Chapter 65: Brothers and a Cold (6)
A dragon catching a cold? I had never heard of such a thing. Or maybe they’re more delicate creatures than I thought, and susceptible to colds after all?
Could it be that the influenza virus doesn’t discriminate and affects all living things equally? That’s pretty impressive if true.
It seemed that Rurin’s immune system was affected because she was in her human form, following the same biological rules as a human body.
It wasn’t a completely far-fetched idea—dragons who polymorphed and formed relationships with humans could give birth to humans, not dragons.
I’d heard that dragons who engaged in such relationships gave birth like humans instead of laying eggs. The offspring weren’t dragons or even half-dragons.
They were purely human. Even though dragons indulged in the act, no more dragons were born—only humans. If that weren’t the case, the world would be full of dragons by now.
So, that means a dragon’s polymorph perfectly recreates human cells and tissues, which explains why Rurin’s human body could be infected by a cold virus.
Still, it’s strange. Cold viruses are usually transmitted through mucous membrane contact or saliva, yet all Rurin did was stay beside me. How did she catch it?
“Rurin, if you turn back into a dragon, won’t the virus disappear too?”
“I don’t want that. Didn’t I tell you I don’t want to be something different from you! I am me, and I want to stay as I am now! But I’m dizzy, I have no strength, and my throat hurts, huuugh.”
“You’re stubborn.”
“If I turn into a dragon, I’ll feel the difference between us, and it’ll make me miserable. I really hate that feeling. I made a firm decision back in the capital. And besides, didn’t you say that if I just rest, I’ll get better?”
“Alright, alright, I get it. Just lie down properly.”
Even if she turned back into a dragon, there was no guarantee the virus would disappear. It might just stay dormant and re-emerge the moment she returned to her human form.
The fortunate thing is that my body feels lighter.
If we were both bedridden, that’d be a real problem. Maybe it’s because Rurin’s amateur nursing helped yesterday, or maybe because the cold transferred to her, but either way, I’m no longer running a fever and my body feels light.
“Seriously, you should’ve kept your distance.”
“Hehe, my throat hurts, El…!”
“Why are you laughing? And yesterday, you didn’t laugh at all.”
“I’m laughing because you seem better now! Hehe, I don’t care if I’m sick!”
“Alright, alright, quiet down now. Your throat hurts, yet you keep talking.”
I took the towel Rurin had enchanted with a preservation spell yesterday—it was still cold—and placed it on her forehead.
“Get some sleep. Sleeping is the best cure for this.”
“That’s my specialty.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
With that, I began wiping the sweat from Rurin’s face with the towel.
***
Ment immediately reported to El after the overseer who had been harassing the brothers visited the ranch. El, focusing on the word “tax evasion” mentioned by the brothers, assigned the matter to Greike.
This happened on the second day after Linte and Mate started working, and Greike began thoroughly investigating all business interests and dealings related to the construction industry in Grayke City.
“Here, eat something. Skipping meals over this? Is the situation that serious?”
Vernah approached Greike as he sifted through piles of documents in his study. She carried a tray with tea and snacks.
“Mother! It’s something Master El asked me to handle.”
“Oh my, from Master El?”
“Yes. It’s a task I must complete, no matter what. I’m almost done, so please don’t worry.”
This was the first time Greike had ever received a direct request from El. Moreover, the matter involved ridding Grayke City of deep-seated corruption.
After Count Dedran disappeared, Greike had already dealt with the corrupt nobles connected to him, but they hadn’t yet tackled the other groups tied to those nobles.
But Greike couldn’t bring himself to tell his mother that this was one of Count Dedran’s lingering schemes.
His mother had already suffered too much because of Dedran’s treachery.
“Alright, make sure you help him!” Vernah said, her face showing a mix of emotions, before leaving to avoid disturbing her son further.
***
Overseer Latanda had become desperate after the noble he served was arrested, leaving him without any connections.
Now he was determined to make a quick fortune and find a new benefactor, no matter the cost.
“I heard that ranch they’re working at is a goldmine?”
“Yes, Overseer. Hahaha.”
“The secret of their cheese, huh? That’s perfect. I can make money, ruin those punks’ lives, and never let them find work again. When I visited the ranch the other day, they were so insolent it made my blood boil.”
“Don’t worry, sir. We’ll take care of it.”
Latanda’s primary focus was now on starving the brothers to death, making them regret ever standing up to him.
After giving the thugs their orders, Latanda headed back to the construction site. Even without a noble backing him, he still held power over all the city’s construction projects.
