Family Feud and the Meddlers (5)

Even after the formal succession ceremony concluded, the gathering showed no signs of ending. It was no easy feat for the scattered clan members—mostly concentrated in the Spero Kingdom—to assemble like this, and time was needed to manage the chaos that came with a change in leadership. Throughout the process, Bern Midas proved remarkably cooperative.

"You no longer need to watch my every move. Do as you please."

"I'll hand over the intelligence network directly under the head of the house as well. Make good use of it."

"Hmm? Why ask me? The Merchant Group's master is already Theo."

In truth, his attitude went far beyond mere cooperation—he seemed ready ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to surrender his liver and gallbladder if asked. His children were stunned by their father's sudden transformation, yet inwardly they sneered.

'So even Father, who seemed like he'd reign for a thousand years, was only human after all.'

'With his authority fallen this far, there's no way Bern Midas could ever return to his former position even if he tried something later.'

'Still, I expected at least some backbone. Pathetic. To think we were all afraid of someone like this.'

And the more Bern Midas fell, the higher Theo Midas's authority rose in contrast. The already numerous guests had nearly doubled after his performance at the succession ceremony, and Theo, who had initially been cautious, no longer turned visitors away.

Visitors to Chrome and Fiore had also increased, but—

"Those two aren't feeling well right now. Come back another time if you want to meet them."

—no one could get past the brown-haired girl standing guard like an immovable wall at the door. Some expressed displeasure at Ligret, who looked young and like nothing more than a bodyguard, speaking so casually, but what could they do? All they could manage was to curse her behind her back as a foolish underling who only knew how to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rely on her master.

After glancing at the departing figures grinding their teeth, Ligret confirmed that all signs of people nearby had vanished and returned inside. Upon seeing the scene within, she spoke.

"……What the hell are you two doing together?"

Chrome was at the desk, hammer and chisel in hand, eyes bloodshot as he hammered away, while Fiore stared intently at a wooden board engraved with what looked like a diagram. After a sharp metallic clang rang out, Chrome set down his tools.

"What else? We're making counterfeits."

"I already knew you were a con artist, but you've expanded your scope."

"We're not selling them. Besides, if we were planning to sell fakes, would we be rushing them out in a place like this?"

Grumbling that real experts would laugh at this shoddy work, Chrome lined up several gold rings across the desk. At least in appearance, they were nearly indistinguishable from the ones Bern Midas had distributed.

"Never thought I'd use the portable alchemy kit for something like this."

"Do you even need those? You already passed off similar rings during the succession ceremony."

"That worked because everyone was crowded together flashing their own rings. Getting a fake to Fiore without being caught was pure luck."

"Your sleight of hand was on par with a professional pickpocket, Brother."

"Was that supposed to be a compliment……?"

After grumbling for a moment, Chrome turned to Ligret.

"So? What about the others?"

Ligret shrugged.

"Just like you predicted. Every single one of them was wearing their rings like they were showing them off."

Though Ligret had checked on the people outside in place of the two holed up in the room, not a single person had removed their ring. Some rings were loose because the size didn't fit, while others looked painfully tight on swollen fingers, yet even those who seemed uncomfortable left them on. Not one person had taken theirs off. It was as if the very idea of removing the ring had never occurred to them.

Chrome's eyes narrowed.

"Mental interference. And a custom job so advanced that even this monocle can't detect it."

"But what's the point of just making people unable to take the rings off?"

"Who knows? Maybe the effect gets stronger the longer you wear it. Look at Theo—ever since the ceremony, he hasn't met with us at all and only hangs around that damned father of ours."

"Isn't he just drunk on power?"

"Hey, hey."

At Chrome's warning glance, Ligret finally looked toward Fiore. Fiore smiled bitterly and waved her hand as if to say it was fine.

"It's all right. I can tell Theo's behavior has been a little strange too. It's still minor for now, but it might get worse."

