The Top-Tier Butler of the Marquis Family Chapter 90 : Chapter 90

Chapter 090

“You’ve got more nerve than I expected. If you’re part of the Underworld, then you must already have heard the rumors about .”

“I’m not sure what you an by that, Young Master.”

“I an that if I set my mind to it, I could take your head without a second thought. I know very well that people praise as a madman. Most n are too busy bowing and scraping...... but you’re far too confident. Do you have three necks or sothing?”

I had served him for about five days before. I also knew very well what sort of Status Window he had.

That was why I had been confident about dealing with him.

But it seed that very confidence had backfired. A clear note of suspicion had taken root in the Young Master’s sharp eyes.

What he ant was not that I ought to grovel and submit like a slave.

No, it was a far more reasonable suspicion than that: You know very well what kind of man I am, so what exactly gives you the confidence to stand there so boldly?

Even if his tone was thoroughly ill-mannered.

Even so, I did not lower my head.

Instead, I dropped to one knee.

“I heard that you do not care much for people who fawn over you, Young Master......”

“And where did you hear that?”

“From Dilen.”

The Young Master crossed his legs the other way and grinned. His hand slowly stroked the armrest of the seat of authority.

“What sort of relationship do you have with Dilen?”

“We’re distant relatives. Close to strangers, really, but since I moved to this Territory, we’ve gotten along fairly well.”

“And your hotown?”

“Fortuna.”

“All you bastards from Fortuna have rotten attitudes. That’s why I like you. Hahaha!”

The Young Master laughed loudly.

So far, things were proceeding just as I had expected. It seed he liked the way I stood my ground instead of cowering.

Then suddenly, Young Master Hal frowned.

“But aren’t you still the head of an Underworld gang? Parasites sucking the lifeblood out of our poor people of the Territory. With what face did you dare crawl in here?”

If Suhyeon, the head of the Avengers, had not also been Dilen, if he had known the Young Master only by reputation, then he would have trembled at that single sentence and begged for his life.

But I had no need to do that. This was nothing more than one of the Young Master’s attempts to test the size of my vessel.

“That is a misunderstanding. Our Avengers are not that kind of organization.”

“Then what kind?”

“We are preparing a variety of ventures for the sake of the people of the Territory. As our first step, we dealt with one parasite that had been gnawing away at the noble Territory of the Adeline House. Not only the Black Pig Gang, but one rotten Underworld organization after another, we intend to take them over.”

“Hmm......”

I had already alluded to this once before as Dilen, so he was unlikely to grow too suspicious over it.

“More importantly, we are no longer simply the Avengers. We plan to establish a company called tis and carry out legitimate business.”

“Go on. Explain in detail.”

“We expect to receive business approval from the governnt office soon. Once that happens, we will bring various ventures that once belonged in the shadows out into the open, pay our taxes faithfully, and devote our loyalty to the lord.”

“You make pretty words sound awfully convincing.”

The Young Master grinned, apparently pleased. Beside him, Sir Parala still looked down at with the sa blank expression.

The only thing that had changed was that the hand resting on his sword had relaxed.

“You really do resemble that bastard Dilen. Your expressions are similar, and so is the way you talk.”

“He learned much from . Ever since the day he fell from the balcony and had that accident. That is probably why you find us alike. That way of speaking is mine.”

“Is that so? I heard that Dilen beca a different man after falling from the balcony, and now it turns out you were behind it all along.”

Smiling, I gave a slight nod. With that, all the empty pieces in the puzzle would surely have been filled in for him.

“You didn’t co all the way here empty-handed. Let’s see what you’ve brought.”

When I took the proposal from inside my clothes, Sir Parala strode over, accepted it in my place, and unfolded it neatly before handing it to Young Master Hal.

“Hmm...... 1,200 Gold. That’s not a small amount.”

The Young Master already knew that his brother, Young Master Prah, had been receiving 1,000 Gold in tribute from the Black Pig Gang. After all, I had handed him the ledger.

That was also why I had raised the amount by 200 Gold. If I offered the exact sa amount, then even a good deed might end up earning only resentnt.

“So then, what you’re saying is that you intend to pay this amount to every month as tribute?”

“Not tribute. Sponsorship. Our company, by its very nature, invests in the future. What we wish is to invest in your future, Young Master.”

“Hahaha! You little bastard, I like how plainly you speak. So what you an is that you intend to push for to beco the heir?”

“Of course.”

Up to this point, things had followed the scenario I planned.

But after this, things would differ slightly. Because I intended to support the other Young Masters as well.

It would take a long ti for that truth to co out, and it might remain secret forever, but if Young Master Hal ever learned of it, he would be furious.

There was no need to worry, though. I had already prepared a plausible excuse.

“In your eyes, how likely do you think it is that I beco the heir?”

“Vanishingly small.”

“You’re excessively honest. So then why are you trying to bet on ?”

“Isn’t it true that the greater the risk, the more luscious the fruit that grows from it?”

I laid my greed bare without disguise. People liked those who resembled themselves. The fit was imperfect, but this was one of those tis when I had to wear clothes similar to the Young Master’s own.

“And if I do beco the heir?”

“Then you need only support us from behind to the degree that our service deserves.”

“Be specific.”

“Beginning with delivery contracts for various daily necessities and food ingredients, then expanding into the division of business interests in larger ventures such as rcenary operations or guild business......”

Resting his chin on his hand, the Young Master nodded.

“That much would be easy enough. But is the sponsorship all?”

“No. We are prepared to grant any request you make as well, Young Master.”

“Do you have an assassin of great skill too?”

“We do. One with the ability to handle even most knights.”

