I Resign From the Coin Mercenary Knights

The Western Prosecutor’s Office of the Imperial City.

This was the workplace of Gregory Hyde, a high prosecutor.

He was a relatively successful prosecutor, having chosen law as his career path early and starting at a young age.

Gregory had a prudent style of carefully prosecuting any crime, so he didn’t have too many enemies in the prosecution service. Lacking enemies could also mean lacking presence, but that was hardly a flaw for someone so thoroughly focused on playing it safe.

However, he had been unnecessarily drawing people’s attention lately.

“The procurement scandal involving the 6th Guard Regiment?”

“It seems we can wrap it up by additionally indicting two officers with confirmed charges. In reality, the regiment commander was likely involved as well, but…”

“That would be too risky for us to pursue. The high command has signaled they will soon issue a reprimand and personnel reassignment, so we should let it go.”

“Yes. But sir, prosecutor?”

A junior prosecutor who had been discussing the case suddenly glanced around before leaning towards Gregory Hyde.

‘Here we go again.’

As much as Gregory wanted to ignore him, the junior was unfortunately the law minister’s nephew-in-law, someone from a humble background like himself that he couldn’t openly disregard. He had no choice but to indulge him to a reasonable extent.

“When is your daughter’s wedding, sir? From what I hear, she’s been engaged for quite some time, so you should set a date soon, no?”

“…Haha. I’ll handle that myself, thank you very much.”

“Ah, of course handing your only daughter over to a discharged commoner knight would be unbecoming. But look at it positively – it means he has nowhere else to turn, does it not? In the end, you can bring him under your influence.”

“……”

“More importantly, he’s sitting on 40 billion rir, 40 billion. The Imperial Bank and merchant guild’s credit vault were reportedly stunned when he deposited that astronomical sum. Where else would you find a commoner entrusting away that kind of fortune?”

The junior prosecutor gazed at Gregory with envy, saying he was the object of his jealousy.

“Haha… Is that so…?”

Gregory could only laugh it off.

The junior’s tone and gaze held not a hint of mockery.

He was simply consumed with envy over Gregory’s prospective son-in-law worth 40 billion rir. Gregory couldn’t bring himself to respond seriously.

In any case, Eric had already become the talk of the Imperial City these days.

Across ranks, genders and ages, everyone was gossiping about Eric’s windfall – and by extension, the fair-haired beauty and high prosecutor who would welcome him as a son-in-law.

Who could have imagined the one who left the hero’s party of his own accord would end up like this?
He’s engaged, you say? Then why hasn’t he held the wedding for over 6 months? I hear he doesn’t even escort her to soirees.
He probably doesn’t want to show her off. Commoners engaged to nobles tend to be excessively cautious.
I hear she’s a looker, at least. In any case, he struck it rich, he really did.

Listening to such murmurs, Gregory Hyde felt his insides rotting away.

‘Damned if I can reveal the truth.’

It had only been a mere ten days since Gregory Hyde had gone after Eric, his daughter’s fiancé.

Of course, he had only done so out of necessity due to his daughter’s willfulness.

He had even made efforts to moderate the extent, merely recommending a verbal warning based on some minor misconduct – enough to instill a sense of caution in Eric without putting him in a dire situation.

Granted, issuing any form of disciplinary warning against his prospective son-in-law was an anomaly in itself.

Which was why few suspected Gregory’s involvement. Even fellow members of the legal fraternity understood Eric’s disciplining as “excessive zeal by a young prosecutor.” Those who vaguely grasped the truth also maintained a discreet silence.

‘I did try to resolve it in my own way.’

In reality, Gregory Hyde had been busy these past few days, attempting to cover his tracks.

First, he had the junior prosecutor who had lent his name reassigned to another region – not as punishment, but rather to a better posting, depleting two decades’ worth of connections to make it happen.

That wasn’t all. He had also belatedly tried his utmost to rescind the disciplinary recommendation.

Just a few days ago, he had even pleaded with the Imperial Knights’ Chief Administrator, warning that “setting such a precedent of excessive discipline would bring disgrace upon the order.”

Truthfully, the Chief Administrator held no real authority – his role was essentially just assisting the knights. But lacking a way to directly meet the esteemed Commander or Vice-Commanders, Gregory had grasped at straws.

However, all of Gregory’s efforts had been in vain. No matter how hard a mere prosecutor tried, there was no way to overturn the Imperial Knights’ decision.

‘That brat Eric… I hear he even forfeited his right to appeal.’

While the atmosphere was surprisingly subdued for someone unjustly expelled, the fact remained that he had been forced into an unreasonable discharge.

And the cause lay with none other than Gregory himself.

“…What am I to do?”

Gregory sank listlessly into his chair, staring vacantly into space.

The relationship between his daughter Ember and Eric had already reached the point of no return, with reconciliation seeming almost impossible. Honestly, it was a miracle their engagement had lasted this long – it would be understandable if they announced their break-up immediately.

