“Viscount Brina? Our rcenary group has been guarding that viscount's mansion?”
“No. He just said he had sothing to ask. But since he asked to bring the two rcenaries who escorted a small rchant group back yesterday... It seems those guys caused so trouble.”
Elson stabbed a fork into the radish pickle as he continued speaking.
“Those guys quit as soon as they returned. I thought sothing was fishy, and when I checked their quarters earlier, they were gone. Should I go after them... I need to know what happened first.”
“Leo, what should we do?”
Lena whispered, covering her mouth. It was clear that the rchant group Elson ntioned was the one they had traveled with.
Leo, feeling troubled, rubbed his palm under the table in silence.
They had killed the knight who was chasing them and planned to deny ever eting him, claiming his death was just bad luck.
But that didn’t solve all the problems. The story about the rchants refusing to smuggle goods had probably already reached Viscount Brina through the church's communication.
- “I'll take responsibility. Since I rashly accepted their sponsorship, I’ll apologize and ask for forgiveness sohow.”
These were the words of Vernon, the head of the rchant group.
Running away with their families wasn’t out of consideration, but they would eventually be caught. Going to Viscount Brina to apologize was the only way to survive.
But if the viscount had called the rcenaries...
‘He’s suspicious.’
Leo anxiously bit his lip.
‘He’s not certain yet. But if he finds out the rcenaries fled, he’ll be sure.’
Damn it.
This was turning into a suspicious {event}. They had tried to avoid it, but connections still lingered. He hadn’t anticipated the rcenaries would run away.
If the rchants were caught and questioned, and they confessed that soone else killed the knight, things would beco seriously complicated.
Leo took a mont to organize his thoughts before speaking.
“Uncle, I have sothing to tell you. The truth is, on our way here...”
He spilled out everything that had happened.
Trusting his uncle as a reliable family mber, Leo ended his story by asking for forgiveness for the trouble caused.
“...That's a serious problem. So what should we do... Should we find the rchants and kill them first?”
Elson’s eyes turned cold.
The usual friendly smile disappeared as he proposed a ruthless cut-off.
Leo shook his head.
“No. That would only increase the viscount’s suspicion. It might even implicate your rcenary group. I think...”
Damn it.
He didn’t want to get involved with Viscount Brina. He had planned to let the rchants handle it and draw a line, but things weren’t going smoothly.
With a faint sigh, Leo calmly explained his plan, and Lena and Elson quietly nodded.
While the food the lady had cooked with such effort grew cold, Yuan’s fork clattered.
*
“You’re late. Are you the leader of the Dexter rcenaries?”
A chubby middle-aged noble asked in a high-pitched voice. But it was more of an order to introduce himself and lower his posture, so Elson bowed.
“Yes, I apologize. My na is Elson. What business do you have with ?”
Viscount Diego Brina didn’t answer imdiately. He sat on a long armchair in the reception room, then brought up his business.
“Are these the rcenaries who guarded the rchant group I ntioned?”
“Yes, they are. Have they done sothing wrong...?”
“I ask the questions.”
Viscount Brina waved his hand.
He silenced Elson and gestured for the two hesitant rcenaries standing behind to co closer.
There was sothing strange.
The viscount stared at the young rcenary with a sowhat softened tone and asked,
“...Did you visit my territory? Did the rchants behave strangely?”
“I’m not sure what you an. Oh, there was sothing odd.”
“What was it?”
The big rcenary in shabby leather armor tilted his head and spoke.
“That Vernon, the head of the group, suddenly said we had to return to the capital. I didn’t mind going back early, but there was a fierce argunt among the rchants.”
“How did it end? Did the other rchants agree?”
“Not at all.”
The rcenary shook his head disrespectfully before the noble.
Rude. But expecting manners from an ignorant rcenary was as futile as hoping a rotten seed would grow into a healthy plant, so the viscount frowned.
‘But this guy is peculiar...’
Despite standing with one leg crossed, his legs were properly spaced. Even though he tried to be polite by clasping his hands in front, his back was straight, and his shoulders were proudly squared. His chin was lifted, showing his throat...
While the viscount scrutinized the strange {elegance} of the rcenary before him, Leo Dexter continued his lie.
“There were heated argunts. So rchants pleaded to stay until they collected the paynt for the goods sold. But the head insisted they stay if they wanted and that they should be grateful to him.”
So far, this matched what I heard. Viscount Brina nodded.
“And then what happened?”
“What could we do? Managing the schedule is the head's authority. Eventually, we left your territory. But then sothing strange happened.”
“Don’t repeat yourself or cut short. What happened?”
“Sorry. On the way back, the head suggested taking a mountain path. He said there was a village where we could sell goods. But there was no village, and he got cursed out. Eventually, the authority to manage the schedule was taken away by another rchant... After that, nothing much happened.”
“I see...”
Viscount Diego Brina rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
‘Just bad luck, it seems. Although Marlon is a disgrace, he’s still a knight... Maybe my suspicion was unfounded.’
Marlon was a demoted knight.
He indulged in drinking, often abused his squire, and was arrogant, which had long since fallen out of favor with the viscount.
But knights were rare.
Viscount Brina had fewer than ten knights, so despite his dislike, the knight’s death was a significant loss.
'Of all tis, for this to happen while Viscount Sauer is in the territory. There's no better opportunity than during warti.'
He clicked his tongue, thinking of his half-cousin.
