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 end the lives of others built a bell

“Excuse me?”

at Cale's comments, but Cale waved her off and continued

merchant guild is probably

“… The Empire?”

Freesia's expression turned serious.

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

that a baron would dare to

was why Cale had

Chryshi household act

indicate that the Gyerre household is not

licked her lips and

household that was brought in as a vassal without owning much of anything was placed in a state of uncertainty after Sonata Gyerre became the Duchess instead of the candidate

would have needed money

one

seem to know where the merchant

I am not

started to speak to Cale, who seemed certain that the

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

did not respond in any way. All he

Tap. Tap.

continued to pat Cale's thighs with their paws.

was speaking into

… I

people who would enslave others without

household had done something that the Black

his life in the black cave, Raon detested slavery and

“Ron.”

“Yes, young master-nim.”

Gyerre territory

“Change of plans.”

“Yes sir.”

Early the next morning.

his sleep. However, there was a hand that was patting him

a concerned

“Mm!”

Cale’s eyes opened wide.

master-nim, you are

It was Ron.

was so shocked that he curled up underneath

“Meeeeeow!”

“Meeow!”

were laughing at

wake up! You can't sleep

this quartet of

have lemon tea. The Gyerre Duchy does not seem to be that

Cale's lips was twitching as he picked up

group, other than Freesia and the information guild, were currently staying at the Gyerre

last 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 them of their impending

it was not just any noble, but

that they don't have

the fact that he said that he was disappointed as he took a

“Ugh!”

then couldn’t help but

started

to

‘Damn it.’

started to frown as he started the day off with bitter

immediately headed out of the room as

“Young master-nim!”

outside

you look very handsome today,

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

“Is that so? Good.”

flinched after seeing that Cale's smile looked

‘A pure smile?’

not suit Cale at

was going to punish

Cale looked pure and innocent when Ron had told him about

“Where is it?”

he quickly responded to

garden at this time. He likes to take a walk after eating

we can stop by the garden on our way to

immediately headed

as he followed behind Cale as well. Hilsman found it even weirder that the kittens were not with Cale, but did not question it

with Antonio Gyerre once he arrived at the

course, he pretended it was

young master Cale. Did you sleep

expect to see you in the garden, young master Antonio.

happily shook

a noble and did not have anything out of

Cale Henituse.

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

sent his guard in advance to ask whether he could spend a few nights

‘Can we chat?’

Chat.

who was a close confidant of a different prince and

be

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

happen in

it. Have

He could see Cale

“I have not.”

are taking a walk without having

am okay. I plan to

a bit after Cale’s next

Cale gracefully added on.

bar, so I plan

“···Excuse me?”

Antonio was shocked.

still said what he wanted to