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.

to ring the bell to end the lives

“Excuse me?”

but Cale waved her off and continued to

merchant guild is probably from

“… The Empire?”

Freesia's expression turned serious.

slaves, but they even sold them off

was not something that a baron would

Cale had

household act on their

indicate that the Gyerre household

licked her lips and continued to

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

have needed

one

Chryshi household seem to know where the merchant

I am not sure about

cautiously started to speak to Cale, who seemed certain that the merchant guild

master-nim, we don't have information on the merchant guild yet. How about we wait for the information before making

in any way. All he

Tap. Tap.

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

speaking

… I cannot forgive

who

household had done something that the Black Dragon would

years of his life in

“Ron.”

“Yes, young master-nim.”

territory gate and

“Change of plans.”

“Yes sir.”

Early the next morning.

laying down on this soft and comfortable bed while enjoying his sleep.

a concerned parent's warm

“Mm!”

Cale’s eyes opened wide.

master-nim, you are

It was Ron.

was so shocked that he

“Meeeeeow!”

“Meeow!”

kittens were laughing at

wake up! You can't

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

have lemon tea. The Gyerre

of Cale's lips was twitching as he picked

of Cale's group, other than Freesia and the information guild, were currently staying at

able to spend a few nights at the Gyerre Estate thanks to Cale sending Vice Captain

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

disappointing that they

said that he

“Ugh!”

couldn’t help but

started to

to enjoy

‘Damn it.’

frown as he started the day off

of the room as

“Young master-nim!”

had been waiting outside the door

very

proper noble today. Although it was not fancy and was just decently luxurious, he still looked the

“Is that so? Good.”

Hilsman flinched after seeing that Cale's smile

‘A pure smile?’

not suit Cale at

that he was going to punish

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

“Where is it?”

responded

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

by the garden on

headed

just smiled as he followed behind Cale as well. Hilsman found it even weirder that the kittens were

able to meet with Antonio

pretended it

Cale. Did you

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

shook hands with each

dressed like a noble

Cale Henituse.

close confidant, the person who prevented the incident in the capital, and the person who did something amazing

advance to ask whether he could spend

‘Can we chat?’

Chat.

confidant of a different prince and

bound to be a very greedy

the other nobles

would happen in secret

course we can do it. Have

casually brought up peaceful topics of conversation. He could

“I have not.”

walk without having

am okay. I plan

peaceful conversation changed a

Cale gracefully added on.

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

“···Excuse me?”

Antonio was shocked.

said what he