Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: The Absolute Banquet (4)
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The Leon Empire had reigned as the master of the continent for over two hundred years.
If you had to pick a landmark here, it would be the grand imperial palace at the heart of the capital.
An overwhelming scale where you couldn't even tour the entire grounds in a full day.
And among those places, the most special one was a secluded space reserved solely for the imperial family...
The Sky Garden, Elysia.
The chirping of birds that lived in the highlands.
Lush grass blanketing the marble and trees infused with mana.
In the past, a princess from the Samad Empire and her chancellor used to enjoy secret rendezvous here.
It was a space boasting scenery so magnificent and an atmosphere so comfortable.
"......"
However, today's garden atmosphere was anything but ordinary.
A round table placed in the center of the garden.
The princess sitting boldly there had an extremely serious expression.
"Everyone heard me clearly, right?"
She growled like a female lion gathering the pride's top predators on the plains.
Her sharp fangs flashed in contrast to her beautiful face.
"If any of you say anything unpleasant to that child at the banquet, I won't let it slide."
The targets of the princess's words were precisely three people.
Black Tower Master, Mariposa Mikhail.
Imperial Council Chairman, Lidas Andalusia.
Imperial Finance Officer, Logan Andalusia.
All of them imperial royals and the sturdy pillars upholding the empire.
Camillia pointed at the most suspicious one among them, the masked Tower Master.
The mask cleverly covered only her eyes, shaped like a black fox.
"Mari, if you play even a single mean prank on that child, I'll launch a financial audit on the Black Tower immediately."
Mariposa, with her long, sleek black hair cascading down.
She replied with a smile on her red lips.
"Don't worry. Why would I touch the child you fancy?"
As the Black Tower Master, she oversaw all of the empire's black magic and sorcery.
She was the same age as Camillia and had held the position of Sorcerers' Association Chairman since the previous generation.
However, she was infamous for her eccentric personality, tormenting those she disliked relentlessly.
"Next, Lidas, the same goes for you. Don't even think about trapping her with wordplay."
A 30-year-old man elegantly brushing back his dark hair.
He opened his red eyes nobly and responded.
"I don't have the bad habit of teasing young friends, Camillia."
As a descendant of the previous princess, Lydia, he bore the heavy responsibility of Imperial Council Chairman.
Now that Grand Elder Dark had stepped back from public duties, he divided the political world with Prime Minister Ainz.
As a political heavyweight, he boasted exceptional eloquence and insight.
And he enjoyed crushing those who irked him in debates.
"Finally, you too, Logan. Watch yourself. If you nitpick Derek for being poor, you know my temper."
He, who looked just like Lidas, nodded.
His twin brother, wearing a monocle, shrugged his shoulders.
"Who do you take me for, some corruption watchdog? No need to make a fuss."
The royals smiled kindly at their cousin princess.
They displayed the merciful demeanor of the world's most benevolent royal blood.
"......I'll believe you."
Camillia abruptly stood from her seat.
In her white uniform, she clasped her hands behind her back and coldly scanned them like a dictator.
"I'm off now. See you tomorrow."
Her cold footsteps gradually faded from the garden.
Only after their little sister's figure completely vanished did the royals drop their smiles.
"She's gone?"
"Gone."
"Indeed."
All three simultaneously adopted sly, fox-like gazes.
"I have no idea why Camillia is suddenly acting like this. Is Derek Minster really that special?"
The first to speak was the Imperial Finance Officer, Logan.
True to his slyest personality among the three, he shrugged.
"Late bloomers are always the scariest. To begin with, Camillia's ancestor, Empress Lea, fell head over heels for her chancellor, her first love, at 24."
The political heavyweight Lidas chimed in.
True to his mastery of rhetoric, he deliciously roasted their vanished sister.
"She's properly lovesick. Honestly, romantic feelings are scarier than sorcery."
The Black Tower's mistress agreed.
Well-versed in sorcery and schemes, she went further with this speculation.
"Or maybe she was brainwashed by that warden."
"Brainwashed? Our Camillia isn't that weak-willed."
As the finance officer tilted his head, Mariposa's golden eyes gleamed.
