I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 186

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#186

 

“This is serious.”

 

Andante clicked his tongue as he checked his empty money pouch.

 

Just a few days ago, his money pouch had been so full of gold coins that it wouldn’t close properly, but all of that had become a thing of the past.

 

It was because he had been spending money recklessly all this time.

 

Not Andante himself, but his mother, Countess Tebesa.

 

She kept pestering him from the side, saying he needed to be managed quickly, so he had given her some money with the intention of getting her off his back, and that had been his downfall.

 

It would have been reasonable for her to be suspicious of him earning large sums of money without a job, but Countess Tebesa never once questioned it.

 

Rather, whenever she ran out of money, she would come to Andante and demand money as if it were natural.

 

If he didn’t give her money, she would sit beside him and lament her circumstances, so Andante had no choice but to give her money to shut her up, if only to stop the noise.

 

Back then, he was making a lot of money selling Molentze and various other drugs, so it didn’t matter.

 

He never dreamed that his wealth wouldn’t last even a month.

 

At this rate, not only would he be unable to give Countess Tebesa the money she demanded, but he wouldn’t even have enough to rent a room at a high-class inn.

 

“I need to make some money.”

 

But how?

 

Right now, the guards and imperial knights were keeping their eyes peeled to catch drug dealers, making it difficult to sell drugs.

 

“Ugh, really. If that woman hadn’t done such things, I wouldn’t be worrying like this.”

 

The outrageous incident of mixing Molentze powder into milk and distributing it to children.

 

Because of that incident, the existence of Molentze was revealed to the world, making surveillance stricter.

 

Even drug addicts were being careful enough to lay low, which said it all.

 

He would have been angry even if Sisly had done that crazy thing by herself, but what made him even angrier was that he had unintentionally helped her commit the crime.

 

After all, it was Andante himself who had brought in the milk from outside.

 

The Molentze powder that was put in the milk was also sold by Andante.

 

So when the milk incident first happened, Andante was anxious and holed up in his room, wondering if he would be arrested.

 

Even without that incident, he had sold Molentze fruits and various other drugs, so there was a lot he could be caught for.

 

It had been several days since he had cut off communication with the outside world and holed up in his room with such an anxious heart.

 

As much as his anxious feelings had disappeared, his money pouch had also emptied.

 

“I have no choice.”

 

I have to go out and make money.

 

If worst comes to worst, I’ll have to extort some from Leilah.

 

If he confronted her about the Molentze in her garden, Leilah would have no choice but to give him money.

 

It was a waste to use such a good card just to earn a few coins, but he had to put out the urgent fire first, so there was no choice.

 

Andante opened a drawer that was tightly locked with a key and took out a pouch inside.

 

The pouch contained powder made from ground dried Molentze fruits.

 

“This is the last pouch.”

 

Because of the milk incident, inspections had become strict, so he couldn’t bring in Molentze fruits.

 

Other drugs were the same.

 

In other words, once he sold all of this, he would have to twiddle his thumbs until the inspections became lax.

 

“Should I really go to Leilah?”

 

Or should I go to Duke Williot?

 

That side seemed like I could extort more money.

 

“Let’s sell this first.”

 

Right now, even time to think was precious.

 

There was the room problem, and it would be good to prepare money before Countess Tebesa came looking for him again to whine.

 

Andante gathered the pouches containing Molentze and other drugs and left his room.

 

“You’re going out after a long time.”

 

The inn owner, whose face had become quite familiar by now, spoke to him warmly.

 

“Shall I prepare a carriage?”

 

“No. I’ll walk and take a stroll at the same time.”

 

There was no way he could take a carriage to go to the black market to sell drugs.

 

“Then I’ll see you later.”

 

After leaving the inn, Andante stood for a moment and thought about what black markets were open nearby.

 

The largest black market opened once every three months, but today wasn’t that day.

 

The medium-sized black market wasn’t open today either, so there were only small-scale black markets.

 

If he went to such places, he wouldn’t get a proper price.

 

“….”

 

Andante, who had been clicking his tongue in disappointment, suddenly felt an unfamiliar gaze and looked around.

 

But no matter how much he looked around, he couldn’t see anyone particularly staring at him.

 

Everyone was just busily going their own way.

 

“Was it my imagination?”

 

Andante scratched his head and entered the crowd.

 

There were four feet following behind him.

 

“He’s gone.”

 

“….”

 

Two belonged to Hilltain, and the other two belonged to Nero, a member of the Crowd Knights.

 

The presence that Andante had briefly felt was precisely Nero’s.

 

Nero, who had been nervous thinking he might be discovered when Andante looked around, was relieved and patted his chest when Andante passed by indifferently.

 

Smack-

 

That was brief, as Nero opened and closed his mouth like a carp due to the intense pain he felt in his side.

 

Silent screams burst out repeatedly. His wide-open eyes captured the indifferent Hilltain.

 

“Why, why…?”

 

“To have your presence detected by a civilian who doesn’t know the first thing about swords.”

 

Contrary to his calm expression, the eyes looking at Nero were murderous.

 

“You seem to lack training.”

