Reincarnated as both God and The Devil

Chapter 203: Lord Bran

"The city will be having visitors and your new fiance needs your help. It seems that I need to compete if I want your babies in the future"

Violet covered her mouth as she heard Yinji's statement. Did Viel really grow up to be a playboy!? She thought as she looked around, but no one seemed to be bothered by what she said so she quickly calmed herself down. Little did she know that the others were just too stunned to comment.

"A messenger from one of the neighboring cities came early this morning", this time, it was General Diao who spoke. He was also a bit taken aback by what Yinji said. To hear your idol say something like that, it truly broke General Diao's heart.

"He told us that their lord will be visiting soon and donating supplies to the city", General Diao stroked his beard.

"That's good news isn't it?"

"...In exchange for Beatrice's hand in marriage"

"!!!"

"What!?", Diao Mei waved her hand, "Where were they when the city was being decimated by monsters!?", she shouted. She didn't have a nice impression of the neighboring cities. His grandfather almost died because they didn't even bother to send even a single help. And now that everything was over, they are coming high and mighty?

"They most likely want the city...", General Diao shook his head, "...asking for Beatrice's hand is just a guise for that"

It was the best chance. They knew that the city would be in distress and in help, and news of the previous city lord dying would surely have already spread. Opportunists would not let a chance like this pass. Having the young lady Beatrice as their wife would make it possible for them to get a city with a prime location.

"But sadly for them", General Diao lightly let out a laugh as he looked at Viel, "The city already has a very generous donor"

Viel, who noticed that all of the people were looking at him, couldn't help but let out a tiny scoff, "Pft", he let out, "Of course, of course. It is the least I could do to those in need of help"

"Where are they arriving?", Violet joined in on the conversation.

"Since they would be bringing in supplies by carriage. It would take them about two days", General Diao stroke his beard once again.

"Ehh", Viel also stroked his chin, "Then what do I have to do? You said Beatrice was asking for my help"

"Just sit during their meeting and look handsome", General Diao let out a burst of laughter.

"Oh", Viel blinked his eyes a couple of times, but after a few seconds, he also let out his own burst of laughter, "That shouldn't be hard to do!"

"..."

"Which path would the caravan take?", Violet asked after a few minutes once Viel's and General Diao's peals of laughter stopped ringing in their ears.

"Should be coming from the east road", General Diao squinted his eyes as he tried to recall his meeting with Beatrice.

"I see", Violet placed her hand on her chin, "I just thought that it would be a shame if their caravan was robbed by bandits", Violet slightly as she looked the General straight in the eyes.

"Oh?", General Diao was confused at first as to why Violet said that, but after a while, he once again started to burst out in laughter as he realized what Violet meant. "Oh Ohohoho!"

After a few seconds, Diao Mei also started to giggle as she joined the two. Yinji also let out a nod of agreement as she slightly released a chuckle.

Viel, however, could not help but squint his eyes. "...What's happening?"

***

2 days later, a man with slightly disheveled hair was drinking a cup of coffee. Behind him were his guards, their armor also slightly tattered and there were splotches of dirt that covered it.

"It truly is unfortunate that you and your people ran into a gang of bandits, Lord Bran"

In front of the man called Lord Bran, was Lady Beatrice. They were currently inside her castle's dining area and were discussing Bran's proposal of marriage.

But hearing Beatrice's slightly mocking tone, Bran could not help but slightly click his tongue.

"It seems no one died, so I suppose you are still fortunate enough", Beatrice added as she sipped her coffee.

Bran cleared his throat, his eyes slightly twitching. He came here to ask for the hand of the young and beautiful Beatrice. He had received that her father had died during the attack of the monsters. So he immediately took this chance to send a messenger to Tark city, telling his intent of wanting to marry Beatrice.

Of course, he also wanted to get the city of Tark for himself, but for him, that was just secondary. But who knew that on their way here, they would be attacked by a weird gang of bandits. His guards and soldiers were not even able to fight back the masked outlaws as they took their supplies.

What Bran didn't know, however, was that the coffee he was sipping right now was actually taken from their caravan.

Bran once again cleared his throat as he looked at Beatrice. She truly was beautiful, he thought. "So about my intent", Bran then softly said as he slightly pushed the empty cup of coffee, "Even though my supplies were taken, I could send more--"

"Please, let's eat first before talking business"

Before he could even finish his words, Beatrice raised her hand. All sorts of dishes were then placed on the table by the servants.

"This", Bran could not help but blink his eyes a couple of times. He thought they wouldn't have any food since they already lacked the manpower, not to mention the budget to be able to provide such luxuries.

"As you can see, Lord Bran", Beatrice let out a deep sigh, "Someone has already donated a generous amount of money to the city and that someone is my new fiance"

"What!?", Bran could not help but stand up in shock, "W who?"

Bran could not believe Beatrice's words. Someone was able to beat him for Beatrice's hand? He quickly wondered who could it be? What kind of fat, rich lord was able to beat him?

"He is Lord Viel", Beatrice casually said as she started eating.

"L Lord Viel?"

"Hm", Beatrice nodded, not even looking at Bran, "He owns a city in Choryu"

"C Choryu? In the eastern continent!?", Bran could not help but gulp. Why would someone from the eastern continent even be here at this time? If Beatrice was going to come up with a lie, then she should at least make it believable, Bran thought.

And even if someone from the eastern continent was her, why would he even be interested in marrying a lady of a ruined city? Choryu's economy was leaps better than theirs.

"Where is this Lord Viel now?", Bran squinted his eyes.

"You called for me, dear?", and as soon as Bran wondered where this Lord Viel could be, a golden-haired boy entered the dining room.

"Ah!", Beatrice quickly clapped her hands, "You're here--", Beatrice almost choked before she could even finish her words. The girls said they were going to dress up Viel so he would really look like a rich noble but this

It felt as if they were graced by the son of a king. His presence was too bright, only inferior to his hair that reflected all the sunlight that seeped through the windows. His hair was currently styled in a pony-tail, with the front slightly trimmed, fully showing his jet-black eyes that completely contrasted his golden hair.

He was wearing a black coat, with his collarbones slightly exposed, loosely covered by the frills of his white undershirt.

Bran was also mesmerized. He could not help but twitch his eyes. This is Lord Viel? Where was the fat rich lord that he was expecting?

"G greetings to you", Bran stuttered as he slightly bowed his head towards Viel.

Viel, however, only looked at him in response and nodded before walking towards Beatrice. "Will I see you later to look at the new establishments we're building for the city?", Viel said, the smile on his face not faltering even a single second.

"Y...yes", Beatrice could not help but stutter. That was part of the line they practiced, but now that Viel was here fully in the act, she was lost in her thoughts.

"Okay then", Viel then kissed her hand before leaving the dining room.

"..."

The dining room was quiet for a whole minute after Viel left. Not even a single cough could be heard.

"That", it was Lord Bran that broke the silence, "May I ask how much he donated to the city?"

"...", Beatrice let out a deep breath, "He donated enough for the city to even expand in the future"

"What!?", Bran could not help but let out a shout. How could he even compete with that? Just where did this Lord Viel suddenly come from!?

He came all the way here to ask for Beatrice's marriage, only to find out that she was now engaged. And worse, to someone he couldn't compete with.

But he already spent his money on the supplies that were supposed to be given to this city. He couldn't just leave without getting anything in return. Bran squinted his eyes. He didn't really see a lot of soldiers guarding the city when they came in Most of them probably already died when the dungeons opened up.

Maybe 

...He can take the city for himself right now?