Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 274

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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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Kale Heniatus recalled what Servant Ron had said.

‘The Cancer Branch Master, unlike other Dark members, wears one white star, five red stars, and additionally a black feather brooch.’

He shouted toward the Cancer Branch Master.

“Why are you moving so sluggishly like an idiot?”

His voice was tremendous, naturally reaching the mercenaries chasing behind, Choi Han running alongside him, and the Cancer Branch Master himself.

“…What insane nonsense is this?”

The Cancer Branch Master was so bewildered that his inner thoughts spilled from his lips. Yet despite his shock, Kale remained utterly composed and confident.

“Stop these bastards immediately!”

With such audacious composure, he brazenly ordered the Cancer Branch Master to block the mercenaries.

“Branch Master, is this person related to us?”

One of the Cancer Branch Master’s subordinates, astounded by such boldness, asked his superior about Kale. Though crudely mimicking Dark’s uniform, the situation seemed ambiguous to them.

But while the Dark members felt uncertainty, one side grew increasingly convinced.
It was the Riven Mercenary Guild Master.

Kale glanced back.
As a high-tier Expert swordsman, the Guild Master had pursued Choi Han and Kale better than any other mercenary. Thus, he was the one who heard Kale’s words most clearly of all.

“How dare you, how dare you!”

The Guild Master, breathing heavily as he pursued them, made no effort to hide his fury.

He was utterly exasperated.
He had chased after those two mysterious figures, wondering where they were fleeing.
In truth, calling it flight was generous—those two masked figures had reduced the Mercenary Guild Building to rubble before departing, so the Guild Master had no choice but to pursue them for both his pride and justification.

‘My vault!’

Moreover, his office—where his safe was located—had been blown to smithereens.
Of course, the safe wasn’t the only problem.

‘The contract! Not the contract! Absolutely not!’

Under no circumstances could those two bastards get their hands on ‘that document’ in the safe. If they did, it was dangerous enough to cost the Riven Mercenary Guild everything they’d held in Ribensi all these years.

‘…No. I mustn’t jump to conclusions yet.’

The safe’s lock was supposedly unbreakable—even a top-tier Mage couldn’t force it open.

‘It was crafted by the Mercenary Guild’s sole top-tier Mage at headquarters, after all!’

The top-tier Mage who’d installed the safe had declared that unless a Dragon came, there was no way for human Mages to open it—the only option was brute destruction.
That’s why the Guild Master could move about with complete peace of mind.

‘Yes, that Mage bastard must have triggered the explosion in the office for that very reason.’

The Guild Master tried to calm himself. The safe’s destruction stung, but money could be recovered. It was unfortunate, but nothing compared to that document’s value.

That’s when it happened.

“You just keep waddling after me, don’t you?”

What?
The presumed Mage stood before the Guild Master with wind wrapped around his feet, sneering mockingly at him. Those curved eyes were unmistakably a sneer.

“That crazy bastard—Huh!”

The Guild Master felt the world spin beneath him.

Clatter-clang.
As the glass box shook, the documents inside clinked softly against one another.

Kale Heniatus shook the box containing the ‘Contract Regarding Eastern Ribensi Industries’ right before the Guild Master’s eyes.

-Human! The Guild Master’s face has gone pale! Is he struggling because he ran so hard?

It wasn’t exhaustion from running—rather, I was so shocked by this document that I nearly lost consciousness.
I slipped the glass box into my pocket leisurely, making sure the Guild Master watching me could see it clearly, even as my lips trembled slightly.

Then I turned my gaze forward and tapped Choi Han’s shoulder.

“I’ll handle this. Watch carefully and follow my lead.”

Choi Han nodded at my words, and I raised my hand.

-Understood, human!

Raon instantly understood my hand signal.
I rolled my feet.

Tap!

My body lightly struck the ground. I moved like a bird. Choi Han followed close behind.

My body rose effortlessly into the air, aided by Wind’s Sound and Raon’s supplementary magic, and with fluid grace, I traced a semicircle before descending back to the ground.

Tap.
With a light sound, my body touched the earth.
I turned around.

I could see the Dark members staring at me.

