Raising Paladins

Episode 41. All relationships bought with money are like that (2)

A shady and damp dungeon.

Rainwater from the ground ran down the walls, and dirty stains could be seen on it.

A place where you can hear the groans of prisoners beyond the iron bars along with the sound of rats squeaking and feeding.

A soldier with a torch was passing through a place that normal people would never want to come.

“Today is also peaceful.”

He is a Mayrium security guard.

His day begins with an inspection of the dungeon.

As he was carrying out his duties today, his gaze reached a prisoner beyond the bars.

“Tsk tsk, a well-known person happens to be one day… … .”

Devaldo, the head of the merchant guild.

Excluding the mayor, Baron Astell, he is the richest person in Meirium.

No, the ‘wealthy’ one.

But now he is imprisoned with a shabby appearance.

Although he is living in a solitary room thanks to the visit of Aileen, the chamberlain, who is the closest aide to the mayor, he is still in a solitary room, but compared to Devaldo’s previous reputation, the word ‘decay’ fits perfectly.

The soldier tried to pass by the place where Devaldo was, thinking that he really did not know human affairs.

Then, inside the prison, Devaldo stretched out his hand and grabbed the soldier’s leg gaiter.

“Something to eat… … give me something to eat… … .”

“How many times can I tell you? Prisoners are not allowed to eat or drink anything other than the prescribed two meals a day.”

“My, I’ll make up for everything? Just get out of here and I can make you rich!”

“after… … If you’re not interested, let go of this hand.”

widely!

The soldier slapped his thigh, freeing Devaldo’s hand.

Then, with a displeased face, he stared into the dark bars and left immediately.

“Hey… … .”

Debaldo, who had a bloated body, but his cheeks went well in a few days.

He, too, was well aware of his situation.

‘Damn the priest… … !’

An apprentice priest named Carlos.

It’s all because of him.

If he hadn’t taken the bait that he had put out, and if the scavengers hadn’t been fooled, he would have made the temple into his mansion and trembled by now… … .

The cunning priest not only stole Devaldo’s property, but also stole people’s hearts.

That was what really mattered.

In fact, even if Devaldo’s property had been robbed with a large escort fee and compensation from merchants, some amount of money remained hidden in preparation for such an unexpected situation.

However, the fact that he harmed the priest who was escorting him and even threatened the safety of the fruit merchants he went with spread all over the place.

Thanks to this, not only the top of the fruit, but also all the citizens of Meirium point their fingers at Devaldo.

The head chamberlain, Aileen, also came to me on the first day of confinement and talked about it.

– The mayor feels sorry for Mr. Devaldo’s situation. But releasing is difficult. It’s because the citizens are very angry after hearing Devaldo’s story. If you help Devaldo in this situation, the mayor will probably be in great trouble. So please understand.

“Dog bastard! I will definitely kill you!”

The more I think about it, the more angry I get.

I don’t know where the dog bone came from, but I lost everything because I got caught up in the priest’s impure plan.

If I had to get out of here somehow, I wanted to kill the priest by hiring a mercenary or an assassin with the money I had hidden.

Then the sound of the prison door being opened was heard.

Awesome… … .

“… … ?”

Devaldo, who hurriedly crawled near the bar, wondering if it was already mealtime.

But an unexpected person came.

“Marlon! How are you!”

One of Baron Astell’s aides along with Chief Chamberlain Eileen.

Marlon, the butler of Mayrium City Hall, was a man taller than Hanson, the leader of the gang, and with dark skin that was more intimidating.

“You must be suffering a lot, Mr. Devaldo.”

“That, that’s it, but… … What did you come here for? if… … ?”

Devaldo’s gaze was full of anticipation.

Marlon smiled slightly and nodded.

“The mayor sent it. It’s to get Devaldo out of here.”

“Oh oh! also! The baron!”

Baron Astell should be thrown away immediately if it is not beneficial to him.

He must have been aiming for something, so he sent Marlon.

Devaldo knew the baron’s temper well, but now his situation was very urgent.

Because you can think about the later days.

First of all, it is urgent to get out of this damp and filthy dungeon.

okay.

I rummaged through the package of keys Marlon had brought.

However, he continued to fidget with the few key bundles and did not open the grate.

Then Debaldo, who became desperate, shouted.

“Oh, hurry up! Hurry up and get some out! This place is so dirty and unpleasant!”

“Mr Devaldo.”

“… … ?”

“There are things you should know before you come out.”

“something?”

Marlon’s smile disappeared from his face.

Devaldo gulped down his saliva as he erased his smile, who was naturally imposing.

“I think you heard about the situation from Aileen. The citizens are not cooperative with Devaldo. In this situation, we cannot openly release Devaldo. No matter how much you say you are the mayor.”

“I guess… … but… … .”

“That’s why I’m thinking of escaping Meirium secretly with Devaldo-sama. Do you understand?”

“ah… … .”

Marlon’s argument was valid.

