Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Pruning (3)
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The chilly air permeated Leon's office.
Tock tock tock—
The sound of fingertips drumming on the desk was inexplicably squeezing Simon's heart.
It was as if his life was being counted down second by second.
"Simon. Let's hear your excuse."
"I'm sorry, my Lord. I have nothing to say."
Of all times, Lian had vanished while Simon was down in the underground prison.
In this situation, even if he were suspected of releasing him, Simon would have no defense.
"What about the guards on duty at the time?"
"They were found unconscious in the warehouse storing the prisoner's confiscated items. Of course, Lian's belongings were gone as well."
"Lian disappeared after the guards did? That means someone helped him escape."
"Yes. It was probably his bodyguard."
"We should have captured that one too. My mistake."
He should have realized that anyone capable of guarding Lian alone was no ordinary person.
He had assumed the intrusion a few days ago was just Lian and the court mage working together.
He never imagined there was someone who could slip in and out of the castle like a ghost without a sound.
"Still, as soon as we noticed the escape, we sealed off all the walls around the old town. He hasn't gotten far yet."
"Are you sure? You didn't even notice him vanish right in front of you."
Simon bit his lower lip, recalling what Lian had said just before the escape.
He clearly knew about a secret passage leading out of the castle.
So he must have already slipped past the old town by now...
"I'm prepared to offer my head. This time, I won't let him get away."
Considering what was to come, the blockade on the walls could never be lifted.
Not even if it cost him his own life.
"Good. That's what I expect."
"Just to be safe, I'll order a thorough search of the outskirts as well."
"Send someone to Isabel's place too. That's the only place he has left to go."
"Yes, my Lord."
Tock tock tock—
The drumming on the desk resumed.
As Leon's eerie silence dragged on, Simon felt his blood drying up.
"Simon. I'll assume you didn't release him on purpose."
"I swear it."
"Good. You're dismissed."
Finally, release from this uncomfortable moment.
Simon bowed deeper than ever before leaving the office.
"Somehow, it all feels so hollow..."
He had never once gone against Leon's will and had always served with utmost loyalty.
Yet to be suspected of betrayal like this.
All the time he had spent striving at Leon's side felt utterly meaningless.
"Ah, Advisor. Are you finished?"
No sooner had Simon emerged from the office than a soldier hurried over.
It was the one handling the investigation into Pablo, Lian's bodyguard.
"Ah. You... Have you already finished the investigation I assigned?"
"That guy. He's pretty well-known, so a lot of people recognized him."
"Well-known?"
Simon tilted his head.
He had no memory of the face, so famous didn't quite fit.
"Remember those three-man thief trio that caused a stir a few years back? The ones who hit every mansion in the old town at least once..."
"I've heard of them. One died during capture. One was caught. The last one's still at large, right?"
"Yes. The one who was caught. Pablo."
Simon nodded slowly at the unexpected result.
So even though he was caught in the end, he was a phantom thief who had shaken the public.
That explained his exceptional skills in sneaking into and escaping the castle.
"Wait. Even for a thief, that was a big case. He must have gotten a hefty sentence."
"Yes. A full twenty years, and he was sent to a penal unit for protesting it."
"He didn't desert from there, did he? That would be serious... Isabel might not escape reprimand either."
Inadvertently grasping Isabel's weakness—Leon might be pleased to hear this.
As Simon pondered, the soldier quickly shook his head.
"No. He was honorably discharged."
"...What?"
Was that even possible?
Simon recalled Pablo humbly downplaying his own worth.
"I looked it up. He served in the 14th Legion."
"Under General Tullio. The suicide squad infamous for that."
"He served a year and a half, got his full sentence remitted, and then three more years in the patrol unit."
Penal units reduce sentences based on merits earned.
Just surviving was hard enough, but racking up merits to finish early was unbelievable.
And Tullio's patrol unit was famous in its own right.
Beyond mere scouts, it was a special force that infiltrated enemy lines for all sorts of operations.
Surviving three years there meant unmatched prowess in infiltration and escape.
"A living ghost. No wonder I couldn't sense his presence..."
"Should... should I report this to the Lord?"
The soldier glanced at the office door with trembling eyes.
One wrong word in front of Leon now, and his head might literally fly.
"It's fine. I'll tell him myself."
"Phew. Understood."
Of course, Simon had no intention of reporting it to Leon.
A rundown tavern tucked away in a forgotten corner of the old docks.