"Berryhill Prison has a prisoner specialized in brainwashing magic. He could have enslaved that one to cast it on the princess."
The atmosphere grew unexpectedly more serious.
As pillars of the empire, they demonstrated meticulous consideration of various possibilities.
"That's honestly low probability. Lately, Camillia has grown even more. She can fully control the space of Confession Magic now."
"That magic is a bit enviable. Makes you wonder what she does in there all day."
The twin brothers highly praised Camillia's abilities.
However, Mariposa snapped that it was even more problematic.
"That's exactly the issue. If she's in her right mind and still head over heels for that rascal."
The Sky Garden fell silent for a moment.
The birds' chirps and cool breeze filled the quiet.
"Then we'll have to test the boy ourselves."
Council Chairman Lidas finally broke the silence.
He urged his two kin to devise their respective strategies.
"Logan, you check if he has the finances and capability to support our sister."
"Leave it to me."
The Imperial Finance Officer would test wealth and earning power.
Outwardly sly, he was infamous for squeezing his subordinates like rats.
"Next, I'll check his courage and wisdom."
The Black Tower had long been infamous as a fearsome place.
Managing black magic and sorcery, even imperial knights hesitated to approach.
A true knight must wisely handle their dark arts and terrors.
"Finally, I'll check his character."
The chairman smirked darkly like a schemer.
From the table where the three sat, an suffocating aura befitting imperial powers emanated.
"Let's move the appointed time earlier. Finish it in one go before Camillia arrives."
The politician Lidas raised a finger in declaration of battle.
Meanwhile, his twin brother Logan slyly asked.
"But is it okay for us to do this secretly? We saw her blow up earlier."
As finance officer, he crossed paths with his sister often.
"I rarely run into her as council chairman."
"Same here, holed up in the Black Tower."
The two replied oh-so-casually.
Sensing something off, Logan furrowed his brow sharply.
"Then what about me?"
As he asked with a venomous desert fox expression, his two kin turned simultaneously.
"You've got money. Just give her some pocket change to placate her."
"Who do you take me for, a piggy bank......?"
Supreme figures in their domains, exuding overwhelming charisma.
Among themselves, they somehow created a strangely intimate vibe.
And so the next day arrived.
The famed warden was invited to the Sky Garden where the banquet was prepared.
Dressed in the sharp attire he'd prepared in advance yesterday.
'I've only been here back when I was Imperial Prime Minister.'
Visiting his old workplace after ages.
I crossed the vast corridors with the escorting knight.
'Turn right here, and the Sky Garden should be it. Where I drank with the Grand Elder.'
Recalling old memories, I entered the garden.
A cool breeze welcomed me, along with the spectacular fusion of palace and nature.
And...
The empire's most noble-blooded powerhouses as well.
"Welcome, Warden Derek."
Lidas Andalusia.
He extended both hands to greet me.
True to a political heavyweight, he created a natural atmosphere despite it being our first meeting.
"Sharp outfit. Luton designer's work?"
Logan Andalusia.
The man who managed all the empire's money.
The one who knew everything about finance saw through my attire instantly.
"Sit here, Warden."
Finally, Mariposa Mikhail.
A woman recognized as royal despite not bearing the Andalusia name.
She, who led the Black Tower, indicated the seat opposite her.
"Thank you for inviting me to such an honorable seat. I'm Derek Minster."
Remembering imperial etiquette, I bowed with practiced poise.
They pretended nonchalance, but instinctively I knew.
Their eyes scrutinized every movement, gaze, and word of mine.
"Long journey, well done. Since you're here, why not inspect your 'company' as well?"
The politician Lidas opened with small talk.
The 'company' he meant was probably Minster Group, crawling with Bacar mafia.
"Haha... Yes. Thanks to you, I have an excuse to secretly check if the company is running smoothly. Truly grateful."
"Seems you're inwardly anxious. Using people of dubious origins, after all."
"Not at all. Inspections are basic duties as group head."
"Then wouldn't it be better to live in the capital and check regularly? Why linger in the northern boonies?"
The council chairman's probing strikes came relentlessly.
