Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 182

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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 40. As Expected of the Young Master

Kale loaded Ron and Frigia, who had finished their preparations, into the carriage and headed toward the Gyre Territory. One of Frigia’s subordinates drove the carriage.

“Explain in detail.”

Kale fixed his gaze upon the two, and Frigia immediately opened her mouth.

“There is a baronial family that entered the Geyler Duchy as a vassal house approximately fifty years ago.”

The name of that family was the Krish Family.

“Before the current Duke became the head of the family, they were one of the vassal families drawn in by other heirs to expand their influence during the previous Duke’s era.”

Sonata, Antonio’s grandmother and the current Duke. When she was merely a secondary heir, several vassal families were recruited to the Gyre Territory. The Krish Family was one of them.
The Krish Family was said to be one of them.

Kale’s lips parted.

“Aren’t they quite renowned for their scholarship?”

Two hundred years ago, they had produced a tutor for the Royal Court and were a family of considerable prestige in matters of learning. For that reason, the Geyler Duchy embraced a family with neither territory nor standing.

“Young Master.”

Ron answered Kale’s question with gentle composure.

“The past cannot become the present.”
“True enough.”

Kale nodded in agreement.

Whether they had been learned in the past or not, if they were worthless now, then worthless they were. Those who would hire someone to kidnap a child were undoubtedly out of their minds.
They had even commissioned the kidnapping of a child, so there was no doubt they were out of their minds.

“Young master, it was the night before last.”

Kale Heniatus stared at Ron. Ever since earlier, Ron’s pretense of being serious and benevolent had felt off. Ron, who had gained a fake but powerful arm, somehow seemed to have more vitality in his face lately.

“Perhaps it’s because I’ve grown old, but sleep wouldn’t come. So I took a light stroll through the backstreets of the Gyre Territory.”

…The backstreets as a place for a leisurely walk?
Kale wanted to ask, but he swallowed the question.

“But why would children be driving a carriage deep into the Slums in the dead of night?”
“Children?”

Kale looked at Ron with confusion at the mention of children driving the carriage. Ron gently corrected himself.

“They appeared to be sturdy children in their thirties.”

…When had those vicious thugs become children?
Kale remained silent, and Ron continued.

“In any case, curious about these children moving about, I decided to follow them. Of course, discreetly.”

Kale pretended not to notice Frigia gazing at Ron with admiration.

“Creeping along behind them, I discovered several houses near the bridge that divides the Slums from the commercial district. Many people were being held captive in the basements of those houses.”

Click-clack.
The fingers on the artificial arm bent, producing the sound of joints. Ron spoke softly.

“It was the sort of despicable work that even assassins wouldn’t undertake.”

Mm.
For the first time in a while, Kale averted his gaze from the assassin Ron.

“And?”

But Kale wanted the conversation to move faster. Ron cut to the essential point.

“And last evening, I witnessed the Krish Family’s butler entering one of those houses. During the day, the building appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary dwelling where a poor family lived. Of course, once night fell, the family pretending to be impoverished became employees.”

Frigia continued.

“Following him until dawn, we confirmed that the butler met with a certain Merchant.”

It was highly likely that this was a Merchant Guild trafficking in slaves.
She continued speaking rapidly.

“Currently, my subordinates are tracking that merchant. We should receive a preliminary report on the Merchant Guild’s identity soon. We’ll be able to discern their identity vaguely at first, but by the second report, we should have complete clarity.”

Tap, tap.
I drummed my fingers against the carriage seat’s armrest, then fixed my gaze on Ron. The elderly man realized that I had noticed something.
I opened my mouth slowly.

“An illegal Merchant Guild purchasing innocent people as slaves.”

Then where would those slaves go?

Slavery is illegal in the Roan Kingdom.
The Krish Family wouldn’t distribute slaves within the kingdom unless they’d lost their minds.

Where would slaves be needed?

Where would someone need to secretly gather slaves through a Merchant Guild?

I had a suspicion.

“…Did people who wanted to end their lives build that Bell Tower?”
“Pardon?”

Frigia questioned my crude words with confusion, but I waved my hand dismissively and spoke.

“The Merchant Guild is likely from the Empire.”
“…The Empire?”

Frigia’s expression grew grave.
Not only had they sold people from the kingdom into slavery, but smuggling them to another nation was something only those who had abandoned all fear could do.
It was not something a mere baron could attempt.
That’s why I asked.

“Is the Krish Family conducting this independently?”
“…According to our investigation, the Geyler Duchy Family appears to be uninvolved.”

Frigia moistened her lips with her tongue and continued speaking.

“The Krish Family was incorporated as a vassal house of the Geyler Duchy without any assets, and when Sonata Geyler became the current Duke instead of the person they had been backing, they found themselves in a precarious position, never knowing when they might be cast out. So they apparently tried to expand their influence by any means necessary.”
“For that, they would have needed money.”

I asked one more question.

“Does the Krish Family seem to know where the Merchant Guild originates from?”
“…I’m not certain about that.”

