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.

ring the bell to end

“Excuse me?”

was confused at Cale's comments, but Cale

merchant guild is probably

“… The Empire?”

Freesia's expression turned serious.

even sold them off

was not something that a baron would dare to

was why Cale had

Chryshi household act

investigations indicate that the Gyerre household is not

licked her lips and continued to

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 they were supporting. That was why they tried everything

needed money

asked one more

the Chryshi household seem to know where

not

speak to Cale, who seemed certain that the merchant guild was

guild yet. How about we wait for the information

not respond in any

Tap. Tap.

continued to pat Cale's thighs with their paws. It

was speaking into Cale's

… I cannot

who would

household had done something that the Black Dragon would

spending the first four years of his life in the black

“Ron.”

“Yes, young master-nim.”

territory gate and started to

“Change of plans.”

“Yes sir.”

Early the next morning.

bed while enjoying his sleep. However, there was a hand that

felt like 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

up! You can't sleep

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

The Gyerre Duchy does

was twitching as

the

a few nights at the Gyerre Estate

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

they don't

that he said that

“Ugh!”

couldn’t

gently started

to enjoy bitter tea though,

‘Damn it.’

to frown as he started the day

of the room as

“Young master-nim!”

been waiting outside the door before following

you look very handsome today, young

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

“Is that so? Good.”

seeing that

‘A pure smile?’

suit Cale at

was

found 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

“Where is it?”

responded to

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

garden on our

immediately headed toward the

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

meet with Antonio Gyerre once he arrived at

he pretended

Cale. Did

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

and Antonio happily shook hands with

Cale, who was dressed like a noble and did not have

Cale Henituse.

confidant, the person who prevented the incident in the capital, and the person who did something amazing enough to get a medal from the

ask whether he could spend a few nights here. He had

‘Can we chat?’

Chat.

crown prince’s close confidant, and Antonio, who was a close confidant of a different

was bound to be a very greedy

was as greedy as the other nobles based on

chat would happen in secret

do it. Have

He could see

“I have not.”

you are taking a walk without having breakfast? You should

plan to

conversation changed a bit after

Cale gracefully added on.

that there is a famous bar,

“···Excuse me?”

Antonio was shocked.

what he wanted to