Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 117

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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 26. Pleased to Meet You

Kale Heniatus met the Dark Elf Tasha at an inn situated just outside the Capital’s castle walls.

“They’ve completely renovated the basement.”

It was the same inn where he had delivered the bracelet to the Crown Prince last year. Kale had heard that the Crown Prince had purchased this place. Currently, the building served as an inn on the ground floor and as one of the mages’ operational bases in the basement.

‘There are quite a few mages here.’

The basement consisted of three levels total, with roughly thirty mages moving about busily. Of course, they startled upon seeing Kale’s group, but after spotting Rosalind, they offered respectful greetings before disappearing.

Since this was a covert operation, the underground facility was naturally lined with remarkably advanced magical devices, and all manner of cutting-edge defensive magic had been deployed. Tasha, who stood as tall as Kale, leaned her head toward him slightly and asked.

“Young Master Kale, doesn’t this place suit your tastes?”

In Tasha’s eyes, which sparkled with her bright laughter, there gleamed both mischief and pride. Recognizing that playfulness, Kale responded with a smile of his own.

“I think our Lord’s Castle would be more to my liking than this place.”
“Oh, come on.”

Tasha waved her hand dismissively at Kale’s words and laughed.

It was absurd.
This space had been created with the participation of quite skilled reclusive mages from the Wipper Kingdom, a magical nation. There was nowhere else in the current kingdom that could match its magical device infrastructure.
No matter how much Kale loved his own territory, Tasha was certain those words were spoken in jest.

“No matter what, Young Master Kale, this place is better than your Lord’s Castle. Of course, this isn’t the central headquarters, but still, all the latest magical devices are gathered here. As you know, we’re in a situation where magical devices are becoming scarce, right? Though, of course, some mysterious merchant whose identity is veiled has been monopolizing the sale of magical devices from who knows where.”

In the situation Tasha described, the Crown Prince’s current efforts to construct magical device manufacturing facilities in preparation for war represented a direction with quite high prospects for future success.
Tasha gazed at Kale with a sense of pride, but then gradually sensed something amiss. In Kale’s unwavering gaze, she detected both playfulness and seriousness.

Tasha looked toward the mage Rosalind, whom she had seen frequently over the past few months.

‘Huh?’

And she faltered. Rosalind wore an awkward smile. At that sight, Tasha glanced at Kale’s other companions. Vicross, who was carrying the paralyzed and trembling Belbert, Ron, Choi Han, the Cat Tribe members On and Hong. They all appeared indifferent, their expressions blank as they gazed around the interior.
At their apathetic expressions, Tasha looked back at Kale. He flashed a sly smile. At that smile, Tasha spoke in halting words.

“Uh, yes. Young Master, truly?”

Is the Heniatus Territory Castle truly superior in magical facilities?
Unable to voice the complete thought, Kale answered casually.

“That’s right.”

Rosalind nodded in agreement.

“Sigh.”

Tasha exhaled a long breath. The Roan Kingdom was a nation where magic had not developed significantly. And now the most remote corner of it—the Heniatus Territory—had adopted all the latest magical innovations?

At that moment, she heard Kale’s voice whispering near her ear as he drew close.

“Didn’t the Crown Prince say he would obtain some of the Magic Tower’s blueprints for us?”

That fact was classified as top secret.
Tasha’s pupils wavered before refocusing. Her rigid expression softened, and she laughed as if bewildered and deflated.

“Ha, haha.”

She brushed her long hair back and asked Kale.

“I was wondering where you could possibly obtain them. So it was you, Young Master.”
“Why state the obvious?”

Kale dismissed it as trivial, and he truly believed it was. After all, I was heading to destroy the Magic Tower anyway. What was one blueprint compared to that?
“I’m the one going to destroy the Magic Tower right now. What’s one blueprint going to matter?”

Currently, the City Wall and Lord’s Castle of the Heniatus Territory were in the process of being completed. Rosalind was in charge of the magical devices there, but in reality, most of them were made by Raon.

“They don’t give out 10 silver for nothing.”

