I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 58

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 58

“Calips, I’m heading out now.”
Calips responded to my greeting with a grimace, but I paid it no mind and left the classroom, stopping by the Butler’s Office in the Main Estate.
I needed to submit my assignments to Serber.
“Did she assign more work today? Surely you’re in the middle of the end-of-month evaluation.”
“Yes. Madam Frea said I can’t afford to let my guard down.”
“Hmm, but Miss Berry.”
After accepting my assignments, Serber checked that the Butler’s Office door was properly closed before lowering his voice to a whisper.
“During this field study experience, did Lord Reytan happen to mention anything about Blue Company stocks? Whether they’ll collapse, or if they’re going to prosper in the future—?”
Oh? I looked up at the butler with keen interest.
“Are you thinking of buying stocks?”
“I’d like to learn more, and once the information is certain… Ah, forgive me. I shouldn’t be speaking to you this way.”
The butler waved his hand dismissively, but his eyes betrayed unmistakable hope. This was the gaze of someone who had already made up their mind to invest.
Where had he picked up such enticing information?
He clearly wanted Father’s opinion to confirm his decision to buy stocks. Serber believed that my previous information about Ink Company stocks had come from Father.
‘What should I do? He’s chosen a good company this time.’
Blue Company was a mid-sized merchant house that had been establishing itself over the past few years. It would continue its upward trajectory and eventually become a major trading house by the time I reached adulthood.
‘But I only shared information about Ink Company stocks because I wanted Jacob not to become the new butler.’
Serber was too close to Uncle Hevanth to be passing along premium information repeatedly.
‘Wait… could the source of information about Blue Company be Uncle?’
A memory suddenly flashed through my mind—an image of myself as an adult, meeting privately with the proprietor of Blue Company.

– I’ve heard much about you. The useless youngest granddaughter of the Trabel Count Family, they call you. Are you here to deliver results again? In our industry, we call people like that “marks.”
– I’ve heard plenty about you too. Uncle’s obedient money source, they say? A merchant house of this caliber should be able to stand on its own without groveling to the Trabel Count Family. Seems like you’ve been compromised somehow.
– You’re perceptive. How fitting for someone who volunteered to be a mark.

‘That’s it!’
From that moment on, related information flooded back into my mind in rapid succession.
The Blue Company was the most powerful among Uncle’s supporters.
To be precise, his largest source of funds. Yet their relationship was built on coercion.
‘Wow.’
My heart began to race.
Since Father’s killer was among the relatives, Uncle was also a suspect.
“Miss Berry?”
I gazed at Serber before me, lost in thought.
It seemed quite likely that Uncle was the source of this information.
‘Why am I still deliberating whether to keep him alive or not? The butler is Uncle’s closest confidant. Perhaps Uncle and the Blue Company haven’t developed a deep relationship yet?’
If that were the case, it would actually work in my favor. It meant I could prevent the Blue Company from becoming Uncle’s financial lifeline.
‘Then I need to place someone who can investigate the situation between the Blue Company and Uncle and report back to me!’
For instance—
Serber, Uncle’s closest aide.
“The Blueberry Company?”
“The Blue… Company, sir.”
“Ah yes. I think that was the name. The sign with the white hourglass on a blue background, correct?”
“That’s right…! Have you heard something about it?”
As I nodded, Serber’s eyes lit up. He was clearly eager to know what I had seen and heard.
“Father did mention something about it—”
“You don’t remember, sir…?”
“No.”
Thump. The butler’s shoulders sagged as if they might touch the ground. Then, at my next question, they shot back up.
“Should I ask Father about it? Stocks?”
“Yes! Or rather, yes….”
Unable to refuse such a proposal, Butler Serber answered with obvious reluctance.
“Secretly? Or should I say you asked?”
“Secretly would be preferable.”
I whispered to Serber as if sharing a secret.
“Then you’ll have to tell me what questions to ask Father.”
“What questions, you mean?”
“Berry doesn’t know anything, after all. You need to tell me what you want to know about the Blueberry Company, so I can ask properly.”
The butler, who had been pondering, met my innocent, guileless face and leaned in close to whisper in my ear.
“It’s like this—”
Heh. This is why being seven years old is so convenient.

