I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 87

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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 87

Uncle said he had something to discuss and went to the Study with Father.
Whatever conversation transpired in there must have led to the conclusion that Uncle would become Father’s subordinate.
“How did this happen? Uncle became Father’s subordinate?”
I asked Akum. I had tasked him with eavesdropping on the conversation between Father and Uncle, and he had just returned.
[No! Yosel was on the verge of having his performance record damaged due to joint guarantee liability? Reytan took over the children’s clothing business Yosel was planning to start, and he’ll receive funding support from the Trabel Family to cover the lost investment instead~]
“Ohhh…!”
A children’s clothing business!
This was definitely a scheme orchestrated by Victor. It was one of the businesses the Shop Manager at Trang Clothing Shop had mentioned wanting to do with our Father to Victor.
The source of the investment funds was likely Victor as well.
But how much was the investment that the proud Yosel Uncle would come to Stone House and agree to become a subordinate?
“Did you hear how much the investment was?”
Akum’s answer was shocking.
[2 billion Cona!]
“Gasp.”
I was astounded. Even if Victor had recovered his investment funds, Uncle had effectively lost 2 billion Cona.
Setting aside the performance record issue, it meant that 2 billion Cona in family support funds—operational capital—had been depleted from Father’s children’s clothing business.
‘Why would Uncle have lost 2 billion in the first place?’
The children’s clothing business hadn’t even started yet. If he was planning to cover losses from the clothing shop, he wouldn’t have become so gaunt as he appeared earlier.
Like someone who had lost a normal life—a complete wreck.
“Huh.”
In that instant, a word that flashed through my mind and the worn old bread hat I had accidentally witnessed a few days ago aligned perfectly with the current situation.
A massive loss, poker, a wreck…!
“Father must have called Peter!”
[Peter? Who’s that?]
“The gambler from the Rural Village where I used to live….”
Father.
This was a scheme Father had orchestrated with Victor.

***

The Reception Room of the Blue Company.
Victor asked the handsome man with wheat-colored hair sitting on the sofa.
“Did you receive the answer you were hoping for?”
He had been shuffling a deck of playing cards using an overhand shuffle. Reytan stopped his card-shuffling hand at Victor’s question.
The answer he had been hoping for.

“The Mines…? The day Brown died…?”

A few days prior, when Reytan posed the question, Yosel had spent considerable time racking his brain to recall events from seven years ago.
Then he suddenly threw both arms up and clenched his fists—a gesture born from the satisfaction of recovered memory.

“I remember now! It was such a trivial matter I’d forgotten about it. H-hey, brother. Why did you apprehend that Windis fellow anyway…?”
“Tell me. What you’ve recalled.”
“You see, I’d overindulged the night before and overslept, right? I woke up in my bedroom at Emerald House, and there on my pillow were a card and a single chrysanthemum flower.”
“A chrysanthemum?”
“You know, the kind they use at funerals. I thought it was bad luck and was about to throw it away, but the half-folded card caught my attention, so I opened it. It said to go to that mine.”
“And you just went? That’s strange.”
“Ah, don’t give me that murderous look! At the time, I was searching for someone who’d swindled me out of money. The card said that person would be there. That’s all there was to it. When I arrived at the mine, I received word that the man had been caught elsewhere, so I left in a hurry. I’m only guilty of being toyed with by that card.”

Well.
Reytan shuffled the cards again and began dealing one to Victor and one to himself.
“It wasn’t a satisfying answer.”
In any case, if Yosel’s account was truthful, the evidence was weak, but it marked the first meaningful testimony to support the notion that Brown’s death was no accident.
“That’s unfortunate.”
Victor flipped over the two cards dealt before him and examined his hand.
A King and a Queen. A strong hand.
“And you—did you obtain what you desired?”
“Yes.”
Victor spoke with eyes narrowed to slits.
“You’ve acquired a family-backed business venture, Lord Reytan.”
The business the Trang Clothing Shop Manager wished to undertake with Reytan certainly carried the scent of a windfall.
Victor had deliberated.
How could he hand Reytan a venture that would build his track record? That man would surely refuse.
Then it occurred to him—that Reytan was concerned about Brown’s death, and that he himself had mentioned seeing Yosel Cornelian Trabel there.
He had devised a meticulous plan that would satisfy both himself and Reytan. And with serpentine eloquence, he had succeeded in persuading Reytan.

