Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 550

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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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At the very center of the Great Sinkhole, where the sun’s rays poured down unobstructed, stood the White Castle, bathed in complete radiance.
From the highest point of that castle, White Star gazed outward and opened his mouth.

“Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.”

Then he turned his gaze toward the video communication device positioned to one side.

-My lord!

Count Mok, a Dark Elf with a stern expression, appeared on the screen.
He spoke from his position in one section of the forest, his voice low but resolute.

-It appears we will soon occupy Kale Heniatus’s stronghold!
“You’ve worked hard.”

Count Mok continued speaking, his gaze fixed on his surroundings rather than the video communication device, even as White Star responded.

-Just as I confirmed earlier, there are no signs of the Tiger Tribe around the stronghold.
“I see.”

White Star could see that Count Mok said nothing further in response, simply watching him with an earnest gaze tinged with subtle tension.
White Star felt amusement welling up inside at that desperate look seeking recognition.

‘He truly desires acknowledgment for his accomplishments.’

White Star suppressed his laughter and opened his mouth with a solemn expression.

“Do your best. I trust you.”
-Th-thank you so much!

Count Mok managed a smile and bowed his head respectfully to White Star.

“Then I’ll disconnect.”
-Y-yes.

The video communication device switched off immediately.
White Star gazed at the darkened screen and opened his mouth.

“His expression has grown quite rigid.”

Marquis Gersei, standing in the corner, smiled.

“It seems he’s nervous, likely hoping to accomplish something great and climb a bit higher in rank.”
“True. Count Mok has always harbored considerable ambition for titles and power.”

White Star shook his head slowly.

“He should learn to relax.”

Then he turned to look at the Priest.

“Gersei. Why don’t you enjoy some leisure yourself? What’s the point of staying here all the time? Why don’t you go out and enjoy the festival?”
“I appreciate the offer. But if I left now, could I truly enjoy the festival with peace of mind?”
“Fair point. You all have your hands full at the moment.”

Each Temple was obligated to distribute and share much with the kingdom’s people during the festival.
Moreover, the kingdom’s citizens also came to visit and tour the Temple grounds.

Thus, the priests were considerably busier during this time.

Gersei opened his mouth, reading the question in White Star’s gaze about whether he could remain here during such a busy period.

“I’ve already entrusted the festival-related duties to the Vice High Priest, so I’m free to shirk my responsibilities like this.”
“Ha! The Vice High Priest would be disheartened to hear that.”
“Haha, is that so? But I’m so eager that I simply cannot focus on work.”

Gersei’s smile was radiant.

“I anticipate the true festival day with such longing.”

White Star’s eyes dimmed.
Observing him, Gersei continued.

“The final day.”

The final day of the festival.

“That day will be a festival for me.”

Pfft.
White Star let out a quiet chuckle at Gersei’s words.

“Gersei. Half of those here will die. Does that amuse you?”
“Is that not how you will transcend further, my lord?”

The two exchanged glances, their smiles deepening.
White Star spoke softly.

“How are ‘those things’ doing?”
“They are well, my lord.”
“And the feed?”
“I am providing them with adequate sustenance. Though I must return in an hour to feed them again.”

Gersei continued with an expression of restless agitation.

“I cannot help myself. I must go check on the ‘feed’ condition. Those dreadful creatures make such a fuss without their meals—it is truly horrifying to witness.”
“Do you not usually adhere strictly to the ‘schedule’?”

White Star regarded Gersei with evident surprise.
Gersei was one who observed time and rules with meticulous precision.
Normally, he would move according to the schedule an hour from now.

“I suppose so. Today, I find myself unable to sit still with anticipation. Perhaps because the moment I have awaited draws one step closer.”

White Star let out another quiet laugh.

“That is what we call ‘whimsy.'”
“Is that so?”
“Indeed. Whimsy. I apologize for burdening you with the ‘feed’ duties. It must be exhausting.”
“I do not labor alone—my loyal subordinates assist me, so it is manageable. And what choice do I have? It falls to me.”

Gersei approached the door and bowed respectfully.

“My lord. I shall check on the feed condition, descend to the underground chamber, and return shortly.”
“Very well.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”

Marquis Gersei silently opened the door and disappeared outside.
Silence descended upon the space where White Star remained alone.

After Marquis Gersei left, White Star gazed down from the window by himself.
The area near the Royal Palace was quiet.
Instead, he could see the kingdom’s people joyfully enjoying the festival in all four cardinal directions.

