What Witch? This Alchemist is Breaking Bad!

Fifty million.

At present, the combined annual revenue from Leon's two territories amounted to only about that much, and that was before accounting for various costs.

Thinking about it, that made perfect sense. Given Johnny's status, it was impossible for him to be earning less from the Earl than any of the Cadres.

Although Leon controlled both River Valley County and Southport County, and his ability to produce Mana himself significantly reduced production costs...

Overall, he still couldn't afford to hire Johnny.

However, with Johnny's support, Leon could in turn make use of Johnny's authority over the Cadres. Seizing the territories controlled by the other Cadres would become almost effortless.

With the revenue from those territories...

He would be able to pay.

“My brothers want clean money, you idiot! You said you know the terms of our agreement, so you must know the Earl had a Charitable Association established specifically for me, right?

“The investments flowing into that thing had to be absolutely spotless—without a single questionable detail. Once the Earl died, that association was finished too. But if we're going to establish another one, only nobles with territories are qualified to sponsor and operate that kind of organization within the Empire!

“Can you do that?” Johnny asked coldly.

Leon didn't answer immediately.

The annual payment of fifty million alone had already far exceeded the scale of his current money-laundering operation.

“Fine, let me teach you something, brat. Assassinating the Emperor doesn't mean you'll get to sit on the throne. Just because you killed the Earl doesn't mean you'll become the Earl!!” Johnny declared decisively.

“But assassinating the Emperor is the prerequisite for sitting on the throne! And why do I have to become the Earl?” Leon shot back without hesitation. “I have the Labyrinth behind me. I can produce Mana myself. I don't have to keep depending on the Witch Gathering the way the Earl did! I possess the technology to refine Mana with over ninety percent purity. My supply is superior to the Earl's—purer and of higher quality. The magical potions I produce are more competitive than anything the Earl ever sold. Why should I become the Earl? I can surpass the Earl entirely!”

After enduring Johnny's repeated ridicule and sarcasm, he finally couldn't hold back any longer and voiced what he truly believed.

He possessed the Labyrinth.

He had Weiss's expertise.

He had Rena's support.

In terms of production, he had already surpassed the Earl of old.

Furthermore...

As a transmigrator, he possessed advantages no one else in this world had.

As a man, he could wield a Witch's power.

He could use two Blessings simultaneously without paying any price.

He could even become the Labyrinth Lord.

If one had to speak of limits...

His potential unquestionably exceeded that of Earl Foyle.

In the past, reality had repeatedly beaten him down, gradually extinguishing his desire to pursue an extraordinary life in this world.

But now...

That ambition had awakened once again.

There was no way he would remain satisfied with merely becoming another Earl.

To put it bluntly...

Earl Foyle had ultimately been someone content with maintaining the status quo, afraid of flying too high.

If the Earl compared himself to the sun...

Then Leon would fly even higher than the sun itself!

“You think having a better supply is enough? Isaac Mastan spent twenty years building his business. He'd already been a noble for fifteen years, and even after securing his supply, he spent another full decade building everything he has today. His territory, status, wealth, connections... Which one of those can you even compare yourself to? Don't get carried away just because you found an opportunity to stick a knife through his throat!” Johnny continued mocking him.

“When the Earl first started twenty years ago, he had nothing too. If you and I work together and consolidate everything he left behind, we won't need nearly that much time to climb to where he stood. Why not let me try? Or do you have someone more suitable?” Leon countered.

Both Ophelia and Bishop Beckett were already dead.

There was no heir capable of continuing Johnny's agreement within the Earl's underworld empire.

No matter how much Johnny investigated...

That conclusion wouldn't change.

As for the Earl's territory...

It was currently being managed by his wife with the backing of her Marquis family.

Later, his underage eldest son would likely inherit the title.

According to Bishop Beckett, neither of them had any involvement whatsoever in the Earl's criminal business.

Having betrayed the Church himself by entering the underworld, Johnny likewise couldn't approach them.

As for the remaining Cadres...

None of them possessed sufficient influence on their own.

Nor did they hold official rank or authority within the Church like Leon did.

The Earl still had people within the Church.

But aside from Bishop Beckett...

No one else understood the underworld's operations as thoroughly as Leon.