“The issue is the investment capital and the method of recovery, but—”
“I’ll handle both. I know someone suitable for the task.”
“Ah. Your acquaintance must be quite the magnate. I apologize for my ignorance.”

‘Haste makes waste.’
For the next four years, I needed to lay the groundwork so that Reytan could accumulate achievements.
So I would fold on the first hand.
“My plan seems to be rolling along quite smoothly.”
“Minus two billion. Very smooth indeed.”
Reytan picked up my card and chuckled. Victor snickered as well.
“We’ll see.”

***

17. Village of Anvil and Furnace

“Wow.”
The Dwarf Village was encircled by russet-colored cliffs.
From the entrance alone, I could feel the oppressive heat radiating outward.
“Quite the crowd you’ve brought.”
Baltar, the clan chief, approached to greet us with a stern expression.
Since this outing doubled as an educational field trip for the Educational Institution, our party was rather large.
Despite attempts to reduce numbers, we couldn’t exclude the knights and servants entirely, so we numbered around forty.
“Not everyone will be entering the village.”
Grandfather spoke with a smile. He clearly seemed delighted at the prospect of resuming trade with the Dwarves.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Indeed, it has.”
While Baltar and Grandfather exchanged greetings, my cousins and I stood behind Grandfather.
‘Wow, the real thing.’
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the Dwarves I was encountering for the first time in person.
Piercing eyes, prominent brow ridges, large and pointed noses, short stature, thick and gnarled limbs like logs….
“These are my grandchildren. The eldest is Ciel, then Calips, Mati, Hati, and Berry.”
“Hmm—. The next generation of Trabel.”
Baltar examined us. The Twins, frightened by his appearance, gasped in alarm, and both Calips and Ciel flinched and took a step back. Grandfather pointed out their behavior.
“You brats. What are you doing, not greeting him?”
“It’s fine. Children’s greetings….”
Then Baltar’s eyes met mine.
Huh? Should I greet him too?
“Hello!”
“…Yes.”
Baltar accepted the greeting curtly and continued his conversation with Count Trabel.
It seemed he had no intention of speaking further with me.
What a shame. I had wanted to ask if he was close with Marshall Grandmother.
“You….”
Feeling a sudden pressure against my back, I turned around to find the Twins each claiming one of my ears and whispering.
“You fool…. You mustn’t make eye contact.”
“Or you’ll be devoured.”
Huh?

***

Count Trabel visited the Dwarf Village Chief’s home.
The Dwarves’ house had low ceilings and furniture. He bent his waist as he entered and sat in a chair at the dining table. His knees jutted above the table, but that hardly mattered.
Callet stood in the arched passage between the entrance and the living room. If he stood straight, the ceiling would touch his head, so he had to tilt his head slightly to the side.
Laksek grinned throughout signing the supply contract on the table. Baltar, seated across from him, wore an expression of clear reluctance.
“It is an honor. Before I pass from this world, the Dwarves and the Trabel Count Family are conducting business once more.”
“Hmph.”
Baltar answered curtly. It was not that he had forgiven the Trabel Family and resumed trade out of goodwill.
Though it displeased him, it was the craftsman’s spirit of the Dwarves to give their best to any transaction.
“There should be no irregularities with the goods to be delivered.”
“That will suffice.”
While I grumbled like this, the Trabel Family Head simply kept laughing.
“I hold the skill of the Dwarves in very high regard. My eye is never mistaken.”
Baltar was also aware of the rumors concerning Count Trabel’s golden eye.
The praise for his skill softened Baltar’s heart ever so slightly—enough that he felt emboldened to venture another question. Baltar cleared his throat with a low rumble and asked.
“But there is something I wish to inquire about.”
“Please, speak.”
“What is the relationship between Baron Oldman and the Trabel Count Family?”

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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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