In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 239

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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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This Life, I Will Become the Clan Head Episode 239

In the trading company president’s study of Pellet Trading House, which had just resumed normal operations.

Romasie Dillard, Cleribane’s father, had come to visit.

Since this was an appointment that had been scheduled several days in advance, he had cleared his schedule and was waiting.

The reason Cleribane was inwardly flustered wasn’t because of Romasie Dillard.

“It’s been a while, Lord Cleribane.”

It was because of Willian Dillard, Romasie’s eldest son, who entered the study together with Romasie.

Willian, who was two years younger than Cleribane, had an appearance so similar that anyone could tell at a glance he was Romasie Dillard’s son.

Unlike Cleribane, who had blonde hair and sharp features resembling his mother, Willian was a man with light brown hair and gentle eyes that left a striking impression.

He maintained a consistently polite and upright attitude, without a single rough edge from head to toe.

His face was exactly like his youngest sister Loril’s.

“Yes. It’s been a while, Lord Willian Dillard.”

Cleribane hid his flustered expression inwardly and greeted him with a businesslike attitude.

Seeing that he was accompanied by Willian Dillard, who would soon inherit the position of Lombardi Guild leader, he judged this wasn’t a personal visit.

“What brings you from the Lombardi Guild?”

He had no hobby of engaging in aimless small talk with business counterparts.

When Cleribane asked, Willian glanced briefly at his father Romasie.

‘It seems he hasn’t received decision-making authority yet.’

It was well known that Willian, the eldest son of the Dillard family that managed the Lombardi Guild, had begun the succession process in earnest to inherit the guild leader position.

And he also knew that the process wasn’t going very smoothly.

This was because they were currently falling behind in competition with Pellet Trading House in various fields.

However, few people considered this problematic.

This was about inheriting the Lombardi Guild, the largest trading organization in the Empire.

It was a long and arduous task, and it was already expected that the guild’s operations would be shaken during this period.

‘I should decline appropriately.’

Cleribane thought this as he firmly clasped his hands on his knees.

Maybe later, but there was no need for Pellet Trading House to collaborate with the unstable Lombardi Guild and share that burden.

“Today.”

Romasie Dillard began to speak.

Cleribane’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched.

This was because Romasie Dillard showed signs of being quite nervous.

Consequently, strength entered Cleribane’s clasped hands, making his white knuckles prominent.

What on earth could this be about.

“I came because I have a request for the Pellet Trading House president.”

Romasie Dillard looked back and forth between Cleribane and Willian for a very brief moment before speaking.

“Would you take over the Lombardi Guild?”

“….”

A moment of silence passed.

Cleribane, who had been quietly observing Romasie Dillard, asked back.

“Take over? What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said. I hope Cleribane Pellet, the trading house president, would succeed me as the Lombardi Guild leader.”

He hadn’t misheard.

Cleribane quietly looked at Willian Dillard.

Understanding the meaning of that gaze, Willian spoke in a calm voice.

“I was the one who suggested this first.”

“…Why did you think of such a thing?”

Cleribane asked, raising one eyebrow.

This was an absurd proposal.

Asking Cleribane to succeed Romasie.

“Weren’t you performing the deputy guild leader duties properly?”

“Properly. If it seemed that way, then I’m fortunate.”

Willian smiled with a tired face.

“I’ve made constant efforts to inherit my father’s position over the past few years, but it was merely a process of repeatedly confirming that it’s beyond my capabilities.”

“I know the succession process isn’t easy. But even so….”

“I know my own abilities well. I don’t have the capacity to lead the Lombardi Guild.”

Willian Dillard shook his head as he spoke.

“With time, I might become familiar enough to imitate my father. But that would be all. Even doing my best, I would only be able to maintain the guild’s status quo. However, Lord Cleribane knows well that a trading organization that doesn’t develop is bound to be quickly left behind.”

Willian Dillard, who spoke this way, did indeed have a very gaunt face for someone who had just turned forty.

But Cleribane shook his head slightly.

“Even so, that doesn’t explain it. Don’t you have three sons, Guild Leader?”

Three, not four.

Cleribane didn’t count his own existence.

It was natural.

He was an officially unrecognized illegitimate child.

“I don’t know how this will sound to you, but….”

Willian trailed off for a moment before speaking.

“Among us four siblings, including Loril, none of us inherited father’s abilities like Lord Cleribane did.”

Once again, heavy silence fell.

Cleribane looked at the Dillard father and son sitting across from him, not moving an inch from his initial posture.

And he opened his mouth heavily.

“I must refuse….”

“Please help the Lombardi Guild, Lord Cleribane.”

Willian bowed his head as he spoke.

“We of the Dillard family know very well how shameless it is to make such a request of Lord Cleribane.”

Even though he was bowing his head to a half-brother who was the family’s disgrace, Willian Dillard showed no signs of feeling humiliated.

Willian Dillard was originally that kind of person.

“Please think it over once more.”

Romasie Dillard also requested again.

Even the cold Cleribane found it difficult to hide his complex feelings at this moment.

Cleribane was the product of a mistake.

He had wandered briefly upon learning this fact in his childhood, but had long since accepted it.