I descended between the Dark members who had been in standoff. Naturally, Choi Han stood beside me. I waved my hand gently at the members watching me.

“It’s been a while.”

A while? Who?
They all had that confused look, but soon they had to face someone’s fury.

“You bastards! How dare you touch the Mercenary Guild!”

Once Choi Han and I stepped out of the way, the Dark and the Mercenary Guild naturally had to face each other.

The moment the Cancer Branch Master saw the Mercenary Guild Master’s contorted face, he immediately spoke. At this point, the situation was clear.

“Surround those two suspicious individuals immediately!”

The Cancer Branch Master flinched at the roaring command. Without hesitation, he pointed at Choi Han and Kale Heniatus, shouting urgently.

“Capture them and hand them over to the Mercenary Guild! The enemies of the Mercenary Guild are the enemies of Ribensi! Help the Mercenary Guild!”

His quick-witted subordinates swiftly drew their weapons and began surrounding Choi Han and Kale Heniatus. At their actions, the Riven Mercenary Guild Master asked the Branch Chief with a slightly more composed expression.

“Are they not associates of yours?”
“No, sir. Guild Master, surely you understand our position?”

Indeed. The Guild Master remembered the Dark organization he had been cautious about all this time. The Branch Chief continued speaking to the Guild Master, who was barely catching his breath and composing himself.

“I cannot determine the exact situation at present, but they are not our people. Can you not see those shabby clothes?”
“Then what is that attire they are wearing now?”
“Pardon?”

The Guild Master pointed behind the Branch Chief.
It was where the two masked figures were now being surrounded by his subordinates.

The Branch Chief slowly turned his head. Then the Guild Master’s voice reached him.

“That fellow with the dark brown eyes—the attire beneath that robe hardly looks shabby to me, does it?”
“…Ah… That is—”

The Branch Chief was momentarily at a loss for words.

When Kale Heniatus left the third-floor room at the inn.

‘Kale Heniatus.’

Choi Han called out to him and brought the robe and mask.
The shabby robe with a single crude red star emblazoned upon it. It was as always.

But there was one thing different from usual—the attire Kale Heniatus had hidden beneath the robe.

When Kale Heniatus removed the shabby robe, the outfit that only the true leadership of the Real Arm would recognize precisely appeared.

A black outfit emblazoned with a red star. Not an ordinary star shape, but a distinctly twisted star pattern unique to the organization was drawn with perfect precision.

‘I had asked Erhafen to help.’

Since Kale Heniatus’s craftsmanship was crude at best, the ancient dragon had observed the Dragon Hybrid’s clothing and replicated it with perfect precision.
Kale Heniatus spoke calmly to the Cancer Branch Master, who stared at me in bewilderment.

“I’m leaving the cleanup to you. That’s an order.”

Unlike before, the grave voice delivering this resolute command carried an inexplicable weight.

-Human, you look a bit stronger!

Naturally, I had used my dominating aura just a little.
But the problem was that although Kale Heniatus had used only a little, the performance had improved so much that to others, it wasn’t a little at all.

‘…Is this real?’

The Cancer Branch Master unconsciously rubbed his arm, which had broken out in goosebumps from Kale Heniatus’s momentum. He felt an aura so overwhelming it raised his hackles—a sense of dominance. It was an aura far stronger than even the most formidable Red Star members he had glimpsed from a distance.

‘Is this a mission from Dark that I’m unaware of?’

Such natural majesty that even the Branch Chief was thrown into confusion. But the one even more flustered was the Mercenary Guild Master.

‘…Is this really Dark? If so, is Dark trying to make enemies of every Mercenary Guild on the entire Continent?’

The Mercenary Guild Master began to grow genuinely worried. The aura emanating from those dark brown eyes was so cold it reminded him of the Mercenary King.

At that moment, Kale Heniatus snapped his two fingers together.

Snap!

A crisp sound echoed through the air.

“Huh?”
“Mm!”

And a teleportation circle appeared in everyone’s field of vision.

Whoooosh—
Magic vibrated as it enveloped Choi Han and Kale Heniatus. It happened in an instant. Raon’s magical ability had now reached a level that even Erhafen would envy.

