Chapter 143: The Viper Organization (5)
Evan’s second request was simple yet clear.
“One more thing. Find every single collateral bloodline tied to the Lafard Family. Not one left out.”
Though brief and calm, the intent behind it was unmistakable.
And the one who understood it first was Viper’s leader, i.
“…You plan to eliminate them all?”
“Yes. Find them all and wipe them out.”
i’s blunt question and Evan’s reply made Jack and Jaina flinch, turning to him.
“Wipe out the collaterals?”
“Young Master?”
But Evan, ignoring their gazes, spoke matter-of-factly, as if handling an obvious task.
“Right. The branches have spread too far, shaking the family’s roots. Especially for soone like , they’re a real nuisance.”
Indeed, for Evan, they were unpredictable risks that could erupt at any ti.
He had personally eliminated Viscount Card, their central figure, and most of the knights following the viscount had perished in the recent war.
‘But there are still those lurking, waiting for their chance.’
i hesitated briefly before speaking cautiously.
“If I may… with your current power as a duke, no matter how much the collaterals band together, they wouldn’t stand a chance, would they?”
Her words weren’t just about Evan’s martial prowess.
As a celebrated figure in the kingdom and a central noble, eliminating him would be tantamount to declaring war on the entire kingdom.
“True. But human greed isn’t sothing easily abandoned.”
i genuinely agreed with this.
“You want to eliminate any future threats.”
“I’ve been through too much. I’m not repeating the sa mistakes.”
i gave a short nod, signaling her compliance.
“Understood. That’s not a difficult task for us.”
Viper was, after all, a rcenary group that moved for money.
To them, who carried out assassinations without hesitation, Evan’s request was nothing special.
“But such requests co with a hefty price. Taking lives, you know.”
“Don’t worry about that. The family vault is overflowing with gold.”
As long as the Fire Dragon Orb, the family’s most precious treasure, remained, the gold in the vault was re pocket change.
And for the sake of eliminating nuisances, he was willing to spend any amount.
“Good to hear.”
i clapped lightly, concluding the discussion.
“Alright, let’s summarize. First, we’ll track down that Empire outsider. I’ll report to you as soon as we locate them.”
“Good.”
“And we’ll find and eliminate all the Lafard Family’s collateral bloodlines. Should we take care of their hired hands too?”
i asked nonchalantly, and Evan glanced at Jack, standing nearby.
Jack t his gaze silently, showing a flicker of unease.
Having once been a hired hand himself, his eyes pleaded for rcy toward them.
“No.”
Evan accepted his sentint.
If the hired hands weren’t deeply involved in the Lafard Family’s affairs, he was willing to at least give them a chance to live.
“Understood. We’ll leave the hired hands alone. Then let’s wrap up today’s talk here.”
“Fine. I expect good news as soon as possible.”
Evan stood first, concluding the eting.
“Oh, do I need to co back here?”
“No. I’ll co to you when there’s progress. We can’t have the duke visiting this shabby place again.”
“Not scared of coming back, are you?”
Today alone, the Viper Organization had nearly been dismantled.
i, knowing this better than anyone, gave a wry smile.
“I can’t exactly deny that.”
“Well, I don’t plan to return either. You said you’d co to . But if I do have to co back, you’d better be ready.”
The underlying threat was chilling.
If she acted against his wishes again, he would annihilate Viper entirely.
“I’ll keep that in mind. I want to live a long life, you know.”
“You’re a smart woman, so I trust you understand. Let’s go, Jack, Jaina.”
Jack and Jaina silently followed Evan as he left.
i, however, remained seated until they exited the tavern.
“Hmm, why does a young noble act like he’s weathered every storm in the world? It’s like he’s lived twice.”
Monts later, the guard quietly approached i.
“…Viper, what’s your plan?”
“What else? We took the job, so we’ll do it. I’ll be out personally, so you handle the organization in the anti.”
The guard, shocked by her decision to act directly, questioned her.
“You’re handling the request yourself?”
“No, it’s not that tough a job, so I’ll delegate to the mbers. I’ll just oversee.”
“If that’s the case, couldn’t Rattle and Mamba handle it?”
i shook her head at the guard’s cautious suggestion.
“If I don’t step in myself, I don’t think we’ll get the answers he wants. And…”
i recalled her earlier outburst of self-deprecation in front of Evan.
