Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Blade is Sharpest When Hidden (1)
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They lifted William's body and carried him out of the room.
"William!"
"Brother!"
Elice and Dexter began wriggling toward him.
I picked up the sword Ethan had dropped earlier and placed it beside William.
"Free yourselves. I'll be out soon."
I slammed the door shut and returned to the room.
"Huek... heuk."
Ethan was completely limp, drooling from his mouth.
"Oh dear. If you're already this far gone, it'll be no fun."
With a flick, I approached the fireplace at the back of the room. At the sound of my voice, Ethan barely lifted his head to look my way.
"Kill me..."
"Not yet. You still have sins left to atone for."
I pulled an iron poker from the fireplace. As I strode toward him holding it, Ethan flinched and straightened up.
"No way..."
"Goldstar, that snake. You had a hand in it, didn't you?"
Ethan's trembling eyes fixed on the glowing red tip of the poker.
"I don't know anything..."
"Oh, really? But now you're the only one left."
"..."
"What to do? I can't pin the blame on the dead."
I curled up the corner of my mouth and slowly waved the poker.
"I'll give you the exact pain Goldstar suffered."
"St-stop..."
Despair crept into Ethan's eyes.
Sizzle.
The red-hot poker plunged mercilessly into his flesh.
"Aaaargh!"
A night he would never forget was passing.
❖ ❖ ❖
A few days later.
A bright afternoon with the autumn sun beating down harshly.
"Hmm."
I was at the most popular high-end coffee house in the capital. It was especially famous, run by a chef from the imperial palace.
[Those very baked cookies His Majesty the Emperor visited twice]
[Cheesecake favored by Princess Violet]
Indeed, the promotional phrases emphasizing past credentials drew the eye. No wonder it sold out daily.
[Custard pudding recently featured at the banquet hall]
"Oh, this too."
There were a few desserts I'd tasted at the banquet hall a few days ago. Of course, the prices were exorbitant enough to make commoners' eyes pop.
Most patrons were nobles accompanied by servants. I was an exception, coming alone.
"Um, would you like to order?"
A clerk was trailing behind me. Probably because I'd been wandering around looking without ordering for quite some time.
"I'll call if I need anything."
I waved him off, and the clerk retreated with a troubled expression. He seemed bothered by the attention drawn to me.
"That man..."
"Abel Ovest Kindriel..."
"From the conference hall..."
Rumors from the conference hall had already spread; people were whispering quietly. I savored their gazes as I leisurely toured the shop.
"Hmm..."
Though browsing desserts, I was also surveying the layout and interior. To familiarize myself with the capital's latest trends.
How much time passed.
"Oh."
The person I'd been waiting for appeared.
"You're here!"
"Welcome!"
The clerks bowed deeply to the guest.
"Hm."
It was Mason Lord, nodding arrogantly. The owner approached, rubbing his hands.
"You've arrived, Mason Lord."
"Yes. Everything as discussed?"
"We've prepared it perfectly here."
Clap clap!
He clapped, and another clerk hurried out with two boxes.
"This one contains two of each of our latest desserts."
The manager pointed to each box as he explained.
"And this is our token of gratitude for your loyal patronage. Chocolate balls handmade by our chef—pour hot liqueur over them..."
Mason Lord, satisfied with the explanation, raised his hand.
"Butler, pay up."
"Yes, Master."
The butler beside him took the boxes and settled the bill. Meanwhile, I slyly approached Mason.
"Well, well, who do we have here?"
I deliberately spoke loudly, popping up behind him.
"Isn't this Mason Lord?"
"Heok!"
Mason's eyes widened upon spotting me.
"Y-you're..."
"Fancy meeting you here. What a coincidence."
Of course, today's encounter was no coincidence—it was inevitable.
I knew he visited this coffee house every Thursday, and why.
I continued innocently.
"Surely you haven't forgotten already? We met just days ago."
Mason cleared his throat, stroking his chin as he stepped back.
"Of course I remember, Young Lord Abel."
He gestured urgently for his butler to hurry. He clearly didn't welcome running into me.
"Then I must be off, busy as I am..."
"Wow, this is surprising."
I subtly blocked his path and kept talking.
"I never knew Mason Lord had such a sweet tooth for desserts."
I pressed close to him and lowered my voice so only he could hear.
"With that quantity, it seems you're sharing with someone. Not the lady of the house, I take it."
I wore a sly smile.
"She despises sweets, after all."
"......!"
Mason startled, glancing around. Confirming no one heard, he looked back at me.
"N-now, you. What are you..."
He whispered urgently, tongue-tied in panic.
"Care to spare a moment? I have something to discuss."
"I have nothing to discuss with you..."
