Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 404

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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 89. Only Me

-Human! So you’re saying the White Star believes the power of earth exists in one of our neighboring territory, the Whale Tribe Territory, or Necromancer Mary’s domain!

At Raon’s words, Kale nodded quietly.

In ancient times, only two beings possessed the power of earth.

The terrifying Jjangdol, and the Ancient White Star.

The current White Star was searching for the Ancient White Star’s power of earth.

The candidate locations were Northwestern Roan, Whale Tribe Territory, and Southern Caro Kingdom.

Thump, thump.
Kale’s heart raced.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

The location where Kale and Choi Han had predicted the power of earth lay buried, based on Choi Jung-gun’s memoirs, was the Roan Kingdom.
If that was the case, then the answer was.

‘Northwestern Roan Kingdom.’

Where the House of Taylor Sten was located.

‘…It makes sense.’

This deduction was quite plausible.

The Northeast Region of Roan Kingdom, represented by Kale’s Heniatus Territory, was famous for marble.
And the Northwestern Region of Roan Kingdom, the land of the Sten Marquis House, was famous for granite.

Marble and granite.
Stones of different natures existing together in abundance—the Land of Stone, the Roan Kingdom, was renowned for exactly this.

‘Things are getting interesting.’

Kale’s lips curved upward involuntarily.
That was the moment.

“Then, in your view, Tower Master Becrock, do you think our lord will visit all three locations?”

The Southern Alchemy Tower Master had referred to the Mage as ‘Tower Master Becrock’.
Kale could now discern that the Mage’s name was Becrock.

-Human! That alchemist is spouting nonsense! The Tower Master will be the brilliant Rosalind! Grandpa said she was a genius too!

I let Raon’s words pass through one ear and out the other.

‘…Despair, destruction, chaos.’

I ignored the Wind Spirit’s words as well.
Instead, I drew closer to the window.

“Well, our lord has said he will visit the locations with the highest probability first.”
“Then it seems the Northern Region has the highest probability. How did you obtain such information—”

The Southern Alchemy Tower Master trailed off, his eyes gleaming with curiosity and greed as he regarded the Mage Becrock.

“Southern Tower Master, do you wish to know?”

Yet despite his affable expression, Becrock’s gaze turned cold, and the Tower Master’s face shifted.

“Surely not. I merely wish to follow our lord’s commands.”
“Good. Then that is all that matters.”

From my position near the window, I could see the Southern Alchemy Tower Master perspiring profusely, and the Mage Becrock before him. And the interior of the 9th floor became visible to me.
Various documents and a map of the entire Mogur Empire hung upon the wall.

The map bore numerous markings in crimson dots.

‘Movement routes.’

The moment I glimpsed the map, I realized that the crimson dots and the lines connecting them represented the Four-Directional Alchemy Towers’ route of attack on the Capital.

-Human, are we stealing that?

Steal it?
What for?

If I steal it, it’ll be noticed.
As long as Becrock is here, it’s better not to disturb anything on the 9th floor.

That’s why I gently pulled the black cloth wrapped around my neck.

‘I need to record this.’

My eyes began to capture every single dot on the map hanging on the wall.

-Human, shouldn’t we steal those documents too?

But as Raon said, I couldn’t just look at the map. I had to go inside and check the documents as well.
I needed to know the enemy’s troop size, composition, and their positions.
That was when it happened.

Knock, knock, knock.

“What is it?”

At the sound of knocking, the Southern Alchemy Tower Master raised his voice toward the door. Becrock’s gaze also turned toward it.

“Tower Master, it seems you need to meet with a merchant.”

At the words coming from outside the door, the Southern Alchemy Tower Master furrowed his brow.
The one who had just made the report was his loyal subordinate, not someone who would carelessly interrupt a conversation with the mage Becrock.

“…A merchant?”

He had interrupted their conversation just for some merchant?
The Southern Tower Master opened his mouth, more puzzled than angry.

“Come in.”

Click.
The door opened and the subordinate who entered bowed and spoke.

“My apologies for the interruption.”
“No, wait. A merchant? What do you mean?”

In that moment, the Southern Alchemy Tower Master caught a faint smile playing at the corners of his loyal subordinate’s lips before it vanished. His gaze flickered toward Becrock, then returned to the Tower Master.
The Southern Alchemy Tower Master’s curiosity deepened. This was not someone who would make such unnecessary gestures without reason.

“Do you recall the Sinten Merchant Guild—one of the Empire’s five great merchant houses and the one most intimate with the Imperial Family, headquartered in the Capital?”
“You mean Flavin Sinten, the Merchant Lord?”
“Yes.”
“What of him?”

Though he was certainly an important merchant, he was not someone the Southern Alchemy Tower Master would readily meet without prior appointment.

“He has apparently rescued approximately twelve hundred slaves.”
“…What?”

The Southern Alchemy Tower Master’s eyes widened.

Twelve hundred slaves.
That was no small number.
Especially in times like these, when slave trafficking—conducted in secrecy—had become impossible, such a figure was extraordinarily significant.

