Chapter 13
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: How to Use Rabbit Dung
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“You bastard Domos!!”
“Eek!”
The moment Garet laid eyes on Domos, she unleashed all the pent-up rage she'd been holding back and charged at him. A sharp dagger was already gleaming menacingly in her hand.
But—
Grab!
“Let go! Let me go, Captain! That bastard's the reason my father... My father never even got proper treatment...”
Tears were streaming down Garet's cheeks.
Her comrades could fully empathize with how heavy and painful those tears were. If it were up to them, they'd let her do as she pleased—but they couldn't.
“Calm down, Garet. If Sir Alpha spared him, there must be a good reason.”
“What reason could there possibly be to keep a scum like that alive?! Let go! I'll tear him apart with my own hands!”
Domos, the Viscount Domos, cowered under Garet's ferocious aura—like a starving lion that could make even the boldest flee—and slunk behind Johann, peeking out cautiously.
Johann then commanded Viscount Domos.
“Domos.”
“Yes, Sir Alpha!”
“Go to the next room and wait while the adults talk. Stay there until I call for you.”
“Understood!”
Viscount Domos, looking disciplined and tense, glanced nervously at Garet before scurrying out of the room like a frightened rat.
His ridiculous display left Gellpin, Henderson, Bix—and even Garet—speechless and deflated.
“What happened when you two were alone? What the hell is this? That idiotic behavior...”
“More importantly, is it really okay to just let him go without any guards? What if he brings soldiers...”
Henderson and Bix's doubts were perfectly reasonable. In response, Johann pulled a few pills from his pocket and tossed them to the group.
“Because of these, he can't disobey a word I say right now. If I told him to strip his wife's panties and bring them, he'd do it.”
“What the hell are these...?”
“Wait, don't tell me these are...”
Bix sniffed one of the pills and shot Johann a bizarre look. Johann grinned, curling the corner of his mouth.
“Right. Rabbit dung.”
“Rabbit dung?! You fed that to Domos?!”
“He thinks it's poison. The kind that melts your flesh from the inside if you don't take the antidote every day—a gruesome way to die. I gave it to him and his eldest son, Sazan. Of course, the so-called antidote is just rabbit dung painted white.”
“Ah, so that's why...”
Only then did the executives understand why Viscount Domos was acting like a loyal dog to Johann.
Even if he somehow rallied soldiers to kill them all, without Johann providing the antidote, he and his son would still face that horrific death.
“But is it safe to talk so loudly? What if Domos is eavesdropping outside...?”
“No worries. He's not nearby. Plus, I've enveloped the entire room in Soundproof Aura, so no sound leaks out. Even if he had a listening device, it'd be useless—or I'd notice.”
“Y-You've deployed Soundproof Aura?”
No one was more shocked by the mention of Soundproof Aura than Gellpin. Henderson, unfamiliar with it, asked him.
“Is it that big a deal?”
“How to explain... Simply put, it's like blowing soap bubbles through a bamboo tube to envelop the whole room and keeping them from popping.”
“That's possible?!”
“Soap bubbles and aura are different, but theoretically possible, from what I've heard. I've never seen it done before now, though. It requires aura control at the level of divine skill.”
'And he did it with Lightning Mana, which is notoriously harder to control than other mana...'
Gellpin couldn't even imagine the extent of Johann's power.
“We already know Sir Alpha is amazing beyond belief, so let's move on. So, what's the real reason you spared Viscount Domos?”
“If we don't like the reason, we'll go rip his throat out right now, huh? Squad Leader Garet.”
“Even if it means death for insubordination.”
Garet's grudge ran that deep. No one in the room wouldn't want to cut Domos's head off.
“The reason I didn't kill Domos is simple: killing him just means another Domos takes his place. We'd be back to square one—or worse.”
“Because of House Crimford?”
Snap.
“Bingo.”
Johann snapped his fingers at Gellpin's guess.
“If we take out Viscount Domos, House Crimford will clean us up before a new one arrives. I need you all, but not enough to pick a fight with the Earl's house. For you and me, using the guy we've got is far wiser.”
Gellpin stroked his chin thoughtfully at Johann's explanation.
