Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Blade is Sharpest When Hidden (2)
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"You still don't seem to grasp it."
I looked down at him with a cold voice.
"What you'll lose."
Mason's face went blank at my sudden change in tone.
"Do you think this meeting is for haggling?"
I let the smile fade from my lips with a flick.
"If that's what you think, there's nothing to be done."
I brushed off my pants and turned away brusquely.
"Regret always comes too late, after the loss, Lord Mason."
I strode toward the door. Inside, I counted silently.
'One, two...'
Before I even reached three.
"Ah, ahh, Young Lord Abel!"
A frantic voice closed in from behind.
"Wait a moment!"
Mason came rushing up and grabbed my sleeve.
"Why are you in such a hurry? Let's talk a bit more..."
"I'm sorry for detaining a busy man."
I replied coolly, making it clear there would be no more conversation.
"You'll be even busier from now on, so I'll take my leave."
I shook off Mason's hand with a smack and turned my head. In that final moment, Mason's face crumpled.
"I get it!"
I halted.
My steps toward the door stopped dead.
"I'll hand over what you asked for. So please..."
I spun around. There stood Mason, panting, clutching the hem of his pants tightly.
"You've made the right choice."
At my bright response, Mason finally exhaled in relief.
"You'll keep what you said earlier, right?"
"Oh, of course. Deals are binding."
Mason let out a true sigh of relief.
"If you complete the title transfer by tomorrow."
"T-Tomorrow...?"
Mason's face soured at the impossibly tight deadline.
"If not, forget it."
You can't give people like this any leeway. The moment they sense a gap, they'll scheme to slip away like rats.
"No, no. I'll make it happen somehow."
"You've made the right choice. Ah, right."
I looked at Lord Mason and grinned widely.
"The desserts here are quite to my liking. I could eat more."
He caught on and forced an awkward smile.
"Buy as much as you want. I'll cover it."
The corner of Mason's mouth twitched.
"How generous. Then I'll gratefully indulge."
I planned to buy out every last item left in this coffeehouse. After all, food always tastes best when it's someone else's money.
❖ ❖ ❖
The next day.
"Th-This is insane..."
Jack gaped, his mouth hanging open as he looked around wildly. He scanned the walls of tawny marble and the gleaming floor that mirrored his face.
"Is this really our house?"
Standing in the center of the hall, I answered in a bored tone.
"Yeah, it is. Ask one more time, and it'll be the third."
"But it's too nice...? Can we really live in a place like this...?"
"What's wrong with it?"
Jack blinked and started looking around again.
"Wowww..."
His mouth stayed open.
Beside Jack stood Dexter, William, and Elice. They too hesitated at the entrance, just peering inside.
Dexter whispered in William's ear.
"Brother, is this okay?"
"What."
"Yesterday you came back with boxes of desserts you said you picked up on the way. And they were from the most expensive coffeehouse in the capital, right?"
"Yeah. They were delicious."
"Today you suddenly bring us to this shiny building. I don't know why you're being so nice lately."
Dexter's voice trailed off worriedly.
"When a person changes suddenly, it means they're about to..."
I stared at Dexter steadily.
"I'm perfectly healthy."
"Eek!"
Dexter jumped back from William in surprise.
"When did you hear that...? Your ears are too sharp."
I beckoned to the grumbling Dexter and the others.
"Stop acting like country bumpkins and come in."
The four exchanged glances, then shuffled inside hesitantly.
"M-Master."
Elice, who had been at the front, sidled up to me.
"I can hardly believe it either. Isn't this the prime spot in the capital with the highest land prices?"
"It is."
"Noble carriages pass by here every day, dozens of them. And a three-story building on top of that."
Elice shook her head.
"I can't even imagine how much it cost."
"I didn't buy it with money."
"Pardon?"
Elice, and everyone else, widened their eyes.
"Then how...?"
"I got it from Mason."
"Lord Mason gave up a building like this?"
"I made it so he had no choice."
Elice's jaw dropped at my smug reply.
"As expected of you, Master. Your resourcefulness is unmatched. To gain this much from the minor info I brought."
Savoring her admiring gaze, I recalled Mason from a few hours ago.
'I wonder what he's up to now?'
Thud.
I stamped the paper next to the name Abel Ovest Kindriel and pocketed it. It was the deed transferring ownership of the building at number 3 to me.
Mason looked at me, smacking his lips with regret. But he shook it off and said,
"Well, is that all?"
"You're efficient. I'm satisfied."
"Ahem. Then hand over those documents now."
"What documents do you mean?"
I blinked innocently at his hand.
"Why pretend not to know! Those documents!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Young Lord Abel!"
Face flushed with emotion, Mason closed in.
"Didn't we agree? If I hand over the building, then you'd hand over..."
His voice grew weaker.
"Then you'd..."
He realized it then. I'd only said I'd forget, never promised anything explicitly.
"Th-This..."