On the construction site, he was an absolute ruler.
“You’re here, Overseer!”
Every time Latanda stepped onto the site, he felt like a god. Workers constantly flattered him, though behind his back, he was the object of their hatred. Many laborers, including Linte and Mate, had been fired or harassed by him without reason.
“This is the construction site for Grayke’s memorial plaza, right?”
“Yes, but who are you?”
Latanda scowled as an unfamiliar boy appeared in front of him.
“And who are you supposed to be?”
“What did you say?”
Latanda, feeling like a king on his throne, glanced at the assistant foreman beside him.
“How dare you, you insolent brat! Apologize immediately and get lost!”
“The one who should apologize is you, Latanda.”
Greike stepped forward, pulling out a piece of paper and slapping it onto Latanda’s forehead.
“Scum like you are the ones rotting Grayke City from the inside! Men!”
At Greike’s command, soldiers stormed onto the site. Latanda stared in confusion.
“Tax evasion, harassment, assault, and numerous other crimes. I will not forgive him. By the laws of this domain, I sentence him to punishment!”
“Yes, my lord!”
The soldiers shouted their loyalty to the man with the greatest power in Grayke City, and all the workers on the site dropped to their knees, their eyes wide with shock.
The first to betray Latanda was the assistant foreman standing next to him.
“M-my lord! I didn’t recognize you! I’ve committed a grave sin! But everything wrong here is that man’s fault! He conspired with the other nobles and did all sorts of vile things!”
“We’ll deal with it all through the proper procedures. Arrest everyone involved!”
Greike was determined to eradicate the last remnants of Count Dedran’s influence, and Latanda was to be made an example of.
Greike was even considering the death penalty for Latanda.
It would be a public execution in the plaza for all to see.
Latanda, his face pale, could only gape in shock. He had thought all nobles were petty, but this boy was different. He was the future lord of the domain—a future count.
A count.
Among the nobility, a count was a great noble, someone commoners couldn’t even hope to look at.
As the situation spiraled out of control, workers began recounting all the abuses they had suffered under Latanda’s rule.
Greike listened to each story carefully and began arresting not only Latanda but also the gang of thugs he had been working with.
This was the first major cleansing operation Greike had led on behalf of his master and for the good of the domain.
Though it was unusual for a noble, Greike personally oversaw everything, including rounding up the gang members. That’s when he came across a group of thugs already collapsed on the ground, trembling uncontrollably.
“What’s wrong with them? Never mind, arrest them all!”
“Yes, my lord!”
Greike clicked his tongue in wonder as he looked down at the fallen gang members.
“What a strange sight. Could this be divine punishment?”
“I-it wasn’t me! I wasn’t with them!”
In the middle of this, Mate, who had been caught up with the thugs, began shaking like a leaf, frantically pleading his innocence to the soldiers.
“You weren’t with them? Then why were you with them?”
Greike frowned at what he thought was an obvious excuse.
“I met them in prison! They were trying to drag me away to harm me…”
“What is your name, and what do you do? Are you really not part of this gang? Prove it.”
Grayke’s question came from the highest authority, and Mate, standing before someone he couldn’t even bear to look at, froze and lowered his gaze.
“It’s alright. If you’re truly not one of them, there’s no need to fear.”
“T-that’s….”
“If you have no other way to prove your innocence, you’ll have to undergo a fair investigation. Take him in!”
“M-my name is Mate! And… I work at the ranch on the hill! I swear! I’m not with these guys! They’re like enemies to me!”
“The ranch? Did you just say the ranch?”
Greike, surprised, motioned for the soldiers to release Mate. Following orders, they let go of him, and Mate immediately knelt before Greike.
“I-I even received my wages today. Here they are.”
With trembling hands, Mate offered an envelope. The moment Greike heard the word “ranch,” his expression softened.
His entire demeanor toward Mate changed.
“Are you… one of the brothers? Linte and Mate?”
“H-how do you know my brother’s name…?”
“I see. What a coincidence. You know, the owner of the ranch you work at is a benefactor of mine. So, did you take down those thugs over there?”
“N-no, sir!”
“Then who?”
Mate hesitated for a moment. After all, the woman had helped him, and he didn’t want her to get caught up in this mess. He began darting his eyes around.
“Don’t worry. Those men are trash. You won’t be punished for doing anything to them. I’m just curious about what happened.”
“Well… I’m not really sure! It was just… a woman from the restaurant on the hill. She glared at them, and…”
“Enough! That’s all I need to hear. Forget what you saw. Understand?”
“Yes? Yes!”
