NOVPUB"Hey, hey, let’s get going already."
"Ugh, this damned territory. I’m never setting foot in the North again."
"A disgusting lord and an even more disgusting domain."
The ones grumbling as they packed their belongings were Max and the problem solvers who had been captured during the Kavaldi War. They had worked in the territory to pay off their debt, but release had not come easily. Even after toiling day in and day out, their earnings barely covered the daily wages of the laborers, making it difficult to chip away at the debt they owed.
Still, they had no intention of giving up the money they’d earned. The sum they had received from Rosalyn and Mariel was significant—too much to just hand back.
Caught in this limbo, working hard but unable to find a way out, the war with Desmond broke out.
Max and his team saw their opportunity and volunteered to serve as commanders for the Labor Assault Unit during the conflict. That decision had finally earned them their freedom.
"We’re free!"
"Yeahhh!"
Following Max’s shout, the problem solvers erupted into cheers. At last, they were done with this godforsaken land.
Today was a special day. While Max and the others washed up, shaved their scruffy beards, and prepared for departure, Claude came to visit.
"Hey, so you’re finally leaving? You’ve all worked hard," Claude said warmly.
"Oh, uh... Overseer, sir. What brings you here?" Max replied, his tone laced with discomfort.
While it was Ghislain who had captured them, it was Claude who had mercilessly worked them to the bone at the construction sites. At times, the conditions had been so brutal that Max had seriously contemplated assassination. Of course, the thought of being caught and chained for life quickly squashed that idea.
Ignoring Max’s wary expression, Claude continued in a cheerful tone.
"So, what’s next for you all now that you’re free?"
"We’ve been through so much hardship, so we’re thinking of looking for lighter work for a while," Max said, his words carrying an edge.
Claude, unbothered, played along as if he hadn’t noticed.
"Ah, it’d be a shame to see talent like yours wasted on something trivial."
"We’re just aiming to save a little more and retire. There’s no way we can keep doing this kind of work forever. Maybe buy some land and live peacefully."
"Hm, a noble goal," Claude said, genuinely sounding regretful.
In truth, Max and his team were highly skilled. They had been trusted with rescuing Ghislain and even commanded the Labor Assault Unit during the war in Kaor’s absence.
Claude sighed as if truly lamenting their plans before subtly changing the topic.
"But, you know, retiring will require a lot of money. What if I told you there’s a way to make a fortune in one shot?"
"A fortune? How?" Max asked, intrigued despite himself.
"Well," Claude began, "it so happens that our lord has come up with something... interesting."
Claude then launched into a spirited explanation, just as he had with Alpoi, about the bizarre product Ghislain had created. Max and the others found it absurd but couldn’t entirely dismiss the idea, considering the lord’s track record.
While they hadn’t seen the development of the improved wheat or cosmetics firsthand, they had certainly heard the rumors. The sight of Ghislain on the battlefield had also left an indelible mark on them. It was this very fear that had kept them from daring to escape in the past.
But to gamble with this lord? Max shook his head firmly.
"No, we’re just going to leave. We don’t want anything more to do with this place."
It was the expected response, and Claude nodded as though he had anticipated it.
"How about... 20,000 gold?"
"...!"
"If you win, each of you will walk away with 20,000 gold," Claude said nonchalantly.
The sheer amount made Max and his team’s eyes go wide. With that much money, retirement wouldn’t just be a dream—it would be an immediate reality.
Even so, Max wasn’t quick to agree. As a seasoned problem solver, he knew better than to take things at face value.
"Why... would you offer us something like that?" Max asked cautiously.
The strange powdered food Ghislain had created seemed like a gamble with high odds of failure. But why would an opportunity like this be handed to outsiders like them?
Claude, meeting Max’s suspicious gaze, softened his tone.
"You must resent me quite a bit, don’t you?"
"...A little," Max admitted reluctantly.
"I had no choice. The territory was short on manpower, so I had to play the villain. But I’ve always felt bad about it. Truly."
"Overseer..."
"You know how it is. You’re a leader yourself, even if it’s just a small group. You understand how hard it is to lead people."
Max said nothing, but he nodded. For all the bad rumors surrounding Claude, he had, in his own way, done what was necessary for the territory. Now that it was time to leave, Max found himself sympathizing a little.
Claude gently clasped Max’s hand and continued, his voice sincere.
"It’s nothing too complicated. I just wanted to give you all a proper reward before you left. Without an excuse like this, I’d never be able to hand over such a large sum."
"Overseer..."
Max and his team found themselves oddly moved. Their noses stung, and their hearts felt heavy. Claude, the man they had thought to be a relentless taskmaster, seemed to have a warm and considerate side after all.
