung to anything he could.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but I purchased that child. I have her full consent, and ownership has been transferred to me. It cannot be considered kidnapping.”

“…”

“If you want to argue otherwise, we can discuss it with her directly. So, what’s your next charge?”

Karl didn’t respond. Everything else he had was insignificant—small, pointless accusations meant to see how far they could push and try to get more money. He had no more cards to play.

“Then I suppose it’s my turn to speak,” Ferda said. He turned to Count Consilus.
“Count Consilus.”

“Yes, Regent. Please, speak.” The Count bowed his head respectfully.

“This man demanded money from me outright.”

“Haha, is that so? Well, since he’s come such a long way, it might be reasonable to provide some travel expenses.”

“He demanded 100,000 goldens for his travel expenses.”

“Haha, that’s quite a sum.”

“What value do you think that amount holds?”

“Value differs depending on the situation. It’s hard to say for sure.”

“Fair enough. How much would that amount be worth to the citizens of your territory?”

“Enough to feed all my people for ten years without worry.”

“I see.” Ferda’s blue eyes glimmered faintly.
“So, this man was planning to take away ten years of livelihood from the citizens?”

“That’s correct.”

Consilus cast a sharp glare at Karl. The friendly smile from earlier was gone, replaced by clear anger.

“Such a despicable act—it’s disgraceful.”

*”A-ah…” Karl began trembling uncontrollably. The very Count he thought would help him had turned against him, and now the alliance between Ferda and Consilus was undeniable. Karl had called a cat to corner the mouse, only to find out the cat was in on the plan. The betrayal left Karl shaking in fear.

“What do you think, Count? What should we do with this man?” Ferda asked.

“A knight who dares to demand bribes while claiming to represent the Empire? Such actions are unbefitting of any knight.”

“Indeed. He even demanded to be treated as if he were the Emperor himself.”

“Hahaha! Surely he didn’t! A mere knight trying to put himself on par with His Majesty? Absurd!”

“But if that’s true, what do you think should happen to him?”

“Then he should meet the same fate as Tesalos—didn’t Tesalos Welcher end up with a hole in his head?”

“That he did,” Ferda confirmed.

Karl couldn’t even breathe properly as he listened to their one-sided conversation. Cold sweat ran down his face as he glanced between the two men.

“But before that… wouldn’t it be appropriate to file a formal complaint about his bribery and impersonation of royalty?” Consilus suggested.

“A fair point. But would the Empire take a complaint seriously from someone as young as me?” Ferda asked sarcastically.

“Do not worry. I will make the preparations myself.”

Most nobles knew about the Purification Squad’s dirty dealings. But if someone like Count Consilus, a seasoned veteran who’d guarded the frontlines for years, formally spoke up, it would be impossible to ignore.

Karl stared at Consilus with betrayal in his eyes. It was now clear—this entire trap had been orchestrated by Consilus and Ferda working together.

‘They set me up. They set up the Purification Squad.’

Desperate, Karl made one last attempt to fight back.

“W-we’re a direct unit of the Empire! Filing a complaint won’t change anything…!”

“Do you really believe that?” Ferda replied coldly.
“How much are you worth?”

“W-what do you mean, my worth…?”

“Do you think it’s easier for the Empire to protect you, or to get rid of you and claim it was due to your personal misconduct?”

There was no need to answer. The latter was obviously more convenient.

“Even if you survive, do you think your family will stay silent? Your siblings would likely come for your head themselves.”

“W-what are you saying…?”

“Think about it. You’re the eldest son of House Harvest. You have two younger brothers, don’t you? Do you think they’ll quietly tolerate the disgrace you’ve brought to the family?”

They wouldn’t. His brothers, who had always resented the privileges he enjoyed as the eldest, would either kill him for the family’s honor or for their own personal advancement. Karl, who was now worth more dead than alive, had become the perfect prey.

Realizing this, Karl finally understood.

‘The dragon wasn’t the real problem.’

Just days ago, he had mocked Ferda as a weak regent. But now, it was clear—this regent was the one he should have feared all along.

“Answer me,” Ferda’s cold voice broke through Karl’s thoughts.

Karl flinched, his body trembling as Ferda asked again.

“Now, what do you see me as?”

It felt as though an icy blade was pressed against his throat, ready to sever it if he gave the wrong answer. Shaking with fear, Karl barely managed to respond.

“You… You’re the great Regent of Valdrova…”

His voice was filled with defeat and submission.

