Trash of the Count's Family

Cale had Ron and Freesia, who had done a great job in preparing everything, get on the carriage before heading toward the Gyerre territory. The carriage was being driven by one of Freesia's subordinates.

“Explain it in detail.”

Freesia immediately started to respond.

“There is a baron's household that became a vassal of the Gyerre Duchy about 50 years ago.”

The name of that household was Chryshi.

“This was before the current Duchess became the ruler of the territory. The other candidates for the position of lord brought the vassal household in in order to expand their own influence.

Antonio's grandmother and the current Duchess, Sonata. This had happened when she was just one of the potential candidates for the Duchess position. The Gyerre territory had accepted multiple vassal households during that time.

The Chryshi household was one of those vassals.

Cale started to speak.

“Isn’t the Chryshi household a household that is famous for being a household of scholars?”

It was the household that had been the instructors of the crown two hundred years ago. That was why the Gyerre Duchy chose to accept such a household without any territories or wealth as a vassal.

“Young master-nim.”

Ron gently responded to Cale's question.

“The past does not necessarily continue to the present.”

“I guess that is true.”

Cale agreed.

Regardless of whether they were a household of scholars in the past, they were a terrible household now.

The fact that they would hire people to kidnap children showed that they were not right in the head.

“Young master-nim, it was two nights ago.”

Cale looked toward Ron. The fact that Ron had been seriously acting like a benign old man since earlier was making Cale feel iffy. Ron seemed to look healthier after receiving his fake yet strong arm.

“Maybe it is because I am getting older, but I could not fall asleep that night. That was why I decided to talk a light walk through the back alleys of the Gyerre territory.”

‘…Are the back alleys really a good spot to take a walk?’

Cale wanted to ask that question, but held himself back.

“I happened to see some children pulling a carriage and going toward the corner of the slums.”

“Children?”

Cale looked toward Ron with confusion after hearing that children were pulling the carriage. Ron clarified his comments.

“They were husky children who seemed to be about 30 years old.”

‘…When did buff gangsters turn into children?’

Ron continued to speak as Cale sat there in silence.

“Anyway, I found those children interesting and chose to follow them. Of course, I did it stealthily so that they wouldn’t notice me.”

Cale ignored Freesia, who was looking toward Ron with a gaze of respect.

“When I stealthily followed behind them, I noticed a couple of houses near the bridge that is at the edge of the slums. Many people were being held captive in the basements of those houses.”

Crack. Crack.

The fingers on his fake left arm cracked as Ron bent his fingers. He then gently continued to speak.

“They were doing terrible things that even assassins would not do.”

‘Mm.’

Cale turned his gaze away from the assassin Ron.

“And?”

However, Cale wanted Ron to get to the point. Ron got to the core of the issue.

“I noticed one of the Chryshi household's butlers going into one of those houses last night. Those buildings are regular houses for families in the slums during the day. However, once the sun goes down, those so-called families turn into employees.”

Freesia added on.

“After tailing the butler until early the next morning, we verified the butler meeting with a merchant.”

There was a high chance of that merchant being part of a merchant guild that was part of the slave trade.

She quickly continued to speak.

“One of my subordinates is currently tailing that merchant. We will soon receive a first report about the identity of that merchant guild. We will be able to have a good idea about their identity and know for certain after the second report.”

Tap. Tap.

Cale tapped on the armrest before looking back toward Ron. The old man realized that his young master had realized something.

Cale slowly started to speak.

“A merchant guild illegally purchasing people as slaves…”

Where would those slaves go?

Slaves were illegal in the Roan Kingdom.

Unless the Chryshi household was crazy, they would not sell slaves within the kingdom.

So, who would need slaves?

Furthermore, who would need to use a merchant guild in order to stealthily gather slaves?

Cale had a good idea about the answers to these questions.

want to ring the bell to end the lives

“Excuse me?”

confused at Cale's comments, but Cale waved her

guild is probably

“… The Empire?”

Freesia's expression turned serious.

Kingdom as slaves, but they even sold them off to a foreign

that a baron would

was why Cale had

household act on

Our investigations indicate that the Gyerre household is

her lips and continued

of uncertainty after Sonata Gyerre became the Duchess instead of the candidate they were

needed money to

asked one more

Chryshi household seem to know where the

I am not sure about

who seemed certain that the merchant guild

information on the merchant guild yet. How about we wait for the information before making

any way. All he

Tap. Tap.

to pat Cale's thighs with their paws. It was their way of saying, ‘let’s

was speaking into Cale's

… I cannot

forgive people who would enslave

done something that the

his life in the black

“Ron.”

“Yes, young master-nim.”

the Gyerre territory gate and

“Change of plans.”

“Yes sir.”

Early the next morning.

soft and comfortable bed while enjoying his sleep. However, there was a hand

felt like a

“Mm!”

Cale’s eyes opened wide.

master-nim, you

It was Ron.

so shocked that he curled up

“Meeeeeow!”

“Meeow!”

were

up! You can't sleep

wake up as well. Cale listened to this quartet of experts as he got up. Ron handed him a teacup

lemon tea. The Gyerre Duchy does not seem to

corner of Cale's lips was twitching as

the information guild, were currently

at the Gyerre Estate thanks to Cale sending Vice Captain Hilsman ahead

would be weird if a Duke was unable to let a passing noble spend a few days at their Estate. Furthermore, it was not just any noble, but someone who was the crown prince’s close confidant and had received a medal from

they don't have lemon

sounded happy despite the fact that he said

“Ugh!”

couldn’t help but

gently started

Gyerre territory seems to enjoy bitter

‘Damn it.’

as he started

immediately headed out of the room

“Young master-nim!”

Captain Hilsman had been waiting outside

you look very handsome

looked like a proper noble today. Although it was not fancy and was just

“Is that so? Good.”

after seeing that Cale's smile

‘A pure smile?’

suit Cale

thought I heard that he was going to punish

looked pure and innocent when Ron had told him about Cale’s plans. The Vice Captain did not know

“Where is it?”

responded

said to be in the garden at this time. He likes to take a walk

we can stop by the garden

immediately headed

Cale as well. Hilsman found it even weirder that

with Antonio

pretended

Cale. Did

the garden, young master Antonio. I slept well thanks to

shook hands

was dressed like a noble and did

Cale Henituse.

and the person who

ask whether he could spend a few nights here. He had asked for something else

‘Can we chat?’

Chat.

crown prince’s close confidant, and Antonio, who was a close confidant of a different prince and maintained the kingdom's

was bound to be a

was as greedy as the other nobles based on the way he asked

happen in secret

it. Have you had breakfast

He could

“I have not.”

are taking a walk without

am okay. I plan to

peaceful conversation changed a bit after Cale’s next

Cale gracefully added on.

there is a famous bar, so

“···Excuse me?”

Antonio was shocked.

what