He glanced around cautiously, then finally smiled faintly and said, "We were discussing medicinal herbs. I'm currently developing a medicinal herb cultivation business."
"Medicinal herb cultivation probably won't bring in as much money as you expect."
"That's true if you think conventionally! But the herb cultivation site I discovered is special! Even if you plant the same herbs there, their potency far surpasses that of others."
"Does such a place exist?"
"It does! I can't reveal its location, but it definitely exists! My theory is that the land is imbued with Spirit Energy the kind of place where Spirit Herbs grow."
"...You've discovered a vast territory. Wouldn't it be better to sell the land to the nobles?"
"Of course, I've considered that! But the land is located deep inland, making cultivation extremely difficult. Moreover, my calculations show that I can earn far greater profits by cultivating medicinal herbs myself and selling them directly."
Meikeld spoke with fervent enthusiasm about his medicinal herb cultivation venture. He passionately detailed which herbs he would grow, the cultivation timeline, and his sales strategies all while desperately trying to scam the nobles who had invested in his scheme. With so many noble scions gathered around him, he had no choice but to be desperate.
"But wasn't the Meikeld Family originally a clan of hunters?"
"Y-yes, that's true. But do you know about our clan? Didn't you say earlier that you were hearing my name for the first time?"
"I'm only hearing the name Basiv Meikeld for the first time. I know a fair bit about the Meikeld Family."
"T-thank you, Baron. To remember our fallen clan..."
Meikeld swallowed hard, trying to hide his nervousness. He never expected to meet a noble here who knew about the Meikeld Family.
"How is Giold Meikeld doing?"
"...My father passed away five years ago. He slipped while climbing a mountain."
"Oh, my condolences. But why didn't you contact the surrounding nobles?"
"Well... it's complicated. The Meikeld Family had already become a mere shell of its former self, and my father was reluctant to get involved. I recently came to the city to start my own ventures. First, I used my savings to establish an Upper Rank merchant guild... I kept telling myself I could do it..."
As he continued speaking, his initial nervousness faded, replaced by a confident and forceful tone. The noble scions around him watched with glittering eyes, captivated by his words.
Handsome looks and silver tongue. A captivating tale that evokes the legends of heroes.
This man was a natural-born con artist.
"Impressive," I remarked.
"Ha ha! To receive such praise from Baron Prucus, the de facto master of the Korea Merchant Guild... Today is a truly auspicious day!"
"Listening to Baron Meikeld, I'm starting to feel like investing myself. Do you happen to have any herbs from the Herb Dominion with you?"
My words startled him momentarily, but he quickly regained his composure, a confident smile spreading across his face.
"Ha ha. Of course. These are such precious items... I always carry them with me. I wouldn't want to lose them if I left them lying around."
"Would you sell me one? If I verify its quality and find it truly exceptional... I'll invest 3 billion Ners."
"3 billion...?!"
Not only Meikeld but also the surrounding nobles were astonished. For those who hadn't yet fully inherited their titles, 3 billion Ners was an astronomical sum.
"A-as expected of Baron Prucus. To casually mention such a vast sum..."
Meikeld carefully pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. Inside the luxurious fabric lay a medicinal herb a dark, almost black herb that resembled a charred twig.
"This is Black Saint, a universal herb. Its dark appearance makes it unpopular, but it has positive effects on nearly all ailments. It's the main ingredient in panaceas."
"Ah... I see. I'm aware of it. I'll pay 3 million Neru for it. Is that acceptable?"
"You don't need to pay, but..."
"Nothing in this world is free. I don't have the funds to pay immediately, but I pledge my name to settle the debt after the banquet."
I received the herb from Meikeld and sniffed it. It smelled like any ordinary herb. I took a bite.
"...Ha."
"Baron, don't you feel the power?"
"Power? What power? How dare you feed me this garbage, you con artist!"
