IMTDIK 20

Chapter 20

Carrot and Stick

“Is this a monster?” Jed looked down with a disgusted expression. Before him was a monster brought by Count Consilus’s soldiers: a bear monster, trapped inside a thick, sturdy stone container. Chains bound it tightly, and its joints had been broken and sealed. Even if it tried to move, it was completely powerless.

“Yes,” Ferda replied.

“I’ve never seen a monster before… I didn’t realize they were this disgusting,” Jed said, grimacing.

“You sound like a sheltered noblewoman.”

“Well… I was raised with some care, you know. On the Red-Eye Clan’s side…” Jed’s voice trailed off bitterly. Mentioning the Red-Eye Clan seemed to sting him. Then he looked at Ferda. “So… why did you call me here?”

“I called you to do your duties as an attendant,” Ferda said.

“Does this have something to do with the bear?”

Ferda nodded, looking down at the restrained monster.

“…What exactly are you planning to do with it?” Jed asked.

“This thing is still growing, even while restrained,” Ferda explained. “For now, it looks harmless, but in about an hour, its heart will start beating again.”

“…I see,” Jed muttered. “And when it’s in danger, it grows several times faster than normal.”

“So, what do you want me to do?”

Ferda raised his index finger and sliced the air sharply. “Every three hours, you’ll have to cut off its flesh—all of it, tendons and nerves included.”

Ferda patted Jed on the shoulder. “That’s your task.”

“…Every three hours? How am I supposed to sleep?”

“The followers in the southern region pray every three hours without fail, every day,” Ferda said calmly.

“That has nothing to do with me! I’m not even from there! How can you expect me to do this like a machine?”

“If they can, you can too.”

“Can’t I take turns with that maid girl?” Jed asked.

“She’s not my loyal servant. If you convince her, I won’t stop you,” Ferda replied.

Jed stayed silent. Even someone like him, who thought he could charm anyone, found the dragon-spawned maid intimidating.

“Don’t worry. You won’t do this forever. Just until Vernel’s research shows results.”

“And how long will that take?”

“Months.”

“Months…?” Jed laughed hollowly. Every three hours for months, he’d have to cut into this monster?

-Grrrk, grrrk- The bear monster exhaled a foul, guttural breath. Jed could already smell its stench.

“…You called me here just to do this?”

“When else would I use you?” Ferda said bluntly.

“Fine… I’ll do it. I just have to keep it up until the research is done, right?”

“Of course.”

“…Haha, thank you for this wonderful task,” Jed said politely, though his eyes burned with rage. His eyes glowed red, radiating intensity. What Vernel’s future held was uncertain, and Ferda didn’t care. He would handle things his way.

Two days later, a horse returned to Valdrova Castle. Its passenger was Vernel, recovered under Count Consilus’s care. He had survived the brush with death caused by mana burnout.

‘Today, I’m different from yesterday,’ he thought, filled with excitement. ‘I’ll dedicate my life to research. If I want power to change the world, I have to earn it.’

He abandoned his complacency and resolved to push himself to his limits.

After leaving his horse at the stable, Vernel noticed someone standing at the gates. A stranger—someone he hadn’t seen at Valdrova Castle before, aside from Ruri and Ferda.

‘What a handsome guy…’

The man had brown hair tied in a ponytail and a tall, imposing figure. Even Vernel, a man, couldn’t help but admire him.

The man smiled and walked closer. Vernel noticed dark circles under his eyes, signs of little sleep.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jed,” the man said brightly.

“Oh… hello. I’m Vernel,” he replied.

“I’ve heard about you. How old are you?”

“Uh… twenty-seven.”

“Ah, older than me. I’ll call you ‘hyung’ (big brother).”

“Uh… okay.”

“Let me guide you to the lab, hyung,” Jed said cheerfully.

Vernel thought, ‘I never imagined someone this cool would call me hyung!’ His resentment from before was starting to fade.

“This is the bear monster we captured alive,” Jed said, gesturing to it.

“Oh… it’s alive and well cared for…”

“Of course. Do you know who’s been managing it?”

“You… Jed? Thank you.”

“No need,” Jed replied, dragging a chair toward the entrance. Drraaaag The sound was oddly eerie. He placed the chair, sat, crossed his legs, and folded his arms. It was as if he blocked the entrance on purpose.

“Alright, get started.”

“No… you are blocking the entrance.”

“Sorry… what?”

“Your research. Don’t waste time—start now.”

Jed’s figure, dimly lit by candlelight, seemed far more intimidating than in daylight.

“Because of hyung’s research, this little brother has to wake every three hours with this dagger—” Bang!

“Eek!”

“—and slice up that damn monster!”

“S-Sorry…!”

