Trash of the Count's Family - TCF Part 2 - Chapter 77

Alberu relayed to Cale the Whipper Kingdom’s message that their doors were always open for Cale. He brightly smiled and urged Cale to go since Toonka missed him. Cale frowned when he heard that. Alberu smiled brighter and persuaded Cale to go and take care of business. Cale did not have to do anything complicated. He would simply be a representative, so Cale accepted Alberu’s order.
He just needed to break the ice, and Alberu’s subordinates would take care of the rest. Deruth and Billos would handle the mine issue too. Cale smiled as he thought that he just needed to install the mines and he could earn money comfortably. It would be good for his future slacker life.
Back to the present, Toonka guffawed, saying that it was nice to see Cale’s smile again. But Cale’s smile weakened upon hearing Toonka’s voice. Cale thought that Toonka had somehow become a decent guy now. Harol was the same, as his previous vengeance against mages had almost faded. Cale greeted Harol with a handshake.
Harol was now the State Minister of the Whipper Kingdom. Cale suggested that they go in because there were many eyes watching them here. They were currently in front of the royal palace. Cale knew that news of Cale and CH’s visit to the Whipper Kingdom would soon spread to the other kingdoms since there were spies here too.
Harol took them to a quiet place, acting friendly towards Cale. Toonka shrugged at Cale’s sudden visit, exclaiming to just think of it as coming over to play next door. Cale played along with the friendly act, saying that with the faith and trust the Whipper had shown, he could not help but come. But Harol knew that Cale had a reason to be here, and Cale did not deny that.
The palace was originally supposed to be the king’s residence. However, the king was now a figurehead and lived in another palace, so this palace was used a meeting place for national affairs. Harol led them to a small room at the top of the palace. Toonka said that they had to throw a banquet, but Cale ignored him.
Harol remarked that Cale was alive and well. Cale laughed at Harol’s words that had a sarcastic nuance, much different from the friendly way he talked outside. Cale replied that he was fine, and asked if the other did not like it. Harol did not answer and simply hurried his steps. Cale and CH did not feel offended by that as they were aware of Harol’s sincerity.
No matter how much Toonka would push for the Puzzle City restoration cost, it would not be accepted without Harol’s approval. The funds that Whipper Kingdom sent to Roan was sent quickly because of Harol. Cale thought of the internal situation of the Whipper Kingdom. After the civil war, they were struggling for internal stability.
The kingdom was planning to develop other fields of knowledge. Perhaps they would become an unusual kingdom were mages or knights were not the main forces. But the chance of that happening was low because they had no money.
Inside, Toonka said that they had prepared dinner for them. Cale was surprised that it was not a banquet, which was what Toonka had been talking about earlier. Toonka awkwardly laughed, replying that they would hold a banquet next time and invited Cale to stay in the kingdom for 3 more days. Cale did not like that as he felt it annoying to deal with Toonka for 3 days.
However, Cale was impressed that Toonka was thinking deeply. The kingdom did not have much money, so Toonka had given up on holding a banquet. Toonka had thought of the kingdom’s circumstances in his own way. Cale looked at Harol, commenting that the funds they sent to Roan was quite a huge amount.
Harol said that it was not that huge, but Cale shook his head. For the Whipper Kingdom, it was a huge amount. Cale had known about the kingdom’s economic situation through Billos. The kingdom might be able to get through the winter, but it would be hard for them afterwards. Their main industry had fallen, their kingdom had been devastated by the civil war, and their resources had been consumed due to their war against Mogoru.
Thus, their financial situation was tight. Cale did not like Toonka very much, but now, he pretended to be the opposite because the kingdom had shown him their loyalty. Cale asked if he could ask several questions, and Toonka permitted it. Cale asked if they wanted another land or another war.
This confused Toonka, so Cale expounded that the most comfortable way to earn money was to steal from others. Toonka frowned, and CH gulped at Cale’s strange behavior. But CH was relieved to see that Harol was only looking on in curiosity and smiled when they met eyes.
“…My dear friend.”
After a long time, Toonka’s mouth opened. “I always want to fight.”
Cale’s eyebrow was slightly raised this time. Choi Han also flinched. At that moment, Harol laughed.
Toonka raised his hand. His fist struck the table.
Boom!
“Like you!”
Excuse me?
When Cale paused for a moment, Toonka looked at Cale with burning eyes.
“I want to fight like you!”
What?
Cale was slightly intimidated by Toonka’s power. But Toonka shouted, hitting the table repeatedly.
Boom!
“That is the true face of a warrior!”
Boom!
“A fight where one is not even afraid of gods! That battle! The firmness that does not back down!”
Boom!
“A value that a warrior who fights against nature should pursue!”
Toonka must have been excited as his shoulders soared to the fullest and his body was shaking.
Cale’s eyes turned to the table which had been broken and crushed.
‘Ah, he’s really strong.’
He may have been beaten up by Choi Han, but no one could surpass Toonka’s innate physical talent. On top of that, he had good resilience no matter how much he got hit. There was no better tank than him.
“I realized this when I saw my close friends fighting against White Star! That such a war aimed at the Mogoru Empire was nothing!”
CH avoided Toonka’s gaze, knowing that he was part of the ‘my close friends’ that Toonka had mentioned. Cale timidly asked if they had no intention of targeting other kingdoms then. Toonka exclaimed that he hated wars like that. He preferred true fights against the strong. Cale thought that Toonka was still the same, but a little better.
Harol answered that he had things to protect now. Cale’s expression darkened as he recalled that Harol’s madness was more than Toonka’s. Harol declared that he had to make sure that their followers lived properly, so he did not regret this life now. Cale was puzzled by his change, but dared to ask one more question.
“If you have money, would you go to war again?”
“Ha!” Toonka shook his head, feeling frustrated. “My dear friend, that’s not what I meant!”
He was adamant about it.
“It’s boring! Such a war! I, am now you!”
He pointed to Cale.
“It’s not worth fighting unless it’s the kind of fight you do!”
Choi Han’s expression worsened.
Do you know how hard Cale-nim is fighting, and you’re still saying this?
Fights are boring?
You don’t want to fight?
War is not like that.
Its weight should not be underestimated.
However, Choi Han did not sharpen his blade towards Toonka.
“And, well… I don’t want to force those who follow me into meaningless fights.”
He understood the meaning of Toonka’s words.
‘…At least if you fight, it means you want to fight a meaningful one like Cale-nim.’
He did not sympathize, but he understood what the other meant.
Harol said that if they had money, he would set up an academy. Toonka was surprised at that, and Harol explained that they needed other financial sources. Rosalyn’s magic tower and Mogoru’s new alchemy tower would be built soon, so they needed to develop strength to stand against those two. Cale was a bit surprised at Harol’s answer.
Cale knew that he had to build power to keep those two towers in check, but Harol had basically declared that his kingdom would do that. Cale thought that it was not bad as that move was necessary. Cale laughed and asked what Harol was looking forward to. Harol replied that he thought that Cale came with a present.
Harol was clever as Cale had indeed brought a present. Cale was about to take it out, but a notification sound rang. Toonka and Harol were puzzled, but Cale dismissed the sound, saying that it was not a big deal. However, the notifications kept ringing, so Harol asked Cale to take care of whatever that was first.
Cale sighed and took out a one page document, laying it down in front of Harol and Toonka. The two were shocked at Cale’s gift. It was a silver mine at such a large scale that could not be found anywhere in the eastern and western continents. Cale told Harol to read the details first.
Cale checked the message, looking indifferent.
‘What?’
2
T-Ting!

Oh?
Did you increase the number of people?
Cale’s eyes were filled with interest.