Chapter 58 - Why People Change (8)
I Quit Being The Male Lead's Rival
Why People Change (8)
Robertâs guess was true.
Carlon was receiving political funds from those who used black magic.
Of course I couldnât say, âthatâs true since this is the world in the book Iâve readâ.
When Robert and Ian found out about it in the original work, it was actually a few years later when they went to investigate the black market againâ¦
âBecause of me this time, a black market was already destroyed along with one origin of black magic.â
According to the god, there were three âorigins of black magicâ here.
It was not known how many of them were related to Carlon.
However, it was a very reasonable inference that the rest is likely to be connected.
âIâve searched more, but the Caronda is⦠It is said that was where trafficking is⦠â
âHuman trafficking?â I was dumbfounded and opened my mouth. Compared to such criminal activities, Iâve been at the level of a cute villain so far. Well, it would have been just a supporting role.
âYes. Caronda is quite remote and traffic is very inconvenient, so there is little exchange with the capital. Besides, the people there arenât very open either.â
The name âCarondaâ was not familiar, so that was true.
âSo nothing is known to the capital. Of course, they do get little news of the capital.â
There was also a rugged mountain range that crossed the southern and capital cities, and in fact, the southern part was almost independent of the empire.
âLanella Ocide is probably part of Carondaâs human trafficking group. She must have made a lot of money there. So Annabelle ..â
Robert opened his mouth carefully.
âTo catch her, youâll have to go there and overturn the traffickers.â
That is, it meant that the crime scene should be attacked, as in the general store.
âBut if that place is really related to you⦠Your brother will really not let you go now.â
I understood at once what he meant.
My contribution could just be brushed aside one time, but if I interfered a second time I would become a target myself.
âSoon heâll be back from the Duke of Edison.â Now, Carlon was abroad on a diplomatic mission. And the day of his return was approaching.
âNo matter how rich the Rainfield is and commoner status is getting higher, Rainfields are still different from the Wades.â
Robertâs words were reasonable.
The family of Duke Wade was a historic family and could not be touched recklessly.
However, the Rainfields were just a self-made wealthy commoner family.
It was too easy for Carlon to harm my family. âI just gave you information. The choice is made by you.â Robert said anxiously. That was why he gave me a choice and even warned me. If I tried to get revenge on Lanella, I might get caught by Carlon and see something dangerous. So I had to decide. Whether to get revenge or bury it like this and lead a peaceful life, or go and catch Lanella at a risk. Of course, if I asked my family, it was obvious they would say, `itâs too dangerousâ It was then. âIâll go.â Ian spoke low.
âAnother terrible thing is happening regarding to human trafficking. Iâll go to Caronda to help destroy the black market.â
âIan?â Even before I said anything, he glanced at me. âEven if I canât recognize the origin of black magic, why donât I lust wipe the market out anyways?â Ian continued with a relaxed yet confident voice. âIt may destroy the origin of black magic by breaking something like you did in the black market.â I then remembered what god told me how it was inefficient to just wipe it all away .. He couldnât recognize the origins of black magic, but saying that would mean that he wanted to exclude me. And I thought the reason was because he wanted to protect the Rainfields. `Youâre so nice..? âLetâs look for a woman named Lanella while weâre on our
way.â
Ian added calmly, but I had already made a decision. âIf I were Annabelle Nadit in the pastâ¦â I fiddled with the sword and spoke up. I had to show my true feelings. âMaybe it wouldâve been a rough decision because there was nothing really precious for me to care or protect.â So I continued very carefully and seriously.
âBut Annabelle Rainfield is different. If there is anything that could put my family at risk, even in the slightest, I cannot leave it alone.â
âYeah, it might be better for you to not get involved from now onâ¦1,
Interrupting Ianâs words, I made a stern declaration. âI will go to Caronda.â âAnnabelle?â âIf Prince Carlon is involved, there should definitely be evidence to bring back this time.â Ian and Robert both looked at me with puzzled faces. âI know best about poor quality people since I grew up between them.â I continued while I felt my chest pound. âThose people, even if we donât touch them, they wonât stand still.â The reason why Reid and I were constantly doing bad things to Ian was because he left us alone If Ian wouldâve fought back and restricted me with his power and skills, we mightâve stopped. But Ian just ignored me and was consistent in not doing anything to me. So, Reid and I crossed the line without knowing it. The original villains were like that. I knew that if I stayed still, they would come back recklessly. It was something Carlon could do to cause harm to my family by suddenly taking his anger out one day. Or he could use it as a means of intimidation just because I was involved with Robert.
In order to be free from a risk factor it was necessary to completely eliminate the factor, rather than just escaping.
âI want to protect my family. I want to live comfortably without fear. And just in caseâ¦â
I looked at Ian and continued.
ââ¦I want to become stronger. More than now.â
A divine blessing was given for each destruction of one of the origins of black magic.
The god was smart too.
I was not like Ian Wade, who was driven by a sense of justice without thinking of the cost.
The god knew and prepared a reward right away. If Robert didnât understand, Ian would. Because we spoke of the blessings in the carriage. Of course, my skills were superior to other people, but that didnât make me invincible.
If Elburn had attached a hundred people to me instead of ten at that time, no matter how strong I was, I would have not been able to deal with it alone.
However, Ian would have definitely won even in that situation, and that was the difference in our skills
I wanted to protect my family as much as possible no matter what happens.
âSo I will go, Prince.â
âRight.â
Robert nodded slowly. From his point of view, there was nothing wrong with letting me confide in where Carlon might be behind everything.
âThen, as expected, Miss Annabelle said she would come, so itâs okayâ¦â âI will go with her then.â Ian spoke hastily before Robert finished speaking. âIanâs going to come with me to Caronda?â
At the unexpected bombshell declaration, both Robert and I asked the same question at the same time with absurd faces.
âWhy now?â I blinked and added. âYou donât think I can be alone? Are you ignoring my capabilities?â âItâs not like that, Iâm just worriedâ¦â âIsnât that ignoring me?â Robert also looked surprised for a moment at Ianâs answer, then said softly.
âIan, how about trusting Miss Annabelle a little? No matter how much you hate it, you don t even need to monitor her.â
âItâs not that kind of worryâ¦â
Ian took a deep breath after looking at our puzzled faces once.
Then he added,
ââ¦When I hear the words black magic, I feel a sense of justice.â
Unsurprisingly, Robert and I nodded our heads at once from his remark
âYes, Ian. If thatâs the case, then it makes sense.â
Robert answered easily, but we had one more thing to consider.
I spoke carefully.
âHowever⦠I donât know much about geography, isnât Caronda far away? I think it will take a very long time just to get there back and forth.â
Even the rugged mountain range was next to it, so it seemed that horses would not be able to run.
There was something more important than the fact that it was far away.
âBesides, the swordsmanship competition is not far
away.â
I didnât really care because there were so many things going on in my life but the last swordsmanship contest of our lives was approaching.
âConsidering the time, I think I may not be able to participate. By the way, Iâm leaving as quickly as possible without thinking of wasting time.â
âThen what about the swordsmanship contest? I canât be the only one participating.â
Ian asked quietly, and I answered casually. âIf I canât participate, thereâs nothing you can do.â Since I had originally planned to abstain, I actually had no regrets âThere is no need to participate anymore. I really donât care, so you can easily win first place again this time.â I answered so easily. âI told you last time too. In the meantime, in the sense of apology to you, I will abstain if you want.â Ianâs expression hardened sharply at what I said.