“That’s right. I am the one ruling the Valdrova Grand Duchy in place of the Grand Duke,” Ferda said, standing up. He placed a hand on Karl’s trembling shoulder and leaned in.
“And I think you should become the master of the Purification Squad.”

Ferda’s voice was soft, like the devil’s tempting whisper.
“Would you prefer to become the master of the Purification Squad or die a noble death for it?”

It was a foolish question. There was no such thing as nobility in the Purification Squad.

Karl lowered his head.
“Please accept my loyalty.”

Ferda shook his head at that response.
“I have no use for loyalty that is inconsistent and easily influenced.”

Karl’s heart sank at those words, but Ferda continued.

“What I need is a well-trained dog.”

“A… dog?”

“A dog that does only what it’s told, doesn’t cause unnecessary trouble, wags its tail for the occasional bone, and waits quietly for its master. If you can do that, I can pave a path for your success. Do you understand?”

Karl nodded.
“Y-yes, I understand. I will become a dog. Your dog, Regent.”

“Good.” Ferda patted his shoulder.
“Stay here for the night. I’ll need to prepare a collar for my new dog.”

“…Understood.” Karl’s pale face showed no signs of life as he gave his reply.

Karl left the drawing room. He was probably enjoying a dinner with the subordinates he had brought along by now. Of course, Karl didn’t know that this dinner was nothing more than his last meal before his figurative execution. He likely wasn’t even aware of how the food was entering his mouth.

Meanwhile, Ferda sat with Count Consilus, discussing the details of the Purification Squad’s arrival. Count Consilus explained everything—the entire reason they had come.

“So, the Purification Squad came so confidently because of me?”

The Count bowed his head.
“I did something truly shameful. I deserve punishment.”

“It’s fine. What did you say in response to their letter?”

“I told them you were an upright and virtuous ruler who only had the best interests of the Far East at heart.”

Count Consilus smirked slyly.
“But I knew that wasn’t the answer they wanted.”

“And why is that?” Ferda already had a good idea, but he asked anyway.

“The Purification Squad is like a swarm of locusts. The moment they smell weakness, they swoop in, devour everything, and leave nothing behind. Right now, the Far East is making progress and trying to grow. They always target the weakest places first, gradually isolating and consuming them. Once they get a foothold, it’s over.”

This was one of the Purification Squad’s key strategies—start with weak territories, isolate them, and take control.

“But, Regent, your reputation has already been damaged because of Tesalos Welcher. They think you’re isolated.”

Ferda, at least on the surface, appeared cut off from the noble society. It was believable enough that the nobles would want to turn against him. If the Purification Squad were given that assurance, they would act on it.

“You’ve made good use of me,” Ferda said with a faint smile.
“I’m sorry for troubling you. It was all my plan, so if punishment is necessary, I’ll accept it.”

Ferda waved his hand dismissively.
“No, it’s fine. You handled the dogs who were lurking around for the good of the territory, didn’t you?”

“But wasn’t it unpleasant for you to be tested like that?”

“You were honest about it, so I don’t mind. As long as you remain loyal to the Grand Duke, I don’t care how you use me. I didn’t come here to enjoy the power of a ruler—I came to dedicate myself to my king.”

*”Ah…” Count Consilus, a man who could easily see through shallow flattery, could feel Ferda’s sincerity in every word.

“Now tell me—who do you serve?”

“To be honest, I’ve always served the Empire. I was someone who leaned more toward loyalty to the Emperor than to the Grand Duke.”

Count Consilus gave a bitter smile as he confessed.
“People grow more fearful as they age. Somewhere along the way, I forgot why I rose to this position in the first place.”

“And now? Have you remembered?”

“Yes, thanks to you, Regent.”

Consilus glanced out the window. From this high vantage point, he could see the desolate, corrupted lands not far away. From his own castle, this view was impossible to see.

“When I took this position, I swore to protect the people. My loyalty to the Empire was because it promised to protect its citizens, not because it elevated me to this rank.”

“You’re a noble nobleman,” Ferda said with a faint smile.

“You’re too kind,” Consilus replied with a light laugh.

Consilus had always represented the Far East, but even so, he had long lost the fire that once burned in his heart. Soldiers died constantly on the battlefield, leaving behind nothing but despair and fear.

“Count Consilus.”

“Yes?”

“Does that fire still burn in your heart?”

“It does.”

