Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: A Game of Trust
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Clatter.
The black king rolled off the chessboard.
Yet no one in the room so much as blinked.
Because the slightest opening meant death.
In that instant, Ran Pador and I were both gunning for each other's throats.
But the knights' sword tips wavered when they heard Ran Pador's life was forfeit.
Sword tips wavered...?
That meant I had seized the initiative. Control of this game had effectively passed to me.
I opened my mouth leisurely, even with blades pointed at me.
"In the Pador family, do they treat people like chess pieces when they play too?"
Ran Pador glared at me in silence before answering.
"A Pador brat trying to hide in the shadows? How cowardly."
"Thanks for the compliment. I could poison you so easily because Pador kids never use poison."
"A mere vanguard like you talks big."
"With swords at my throat like this, what should I move besides my mouth? I'm curious."
Ran Pador's dimples deepened.
Not a smile, but anger.
I provoked him further, his glare promising murder.
"If you want to keep battling with words, you're welcome anytime. But do you know what happens if you swing that sword?"
"Do you think I lack the resolve for that?"
Ran Pador gnashed his teeth. Just as he opened his mouth to retort, I shook his train of thought.
"Resolve... How amusing. You misjudge someone playing chess, kill him, then die without an antidote yourself? The Pador family would find their second son's death quite the joke. If you want to fight me, then fight. I'll indulge you. But before you swing that sword, consider how this one clash could lead the continent down the wrong path. If not... don't try to oppose me."
They didn't lower their swords easily... but I could see them trembling.
A moment's hesitation—that was all I needed.
"Pity your subordinates don't see it that way. Such sentimental knights the Padors have."
"Shut up."
Was it because he'd fully pegged me as the enemy?
His tone had completely changed.
Of course. Speaking politely to the man who poisoned you would make anyone mad.
"You know what it means for your neck and mine to both drop. Isn't that right, knights?"
I called out to those still holding their swords trained on me.
"If you want to kill me, do it. But know this: your lord dies too. And that's not all. You won't find any proof I'm with the Evil Society. It'll just look like a brawl broke out at a birthday party. What do you think families who both lose sons will do then?"
I sneered at Ran Pador. My threats weren't landing on him at all.
No matter. I wasn't threatening him—I was threatening his men.
I murmured while slyly eyeing the knights.
"One family will be crushed. But I don't think it'll be mine."
"......"
A brief silence.
Had I weighed down their swords with the burden of responsibility?
The killing intent had softened since before. One of them spoke up.
"Young Master Ran, we should both stand down here."
Ran Pador shook his head, unwilling to accept it.
"No. Trading my life for an Evil Society executive wouldn't be a loss at all. And at his age, that level of scheming... plus the poison. There's a high chance he's the one who poisoned Duke Christopher."
They even knew about the duke's poisoning?
Quite the organization.
I was already surprised they knew of the Evil Society, and now this?
This situation made it crystal clear.
Ran Pador wasn't with the Evil Society.
Then what the hell were they?
People I hadn't known about in my first life...
Time to talk it out, at least.
"Sorry, but I'm not with the Evil Society."
Ran Pador scoffed in response.
"Now you say that? Too late. Even if you kill us, the knights in this villa will cut you down the moment you do. We've already made preparations, and I'm ready as a chess piece on the board."
That much was true...
Come to think of it, the Pador villa had an awful lot of knights.
Too many for mere escorts.
So that was the reason?
A fitting title: strategist. He'd suspected me of being Evil Society from the start and called in a ton of knights.
But totally wrong. I'm not.
I told Ran Pador as much.
"But you'd die a dog's death. A dog's death for you and me both. Why? Because I'm not Evil Society. It's a simple fact, yet you missed it. Were the rumors of your brilliance all hot air?"
"How am I supposed to believe you're not with the Evil Society?"
"You seem to know about Duke Christopher's poisoning. Go confirm it with him directly. Sure, it'll take a while. But that might be even better. Your genius brain makes one colossal misjudgment for the ages—should be entertaining."
I sat down as I spoke.
The knights flinched at my audacity.
"Think up some excuses. This isn't something ordinary excuses will cover. Hell, the duke might even come here himself to kill you. Since I was the one who cured his poison."
Ran Pador flinched and asked,
"You removed Duke Christopher's poison?"
"How else could he be up and about? Divine intervention? The poisoner had a change of heart? No, there had to be a cause. How was the culprit caught? How did the duke recover? Why would I use poison? The Evil Society must love it. We're doing their work for them, mutual destruction."
