[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Chapter 172: What the Duke Missed
Marlok Cardovan.
The third son of the Cardovan Viscount clan, a troublemaker for his household, and Sorset’s lackey and drinking buddy.
He was also the guy who, oblivious to the fact that he was being played, strutted around Krahel’s side and ended up getting kidnapped by .
‘The harmony of coincidence is truly unpredictable.’
Thanks to the confession I extracted from him, I learned that Huten was an enemy I absolutely had to eliminate.
‘And I also got a clue to ruin his plans.’
Marlok, in a way, is the key. The key to dragging Sorset to the negotiation table.
‘But if handled poorly, he could easily beco a dagger aid at .’
For example, what if Marlok, once released, reports last night’s events to Sorset?
Unless he’s a complete fool, he’d inevitably suspect so connection between , Allenvert, and the mysterious swordsman who wrecked Krahel.
‘That’s why I have to take on this level of risk.’
Sorset would at least listen to what I had to say.
“At least you look a bit better after washing up.”
I watched as Sorset, having washed his face, sat down.
“Cut the nonsense and just answer my questions.”
Sorset glared at .
“How do you know about Marlok?”
“Who knows? Maybe if you send soone to gather rumors, you’ll find out.”
I dodged the question slightly.
“What are you talking about?”
“The news that Krahel of the Black Night Society was beheaded, and Marlok was kidnapped.”
“……!”
Sorset’s eyes widened.
“That’s insane. How, who, and why would anyone do such a thing?”
“Who knows?”
“More importantly, how do you even know about this? Don’t tell —”
“Calm down, brother.”
I stopped Sorset’s barrage of questions and pulled a coin from my pocket, tossing it into the air.
“!”
As Sorset’s gaze instinctively followed the coin upward—
I used Whispering Snow in the Night and Scarlet Cloud Ghost Path simultaneously to disappear from his sight.
“!?”
“Behind you, brother.”
“……Huh.”
Sorset flinched as he felt my hand on his shoulder. He must have been both shocked and creeped out.
More importantly, he must have realized in that mont that I had surpassed his own level.
“Don’t be too surprised. Did you really think I’d harm my own brother?”
“…….”
If Sorset had been fully alert, he wouldn’t have fallen for such a simple trick.
But with his pride shattered and still hungover, the situation was different.
‘Ambushing an unprepared enemy. It’s the assassin’s favorite scenario.’
Though I’m not a professionally trained assassin, I’ve picked up a few tricks here and there.
Add to that the stealth techniques passed down through the Grunewald clan, and it’s as easy as playing a prank on a child.
“……Damn it.”
Sorset, after all, is the son of a great noble and has received so training. He’s not so foolish as to not understand the principle behind this.
“You’ve learned so dirty tricks from Verdzig, haven’t you? Trying to intimidate ? It’s disgusting being on the receiving end, so cut it out.”
“Well, don’t get too angry.”
I released my stealth and returned to my seat.
“…….”
Sorset looked at as if he hadn’t expected to back down so easily.
But I had no intention of trampling on Sorset’s last shred of pride. I was here to talk, not to rub salt in his already wounded heart.
“What do you think? If I were to go out with serious intent, or if I were to et soone and plot sothing, do you think anyone could catch ?”
“……Are you saying you’re behind this?”
“Whether you believe it or doubt it is up to you.”
I didn’t deny that I was behind last night’s events. Instead, I added:
“Verdzig taught sothing valuable. He said nobles need the darkness.”
“Huh.”
Now, in Sorset’s eyes, I had beco a man with an unknown force behind .
Even if he suspected that I was directly involved in last night’s events because of the trick I just showed him, it didn’t matter.
‘Soone will suspect anyway, and the essence of this ga of intrigue is mutual suspicion.’
It’s not like I can keep the fact that I learned stealth techniques from the clan a secret forever.
‘Father or Verdzig will surely catch onto my trail sooner or later.’
