I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 78

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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 78

Rich Platinum Oldman.
It was a name Mariane could never forget, no matter how hard she tried.
The dealings with the Dwarves—the name of the man who had wagered that if she failed, he would claim fifteen percent of her jewel shop’s shares.
“Is this a reconnaissance mission? I thought the Baron would come in person.”
“Baron Oldman finds himself unable to leave at present, so I am acting as his proxy.”
Mariane studied the woman before her. Mid-twenties, perhaps. Every strand of her half-tied hairstyle meticulously arranged. An elegant bearing befitting a noble lady, yet her expression was cynical. Her posture was rigid. Her tone remained perfectly measured.
‘She’s the type who listens only to her master’s words.’
And besides—
“You’re a beastfolk hybrid, aren’t you?”
“Yes. One of my parents is a rabbit beastfolk.”
Large ears, the color of freshly baked bread, hung calmly at the sides of her head.
Asking about hybrid status at a first meeting was rude. Yet the proxy remained unruffled by Mariane’s provocation.
“What jewels has Baron Oldman prepared?”
“I have no information regarding that.”
“What is the Baron’s relationship with the Dwarves? Perhaps he has some prior acquaintance?”
“I have no information regarding that either.”
“Which region does the Baron hail from? I’ve never heard of House Oldman.”
“I am bound to discretion regarding the Baron’s identity.”
How tedious. A puppet, then.
Mariane straightened her posture, which had been leaning forward slightly. This woman was the type who acted only as commanded. Trying to extract information from such a person would only exhaust her own efforts.
“Then state your purpose for coming.”
“I have come as a customer.”
At the proxy’s words, Mariane questioned her own ears.
“…A person seeking a perfect jewel has come to my shop as a customer…?”
“Yes. Baron Oldman wishes to purchase jewels.”
Mariane’s lips twisted. How little regard he must have for her to come to her shop and speak of buying jewels. This seemed nothing more than an attempt to unsettle her or a mockery of her person.
“Leave.”
The dismissal fell from Mariane’s lips, her brow furrowed. It meant she did not recognize the proxy as a customer. If she were not a customer of her shop, then as the eldest daughter of Count Trabel, she had no obligation to show deference to the servant of some mere baron.
“Baron Oldman—”
Yet despite Mariane’s words, the proxy continued to state her purpose with an unwavering composure.
What followed was absurd.
“He wishes to purchase the pearl earrings from the Shusubia Archipelago.”
“He wishes to purchase the earrings?”
Mariane asked in bewilderment. The proxy continued.
“He wishes to purchase the pearl earrings that you, Mariane, won at the charity auction held by Countess Trabel.”
“For what purpose does he intend to use them?”
“I have heard nothing of the sort.”
I have heard nothing of the sort, indeed. But what can be done about it?
‘I’ve already discerned his pattern of responses.’
That agent gave the same answer—he had heard nothing—whenever questions concerned the Dwarves.
It was uncertain, but perhaps he intended to send the pearl earrings from the Shusubia Archipelago to the Dwarves.
If that were truly the case—
‘A perfect jewel is a pearl? Is he emphasizing unrefined perfection?’
It was a reasonably clever answer, but if he meant to send pearl earrings, it would never convince the Dwarves.
“I have been instructed to inform you that if Mariane wishes to sell, I am to discuss the price. The amount fetched at auction was from a charity event hosted by the Countess, and given Mariane’s generous consideration of its purpose, the price was set higher than its true value. Therefore, that sum cannot be offered.”
“…What figure are you suggesting?”
“One hundred million Cona would be appropriate, he said. If the price is higher than that, I am ordered to refuse and return.”
“….”
Mariane had purchased the pearl earrings at auction for 1.2 billion Cona.
And they wished to buy them for 100 million Cona?
“That…”
They wanted to purchase those counterfeit earrings for 100 million Cona!?
“…Ha.”
A delighted laugh escaped Mariane’s lips.
The rift between the Trabel Count Family and the Dwarves had begun because of deception regarding the grade of minerals. Surely they would not fail to recognize that the pearls in the earrings were false.
It was uncertain whether Baron Oldman would actually send the pearls, but the prospect was intriguing.
“Did he say to have the appraisal done at our jeweler?”
“I have heard nothing of the sort.”
“…As I suspected. Baron Oldman would not trust an appraisal from our jeweler.”
But therein lay the problem.
There were only a handful of places within the Heishal Empire capable of appraising pearl earrings from the Shusubia Archipelago.
Mariane broke into a satisfied smile.