Dragon had been giving allowance regularly for a reason. It was allowance given in anticipation that Raon would make all the magical devices for the Castle and the ship going forward. And Dragon said it was good to teach financial education from a young age.

“It’s currently under final construction. Come see it once it’s completed.”
“Will you invite me?”
“Do you think so?”

Kale nodded and added his thoughts.

“Yes. Bring Merry.”

He hoped to have a capable worker brought along.
Tasha released a laugh that sounded almost like a sigh, then nodded with vigor.

“Then, allow me to show you around properly now.”

Her gaze shifted toward Belbert, whom Vicross was carrying on his shoulder. She lingered on him for a moment—his ears and eyes completely sealed off—before turning her attention back to Kale.

“We’ve spent an enormous amount of money on the underground prison. To make sure he can’t escape.”

Tasha added this ominously, and despite the disguise magic necklace concealing her appearance, her dark elven features were still visible—black eyes and raven-dark hair.

“Is that so? We’re reinforcing our own prison as well. I’m curious how this one compares.”

Kale accepted this as a matter of course. He followed Tasha’s guidance down to the third basement level, toward the innermost section.
Kale entered one of several prison cells.

“It’s quite comfortable?”
“Isn’t it? The prisoner should find it easy to stay here.”

Kale surveyed the room constructed as a prison. There were several cells, and this one—the innermost chamber—was considerably more cozy than the others.
It resembled an ordinary inn room, yet peculiarly, all the corners were rounded. It was structured as if designed to prevent self-harm.
Kale grasped the intent.

“So they chose psychological torment over physical suffering.”

He could see Tasha nodding at his words.
This wasn’t just any criminal—he was a ranking member of a terrorist organization. There was no reason to treat him ordinarily.

Tsk. Kale clicked his tongue and gestured to Vicross, who then seated Belbert on the sofa. He removed the blindfold and the device blocking his ears.

Belbert’s body trembled uncontrollably, the paralytic toxin not yet fully worn off. But he had to open his eyes.

“Open your eyes.”

It was Vicross’s cold voice that compelled him. As he struggled to open his eyes, the space before him came into view—comfortable yet unfamiliar. Many eyes looked down upon him, his entire body still bound tightly.

Tasha observed Belbert’s condition, which seemed reasonably stable despite hearing he had sustained severe injuries, and turned her gaze toward Kale. At that look, Kale opened his mouth.

“His lower body won’t move. But I’ve treated his other minor wounds.”
“As expected, Young Master, your heart is far too soft, far too soft.”

Tasha shook her head. At that sight, Belbert was left speechless. He had endured daily torment from all manner of poisons—just enough to avoid death.
Of course, it was Vicross, who wished to study poisons, who had administered the treatments while inflicting such suffering. Kale pretended not to notice the actions of a son who had not yet forgotten his father’s vengeance for his lost left arm.

Kale averted his gaze from Tasha’s warm look, as if questioning how such a softhearted person could exist, and only then did Tasha turn her attention to Belbert. To her, Kale’s voice reached.

“If you’re planning to conduct psychological torture, shall I introduce you to a specialist?”

Kaige, the Priest of the Death God Sect. She was a specialist in mental-type techniques.

“No. We have our own methods.”

Kale turned away from the sight of Tasha declining and smiling brightly at Belbert. She was indeed no ordinary Dark Elf. It was no coincidence that she served as the commander handling all affairs behind the Crown Prince.

“Let us have many conversations going forward.”

Tasha’s voice, delivered kindly to Belbert, sent shivers down one’s spine. Seeing Belbert’s face turn pale as if he sensed something, Kale gestured for them to leave, and Tasha rose to follow him out of the prison.
After confirming that all the other members had emerged, Tasha ordered her subordinates to guard the prison entrance, then guided Kale’s party back to the surface.
As she climbed the underground stairs, she asked Kale in passing.

“How were the Elves?”

It was a question tinged with subtle curiosity and, simultaneously, an inexplicable wariness.
Kale had come here today leaving his vice-butler Hans and the healer Elf Fendrick at a different inn. Elf and Dark Elf. It was because of that ambiguous relationship.
Kale answered casually, as if unaware of that relationship.

