Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: An Arrow That Lost Its Target
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South Castle conference room.
I had gathered all my subordinates there.
From Grandfather Campbell,
to the hunters and mercenaries—everyone was assembled.
The evidence had vanished,
but my suspicions had not.
The prime suspect behind it all
was Brilda's home family, the Paonia.
"Grandfather, what did the investigation into Paonia turn up?"
"The basics are done. But it was a family that once held considerable sway."
"Once?"
"Before their fall, they handled a key part of the Imperial Intelligence Bureau."
Imperial Intelligence Bureau.
The place that compiled all the empire's information.
Those who had worked in the 'Intelligence Bureau' could surely evade a hunter's pursuit.
But
that word 'Imperial' upfront nagged at me.
"Could the empire be involved somehow?"
Grandfather shook his head.
"Doesn't seem like it. The Paonia family abused their information access, and it nearly wiped them out."
The empire hadn't let Paonia off the hook.
The family head died in the incident back then, and all their assets were confiscated.
Reduced to fallen nobility, they wandered the continent until they finally ended up on Monster Island.
'So the connection between Paonia and the empire was severed...'
"What's their current situation?"
"Just an average family. They've recovered a bit financially, but nothing noteworthy."
This was suspicious in its own way.
Could a family like that build a massive underground tunnel beneath Plain?
Run an organization scattered like dots across the map?
How could they have bought off the Pianna family?
'Could there be someone backing Paonia as well?'
"Any other families or factions tied to Paonia?"
"Hard to say. Honestly, we haven't even pinned down their link to this incident."
Given the situation,
it was time to move more aggressively.
"I'll go pay Paonia a visit myself."
.
.
.
Vampires' Territory.
Paonia estate.
I met the Paonia family head in the first-floor reception room.
The current head of Paonia.
Braun Paonia.
On a personal level, Brilda's father.
Which made our relationship a strange one.
In a way, he could be seen as my grandfather.
Of course, that didn't bother me.
"Pleased to meet you."
Even with my informal greeting, Braun responded smoothly.
"Pleased to meet you."
Silence fell.
Even through the brief greeting and silence,
Braun's expression didn't change.
I was good at reading faces from all the cold stares I'd endured,
but he was no pushover.
'Should I push harder?'
"That said, your home is awfully shabby."
A noble is born with two things.
One is noble blood.
The other is noble pride.
Nobles were the top echelon of this world, and thus fiercely proud.
"Sorry it's so shabby."
He brushed it off with ease again.
No flicker of anger or shame crossed his face.
After that, I threw out various jabs,
and Braun deflected them all.
'A deep one. Can't read him at all.'
One thing was clear, though.
Braun was no ordinary man.
A person like this wouldn't just sit idle.
"I hear the Paonia family worked for the Imperial Intelligence Bureau long ago."
"Ancient history. My grandfather's time."
"Blood doesn't lie, though. If you know anything about the merchant raiders, care to share?"
"Heh..."
Braun let out a hearty chuckle and lifted his teacup.
"Don't think you can sleep easy after messing with Frontier."
With that, I stood.
I'd tried all sorts of provocations,
but none broke him.
A seasoned noble of sixty years.
My skills weren't enough to rattle him.
'Still, I confirmed he's no ordinary foe. Not a total loss.'
"Leaving already?"
"Not a room fit for lingering. Next time, treat me to hospitality befitting a guest."
Braun rose to see me off as well.
As our conversation wrapped up,
knock. Knock.
Someone rapped on the reception room door.
"Family head, Young Master Gibson has arrived."
Gibson?
Gibson hadn't even attended Brilda's funeral.
The Gray Mage Tower was far from South Castle,
and he was in training at the time, so contact had been slow.
"Send Gibson in at once. The Heir is here too, after all."
The door opened,
and Gibson entered.
Flanking him were
Knight Paulon and
Maid Anna.
"Anna..."
Step. Step.
Step. Step.
I strode straight to Anna.
She was alive, not dead.
She knew the secret behind Brilda's death.
If only she'd talk,
I could uncover so much.
A flood of questions rose.
I picked one.
"Anna, who are you?"
"A maid."
"That's not what I mean. What's your true identity? Were you the one who cleaned Brilda's room? Or did you aid the assassination? Or... are you the killer?!"
Even my shout left Anna's face serene.
Braun, and now Anna too.
This family's people had no expressions.
They hid their emotions too well.
"Speak up!!"
Gibson stepped between us,
blocking me from Anna.
"Brother, don't yell at my people."
Brother?
This was the little brother who followed me like a puppy, calling me brother.
The one who'd cling even if I shoved him away.
But today,
from the title to his tone,
everything felt distant.
"Your people?"
"Sir Paulon and Anna have served Mother since before their marriage. They've agreed to help me from now on."
"Don't tell me you've heard something from them? Don't trust them. They killed Brilda—"
"Brother! I know everything. I know you and Mother fought over the succession. I just... turned a blind eye. And this is the result."
This wouldn't do.
I had to clear it up somehow.
If things went wrong here, my bond with Gibson would...
As I pondered what to say,
Braun spoke first.
"You suspect our Paonia family, Heir. But consider this."
I half-turned to face him.
"When things get tangled and hard to grasp, look at one thing."
"What?"
"Who gained from the incident."
My heart sank.
Sometimes, simple logic was the most persuasive.
Especially when everything was shrouded in fog like now.
"Who profited most from this? In my eyes, it's you, Heir Elwin."
Braun continued in a flat, emotionless tone.
"Daughter dead, succession rivalry ended. Your victory."
"With Silnia Merchant Group disbanded, Island Merchant Group seized the trade routes."
"And I hear you even replaced Frontier's bureaucrats."
They'd thought this far ahead?
Was what they offered a poisoned apple?
Brilda's death and Silnia's dissolution had indeed been huge gains for me.
'If Paonia is behind it, if they're playing the long game...'
Brilda and Silnia weren't the key pieces.
The pawn they needed was...
I slowly turned my gaze.
There stood Gibson, lips pressed tight.
'Gibson?'
They sent Brilda to Frontier
to position that boy as heir.
Was all this one grand scheme?
"Just how far do you people see?"
"No idea what you mean."
"Whatever you're scheming, remember this."
"What are you—"
"Every hunter on the island will be watching you."
My uncle managed the largest hunter group.
Grandfather oversaw mass training of new hunters.
A good chunk of the island's hunters fell under my influence, directly or indirectly.
"You touched Frontier."
Frontier was Monster Island's second power.
Right after the Vampire Duke Family.
"Don't try anything. Live like mice. The moment you show your faces, Paonia's history repeats."
Paonia's history.
Family head dead, all assets seized.
That shameful past must be etched in their bones.
Crack.
Braun clenched and unclenched his fist,
the grating sound echoing.
My provocation had finally landed.
At least that reaction wasn't feigned.
Even so,
Braun quickly regained his composure.
With a calm expression, he spoke.
"If that's all, please leave. Today, I'm mourning my daughter with Gibson."
Maid Anna opened the reception room door.
A clear order to leave.
I glanced at Braun and Gibson once more,
then stepped out.
On the way down the corridor, guided outside
by Anna.
"Anna."
She didn't respond.
"Did you kill the woman you served with your own hands?"
"Or was your true loyalty to Braun from the start?"
Step. Step...
Anna halted.
Then she opened the estate door.
"Please return safely, Elwin-nim."