“No need. If hyung needs anything, just say the word. Anything. Focus on your research,” Jed said, eyes blazing. His gaze burned like hellfire. The dagger he slammed into the table radiated icy frost.

“And if you’re tired? Sleep when you’re dead, right?”

One thought echoed in Vernel’s mind. Checkmate.

The army moved along the main road. Two knights on horseback led, followed by a flag bearer with a family crest. At the center, a luxurious carriage moved slowly.

Inside was Baron Guillot, traveling to Valdrova Castle for official business.

The castle, on a lonely mountain slope in the east, was visible from afar.

“Ugh…” Baron Guillot groaned as his stomach churned. The closer he got, the worse it became.

“My father said there’d be no reason to go there… what a lie…”

“Master, deep breath,” his servant urged.

Right, deep breaths… the third son of the Guillot family couldn’t afford fear.

The carriage entered the grounds. A red carpet stretched out. Standing in the middle was a silver-haired maid—the dragon-spawn of Valdrova.

“You’ve arrived,” she said.

“Y-Yes…” the baron stammered.

“This way,” Ruri led him. The empty halls unsettled him; it felt like crawling into a leviathan.

Finally, they reached a large door, engraved with dragons’ heroic tales. At eye level, it read:

“Honor the master of strength and the primordial flame.”

Inside stood a man. Baron Guillot flinched. Gray hair, blue eyes, deep as a lake. It was Ferda Valdrova.

“You’ve traveled far. Was it difficult?”

“N-No… not at all… Haha…”

“I see. Out of shape, huh? Lose some weight. Obesity leads to early death.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“This way,” Ferda said, gesturing for him to sit. The baron’s sweat poured freely.

“You’ve been working hard in the eastern region.”

“Nothing worth mentioning… compared to the Emperor’s burdens…”

“True. Your duties are but a speck of dust.” Ferda’s tone suddenly grew cold. The baron felt trapped.

“I didn’t want to, but as regent, I reviewed your documents.” Thud! A stack of papers hit the table.

“Signs of forgery,” Ferda said.

Baron Guillot’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. Anger would be pointless; he had to listen.

“Do you know how much went missing?” Ferda pointed to a figure: 3,000 goldens.

“You pocketed 3,000 coins—more than most would ever see.”

“I-I didn’t personally…”

“Of course not. Someone like you couldn’t write so elegantly. It screams a professional scribe.”

Ferda continued. “You probably took a small portion and passed some down. The actual amount you took is less than 3,000, but nobility comes with responsibility.”

“Embezzlement, forgery, violation of dignity…” Ferda read aloud. The baron seemed older by the minute.

“By law, the minimum fine is 10,000 goldens. At worst… execution, your head displayed at the gates.”

Images of Tesalos Walcher’s end flashed in the baron’s mind. Pale, he fell to his knees.

“Please forgive me! I swear I won’t do it again!”

“Hmm.” Ferda stood and patted his shoulder.

“I’m not saying don’t do these things.”

“Pardon?”

“I don’t care what you take—food, women, I don’t mind.”

“Then why…?”

“Competence matters,” Ferda said. “A bit corrupt but capable is better than clean but incompetent. A little deviation for the greater good is fine. But…” He leaned closer.

“Prove your competence. Solve the food supply and monster problems quickly. Bring stability to the people. Otherwise…” He waved the papers.

“…this report might reach the imperial capital. The Emperor and your family would learn. Then we’d see whose head—executioner or family knights—comes first. Understand?”

“Y-Yes! I’ll prove myself!”

“Good. That’s all.” The baron left as if escaping a guillotine.

Ferda checked him off the meeting list. Having someone think through this is convenient, he thought. Despite being a grand mage, Ferda wasn’t good at administrative work. The brain behind this was Mori. She looked innocent, but her knowledge was encyclopedic. Ferda had told her:

“Review ledgers and reports. Summarize inconsistencies and calculate penalties based on law.”

She nodded and worked at lightning speed. Reports on 14 lords’ corruption were ready. Ferda met them one by one.

“Corruption doesn’t matter. No fish without a fishy smell, no noble without corruption. If they can’t prove their worth, they’re gone. Competence is enough,” he thought.

“Another lord leaves crying like a child,” Ruri said.

“Five more to go,” Ferda replied.

“Are you trying to scare them all? Become a tyrant?”

“I’ve only used the whip today,” Ferda said.

“The whip…?”

“Carrot and stick. Alternating is the key.”

“But you’ve only whipped them,” Ruri said.

“Have I?”

“Yes. It seems like fear only,” she replied.

“Hmm…” Ferda hadn’t realized. “Well, it doesn’t matter. These fools wasted the carrot for too long. Time to put them to work.”

“True,” Ruri agreed.

Ferda Valdrova continued wielding his whip for the principality’s sake.