That was not Kalmond, nor Eluna, but . I was fully intending to beco the joker myself.

Young Master Hal licked his lips with his tongue and smiled strangely.

“Then Contract Killing too? Say, my older brothers for instance......”

Feigning shock, I lowered my head.

“Why do you look so surprised? If my brothers were gone, I’d inherit the succession with ease. Don’t tell you never even considered that? Fool.”

“It isn’t that, but......”

It was an important question. In that fleeting instant, all manner of possibilities unfolded in my mind. The future that followed would change depending on how I answered.

My conclusion ca quickly.

“That, as expected, is impossible.”

“Why? You said you’d grant whatever request I made. I can’t trust bastards who say one thing and then another with the sa mouth......”

“Even so, Contract Killing is impossible. Before they are your rivals, are they not still the cherished sons of His Excellency the Marquis? I will pretend I did not hear what you just said.”

“Hahahahaha!”

Apparently in an excellent mood, Young Master Hal laughed loudly and sprang to his feet. Then he walked over to and held out his hand.

“Get up.”

I took his hand and stood. He gave my shoulder an almost friendly pat.

“If you had said you would do the killing, I would have cut your head off on the spot.”

He ant that sincerely. I had expected him to test , but not in so violent a way. I felt as though I had just lost ten years off my life.

“I accept tis’s offer. From now on, beco my faithful servant.”

“It is an honor, Young Master. I will serve you with all sincerity from this day on.”

I bent deeply at the waist in a gesture of loyalty.

Naturally, neither the Young Master nor Sir Parala could see the smile resting at my lips.

***

Once I had returned to being Dilen again, I passed through the mansion’s front gate and went straight to Young Lady Sapiela’s residence. Outside stood Sir Lancelot and Arwen.

“Why are you here? Isn’t this the hour when you should be working at Rosetta?”

After greeting Sir Lancelot first, I asked Arwen. She gave an awkward smile.

“I thought the Young Lady seed a little unwell, so I said I’d rest today as well.”

“Really?”

I looked toward the Young Lady’s residence, its doors shut tight. Was she sleeping? I drew up Mana and focused it into my hearing.

Rustle. Shrrk.

The sound of bedding shifting ca over and over again. She was not asleep. It seed her head was still in turmoil because of Eluna’s visit earlier that morning.

I gave Arwen a look, signaling that we should move elsewhere.

The two of us walked down an empty corridor.

“The Young Lady probably won’t send for anyone for a while, will she?”

“She won’t. Usually, when she’s in a bad mood, she sleeps the whole day.”

“Then I’m going out for a bit. If the Young Lady asks for , tell her I’m on a mission. She’ll understand.”

At the word outing, Arwen’s eyes trembled. It was the expression of soone who had just rembered sothing she wanted to ask.

“Where are you going?”

“There’s soone I need to et for a mont.”

“That woman who ca earlier?”

With a soft laugh, I shook my head. In truth, since I was going to the Avengers headquarters, she was half right, but romance had never been the purpose.

“She’s just a passing connection, so don’t worry about it.”

“Ah, it’s just...... I was curious who she was......”

“But why did the Young Lady suddenly fall into such a poor mood? Did sothing happen while I was away for that little while?”

I asked as though I truly had no idea. Arwen tilted her head.

“I don’t really know. It happened so suddenly. Maybe that naless visitor made her irritable......”

“She really does live a tiring life. To lock herself in her room all day just because so naless visitor ca.”

I said it on purpose. I wanted to see how Arwen would react.

Arwen looked as though she wanted to say sothing, but ultimately kept her mouth shut. She must have had her suspicions too. She was a woman herself, after all. She would understand that what Sapiela was feeling was jealousy.

Still, that was none of my concern just now. It was not my place to look after my won at the mont. What I needed to do was make our organization even larger.

“Well then, I’m off. Good work.”

“Be careful.”

I raised a hand, returned to my quarters, ard myself, and left the mansion for the Avengers headquarters.

That process, however, did not go smoothly.

In the short walk from inside the mansion to the gate, every single person I t asked who Eluna was. I had not expected the rumor to spread so quickly.

I had one likely culprit in mind already, and I intended to reprimand him once I got back.

***

When I arrived at headquarters, I smoothly rolled up the carpet and descended into the cellar.

Once I went down, several subordinates guarding the corridor greeted with perfect respect. There were not many of them. It seed most of the n had gone to the Forward Base.

I went deeper in. Eluna, who had been guarding the room ahead, was seated at a table, reviewing docunts.

“You’re working hard.”

“Ah, Master.”

When she saw , she rose with a smile and greeted properly.

“Welco. I didn’t expect you today.”

“An unexpected bit of free ti ca up. But you’re quite a good actress, aren’t you?”

“Weren’t you quite good yourself, Master?”

She asked that with a gentle smile. I sighed and shook my head.

“Thanks to you, things beca rather awkward. The mansion is in complete chaos. Everyone kept asking whether I’d gotten myself a woman. They all think you’re a noble lady.”

“Don’t you think soone like you is more than worthy of eting a noble lady, Master?”

“Not in that place.”

If I had been a Full Butler, that would have been one thing. But as an apprentice, it was only natural that an uproar would follow. In fact, there had not been a single fellow apprentice or butler who hadn’t asked what sort of woman she was.

“I’ll have to be more careful next ti.”

“Yes. Be careful. Though to be honest, it wasn’t all bad. It isn’t as though getting attention feels unpleasant all the ti, is it?”

“I’m glad.”

Smiling, we moved into the room.

Then, by pure chance, my arm brushed against Eluna’s, and the Status Window appeared.