In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 88

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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 88

“Oh, that’s….”

There was no time to stop him.

Astana, who had taken the brooch box as if it were his own, immediately opened the lid.

“A diamond brooch?”

“Such a large diamond….”

Astana and the Empress muttered in surprise at the same time.

Thud!

Peres stood up from his seat and roughly snatched the brooch box away.

“You…!”

The Empress glared at him upon seeing this.

“How could someone like you have something like that….”

Astana seemed unable to believe that the brooch belonged to Peres.

“It’s a brooch I gifted to him.”

I said with a humble smile.

“Second Prince, if it’s alright with you, how about showing the brooch to the others a bit more?”

Show it off properly!

Though Peres looked very reluctant, he obediently opened the brooch box again following my words.

Greed and envy dripped from the eyes of the three people looking at the sparkling finest jewel.

Perfect, so thrilling!

“Haha. The Second Prince has made a good friend.”

The only one with enough composure to speak was the Emperor, who already possessed large diamonds.

As far as I know, the Empress and Astana don’t own any diamonds yet.

Though Angenas had placed several orders, I pushed their priority to the very back.

So unless they purchased from other nobles at a premium, it would be much later before the Empress could get her hands on diamonds.

The Lira Mine that originally would have belonged to the Angenas Family is now mine.

This diamond too would have originally belonged to the Empress and Astana.

‘But now it’s mine.’

I really wanted to say something to the two people sitting side by side, staring blankly at the diamond brooch.

Your house doesn’t have anything like this, does it?

* * *

A few days after visiting the Imperial Palace.

I visited the Pellet Trading Company office again.

“He’s been embezzling quite a substantial amount of money.”

Cleribane said with a frown, flipping through documents.

Actually, after the Pellet Trading Company banquet ended, I had asked Cleribane for help.

Even Cleribane, who knew that Bestian was conspiring with Angenas, was puzzled enough about the affair that Bestian’s acting was excellent.

So that everyone would never doubt Bestian’s feelings for Shannet.

But when I told him about the scene I had witnessed directly, he quickly rolled up his sleeves and secretly investigated using his connections remaining in Lombardy.

“It’s strange that he hasn’t been caught all this time.”

“Is it that bad?”

“Yes, of course if you look closely, suspicious aspects would quickly become apparent…. But I suppose no one suspected Bestian Shultz.”

Because he’s none other than Bestian Shultz, son-in-law of the Lombardi Family.

Who would have known that a member of Lombardy was embezzling Lombardy’s assets?

“Only people who know the internal affairs very well would notice. From the outside, there’s no problem at all.”

Cleribane told me many things from just a few days of investigation.

Bestian married 16 years ago.

So how much had he stolen and made his own during all that long time?

I shook my head, not wanting to think about it.

“And Bestian Shultz has sent word that he wants to visit me. He says there’s a matter he’d like to discuss briefly.”

“He hasn’t found out that Cleribane is investigating him, has he?”

“He asked me directly on the day of the banquet, so it’s probably not that.”

“Hmm….”

What could he be scheming?

In this situation where we had taken the mine that was supposed to go to Angenas, I had a rough idea of what he might want to discuss.

“Ah! And what about real estate? Has he acquired any real estate recently?”

Remembering his words about setting up a household for that woman, I had asked Cleribane to look into it.

“There is one house that was transferred from Lombardy ownership to Bestian Shultz ownership about half a year ago. It’s strange that no proper documents were left, as if it wasn’t a standard procedure.”

“But if it was that kind of matter, it would have been done by Lombardy’s real estate manager…. Who on earth…, ah.”

The one who manages Lombardy’s real estate is none other than Biejie.

“So Biejie knew to some extent about Bestian’s actions.”

These scoundrels.

It’s uncertain whether Biejie knew that Bestian was having an affair.

But I thought Biejie would at least know to value Lombardy’s assets.

“Well, if it benefited him, he would have given even more, that person.”

Cleribane nodded in agreement with my words.

“Old habits die hard…. So like father, like son.”

In my previous life, it was Belesack who took over real estate management after driving me out.

He would constantly distribute Lombardy’s real estate to his associates as if it were his own, just like Father.

“Like father, like son…?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Then meet with Bestian Shultz once and hear what he has to say.”

“Yes, understood.”

“And if Bestian….”

The reason Bestian wanted to meet Cleribane was obvious.

So I created several scenarios and told Cleribane how to respond in each case.

* * *

“Please come in, Bestian.”

“It’s been a while, Cleribane.”

Bestian Shultz visited the Pellet Trading Company office.

It was barely half a day after sending word that he could visit.