“So you're saying you'll use Viscount Domos as a puppet. But will he obediently follow our lead? Even if you tricked him with rabbit dung by luck, what if he figures it out or changes his mind...?”
“Don't worry about that. I've got solid leverage on other weaknesses too—not just his life, but House Domos's entire lifeline. He won't dare think otherwise. All he has to do is show his face at official events. From now on, this territory's internal affairs are our domain.”
“W-We get to govern the territory?!”
Henderson's shock was understandable.
He'd only ever held a plow or sickle before picking up a weapon recently.
And now, govern a territory...?
“Relax. I'm not asking you to do it.”
Chuckling, Johann turned to Gellpin.
“I'll leave this to you. What do you say?”
“I know plenty of young talents who lost chances to shine under the viscount's tyranny despite their skills and drive. I'll seek them out and persuade them personally.”
“Good. We'll assign territory management to Vice Captain Gellpin. And Garet.”
“Yes.”
Johann's gaze shifted to Garet. Seeing the venom fade from her eyes, he asked gently.
“Still feeling the same as before? If so, follow your heart. But I'll be leaving you all. Like I said, I'm not ready to fight House Crimford for you just yet. You don't seem worth that much.”
“I understand completely. My personal revenge comes second to our collective future. And since Sir Alpha has proven your own value firsthand, we'll prove ours. Please guide us, Captain.”
For the first time, Garet called Johann “Captain,” placing a fist over her heart and bowing her head. It was a salute acknowledging him as their true leader.
The other executives exchanged glances, then mirrored her salute to Johann.
Johann had finally become their real leader.
Having assigned fitting tasks to each, Johann returned to the villa.
A fresh breeze blew under the sky lightening with a red carpet slowly unfurling over the distant mountains.
But...
“You're back now, young master?”
Startled!
Johann scanned the room after entering quietly through the window.
'I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry...!'
There sat Joanna on the bed, bowing her head repeatedly like a sinner, with Willard seated sternly beside her.
'Looks like they've found out. Or are they just showing it now?'
They must have known for a while. But they'd pretended not to, out of Willard's character.
The question was why bring it up now.
“Couldn't sleep?”
“How could I, with all this worry? I've known about your nightly outings for a year. But lately, you've gone almost every night—in such dangerous attire, no less.”
“So you knew. Why didn't you say anything? Even if not to me directly, you could've contacted the main house.”
“If it were something the main house should know, you wouldn't go through such trouble. I don't know why you hide your outings from them, but I sincerely hope it's tied to your old self or nothing harmful to you.”
Johann smiled warmly.
'My past self was blind. How could I not see people like this...'
He felt a warmth in his chest from Willard's genuine faith and care.
And he was certain Willard was truly his man, beyond just House Crimford.
“Nothing like that, so don't worry. And keep it secret from the main house for now. Once everything's done, I want to surprise Father and the family.”
“Understood. But always be careful. I'm your butler—your safety matters more than your goals. If you get badly hurt or something goes wrong... even if you resent me, I'll inform the main house to stop you.”
“I'll beg you desperately then. Thanks for understanding anyway.”
The two stared blankly at Johann's cheeky grin. It was the first time he'd smiled so brightly and innocently.
'Maybe that's his real self...'
“Oh, almost forgot. A letter arrived from the main house at dawn. Shall I reply that you're still unwell and can't return?”
“Hmm...”
The main house sent summons regularly.
They were formal, and he had far more to do here than there, but...
'The illness excuse only works so long. I've stalled over a year with various pretexts—skipping now might draw suspicion.'
If eyes turned toward the viscountcy because of him, it could get dangerous.
“No, tell them I'm coming back.”
“You're returning to the main house?”
“That's why I said manage your expressions. You two.”
“Do we look happy to you, young master?”
Johann gently smiled and reassured the visibly downcast Joanna and Willard.
“Don't worry. I'll be back soon. And who said I'm going alone?”
“Then...”
“Gotta bring reliable hands. A maid who trusts and follows my every word, and a sharp, considerate butler sound perfect. Any recommendations?”
Their faces lit up instantly at Johann's question.