The loyal subordinate spoke with unwavering confidence.

“With those slaves, the supply of dead mana will flow smoothly.”

Dead mana.
The material necessary for black magic, and moreover, the substance that must be offered to the White Star.

The Southern Alchemy Tower Master now understood why his loyal subordinate had glanced at the Mage Becrock. Tension coiled through his shoulders. He regarded Becrock carefully and spoke.

“Ahem, that is indeed fortunate, is it not?”
“Indeed. The Southern Alchemy Tower Master has surrounded himself with capable individuals. There is clearly a reason why you stand above the other three directional towers in prosperity and influence.”

The corners of the Southern Alchemy Tower Master’s mouth lifted at Becrock’s words.
Those words would surely reach the White Star as well. And when they did, the Southern Alchemy Tower Master’s standing would rise.

“Perhaps I shall become the next Tower Master of the Alchemy Tower.”

After the previous Southern Alchemy Tower Master died, the position had remained vacant. A seat of leadership where one could stand close to the White Star and command the other Black Mages.
If I could claim that position for myself!

The Southern Tower Master suppressed his rising greed and spoke to his Loyal Subordinate.

“So those slaves are confirmed, correct?”
“Yes, sir. Flavin brought the video recording device. We’ve verified the slaves imprisoned in multiple underground chambers of the Merchant Guild’s Secret Residence.”
“Oh, is that so?”

The Southern Tower Master’s excitement grew by the moment.
His Loyal Subordinate’s voice grew stronger as well. The Mage Becrock slowly stepped away from the window and approached the two men.
At that action, the Southern Tower Master and his Loyal Subordinate’s voices naturally grew more animated.

“Yes! By rough count, there must be several hundred, and if we count them all, it seems there would be around twelve hundred.”
“Indeed! So our Flavin Merchant Lord wishes to meet with me?”

The corners of the Loyal Subordinate’s mouth rose sinisterly.

“Yes, he said he wishes to meet the one who will become the future Tower Master.”
“Ahem, Tower Master, you say. Ahem!”

The Southern Tower Master spoke rapidly, unable to hide his delight.

“I should see the face of our Flavin Merchant Lord. After accomplishing such a remarkable deed, I should at least offer him some words of praise.”
“Of course, Tower Master.”

The Loyal Subordinate replied, but the Southern Tower Master’s gaze turned toward Becrock. It was a look laden with multiple meanings—seeking his permission, displaying his authority, and accomplishing several purposes at once.

“Tower Master, might I accompany you as well? I’d like to meet such a capable merchant.”

At Becrock’s request to join them, the Southern Tower Master’s expression brightened further.

“Excellent! Then let us go at once! Prepare a space on the 10th floor.”
“Yes, Tower Master!”

They could not conduct this business on the 9th floor, where tactical documents were kept.
The Loyal Subordinate quickly closed the 9th floor window.
After that, the Mage Becrock, the Southern Tower Master, and the Loyal Subordinate left the 9th floor war room and headed toward the 10th floor—the Southern Tower Master’s domain.

Click.
The door to the 9th floor military office closed and locked from the outside.

Whoooosh—
A gentle breeze slipped through the narrow gap in the window of the 9th floor military office.

‘Theft. Chaos, destruction, thievery!’

Clunk, clunk.
The window lock rattled.

‘…Thievery!’

And soon the window lock gave way.
Creak.
With a soft sound, the window that had been locked from within swung wide open.

-There aren’t any detection magic devices!

Hearing Raon’s voice, Kale descended into the 9th floor military office. He glanced around and spoke.

“Seems you enjoyed yourself quite a bit. I didn’t expect you to rush off to see Flavin so quickly.”
“Human! Everyone’s hilarious! Hehehehe!”

Raon flapped his wings excitedly.
In the meantime, Kale gathered the documents in his hands.

Rustle. Rustle.
As the contents of the documents transferred directly into Kale’s mind.

“The bad Flavin Merchant Lord’s people at the secret residence are all soldiers in disguise! Everyone gets fooled!”
‘Kahahaha! Deception! Trickery! Crime! Despair!’

Raon and the Wind Spirit weren’t even conversing with each other, yet they were strangely in perfect sync.
Kale remained busy recording everything in his mind, while Raon chattered away merrily on his own.

“They’ll go to collect Flavin’s slaves and get caught by the soldiers! We’re backstabbing them!”

The corners of Kale’s mouth rose.

Soldiers stationed in the Capital.
Led by Crown Prince Adin and angered at the Imperial Family, they willingly disguised themselves as slaves and hid in the Flavin Merchant Guild Secret Residence.

The Southern Alchemy Tower would send forces to the residence to retrieve the soldiers disguised as slaves.
Twelve hundred people were far too many to transport via teleportation or the Merchant Guild’s carriages.

‘Flavin will say he can’t move them all either.’

In the end, the Southern Alchemy Tower’s forces would be arrested as criminals for attempting to retrieve slaves.

“But this guy Becrock went along with them—is Grandfather Ron okay?”