***

Jack Jack chose a different method instead of tapping on the window.
Simply waiting.
After dinner, I returned to my room, washed up, played with Father, and was lying alone in bed trying to fall asleep when I heard a faint chirping sound that seemed to come and go.
Only then did I look toward the window where the rocking horse stood, and there was something small and white pressed flat against the glass. I hurried to open the window.
“Goodness. Jack Jack?”
“I waited until you’d look at me. Why didn’t you notice me? I’ve been watching you the whole time!”
Trembling. Jack Jack’s body shook with what seemed like wounded feelings.
I’d thought that since he’d confidently said he’d find another way, there must be a better method than this…
“I’m sorry.”
Despite being older, guilt washed over me for neglecting such a small bird.
I bowed my head to Jack Jack in apology. He raised his wings and spoke.
“Twice.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll tap the window only twice. That way, I won’t look like a simple Great Tit.”
I nodded. Only then, as if his heart had softened somewhat, did Jack Jack report on the progress of the task he’d entrusted to his temporary proxy.
“The earrings were purchased for 100 million Cona.”
“Excellent!”
“As you said, they were authenticated at the appraisal office in Clock Tower Square. They were genuine.”
“I see.”
So the fake earrings had become genuine.
Just as I’d anticipated, Aunt Mariane had intervened with the authentication certificate.
‘Hehe. Exactly as I hoped!’
The purchase route, the receipt, the genuine authentication certificate—all the evidence was perfect.
Even if I swapped the fake pearl earrings I’d bought from Aunt Mariane for real ones, I’d face no accusations.
Even if someone later insisted the earrings were fake, what could they do when the certificate clearly stated they were genuine?
‘Pure profit.’
I asked Jack Jack.
“When will the earrings and authentication certificate arrive?”
Even though the proxy had purchased the earrings and gotten them authenticated, the Oldman who’d commissioned the work needed to verify them in person. That’s when I planned to swap them.
“Tomorrow. I’ll hide them in the cargo wagon coming to the Trabel Estate and bring them to your room. I’ll deliver them myself.”
“Jack Jack? Won’t it be heavy? Should I carry it instead?”
“A Great Tit humanoid is stronger than a Great Tit, so it’s no problem.”
Jack Jack hopped out the window as if his business was finished. And before taking flight, he looked at me and spoke.
“Twice.”
His beady black eyes were sharp. Jack Jack issued a warning.
“I’ll only tap twice.”
“Understood.”

***

Theon and Jeffrey said I was dull, but my ability to sense presences was utterly ordinary.
In other words, if I could detect them wandering about like this, any ordinary person would notice too…!
I rose onto my tiptoes and crept toward the door. Carefully grasping the handle, I yanked it open without hesitation.
“….”
“Oh.”
Theon and Jeffrey, caught before they could hide, stood before my doorway as our eyes met.
“Theon and Jeffrey…. Don’t tell me you’re watching me?”
“Ah, no.”
“We were just passing by.”
Jeffrey shook his head, while Theon offered a transparent excuse.
“Oh, really. The day before yesterday too. Yesterday too. And today?”
Both of them averted their gaze from me. The reason was obvious—it had to be about the pearl earrings I’d found at the Hunting Grounds last time.
“You’re watching me because you think I’ll cause trouble….”
At my muttered words, both of them flinched.
‘You attended morning training today too, didn’t you? That’s good, but—.’
Theon was destined to become the Crown Prince. It was good that he was slowly accumulating knowledge in various fields.
In fact, Father had been searching for a tutor ever since he took Theon as his disciple, but it wasn’t easy.
Not from the Trabel Estate, and employed at Stone House with commuting hours. Moreover, they would need to teach not a direct descendant, but the disciple of Reytan Quartz Trabel. Even the rare courageous souls who appeared failed to meet Father’s minimum standards and were rejected.
For this reason, a tutor still hadn’t been found.
‘Then I should do it! Be a tutor!’
I spoke to Theon and Jeffrey.
“Fine then, I’ll stay in the Living Room to make surveillance easier.”
“What are you planning?”
Theon took the bait immediately. I laughed.
“Reading the newspaper~ You two should read it with me!”
“Reading the newspaper?”
“Yep.”
“You’ll do it, right? I have to. Watch. You!”

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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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