 

Nero made an aggrieved expression and protested.

 

“I couldn’t help it! I’ve been lying in wait here for two whole days watching that bastard!”

 

“Even so, you shouldn’t let your guard down.”

 

Only the captain could do that!

 

Nero let out another silent wail.

 

Hilltain pushed Nero’s head while keeping his eyes on Andante.

 

“Go back.”

 

“What?”

 

“I said go back. And bring someone else.”

 

Just hearing it sounded like he was telling him to get lost, but that wasn’t it.

 

Since he had stayed up for two nights, it meant he should go back and rest.

 

“Understood!”

 

Nero, who understood tactfully, answered in a voice that was loud but not loud enough for Andante to hear, and quickly disappeared.

 

Hilltain glanced at Nero with disapproving eyes once, then quietly followed behind Andante.

 

* * *

 

I had roughly packed my things, but since I packed in a hurry, I couldn’t bring everything.

 

Moreover, it didn’t seem right to leave the manor empty for too long, and I needed to clean up the burned garden, so I returned to the manor with the servants.

 

Of course, we weren’t alone. The guard knights that Countess Cloud had assigned to me were also with us.

 

I said it was fine, but she kept insisting that it could be dangerous so they should come along, so I had no choice but to bring them.

 

“It feels reassuring to have the guard knights with us.”

 

Sara glanced sideways at the guard knights following our carriage and asked me.

 

“Baron, how about we hire some guards or guard knights for the manor too? That would be much safer.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

The problem was money. Hiring a mediocre beginner was pointless, but bringing in someone with decent skills cost a lot of money.

 

Even combining all the servants’ salaries here wouldn’t be enough.

 

I didn’t have that kind of money to spare yet.

 

“I’ll think about it.”

 

I couldn’t bring myself to tell her the truth and just gave a vague response.

 

Sara, who didn’t know the real situation, repeatedly told me to seriously consider it.

 

Shortly after, the carriage arrived in front of the mansion.

 

Even though I’d only been away from the mansion for a few days, vines had climbed up the fence, giving it an eerie atmosphere.

 

“It looks like ghosts might appear.”

 

“I know, right.”

 

Nes and Sara held hands tightly and muttered.

 

“We need to clean this up quickly.”

 

Paul, on the other hand, rolled up his sleeves with determination.

 

Hanson also muttered that he was worried about the stables.

 

“Then let’s each go to our positions, check if there are any problems, and clean up. Tell me if anything needs repairs.”

 

“Yes, Baron.”

 

The servants scattered in all directions, and I headed to my room on the second floor.

 

While checking if anything was missing and what I should take with me, I suddenly stopped when I caught sight of myself in the mirror.

 

The blue necklace that didn’t match my dark dress caught my eye. It was the necklace Kalian had given me as a birthday present.

 

He had said he’d like me to always wear it when going out, so I wore it even though it didn’t match my outfit, but it really stood out too much.

 

“Maybe I should have taken it off before coming out.”

 

No. I promised to always wear it when going out, so I can’t break that promise already.

 

As I was looking in the mirror and fiddling with the necklace, I heard a knock-knock sound.

 

“Baron.”

 

It was Hanson.

 

“I need to repair the stables and inspect the carriage, so I’d like to go to the blacksmith for a while. Would that be alright?”

 

“As long as it doesn’t take too long, it’s fine.”

 

We need a carriage to ride when returning to the Cloud Duchy.

 

“It should take about three hours.”

 

Three hours. That wasn’t too long.

 

“Alright. Go ahead.”

 

“Yes. I’ll come back as quickly as possible.”

 

After Hanson left, I did a final check of the room and came down to the first floor foyer.

 

Nes and Sara were sweeping the dust that had accumulated in the foyer.

 

“You start from that side. I’ll start from this side.”

 

“Got it. Next we’ll organize the kitchen, right?”

 

“Yes. After that, let’s clean the hallway. And wipe the windows too.”

 

I realized anew that the mansion was too big for just two maids to handle.

 

‘I need to hire more maids.’

 

While I couldn’t readily hire guards or security, maids were possible.

 

Paul must be having a hard time too, so maybe I should hire one more servant.

 

I thought it would be good to ask Paul’s opinion on this matter, so I was heading to the garden to meet him when—

 

Clatter-clatter—

 

The sound of horse hooves came from beyond the high fence. The sound stopped in front of my mansion.

 

Could it be a visitor to my mansion?

 

Ring-ring-ring—

 

Soon the doorbell rang. Since too many bad things had happened recently, just hearing the doorbell made my heart sink.

 

“Baron, Countess Cloud has arrived.”

 

Fortunately, it wasn’t an unwelcome visitor.

 

What business could Countess Cloud have coming all the way here?

 

Since I was already in the garden, I went out to greet her directly.

 

“Baron Aster!”

 

As soon as Countess Cloud saw me, she smiled brightly and called out.

 

“I finally found it!”

 

Finally found what?

 

At her puzzling words, I just stared at her.

 

Countess Cloud strode up to me and said triumphantly.

 

“I found out who planted the Molentze seeds in Baron Aster’s garden!”

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