Frigia carefully opened her mouth, noticing my conviction that it was the Empire.

“Young Master, since we haven’t received reports about the Merchant Guild yet, wouldn’t it be better to gather information first and then make a judgment?”

I gave no answer. I simply exhaled a sigh.

Tap. Tap.
The cats On and Hong continued drumming their front paws against my thigh—a clear expression of their desire to tear those bastards apart.
Raon spoke to me in my mind.

-Slavery… is unforgivable. Being captured and imprisoned without reason is absolutely unforgivable.

The Krish Family had committed something the Black Dragon could never tolerate.
Raon, who had spent four years in the black cave, harbored a visceral hatred for slavery and imprisonment.

“Ron.”
“Yes, Young Master.”

I spoke while gazing at the gates of the Gyre Territory.

“The plan has changed.”
“Understood.”

* * *

Early morning.
I was nestled in a plush, soft bed, savoring that drowsy state between sleep and wakefulness. Then a hand touched my shoulder.

Like the warm touch of a weary parent—

“Mm!”

Kale’s eyes snapped open.

“Young Master, you’re awake.”

It was Ron.
For the first time in ages, Kale was startled enough to curl up beneath his blankets.

Meow meow meow!
Meow meow!

The cats snickered at him.

“Human, wake up! You cannot oversleep!”

Even Raon’s nagging joined in. Assaulted by this maddening quartet from the moment dawn broke, I forced myself upright. Ron promptly offered me a cup of tea.

“There was no lemon tea, sir. It seems the Geyler Duchy is rather lacking in that regard.”

At those words, my lips twitched upward, and I immediately seized the teacup.

Currently, my entire party—save Frigia and the Information Guild—was staying at the Geyler Duchy.
Having arrived at the Gyre Territory late yesterday, I was able to secure lodging at the Geyler Duchy for several nights without difficulty, thanks to Vice-Captain Hilsman, who had arrived ahead of me and informed the duchy of my arrival.

It would have been strange for such a grand duchy to refuse shelter to a passing noble—and not just any noble, but someone who was the Crown Prince’s closest confidant and had received imperial honors besides.

“What a pity there’s no lemon tea.”

I spoke the words of regret cheerfully in a low voice and sipped the tea.

“Ugh!”

A groan escaped my lips.
The servant Ron spoke kindly.

“The Gyre Territory is said to favor bitter tea, sir. Hehe.”

Damn it.
I grimaced and began my bitterly flavored day.
I dressed properly and immediately left the room.

“Your Highness!”

Vice-Captain Hilsman, who had been waiting outside the door, followed Kale Heniatus.

“Ahem, you look particularly splendid today!”

Hilsman marveled at Kale, who had dressed with even more aristocratic refinement than usual. Of course, without being ostentatious, maintaining an appropriately refined and composed elegance, he appeared to anyone’s eye as a most promising young nobleman.

“Is that so? Good then.”

Yet Hilsman hesitated for a moment, noticing that Kale’s smile as he spoke seemed gentle and kind.
A gentle smile? It was entirely unlike Kale.

‘I heard he was going to eliminate the Krish Family…’

Hilsman found it strange that Kale appeared so unusually gentle, contrary to the gravity of what Ron had told him. The Vice-Captain still knew nothing of the human trafficking.

“Where is he?”

But Kale’s question received an immediate answer.

“At this hour, he is said to be in the garden. He takes a stroll after an early breakfast.”
“Then I can stop by the garden on the way to the main gate.”

Kale immediately headed toward the garden.
Hilsman followed behind, glancing at Ron. Ron simply smiled kindly and followed Kale. Hilsman found it odd that the cats were nowhere to be seen, but proceeded toward the garden nonetheless.

Upon arriving at the garden, Kale was able to meet Antonio Geyler.
Of course, he pretended it was by chance.

“Oh, Prince Kale. Did you have a restful night?”
“I had no idea Prince Antonio was in the garden. Yes, thanks to you, I had a most restful night.”

Kale and Antonio exchanged a handshake with pleasant demeanor.

Antonio observed Kale, whose aristocratic bearing was impeccable without a single flaw.

Kale Heniatus.
The Crown Prince’s closest confidant, the man who had prevented the capital’s terror attack, and someone who had accomplished such remarkable deeds as to receive commendations from the Empire itself.

That person sent his escort ahead yesterday, saying he was just passing through, and asked if he could stay for a few days. He added one more thing.

‘We could have a conversation, couldn’t we?’

A conversation.
The conversation between Kale Heniatus, the Crown Prince’s closest confidant, and Antonio, the closest aide to another prince and the pillar supporting the Southwestern Region of the kingdom, was predictable yet significant.

It would be an utterly greedy conversation.
Antonio sensed from the way Kale proposed this ‘conversation’ that he, too, was greedy like the other nobles.

And that conversation would take place secretly tonight.

“Of course we can. Have you had breakfast?”

Antonio casually broached a peaceful topic of conversation. He could see Kale respond with an aristocratic smile.