Of course, there were those who reacted.
Dark members who still remembered the Branch Chief’s orders threw their daggers in haste.

Clang! Clang!
But the daggers were blocked by a transparent shield.
The Cancer Branch Master’s expression twisted. Beyond the swift casting speed, this was a powerhouse capable of deploying both teleportation magic and shield magic simultaneously.

At minimum, a top-tier Mage. Or something even greater.
As the Cancer Branch Master’s mind grew complicated, Kale Heniatus casually revealed the truth to his enemies.

“Real Arm has no intention of stopping until it seizes control of the Riven Underworld. We simply move forward.”

A brilliant flash of light engulfed their vision, then vanished.

In less than ten seconds, the two mysterious figures disappeared.
An incredibly brief span of time.
They were gone.

What remained were only the true Dark and the Mercenary Guild.
Soon, a hellish ordeal unfolded before them.

* * *

Regardless, Kale Heniatus arrived at the Inn of Hope and Adventure, opened his eyes, surveyed his surroundings, and retrieved a sack of potatoes.

“Raon, here.”
“Weak human, yes, I shall accept it!”

Raon took the sack that Kale Heniatus offered. Kale Heniatus moved forward once more.

“From now on, we move only while cloaked in invisibility. And.”

The night was far from over.
There was still work to be done.
Choi Han and the nine-year-olds listened intently to Kale Heniatus’s words.

“We’re about to infiltrate the Mostyu Gang’s hideout and steal from their vault. Complete discretion is essential.”

There was no one in the Mostyu Gang capable of detecting a Sword Master and a Dragon, along with two Cat-Humans, moving with such stealth.

-Human, why do these bad guys have so much money? Way too much. It’s strange! Still, I’m glad we cleaned them out completely!

That night, Kale Heniatus returned with potato sacks stuffed to bursting.
The Riven Underworld. It had become a complete disaster.

* * *

As morning broke over Ribensi, the city was gripped by an indescribable shock.

“…This is insane. The Mercenary Guild Building was attacked last night!”

The Mercenary Guild had been reduced to rubble.

“I know! So keep your voice down! Haven’t you seen how tense the mercenaries are right now?”
“Unbelievable.”

In the dining hall on the first floor of the Inn of Hope and Adventure, adventurers occupying various tables sat in hushed conversation, exchanging whispered accounts of the previous night’s events.

“But I heard nobody died?”
“I don’t know either. The mercenaries are keeping quiet about it.”
“What about the Merchant Association? They have nothing to say?”
“Are you crazy? You want to make enemies of the Mercenary Guild by running your mouth now?”

The Merchant Association kept their lips sealed.
The Mercenary Guild themselves issued no official statement.

A city built on merchants, mercenaries, and adventurers.
A major incident had struck one of its pillars. Naturally, the entire city was on edge.

Bob, a novice adventurer descending the stairs to the first floor, sensed this atmosphere. It only made him more anxious.

“What should I do? It’s my first adventure, and I’m getting nervous.”
“Don’t worry, Bob. Fortune will surely smile upon you. There’s nothing to fear.”
“Thank you.”

Bob drew strength from the kind words of the Inn Staff he had met yesterday.
The gracious Inn Staff offered him words of encouragement.

“Stay strong, Bob.”
“Yes. I’ll see you again later!”

Bob headed straight out of the Inn through the first-floor entrance to prepare for the adventure that would begin soon during the day.
And the Inn Staff member who had received Bob’s farewell trudged toward the dining hall.

“Young Master, over here.”
“Mm.”

Kale Heniatus, his warmth now stripped away, held the lemonade Ron had given him as he passed and made his way toward the end of the hall.

“Here.”

Someone at that table raised their hand in greeting as Kale Heniatus approached.

-It’s our Golden Dragon Grandpa! As expected, our Golden Dragon Grandpa keeps his promises on time!

Erhafen, in human form, radiated an explosive beauty. And beside him sat a figure draped in robes.

“Kale Heniatus.”

Choi Han, who had followed behind Kale Heniatus at some point, called out to him with evident concern as he looked at that table.