Not to mention...

None of them possessed an independent supply source like Leon did.

After considering every possibility...

Ironically...

The person most capable of replacing the Earl...

Was Leon himself.

The very man who had killed him.

Of course, Johnny could always cultivate someone new from scratch.

But that would undoubtedly be the slowest option.

And it would guarantee continued hostility with Leon.

Facing Johnny was a tremendous headache for Leon.

But the opposite was equally true.

Johnny likewise had no certainty of defeating Leon in direct competition.

Without a stable and reliable source of funding...

He couldn't rebuild the charitable foundation that provided the families of his fallen brothers with entirely legitimate relief.

“But you're still not a noble. When I made my deal with Isaac Mastan, he was already an Earl,” Johnny said.

Ordinarily, establishing a charitable foundation merely required sufficient wealth and influence.

However, a foundation dedicated specifically to supporting soldiers carried the possibility of financing large private armed forces.

A wealthy merchant alone couldn't obtain approval.

Only lords permitted to possess territories and maintain armies qualified.

Johnny, having lost his legal identity, couldn't handle the matter himself.

Nor could he easily find another noble willing to enter such an agreement.

Leon, meanwhile...

Lacked only one thing.

Noble status.

Without it...

He had no way to fulfill the charitable foundation requirement.

“I already have a way to become a noble. Just give me time!” Leon shouted. “Why don't we both be straightforward about this? If we go to war, we'll both suffer enormous losses. Instead, let me prove myself. If I can satisfy your conditions, then continue the same agreement you previously had with the Earl. What do you say?”

“...”

Johnny fell into deep thought.

A long silence followed.

The only sounds Leon could hear from outside were the wind and the waves.

Several ships appeared on the western horizon.

They belonged to the escort fleet jointly established by Caster Harbor's Chamber of Commerce and Public Security Bureau to maintain order on the surrounding waters.

They had come in response to the pirate warning bell Leon had ordered rung.

Compared to Johnny's fleet...

These escort vessels were insignificant.

They might not even dare approach.

But if they returned and reported the overwhelming size of this "pirate" fleet...

Then the next force arriving would likely be the actual Imperial Navy.

Johnny didn't have much time to remain here.

Attacking the local security forces would only create unnecessary trouble for himself.

“Fine. I'll give you two months. I'll begin dealing with those territories you want. Whether I hand them over to you... or use them against you... depends entirely on whether you can live up to all the boasts you've just made!” Johnny finally reached a decision.

“Fair enough,” Leon replied.

If Johnny agreed...

Then Leon had a chance to avoid direct conflict with him.

At the same time...

He could use Johnny's influence to consolidate the surrounding territories as quickly as possible.

Of course...

That also meant Leon now had one more reason to become a noble.

And it had become an urgent priority.

“Then it's settled,” Johnny said.

The Secret God Sigil floating outside the lighthouse slowly faded away.

Leon waited cautiously for a while before peering outside again.

Johnny's fleet had already turned around and begun sailing away from Arend Island.

Even then, Leon didn't relax.

Only after the entire fleet disappeared completely from his spyglass did he finally let out a sigh of relief.

The crisis facing Arend Island had been temporarily resolved.

He had secured Johnny's willingness to negotiate...

And bought himself two months to prepare.

Which meant...

“Bring me paper and a pen. I need to send a letter to Father immediately,” Leon ordered the people beside him.

It seemed...

The time had finally come to meet Viscount Arend.

At the same time, at the Viscount Arend Estate...

Adele lowered her spyglass on the terrace and let out a long sigh while clutching her chest.

Thank goodness.

Those people had finally left.

In the end, they hadn't even landed on the island.

They had merely lingered near the western docks for a while before sailing away.

Was that Leon Set's doing?

That man had actually found a way to drive off a fleet of that size.

Surely the authority of an Inquisition Director alone couldn't possibly accomplish something like that.

The more she thought about it...

The more Adele felt that the Inquisitor was even more terrifying than she had originally imagined.

At moments like this...

She felt incredibly fortunate that, unlike those people, that man didn't harbor any excessive intentions toward her.

As long as she kept her distance...

And avoided provoking him...

Nothing should happen.

That was all Adele could do to comfort herself.