‘Could Ember still be clinging to lingering affections? …No, that can’t be it.’

After spending some time in gloomy silence, someone else appeared to torment the hair-tousled Gregory Hyde. This time, it wasn’t even a prosecutor, but a suspect who had come in for questioning – a common criminal, albeit one.

“Did you hear about your prospective son-in-law, sir?”

“…I still haven’t been able to set a wedding date.”

Now even petty criminals were taunting him. Gregory Hyde felt like smashing through the office window and fleeing right then and there.

But the suspect shook his head, denying that was his intent.

“No, not that. I heard he’s moving to the 3rd district soon? He’s already put down a deposit through an acquaintance.”

“……!”

The 3rd district of the Imperial City.

The residential area primarily occupied by high-ranking officials, officers, and academics working in the capital. Specifically, it tended to have a higher concentration of civil servants from minor noble backgrounds – after all, there was an inherent tendency for people to congregate among their own kind.

More importantly, it was the district where Gregory Hyde himself had lived for the past decade. Granted, he ranked among the more modest residents of the 3rd district.

“I hear the place he’s buying is going for a rushed sale at around 300 million, sheesh. But considering your prospective son-in-law’s wealth, that’s pocket change for him, I’d wager?”

“Is this true?”

“Yes, yes, it is. The owner putting that place up for sale is a lawyer I have a special connection with. You could say I practically installed that doorframe myself.”

“……”

The suspect chuckled, but Gregory had no attention to spare for a common criminal’s drivel.

What mattered was that Eric – the fiancé he had assumed was well and truly done with his daughter – might be moving into the neighborhood where he resided.

If Eric truly wanted nothing more to do with Ember’s face, would he have bothered coming to the same district?

It was unthinkable. There was every possibility of frequently running into Ember or her family on the streets, after all. The fact that he was still moving to the 3rd district despite knowing this proved he harbored less aversion than expected.

Moreover, the owner of the residence Eric intended to purchase was an academy classmate Gregory was rather familiar with.

“Ah, come to think of it, you live in that district too, don’t you sir? That house with the red roof…”

“Get out.”

“Ah, my apologies.”

Immediately after getting off work, Gregory relayed this glad tiding to his daughter.

Though it wouldn’t be easy, he told her that the embers of reconciliation, however faint, still flickered – that there might be an opportunity to atone for the grievous error caused by his momentary misjudgment. Ember’s haggard countenance gradually regained its vitality as she listened.

“Father, is that… is that really true?”

“Yes.”

Gregory gazed pityingly at his visibly fatigued daughter before reaching out to brush aside the hair clinging to her face.

Despite her excessive materialism and lack of propriety, she was still his lovely daughter whom he doted upon.

He had made a critical mistake by falling for the female knight Selina’s manipulations, but it was still a mistake made out of immaturity. With her beauty, perhaps if she showed sufficient remorse and atonement, Eric might grant her one final chance.

There was no basis for it, but Gregory wanted to believe so.

“In a way, you too were a victim. If you discard your arrogance, you may yet regain Eric’s affections.”

“Yes, Father.”

Ember nodded with a forced smile.

Father and daughter exchanged resolute looks, renewing their determination. But in the midst of this, there was one fact Gregory remained oblivious to – that there had never been any love for Ember to regain in the first place.

“Nice property.”

As I inspected the residence in the 3rd district that I was about to purchase, I couldn’t help voicing my admiration repeatedly.

A spacious southern-facing house with an attached garden. The surrounding walls ensured privacy, and the basement seemed suitable for various purposes. While pricey, it was well within my means if I considered it my future home.

Another aspect that appealed to me was the owner of this property himself.

A genial-looking lawyer nearing retirement, planning to return to his hometown soon.

Fortuitously, I happened to require legal counsel, so this worked out perfectly. Since I intended to pay the approximately 300 million rir price in cash, he would hardly refuse some consultations.

I had heard he was a classmate of Ember’s father, but that wasn’t an issue. Humans tended to be rather vulnerable in the face of money.

“Sir Eric… Ah, my apologies. That was a slip of the tongue.”

“Not a problem. I was an actual knight until just recently. More importantly, may I seek your counsel? You mentioned being a lawyer?”

“Haha. Indeed I am. In fact, I happen to be your prospective father-in-law’s…”

“I wish to consult about annulment procedures.”

“……”

“Of course, I understand that for commoners, engagements are little more than child’s play. But the party in question is of ambiguous noble status, and I myself am in a rather unique position. I wish to settle this matter as swiftly as possible, so could you advise on the proper methods?”

“…Ah, you mean annulment.”

The lawyer’s eyes momentarily wavered upon my request.

But his hesitation didn’t last long.

“I can offer some counsel, but…”

“Yes, I understand.”

I promised to expedite the sales contract and payment if his advice proved useful.

Only then did the lawyer smile brightly before imparting his decades of accumulated legal expertise on how I could become a free man without any lingering entanglements – evidently not caring in the slightest whom I intended to separate from, despite likely having some idea.