An unexpected guest arrived, utterly out of place in such surroundings.
"Whew. Heard the rumors, but damn, you're handsome. You sure you're the same guy as me?"
The rough-looking young man whistled as he eyed the guest up and down.
Once he shed his disguise of a worn cloak, he could pass for a foreign prince.
"It's Lian."
"Pfft. Like we need introductions. Who on this island doesn't know your name?"
"Because I don't know yours."
"Sorry. Can't share that."
Lian extended his hand for a shake, but it hung awkwardly in the air.
"Hey, Nico. Don't be rude."
"Ha, this guy. Comes back from the army all loyal-dog to his master. Disappointing."
"Some of us grow up."
"Yeah. You go lick your master's ass then. With a face like that, it'd probably taste good."
Pablo scowled at Nico's insulting words.
But he held back from further action.
This was their hideout.
Reacting to cheap provocation could put Lian in danger.
"Listen, Lord Lian. Honestly, I don't like nobles or rich types much."
Nico sneered at Lian's still-extended hand.
Then he finally grasped it.
"But you're the exception. From slave to that position in a flash? Gotta respect that."
"Thanks. Sounds better than bland flattery."
"Up close, you're kinda annoying though?"
Lian glanced at his hand after shaking Nico's.
Whether imagination or not, it felt dirty, so he wiped it on his discarded cloak.
"Anyway, I heard you did good work last time. Here's your payment."
"Ooh. Liked our service that much? Didn't expect the client to show up personally for the balance."
"Yeah. Threw in a little extra."
"Even a rich guy like you makes for a fine customer. Drink on me?"
"No. Nothing here appeals."
Who knows what they'd put in it.
No matter that he was Pablo's old friend, he couldn't blindly trust a thug like this.
Pablo had warned him repeatedly on the way here not to trust the guy recklessly.
"From my experience, clients who hide their identity and show up in person always bring bigger jobs."
"Spot on."
"So, harder than stealing from the Lord to spring the court mage?"
Nico nodded to his men.
Suddenly, they rose and surrounded Lian and Pablo.
All burly, vicious-looking brutes—it felt far more threatening than being hemmed in by Leon's knights.
"Gotta offer more than what I'd get selling you to the Lord. What's your bid?"
"Hey. Nico. You can't be...!"
"Understand, Pablo. I got a lot of mouths to feed now."
This was why Pablo had wanted to keep Lian away from this guy.
Too late for regrets now.
But Lian faced Nico with unshaken composure.
"Sorry. Truth is, I don't plan to pay a single coin this time."
"Too bad. Can't work for free, you know."
"In exchange, a chance to cut noble heads yourselves. Side profits are yours to take."
"Whoa. That's some tough math."
Before coming, Lian had gotten the rundown on Nico from Pablo.
Especially his deep hatred for nobles.
No, not just dislike—pure grudge.
"Let's talk details."
And sure enough, Nico bit the bait as expected.
"Heard about the nobles lately? The family heads all coming down with rabies or something?"
"Yeah, that. Salazar's old man already kicked it, right?"
"Know how he died?"
"Dunno. Went mad and charged the Lord, got his head chopped off?"
Leon had kept that day's events top secret.
The innkeeper witness had been silenced too.
"It's a kind of curse. Starts with rabies, then they turn into monsters and attack those around them. Even the victims killed that way turn into the same monsters."
"Ooh. So that's it?"
Nico smirked and shook his head at the explanation.
"What, some kids' fairy tale? You expect me to buy that nonsense?"
"It's real, Nico. I saw it up close."
"Pablo. We're friends, but no trust between us, right?"
"Damn right. Decided that the day you ditched us and ran."
"Hey, drop it. One of us had to survive."
Lian quietly watched the tense air between Pablo and Nico.
Even as friends, some unresolved grudge lingered.
But their past wasn't important now.
"Believe it or not, it's true. Think about it— what do I gain from lying?"
"So what? Off 'em all before they turn?"
"Wish we could. Too late."
There was a reason he chose today for the escape.
The old town's blockade from his jailbreak would last a day or two at most.
But if disaster struck in the meantime, they'd have no choice but to keep it sealed.
Lian swallowed a groan, recalling the voice that had tormented his ears in prison.
"Tonight, the old town turns to hell."
The madness born of one old woman's thirst for revenge.
Had already begun to sprout under the moonlight.