To earn high marks, respond sharply without buckling under the pressure.
"My main job is Berryhill warden, after all. Wherever I am, the most important thing is service to the empire."
I subtly appealed to patriotism, valuing imperial civil service over profitable business.
"Proud of your warden post, I see. With such patriotism, you'll snap up a promotion offer soon."
He tossed bait in return.
But.
"No, I absolutely have no intention of promotion."
I won't take it, ever.
At the crucial moment, I countered decisively.
"Why? Promotion would make you even more honored as Camillia's close aide."
"If I rise and gain more influence, it could affect company affairs. I might be suspected of using public power for private gain."
I spoke meticulously, without even sipping water.
"To avoid troubling Your Highness, I must steer clear of scandals."
Lidas fell silent briefly, watching me slip through his traps.
Then, deeming small talk sufficient, he glanced at his twin.
The first examiner tasked with checking the warden's wealth and support capability.
"Impressive mindset. The appetizers should suit your taste thanks to that."
"You're too kind, Finance Officer Logan."
The red eye in the monocle observed me intently.
"I heard earlier you run a private business besides warden duties."
"Modest security and pharmaceuticals."
The finance officer slightly rose from his seat.
Despite being royal, he poured the wine himself, without calling a servant.
As if checking my posture in receiving the glass.
"Guards and meds... Do they actually make money?"
Lidas and Mariposa's lips twitched faintly upward.
They thought simultaneously.
'Here it comes, Logan's signature snark.'
Famed as both finance officer and an enormous asset holder in the empire.
His specialty was goading braggarts about money or companies into revealing fortunes, then humiliating them.
"Camillia... She's a sister I truly cherish, so I'm worried if you can actually support her."
The buildup flowed smoothly like filling wine.
Soon, he pressured me with the haughty gaze unique to royals.
"Do you have sufficient assets prepared, by any chance?"
"Ah, you mean my fortune?"
Is this the fabled power of money?
I had decent confidence from company dividends coming my way.
But nowhere near enough to satisfy the finance officer.
No, honestly, asking a newbie entrepreneur about assets— what does a tycoon expect?
"I'm saving diligently, but still sorely lacking."
"Hoo... With the throne race heating up, this is troubling."
Logan spoke leisurely, as if he'd expected it.
In truth, he already knew my wealth was woefully inadequate.
This was probably just to humble me, assert discipline.
"Could you show me? As finance officer, I'd like to see the caliber of my sister's first close aide."
"Right here?"
This was blatant.
Was he planning to use that monocle he's wearing?
Logan's monocle was a type of artifact.
Its ability: reveal the target's assets upon viewing.
Pressing the frame switch here would expose my fortune in real-time.
"All good, Derek Minster?"
"......Go ahead."
My current assets were about two villas.
Humiliating, but unavoidable.
I could return with dividends from the fast-growing company in a few months.
Thinking that, I stared squarely at Logan's monocle.
"Alright, let's check."
At last, the moment he pressed the switch on the lens frame.
Logan wore an 'I knew it' expression as he scanned my assets.
"Hm-. Two villas, huh. As expected, woefully insufficient."
The finance officer leisurely crossed his arms.
But.
"Huh?"
His arrogant hand slowly lowered...
And soon humbly clasped together.
"What? Why is the asset value suddenly increasing in real-time...?"
One castle.
Five castles.
"What the hell, why is this happening?"
The finance officer's eyes began trembling beneath.
Unbelieving, as if the artifact malfunctioned.
As if he'd raided every vault in the Walter Group.
His eyes bulged like a startled fox.
"Logan, what's suddenly up with you?"
Lidas scowled at his undignified brother's face.
Mariposa also tilted her head curiously.
But their bewilderment was just beginning.
The once-arrogant finance officer, after fully checking my assets...
"Brother-in-law. Why'd you take so long?"
Suddenly beamed brightly and gripped both my hands tight.
'What's with this guy all of a sudden?'
Thinking it odd, I recalled the blue text in my mind.
The moment I gazed into the air.
Like Logan across from me, my jaw dropped.
'Why is this under my ownership...?'