"......"
Was it the bold play?
Ran Pador's eyes wavered. He had no choice but to sit as well.
"Fine. You're a smooth talker. If you really saved the duke, contacting him might just make him suspect me instead. The Evil Society could even use his hand to boot me out."
"So if you're so confident, check with the duke. I'll just sightsee here in the meantime. You giving me the grand tour wouldn't be bad."
Ran Pador furrowed his brow. He spoke to one of the knights.
"Leave this room now and check for any suspicious movements. At the first sign, seal this room and send a messenger bird to the designated spot."
"Thorough, aren't you?"
"Cowards like me always double- and triple-check before acting."
"Same here."
Ran Pador wanted to confirm I wasn't just talking circles around him.
No wonder they called him a strategist.
These schemers always eliminate risks two or three times over.
Whoosh!
At his order, the knight dashed off.
Still three swords left—not exactly relaxed.
But at least it meant Ran Pador was ready for an honest conversation.
He eyed me suspiciously.
"Assuming you're not Evil Society, then why poison me? And what was that chess game earlier?"
"Can't use poison if you're not Evil Society? Ridiculous."
This cheeky bastard?
Thinking he alone could see through me, right in front of me?
Fat chance.
"Didn't it occur to you that if you put your opponent on the scales, you get weighed too? I'm not Evil Society, but I'm no broad-minded priest who smiles and lets a guy hide a dagger in the ceiling."
Ran Pador burst out laughing at my answer.
"What an interesting guy... Really. He doesn't just suddenly topple Nosga—he's a Pador kid using poison and threats. No ordinary person."
"Enough flattery. Let's move to the next phase. And drop any sneaky crap. I hate sneaky types. Suffered under the worst of them for over a decade."
"Now I'm curious who that was. Turning a kid from such a rigidly upright family into this."
Oh, he exists.
My uncle Ian.
"No more word games. You were judging if I was Evil Society, and I said no. I revealed my side first, so now you owe me."
"Fair enough... If you're not, then I really was rude."
Perfect timing.
Creak.
The door opened, and the knight returned. He whispered something to Ran Pador.
Ran nodded and let out a sigh.
Then he pulled a handcuff-like restraint from his pocket.
He handed it to me.
"If you really want me to trust you, put that on."
Not just any restraint...?
What magic was on this thing?
Probably made in collaboration with the Sage Tower, enchanted to reveal truth.
It must detect if I'm Evil Society.
I had nothing to hide, so I snapped it on without hesitation.
"Sure."
Click—
The moment I did, it reacted. My hands tingled, like blades might spring out.
Ran Pador confirmed it was on, then asked gravely,
"One question. Just answer truthfully."
"Shoot."
"Are you with the Evil Society... or cooperating with them?"
After all that circling, he went straight for it?
This restraint must be a lie detector.
Perfect. I answered immediately.
"No."
Ran Pador looked shocked at my firm reply, staring at the restraint. The knights did too.
Soon... it glowed white.
I hadn't lied, but it still made me nervous.
For a second, I worried about severing blades, but that was just paranoia. The light faded.
Ran Pador raised his hand.
"Sheathe your swords. He's not the enemy."
The knights hesitated...
"But, young master."
"You plan to ignore my judgment? That lord made those himself. Distrusting it is the same as distrusting him."
Just as I thought—a truth detector.
More importantly, who was this "lord" he trusted so absolutely, even using honorifics for?
I'd find out in time.
For now, the conversation with Ran Pador came first.
The knights sheathed their blades and withdrew.
"...Our apologies."
Now only Ran Pador and I remained.
And unlike before, he dropped his mask and spoke frankly.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Ran Pador, one of the Seven Stars of White Light."
White Light?
A faction opposing the Evil Society?
News to me.
An existence unknown in my past life—what exactly were they?
I needed to dig deeper...
"Fine, Seven Stars of White Light. My turn to ask. Why suspect me? Not just because I got strong suddenly."
Ran Pador nodded.
"Because you were always involved in the Evil Society's schemes."
"...?"
He reset the chess pieces on the board.
"The Trial Valley incident—that was a plan to assassinate the princess. That's how we saw it. Success would've made it impossible for us to reverse our disadvantage. But their scheme..."
Ran Pador tapped the head of a white pawn.
"...got overturned by a completely unforeseen variable. A piece that shouldn't have been on the board appeared. At least, that's my judgment."
He moved the pawn forward one square.