Devaldo is the one who endangered the top of the fruit, and you can’t release such Devaldo in front of others.

Devaldo agreed with that.

I don’t want to run into people who are going to be very angry.

But sneaking out of Mayrium was a different matter.

“Wait a minute! Look, Marlon!”

“Tell me.”

“actually… … that… … i kinda… … .”

Devaldo looked back and forth between Marlon’s face and the prison floor.

The restless look seemed to be troubled by something.

“Please feel free to speak. I am the one who came to help Devaldo.”

“That, right?”

“of course.”

De Baldo hesitated a few more times before finally opening his mouth.

“I have some money hidden! Can’t we just find it and leave?”

“I may be able to help with the cost of living for the time being. Do you really need to take the risk?”

“It’s not like that! actually… … That’s quite a lot of money! With that money, you can have a fresh start wherever you go! So be sure to bring it with you!”

“Hmm… … .”

Marlon’s lips pouted in an instant.

It was such a short moment, and there was no light other than a small torch hanging on the wall, so I didn’t see Devaldo.

‘As expected, the master’s insight… … .’

Why did Baron Astell send him to the dungeon?

It was to steal the money Devaldo had been hiding.

Since Devaldo was sincere in protecting his comfort, he sent the butler thinking that there must be a hidden crone in addition to the property that was revealed on the surface.

Marlon admired Baron Astell’s insight.

‘In order to achieve the master’s goal, I have to collect even more pennies.’

When things went as intended, Marlon felt good.

Because the stupid Devaldo was spilling his thoughts on his own.

However, at times like this, the more you spend, the more the opponent will be impatient.

Marlon said to Devaldo, who was clinging to the iron bars, managing his expression.

“If you go to your house to collect money and you get caught in the public eye, you could be in big trouble. Money is money, but wouldn’t Devaldo’s comfort be more important?”

“Without money, I am as good as dead! So you must find it!”

“hmm… … Then how about this method?”

Devaldo put his ear to the grate.

“First of all, Devaldo-nim and I will get out of town first, and then I will have someone bring back the crone that Devaldo-nim has hidden. Please tell me where you hid the money.”

“that… … .”

“Are you sure you don’t believe me?”

“No! Could it be! i just… … .”

“If you are really worried, please tell me after you get out of here. You don’t have to talk now.”

“That, right? I trust you, but I haven’t met the person you’re working for yet! That’s why!”

“Of course you would.”

Clap!

Finally, the iron bars were opened, and Devaldo was helped out by Marlon.

“It’s about time for the security guard shift. I’ll take a break and go out.”

“Okay!”

sh*t.

A deep smile formed on Marlon’s lips once again.

However, Devaldo could not read the true intention behind that smile.

***

a few hours later.

Devaldo and Marlon were waiting for someone in the woods outside the city.

Malone’s minion who will immediately retrieve the hidden money.

Before long, the minion emerged from the bushes.

He was holding a small pouch in one hand and a cage with a red parrot in the other.

“Ohh, Piki!”

Devaldo, who jumped up, approached happily and held out his hand.

However, the man wearing a black robe only handed over the cage and did not give the small pouch easily.

“Let me give it to you.”

“yes.”

When Marlon nodded, the man handed over his pocket.

Devaldo quickly opened the pouch and checked the contents.

“I’m glad, I’m glad… … .”

A handful of jewels glittering in the pocket.

Devaldo had turned part of his fortune into jewels in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

And I hid it in a corner of the house, and I brought it back.

‘If only this jewel is replaced with crones, I can fully recover!’

Hope bloomed on Devaldo’s face.

however.

“Are you done checking?”

Sureureung.

Devaldo turned his head at the terrifying sound.

In his field of vision, he saw Marlon with an ink-colored dagger drawn.

“I am sorry. I’m doing it under orders, so don’t blame me too much.”

“Come on!”

jerk, jerk.

Devaldo backed away in terror as Marlon approached slowly.

Then, it got caught on a protruding stone beak and fell down without a look.

“Don’t do this! I’ll give you all of this, so just let it go!”

“You know the character of the mayor, right? He likes things neat.”

“this… … !”

Devaldo, who had fallen back, picked up a handful of dirt from the floor and sprinkled it on Marlon, who was approaching.

However, Marlon continued to approach without blinking an eye, and Devaldo was finally blocked by a tree stump.

“Then goodbye.”

Marlon slowly raised the dagger he was holding down.

Then, he immediately slashed it at the nape of Devaldo’s neck.

“aaa!”

however.

Ting!

A small stone that flew in from somewhere deflected the dagger that had been drawn downward.

Soon after, a man appeared from the bush in the direction the stone flew.

“I use it as much as I need, and in the end, I take everything I have and kill it… … . Year after year, the repertoire of bad guys stays the same.”

A neat priestly uniform with a slim body.

Her neatly arranged blonde hair fluttered in the wind.

It was Carlos.