Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 186

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

Chapter 41. A Small Purpose

But I couldn’t leave immediately.

“Why are you leaving so early?”

A polished smile descended upon me.
Antonio Geyler was approaching the carriage. My expression as I watched him was far from pleasant.

‘Are they on bad terms?’

Bilos, the illegitimate son of the Flynn Merchant Guild observing this exchange, quickly realized that the two could never be on good terms.
They were called the closest confidants of different princes. Moreover, I had exposed the Geyler Duchy Family’s human trafficking operation, bringing chaos to their territory, and as a result, the Geyler Duchy Family had come under pressure from the Royal Family and the Southeast Region.

‘…That’s strange?’

Bilos found something odd in his thoughts.

‘Why only pressure from the Southeast Region?’

The Northwest Region and Northeast Region remained quiet. As for the Central Island, the Crown Prince had been extremely furious and personally dispatched an investigation team, and because of that, the central nobility had become cautious enough to keep their heads down.

Why were the other regions so quiet?

‘…I see.’

The answer came soon enough.
The Northeast Region originally had no Duke or Marquis. Therefore, it was in a state without a leader.
However, implicitly, they watched the Heniatus Count Family’s movements.

Meanwhile, the Northwest Region was under the firm control of the Sten Marquis House. And Taylor Sten, the head of the Sten Marquis House, was a man of the Crown Prince.

Bilos suddenly recalled words spoken by his grandfather Odeus, who controlled the underworld commerce of the Northwest Region.
When creating safe houses in the Mogur Empire and the Paern Kingdom, Odeus had readily offered his own residence to Bilos and spoke as if in passing.

‘If it’s anything related to Prince Kale, you must do it. If you want to survive in the Northwest Region, that is.’

Words he had heard casually struck him like a hammer.

Bilos had worked with Kale Heniatus several times, but he didn’t know everything about what he had done or all of his connections.

…Had he ever worked with someone while knowing so little?

The sudden thought sent a chill down Bilos’s spine. That was when it happened.
I heard Kale’s quiet murmur as he watched Antonio Geyler approaching.

“…How bothersome.”

The irritation in his voice felt genuine.
Only then did Bilos’s expression shift slightly. This wasn’t the annoyance of finding an unexpected situation inconvenient—it resembled the irritation one feels when woken from sleep.

And Antonio’s behavior that followed differed from what Bilos had anticipated.

Kale and Antonio. Their relationship must be poor.
That’s what Bilos thought. Yet the reality before him was somewhat different.

“Young Master Kale, shouldn’t you verify that all the cleanup has been handled before we depart?”

The moment Antonio approached the carriage, Kale descended out of courtesy and faced him directly.

“The Geyler Duchy Family handled it, so I’m sure it was done well. Is there any need for me to verify?”
“…I see. So you trust us that much.”

Antonio felt something stir within him as he looked at Kale, who trusted him to handle it properly. Then a voice reached his ears from behind.

“We should have locked the doors for a while.”

Antonio turned around. Simultaneously, everyone present bowed at the waist. Kale lowered his head as well.

Sonata Geyler. The current Duke approached Kale.

I recalled the words she had spoken as she approached.

‘We should have locked the doors for a while.’

The Crown Prince and the Geyler Duchy Family had decided to conceal that the merchant guild which took the slaves was from the Empire. Of course, the moment they arrested the Empire Trading Company, word would spread regardless, but for now they were doing everything possible to prevent it from spreading.

Three times in total.
That was the number of times the Krysh Marquis Family had engaged in slave trafficking. The timing coincided with when Crown Prince Albert’s position had solidified.
As Crown Prince Albert grew stronger instead of the prince backed by the Geyler Duchy, the Krysh Marquis Family chose an alternative path—accumulating wealth to seize power.

After learning all these facts, the Crown Prince showed no great emotional change before Kale Heniatus, yet he was consumed by deep fury.

He was currently investigating in secret whether there were other slave trafficking operations elsewhere. Because of this, the Empire Trading Company’s affairs were kept confidential.

Nevertheless, the crime of the Geyler Duchy—having maintained such lax border security that the kingdom’s people could be sold as slaves to the Empire—did not disappear.

In the end, Duchess Sonata, who had made a deal with the Crown Prince, reached a decision and spoke it aloud for the first time before everyone except her grandson Antonio.

Lock the gates.

This was the condition Kale desired. As the gatekeeper, it meant to lock the gates firmly, and there was one more thing.

The Duke of Geyler added the other condition as well.

“And for the time being, the Geyler Duchy will cease all external activities and call back the retainers and vassals stationed abroad.”

Cease all external activities.
Call back the family members.

At these words, the expressions of Bilos and the others hardened.
They had grasped the meaning behind the Duke’s statement.

External activities, as he called them, ultimately meant acquiring more power. And those who conducted such activities were the Duke’s people scattered throughout the central political circles.

He had declared an end to that.

His words amounted to a proclamation that the Geyler Duchy was relinquishing its grip on central power. Though the caveat “for the time being” was attached, it was still a momentous event.