That single pawn shift created a highly irritating position for black. Even if a black pawn advanced, it'd be white pawn fodder, while simultaneously blocking the knight's path and sealing an enemy attack.
"Self-destruction on their part? Impossible. So we assumed interference. We tracked the princess's movements after. Anomalies cropped up at the ducal house too—and there you were. We considered two possibilities."
He extended his index finger.
"You're an Evil Society member, the main culprit tormenting the princess and duke."
This time, his middle finger.
"Or you're a variable even the Evil Society didn't anticipate. Those were the options, and to test it, I gauged your abilities in the duel with Nosga."
Now the pieces fell into place.
He'd suspected me... judged in the shield duel that I had the capability to cause incidents. To pinpoint exactly, he even risked his own life. That was it?
Turns out, the real gambler was Ran Pador, not me.
I laughed at the guy who didn't value his own life.
"A move that put even yourself at risk. Bold."
"Something like that."
I fell into thought for a moment.
He'd clocked my existence. Did that mean the Evil Society had too?
No.
Only possible because they were White Light.
He could zero in on me because he knew the Evil Society existed.
The Evil Society side was probably clueless about their opponent.
Hell, they might even mistake me for one of White Light's members...
Even so, Ran Pador—what a sharp mind.
He didn't let even the smallest suspicion slide. He nailed it.
Ran Pador tilted his head, suspicion not fully cleared.
"But one doubt lingers. If you're not Evil Society—if you're truly that variable—why hide your identity all this time?"
Hm?
What to say?
Regression? No solid basis.
How to...
'Just hid it'? Absurd. Who does that without reason?
You can conceal some skill, but living as an invalid like me? Needs justification.
Probably factored into his suspicions.
As I pondered, my mouth moved on its own, against my will.
"Sichuan Tang Clan."
Hold up.
Mouth, what the hell?
Moved first to avoid suspicion from delay?
Habits are scary. Clan taught never keep opponent waiting in such spots.
"...?"
Ran Pador looked puzzled at my abrupt answer.
Spilled milk—couldn't take it back. Time to play it cool!
I spoke to him without a flicker in my expression.
"You don't get it? You think yours and White Light are the only ones hiding on this continent?"
"Impossible. We know all organizations. At least..."
"Then why didn't you brilliant folks find me before I started acting?"
"That's..."
Ran Pador clamped his mouth shut, at a loss.
After a short silence, he asked me,
"Then what's your group's goal? Why hide your identities?"
"If I told you, we wouldn't be a secret group. We're the balancers of the continent."
Telling would make it one I just invented.
Like hell they know.
"That's us."
Whatever now.
Using the same lie on Merina here too...
But Ran Pador bought the nonsense.
"Indeed, that could be. The world truly is vast."
It's not.
Your world is everything. But irreversible now.
I coughed to hurry and bail.
"Well, we've established we're not enemies. That's that."
As I rose to leave, Ran Pador made an unexpected offer.
"Why not join hands with us? With a common enemy in the Evil Society, we could be allies."
Should I join White Light here?
Might be smart. The group Ran belonged to—White Light—had to be full of elites, like he said.
But in my first life, they failed to drive out the Evil Society.
If they'd succeeded, Uncle Ian wouldn't have rampaged, nor the princess and duke suffered.
Decision simple.
No deal with White Light.
"We pursue different paths. Sorry, can't join you."
"I see..."
They only vaguely sensed Ian and the Evil Society—knew nothing solid.
Of course, in time, they'd grasp the Evil Society's nebulous nature.
Same for me.
Plus, allying would restrict my movements.
Hated that.
No interest in playing hypocrite with justice or righteousness.
Justice can feel downright unfair sometimes.
I'd experienced it plenty.
I'd walk my own path.
Of course, I'd use White Light well if needed.
As I stood to go, Ran Pador coughed.
"One moment."
"...?"
He smiled awkwardly.
"Could you lift the poison before you go?"
Scared deep down, huh?
Of course. No one fears poison less than the next guy. That's why the Tang Clan terrified the martial world.
One fact I hadn't told Ran Pador.
"Oh, that? Already did."
"When...!"
"Secret's a secret."
I closed the door and left Ran Pador's room. The knights watching me faded into the distance.
One amusing fact.
The poison I'd used on Ran Pador would cost him his life?
A lie.
Just a toxin causing temporary anemia.
I hadn't prepared anything lethal. A true poison handler deceives better than anyone.
Did I need to tell him that...?
Smiling, I prepared to leave the Pador estate.