Romasie Dillard didn’t publicly acknowledge Cleribane, but took responsibility through financial support.

So there was no lingering resentment that he harbored at this age.

No, that’s what he thought.

“Please take over the Lombardi Guild.”

However, it seemed something remained in his middle-aged heart after all.

Judging by how something bitter welled up inside him at the sight of the Dillard father and son bowing their heads.

“I have no desire to be incorporated into the Dillard family at this point.”

Cleribane spoke with a stern face.

Then Romasie Dillard answered.

“This isn’t a demand to change your surname to Dillard. I’m simply proposing that Cleribane Pellet, who has built up Pellet Trading House admirably, become the next Lombardi Guild leader.”

“But then the Dillard family would lose their rights to the Lombardi Guild.”

“That’s right.”

Romasie Dillard answered far too easily.

As if he had prepared himself for everything.

“But there’s something more important than the Dillard family.”

“…The Lombardi Guild.”

“Correct. The Lombardi Guild should be led by someone worthy of that position. If no such person emerges from the next generation of Dillards, then it should be handed over to someone with such ability. That is my duty as a Lombardi retainer.”

It was fierce loyalty.

However, Cleribane could understand that feeling.

If he were in Romasie Dillard’s position, he would have made the same decision.

“Then I have a condition.”

“…Tell me.”

Romasie Dillard spoke with a small sigh, as if he had prepared himself.

“Even if I become the head of Lombardi’s trading company, Dillard’s personnel must not leave the company.”

“…What?”

“I mean that the people of the Dillard family and the personnel who have been serving the company head should not quit their jobs because they find me uncomfortable.”

“That, that’s….”

It was actually something the Dillard family should be asking for.

“But then it might make things uncomfortable for you, Lord Cleribane.”

Willian asked in confusion.

Cleribane spoke coldly to Willian.

“If all of Dillard’s people suddenly leave, it will take years for the trading company to adapt to that change. I cannot put Lombardi’s trading company at risk just for my own comfort.”

His loyalty to Lombardi was second to none.

Especially if it was the future Lombardi that Lady Pirenthia would lead.

“Thank you, Lord Cleribane!”

Willian, looking much brighter as if a burden had been lifted, bowed his head once more and exclaimed.

“Don’t thank me yet. I cannot give you a definite answer until I receive permission.”

“Ah, then….”

To Willian, who looked confused once again, Cleribane answered firmly.

“I must receive permission from Lady Pirenthia. She is the lord I serve.”

* * *

“What kind of bastards are they.”

I asked coldly.

“…Excuse me?”

“I’m asking what kind of scoundrels tried to seduce Cleribane and where they are.”

Ah, I’m so angry.

Harsh words keep slipping out without me realizing it.

How dare they covet our Cleribane?!

“Whatever conditions they offered, I’ll treat you better. Don’t go.”

It sounds a bit like a pathetic ex-boyfriend, but I’m serious.

I can’t let Cleribane be taken away!

“Wait. Are you perhaps thinking of becoming independent?”

Then it would be difficult to stop you.

I can’t become an evil boss who blocks your path forward.

“Well, I’d tell you to do well in whatever you want to do….”

“Pfft….”

While I was racking my brains, Cleribane’s reaction was a bit strange.

He looked at my very serious face and started laughing.

“Hahaha!”

“Cleribane?”

“I’m, I’m sorry, …pfft. Lady Tia’s face is just too cute….”

Cleribane, wiping away the tears that had formed at the corners of his eyes, said to me.

“Trading Company Head Romasie Dillard has proposed that I take over the position of Lombardi Trading Company head.”

“Trading company head? …Ah!”

That’s right.

In my previous life, Cleribane had also become the Lombardi Trading Company head, succeeding Romasie Dillard.

After Grandfather passed away, he left Lombardi and established Pellet Trading House.

Cleribane seemed to have quite complicated feelings.

That’s understandable.

He had lived without receiving permission to use the Dillard name, but suddenly he was inheriting Dillard’s trading company.

“Then we can hand over Pellet Trading House to Violet.”

“I think so too. Violet will do well.”

“From Pellet Trading House to Lombardi Trading Company…. Then Cleribane is still my person, right?”

Cleribane, who had opened his eyes slightly wide as if surprised by my words, soon smiled and nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. Lady Pirenthia’s person.”

Cleribane’s face was slightly red as he said that.

“Are you not angry anymore now?”

“Yeah, I’m fine now. I thought someone was trying to steal Cleribane away from me.”

I thought I was going to age ten years.

“I’m glad.”

Cleribane smiled brightly.

I looked at that smiling face for a moment.

In my previous life, Cleribane wasn’t someone who smiled like that.

He always had something dark and sharp about him, and when he occasionally smiled, it was closer to a cynical sneer.

“…I’m really glad I met Lady Pirenthia.”

He wasn’t someone who knew how to say such things either.

“I feel the same way.”

Even though we were sitting face to face like this, both Cleribane and I had become such different people in this life.

I was newly moved by the realization.

I smiled back at Cleribane and said.

“Please take care of me in the future too, Cleribane Pellet, Lombardi Trading Company Head.”

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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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