Ferda reached out his hand.
“Then join me. To protect the East, I need someone like you.”

Consilus’s eyes widened in surprise before he quickly shook his head.
“No, please don’t say that. That’s what I should be saying to you.”

He knelt on one knee and carefully placed his hands over Ferda’s outstretched hand. Those hands, worn and rough from wielding a sword to protect his people, trembled slightly.

“Please, lead the East where death looms over us. I swear my undying loyalty to the Grand Duke and will follow the Regent’s will.”

Karl was drowning in the aftereffects of a terrible hangover. The night before, overwhelmed by his circumstances and secrets he couldn’t reveal, he had drunk himself into oblivion, wishing for death.

Instead of death, however, he woke up to a pounding headache and the blinding morning sun.

“Damn it…”

He wanted to run away, but he didn’t have the courage. So, like a pig waiting to be slaughtered, he sat and waited in fear.

Then, someone entered the room. Thinking it was Ferda, Karl scrambled to his feet and bowed, but—

“Uh, hello?”

It wasn’t Ferda. Instead, a woman with long black hair and an eerie presence stood before him.

“Who is she…?”

Something about her felt off. Her clothes made her look like one of the castle’s staff, but there was an unsettling energy about her that made Karl instinctively want to back away.

The woman awkwardly raised her hand in greeting.
“I’ll be handling the contract as a representative of the Grand Duke. Now then… Hmm…”

Her dark eyes scanned Karl from head to toe.
“Not as handsome as I’d heard, huh?”

Her voice was laced with disappointment. Karl wanted to be angry, but he couldn’t even muster the energy to react.

“My name is Echidna Filiaz,” she introduced herself.

“…Filiaz?” His hangover vanished instantly.
“Filiaz? As in… the witches from Filiaz?”

Filiaz was infamous. When women awakened their “Red Circle,” they became witches through contracts with Filiaz. These witches despised men and were known to never cooperate with anyone outside their circle. And now, Ferda had recruited one? How? Karl swallowed his scream of disbelief, forcing himself to stay silent. His opinion of Ferda was shifting rapidly.

“Here’s the contract… Take your time to read it,” Echidna said, handing him a thick stack of papers.

“Y-yes.” Karl flipped through the pages desperately, hoping to find a loophole. But it was no use. Without expertise in legal matters, there was no way he could fully understand the dozens of pages of the contract.

‘She really is a witch…’

Witches were notorious for their ironclad contracts, second only to demons in their ruthlessness. Karl had assumed the “dog collar” Ferda mentioned would be a simple binding spell, but using a witch to enforce it was beyond his imagination.

After skimming a few pages, Karl gave up and signed his name on each page, one by one. No matter what, the result was the same—he was going to be Ferda’s “dog.”

When he signed the final page, the contract began to glow.

“Argh…”

Karl groaned as he felt a stinging pain beneath his skin. The sharp sensation faded, leaving behind a mark on his wrist—the witch’s contract seal. With that, the contract with the eerie witch was complete.

“All done. Now… you’ll need to be careful with what you say, okay?”

“Careful? About what?”

“Well… I figured you didn’t really read it… As expected.” Echidna shrugged and continued, her tone matter-of-fact.
“If you try to act against the Regent’s orders, or even hint at breaking the contract… your head will go boom!”

She spoke awkwardly, but mentioned death without hesitation.

That made it even more terrifying.

Fifth-level contract magic was absolute.

If there were no flaws, breaking the contract was extremely difficult.

‘The level is not what matters…’

Karl had signed with a witch.

If that was discovered, he would be executed in the Empire.

And his brothers could also kill him.

He had to hide it at all costs.

“….”

“Ehehe… I would like you to respond…”

Karl shuddered.

An unsettling presence emanated from her.

Her awkward smile was filled with a madness without killing intent.

And that made her even more terrifying.

“Y-yes, of course!”

“Good, you answered. You may go. Bye bye~.”

Karl ran out.

Echidna smiled and waved him off.

As soon as he stepped out, he breathed in relief…

“The contract ended quickly.”

But in front of him there was another tiger.

That tiger placed a hand on his shoulder.

“As a member of the Extermination Squad and a loyal dog to the great duchy of Valdrova, I will give you your first mission.”

Karl could no longer escape.

“What is the mission?”

Ferda answered.

“Helus Povidas.”

The man known as the sage of water.

“Bring him here.”

He also planned to put a collar on him.