Beside Flavin now stood Ron Mollan, his face concealed behind a mask.

“Yeah, he’s fine. Becrock’s physical condition isn’t normal right now. He didn’t recognize you or me. Ron excels at concealment. If he hides his power, the current Becrock won’t be able to detect him.”
“Hehe, this is fun! Exciting!”
‘Destruction, chaos! Kahahaha!’

Raon spun around the room in circles.

“I want to spin because I’m excited! Not like the Crown Prince does it!”

A gentle breeze swirled.
A small wind wrapped around him.

‘I’m spinning too! Party! Happiness! Despair!’

Clap!
At that moment, a soft clapping sound echoed. Raon’s gaze turned toward Kale.

“All done, human?”
“Yeah.”

Kale no longer held any documents in his hands.

“Raon, connect the video communication channel for me.”

The corners of his mouth curved upward in a smirk.

“Where should I connect to?”
“In the order I specified. As quickly as possible.”

Kale listed the locations for the video communications in sequence, and Raon immediately began establishing the connections.
The Flavin Merchant Guild Lord would keep them occupied for at least an hour.

-Huh? Young Master? It’s been a while.
“Tasha.”

Tasha, the Dark Elf aunt of Crown Prince Alberu.

-Did you send the children away, Young Master? What sort of theft are you committing?
“There’s no time. Speak quickly.”

Tasha straightened her posture at those words.

-Yes, go ahead.
“Can we lure the White Star into the Land of Death? Into the desert?”

The Southern Caro Kingdom.
Merry’s homeland, the place known as the Land of Death.

-Oh.

Tasha spoke with a brief exclamation.

-I’ll need to hear the details.
“Come here. There’s no time.”
-Understood. I’ll head to the Empire shortly.

The video communication ended.
And immediately, the next video communication connected.

-…Young Master?

Kale greeted the masked figure on the second video communication with a bright smile.

“Marquis Taylor, how have you been?”
-…Young master, what on earth are you doing right now?
-Oh! Young master, what are you up to? Are you stealing something?

The bewildered expression of Taylor and the excited face of Kaige appeared on the screen. To the two people displaying such different reactions, Kale spoke.

“I don’t have much time, so I’ll keep this brief.”

Seriousness began to settle across both their faces.

“Marquis, please halt the forgery of the ancient documents you’re currently producing.”
-Pardon?
“And Kaige, would you mind cursing out the God of Death for me?”
-Oh, should I?
“And both of you—”

In my mind.

“Could you come to the Empire when the time comes?”

The northern tip of the Western Continent, the Whale Tribe Territory.
The Land of Death in the Caro Kingdom, located in the western part of the Western Continent.
And finally, the Northwestern Region of the Roan Kingdom in the eastern part of the Western Continent.

A grand spectacle spanning those three locations came to mind.

-Very well.
-Sounds good. Let’s go!

After the video communication with Kaige and Taylor, a third person greeted Kale.

-Kale, it seems you’re writing legends from behind the curtains of history once again today.
“Clophe.”

Observing Clophe’s white hair, I spoke.

“Slip into the Empire secretly.”

Confusion flickered across Clophe’s green eyes.

“Let’s expand the board.”
-Understood, Kale. Finally, I too will be part of the legend-

Click.
The video communication channel cut off.
As I connected the video communication channel one last time, I closed my eyes.

Clophe Seka of the Northern Western Continent.
Tasha of the Land of Death.
Taylor Sten of the Northwestern Region of Roan Kingdom.

Those three and myself.
And the White Star.

“…I will take from you what you mistakenly believed was yours.”

Just as the White Star had stolen Raon’s future and Lord Sherit’s dreams, I too would steal the White Star’s wish.

Anger? Vengeance?
It was nothing of the sort.
It was simply because it was profitable.

-Young master.
-Kale!

The final video communication channel contacts appeared.
Necromancer Mary and Mercenary King Burd Illis.

“I’ve identified the enemy’s entry routes into the capital.”

From my lips flowed the four-directional movement paths. When Burd had written them all down.

“Burd, connect the video communication channel to Hana, Sir Rex, Jack, and Ray Stecker and relay this.”

Burd jumped to his feet, holding the paper with the routes written on it.
His eyes fixed on the words about to leave my lips.

“Depart.”
-…Understood.

The moment Kale’s words reached them.
Right now, toward the Four-Directional Alchemy Towers.
The forces waiting outside the Capital would move.

“Necromancer Mary.”
-Yes, Young Master.

Behind Necromancer Mary stood several Dark Elves. They were reinforcements from the Land of Death.
Kale spoke to them.

“I’ve found the locations of the dead mana reservoirs.”

Dead mana reservoirs gathered from all four directions.

“Begin the hunt.”

Necromancer Mary bowed her head, then raised it.
From this moment on, all dead mana within the Empire would fall into her and the Dark Elves’ grasp.

“Tonight.”

Kale closed the video communication channel and delivered his final words.

“The Southern Alchemy Tower will explode.”

The beginning of war.

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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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