Slave trafficking.
It was indeed a grave crime. However, it was not something that should have reached this point from a family of the Geyler Duchy’s standing. Since it was the work of a vassal house, one could simply claim ignorance.
It should not be that way, but that was the reality.

‘But why?’

Others voiced their confusion, but Duchess Sonata, Antonio, and even Kale Heniatus remained composed. However, the Duke’s next words caused an even greater stir.

“Moreover, I intend to transfer the dukedom to Antonio before this year ends.”
“Grandmother!”

Antonio called out to Duchess Sonata in shock, but she remained composed. No—she was in a state of cold calculation.

‘This is a mistake I made.’

When the existence of the Empire Trading Company is revealed later, the Geyler Duchy Family will be shaken once more. So if I step down now under the pretext of taking responsibility, at least the gossip will diminish. Besides, I plan to strip the Krysh Marquis Family of their titles and impose such severe punishment that no member of that house will ever show their face in the world again.
Furthermore, he intended to strip the Krysh Marquis Family of their titles and impose severe punishment so that the people of that house would never show their faces in the world again.

Even so, the Duke remained anxious.

She had believed that seizing power was the way to survive, but it was a miscalculation.
While preoccupied with power, the door to her house had been breached. This was absurd.
While arguing about power, the front door got broken into. This is absolutely unacceptable.

She stared at my grandson, Antonio.

I always told my grandson.

“Nobles are nothing but greedy people. To survive there, you must know how to draw your blade against others. Show no weakness, and always judge and use them to your advantage.”

Though it was harsh, the grandson didn’t offer any rebuttal to those words. And he always maintained a neat appearance and the dignified bearing of a nobleman.

Authoritative, yes—but Antonio took pride in the name of nobility itself.
Antonio, a grandson who is authoritative yet takes pride in his noble name.

“Sir, I think you should lock the door.”

She now understood that the time had come to hand over her position to her grandson and support him so that he could become an unshakeable bulwark for the Southwest Region.
She now realized it was time for her to step aside for her grandson and support him so he could become the solid gate of the Southwest Region.

“…Grandmother.”

When her grandson called out to her once more, she spoke firmly.

“…Yes, Head of House.”
“Yes, sir.”

Antonio realized that the Duke’s resolute demeanor meant her decision was final. When Sonata took that stance, there was no room for further negotiation.

He quietly observed the elderly woman’s retreating figure as she approached Kale Heniatus. His heart ached seeing how deeply she had been wounded and tormented by recent events.

Yet the moment he heard what she said to Kale Heniatus, a faint smile escaped him. He realized the Duke had not crumbled.

“Do you know who drinks the best in this Duchy?”

Kale Heniatus was taken aback.
He had expected her to lock the door, but instead the Duke herself had emerged to suddenly declare her self-imposed restraint, and moreover, she had announced to Antonio that she would grant him the dukedom within the year.

And now, out of nowhere, why was she talking about drinking?
Kale Heniatus simply answered when asked.

“…I’m not entirely certain, madam.”

A wrinkled smile crossed Duchess Sonata’s face.

“I do.”
“…Pardon?”
“I drink the best. Let’s share a drink over dinner next time.”

At her words, Bilos let out an exclamation of admiration.
Duchess Sonata rarely met anyone in private. The reason was simple—she trusted no one. Yet here she was, inviting someone with neither title nor position to dine with her.

‘What on earth has the young master done this time!’

The relationship between Kale Heniatus and the Geyler Duchy Family, which should have been one of mortal enmity, appeared remarkably cordial. Bilos gazed at Kale Heniatus with admiration, but Kale Heniatus himself was far from pleased with the situation.

What was wrong with this Duke?

Kale Heniatus had absolutely no desire to share a meal with anyone from the Geyler Duchy Family.

Kale Heniatus offered a gentle, appropriately courteous smile as he responded to the Duke’s invitation to dine.

“Should fate bring us together again, I shall bring fine spirits to share.”

Should fate bring us together.
That was simply another way of saying it would not happen.

However, I was impressed by Duke Sonata’s resoluteness and not being impatient even when the opportunity to build a relationship with him came.

‘He’s definitely not an easy guy.’

The Crown Prince said that when the moment came to open the door, he would send someone to inform him. She believed that person must be Cale Henitus.

“Okay. I’ll see you next time.”

The old man’s eyes twinkled as he promised what would happen next, and Cale quietly avoided his gaze and slightly lowered his head.

What’s next?
Next time—as if.

At that time, Antonio smiled as he looked at Cale and his grandmother. Only he noticed that the grandmother recognized Cale Henitus as a true noble.

“Then I’ll just leave.”

After greeting the Duke, Cale tried to get into the carriage. Then, a thought suddenly occurred to me, so I turned around and asked the duke.

“Duke, is everyone safe?”

Although the exact target was not mentioned, Sonata recognized it right away.

“Yes, I’m safe. I’m getting healthy.”

It was a story about the kingdom’s citizens who had been kidnapped.

“Thank goodness.”