My outburst shocked everyone around us. Meikeld, however, remained calm. Without a hint of panic, he calmly looked at me and said, "A con artist? What are you talking about all of a sudden?!"
"Do you really need to ask?! You laced this herb with narcotics! To trick me into thinking I'd consumed Spirit Medicine! Herbs harvested from land imbued with divine power? You can't reveal the location because of 'business secrets'? No, it's because no such place exists!"
"Baron Prucus! Do not insult me! That herb was harvested from my own Herb Dominion! Drugs?! This is absurd! Do you think I'm unaware of your scheme? You want to frame me as a criminal so you can seize my Herb Dominion!"
"I doubt you're even Basiv Meikeld! You bear no resemblance to the documented traits of the Meikeld Family!"
"Can't you see this ring on my finger?! This ring is proof that I am the rightful Master of the Meikeld Family!"
The shouting match escalated.
Meikeld couldn't afford to back down even an inch. Retreating would mean admitting his fraud.
Impersonating a noble is a crime as grave as treason.
As a voice louder than the music boomed through the hall, more and more nobles turned their attention to us.
"What's going on?"
"Such a disgraceful display before His Majesty the King... Tsk, tsk. His dignity is questionable."
"Wait a minute. Isn't that the third son of the Prucus Family?"
"The third son of the Prucus Family... the one from the Korea Merchant Guild?"
"How arrogant! Raising his voice in a place like this... Tsk."
"Do you know who the man shouting at him is?"
"I heard he's Baron Meikeld."
"The Meikeld Family...? I didn't even know such a clan existed."
"They say they're a fallen noble family... Either way, it's a disgraceful scene. If they want to fight, they should take it outside."
"Heh heh. This is quite amusing. These banquets always get so dull, but who would have thought such an event would unfold? It's far more entertaining than the clown's jokes."
The commotion finally reached the ears of King Corocalis Rapheli.
Thump. Thump.
Prime Minister Makellos, standing beside the king, struck the floor with his staff. Though the sound was soft, the nobles, ever sensitive to power, immediately turned their gaze toward the king.
In the now-silent banquet hall, the king spoke:
"Baron Sung Yujin Prucus, Baron Basiv Meikeld. Step forward."
"Yes, Your Majesty," I replied.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Meikeld echoed.
The nobles blocking our path parted like the Red Sea, creating a clear path to the king. It was quite a spectacle.
Under the watchful eyes of hundreds of nobles, I strode forward with unwavering confidence, while Meikeld desperately tried to conceal his cold sweat.
Thump-thump, thump-thump.
The frantic pounding of his heart echoed in my ears.
I knelt before the King and Prime Minister, bowing my head in obeisance. Meikeld, stiff with tension, followed suit a beat later.
I subtly glanced at Antion. With the King himself intervening, he wouldn't dare make a move. Though I bore the Prucus name, I was still a titled noble.
Antion stared at me impassively, while Elaine feigned composure, her eyes betraying a flicker of concern. Gent smirked quietly, clearly relishing my impending downfall.
"Baron Prucus, Baron Meikeld. Have you forgotten what day it is?"
"No, Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty! This is Baron Prucus "
Our voices overlapped.
"Silence!"
The King frowned and roared. Despite his age, he still possessed considerable charisma. I quietly shut my mouth, while Meikeld trembled violently.
"Explain yourselves fully. If this is a trivial matter, both of you will pay the price. First, Baron Prucus! You speak first!"
"Your Majesty, Basiv Meikeld... no, this nameless imposter is impersonating a noble. He's also spreading lies about cultivating medicinal herbs in a mystical land and borrowing money under false pretenses."
"...Impersonating a noble?" the King repeated.
It wasn't that I hadn't heard him; I was simply dumbfounded. At the same time, the atmosphere among the nobles watching us grew ominous. Impersonating a noble was tantamount to stealing their power, akin to inciting rebellion against the aristocracy.
"Baron Prucus, elaborate. I trust you're not making baseless accusations."