“Hmm.”

The sight stirred no emotion within White Star.
After all, he was in a position where he could taste nothing, feel nothing.

A smile played at the corners of his lips.

“Soon, hell shall unfold.”

White Star imagined his kingdom transforming into hell.
It was a magnificent step toward the future he desired.

* * *

At that very moment, in the Dark Forest of the Roan Kingdom.

Tap. Tap.
Count Mok turned his gaze toward the hand patting his shoulder.

“Well done.”

Informant Bob was smiling kindly.
And beyond that Bob, Choi Han, still in Bob’s form, spoke to Alberu.

“Let’s head inside.”
“Yes, yes. There’s much to do.”

Alberu spoke kindly to Count Mok.

“Shall we go?”

Mok’s brow furrowed.
Alberu whispered calmly to him.

“Answer me.”
“…Yes.”
“As I thought—I can only feel at ease when people speak to me formally.”

Alberu laughed and grabbed Mok by the nape of his neck, lifting him up.

‘This wicked bastard! Does he have no respect for his elders!’

Mok turned away from Alberu with a look of disgust. It was his small gesture of refusal—he had no desire to speak further with this Dark Elf-blooded fiend.
Of course, no one present showed any respect for his wishes.

* * *

At that moment, Kale took in the sight of the interior of the Old House, which he had visited once before.

“…It was true. Everything Duke Fredo said was the truth.”

He approached the woman who was gazing at him with genuine admiration.

“You’re the Vice High Priest?”
“That’s right. I’m Vice High Priest Cotton.”

Cotton extended her hand.

“Forgive me, but even in cooperation, I don’t shake the hands of enemies.”
“Is that so?”

She smiled at Kale’s words and lowered her hand.
Even as she did, she licked her lips slightly with her tongue.

‘Fredo. This vampire really does his job well, doesn’t he?’

Beside Kale Heniatus stood Solena, who had brought him here.
And directly behind them, two figures in robes concealed themselves from head to waist.
She tried to observe them carefully, wondering who they might be.

“Stop observing. We need to get to work right now.”

I could see Kale looking down at me with indifferent eyes.

‘So this is the one who causes the White Star the most trouble?’

Should I try using an illusion once?
The thought crossed Cotton’s mind.

“Our trust seems to be fully expressed by letting even the illusions here pass without question. So what are you suspecting and observing?”
“…!”

Cotton’s eyes widened.

‘He was aware of the illusion?’

But Cotton was truly shocked by what Kale said next.

“I also want to save the Ranger Unit members.”
“…How would you know that? Did Duke Fredo tell you?”
“Why would I need to hear it from that bastard?”

Kale’s expression made it clear he didn’t need to hear it from someone like that.

‘I didn’t hear it from Fredo—I saw it with my own eyes. You showed me yourself.’

He passed by Cotton, who was staring at me in shock, and crouched down at one spot, tapping the ground.
Tap. Tap.
A hollow sound echoed back.

“I thought something was off about this place, and I can sense people’s presence beneath the ground here.”

Cotton clamped her mouth shut.
She didn’t fully believe Kale’s words.

‘Duke Fredo must have told him.’

The way he pinpointed the exact location meant he must have come knowing about it beforehand.
She let out a small sigh.

“We can destroy the facility and rescue them on the way back. It’s impossible to move all these people right now anyway.”
“I don’t like that.”
“Huh?”
“We should rescue them now.”

As I spoke, Cotton’s brow furrowed. Then those standing behind Solena removed the hoods covering their heads.
Cotton’s eyes widened.

“…Rosalind! Ancient Dragon!”

A woman and a dragon—both important figures she recognized—revealed themselves.
Cotton immediately grasped my intention.

“…You’re going to teleport them?”
“Yes.”
“…Understood. We’ll rescue the Ranger Unit members first then. But!”

Cotton continued with a stern expression.

“You must infiltrate and destroy the facility within an hour. Gersei will head to the Underground Facility after an hour.”
“Got it. It won’t take long.”
“…Alright.”

She opened the entrance door leading to the Underground Shelter, observing my composed demeanor.

“The Ranger Unit members are down below.”
“Thank you.”

Cotton’s expression became peculiar at my thanks, but I didn’t notice as I followed her down into the Underground Chamber. Solena came next, followed by Rosalind and Erhafen together.

Bang, crash! Bang!
The Underground Chamber was loud the moment we entered—unlike before.

“You bastards! Let us out!”
“Damn it! These restraints won’t come off!”