“I haven’t.”
“My, taking a walk without breakfast? You must be feeling queasy.”
“It’s fine. I plan to eat breakfast soon.”

The mundane conversation shifted slightly with Kale’s next words.
Kale spoke with elegance.

“I heard there’s a famous tavern, so I’m planning to have breakfast there.”
“…Pardon?”

Antonio was momentarily taken aback.
Regardless, Kale said what he had to say.

“I’m rather fond of alcohol. Morning drinking is the finest of all drinks, wouldn’t you say? Well then, I’ll be off. I’m going to hurry over and wash down my morning soup with beer! Ha ha!”

Suddenly, Antonio recalled the nickname Kale originally carried, instead of the Silver Prince.
Reckless Kale.

Antonio could see Kale declaring he would behave recklessly—in an aristocratic manner, of course.

“I have nothing to do today either, and since I’m recuperating, I think I’ll drink all day. How delightful.”

Kale’s condition of using ancient power in the Empire and recuperating was commonly known, and it had been reported that this visit to Gyre Territory was a stop on the way to the warmer south.

Such a person drinking alcohol.

Antonio finally opened his mouth after a long pause.

“…Will conversation still be possible?”
“Don’t worry. When I just touch alcohol and converse, words flow out like the drink itself. Well then, I’ll be taking my leave.”

Kale Heniatus turned away, spouting nonsense with perfect courtesy and propriety until the very end. Vice-Captain Hilsman, pale as a ghost, and the composed Ron followed in his wake.

“…Impossible to pin down.”

Antonio’s expression as he watched Kale Heniatus was complicated. Yet a hint of disappointment flickered in his gaze.

Antonio judged people by his own standards—measuring how noble they were and defining them by that metric. By his measure, Kale Heniatus had become somewhat less noble.

“Will it be alright?”

Vice-Captain Hilsman asked Kale Heniatus with concern, but Kale Heniatus didn’t hear him. The moment he entered the tavern, he climbed to the third floor.
There, he sat at a table near the window, gazing at the river flowing past before turning his head.

“Will you be ordering?”

The server asked carefully, catching Kale Heniatus’s eye.
Anyone could see he was dressed like a nobleman, and his appearance and bearing carried the dignity of at least a Count’s Household. Naturally, one had to be cautious.

Kale Heniatus opened his mouth without even glancing at the menu.

“Everything.”

A powerful single word.

“Pardon?”

Kale Heniatus ordered for the bewildered server.

“One bottle of each type of alcohol. For appetizers, bring the most expensive ones.”

Watching him order with such elegance, Hilsman blinked. As the server left with a flustered expression, Kale Heniatus spoke curtly to Hilsman, who was staring at him.

“What are you staring at?”

Contrary to my expectations, Hilsman broke into a bright smile.

“As expected, Your Highness hasn’t changed! That’s right, and Choi Han isn’t here either! Let’s drink our fill! Hahahaha!”

I shook my head, but Hilsman uncapped another bottle and stoked the festive mood. I turned my gaze out the window regardless.

The river flowing through the Gyre Territory.
From the tavern positioned right before the river that divided the Slums from the rest of the land, I could see a bridge erected along the riverbank.

Beyond that bridge lay the Slums.
I could see about ten dilapidated houses on the far side of the bridge.

They were the houses where the kingdom’s citizens had been abducted and imprisoned.

-…I’m going to destroy those houses! Smash them to pieces!

Hearing Raon’s bloodthirsty voice, I grabbed the entire bottle instead of the glass Hilsman had filled.

“Y-Your Highness.”

Hilsman was flustered.

Thunk!

But when the empty bottle hit the table with a sound, he came to his senses. I saw Hilsman staring at me, my face flushed red. Still flushed, I picked up another bottle.

My face reddened, but I didn’t become intoxicated from the alcohol. I held out the bottle to Hilsman, who was watching me. He flinched, remembering the Kale who used to throw bottles in the past, but soon calmly accepted it.

I spent the entire day eating and drinking without saying a word.
And when the sun began to set.

“Hilsman.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”

My escort Hilsman had only a drink or two and didn’t touch alcohol with his lips. Throughout the day, he watched me—convinced that my reputation as a debauchee was indeed no lie—as I called out to him.
I opened my mouth again.

“Ron.”
“Yes.”

Ron rose quietly from his seat and answered.

I turned my gaze away from the two people watching me. I stroked the empty bottle and looked out at the sunset painting the sky.
Beneath the crimson heavens burning like fire, I could see Frigia standing on the bridge, signaling.

In the end, the Merchant Guild was exactly as I had predicted—they were from the Empire.

Screeeech.

I rose from my chair and spoke.

“I’m using the shield today.”
“What? Suddenly?”

Was I drunk?
Vice-Captain Hilsman, thinking I must be intoxicated since I usually shuddered at the mention of a silver shield, was seriously contemplating what lay ahead when I added with a smile.

“Because I need to push things back.”

Ten houses’ worth.

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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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