"Well then."
I rose gracefully from my chair.
Mason stared at me, unable to mask his expression. Rage, disbelief, injustice—all mixed together.
'Pfft.'
It was pathetically funny.
I turned away without hiding my smirk. Mason couldn't even think to stop me; he just trembled at the mouth.
"Oh, just in case."
I gripped and turned the doorknob.
"You'd better not get any funny ideas."
I slipped through the door crack and tossed out one last line.
"My memory's excellent."
As long as I held info on his mistress, Mason could never defy me.
'A rich sucker just got added to the list.'
Just then, I thought of sucker number one, probably heading to Ovest Territory by now.
Finishing the thought, I beckoned the four.
"If you've seen enough, let's head up."
I led the way up the stairs.
"This is exciting!"
Jack scampered after me first like an eager squirrel. The three adults followed more hesitantly.
"Wow..."
"What's all this?"
The guild members' mouths stayed agape at the second floor.
If the first floor was an open hall, the second had rooms lining both sides of a corridor.
"Private rooms, huh."
"Right."
Agreeing with Elice, I added,
"For big shots, or people ready to open their wallets wide."
I climbed the stairs again.
"If you've seen it all, keep going up."
"Yes!"
Jack shouted energetically and followed. The other three moved faster than before.
"Hmm."
William, gripping the stair railing absentmindedly, let out a groan.
"William."
Elice approached him with a face full of guilt.
"I'm... really, truly sorry, William."
She repeated the words she'd said so many times. It didn't seem to lessen her remorse.
"Please don't say that, Lady Elice."
William shook his head as always. His face showed only the naturalness of doing what must be done.
"If your body hadn't recovered, it would have been even worse."
"But your hand..."
Elice murmured gravely, eyeing William's hand wrapped in bandages.
"You won't be able to wield a sword for a while, but it'll heal soon enough."
"But..."
"Wowww!"
Elice's words drowned in Jack's loud yell.
"Brother, look at this! There's a bed! It's huge! Even if we both lie down, there'd be room left!"
"Oh?"
Dexter perked up too and hurried to Jack's side. The two soon lost themselves opening doors everywhere.
Having inspected the third floor, Elice turned to me.
"This place..."
"Yeah, this is our guild's new base from now on."
"Here..."
Elice looked around with deep emotion. Suddenly, worry clouded her blue eyes.
"The old tavern's location was exposed anyway. You know we can't use it anymore."
She flinched at my words, as if I'd read her mind.
"...I know. Still, it's a bit regrettable."
"No need to regret. We'll crush the Mare Guild later and take it back."
Elice gazed at me briefly, then nodded. Her face cleared, all regret gone.
"Come on in."
I led the guild members into the innermost room. Ornate wallpaper, flooring, and fine mahogany furniture greeted us.
The wall opposite the door was all glass. Through the transparent panes, the full view of the capital Magiore unfolded.
"Everyone looks so busy."
The central square and streets buzzed with Harvest Festival preparations.
Festive garlands fluttered in the wind, and lantern-lit vendor carts dotted the area.
"Finally, tomorrow."
The Harvest Festival would begin.
My plan to lay the groundwork before it was progressing smoothly. I could clearly see the seeds sprouting, stems growing.
"Looking forward to it."
The Saint Rachel, somewhere in the capital, was probably thinking the same.
Thud.
I sat in the chair at the back of the room and gestured with my chin.
"Sit down, all of you."
Toward the guest table and chairs in the center.
"..."
The four glanced at each other cautiously before sitting.
I eyed them steadily, then spoke.
"You've all worked hard."
Their jaws dropped at my words.
"What's with those faces."
"Well, it's just."
Dexter scratched his cheek sheepishly.
"We never expected to hear that."
That's human psychology for you.
Treat them well a hundred times, mess up once, and they turn away. Treat them harshly a hundred times, show kindness once, and they melt.
"If not for you, Master, we wouldn't be gathered here..."
Even Elice's face brimmed with感动.
'Hmm.'
Seeing them so moved, oblivious to me being the root cause, felt a bit off.
"Ahem. Anyway, time to explain future plans."
Elice, William, Dexter, and Jack all listened intently with serious faces.
"First off, we're scrapping all previous roles."
I stared at William, sitting with his bandaged hands dangling.
"William, step down as front-facing guild leader and take on butler duties."
"Butler... did you say?"
William looked somewhat surprised.
"Those nails will take months to grow back. You can barely hold a sword."
"...Yes."
"So for now, glove up those hands and handle paperwork."
"Understood."
Next to the compliant William sat Dexter. I turned to him.
"For the time being, Dexter, you handle external guild affairs. Procure supplies, drive the carriage if needed."
"..."
"In short, odd jobs."
Dexter's mouth twitched as he schooled his expression.
"Got it."
Jack, waiting eagerly, sparkled his eyes.
"Master, what about me?"
"You just feed Goldstar."