"What did you say?
Morssen committed suicide? "
Morssen committed suicide by jumping off a building? "
After hearing the urgent news from his butler, Sir Fux, who was enjoying his delicious breakfast and aperitif wine, stood up abruptly. The white napkin around his neck knocked over the crystal wine glass and the dark red aperitif wine spilled all over his body.
Sir Fux, who was always particular about his appearance, could no longer care about the wine stains on his clothes. He rushed to the butler and grabbed him by the collar. "Is this news true?" he asked anxiously.
The butler shuddered at the sight of Sir Fux's contorted face. He had never seen Sir Fux in such a state before. It took him some time to calm down. "Yes, Master. It's said that Mister Morssen jumped off the roof of his red brick house at around five in the morning and fell on the cobblestone floor below. His skull cracked and he died on the spot."
Sir Fux let go of the butler's collar and turned around. "H-How dare he commit suicide? Who allowed him to?!"
The enraged Sir Fux lifted the entire dining table in front of him and pushed it to the side. The cutlery and food on it fell onto the exquisite granite floor, and the crystal cutlery shattered into pieces. The butler, who was standing by the side, was frightened like a quail drenched in the rain. He didn't dare to go forward and persuade Sir Fux, who was on the verge of going crazy.
Sir Fux stomped on the food on the floor angrily. "How dare he commit suicide?!
How dare he commit suicide?! "
It took a while for Sir Fux to calm down, but his eyes were still a little red. "I believe the heir of House Ferd must be that young Bloweyk, right?"
"Y-yes. It's said that Mister Morssen left a will before he committed suicide. His youngest son, Bloweyk, will inherit his family business and all his debts."
Sir Fux raged again. He took a few deep breaths to control his emotions. "I knew it! I knew it! Morssen, you did well!
You dragged me into this even after committing suicide! I'm the laughing stock of everyone!
That second son of his, what's his name again? Claude? Isn't he already an adult and has the right to inherit the family business? "
"M-Master, Mister Morssen's second son, Claude, is 18 years old and an adult, but he's already registered at the town hall. He's only registered under House Ferd because he doesn't have any assets or a house of his own.
He was currently the supervisor of Normanley Wood, earning three thales a month. It was an enviable job.
Also, I heard that he is very filial and always cares about the family. So, so, so, he won't go against his father's will and fight for the right of inheritance with his brother. Besides, with that debt, he won't want, want the right of inheritance … "
The butler stuttered out a reality that left Sir Fux in despair. Indeed, no fool would willingly take on a debt of 500 crowns.
"Perhaps I shouldn't have forced Morssen. I should have met him yesterday and given him a chance to extend the repayment period. If he had two or three years, he might not have been so resolute.
Damn it!
He's dragging me down with him! "Sir Fux finally regretted his miscalculation.
"By the way, is that Arbeit still at the old street?"
The butler gave it some thought before replying carefully, "He should be. After you dismissed him three days ago, he went to the old street to look for his lover and hasn't been home since."
"Tell Bidlir to send someone to keep an eye on him. Don't let him leave town.
Also, tell him to go home and inherit the family business.
Even though he's already an adult and registered, he's the eldest son and has priority. If he's willing to inherit the family business, Morssen's will will be useless.
As for the debt, tell him that he only has to transfer the red brick house to me after he inherits and the rest of the debt will be written off. "
"Yes, Master. I'll go right away."
After the butler left in a hurry, Sir Fux could no longer control his anger. He picked up the ornaments within reach and smashed them on the ground as he cursed, "Damn Stellin IX, damn the debt bill …"
An honest-looking gardener was tending to his plants outside the dining hall. When he heard the commotion and Sir Fux's curses, his expression turned solemn.
In the old street, there was a row of dilapidated two-storey buildings in an alley. Sir Fux's butler was brought to a door by a few Blacksnakes.
Arbeit was still asleep, but he couldn't stop the gang members from barging in with Sir Fux's butler.
"Arbeit, your father is dead. Why aren't you home?" The butler looked at Arbeit sternly.
"Home? What for?
To inherit a debt of five hundred crowns? "Arbeit asked lazily.
The butler repeated Sir Fux's conditions.
"Alright, I got it. Go back first. I'll greet Sir Fux and I'll go home in a bit."
After the butler left, Arbeit sneered, "Do you think I'm stupid? I inherited the family business, but I didn't get anything and ended up with so much debt.
Is that even possible? Do you think I don't know that the old man's words are like farts? He never keeps his word.
Do you really think I'll jump into a hole like that foolish father of mine? I'd be a fool to believe you. "
A red-haired woman popped out from under the blanket. "Arbeit, are you really not going home? Your father's dead."
"No, I don't want to get beaten up."
Arbeit shook his head and said firmly, "You don't know how much of a bastard my brother is. He loves to beat me up. He held back a little when my father was around, but now that he's gone, he'll definitely beat me up if I go over.