Claude had no intention of persuading them with logic. Instead, he tugged at their emotions.
Looking at Max with a kind expression, he turned his gaze toward the horizon and added, almost as an afterthought:
"And besides, this would be for the lord’s sake as well."
"For the lord?"
"Yes. Our lord is undoubtedly extraordinary. Overcoming so many difficulties and achieving so much. But..." Claude trailed off, his tone shifting slightly.
"But what’s the problem?" Max asked, his curiosity piqued.
Claude’s response hung in the air like a well-placed lure, drawing Max and his team further into the web of intrigue.
"Honestly, even if this fails, the worst that’ll happen is the lord will lose a little face. But losing a substantial amount of money might actually wake him up. It’ll cut down on his arrogance."
"Hmm..."
"Think about it. What if the next war breaks out while he’s still overconfident? War is merciless—one mistake can cost you your life. It’s better to humble him now before it’s too late. Losing money is a small price to pay."
"Ah..."
Max and his team began to understand Claude’s reasoning. It was no secret that Ghislain had caught the ire of a powerful duke’s house. If Ghislain let success go to his head while such a formidable enemy lurked, disaster was inevitable.
Max had seen similar cases during his time as a problem solver—arrogance always led to downfall, especially for those surrounded by enemies.
Claude’s argument had no flaws.
‘He’s a true loyalist!’
‘We misunderstood him this whole time...’
‘No wonder a man like him oversees such a vast and powerful domain.’
Max and the problem solvers were moved. Claude, who had borne all the criticism and blame alone, turned out to be a selfless servant devoted entirely to the lord and the land.
Realizing this just as they were about to leave filled them with guilt.
Of course, guilt aside, a bet was still a bet. While Claude’s logic was sound, Max couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling. The intentions were good, but what if they lost? The consequences would be severe.
Sensing Max’s hesitation, Claude smiled reassuringly.
"The mages from the ‘Tower’ are participating, too. They’ve already verified everything. There’s nothing to worry about."
"Ooh!"
The problem solvers gasped in awe. If the mages had vetted it, there was no room for doubt.
These weren’t just any mages—they were once part of the renowned Crimson Flame Tower, known as the strongest in the North. Among them was Vanessa, a sixth-circle mage.
If such esteemed mages were involved, it would be foolish not to participate.
Claude had strategically started by convincing the mages, knowing the problem solvers’ experience would make them wary. Highlighting the participation of intelligent and capable mages was the final push they needed.
Of course, he conveniently omitted the fact that Vanessa no longer belonged to the Tower and wouldn’t be participating in the wager.
"We’ll do it!"
Max declared boldly, and the other problem solvers enthusiastically agreed. Just like that, Claude had roped both the mages and the problem solvers into the scheme.
‘Whew, now it begins. No need to worry—they’ll win anyway.’
Even so, he showed a little more patience this time.
Instead of rushing to Ghislain immediately, Claude exercised his authority as overseer to sneak a sample of the powdered product. With a determined expression, he mixed it with water and took a sip.
"Hmm... The taste is alright."
After drinking it, his stomach felt slightly unsettled, but not to an unbearable degree. In fact, it even gave him a slight sense of fullness.
He continued with his work until evening.
"I’m getting hungry, though."
Having only consumed the powder mixed with water, hunger was inevitable. He drank another serving, then took a short nap before resuming his tasks.
"Ugh, I’m starving. This is pointless."
The hunger became unbearable. He craved something to chew on, something flavorful. The more he thought about it, the hungrier he felt.
Claude gave up on the powder diet, ate a hearty meal, and declared:
"This stuff won’t starve you to death, but there’s no way you can fight on it. Hah!"
He lasted only a day. The gnawing hunger and constant cravings were too much to bear. This time, he was convinced the lord’s plan was a failure.
Seeing Claude so full of himself, Wendy cautiously spoke up.
"Still, isn’t it too soon to decide? Shouldn’t you try it for at least three days..."
"No way. I’m starving, and I can’t live on this. It’s a failure, period."
"...The lord has always produced unexpected results," Wendy murmured.
"Not this time. And even if I lose, it doesn’t matter."
"...?"
Wendy looked at him in surprise. For someone who always wanted freedom, why was he so indifferent about losing?
Noticing her puzzled expression, Claude averted his gaze, looking out the office window as he muttered:
"I’ve got nothing to lose anyway... My life’s already a mess, so it’s not like anything can get worse..."
"..."
Claude had nothing to stake. So instead, he had dragged other people’s lives into the wager.
