Pay Cuts and the Tea Party Misunderstanding
Honestly, it was just a casual move on my part, but the three of them left the sprawled-out Karon where he lay and slipped right back into their seats as if nothing had happened, resuming their conversation in hushed tones.
[Abel didn't want to escalate things any further.]
There wasn't much point in harping on him anymore.
So, in an exceedingly mild fashion, they decided on internal [Dark Shadow] discipline for Karon.
[Yeah. We'll cut your salary by about 50%.]
"Ugh!"
[It'll stay that way until Abel says otherwise.]
"Urgh!"
[And you don't have much saved up, right? We'll restrict your operational funds too.]
"Gahk!"
The Nebula Ducal family's sharpest blade and most secretive dagger, the [Dark Shadow].
What was most essential for operating such a special forces unit?
Strength? Loyalty?
Well, those were all right answers, but the one absolute necessity was simple.
Money.
Members of the [Dark Shadow] could receive virtually unlimited funds from the ducal family for operations, as long as they requested it.
On top of that, they drew a steady salary from the massive Nebula Ducal household.
Every one of them had amassed wealth that could rightfully label them billionaires.
This was a rule set by the founding head of the family when establishing the [Dark Shadow] for the Nebula Ducal house.
[Even those loyal to the family deserve proper compensation.]
[No—especially our own people deserve more.]
Other families operated secret special units too, but none rivaled the [Dark Shadow]'s power. That was why.
Even with contracts of loyalty, there was a world of difference between someone acting out of true desire and mere obligation.
Give them ample funds for any legitimate need.
Generous base pay as standard.
A cut of the ducal profits for every achievement?
And considering their skills, the workload wasn't even heavy.
Upon retirement, the family often showered them with handsome rewards.
Easy work, fat paychecks, massive retirement bonuses—it naturally bred unwavering loyalty.
"Uwaaaah."
Karon let out an involuntary groan, the financial violence hitting harder than his injuries from the fight with Abel.
[Anyway, that's enough joking around.]
In truth, no one in the [Dark Shadow] served the ducal family purely for the money.
They'd all been raised by the family from childhood.
Loyalty to the Nebula Ducal house was inevitable.
So everything just now was little more than playful discipline.
"Uwuh..."
Yeah, truly just a joke.
With that, the three began exchanging opinions on how to proceed.
Should they chase down leads again, or take a different approach?
[We uncovered something new this time. Those guys already had intel on Abel and even left a warning for Heros.]
This came from interrogating Heros, whom the Nostrad family had captured, via an imperial request.
[So here's what I'm thinking. Maybe pause the investigation and stick around the Nebula Ducal Residence for a bit.]
That suspicious organization hoarding info on Abel.
They hadn't even identified its name yet, but a clear link existed right here in the Nebula Ducal Residence.
Abel.
The man soon to be hailed as the family's sole heir.
[Not as bait or anything, of course. I'll explain the full situation to him.]
Belias telepathically shared her thoughts with the other two, just in case of any weird misunderstandings.
[He mentioned wanting tea with me, so I'll bring it up there.]
"...Tea time, you say?"
Sebastian, who'd been listening, voiced his doubt at the sudden, utterly out-of-place term amid their dire discussion.
"Tea time out of nowhere?"
Nella echoed the sentiment.
[Huh?]
"Please elaborate."
[Uh... it's simple. He accepted my apology and suggested we have some tea.]
Tea?
From Abel?
The two couldn't help exchanging glances, carrying on a silent conversation with their eyes.
From what they'd gauged of Abel's personality, he wasn't the type to enjoy tea parties.
No—he'd sooner savor a cigar or cocktail than touch tea; it didn't suit him at all.
'Weird, right?'
'Yes.'
Sebastian and Nella swiftly pieced together the info.
Abel's abrupt invitation. And Abel was a man, while Belias before them was a woman.
A man suddenly asking a woman for tea?
It was one of noble society's most common signals of interest.
'But Abel wouldn't...'
[???? Everyone?]
'Then... ah, considering his assessment of the current ducal situation, the answer clicks fast.'
Sebastian briefly viewed things from Abel's perspective—the state of the ducal house—and nodded in realization.
Let's list what Abel had grasped since arriving.
[What's going on? Why the faces?]
The Duke teetering on death's door.
Impossible to fully pinpoint, but the trigger was sudden poison.
In that context, how would Abel see the [Dark Shadow]?
'The most dangerous group—and one he must pull to his side.'
'Ah...'
"Lady Belias?"
[What.]
"Does Sir Abel know your true identity, by chance?"
[Hmm?]
Belias tilted her head at Sebastian's sudden question but nodded readily enough.
She'd met the Duke before coming here and learned her info had been passed to Abel.
[Yes. He knows.]
"I see..."
Finally, the puzzle clicked into place.
Sebastian nodded, and Nella, quietly synthesizing all the data beside him, reached the same conclusion.
"Lady Belias."
Why did Abel want time with her?
Many reasons possible, but the Abel they knew was deeply calculating and cold.
Such a man wouldn't act without purpose—that was obvious.
And so, their overinterpretation kicked into overdrive in real time.
"I suspect Sir Abel wishes to build rapport with you."
From Abel's view, he already knew the [Dark Shadow]'s boss was the Duke's granddaughter.
In that mess, he'd made a swift call.
"And that rapport might be... of the man-woman variety."
[...Huh?]
Abel: man. Belias: woman.
Ducal house in shambles, per Abel's judgment.
In such chaos, who posed the greatest threat?
Undoubtedly Belias—the sole remaining blood kin.
Sebastian figured Abel had every reason for this play.
No qualms about big gambits, his rational-yet-mad mindset during the Duke standoff.
All pointed to Abel possibly eyeing Belias as his spouse.
Ducal power could split.
But merge the root of division with himself? No split then.
"So, shall we start with makeup?"
Nella approached Belias slowly as she spoke.
And from their position, this situation wasn't bad at all.
If he'd tried to seize Belias by force, they'd block it.
But Abel was handling her with utmost gentility.
Plus, the caliber and character they'd assessed in Abel weren't half bad.
Such a man as Belias's husband?
For their boss, who'd resigned herself to spinsterhood?
Even if it was all their misunderstanding or overreach, fine by them.
The [Dark Shadow] had no intent to oppose the Nebula Ducal house—or Abel.
Abel and Belias bonding?
Dress her up nicely, boost their chemistry. Even if Abel lacked such notions, a union harmed no one.
What they were doing amounted to prettifying Belias, nothing coercive.
[Eh...?]
One was Sebastian, her butler since birth.
The other, Nella, a thick-as-thieves playmate from childhood.
Belias couldn't muster a single protest, just staring blankly as they closed in.
"So, there's one thing I'd like to ask."
"Hm? What?"
Rustle.
I looked up from flipping through my book in the chair, eyeing Mist, who sat quietly peeling fruit.
"Why did you want tea with our boss?"
"Ah..."
Ah, right. From her perspective, it might seem odd.
Popping a piece of her peeled fruit into my mouth, I answered offhandedly, like it was no big deal.
"Just curious how that telepathy works."
"Pardon...?"
"You know how tough it is to infiltrate someone's body with mana, right?"
"W-Well... yes?"
"Telepathy's similar, but she pierced my mana. Got me wondering. Can't exactly ask for the technique right there on the spot, though?"
So, tea to gradually build rapport.
That was it, nothing more, nothing less.
If someone saw it, they'd think I was hitting on her—no denying that.
'No way.'
The [Dark Shadow] boss wouldn't make that grand a leap.