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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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Chapter 171: Brother, How Did It Come to This?
“Ugh, I’m exhausted.”
I returned to my residence early in the morning, before the sun had fully risen.
‘Coming in through this little hole every time is starting to feel a bit degrading.’
It wasn’t exactly fitting for the dignity of Young master Allenvert.
‘But that’s also why it’s hard to notice.’
Still, since I’d already used this method twice, I thought it might be time to mix things up a bit.
‘Maybe next time, I’ll send Peter off duty to create some confusion.’
Verdzig was probably watching me right now, still suspicious.
‘If he can’t figure out my movements, he’ll definitely suspect I’m up to something.’
In a way, I could say I trusted Verdzig a lot. I was certain he’d always doubt me, and that was reassuring.
‘What if Peter goes off duty in the middle of all this?’
Of course, Verdzig would assign someone to watch Peter.
But that person wouldn’t find anything suspicious.
‘Besides, Verdzig can’t harm Peter again.’
The Borgart clan’s secret guards were protecting Peter and his family.
‘Perfect. This is flawless.’
Maybe because I’d come up with a plan on the spot, I suddenly felt drowsy.
“Yawn.”
I took off my mask and lay down on the bed.
‘I need to get at least a little sleep.’
...
I must have dozed off for a while.
Knock knock knock.
A soft knocking sound gently woke me.
“Your Highness.”
“Yeah, come in.”
Olivier, Peter, and Jeffrey entered cautiously, all wearing serious expressions.
“What’s with the faces? You’re making me nervous.”
“……Your Highness, we’ve received word from my uncle.”
“What kind of word?”
Olivier hesitated, looking both apologetic and regretful, before speaking.
“Madame Lusatia—”
I already knew what was coming before he finished.
“—has declined to meet with you.”
My heart sank.
“…….”
I stared at the ceiling for a moment, unsure of what to say.
“Declined? Why?”
“We weren’t given a reason.”
“…….”
I closed my eyes tightly, then opened them and looked at Olivier.
“Did the head butler not say, or did my mother not say?”
There was a clear difference between the two.
“The latter. The Duchess only conveyed her refusal without any explanation.”
“……I see.”
There was one thing that bothered me.
“Through whom?”
“Pardon?”
“Who delivered the message?”
“……The head maid. She’s the one who personally attends to the Duchess.”
“Has she been around long?”
“Yes. She’s served since before you were born and is deeply trusted by the Duchess.”
I see.
“Then I’ll have to meet her.”
“……Pardon?”
“She’s the only one who can convey my intentions to my mother. I’ll need to persuade her first.”
“Your Highness.”
Olivier looked at me with a mix of pity and surprise.
“What, did you think I’d be discouraged and disappointed? Like before?”
“To be honest, I was worried you might be.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not giving up that easily.”
“Yes, that’s a relief.”
I pointed at Peter and Olivier, who had been silent the whole time.
“Cheer up. Why the long faces?”
“……Young Master.”
Peter looked like he was about to cry, so I clicked my tongue.
“No need to look at me like I’m some pitiful creature. If it were easy to break through, I wouldn’t have been stuck for seven years.”
But—
If I could just get in touch with the survivors of Eisenach through the head maid.
‘I’m sure I can change her mind.’
“Olivier, inform the head butler of my intentions immediately.”
“Understood.”
“Good. That woke me right up.”
I turned to Peter.
“What time was I supposed to meet with my sister again?”
“Ah, in two hours!”
“Good. That’s perfect.”
“Where are you planning to go, Young Master?”
Peter asked.
“I’m feeling a bit impatient. I need to take care of some lingering issues before I can focus on meeting my mother.”
“Lingering issues? What do you mean?”
I patted Peter’s head.
“Actually, I met one of Young master Somerset’s friends last night and had a little chat.”
“Huh? A friend? From the underworld?”
“Yeah.”
“What on earth were you doing last night……?”
“It’s complicated. Anyway, this so-called friend is the third son of the Cardovan Viscount clan.”
“Ah!”
Olivier seemed to recognize the name.
“Another infamous troublemaker, I see.”
“That’s right. How did you end up dealing with him……?”
“Well, if I start from the beginning, it’ll take too long.”
I kept it brief.
“I kidnapped him.”
“……?”
“……!”
“…….”
* * *
Grunewald City was massive.
It was a sprawling metropolis with a vast sea, several islands, outposts guarding those islands, the city itself and its surroundings, and the roads, rivers, and suburbs stretching beyond. Every corner of it was teeming with people, leaving no place untouched by human activity.
But even the largest net cast over the sky has its holes.
“Venion. You’re here.”
Venion was waiting in a remote place, unknown to maps and people alike.
“Hey, you made it.”
He waved when he spotted the contact.
“……Are you alright?”
“Ah, this?”
Venion tossed aside the head he was holding and wiped his hands with a handkerchief.
“I’m fine. But if there’s an ambush waiting, we’ll need to change our meeting spot.”
The contact immediately knelt.
“My apologies. I’ll find out where the leak came from—”
“It’s fine. The tail was just a bit long this time.”
“…….”
“Let’s decide on a new meeting spot later.”
“Understood.”
“Then wipe that look off your face and stand up. What’s with the groveling?”
“Heh, it’s only natural to crawl when you’re holding someone’s head.”
“Fair enough.”
Venion chuckled lightly, teasing the contact.
“By the way, your accent is still a bit awkward. Are you trying to show that you’re from a foreign land?”
“Only you think it’s awkward, Venion. Everyone else thinks I’m a local.”
“Huh, I guess people aren’t very perceptive. Anyone can tell it’s a northern accent.”
“Your ears are just too sharp, Venion.”
The contact, now looking more relaxed, cleared his throat.
“Shall we begin the regular report?”
