Overlord of Blood and Iron

“W-What the hell did I just…”

“I must have heard that wrong.”

Lucia and Lee Chae-rin both muttered to themselves in astonishment.

Both women could not believe what Hecate had just said. 

I mean, who would?

If randomly, a woman just came and asked someone that she’d never met before to sleep with her, it would be hard to believe.

And… she wasn’t just asking to sleep with her, but to do it today. What kind of weirdo would do that?

Troublesome woman.

While Lee Chae-rin and Lucia fell into panic, Kang Chul-In smirked.  

Troublesome woman.

Those were words that would best sum up the kind of woman that Hecate was. No wonder in the past, Dorian would call Hecate the ‘female Kang Chul-In’.

“So, will you do it or not. Just tell me.”

Hecate stared at Kang Chul-In, like a cat looking at their prey.

Kang Chul-In’s answer to that was:

“I decline.”

Was obviously a no.

To that, both Lucia and Lee Chae-rin sighed in relief.

Meanwhile, Dorian got his left and right foot stepped on by Lucia and Lee Chae-rin, for saying “ahh, why? What a waste.”

“Why not?”

Hecate’s face stiffened. She looked as if she didn’t think she would get rejected.

“I’m not interested in you.”

“Ah, have I pushed too far?”

At this point, what Hecate hadn’t done is pushed too far, but had almost sexually harassed him.

“Good, not bad. I’m getting more interested in you.”

But Kang Chul-In declining had the exact opposite effect.

“I mean, men who decline first interest me more than those who say yes right away. Though, I hope the reason for you declined was not because you’re scared since that would be lame. You, I want to ride on you more whenever I see you.”

At that point, Lucia and Lee Chae-rin were about to explode. Normal people wouldn’t be able to understand Hecate’s direct talking.

She’s the same as before.

The only person who understood Hecate was Kang Chul-In.

He knew why Hecate’s personality had become like this. Everything had a reason.

“Anyway, move out the way if you understand.”

But Kang Chul-In pushed Hecate away. Understanding and becoming an ‘easy man’ were two completely different things.

“Move away? Isn’t that a little rude? I think that you should at least dance with me after this.”

“Wait.”

“Wait?”

“You should have manners when you act.”

Kang Chul-In turned to look at Lucia and Lee Chae-rin. He was asking her to wait her turn.

“So you’re going to make me wait?”

“There’s no other choice.”

“Hahaha~! Yeah, that’s true. The only person that would regret it is me. However…”

“The third person is going to be me. If you say no to this, I’ll rain explosives at your territory after the Lord meetings are over.”

Hecate was saying that she would start a war against him if she had to wait her turn in the ball. Though it was a petty threat, the scary thing about Hecate was that she would definitely carry out words that she had already spoken.

“As if I would do that.”

Kang Chul-In smiled. Knowing Hecate so well, there was no way that a threat like that would work on him.

“That would be a bit troublesome, especially in terms of business.”

“Business?”

“We’ll talk about it later. Hey, Lucia.”

Rather than answering Hecate’s question, Kang Chul-In walked towards Lucia. In a timely manner, the violinists of the orchestra began to play their music.

“Milord…”

Lucia blushed.

“I have to keep the promises that I make.”

“O-Of course, milord… Milord isn’t one to dishonor his promises.”

“Let’s go.”

Kang Chul-In led Lucia in an experienced manner. Since Kang Chul-In had participated in the Lord meetings before, he knew how to dance. It was thanks to Alfred’s nagging.

You saw that?

Lucia looked at Lee Chae-rin proudly.

Unfair… she always stays with Mr. Chul-In anyway!

Though Lee Chae-rin shivered in envy, Lucia was led by Kang Chul-In all over the hall.

Kang Chul-In received attention.

He didn’t receive just attention, but also the complicated gazes of a lot of Lords.

Though Kang Chul-In took over the hall with his fluid movements, that wasn’t it.

No matter what, the true gem of the Ball was the women.

Not only did Kang Chul-In show his charisma through his dancing, he also did that by dancing with beautiful women.