“I should have come earlier.”

Bestian said with an air of superiority.

His tone suggested he was sorry for not taking care of things.

Cleribane’s straight eyebrows twitched imperceptibly.

Had he not grasped the situation yet?

His insides twisted, Cleribane looked straight at Bestian, crossed one leg, and placed his clasped hands on top.

He didn’t forget to slightly raise one corner of his mouth in a sneer.

“Even if you had come, you wouldn’t have been able to meet me. I was too busy to spare time for you, Bestian.”

He was saying he had no time to spare for someone like him.

Seeing the area under Bestian’s eyes twitch, Cleribane leisurely continued.

“So, what brings you here today?”

“How disappointing. Are we only supposed to see each other when there’s business?”

“Yes.”

Cleribane said curtly.

“We don’t have enough personal friendship to sit face to face without any business.”

And Cleribane’s cold gaze swept over Bestian from head to toe.

It was a look that pointed out his arrogant posture, as if he had come to visit a subordinate’s study.

Cleribane was no longer an employee of Lombardi.

Moreover, it was Bestian who was in need.

Cleribane could get up from his seat at any time and go meet someone far more important and valuable than Bestian.

“Ahem.”

Perhaps sensing this, Bestian straightened his back from the sofa’s backrest and sat properly.

Only then did Cleribane’s sharp aura soften slightly.

“The reason I came today is…”

Bestian glanced at the closed office door before beginning to speak.

“About the invitation to the banquet last time.”

“Yes.”

“How did that come about…”

“If you don’t speak precisely, it will be difficult for me to give you an answer. Are you saying there was some problem with the invitation to the banquet last time?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Bestian’s forced smile looked almost pitiful.

“There was someone at the banquet who shouldn’t have received an invitation from Pellet Trading Company…”

“Ah, Lady Maria Patron?”

As soon as his mistress’s name came up, Bestian’s face hardened instantly.

He tried to smile again afterward, but it wasn’t the same smile as before.

Meanwhile, Cleribane was once again amazed by Pirenthia’s abilities.

She had told him like a prophecy that Bestian’s business would be exactly one of two things.

And indeed, one of them had come up.

Behind his expressionless face, Cleribane was once again moved, thinking ‘as expected.’

“Phew…”

Bestian rubbed his face with dry hands.

And the face that was revealed was somewhat different from what Cleribane had known until now.

“How long have you known?”

When he removed the fabricated smile from his handsome face, what remained were gleaming eyes.

“That’s not the important question right now.”

“…Then let me ask again. What exactly were you thinking? Did you want to see Shannet collapse from shock in front of all those people?”

For an excuse from someone having an affair, it was excessively pathetic.

Pretending to worry about his wife.

Cleribane let out a hollow laugh.

“It was just a friendly gesture. I thought Lady Patron might want to see Pellet Trading Company’s banquet too. Since she recently came up from Schulz Estate, how difficult it must be for her to establish herself in high society.”

Bestian flinched.

He realized that Cleribane knew more about Maria than he had thought.

“Since she attended my banquet, which is being talked about as the banquet of the century, it should be much easier for her now.”

It was true.

Maria Patron had become friends with young ladies from high-ranking families she met there and had succeeded in getting a foothold in high society to some extent.

“I actually expected to receive thanks instead.”

At Cleribane’s words, Bestian’s mind began to work rapidly.

Cleribane seemed to have genuinely invited Maria to that place with good intentions.

There was no sign of criticism about his affair behind Shannet’s back either.

Bestian asked cautiously.

“So you’re saying it really was an invitation sent with good intentions?”

“The longer you work at Lombardi, the more you see, hear, and feel.”

Cleribane nodded as he answered.

“I’ve come to think more highly of you, Lord Bestian, ever since I learned about Lady Maria Patron.”

“Think more highly of me…”

Cleribane took an imperceptible breath before uttering the words he had prepared.

“Should I say it was refreshing?”

Bestian almost burst out laughing.

So Cleribane also despised Lombardi!

In some ways, he was no different from a comrade to Bestian himself.

His heart felt relieved and his tension eased.

“Yes, that’s right. The Lombardi people aren’t the kind you can endure for long.”

Thinking that Cleribane disliked Lombardi just like him, Bestian’s words and actions became uninhibited.

“So did you also become independent and leave because of that?”

“Well… you could say that.”

“Haha! You made a very wise choice! I’m envious!”

Bestian even threw his head back as he laughed.

“The Lira Mine incident last time too, you’re quite capable!”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“Then this conversation should become easier, and I feel much lighter.”

“…Please speak comfortably.”

Cleribane encouraged him.

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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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