***

“Berry.”
I had just stepped out of the Main Estate with a light heart after hearing the butler’s secret, when someone called out to me.
A beautiful boy with lustrous black hair that gleamed in the sunlight stood beside the Outdoor Corridor connected to the Education Hall. His hair reflected the light more intensely, yet his face shone just as brightly—but that was simply because Theon was so handsome.
“Oh wow. It’s Theon.”
I waved my hand enthusiastically at him. Theon tilted his head as he walked toward me through the corridor entrance.
“Is something the matter?”
“What? Why?”
“You look happy.”
“Well, about that. Tomorrow’s the exam—”
Oh, that’s right.
Theon’s visit here was related to tomorrow’s exam.
It had happened last week. I had run to Father asking for help.

“Father! This is a disaster! Ballroom dancing is on the exam too!”
“You’re taking an exam on something you haven’t even learned?”
“Hati and Mati said I’d be taking it too, didn’t they? I need to score above sixty or Grandfather will scold me. What do I do?”
“I’ll teach you.”
“But what about a partner? You’re too tall, Father.”
“….”

For that reason, Theon became my practice partner. Jeffrey was eliminated from the candidate list because he was a full centimeter shorter than me.
Though Theon had never danced ballroom before, he picked up the basic steps quickly—perhaps because it was a physical discipline.
Now we could practice together without Father’s guidance beside us.
Tomorrow there was no exam, which meant Theon didn’t need to be my dance partner today.
‘If he’s not practicing dances with me, he’ll probably go pick up a sword again, won’t he?’
Ever since returning from the Grand Temple and visiting Leaf Village, Theon had been devoted to sword practice. Like someone with a clear purpose.
Except for meals, sleep, and occasionally running errands for Father, he was always at the Training Hall.
“Hmm.”
I drew out my words while looking at Theon’s hands.
Blisters formed and burst, and new wounds appeared daily. Even now, bandages wrapped a spot that hadn’t been there this morning, with blood seeping through slightly.
‘He shouldn’t practice any more today.’
The wounds needed time to heal, but Theon secretly picked up his sword despite Father’s orders to rest.
If unhealed wounds became infected and inflamed, he’d develop a fever. With a fever, he’d be confined to bed, and Theon would suffer far more than he did now.
I should have gotten some Brokia recovery medicine from Marshall Grandmother beforehand. But she had taken the recovery medicine to Bonwell Village, saying she wanted to research it.
I linked my arm through Theon’s and spoke.
“I’m excited about tomorrow’s exam. So let’s go practice dancing!”
I wouldn’t mention anything I didn’t hear from Madam Frea today!

***

The end-of-month evaluation was proceeding without incident.
I had barely scraped past sixty points, and Calips was savoring the highest score of his life.
The taste must have been sweet, because Calips came to the classroom every day to study.
‘Of course! The power of Berry’s perfectly summarized notes!’
The results were immediate, so he’d clearly grasped the potency of her summaries. There was satisfaction in teaching someone who followed along so well, but this was only until this month’s evaluation. Things might get difficult starting next month.
“Calips—I’m heading out.”
“Go quickly.”
Since we ran into each other so often in the classroom, he now answered my greetings, even if curtly.
And the information gathering from Blue Company was proceeding smoothly enough.
“The merchant leader of Blue Company is searching for medicinal herbs that are good for the eyes.”
“Medicinal herbs? Oh, when you overheard last time, Blue Company was asking Uncle for investment, right? Is this related to that—”
Serber would occasionally overhear investment information when visiting Diamond House, and lately Blue Company seemed to come up frequently.
He’d been trying to get Father’s advice on whether it was worth investing in.
“Shh, shh—Miss Berry, please forget about that. And Lord Reytan is…?”
“Blue Company seems to need more information first.”
….
Serber’s eyes would occasionally grow distant, but his expression suggested he was thinking it pointless to ask someone called Minus Hand.
“But that milk company from yesterday’s newspaper! Father said while reading the article that it looks like it’ll do well.”
Each time, I’d mention a stock that would yield modest profits. As the stock prices rose, Serber would come asking for information again.
‘Uncle and Blue Company still have no connection whatsoever.’
So then.
There was only one worry I needed to address right now.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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