"Of course, Your Majesty. The defining traits of Baron Meikeld's family are dark brown hair and eyes. Yet this man has black hair and light brown eyes a clear discrepancy. Furthermore, the Meikeld Family originated as hunters and, despite their noble status, have traditionally maintained their hunting practices across generations. Yet this man is no hunter. His body shows no signs of physical training whatsoever."
Some nobles from Warrior Houses, descended from knights, nodded in agreement. Having reached a certain level of cultivation, they could discern whether someone was a soldier or a civilian simply by observing their physique.
"Baron Meikeld."
"I am innocent, Your Majesty! My hair and eye color are inherited from my mother! Moreover, the family tradition of hunting ended with my father's generation. He told me to pursue my own path! My status as the head of the Meikeld Family is confirmed by this ring and these documents!"
He presented a ring and some worn documents. The documents likely dated back to when the title was originally granted.
"This bears the royal seal. The documents are genuine. Baron Prucus, Baron Meikeld has proven his identity."
"Your Majesty, this ring and document cannot prove his identity. He must have stolen them from the Meikeld Family, or perhaps killed them to take them. Please send trustworthy individuals to investigate the Meikeld Family's estate."
"Very well. Impersonating a noble is a grave offense. I will dispatch investigators immediately."
Meikeld quietly swallowed, knowing his life hung by a thread. Yet his eyes held no trace of resignation; he still saw a glimmer of opportunity.
"Baron Meikeld, what can you tell us about the mystical lands and medicinal herbs?"
"That..."
Meikeld swallowed dryly and began to explain as he would to young nobles. But unlike those youths, the King listened intently, his deep-set eyes fixed on the Baron's every word.
"Hmph..."
"Tsk tsk."
Several astute nobles had already realized he was a fraud, and the King likely knew it too. Yet the King refrained from hasty judgment, turning his gaze toward me.
"Baron Prucus, do you have evidence to prove Baron Meikeld's claims are false?"
"I do. This Black Saint herb comes from the so-called mystical land Baron Meikeld claims. It's coated with a stimulant drug designed to create the illusion of improved health after consumption."
"...Prime Minister, summon the Royal Physician."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Meikeld trembled violently, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
The Royal Physician arrived. After meticulously examining the Black Saint herb, he snipped off a piece, chewed it, and identified its true nature.
"It's a stimulant drug. Recently discovered, this Oland drug induces hallucinations when consumed in sufficient quantities."
"The verdict is clear, Baron Meikeld... No, seize this imposter and imprison him! The execution will be carried out after further investigation following the banquet!"
The Royal Knight Order seized Meikeld.
"Your Majesty! This is a conspiracy by Baron Prucus! He's framing me to steal my Herb Dominion! The drug on the herbs must have been planted by Baron Prucus just now! Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Please reconsider! Your Majesty!"
Meikeld struggled violently as he was dragged away.
"Your Majesty, thank you for your wise judgment."
"No, it's absurd that an imposter posing as a noble could brazenly infiltrate the royal palace. I'm more dumbfounded than angry."
"Your Majesty, there are those who have suffered losses due to this imposter."
"Indeed... The stolen funds must be returned to their rightful owners. Those who have been harmed by this imposter, step forward now."
At the King's command, two young nobles hesitantly stepped forward.
"...Is that all?" the King asked, frowning as he surveyed the nobles. Of course, there were more than just two victims. Yuria had mentioned hearing about at least seven victims.
...Vivi Heollis hasn't come forward either.
I glanced at Vivi Heollis. Her eyes trembled as she met my gaze before she lowered her head.
I could guess why the nobles were reluctant to come forward sheer embarrassment. This incident would be the talk of high society for a long time, and they would undoubtedly face ridicule for the rest of their lives.
The two nobles who had stepped forward must have been desperate for money, leaving them no choice.
Should I pay her a visit tonight?
My eyes lingered on Vivi, who remained with her head bowed.