Chapter 37: Blood for Blood

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Rayne appointed Diamond as tax collector and gave him twenty gold crowns to fund the work ahead.

From then on, Diamond would not only have to find a way to collect taxes from Iron Harbor City, but also establish a marketplace there, attract merchants from other regions, and encourage the townspeople to engage in more trade, thereby creating new sources of taxation and revenue.

As the former head of an illegal black market, Diamond was surely well versed in the rules of commerce. The position was a perfect match for his expertise.

After sending Diamond off to get to work, Rayne summoned everyone and announced that the following week he would be taking Bethalia and Ellyrinna to the Imperial Capital.

While he was away, all administrative affairs on Salt Island would be handled entirely by Daya, the administrative officer. If she encountered anything beyond her ability, she could send a messenger raven to the Imperial Capital and consult Rayne.

“I can’t do it, I can’t!” Daya hurriedly refused in a loud voice. “This isn’t even my territory! What noble would hand over his domain to an outsider to manage?”

“You’re not an outsider,” Rayne said calmly. “You’re my personal maid. When the master is away, it’s perfectly ordinary for the maid to help manage the family’s estate. At least, that’s how things are done where we come from.”

“That’s impossible!” Daya cried out in desperation.

Lately, merely handling the petitions of the people had left her utterly overwhelmed. Without Bethalia’s help, she had no doubt that those troublesome commoners would have led her around by the nose.

And then there were the knight squires. Ellyrinna had originally been responsible for training them, while Daya had absolutely no experience in the matter.

Now both of them were going with Rayne to the Imperial Capital! Why couldn’t she go too?

She had clearly arrived first!

“Your objection is overruled.” Rayne cut off her protest. “Say one more word, and I’ll stop dealing with the affairs of the Rainforest Peninsula.”

“But—glrk!” Daya could only cover her mouth with both hands, proving that she had not, in fact, “said one more word.”

“I heard a word!” Rayne burst out laughing. He was just about to continue teasing the little maid when he suddenly saw a messenger raven from Sea Rock City fly in through a window at the top of the castle.

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Marquis Faher was furious.

As for a son like Polo Faher, the old marquis would not have mourned him even if he had died a hundred times. The marquis had far too many sons—so many that he could not even remember the names of several of them.

But Callich was different.

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Back when Marquis Faher had still been merely “the marquis’s son,” Callich had been one of the younger brothers he trusted most. Now he was the marquis’s right-hand man, in command of the family’s escort fleet. The extent of the marquis’s trust in him was obvious.

Now that Callich was dead, who would fill the position of fleet commander?

The qualified and capable candidates were Darian and Bodak, but those two were already in charge of the merchant fleet and the smuggling fleet respectively. Giving either of them command of the escort fleet as well would place too much power in his hands, and the old marquis would never sleep soundly again.

Among his other brothers and even his older sons, there were no shortage of men with ability and cunning. Yet almost none had any real seniority, nor had they established a relationship of trust with the marquis himself.

I am furious!

After his anger had subsided, Marquis Faher began to consider the matter with pure reason.

Callich was dead. Most of the armed sailors aboard the escort fleet had also been killed, especially the senior and mid-ranking crewmen—the first mates, navigators, boatswains, and other confidants of Callich. Nearly all of them had been sent diving in the River Styx.

As for the sailors who remained alive, with all their superiors dead, most of them had probably already surrendered to Rayne.

In other words, apart from the merchant fleet and smuggling fleet currently overseas, the Faher family now possessed no naval strength at all.

If Rayne were driven into rebellion, Salt Island would immediately break free of Sea Rock City’s control. It might even send an escort fleet to attack Sea Rock City in turn.

Therefore, the most urgent matter was to get Rayne off Salt Island and back to Sea Rock City.

In the letter he sent to Rayne, Marquis Faher flew into a rage. He even threatened to cut off Salt Island’s supplies and demanded that Rayne return to give the family an explanation: Why had Callich died in Iron Harbor City?

It was a clever response on the marquis’s part, because he knew Rayne was no fool. If Rayne had caused such a disaster and the marquis had calmly invited him home, Rayne would certainly have grown suspicious for no reason.

Rayne could not truly rebel, because Salt Island was incapable of sustaining itself. He would therefore have to devise a perfectly reasonable explanation for Callich’s death in order to muddle through the family’s questioning.

But none of that mattered. The marquis’s real intention was to reclaim Salt Island and give Rayne a different fief.

Although Marquis Faher was restless inside, his expression remained composed and tranquil. He was so unhurried that he even spent some time enjoying the company of his new wife, which reassured the family members who heard about the incident to some degree.

When news arrived that Rayne had reached the docks of Sea Rock City, the old marquis—who had been sowing and plowing in bed—sprang up at once. Ignoring his new wife’s furious scolding and curses, he hurriedly dressed and went to receive Rayne.

By the time he reached the docks, Marquis Faher had already composed his features. Looking at Rayne’s handsome face, which resembled none of his own, he quickly scanned him from head to toe, then nodded solemnly.

“It’s good that you weren’t injured.”

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For now, the old marquis had no intention of acting against this son.

Rayne, of course, saw through his father’s intentions as well. He smiled and said, “You look as distinguished as ever, Father.”

The marquis threw back his head and laughed, then patted Rayne on the back.

The two walked side by side along the road back to Gull Castle. Marquis Faher revealed nothing of his intentions, merely asking Rayne about the cause of his uncle Callich’s death.

Rayne replied that “the armed sailors rebelled at the fleet’s base and killed all the senior and mid-ranking crewmen. The rebels have now all been eliminated.”

It was an extremely unconvincing excuse, because sailors’ mutinies usually occurred on the open sea. Afterward, the mutineers would often seize the ship and flee to another country, lest the forces behind the ship’s owner pursue them for revenge…

Who the hell would start a mutiny at a fleet base? Wasn’t that simply courting death?

Yet Marquis Faher showed not the slightest trace of suspicion. He merely stroked his beard and nodded.

“You are my son, so naturally I believe you. However, many members of the family were close friends of your unfortunate uncle. They may question and interrogate you later. Just tell the truth, and I will protect you.”

“All right.” Rayne sneered inwardly. So you’re not even pretending anymore, are you?

What close friends did Callich have in the family? They were probably all actors you planted!

The father and son, each harboring their own schemes, entered the candlelit banquet hall of Gull Castle and saw that the family members were already sitting rigidly in their respective places.

Unlike the lively banquet atmosphere of last time, the hall was now solemn and gloomy, like a sky filled with dark clouds before the arrival of a storm.

Marquis Faher gently nudged Rayne, signaling him to walk to the front.

With a calm expression, Rayne stepped into the center of the semicircular banquet hall, the focal point where every family member’s gaze converged.

He showed not the slightest fear.

“Murderer of your own kin!” someone among the family members suddenly shouted furiously. “Blood must answer for blood!”

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