CHAPTER 1169

Deurgo found our weakness

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“So, will you give him to us? You thought that Volgrau was already dead. And so surely you should not mind canceling the contract?”

“Indeed…”

For some reason, Deurgo grinned as he began to think about it…

“I want one hundred in gold. Then you can have him.”

“What!?”

Both Sebastian and I were surprised. However, it was the guard, who had been silent up until now, who gasped out loud.

“Uh…please excuse me…”

“…One hundred. But…didn’t you attack Volgrau because you did not want him anymore? Why would you demand so much for him now?”

“What? What are you talking about! That was merely an accident. I went a little too far. I love my Volgrau very much, and would only be able to part with him for a hundred gold. It’s a deal, isn’t it? I’m sure you can raise the money somehow.”

I suppose Sebastian’s story about having Volgrau act as my guard had made us look a little desperate.

But…did he not understand the situation he was in? He was tied up. Arrested. He was in no position to negotiate.

“I see… Very well. I will pay you.”

“Seba… Old man!?”

I was so sure that he would refuse… One hundred in gold was close to ten million yen…

Even now, I have a habit of converting everything into Japanese money. Regardless, you would be able to live quite well for a long time with that kind of money.

Of course, it might not be much for the duke, but…

Also, I did not like the idea of having Volgrau moved around like a product.

“…My son is astonished, as it is quite a sum. Indeed…would you mind if we discussed it for a moment?”

“Aye, do what you want. But I won’t lower the price, not even a little. …Besides, don’t you want your son to be safe? He will be if he has a wolf with him. Now, hurry up before I change my mind.”

“Yes. Excuse me… Tak, over here.”

Deurgo smiled confidently as if he had already won.

In the meantime, Sebastian and I stood up and walked to a corner of the room.

“Hey. What are you trying to do…”

I protested in a hushed voice so that Deurgo would not hear.

“While it is a lot of money, it is not something we cannot pay. Besides, it would be the best way to get rid of him.”

“But…Volgrau shouldn’t be sold and bought like that… Also, I can’t ask someone else to pay for…”

I did not want the duke to pay for something that was my idea.

Though, he was right that it was probably a simpler method than trying to persuade him with words. But still…

“Don’t worry, Tak. A hundred gold… Even if we pay it, it will come straight back…”

“Huh?”

The last part was said so quietly that I almost missed it.

But what did he mean?

“I am sure that if we look into his history, we shall find all sorts of things. So much that he will be fined and have to pay for damages. And then…he will have just enough to pay…”

Sebastian said with a smile.

In other words, once his crimes were exposed, he would not have any money left.

But would someone like him really have worked enough mischief to have to pay a hundred in gold? And if that was the case, surely paying some money would not be enough to escape punishment…