A strong male, a man with a lot of money and ability (same for a woman), always had beautiful and handsome people of the other gender near them.

Lucia who possessed an enviable curvy figure as well as a look of cool beauty about her, Lee Chae-rin who looked quite simple yet still beautiful, and Hecate who possessed a wild beauty about her.

All the women that were near Kang Chul-In were beautiful, and it wasn’t an overstatement to say that they were heavenly maidens.

And thanks to this, Kang Chul-In naturally became the figure that received the most attention, as well as complicated gazes of respect, envy, and hatred. Though, Kang Chul-In himself didn’t care about those gazes.

“Now, let’s talk about work.”

Kang Chul-In put down his arm that was wrapped around Hecate’s hair.

Kang Chul-In didn’t forget to think about business even while the ball was going on.

A terrifying workaholic, that was Kang Chul-In.

“I don’t want to.”

Hecate said, stepping even closer to Kang Chul-In.

“Let’s play one more time.”

And saying that, put Kang Chul-In’s hand on her waist. Since this moment was enjoyable, she didn’t talk about work. That was how heated up she was at this moment.

“... Until when will you live, looking at just today.”

Kang Chul-In said, as if he had read Hecate’s mind.

“What?”

“You don’t think of the past. Nor do you think about the future. What matters most to you is how you feel in this exact moment.”

“What… do you mean by that?”

“I think you understand what that means better than everyone.”

“You… know me?”

For the first time since they had met, Hecate seemed to be flustered.

“It’s just a feeling.”

“Feeling…?”

“Anyway, let’s talk business now.”Taking two bottles of champagne from nearby waiters, Kang Chul-In handed one over to Hecate.

There probably isn’t a woman in the world who’s easier to control than you, Hecate.

Though he had been quite flustered at Hecate’s thought patterns in his past life, that was no longer the case. Now that he knew of Hecate’s past, it was very simple for him to control her.

“Huu…”

With a somewhat complicated sigh, Hecate drank the bottle of champagne that Kang Chul-In had handed her.

“So. What’s this talk about work?”

“The sex ratio in your territory.”

“What about it?”

“I bet that there are only males around you, right?”

“That… no, no.”

Hecate was about to answer ‘there are always a lot of males around me’, but understanding the purpose of his question, she swallowed her words.

“You’re talking about the sex ratio within my territory?”

“Yes.”

“What about it?”

“There are a lot more females than there are males within my territory. If you’re experiencing similar things, then maybe we can have a deal.”

Hecate’s face turned happy at that moment.

“That’s good. I was also somewhat stressed about that situation anyway.”

“So you have more males than females in your territory?”

Kang Chul-In spoke, as if he didn’t know.

“A lot, there’s too many. So many of those males. At this point, many of them are starting to turn gay. Well… they are trying their best since there aren’t many females around.”

“I agree. The females in our territory are also trying their best at this point.”

Though it was different in the case of Laputa, as the females were able to survive (?) through the culture brought from Earth by Arshelly.

Currently, Earth’s drama and movies were experiencing a massive hit within Pangaea. If not for Arshelly, the happiness of the citizens of Laputa might have hit dead bottom by now already.

“Hmmm… So are you saying we should do slave trading or something then?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then what is it?”

“We can create a Matchmaking company together.”

“A matchmaking company?”

“Your territory lacks females, and my territory lacks males. If we let the females of my territory and the males of your territory marry, wouldn’t that be beneficial for both of our territories? There won’t be any reason for us to go and war against other territories to look for the lacking gender.”

“Ah… I guess that makes sense.”

Hecate was also a woman. She didn’t like having to go to other territories and having to kidnap other women for her benefit. There was no choice for her, to keep the loyalty of her citizens.

“Hmm… that sounds good.”

“And there are also more benefits for us.”

“More benefits?”

“If the people want this matchmaking to happen, don’t you think there should at least be a fee? I mean, since we need to transport them from my territory to your territory or the other way around, the transportation fees will cost quite a lot in the first place.”

“So you’re saying we should take in money from the citizens that sign up for this and want to marry using this program?”

