Chapter 020
Yanrof looked calm.
Dressed in an elegant tuxedo and wearing a monocle, he sat properly behind his desk and looked at . Unfortunately, I could not read his expression.
A thought suddenly occurred to .
Just how high were Yanrof’s stats?
What I had realized through Training Officer Cornel’s case was that the Status Window did not rely show a person’s abilities. It also provided information about their inclinations.
If Cornel’s Status Window had not shown Traits like Embezzlent, Breach of Trust, and Fraud, I would never have suspected him in the slightest.
“Head Butler, you sent for ?”
“Yes.”
A short reply.
The air inside the Head Butler’s Office turned cold. I stood cautiously before him and waited for what would co next.
Yanrof, who had been staring at in silence, tilted his head.
“I truly do not understand what possessed you to do sothing like this.”
It seed he was talking about the matter of Training Officer Cornel. He looked deeply confused.
But then, so was I.
I had handed the information to Young Lady Sapiela, yes, but there had been no way for to predict how she would choose to use it.
To be honest, even if Yanrof decided to throw into the underground dungeon right now, I would have no right to complain.
“I have heard the story regarding Training Officer Cornel. I am told you personally delivered the docunts to Young Lady Sapiela.”
“That is correct.”
“And how exactly did you co to learn of Training Officer Cornel’s wrongdoing?”
So things had gone well.
Otherwise, he would not have used the word “wrongdoing.” He was the sort of man who chose his words deliberately.
Even so, I had no intention of letting my guard down until the end.
“When I was working at Rosetta, I ca to learn that there was a problem with the ingredients. And then I also learned that more people than I expected had raised objections to the matter, yet nothing had improved.”
“You might simply think that it was because of the drought.”
“On the contrary, I thought that was precisely why they ought to have selected and delivered even finer ingredients. This is none other than the Adeline Marquis House. Is it not only proper that a great house be shown the respect and courtesy it deserves?”
I applied the exact sa logic I had once used on Training Officer Cornel. If it had worked on Cornel, then there was a chance it would work on Yanrof as well.
“Hm....”
Yanrof sank into thought.
A little later, he spoke again.
“I have reviewed the materials you collected as well. They are more than enough to prove Cornel’s wrongdoing. But how did you gather them? It seems Young Lady Sapiela does not know.”
To Young Lady Sapiela, I had described them only as materials I gathered at the risk of my life.
I could not tell her that I had raided Training Officer Cornel’s office. Because of her position, she might have ford prejudices imdiately.
That was the sort of thing I would rather say to Head Butler Yanrof.
To reveal my plan in advance, I intended to cover over my cris with the rit I had earned.
“I raided two places that I found suspicious.”
“Raided? Are you saying you committed theft?”
“That is correct.”
Yanrof’s brow narrowed. His expression worsened to the point that wrinkles showed clearly. He was a man who valued principle and order.
But this was a point I would have to collide with sooner or later anyway.
“As I understand it, several of my seniors had already reported the irrational situation taking place at Rosetta. I believed those materials would surely be in the Training Officer’s office.”
“And the other place?”
“The Arkain rchant Company’s warehouse.”
“What?”
“I said the Arkain rchant Company’s warehouse.”
At first, Head Butler Yanrof rely looked startled. Then he tilted his head, his expression full of disbelief.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. It is true.”
“Let give you one piece of advice. There must not be a single falsehood in what you tell . Your position at the mont is a very... delicate one.”
A chill ran down my spine.
The ability to change the entire atmosphere of a room with a single remark really was remarkable. There was a reason he had beco Head Butler.
“Respected Head Butler, there is not a single falsehood in my testimony. I stake my life on it.”
“Very well, let us say I accept the matter of the Training Officer’s office. But how did you raid the Arkain rchant Company’s warehouse? It should have been guarded by rcenaries.”
“I made use of a small talent of mine. Thanks to that, I was able to leave with the docunts without too much difficulty.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
Yanrof folded his arms. His sharp fingers tapped repeatedly against his sleeve. He must have been thinking hard.
“Very well. Then let ask only one last thing. You would have had to risk your life to do all this, so why? How were you able to do it?”
It was a question worthy of being called the last.
Of course, I had expected it. If I put myself in his position, it was not the sort of thing a powerless apprentice who was due to leave the mansion in a month should have been capable of.
I gave the answer I had prepared in advance.
“I said this to Young Lady Sapiela as well, but it was because the House’s honor was at stake. With loyalty to House Adeline in my heart, I exposed Training Officer Cornel’s outrages.”
“I do not like interrupting a man in the middle of speaking, but there is one point I must address. Why did you go to Young Lady Sapiela instead of to ?”
“Forgive my disrespect. I suspected that you too might be involved in this matter, Lord Yanrof. So I brought it to one of high rank who seed neutral.”
For an instant, I saw interest appear in Head Butler Yanrof’s eyes.
“So, in other words, you assud I might have joined hands with Training Officer Cornel and committed corruption together with him?”
“That is correct. Otherwise, how could a re rchant company dare insult a marquis house?”
It was hard to deny, so Yanrof let out a sigh. But it soon beca clear that he was no ordinary man. Rather than grow angry, he simply nodded.
“It seems you were not finished earlier. Continue.”
“There is one more reason. I wanted to keep working here. So I thought I had to earn rit.”
That was sothing I had not said to anyone. Not even to Young Lady Sapiela.
