Chapter 79
“…….”
“But he doesn’t know anything. You only learned of my existence yesterday, didn’t you? Or am I wrong?”
The man bristled, but couldn’t say anything.
“Looks like we’re done here. Leave.”
He stared at me silently, then gave a relaxed smile.
“You’re quick-witted. That’s right—the captain doesn’t know who the client is. I only figured it out yesterday after roughing up the pig.”
The “pig” must have been code for Count Honduras.
That explained why Count Honduras had warned me to be wary of Freckles.
“As expected, you’re no easy opponent. That’s why I prepared one more thing. This one won’t disappoint.”
“I don’t know what you’ve prepared, but I hope you’re not saying you’re here to kill me. That would be too boring.”
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing like that.”
“Then what is it?”
“There’s a child in the mansion, isn’t there?”
“……!”
My smile vanished.
He was threatening me with Piace’s safety.
It wasn’t surprising that they knew of her existence.
News that the Ivrante family was sponsoring a child had spread widely throughout the capital.
“She’s just a child my house sponsors. Do you really think I’d care that much about her?”
“If she weren’t important, Your Grace wouldn’t have gone so far as to hire a detective to find her.”
“……!”
Adrian hired a detective to find Piace?
I kept a cold expression, hiding my shock.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“A five-year-old orphan girl with pink hair. You commissioned us to find her as quickly as possible, didn’t you?”
“…….”
He didn’t sound like he was making this up just to threaten me.
‘So Adrian must have had a very specific reason for finding Piace… but what could it be?’
“How did you find out?”
“The detective belongs to our guild. These days, it’s hard to live off assassination alone.”
“And do you know why I was looking for her?”
“Why would we need to know that? Only you would know your own reasons, Duke.”
“…….”
“In any case, the child is clearly important to you. Sponsorship was just an excuse to bring her into the household.”
[Could Piace actually be Adrian’s daughter?]
[Hmm, considering Piace’s age and Lord Adrian’s age, it’s not impossible.]
[Or maybe she’s just a half-sister? Humans breed even outside their mates, like beasts. What do you think, gnome?]
[…….]
The spirits’ telepathic chatter made me sigh inwardly.
Come on, how could Piace and Adrian be blood-related? They don’t resemble each other at all!
‘Wait a second….’
Would the author of this trashy novel really have worried about things like hereditary traits?
‘Of course not.’
In this world, even if a pink-haired child popped out of a family known for platinum blondes, no one would question it.
‘She’s not my daughter… no way.’
She was obsessed with Leonhart; she wouldn’t have borne a child with another man.
‘But she really could be his much younger half-sister.’
Adrian’s cold nature made it strange that he would bring a sponsored child into his home—but if she were blood, it made sense.
“She’s a very pretty child. Is she adjusting well at the Academy?”
‘So they even know where Piace is.’
The man’s threat was successful—provoking genuine hostility.
I shook my head slowly.
“Sigh… I wanted to send you away peacefully. But you’re asking for a beating.”
“What…?”
“Spirits. Seize him.”
“……!”
Before he could react, a massive water sphere swallowed him whole, roaring flames surrounded him, and violent winds whirled around the room.
In an instant, the space became a sealed cage of elements—no escape possible.
The man pounded desperately against the water sphere.
“-! –? —!”
“Undine, let the sound through.”
“What—what is this! Your Grace? Can you hear me? Please, spare me! This is wrong! Please!”
He was completely consumed by terror.
“Why stop? Keep threatening me.”
“I was wrong! Forgive me! Just once, please!”
“What kind of assassin are you? Shouldn’t you kill yourself the moment you’re captured?”
“I’m not an assassin anymore! I left that branch long ago!”
“Then what are you now?”
“I’m just a simple citizen managing the guild, that’s all! Please believe me!”
“Citizen, my ass.”
I smirked and waved a hand.
The Salamander’s flames split left and right.
He stumbled back, wide-eyed, more terrified at the sight of fire bending to my will.
“You should’ve chosen your target more wisely.”
“A… a mage? But—that wasn’t in the information!”
“Does it matter? Do you want to live or not?”
“Yes! I do!”
“Then I’ll give you a chance. Listen carefully.”
He nodded frantically, desperate not to miss a word.
“You have two possible futures. First—if your captain confesses everything to His Highness, you’re all dead. You know the 3rd Prince’s temper. He won’t leave a single one of you alive.”
“…….”
“Second—if your captain dies without speaking, you’re still dead. Because word is already out that your captain’s been caught. Who would trust a compromised guild again?”
His face grew darker.
“There’s only one way to survive. Dissolve the guild.”
“If we dissolve the guild… how will we live?”
“I’ll take care of that.”
“H-how, Your Grace?”
“I’ve purchased Honduras’ jewelry shop. You’ll run it. Of course, it’s just a front. Your real work will be information-tracking.”
“…….”
“It’s not so different from what you’ve always done, is it?”
He looked tempted, but not entirely convinced—still fishing for advantage.
“I can’t decide on my own. Please give me time.”
“You misunderstand. This isn’t a negotiation—it’s blackmail. The price is your entire guild’s lives. Decide now.”
“…….”
“Don’t doubt my power. What you’ve seen is barely a tenth of it.”
“…….”
“Spirits.”
The water sphere churned violently, flames flared up to the ceiling, and the wind barrier closed in tighter.
Panicking inside, he screamed:
“F-fine! Ugh! I’ll do it! We’ll do it!”
“Stop.”
The spirits ceased at once.
He collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath.
“Haah… I nearly died….”
“Then here’s your first commission.”
“Wh-what? Already?”
“Don’t want to?”
“N-no, of course not! What do you need us to do?”
“Gather information. As detailed as possible.”
“That’s simple enough. On whom?”
“Adrian Ivrante.”
“Pardon?”
“Investigate me. You understand?”
“……Ah! You’re testing our abilities! Understood!”
I lifted my chin proudly.
“Don’t even think of deceiving me. I have ways of knowing where you are and what you’re doing at all times.”
He nodded gloomily.
At that moment, the butler knocked urgently from outside.
“M-my lord! His Highness the 3rd Prince has arrived!”
“What?!”
The butler’s voice was panicked. An unannounced visit, clearly.
“T-tell him to wait a moment!”
The spirits instantly straightened up the study and forced the man into a chair.
I hurried to my desk, fixing my attire.
Aside from my hair being a bit ruffled by the wind, nothing looked out of place.
“His Highness is here. Behave wisely. If this goes wrong, I can slip away—but you’ll surely die. Understand?”
“Of course, I only came today as a potential fiancé candidate.”
“Good. Baron Beric Thompson.”
I steadied my voice and spoke calmly:
“Let him in.”
The study door opened, and Leonhart entered.
His sharp gaze swept the room, radiating a dangerous aura.
“I didn’t realize our relationship was so close that you’d visit unannounced, Your Highness. To what do I owe the honor?”
“……Nothing happened here, did it?”
“What do you mean?”
“From the assassin we captured the other day, we uncovered a middleman. A noble named Boer Honduras.”
“……And?”
“We raided his house, but he’d already fled. Still, we found his ledger.”
“A… ledger? What kind?”
Surely he wasn’t foolish enough to have neatly written down every job?
“Unfortunately, it was encrypted. We couldn’t read it.”
‘Phew….’
Of course. No broker would be that stupid.
“So we had Master Rusfel attempt to decode it, and managed to identify several assassination targets.”
‘Stay calm….’
Targets—not clients. That didn’t necessarily include me.
“As it happens, Your Grace’s name was among them. As soon as I heard, I rushed here.”