“Exactly so.”

“Hmmm…”

Hecate seemed to think about it for quite a bit…

“This… this is just a proposal for an alliance, isn’t it.”

And realized Kang Chul-In’s true intentions. It was as expected of someone who had risen to the ranks of Overlord. 

“This is a political marriage not between us Lords, but rather between our citizens, isn’t it? Since if we want to fight against each other, we’ll have to take the risk of being rebelled against by our citizens. And there also has to be a reason in order for one of us to start a war against each other. A powerful reason that makes them also agree to start a war”

What Hecate spoke were exactly Kang Chul-In’s thoughts. Thanks to this, Kang Chul-In didn’t need to explain further. Though she was a bit crazy, Hecate was also a frightening and smart Lord.

“This is a deal that would let both of us laugh. And is also shackling me to you. Aren’t you saying that we should take it to the end together at this point?”

“Probably.”

“Hmm… Interesting. To think that the 1st ranked Lord would actually offer me to join in this coalition.”

The reason why Ishtar wasn’t called an alliance or a union was because of this. Since they had formed a group due to political marriages and reasons, it wasn’t strange to call them a coalition.

“Fine, that’s fine… but I won’t be satisfied with just that.”

“.......?”

“Since we’re going to see this to the very end, why do we leave it with just our citizens? Shouldn’t we do that as Lords too?”

Hecate spoke with a smirk on her face.

“Well…”

“I know too. That you don’t want to marry with me. But… there are also other ways to build up trust between us. For example… physical relationships.”

“...Is that all you think about?”

“Hahaha~! You should think it’s an honor. Just because a woman has lust, doesn’t mean they go around like this. It’s weird. But in that sense, you have a lot of parts within you that stimulates my desires. It’s like… what kind of expression will you make, when I lick that arrogant face of yours?”

Kang Chul-In closed his eyes, tired of Hecate. Truly, she was a troublesome woman.

“Anyway, answer me. Will you do it or not.”

“Of course I will. Unless I have a bullet in my head, there’s no way I would decline an offer like this.”

Hecate stretched her hand towards Kang Chul-In.

“But… for the money that comes out of this matchmaking service…”

“You’re 6, and I’m a 4.” 

Kang Chul-In said.

“Oh, you seem to know well?”

“Your territory is one that specializes in aerial movement. I think that it’d be much more efficient if you were the one visiting us for this matchmaking service.”

Though Laputa was also able to move through flight, it was much less effective than Temeraire (which was shaped like a huge flying ship), and costed much more to move. It was beneficial for Kang Chul-In to let Hecate have more than him for this.”

“Even the way that you deal like this is my style. You’re driving me insane.”

“We’ll talk about the details after the Lord meetings are over now.”

Kang Chul-In and Hecate shook their hands. It was the moment where 2 of the 3 Overlords that had formed the Ishtar coalition joined again.

---------

“Huu…”

Sitting down to catch his breath, Kang Chul-In looked around the hall. 

It was busy.

There were people who were drinking, those who talked while sipping champagne, and those who were chatting boisterously around a table. As he had expected, the hall had turned into one hell of a battle of minds.

Rothschild.

Kang Chul-In’s gaze stayed on Alex Rothschild, who was currently discussing about something with the 2nd ranked Baruk Al Yusuf.

I bet he’s using Lee Gong-myung’s tactic to force me into a bad position.

It was obvious what Alex Rothschild was thinking. Even if it were the genius that was Lee Gong-myung, it was impossible to trick Kang Chul-In, who had returned from the future.

Keep running that mouth of yours. I’ll destroy that smug expression of yours when the auction finally starts.

Kang Chul-In was prepared. It was because of the present(?) he had prepared in advance for Rothschild.

“From you…”It was at that moment.

“I can smell one that can see the future, the smell of a fortune-teller.”

Someone who spoke strange words came by, and sat on Kang Chul-In’s table.

It was a lady who was wearing a purple robe, giving off a psychedelic feeling.

“Who are you?”

Asked Skadi Andvari, the mage Overlord.