A bitter smile ford on her lips.
“…I do have a shred of conscience. I bear so responsibility for the kingdom’s state, so I need to make ands.”
The first step toward that atonent was clear.
It was to find the Empire outsider who had commissioned Viper.
***
i’s response to the request ca much faster than expected.
The very next day, she appeared in person at a banquet held in the royal palace.
The royal banquet hall.
A gathering hosted by the royal family to honor Evan and other war heroes.
Among the maids serving food and filling glasses, i blended in effortlessly.
“More wine, Duke Evan Lafard?”
Evan, stunned by her seamless act, gave her an incredulous look.
“…How long have you been doing this?”
i shrugged playfully.
“Who knows? Maybe three years or so?”
She subtly scanned the surroundings before moving to a quiet corner of the banquet hall.
Evan, wary of others, followed her.
Hidden by the soft music and chatter, they continued their conversation.
“Three years, and you just stood by during this crisis?”
“I’m just a lowly maid. How could I fight those savage barbarians?”
“Unbelievable.”
i chuckled at his reaction, whispering leisurely.
“Don’t be so harsh. I did encounter the barbarians back then. If Sir Anton and Captain Rona hadn’t shown up, I would’ve had to step in.”
Indeed, i had been evacuating with other maids when the barbarians attacked.
If Anton and Rona hadn’t intervened, she would’ve fought, even if it ant revealing her identity.
Fortunately, it never ca to that.
“I’m serious. Even doing this job, I have ways to protect myself.”
i rolled up her sleeve, revealing a dagger strapped tightly to her wrist.
“Hah, they say internal enemies are scarier than external ones.”
“Oh, I’m not an enemy. How could you compare to those monsters?”
While inwardly impressed by i’s audacity and infiltration skills, Evan quickly got to the point of her presence.
“Enough small talk. You showing up ans you’ve handled the request, right?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Which one first?”
The Empire outsider or the Lafard Family collaterals.
i had resolved the forr first.
“I found the man from the Empire.”
The news was truly welco, and Evan pressed her.
“Where is he now?”
“Well…”
i leaned in to whisper but, noticing the surroundings, stepped back naturally.
“If you want to hear, et at the palace library after the banquet.”
She whispered softly, mindful of others, then seamlessly blended back among the maids and vanished.
“Wait, just tell here…”
Evan wanted to press further, but at that mont, Duke Heriel approached with a bright smile.
“Evan! Where are you off to? This event is for you.”
“Oh, I was just about to look for you, Duke.”
i had slipped away upon seeing the duke approach.
As proof, she hid among the crowd, flashing a subtle smile while watching Evan search for her.
‘Heh, he looks cute when he’s anxious.’
anwhile, Evan was stuck in conversation with the duke.
“Haha, really? Then I ca at the perfect ti. Don’t we have much to catch up on, my nephew?”
“Yes, a lot has happened.”
“We have plenty of ti. Let’s talk leisurely.”
“Alright, Duke.”
Evan smiled and chatted with the duke, but his mind was entirely elsewhere.
focus was solely on one thing:
the “Empire outsider.”
‘Who could it be? Soone from the Empire coming all the way here. Surely not connected to the Emperor? But then, who are they tied to?’
Evan, or rather Mikhail Reverk, the Empire’s commander,
was preparing to confront his true past, long sealed away.
***
So ti passed.
Taking advantage of the banquet’s lively atmosphere, Evan slipped away quietly to the palace library.
―Creak.
Opening the heavy door, he saw the faint silhouette of a woman inside the dim library.
“i!”
Closing the door, he approached the bookshelf where the silhouette stood.
i, flipping through a book, greeted him as if she’d been waiting.
“You’re here faster than I expected.”
“Couldn’t focus at all.”
“I’d be the sa.”
Getting straight to the point, Evan asked, “So, the identity of this man from the Empire?”
i hesitated briefly before answering nonchalantly, but her words sent Evan into a montary shock.
“He’s male, and his na… Rotman Reverk, I believe. But he didn’t seem to have any notable title or status.”
“…”
Evan stared at i, speechless.
“Hey, Duke?”
The na he just heard echoed in his mind, freezing his thoughts.
‘Reverk?’
The mysterious man from the Empire bore the surna of his past life.
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