We have to stop it before that happens, Fiore seemed to say as she held out the board she had been examining. What had looked like an ordinary wooden plank with a drawing was, upon closer inspection, endlessly shifting with intricate moving details.

After extracting it from the black cube confiscated from the students, Chrome had let out a dry laugh upon reading the description that appeared through Dantalion's Monocle. As Ligret stared at the square board that showed nothing but several glowing dots moving randomly without even displaying proper terrain features, she narrowed her eyes.

"Is this thing actually useful? Honestly, it just looks like a bunch of fireflies swarming around."

Chrome felt the same, though he hadn't said it aloud, but the "swarming" pattern seemed sufficient for Fiore.

"It looks like there's a basement that only a small number of people enter and exit. The entrance is in the backyard outside the mansion. Since there's almost no waiting time when people go in and out, it probably doesn't take long to open the door. And more importantly… someone is being held in that basement. Ever since I started detecting, that signal hasn't moved from the same spot once. On top of that, there don't seem to be any hidden forces nearby. And…… oh, is there something else you're curious about?"

"……."

Chrome and Ligret stared at Fiore for a moment before shaking their heads as if it was nothing.

"So, are we going to that basement?"

At Ligret's question, Chrome nodded.

"I considered smashing that damned father of ours right away, but if something looks suspicious, we should check that first. The problem is if things escalate and Theo gets taken hostage or controlled……"

"Ah, I'll handle that part. Just lend me a few Attribute Stones."

"Those are trickier to handle than they look. One wrong move and someone could get hurt."

"It's fine. I'm confident in healing spells."

"……."

"Then I look forward to working with you from now on, Head of the House."

"Yes, I expect great things from you."

With a click, the door closed. Finally alone in the room, Theo Midas collapsed onto the sofa as if he might fall over. Spending an entire day nonstop talking with new visitors was an exhausting task that drained both body and mind. It was fortunate that Theo held the upper hand in negotiations and that the former head, Bern Midas, had actively supported him—otherwise, it would have been several times more difficult.

While pondering what work remained, Theo suddenly realized he hadn't spoken with Chrome or Fiore at all today. Nor had he heeded the warning they left behind.

—Bern Midas's sudden change in attitude is suspicious. He might be plotting something, so stay on guard. Always keep a bodyguard nearby and watch your back.

The moment he recalled those words, his fading consciousness snapped back into focus. Bern Midas's apology had been moving, and it was true he had helped sincerely, but familial affection and a merchant's judgment were two separate things. It was still too dangerous to let his guard down completely. Even though it was late, he should discuss things with his siblings right now—

────Zzt

"……Hm?"

For an instant, his mind went blank. Theo blinked. It felt like waking up halfway through a dream—his thoughts wouldn't connect properly. Had he dozed off from exhaustion? But what had he been about to do? As he reached for the glass ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bottle of water to clear his head, his eyes fell on the signet ring on his finger. Though similar to the ones the other relatives had received, its design was far more ornate. It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠looked quite stylish, but by Theo's standards, it was a bit too ostentatious. Since he wouldn't need it while resting anyway, it would be better to take it off for now—

────Zzt

Gulp, gulp. After downing the water, his head felt a little clearer. It was still too early to sleep. It might be good to meet with Father and discuss tomorrow's tasks……

……Huh? Something……

Just as the fog threatened to cloud his thoughts again, a knock sounded at the door.

"Brother, may I come in?"

"Fiore?"

At his beloved younger sister's call, Theo gladly tried to rise—

────Zzt

"I'm sorry, but I'm tired right now. Could we talk later?"

There was no reply. He wondered if that had been too harsh, but he was simply too exhausted. Still, perhaps he should at least see her face. Just as Theo opened his mouth to speak, a tremendous explosion—

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

—engulfed the room where Theo Midas was, and he lost consciousness on the spot.

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaah! Theo, Brother!"

And a piercing scream echoed throughout the entire mansion.