“An Elf is an Elf.”
“Hmm, is that so? Since they protected the World Tree’s branch, Young Master would be their lifelong benefactor from that point on.”
“And Raon is there too.”

Raon. Understanding the meaning behind the mention of a Dragon being there, Tasha let out an exclamation and nodded.

“You would have been nearly a saint of the sect.”

I couldn’t find the words to argue back.
Tasha quietly asked Kale, who silently affirmed her suspicion.

“What on earth are you selling to the Wipper Kingdom that has Alberu laughing to himself like that?”
“…The Crown Prince is laughing alone?”

That sounded absolutely horrifying.
I had no desire to witness the Crown Prince laughing by himself.

“Yes. Every time I go to get his approval, he laughs to himself saying he’s looking forward to what Young Lord Kale will do next.”
“I suppose that’s possible.”

Tasha could see a smile forming at the corner of Kale’s mouth—one strikingly similar to Crown Prince Alberu’s. Indeed, these two were alike. And she became certain of something.

“It’s not something that benefits the Wipper Kingdom, is it?”
“Of course not. I’m a citizen of the Roan Kingdom.”

At that casual answer, Tasha felt a wave of relief wash over her. Concealing the easing of her worries, she opened the door leading to the surface and offered me words of encouragement.

“Make sure you handle it well, and let’s have a drink together next time.”
“Sure.”

As I stepped onto the surface, Raon’s voice echoed in my mind.

-But isn’t what we’re doing a scam?

Raon had witnessed the entire conversation between the Crown Prince and me, everything I had been doing.

‘It’s not a scam.’

It wasn’t a scam.
I was simply selling only half the goods.

-Anyway, if I destroy the Magic Tower exactly as planned, you’ll give me 10 silver, right?

I answered Raon’s hopeful voice with a quiet chuckle and a whisper.

“I’ll give you one gold coin.”
-Oh, my goodness!

The Dragon admired it.
Kale imagined it.
A spectacle unfolding as the Magic Tower crumbled. The performance would be quite entertaining.

After imagining this delightfully promising future for some time, the Black Dragon Raon asked Kale a question. Kale, who had been about to board the carriage and depart, paused at Raon’s inquiry.

-So now we’re going to meet the big whale and the mouse?

He nodded and climbed into the carriage.

Soon, this carriage carrying Hans and Fendrick as well headed toward the Naval Base in the Ubar Territory, located in the Northeast Coastal Area of the Roan Kingdom.

* * *

Kale leisurely surveyed the coastline of the Ubar Territory, which he was visiting for the first time in several months. After sending Ron and Vicross to the Cliff of Wind to greet Witira, the Whale Tribe’s successor, he moved about with only Choi Han, Rak, and Fendrick in tow.
Since On and Hong disliked water, the two had gone ahead to the Mansion with the butler Hans.

-Human.

Of course, Raon was with him.

-Human, that thing. I mean, that thing!

Raon called out to Kale several times but couldn’t finish his words. It wasn’t only Raon.

“Young master.”
“Um, Kale sir.”
“…My.”

The wolf boy Rak, Choi Han, and the healer Fendrick each reacted in their own way, but Kale paid them no mind. Whenever he tried to survey the Naval Base, his eyes kept drawn to that one thing.

‘It’s fortunate that the Naval Base itself strictly guards against outsiders.’

Thanks to Crown Prince Alberu’s extreme vigilance against Northern Alliance spies, the Naval Base was operating under thorough security. So Kale felt relieved even as he witnessed the current sight.
Choi Han pointed with his finger toward the coastline that belonged to the Heniatus Territory.

“Kale sir. That, is that a ship?”
“Yes. It’s a ship.”

Of course, this was also my first time seeing such a ship in person. I had only watched the construction process a few times through video communication.
Choi Han muttered stupidly with a bewildered expression. An enormous ship had entered his field of vision.

“…Anyone can tell that’s a Heniatus ship.”