“Go ahead.”
Venion crossed his arms.
To avoid any risks, Venion had ordered that no notes or letters be used—everything was to be memorized and reported orally.
“First, the movements in Flanders, Brishmar, the Nomadic Kingdoms, and the Northern Military States…”
The report began with the trends in international affairs.
“As you mentioned before, the list of clans eyeing the Webern County…”
Various current issues.
“And as for the origins of the techniques used by someone named Mordecai, our investigation revealed…”
Even matters related to the underworld.
“I see. Noted.”
Venion nodded in satisfaction, as if he had memorized every piece of information without missing a single detail.
“Anything else to report?”
“No, that’s all.”
“You may leave.”
“Understood.”
As the contact stood up neatly, Venion asked.
“How are you getting back?”
“I’ll take a regular ship this time. It happens to fit my schedule.”
“Good. By the time we meet again, it’ll be summer.”
“Damn it. I’ll never get used to summer voyages.”
The man shuddered.
“Haha, make sure to eat well before you go. The restaurants in Grunewald are all excellent.”
“Ah, the food. That’s another reason I come here.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
……And shortly after, the only thing left in the place where the two had been was the corpses of assassins.
* * *
“Uncle.”
“Olivier, come in.”
The head butler, Aiden, raised an eyebrow at his nephew’s troubled expression.
“You don’t look well. What did His Highness say?”
“……He said he wouldn’t give up so easily. He requested to meet the head maid directly to persuade her.”
The head butler also wore a regretful expression at the misalignment between mother and son.
“Understood. I’ll report this to His Grace immediately.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Comfort him well. It’s the duty of a servant to understand their master’s heart and, at times, to embrace it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“And this is… though it’s hardly enough to console him—”
The head butler took out a small box from a drawer.
“His Grace has bestowed this spirit medicine, hoping it will aid in preparing for the upcoming confrontation with Young Lady of Valkenhain.”
“Ah!”
Olivier accepted the box with a surprised expression.
“Thank you. Such a precious item.”
“It’s quite valuable. If taken properly, it should help him break through to the 5th tier.”
“Ah, about that…”
Olivier suddenly remembered something he had forgotten to report amidst all the other matters.
“Actually, he’s already reached the 5th tier.”
“What?”
The head butler couldn’t hide his astonishment.
“What are you talking about? It’s only been a few days since the banquet ended…”
“Well, it’s a bit complicated to explain.”
Olivier cleared his throat and continued.
“He said he gained insight after beginning his training in the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique, created by the founding ancestor Vitenfeld.”
“Huh.”
The head butler shook his head in disbelief.
“Truly an extraordinary martial art.”
“Uncle, how do you know about that technique?”
“Ludan, that friend of mine, mentioned it once. He said it wasn’t a technique to be dismissed lightly. Though no one paid him any attention at the time.”
“I see.”
“……I’m sure that friend must have recommended it to His Highness.”
Of course, the truth was that he had chosen it simply because the name sounded cool…
But there was no one here to correct that.
“They say it’s a technique that only shines when wielded by someone of exceptional talent. It seems those words were true.”
The head butler smiled faintly.
Who would have thought his old friend’s insight would be proven in this way?
* * *
I went to Somerset’s residence. As if to prove my newfound authority, not a single servant dared to stand in my way.
“I have an urgent matter to discuss with my brother. Inform him of my arrival.”
“Yes, understood.”
Look at the tense face of the guard, ready to salute. This is why people need honor and power.
“……Your Highness.”
After a moment, the guard returned with a troubled expression. Just by looking at his face, it was obvious how Somerset had reacted.
“I take it he cursed at you.”
“Yes, well—”
“It’s fine.”
I patted the guard on the shoulder like a superior and gave him a playful wink.
“Just tell him I barged in uninvited.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll be watching to see how well you can act.”
“Wait, hold on—”
“Excuse me then.”
Whoosh!
Using the subtle movements of the Scarlet Cloud Ghost Path technique, I slipped past the guard like an eel.
“Brother! Your little brother is here to see you! Brother? Brother!”
“Oh nooo! Your Highness! You can’t do this!”
The guard’s sincere acting only fueled my enthusiasm.
“Hey! Move aside!”
“Your Highness!”
After causing quite a ruckus, I burst into Somerset’s bedroom.
“Your brother is here!”
Behind the flung-open door, Young master Somerset lay among liquor bottles, looking like he hadn’t washed in days.
“Goodness, you’ve become a wreck. This is beyond pitiful.”
I clicked my tongue.
“……What do you want?”
Somerset staggered to his feet.
“I clearly gave orders to refuse guests, yet you dare—”
“You can’t do anything to me, so what power do those underlings have?”
I chuckled and closed the door behind me.
“Listen, brother.”
I clicked my tongue as I looked at Somerset’s bloodshot eyes, reminiscent of the gamblers I’d seen at Krahel’s casino.
“How pathetic. How did it come to this?”
“……Just leave, please.”
Somerset acted as if he had neither the energy nor the will to argue with me.
“Should I really leave?”
But I wasn’t the type to give up so easily.
“If you don’t listen to me now, you’ll definitely regret it.”
“…….”
Somerset closed his eyes, as if determined not to react to any nonsense. Well, then, let’s get straight to the point.
“Brother. Do you know Marlok Cardovan?”
“?!”
As expected, Somerset’s eyes, which seemed impossible to widen, immediately bulged.
“How do you know that name?”
“Who knows?”
Now was the time to play coy and pique his curiosity.
“You little brat, did you investigate me?”
“Why would I do something like that? I’m not you, brother.”
“…….”
“So, what now?”
I asked.
“If you want to hear more, get up. Otherwise, I’ll leave.”
“……Damn it.”
See? Getting Somerset to move is this easy.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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