Well, with Father’s eyes, he might already know everything about last night.
“Why do you think I ca all the way here to tell you things I didn’t have to?”
Sorset twisted his lips coldly.
“I don’t know. How should I know? Whether you ca to threaten or to ss with , you must have so twisted intention.”
I clicked my tongue.
“Tsk tsk, swearing just because you’re in a bad mood isn’t helpful.”
“You’re one to talk?”
“Well, it’s just you and here, so who else is going to say it?”
“…….”
Sorset shook his head, too tired to argue with my nonsense.
“Enough talk.”
“Let’s correct one thing first.”
“What?”
“If I wanted to rub salt in your wounds, I could’ve done so with just the facts. There’s no reason for to reveal things that could be my own weaknesses, right?”
“…….”
Sotis silence is affirmation, and this was one of those tis.
“Let’s not have a childish emotional fight. Let’s talk logically. If you still think I’m wrong, I’ll just leave.”
“Ugh, damn it.”
Sorset sighed deeply, composed himself, and looked at again.
‘His eyes are a bit clearer now.’
Though I’ve treated him like an idiot many tis, Sorset isn’t a complete fool. If he were, he wouldn’t have even secured the third-place position.
“Fine. You’re right.”
“See?”
“So what? Are you saying you ca here out of goodwill or sothing?”
“At least let’s agree that I’m not your enemy. Honestly, from my perspective, what’s there to like about you?”
“Damn it. At least you’re honest.”
Sorset cursed, but his expression actually relaxed.
‘This is how n talk.’
Maybe the reason Sorset keeps getting drawn to the underworld is because his true nature is closer to ours.
“So, what’s the main point?”
Sorset crossed his arms.
“There are two wolves trying to completely strip you of everything you have.”
“More riddles.”
I ignored his grumbling and continued.
“Do you know who they are?”
“…….”
“I’ll tell you their nas. If you find it hard to believe, just say so.”
Sorset nodded heavily.
“One is Verdzig, and the other is Huten.”
“……What?”
Sorset’s pupils shook violently, a mix of fear and unease. It was likely because I had nad the source of his inner turmoil.
“One wants the power of Agrippa behind you, and the other wants to bring chaos to Grunewald through you.”
I looked straight into Sorset’s eyes.
“No matter whose plan cos to fruition, it’s not what I want. That’s why I ca to make a move.”
“……Ha, haha. Hahaha.”
Sorset let out a hollow laugh, a mix of anger, humiliation, and sha.
“Huten, Huten, you say?”
Sorset muttered.
“All the people I’ve stubbornly clung to, even defying Mother for them……”
Sorset raised his head and looked at with burning eyes.
“In the end, I was just a puppet dancing in soone else’s palm, wasn’t I?”
What does the face of soone who has realized their limits before a great wall look like?
The answer is likely written on Sorset’s face right now.
“I must have looked like a complete fool.”
Sorset muttered, half out of his mind.
“Yeah, I can’t even argue. Anyone would see it that way.”
But I silently waited for Sorset’s next words.
Will you break here, or will you grit your teeth and hold on?
“Allenvert.”
“Go ahead.”
“You ca to because you want sothing from , right?”
I didn’t deny it.
“That’s about right.”
“Then tell . I’m not as….”
Sorset paused for a mont, as if searching for the right words.
“Deeply calculating as you are.”
“You could just say you’re not quick-witted enough.”
Sorset chuckled and used my words against .
“Fine, I’m not quick-witted enough, so I don’t know. What should I do?”
This was likely Sorset’s way of conceding. After all, I had warned him about his situation.
“Breaking free from their sches is actually laughably simple. Now that you know their intentions, all you have to do is not play along.”
“…Specifically?”
“Cut ties with Huten, stop your nightly escapades, focus on your duties with the security guards, don’t fall for sweet temptations, and be grateful for your mother and her clan.”