"Nothing? Really?"
Despite my mocking tone, Mason couldn't retort.
"I know who you're planning to eat these desserts with."
"......"
"How about it? Suddenly got something to talk about?"
"A-alright. Fine."
His face darkened as he nodded hastily.
"Not here—somewhere else..."
"No need to go far."
I pointed upstairs.
"Let's talk in a private room on the third floor."
"Very well."
Mason beckoned the owner, who bowed politely after hearing.
"Understood. How shall we prepare tea and treats?"
Mason spoke indifferently.
"Whatever, just..."
"May I order?"
I cut in rudely. Mason just blinked.
"......Fine. Do as Young Lord Abel says."
"Yes, sir."
The owner replied courteously, then looked at me. Confirming he was listening, I raised a finger.
"From here,"
I pointed to the leftmost display case,
"to there."
I pointed to the opposite end.
"Bring it all."
The owner's face lit up with a smile, while Mason grimaced like he'd eaten dung.
A few minutes later.
I sat face-to-face with Mason alone in a third-floor private room.
"So, what is it you want to talk about?"
Mason demanded impatiently.
"Tsk, so hasty."
I leisurely reached for a cookie on the table.
"Let's take it slow. We've got time."
"I don't have...!"
"Of course not."
My eyes narrowed like a snake's.
"Your concubine must be waiting by now. With desserts for the two of you."
"......!"
Mason's face turned ashen.
"Why so surprised? I mentioned it at the conference hall too."
"That Pigeon Ruby! You think to blackmail me with it? It poses no threat!"
"Oh, of course not. That's not all."
I licked my lips slowly and added,
"I know quite a lot."
I picked up a plate with lemon tart. Facing his uneasy gaze, I began.
"Tesoro Territory."
The territory near the capital where Mason's concubine resided.
"The building at the far end of Second Street."
Her residence, and
"Vivid rose-gold hair, green eyes."
Her appearance.
"The maids attending her were quite flustered. I have their testimonies secured. And physical evidence too."
"—!"
Mason's mouth gaped open. He stared at me, unable to close it.
"Th-that..."
I ignored him, popping the tart into my mouth and chewing. Savoring the tangy lemon and creamy cheese, I glanced out the window.
'Sweet, so sweet.'
The melting sweetness in my mouth, the scenery in view. And toying with a corrupt man.
'This is fun.'
Like playing with a rat trapped in a jar. The more he squirmed under my gaze, the better.
Mason Lord was a man who frolicked with a concubine twenty years his junior.
In the original story, he got in trouble for not keeping it in his pants. His swollen-bellied mistress came to the capital and caused a scene.
'Age brings no shame...'
I clicked my tongue inwardly and spoke.
"I'll get straight to the point."
Mason stared at my mouth, breathing raggedly.
"There's another three-story building near this coffee house."
I grinned and snapped my fingers.
"Hand it over."
Mason's face hardened like plaster.
"How do you know about that...?"
"Does that matter?"
I laced my fingers behind my head.
"What matters is that I want it."
"But this is..."
"Yes, I know. It's planned as a branch of the Ardante Merchant Group."
Mason's face crumbled completely. He looked at me like I'd seen a ghost.
"How about it? I know quite a bit, don't I?"
I gave him a secretive smile.
Opening a branch for the Ardante Merchant Group was one of his long-prepared ventures.
Beyond just distributing Sud Territory specialties, it was a grand plan to claim a proper stake.
It would grant him significant influence among the pro-Ardante faction and bolster his position in the capital.
In the original story, it went smoothly. But now that I knew, his plans were doomed.
"It must be tough, but think it over."
I cooed soothingly to the dazed Mason Lord.
"You know Tyler Lord is in a precarious spot lately, right?"
"—!"
Light finally returned to Mason Lord's eyes. He understood what I meant.
"Carlo Lord shows no mercy. Especially to those who tarnish his possessions."
Tyler was under heavy pressure from the Mare Guild lately. The price for fooling Carlo's eyes and fiddling with ledgers was immense.
Soon, he'd lose everything he'd built.
"Your excellent reputation has helped promote the blue pearls and red corals so far."
"......"
"But if that crumbles? Whose head will Carlo Lord's blade aim for?"
Desperation lit Mason's face.
"Young Lord Abel..."
"You know best yourself."
Like a devil's temptation, I whispered softly.
"Hand over that building, and I'll forget everything I just said."
Mason swallowed hard, eyes darting as he considered.
"What you ask... is difficult. Anything else you want? Money, jewels—name it, I'll provide as much as I can..."
"Money and jewels."
"Yes, just say the word. I'll do my utmost..."
Scrape.
Before he finished, I shoved back my chair and stood.