The moment Cotton appeared in the corridor ahead, the Ranger Unit members beyond the iron bars caught sight of her and vented their fury.

“What in the world is this scheme?”
“How long do you plan to keep us locked up like this?”

Unlike before, they no longer hesitated to bare their fangs toward Cotton.

Because something was wrong.
No matter what they did, she showed no reaction—just fed them well and let them sleep.
That only deepened their sense of dread.

‘She won’t harm us no matter what we do.’

The Ranger Unit members, having reached that conclusion, raised their voices in fear of this strange situation.
The one positioned closest to the corridor shouted at Cotton as she approached the iron-barred cell.

“Release us right now! Whatever scheme you’re plotting, we will never—”

But his final words lost their force.

“Huh?”

A familiar figure appeared behind Cotton.
Or rather, not quite familiar—yet a face he’d heard about so often from Bud that his ears bled, and one he’d even seen in drawings.

Strangely pale, yet with a sickly pale crimson hair.

“…Hero Kale Heniatus—?”

At that moment, the soldier could see the red-haired man’s face contort at his own words.
The answer came instead from Cotton’s lips.

“That’s right. That hero has come here for you all.”

Silence descended upon the corridor.
The clanging of iron bars ceased, and all voices fell silent.

‘…A hero, they say.’

I felt a sigh threatening to escape at being called that by the soldier, but I suppressed it. My jaw tightened as a result, my face becoming rigid.
With that stiff expression, I swept my gaze down the entire corridor.

“…Ah.”

The Ranger Unit members gazed at me with such steady, unwavering eyes that admiration naturally welled up within me.

‘To save us—’

Had I ventured into the very heart of enemy territory?
Though the Ranger Unit members had grown accustomed to their confined quarters, their hearts had remained restless, fear mounting with each passing day. Now their pulses quickened with fierce intensity.

Then, Kale spoke.

“Vice High Priest. Open all the doors. Release the restraints as well.”

His voice was calm and composed.
Yet those words made the Ranger Unit members’ hearts pound even harder.

But it was far from over.

“Erhafen. Rosalind.”

Two names familiar to the Ranger Unit members were invoked, and before their eyes, a massive magical formation unfurled, filling the entire corridor.

Whoooooosh—
The underground air trembled.

“It’s connected.”

With Rosalind at its center and Erhafen providing support, the magical formation began to glow at her words.

Brilliant light erupted—!
Radiant luminescence flooded the corridor.

“Ugh!”
“Mm.”

The Ranger Unit members instinctively shielded their eyes from the brilliance.
But they soon had to open them.

“What? Why are these guys so well-fed? How is their skin in such good condition?”

I heard a voice I had longed to hear so desperately.
That familiar, light voice I always knew.
But it trembled slightly as it spoke.

“Why are you all so startled?”

The Mercenary King Bud appeared on the teleportation magic circle with Gren, looking down at them.

“C-Commander!”
“Commander!”

The eyes of the Ranger Unit members glistened. Bud, gazing at them, felt the same.

‘Damn it.’

Bud bit his lip hard as emotion welled up inside him.

‘They’re all healthy.’

The kidnapped Ranger Unit members showed no signs of serious injury, their complexions intact and unmarred.
A profound relief flooded through Bud’s entire being, and the anxiety that had weighed upon him dissipated.

In that moment.
Clap!
Cotton clapped her hands together.
Screeeech—screeeech—
With that sound, the iron bars confining the unit members began to open.

Cotton produced a key from her possession and handed it to Kale Heniatus.

“This key can unlock all the restraints.”

Kale Heniatus passed the key to Bud.
Bud grasped Kale Heniatus’s hand holding the key with both of his own.

“Thank you. Truly.”

With all sincerity.

“Stop spouting nonsense.”

Kale spoke curtly and gently slipped his hand free from Bud’s grasp.
Bud chuckled softly at the sight of Kale avoiding his gaze and spoke lightly.

“Fine then. Let’s get started right away.”

Started?
The moment confusion flickered across Cotton’s eyes, Solena approached her and handed over a document.

“The operation has been modified.”
“What?”

As Cotton reacted in surprise to Solena’s words, Bud’s voice reached her ears.

“Bring everyone who’s been waiting with Tasha over here.”

What?
Those who’ve been waiting?
Who else was coming here?

Cotton’s gaze turned toward Kale.
She could see him smiling.

The second phase of Operation Hunt’s core objective was ‘infiltration’.

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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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