For a moment, Wendy thought Claude might have grown as a person. But now, staring at the office ceiling, she knew better.
The contract was signed swiftly. The mages and problem solvers staked their futures, demanding freedom and wealth as compensation if they won.
Naturally, Ghislain accepted without hesitation.
Adding 46 extended mage contracts and 10 new problem solvers to his ranks? That was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Claude, grinning confidently, assured Ghislain:
"I’ll handle the management myself. No sneaking extra help into this bet."
"Go ahead."
"Heh, don’t regret this later," Claude said with a sly chuckle.
"Shouldn’t I be saying that to you? Oh, wait... you’ve got nothing to regret."
Rumors about the wager between the lord and overseer spread quickly through the territory.
This time, neither Belinda nor Gillian, Ghislain’s close aides, tried to dissuade him. They’d learned from experience that trying to stop him was futile.
In fact, a part of them was curious—could he succeed yet again?
The residents of the old Fenris region, having witnessed Ghislain’s previous successes, placed their bets on him. After all, hadn’t he triumphed in every challenge so far?
Their belief in Ghislain wasn’t based on logic or any concrete evidence—it was simply because he always won. This time, they thought, wouldn’t be any different.
"Did you hear? The overseer is going up against him again."
"Tsk, tsk. Why does he even bother when he always loses?"
"Apparently, it’s different this time. The mages are participating, too."
"Ha, like that matters. Weren’t the mages involved before as well?"
Ghislain’s popularity only continued to rise, while more and more people began mocking Claude.
But Claude didn’t care. This time, he truly believed he would win—or at least, he was willing to bet on it.
Still, Claude himself wasn’t the one participating in the test. That burden fell on others.
"What is this?!"
"You expect us to survive a whole month on just this?"
"And then we’re supposed to do mock battles?!"
"How is that even possible?!"
The knights and soldiers drafted for the experiment recoiled at the sight of the powder rations they were given daily.
One of the defining perks of the Fenris territory was that, despite grueling training, you could always eat well. Food was plentiful, and in recent months, the residents had even started experimenting with various sauces to enhance flavors.
This wasn’t due to any direct initiative from Ghislain. It was simply a natural result of the region’s newfound abundance of resources.
But now, these soldiers had to survive on nothing but water mixed with powder while continuing their rigorous training. Naturally, tempers flared.
Among those drafted, the senior knights, Gordon and Lucas, were the first to explode in anger.
"I’m not training on this garbage! I’ll lose muscle mass!" Gordon shouted.
"This is a conspiracy by those envious of my genius! I won’t stand for it!" Lucas added.
The elves, who were known for their refinement and long lives, were just as outraged. Unfortunately, Ascon was among those selected.
"You bastards! I’m too old to survive on this crap! [Unprintable string of curses]!"
His tirade was so vulgar that no one could bear to listen.
The participants tried to revolt, but Gillian and the other knights stationed nearby quickly subdued them.
In particular, the knights not involved in the experiment worked even harder to suppress the participants, fearing they might be dragged into the trial as replacements.
As the participants were restrained, their anger was directed toward one person.
"It’s that damned overseer’s fault, isn’t it?"
"Ugh! What do we care who wins this stupid bet?"
"Why does everything have to be so extreme with him?!"
Even if there hadn’t been a bet, the experiment would have happened eventually. But it wouldn’t have been this extreme.
Ghislain had originally planned to observe the effects gradually, testing participants in phases since the powder wasn’t meant to be a regular meal but an emergency combat ration. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
However, Claude had pushed for extreme measures to secure victory in the bet. He latched onto Ghislain’s offhand remark about a month-long trial and used it as justification to intensify the experiment.
As a result, all the participants’ resentment was directed squarely at Claude. They were now forced to endure an entire month of survival training on water and powder alone.
Despite the barrage of complaints and curses, Claude didn’t flinch.
"I’m not hungry, so who cares?"
Such was the strength of his mental fortitude.
The bet began in earnest. While the participants gritted their teeth and struggled through the trial, Claude prepared additional measures to ensure his victory.
Meanwhile, Ghislain took the opportunity to attempt a new form of training he had been contemplating for some time.
[The Invisible Swordmaster]
It was inspired by a book Gordon had written, a technique he had long been curious about.
The trial continued, with soldiers and knights groaning as they endured the harsh conditions. Despite the odds, the bet was progressing, and both sides were determined to see it through.
Would Claude’s overconfidence finally pay off, or would Ghislain once again emerge victorious, defying all expectations?
As the participants’ patience and endurance wore thin, the eyes of the entire Fenris region remained fixed on this absurd contest.