Let him inherit the family business. I'd like to see how he's going to pay back the five hundred crowns. "
"Since he can repay the debt by inheriting the family business, why does Sir Fux want you to go back and fight with him?"
"That old man probably can't wait to get his hands on the red brick house. Our kingdom's Creditor's Rights Act states that if a debtor dies, the adult heir has to sign a new debt agreement with the creditor.
There's a three-month grace period, which means that the creditor can't collect the debt during that time.
The old man is probably afraid that something unexpected will happen if he drags it out.
Besides, my brother has a backer. He's latched onto the thick thighs of the Normanley family. That's why the old man has his reservations. "
Arbeit didn't expect his father to be even more far-sighted than he was. He'd directly let Bloweyk inherit the family business, giving Sir Fux a hard time.
"By the way, Alice, do you want to earn money?"
"Who doesn't want to? You've been staying at my house for three days and you haven't given me a single copper." The red-haired woman reached out to twist Arbeit's ear.
"Don't, don't touch me. I'm telling you, I'll write a letter for you to deliver to my house. Ask my brother for money. He'll definitely give it to you."
"You're not lying?
He'll really give you money?
How much? "
"One or two crowns. I don't think he'll have any more," Arbeit said confidently.
"That much?
Then what letter are you writing? "The red-haired woman grew excited.
"To give up the inheritance, of course. As long as you give him the letter, he'll definitely agree to your request and give you the money. But you'll have to split it with me."
"Wait, Arbeit. You really don't want the inheritance?"
Arbeit nodded firmly. "After I write the letter, tell your father not to leave the ship in the morning. When you return, send me to the docks and we'll leave on your father's fishing boat. I can't stay in Whitestag any longer. I'll go somewhere else.
That old man will definitely come looking for me. If he pays me a hundred crowns, I'll still inherit the family business. Does he think I'm an idiot if he wants to trick me with empty promises? "
The boss of Blacksnake, Bidlir Blanche, stood in front of the red brick house, completely dumbfounded. He never thought he'd be dragged into Morssen's suicide and be unable to leave.
When he heard the news of Morssen's suicide in the morning, he received a notice from the town hall's head of justice to bring an IOU to Morssen's residence and wait for the investigation to be completed.
It was then that Bidlir Blanche realized the inconvenience of being a public official.
If he wasn't a platoon jarl, he could've just gotten someone else to go in his place.
But now that he was a platoon jarl, and the reason Morssen committed suicide was because he brought the IOU to the town. So, he had to be present for the investigation.
Almost half of the town had come. Mr. Morssen's suicide had caused a sensation in the town. From one end of the street to the other, there were crowds of people. Gossip and rumors were flying everywhere.
Bidlir Blanche had never felt so humiliated before. Though no one had the guts to step in front of him and scold him, the disdain and disdain in the eyes of the crowd made him feel like he was the culprit behind the suicide of the esteemed Mr. Morssen.
Is there a need to be like this?
I'm just running errands for Sir Fux … Bidlir Blanche felt really wronged.
Especially the second son of Morssen, Claude. The way he looked at him was filled with killing intent. It was real killing intent.
As the boss of Blacksnake, Bidlir Blanche, who was known as Butcher Bill, naturally had his fair share of deaths and was no stranger to killing intent. But why did he feel that Claude's killing intent was so heavy that he felt a chill run down his spine when he looked at him?
He summoned one of his subordinates and asked him a few questions. Only then did he relax. It turned out that Claude was an expert hunter. He had killed pythons, niros crocodiles, wild boars, antelopes, and countless hares and pheasants. It was no wonder his killing intent was so strong.
"How long do we have to stay here …" Bidlir Blanche yelled at his men impatiently.
"Boss, be patient. We didn't expect this to happen.
We have to at least wait for the people from the justice department to check the IOU before we leave, "one of the more astute men advised.
"It's been an entire morning already. What are they dawdling for? Hurry up and come over," Bidlir Blanche grumbled. He was getting more and more annoyed at being watched like a monkey.
But he had no choice. Claude refused to let them into his house. They were now part of the garrison and couldn't force their way in under the watchful eyes of the crowd. They could only obediently wait outside.
"Hey, isn't that Elise from Oldstreet?
Why is she here? "
A red-haired woman squeezed through the crowd and entered the house.
After a while, the red-haired girl named Alice left in high spirits.
"Let me ask her what she's here for. I remember Morssen's eldest son, that pretty boy Arbeit, is quite close with her."
One of the men ran over and asked a few questions. "She's here to deliver a letter for that pretty boy Arbeit. He's giving up his inheritance."
"Five hundred crowns in debt. Whoever inherits it is sick," another man said.
After a while, a civil servant from the justice department came over and asked for the IOU. He looked at Delia Blanche casually and said, "You guys continue to wait. The head of justice, Mr. Kauf, will be here in the afternoon. He will determine your debt. When the time comes, you will need to rewrite the IOU and settle the matter."
"How long do we have to wait?" Bidlir Blanche was on the verge of breaking down.