Sonata realized that this was Cale’s real smile as she saw the corners of her mouth slightly twitching and then falling, unlike the soft smile she had shown herself.

‘He’s a good kid.’

He was a better kid.
More than decent, in fact.
The Crown Prince she had conversed with this time proved far more righteous than she had anticipated.

‘Crown Prince, I will leave all contact with Cale to Antonio.’

Sonata’s gaze at Cale deepened, but Cale sighed in relief when she saw the duke no longer holding on to her.

After a while, Cale was able to leave the Guyer duchy after completing all the awkward greetings.
Shortly after, Kale was able to leave the Geyler Duchy once all the tedious formalities were completed.
Bilos, who rode in the carriage with him, observed the entire spectacle and realized that Kale was not only exceptional when it came to ‘wealth,’ but also possessed remarkable abilities in other areas.

At that moment, he could see Cale lying down on the carriage seat.

“Ha, I’m tired.”

His face was filled with annoyance because everything was a hassle.

Nyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

The silver cat bit the pillow and placed it next to Cale. Cale placed the pillow by the head and lay down on the seat.

Billos closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them.
Bilos closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.

“I’m sleeping. Don’t tell me.”

Billos nodded at Cale’s instructions and kept his mouth shut.
Bilos nodded at Kale’s command and kept his mouth shut.

He thought of Cale, who was becoming a righteous nobleman in the southwestern part of the Guillers domain, and turned his back on the infinitely lazy-looking prince.

“Hello? It’s been a while.”

A voice like a navigation system came out from a black robe.

“Uh. It’s been a while.”

Cale waved his hand roughly and accepted the greeting. Then, the black robe with the necromancer Mary got into Cale’s carriage.

Southern part of the Karo Kingdom.
The southern region of the Caro Kingdom.

“Confucius, it’s been a while!”

Albert’s aunt, the dark elf Tasha, followed suit and got into the carriage.
Tasha, the Dark Elf aunt of Alberu, climbed into the carriage after him.

Tasha sat down in the empty seat and smiled awkwardly.

“Well, Vegas City is a fancy city, right?”
“Well, Begus City is quite a splendid place, isn’t it?”

Unlike Cale, who answered calmly, Tasha looked at a corner of the carriage with a strange expression.

To commemorate the New Year’s auction season held in February, the city of Vegas was decorated extravagantly. The already gorgeous city was filled with red and blue colors, so there were so many places to look.

Bards, plays, auctions and gambling. It was a city of entertainment overflowing with all kinds of things to see and enjoy.

Tasha had expected Cale to be calm while looking at such a city, but the other sights were unexpected.

“Wow! I want that shiny sculpture!”
“Wow! I want that shimmering sculpture!”
“That hat is so pretty!”

A black dragon and two cats were looking out the window, unable to come to their senses. There was a piggy bank in their arms.
The Black Dragon and two Cats were gazing out the window, utterly captivated. They clutched piggy banks in their hands.

Swish. Raon’s head turned towards Cale, Tasha, and Mary. When Tasha paused, the black dragon spoke to Cale.

“Human! I have a lot of money in my piggy bank! I buy everything I want!”

Vegas City, full of sparkling things and strange things, captured the heart of 6-year-old Raon. The same was true for On and Hong.
Begus City, filled with glittering and wondrous things, had captured the heart of six-year-old Raon. On and Hong felt the same way.

Dark elf Tasha stared at this blankly, but her eyes widened when she heard Kale’s voice.

“I’ll buy it for you.”

There was silence inside the carriage.

“Well, what did you say?”

Raon stuttered.
Raon stammered over his words.

“He said he would buy me everything I wanted. Buy it all.”

How expensive can it be for the things that children want?

“Well, is that okay?”
“R-really? That’s okay?”
“I’m gonna ask for a lot of stuff!”

Although the three children were confused, they quietly surrounded Cale. Either way, Tasha was dazed and could hear Mary’s mechanical voice.

“As expected, Confucius is kind and warm.”

Tasha nodded her head in response to the correct words, but felt strange.

“Humans are the best! After all, we humans are good!”
“Humans are the best! I really do love our humans!”
“I’ll even raise your allowance. Twenty silver.”

Raon started pouring out praise, but Kale just ignored it.
Raon began showering me with praise, but I let it pass through one ear and out the other.

Soon he will be earning tens of billions of dollars.

A red necklace and a black gem were taking up space in Cale’s magic pouch.

“Confucius, are you going to the dormitory first?”

Tasha looked warmly at the excited children, then moved her warm gaze to Cale. Cale responded to that gaze mercilessly.

“Uh. After that, I’m going to go for a light walk.”
“Yes. After that, I’m thinking of taking a light stroll.”
“A stroll, sir?”
“That’s right.”
“Where to, sir?”
“The gambling house.”

A huge building shaped like a golden tree.
A massive building shaped like a golden tree.

Four times a year, a VIP auction is held on the top floor of the gambling hall.
Four times a year, VIP auctions are held on the top floor of that gambling house.

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