Brian Sauer, who had been engaged in 'big business' in the capital of the Bellita Kingdom, had recently returned to his territory.
The Sauer Viscounty, the Brina Viscounty, and Count Oscar's territory of the Jero Holy Kingdom bordered each other. With no royal customs checkpoints, successful smuggling could yield significant profits.
However, the royal surveillance was also strict, necessitating a tight alliance among the three noble families.
'At least I confird that rchant is tight-lipped. I’ll work him to death.'
The viscount resolved to exploit Vernon, the begging rchant, to the fullest and snapped out of his thoughts just as Elson cautiously spoke.
"Uh... Viscount, is there anything else you need?"
"No. That will be... wait."
Viscount Diego Brina scrutinized the rcenary before him and asked,
"What’s your na?"
He didn't need to know a rcenary's na, but he felt an inexplicable urge not to let this one slip away.
[Quest: Traitor 10/10 - {King's Blood} ability level increased.]
"…I am Leo Dexter."
Leo hesitated but revealed his na.
Lying to a noble could lead to complications, and bluffing in front of a noble was risky. Predictably, the viscount’s eyes widened.
"Dexter, you say? Are you the son of the famous... ahem, Noel Dexter?"
"…Yes, I am."
"Hahahaha! I should have realized when I heard the rcenary group's na was 'Dexter.' So, who are you, then? What’s your relationship with Noel Dexter?"
"I am his older brother."
"And you, woman?"
"…I am just a hired rcenary."
Pointing to Elson and Lena in turn with his chubby finger, Viscount Brina finally showed a benign smile.
"Good, good. It’s very nice to et you. As you may know, I am Diego Brina. Shall we sit and talk? I have many questions."
He gestured to the armchairs, inviting Leo and Elson to sit.
Ignoring Lena, she awkwardly stood behind the chair.
Soon, fragrant tea and sweet cookies were served on the table. The plump viscount, as if bestowing a favor, pushed the plate forward and began speaking.
"Your na is Leo, right? I heard you live in Avril Castle... When did you co to the capital? Are you working as a rcenary? Since when?"
The sudden, specific questions caught Leo off guard.
Chewing a cookie, he delayed his answer, but the viscount's gaze urged him on.
"…Not even a year. I’ve been helping my uncle since around this ti last year. But how did you know I lived in Avril Castle?"
"Haha. The lord of Avril Castle is my second son. I heard that the famous knight lived there with his son. So, you must have lived there for quite so ti, right?"
Despite trying to cut ties, sothing sticky seed to cling to his ankles.
Receiving the viscount's covetous gaze, Leo swallowed hard.
He had forgotten.
When he and Lena went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Kingdom, Leo Dexter at that ti had received sponsorship from Diallo Brina, the lord of Avril Castle, at Noel's request.
Diallo, at Noel's request, offered assistance for their pilgrimage, providing horses, passage permits, and a certificate declaring him a knight seeking to improve his swordsmanship.
Diallo was a person of little consequence.
Despite his past fa, he was overly respectful to retired knights. At that ti, Leo had been trying to distance himself from Lena for a breakup, so he hadn't paid attention or rembered such trivialities.
'Damn it. Should I have killed the rchants as my uncle suggested? Or ignored the knight from the start? Or maybe...'
Should I use this?
Feeling uneasy, Leo fiddled with the {Bracelet of Barbatos}.
But seeing the viscount adorned with various blessed accessories, he doubted its effectiveness and shook his head.
As Leo delayed his response, Elson quickly intervened.
"He didn’t live there for very long. Maybe about five years... He ca here last year, so roughly that."
"Five years is quite a while. So, how is the atmosphere there? Is my second son managing Avril Castle well?"
Viscount Brina leaned forward, his thick belly folding.
Despite his interest in Avril Castle and Noel Dexter, he didn't broach the main topic. Eventually, he reached out with a aningful offer, "I want the Dexter rcenaries to guard my mansion. Can that be arranged? If not now, we can coordinate schedules."
After the one-sided probing, Leo left the mansion, rubbing his neck in frustration.
The viscount wanted sothing.
Though not ntioned yet, Leo sensed it. This man intended to use him.
Elson patted Leo's shoulder.
"Luckily, that went well. He didn’t seem suspicious. Maybe we should be glad we established a connection with Viscount Brina. Just keep a tight lid on things, and we should be fine. Now, let's find those runaways."
He called for a carriage, guiding his nephew and niece-in-law to the driver.
But the destination Elson gave was neither their ho nor his office. As the carriage left the inner city of Barnaul, Lena, noticing Elson nodding off, asked,
"Where are we going?"
"Hmm? Oh, you wouldn’t know. We're heading to Leo's house. Since we're already out..."
"Leo's house?"
She asked again, but Elson had already fallen into a deep sleep after a sleepless night.
While Lena was bewildered and Leo tried to calm his disturbed thoughts, the carriage stopped before a low wall.
Stretching with a groan, Elson pushed open the broken gate and entered.
A modest stone house.
Worn by ti due to long disuse, it was clearly a ho where a happy family had once lived. In front of it was a small yard...
"Sister-in-law, it's been a while. I’ve been too busy to visit often. But today, I’ve brought so welco guests."
- Ibera Ainar.
There, in the gentle breeze, swayed the blue grave of Leo Dexter’s mother, welcoming her grown son.
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