Short on Money

Since there's no way back… I might as well have some fun.

Even the omnipotent demon's servant couldn't send him back, so Freyr had essentially given up. With his mind now unrestrained, the kind of mischief Freyr could conjure up was boundless and unpredictable.

Currently, his head was brimming with ideas that would likely scare the wits out of the poor old butler.

Upon returning to the castle, Freyr summoned his most trusted servant, Focker. Focker was in charge of Freyr's private stash of money, a hundred gold coins secretly given to him by the Countess when he was kicked out of the royal city.

"How much money do we have left?" Freyr's question was straightforward.

Focker's answer came quickly: "Nine gold coins." After a brief pause, the loyal servant added, "Because of the construction of that small building and the purchases made, we've already spent several months' allowance in advance. And now that your monthly allowance has been cut off, we've had to cover the shortfall ourselves."

There was a touch of resentment in Focker's voice, mostly directed at the old butler Spencer. It seemed the former stable hand was having a hard time under the butler's thumb.

"Also, we can't expect a single copper from the butler for a whole year," Freyr sighed.

"Exactly!" Focker grumbled. "Young master, you should think of a solution… the Count is too harsh on you. After all, you're still a child, and the incident wasn't your fault. Do you think anyone wants to be kidnapped? I have an idea though..."

"What is it?"

Focker's eyes darted around as he whispered, "In two months, it's the Countess's birthday. If you send a gift to the royal city and write a letter asking for her help, she might plead your case to the Count… and perhaps your ban will be lifted early."

Freyr nodded. "Good idea, dear Focker. It's a good idea. Even if we don't plead, I should still send something for Mother's birthday… but with just eight gold coins, what can I buy?"

Focker was at a loss for words. This was far beyond the former stable hand's capacity for problem-solving.

Freyr didn't intend for Focker to ponder further. He patted Focker's shoulder. "Alright, I have my own plans. But thanks for the reminder. Now, I need you to help me with something."

Freyr quickly made a list and handed it to Focker.

"Buy everything on this list for me… and also, I need the craftsmen listed here."

Focker glanced at the list, mentally calculated, and his eyes widened. "Young master… if we buy all these things and hire these craftsmen… we might not have any money left…"

Focker's remark was actually quite conservative. In reality, he meant that they wouldn't have a single copper left.

Freyr smiled confidently. "Focker, do as I say. Don't worry, we'll have plenty of money in the future—lots and lots of money! I just have a large sum tied up elsewhere, and it won't be available for another two months. But Mother's birthday is in two months, so I have to come up with something. Now, off you go!"

What to do? If he could wait three months, the McDonald's fleet's pirate operation would be complete, and he would be flush with gold.

But right now, he had no cash on hand!

As for the secret room beneath the study… Freyr had already checked it out last night.

Guess what was inside?

Not gold or jewels… but things that made Freyr's head spin! These items were undoubtedly valuable. However, selling them quickly would be difficult.

For instance, there was a suit of armor made from over three hundred top-quality gems, threaded together with gold wire! While it had no practical use in combat, as an art piece, it was priceless!

Such an item couldn't be sold in small cities on the Russell Plain; only in large cities like Walker Harbor or the royal city could a buyer be found.

Of course, if Freyr was desperate, he could dismantle the armor and sell the gems individually. But that would ruin a priceless work of art! Freyr would never do something so foolish.

Then there was a ceremonial crown carved from a single, flawless amethyst! Four hundred years ago, when the Empire was at its peak, the Emperor had craftsmen create it, embedding it with twenty-nine top-grade magic gems and decorating it with mithril-made thorns, each petal set with a large diamond.

This crown wasn't new to Freyr. He had seen illustrations of it in a book.

It was said that this crown, a priceless gift from the Emperor to the newly appointed Pope of the mainland's Bright God Temple, was lost during the war against the northern tribes—a war that saw the rise of the Russell family, earning the Russell Plain as their fiefdom through military exploits.

This crown, kept in the Bright God Temple, mysteriously disappeared during the war!

The Temple regarded this loss as one of its greatest shames! Every Pope since then has vowed to recover the lost coronation crown.

Would Freyr dare to sell such an item for money?

If he did, the Temple knights would be at his doorstep the next day!

In that secret room, Natalie left nineteen such collectibles! Each one was worth a fortune but impossible to sell.