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.

bell to end the

“Excuse me?”

confused at Cale's comments, but Cale waved

guild is

“… The Empire?”

Freesia's expression turned serious.

sold them off to a foreign nation? This was only possible for people who

was not something that a baron would

why Cale had a

Chryshi household act on

that the Gyerre household

licked her lips and continued to

Sonata Gyerre became the Duchess instead of the candidate they were supporting. That was why they tried everything

needed money

one more

seem to

I am not sure about

Cale, who seemed certain that the merchant guild was

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

in any way. All he did

Tap. Tap.

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

was speaking into

I cannot

could not forgive people who would enslave others without

Chryshi household had done something that the Black Dragon would never

of his life in

“Ron.”

“Yes, young master-nim.”

toward the Gyerre territory gate and started to

“Change of plans.”

“Yes sir.”

Early the next morning.

enjoying his

like a concerned parent's warm

“Mm!”

Cale’s eyes opened wide.

master-nim, you

It was Ron.

shocked that he curled up underneath

“Meeeeeow!”

“Meeow!”

were

You

of experts as he got up. Ron handed him a teacup once he got

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

of Cale's lips was twitching as he picked up

Freesia and the information

were able to spend a few nights at the Gyerre Estate thanks to

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

disappointing that they don't

sounded happy despite the fact that he said that

“Ugh!”

couldn’t help

started

seems to enjoy bitter

‘Damn it.’

started to frown as he started the day

room as

“Young master-nim!”

outside

look very handsome today, young

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

“Is that so? Good.”

seeing

‘A pure smile?’

not suit

heard that he was going to punish

found it weird that Cale looked pure and innocent when Ron had told him about Cale’s

“Where is it?”

quickly responded to

be in the garden at this time. He likes to

the garden on our way to

immediately headed toward the

at Ron. Ron just smiled as he followed behind Cale as well. Hilsman

able to meet with Antonio Gyerre once he arrived at the

course, he pretended it was

Cale. Did

you in the garden, young master Antonio. I

happily shook hands with each

who was dressed like a noble and did not have anything out of

Cale Henituse.

and the person who did

to ask whether he could spend a few nights

‘Can we chat?’

Chat.

was a close confidant of a different prince and maintained the kingdom's southwest

was bound to be a very greedy

the other nobles based on the

happen in secret

can do it.

He

“I have not.”

walk without

okay. I plan

conversation changed a

Cale gracefully added on.

famous bar, so I plan to eat

“···Excuse me?”

Antonio was shocked.

said what