The reason was simple.
If I spoke only of lofty principles and noble causes, my superiors would naturally suspect my hidden motives.
The man called Dilen was a commoner. He was not wealthy, and he ca from the countryside. If I said nothing practical and only spoke in clouds, their suspicion would only deepen.
So I judged it would be acceptable to reveal so personal desire as well.
I did not care how the real Dilen had entered the Adeline Marquis House as a Butler Apprentice in the first place. At this mont, it was better to show desperation and emphasize that I was only human.
“I do not wish to lose the chance I struggled so hard to obtain. Please show rcy and grant the chance to fulfill my dream!”
Naturally, I lowered my head.
I intended not to raise it again until I received an answer.
What sort of expression was Yanrof making now, I wondered?
A mont later, his answer ca.
“You have committed cris that cannot easily be overlooked. You stole docunts from the Training Officer’s office, and on top of that you raided the warehouse of a partner rchant company. If this becos known, it will cause a great uproar.”
After I ca into contact with Young Lady Sapiela, the fact that I raided the rchant company could no longer remain a secret. Even if I had not raided it, the docunts from that place were now in my hands, so either way, they were evidence linking to the attack on the warehouse.
But no matter.
I do not know whether you rember sothing I said in passing once before. That I would one day build an organization that served faithfully.
I had chosen the Scorpion Gang as my first target. Before long, I intended to find an opportunity and turn the Scorpion Gang’s headquarters upside down.
My plan was to bring them under .
The fastest way to gather information was not in the light, but in the shadows. In that sense, the Scorpion Gang was a suitably attractive organization.
Not too small, yet not too large either. Perfect for a tutorial.
Does that sound absurd?
More than possible.
Because I had the strength for it. I was growing stronger with every passing day, so taking over one petty organization would be nothing at all.
After that, all I had to do was devour them one by one like a ga.
“But....”
Was this going to be the reversal?
I smiled to myself while keeping my head bowed.
“It is also clearly true that you have earned enough rit to cover those cris. By this, the discipline and honor of House Adeline will be set aright.”
Please stop drawing it out and grant my reward already.
“Dilen. Raise your head.”
I slowly lifted my head and t his gaze.
With perfectly composed eyes.
“Young Lady Sapiela has entrusted this matter entirely to . In other words, it is sothing I can handle with my own hands, even without reporting it to His Excellency the Marquis.”
He rose from his chair. Then he walked slowly toward .
“Your attendance has been good lately.”
“That is only because my seniors looked kindly on . I rely did my utmost.”
“Why did you not act so before?”
Because I changed as a person.
But since I could not say that, I offered a suitable excuse instead.
“After I was injured from falling off the balcony, I set my heart straight. And when you ca to check on my condition, Lord Yanrof, I made up my mind. I decided that I wanted to beco a splendid butler like you.”
“You are honest.”
Nodding once, Yanrof gave my shoulder a light pat.
“Hm? Why do you look so startled?”
“No. It is nothing.”
Of course I was startled.
Because your Status Window had just appeared before . I had hooked it by sheer accident, but it was quite a catch.
○ Yanrof de rius
Rank: ★★★★
Level: 54
Traits: Administration S, Social Grace A, Eloquence A, Dignity B, Cleaning B, Mathematics A, Astronomy A, ???
Status: Expectation
[Not Unlocked]
[Not Unlocked]
......
Was this for real?
For the first ti, I had finally seen an S-rank. It was truly a set of stats worthy of the man who stood at the head of all butlers in House Adeline.
I decided to analyze the Status Window later. For the mont, I looked back at him boldly.
“By my own authority, I will extend your apprenticeship. You may remain here until you sit the Butler Exam. However, do keep in mind that just because you have rendered service does not an you will receive bonus points on the examination.”
“Thank you. Thank you very much!”
I was genuinely delighted.
I had no real interest in becoming a butler.
But I did like staying in this mansion. I had two good friends here already, and there were several bastards who still needed to be taught a proper lesson.
Staying here for a while longer would not be so bad.
Since I was at it, I might as well take the Butlet Exam too.
At that mont, the beautiful image of Young Lady Sapiela flashed through my mind.
Yes.
Let devote myself a little more to this House.
***
“Really? That is incredible! Hahaha! You bastard, I knew soday you would pull off sothing huge!”
Rohan had co running the mont he heard the news that my apprenticeship had been extended, and he congratulated wholeheartedly. Because of this matter, I had co to trust Rohan completely.
The sa went for Arwen, of course. Without her, I would never even have gotten close to Young Lady Sapiela’s shadow.
“Once we get leave later, let us go out and eat and drink in style. You are paying, right?”
“Sure.”
“Hm? Why do you look like that? Sothing this good happens, and you are not even overjoyed?”
There was one thing bothering .
Training Officer Cornel had received severe disciplinary action. He had been completely removed from the post of Training Officer. After that, he had relinquished his butler position and left the mansion as good as driven out.
And yet I still had not been able to open that mysterious box I had hidden.
It might be nothing more than another set of materials that would make the collusion between Training Officer Cornel and the rchant company even clearer.
But my sharp instincts were stirring.
Was there not sothing else hidden inside? Just like the way the box itself kept its mouth tightly shut.
And then, at that very mont, sothing unexpected happened.
DONG! DONG! DONG!
The bell in the mansion rang out loudly three tis.
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