“Choi Han, you know as well as I do.”

But Kale Heniatus spoke matter-of-factly.

“That one is merely in the process of dying. And he is still in pain right now.”
“…Understood.”

Choi Han looked at the figure sitting beside Erhafen at Kale Heniatus’s words.
The Dragon Hybrid.

Now human, he sat with black hair and black eyes like Choi Han, his complexion pallid and wan.
His fingertips trembled visibly from the severe agony of the collision between dark and light attributes, yet Choi Han remained vigilant.

Still, the Dragon Hybrid’s cautious way of observing the Inn felt somewhat poignant.
To anyone’s eyes, it was clearly an action born of curiosity.

It was exactly like me when I first discovered Harris Village.

However, Choi Han wiped away his bitterness and regarded the Dragon Hybrid with cold composure, never losing sight of his primary concern.
Meanwhile, there was someone staring at Kale Heniatus with an utterly bewildered expression.

“You unlucky bastard.”
“It’s been a while, Erhafen.”

Hah!
Erhafen suppressed his exasperation and stroked On and Hong on the table. How flabbergasted had he been hearing the stories these small children had shared and the tales people were spreading?

‘Does this man want to conquer the world, or does he simply enjoy causing chaos?’

At this point, it was impossible to tell whether he was genuinely unlucky or if he was enjoying himself.
Regardless, Kale Heniatus gazed at the Dragon Hybrid while eating the soup and salad Ron had brought at just the right moment.

“Can you endure it?”

When Kale Heniatus asked, the Dragon Hybrid answered.

“Yeah.”

That was the end of the conversation.
Erhafen had brought the Dragon Hybrid at Kale Heniatus’s request, yet he clicked his tongue at such indifference. That unlucky fellow—one could never fathom what thoughts occupied his mind.
It seemed the descriptors applied to Kale Heniatus were multiplying, but the ancient dragon prioritized asking what he was curious about.

“What about the money?”

The Cat-Human Race children had boldly recounted last night how they became righteous thieves and plundered the Riven Underworld.
Of course, Raon was still chattering away in Erhafen’s mind at this very moment.

-Gold Dragon, did you hear? Yesterday we accomplished our first mission to save the Riven Underworld! I’ve already filled my piggy bank halfway! Let’s go buy apple pie later!

Raon was thrilled at the thought of spending money.
Saving was good, but spending like this felt just as wonderful.

-We’ll buy stuff for Gold Dragon too! Gold Dragon is pitiful because his house broke!

I was exasperated, yet somehow pleased—the Ancient Dragon’s lips curled upward in a smile.
Kale Heniatus answered the Ancient Dragon’s question slowly.
What are you going to do with the money?
The answer to that question was already decided.

“I’m thinking of doing some reinforcement.”

The Ancient Dragon at the table, the Dragon Hybrid, the Sword Master, and the two Cat-Humans all wore puzzled expressions. The Black Dragon, who was cloaked in invisibility, was no exception.
Choi Han asked on behalf of them all.

“What do you mean by reinforcement, sir?”

What could Kale Heniatus possibly reinforce?
I’d heard that his current glass-vessel state was the best possible condition.
When the Ancient Dragon and Choi Han’s expressions grew serious, Kale Heniatus continued.

“Oh, there is something. Scattering money around like I used to.”
“…Pardon?”
Meow?
Meow?

The confusion of everyone, including On and Hong, only deepened.
But the pupils of the transparent existence invisible to all—the six-year-old Black Dragon—trembled alone.

Raon remembered that shocking moment from back then.
Kale Heniatus, laughing as he scattered silver coins.

Raon, caught off guard, forgot even to speak in his mind and muttered aloud from the table.
His voice was small enough that others wouldn’t hear it, but it was a voice his companions would catch.

The transparent dragon, clutching a piggy bank pulled from subspace, spoke.

“…That is—”

Scattering money, that is.

“…Very thrilling, yet profoundly shocking.”

Raon could not forget the shocking sight he had witnessed at the age of five.
And within Kale Heniatus’s mind, Destructive Fire was letting out a triumphant cry.

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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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