Valerian, The Legendary

While the second prince was somewhat surprised, the Duke looked at the boy with utter disbelief. He could sense that the emotions of this child did not fluctuate even a bit when he chopped off the wrist of the old butler. This was something that made him feel fearful toward this child.

Duke Vulcan was a violent man, and he had his fair share of body count, but even to this day, he could not keep as calm as this boy when attacking someone. Ensoma was also frightened but then he was overwhelmed by a sense of humility. This kid was calling him an insect. How could he tolerate it?

He lashed out, “Who the fuck are you? You are just an orphan, Vulcan, even if you think I am in the wrong, is this how you treat me?

How are you sure that this bastard is not using his status as an adopted prince to deal with me over a petty issue? Did your brain become mush after the accident? You senile fool.”

Duke Vulcan gazed at him, and wanted to say something when Valerian said, “You sure have a dirty mouth, fine, I am just an adopted prince but you just called the Duke a senile man? Do you know what the punishment for that is? Well, let me add this to the pile of your sins, for now, you will pay the price altogether.

Now, let us talk about why you are being treated like this. Ensoma Ecudare, do you accept that you have caravans traveling through the city borders, and do your men interact with the military posted on the border regions regularly?”

He asked a simple question, and Ensoma replied, “Yes, I am a merchant. I own a firm that deals with people all over the continent. What does this have to do with anything?”

“You will know in a few minutes, so just cooperate, if you are found innocent, not only will I apologize to you, I will even go down on my knees to do that.”, said Valerian.

.....

His tone was calm and stable. He did not seem to be affected by the fact that he might have to kneel in order to apologize. The two people looked at him and they were impressed. They knew that Valerian was trying to get Ensoma to put down his guard, or at least, think lowly of him.

None of the people inside the room were foolish enough to think that Ensoma did not know what this child was trying to do. However, even after he knew, he would subconsciously do it, the arrogance etched deep in his bones would delude his intellect, and make him underestimate the child in front of him.

Ensoma nodded, indicating that he will cooperate. Valerian asked him, “Do you have any dealings with the berserk nation?”

Ensoma nodded, and Valerian asked, “How long have you, the golden merchant firm been dealing with them?”

“It has been a decade now.”, Ensoma replied concisely, he did not want to reveal anything. But he did not realize that his tight-lipped performance was going to be the nail in his own coffin.

Valerian nodded and asked, “According to what we know, none of the other firms have been able to deal with the Valkyrians for such a long time. Some of the biggest firms in the continent do not even deal with them at all. So why can you do it?”

His question was sudden and caught the merchant by surprise, this was not expected of this child. Ensoma was surprised and began to think that the people in the capital had been aware of his actions for a long time and he could not help but sweat a little. Forcibly, Ensoma calmed down his anxious heart.

He replied, “I do not know, maybe because we are the only firm that is available for them so they do not dare to offend us.”

The merchant was calm, he did not think that he exposed anything in his statement. The old butler on the side was, however, flustered. Valerian noticed the slight unease in his eyes. He did not cast the paralysis spell on the merchant but the butler was not spared.

Valerian nodded and then proceeded to interrogate the man based on his observation. In reality, what he had was a hunch, and no links to connect the merchant directly to the mole, but he still impeached the man following his intuition. The earlier facts were all an arrow in the dark, but only Vertex and Vulcan knew about this.

He thought for a bit and asked, “May I ask what are the things that you supply the Valkyrians that make them so dependent on you?”

His eyes were cold, but his tone was calm. Ensoma, who was also observing this silver-haired child was stumped for an answer, he could not tell them what he supplied the people in the berserk country with. However, he was aware if he lagged in answering, he will definitely look like a culprit so he said, “I supply them some rare things in the western continent.”

Valerian asked, “Have you never questioned, why would the uncultured backward country like Valkyria need such rare things, after all, I have never heard of them having such a taste. Have you?”

His questions were getting sharper. The merchant shook his head and said, “Why should I care if they buy the rare products from me? I just get a good amount of money, that is all.”

Valerian sneered and the second prince and the duke raised their eyebrow, the merchant just accepted the fact that he will not care for the reason if he gets an appropriate price. The expression of the trio made Ensoma realize his slip-up. He implied that he was a money-minded person.

However, Valerian did not give him a chance of covering up. He nodded and asked, “You are indeed a competent merchant, true to the trade, sale anything and everything if the price is right.”

Ensoma wanted to retort when the Duke broke his silence, “Merchant, do you know what we found in the cellar of the building where the berserks were hiding?”

The merchant cast him a glance and asked, “What?”

Vertex said, “Sir Quies.”

The call was to indicate the man to bring in the evidence. When the old man walked inside the hall, he was followed by three ladies. These ladies were dressed normally, but they had terrified expressions on their faces. They walked hand in hand, with their eyes moving around like restless beads. It was as if they were afraid someone would jump at them.

Ensoma looked at the three ladies, but gradually, as if he recalled something, his face changed, and his fists clenched.