I nodded calmly, and Kim Rok-soo felt relieved watching the ship nearing completion. It certainly looked different from the turtle ships I remembered.
Choi Han also didn’t seem to recall those Korean turtle ships—he appeared simply astonished by the vessel’s appearance.

Unlike the turtle ships in my memory, this vessel had a wide, completely open deck at the bow, and on both sides of the ship stood long, elliptical walls shaped like turtle shells.
One on each side, these shell-shaped walls curved slightly inward, and magical devices would be installed within them. Countless spells would surge upward through the open sky between the two shell-shaped walls.

“Sigh.”

I exhaled deeply upon seeing the ship.
I had underestimated my father’s wealth—the wealth of the Heniatus Family.

Raon’s voice finally broke the prolonged silence.

-Human, is that all gold? Is all that yellow stuff gold? Is that glittering part really gold?

Choi Han let out an exclamation.

“A golden turtle.”

The two walls shaped like golden turtle shells. Moreover, an elegant turtle sculpture served as the figurehead at the bow. The ship’s mast was also fashioned in the image of a turtle. Naturally, it gleamed with gold.
The golden light reflected brilliantly under the intense sunlight of the coastal area.

“Young master, you must come from an extraordinarily wealthy family.”

Even Fendrick, an Elf detached from material concerns, let out an exclamation upon seeing the massive golden brilliance. I made sure to clarify for my companions, sensing potential misunderstanding.

“I mention this to avoid any misunderstanding.”

I observed Mueller, the rat-hybrid Dwarf, rushing frantically from the coastline toward us, as well as Witira, Ron, and Vicross approaching from the Cliff of Wind, before turning my gaze back to my companions.
I looked at them with a serious expression, waiting for my next words.

“It’s gold plating.”

Not all of it was actual gold.

Choi Han and Fendrick stared at me in disbelief, but I had said what I needed to say, so I ignored them and greeted Witira, the Whale Tribe’s successor who had arrived before Mueller.

“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, Young Master. I trust you’ve been well?”

Despite her warm greeting, Witira’s expression was troubled.

“I’ve been fine. But your expression tells a different story.”

I disliked beating around the bush, so I pointed it out immediately. Witira nodded as if she’d expected this and opened her mouth. She too had no desire to waste time on unnecessary pleasantries.
The real matter came pouring out.

“Through a matter involving the Mermaid Tribe, we happened to establish a connection with the Eastern Continent.”

In that instant, Ron and Vicross’s gazes turned toward Witira. It was their homeland—a place I knew little about.

“Thanks to that, we obtained considerable information, but there’s a part we find difficult to handle ourselves. I came to see you on the chance you might help.”
“Are you asking for a favor?”
“Not a favor, but rather an exchange of information.”

I should have seen this coming.
The fact that the Whale Tribe went out of their way to find me suggested this was no trivial matter. Yet I couldn’t simply turn a blind eye to it either. Wouldn’t it be better to know and avoid the danger?
It was certainly related to that Secret Organization. If I found it beyond my capacity to handle, I planned to hastily pass it on to the Elf, the Crown Prince, or the Gold Dragon.

“Speak.”

I fixed my gaze on Witira, urging her to continue. She carefully opened her mouth under that stare.

“The ones who gave us information were called the strongest race of the Eastern Continent.”

The strongest race? I found myself focusing not on that phrase but on the past tense—’were called.’ Suddenly, despite the absence of sea breeze, a chill ran down the back of my neck.

“They were the Tiger Tribe, who faced the brink of extinction because of that organization. Through a connection with one of their shamans—”

Tiger Tribe.
I couldn’t hear anything else Witira was saying. Tiger Tribe. At that word, my mind suddenly went blank, and I blinked my eyes.

“…Tiger Tribe?”

Did he hear that correctly? Kale asked himself. But Witira, assuming he had misunderstood her words, stopped speaking and answered kindly instead.

“Yes, the Tiger Tribe. They are the Tiger Tribe.”

Just hearing the name alone, it sounded like one of the strongest races on the Eastern Continent. And apparently, they even had shamans among them.

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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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