I added one more thing.
“If I could just et my mother, whose clan is in ruins and whose heart is closed off, even once, I’d have no regrets.”
“…Hah.”
Sorset let out another sigh.
“Damn it. If I just do my part, everything becos that simple?”
“Isn’t that how it works?”
Sorset gave a hollow laugh and pointed at .
“Allenvert, you’re a genius at sowing discord. Even my brother wouldn’t have seen this coming.”
“No need for such flattery.”
I took Sorset’s outstretched hand and said, “I won’t ask you to join my side. Just keep your position as it is now.”
“Hmph, don’t get too full of yourself.”
Finally, so life returned to Sorset’s eyes.
“Do you think I’ll just end like this? I’ll rise again.”
“Well, if you do, I’ll pay a hefty price to earn your support later.”
Sorset replied in a frustrated tone, “Dream big, but that won’t happen.”
And so, I managed to change Sorset’s mindset. This was likely an achievent even his mother and uncle couldn’t claim.
* * *
Duke Georg Grunewald rubbed his chin after hearing of Allenvert’s determination.
“…He’s persistent and driven.”
Being rejected by his own mother—such an event could easily beco a deep wound depending on one’s mindset. Yet, Allenvert seed unfazed, even requesting a direct eting with the head maid.
“A leader needs clear and decisive action to carry out their will. To truly grasp what one desires, one must not be shaken by a few rejections.”
“It seems the young master has grown as strong as steel.”
As the butler said.
The boy had grown significantly since his setback seven years ago.
“Allenvert is an emotional man. But even so, he knows how to make the right decisions without being consud by his emotions.”
The Duke smiled faintly.
“In such cases, emotions often beco a powerful fuel for drive.”
Like pouring oil and fanning the flas to intensify a wildfire.
“…Will that move Lady Lusatia’s heart?”
“That, I cannot know.”
The Duke shook his head. That was entirely up to her.
“But perhaps.”
He declared.
“Simply appealing to maternal affection won’t be enough to change her heart.”
A more definitive weapon was needed. But what that could be, they still didn’t know.
‘No, if I had to na one thing, it would probably be….’
The Duke tilted his head, finding it hard to believe his own thoughts.
‘Even so, that would be difficult.’
But Allenvert had repeatedly exceeded expectations, so it wasn’t impossible.
“…By the way, why did he visit Sorset?”
“That, I still don’t know.”
The Duke chuckled.
“Perhaps sothing good happened last night.”
It was a pointed remark.
“I’m curious how Allenvert will handle this.”
“Yes, he likely didn’t go just to intimidate or shake him.”
“He might even propose sothing we couldn’t have imagined.”
The Duke’s insight was surprisingly accurate.
“And Your Grace, the Agrippa faction is preparing to retaliate against the Visakino Brotherhood over this matter.”
The Duke gave a simple order.
“Leave them be for now.”
“Understood.”
He could guess how things would unfold. But for now, he intended to watch.
The position of clan head carried that much weight.
“Also, about Allenvert breaking through the 5th tier barrier.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Was the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique recomnded by Ludan?”
“Most likely, yes.”
The butler offered a common-sense opinion.
“I’m curious.”
“I’ll fetch it imdiately.”
Naturally, as the clan head, Duke Georg had unrestricted access to all the secret manuals in the library.
“Please do.”
“Yes, I’ll take my leave.”
As the butler left, the Duke leaned back in his chair and sank into thought.
‘Allenvert. It seems you’ve discovered sothing we overlooked.’
The Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique?
Even his own master and the elders of the clan had unanimously dismissed it, saying, “Mastering it is inefficient,” and had written off its limits and utility.
And he, too, had easily accepted their logic without question.
‘But you’re different.’
The Duke’s eyes deepened.
‘Those with open minds can see what others cannot and achieve what others cannot.’
He wanted to see what Allenvert had gained.
…And what he himself had missed.
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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