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 of others

“Excuse me?”

Cale's comments, but Cale

is

“… The Empire?”

Freesia's expression turned serious.

sell citizens of the Roan Kingdom as slaves, but they even sold them off to a foreign nation?

was not something that a baron would dare to even

was why Cale had a

the Chryshi household act

that the Gyerre household is not

her lips and continued

uncertainty after Sonata Gyerre became the Duchess instead of

would have needed money

one more

the Chryshi household seem to know where the merchant is

I am not

to Cale, who seemed certain that the merchant

don't have information on the merchant guild yet. How about we wait for the information

respond in any way. All he did

Tap. Tap.

with their paws. It was their way of saying, ‘let’s beat those bastards to

was speaking

… I

forgive people who would enslave others without

done something that the Black Dragon would

years of his life in the black cave, Raon

“Ron.”

“Yes, young master-nim.”

Gyerre territory gate and

“Change of plans.”

“Yes sir.”

Early the next morning.

soft and comfortable bed while enjoying his

a concerned parent's

“Mm!”

Cale’s eyes opened wide.

you are

It was Ron.

shocked that he curled up underneath

“Meeeeeow!”

“Meeow!”

kittens were laughing

You can't sleep

wake up as well. Cale listened to this quartet of experts as he got

The Gyerre Duchy does not seem

Cale's lips was twitching as he picked up the

other than Freesia and the information guild, were

night, they were able to spend a few nights at the Gyerre Estate thanks to Cale sending Vice Captain Hilsman ahead in order to notify

Duke was unable to let a passing noble spend a few days at their Estate. Furthermore, it was not just any noble, but

disappointing that they don't

said that he

“Ugh!”

couldn’t

started

Gyerre territory seems to

‘Damn it.’

frown as he started

immediately headed out of the room as

“Young master-nim!”

Captain Hilsman had been waiting outside the door before following

you look very handsome today,

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

“Is that so? Good.”

after seeing that

‘A pure smile?’

did not suit Cale

was

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

“Where is it?”

responded to

time. He likes to take a walk

by the garden on our way to the

immediately headed toward the

followed behind him while looking at Ron. Ron just smiled as he followed behind Cale as well. Hilsman found it even weirder that the kittens were not with Cale, but did not question it for

to meet with Antonio Gyerre once

course, he pretended

master Cale. Did you

see you in the garden, young

shook hands

a noble and did not have anything

Cale Henituse.

incident in the capital, and the person who did something amazing enough to get a

could spend a few nights here. He had asked for something else as

‘Can we chat?’

Chat.

who was a close confidant of

bound to be a very greedy

was as greedy as the other nobles based on the

would happen in secret

we can do it. Have

brought up peaceful topics of conversation. He

“I have not.”

you are taking a walk without having breakfast? You should

plan

a bit after Cale’s next

Cale gracefully added on.

there is a famous bar, so I plan to eat breakfast

“···Excuse me?”

Antonio was shocked.

said what he wanted