Chapter 18. Preparation

"Will you not stay, but meet the Tianli tribe?"

Molin's expression was worth seeing. It was a mix of confusion and bewilderment. He kept stroking his beard, opening and closing his mouth, trying to figure out Ian's intentions.

Meeting the Tianli tribe means crossing the border. For Ian, it's a path to death.

Seeing his hesitation, Maque and Degor also craned their necks to look at the parchment, their expressions changing in a way that was worth seeing.

"Do you not know what it means to meet the Tianli tribe?"

"I know well. But if the investigation comes from the palace, my father will surely suspect me. Among the people from the capital in the Brats fief, only Sir Molin and his party are close to the mansion, and I am the one who has been close to them. Even if there are spies planted, it's obvious that I will be the first to be suspected."

It was a natural sequence of events.

If the palace sent an investigator after nearly a fortnight, it meant there was some solid evidence, and if there was solid evidence, it must have come from the Brats mansion.

"He won't leave you alone. Who knows what will happen when the investigator arrives. Given my father's character, he will interrogate me with a sword. So I will cross the border."

The three men exchanged glances.

In fact, they didn't care what happened to the boy. Whether he died at his father's hands, became a slave, or crossed the border, it didn't matter. What they wanted was the downfall of the Brats family and the value of the fief that would come with it.

"You might not be able to return."

Ian couldn't be unaware of this.

Even if the peace talks were ongoing, there was no guarantee of safety. If the family disappeared, how could they predict what would happen to him? It might be better to hide somewhere.

"Then."

Ian continued, piercing through their thoughts.

"Will you hide my mother and me?"

Molin didn't take his eyes off the parchment, but Maque and Degor clearly looked troubled.

Toppling the Brats family, which had lasted for generations, was a matter of urgency and danger. Protecting a bastard and his mother was a heavy burden. Besides, they were outsiders.

"However, if the peace talks proceed...?"

Maque stroked his eyebrow, thinking.

If he stayed, he would either die at his father's hands or become a slave, but if he left...

"Hope arises. When time passes and everyone's memories fade, he might be able to blend in with the villagers and live."

He silently applauded Ian. The handwriting at the end of the parchment was half-slanted.

"It's a choice that truly opens a new path! Sir. I think this is worth considering. The priority is to secure evidence with Ian's help. Derka is not an ordinary man. We can't afford to delay."

Molin nodded in agreement.

"And most importantly, if the peace talks proceed..."

As Maque was about to write, Degor stopped him with a light push, giving a scolding look.

Maque, realizing his mistake, looked back at Ian. His gaze, checking Ian's reaction, seemed awkward. Ian completed the sentence instead of answering.

"The peace talks will bring many benefits. The fief will be in turmoil due to the conflict between the central investigation team and Derka. If the Tianli tribe also takes advantage of this, it will be problematic. It's safer to proceed with the peace talks as planned. Even if the head of the family changes later, we can still gain a favorable position in negotiations."

Ian bowed slightly and left the room.

Molin drew his family's seal on the paper with his fingertip. It was an action taken when people who value honor make a vow. An absolute promise, given the family's name. He seemed grateful for Ian's sacrifice.

'What a unique seal.'

Ian, unimpressed, observed the seal being drawn.

Knock knock.

A knock came from outside.

"I'll bring in the dessert."

"Let them in."

Fortunately, it wasn't Lady Mary. It was servants carrying trays of teacups and a teapot. As they busily entered the room, Maque stuffed the parchment into his pocket and asked.

"I want to smoke a cigarette. Sir Ian."

"You can. Just open the window."

"Thank you. Hey, bring me an ashtray with a lid."

"Yes, I'll bring it right away."

"By the way, isn't Lady Mary a bit late?"

If Lady Mary was late, he planned to burn the paper along with the tobacco leaves. Maque flicked his lighter, asking, and the servant smiled awkwardly.

"Lady Merelop sent many things."

"Do you often exchange with her?"

"Huh? Oh, the servants go back and forth a couple of times a week."

The servant politely brought the golden ashtray. As Maque opened the window, he suddenly noticed a familiar flower pot.

"That's the pot we bought at the park."

"It's a strange flower. It lasted a long time in full bloom."

"Do the people in the mansion know what it is?"

"No, they say they've never seen it before. They were worried it might be poisonous, but fortunately, it isn't."

Hmm. Maque exhaled a puff of smoke and shifted his gaze. Once the servants left, he carefully folded the parchment and lit it, the faint smoke wafting out the window and disappearing.

Knock knock.

This time, the door opened without waiting for a response. It was Lady Mary. She covered her mouth and smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry for being late. It's impolite to keep you waiting."

"No, Lady. It seems Lady Merelop sent some valuable gifts."

"Because of our close ties with the Hwan Kingdom, many interesting things come in."

"Is that so? There must be many things that are hard to find even in the capital."

Maque asked with a hint of curiosity, but Lady Mary smiled awkwardly and changed the subject.

"You probably won't be interested in women's things. Anyway..."

She took a deep breath to savor the tea's aroma but paused.

"What's that smell?"

"I'm sorry, Lady. I was smoking."

"Oh, I see."

Her gaze, which had been about to glare at Ian, softened. She thought the room wasn't well-ventilated. Mary smiled brightly and brought up some gossip again.

* * *

One hour.

That was the time it took from finishing lunch to Molin's party leaving. Moreover, most of the time was spent with Lady Mary. Thanks to this, the time to check the brooch was much shorter.

Derka took out a gem from the mana stone container and asked.

"There's a gap. Explain."

Especially before Lady Mary arrived.

Derka sharply scanned Ian, who stood in a formal posture. Ian didn't seem particularly nervous or flustered.

"I was just listening to Sir Maque and Sir Degor's conversation. The weather was too nice, so I was looking outside. Overall, it was a peaceful and quiet atmosphere."

Clack clack.

The sound of Derka rolling the brooch was the only thing heard. His expression was full of suspicion, but Ian knew. It was a threat to scare and pressure him.

"Can I go down now? My tutor is waiting."

"Didn't you say you would write a personal letter today?"

"Yes. I'll try my best, even if it's not perfect."

He already knew what to write. A letter about working together for peace between the Brats family and the Tianli tribe, filled with meaningless content except for the handwriting.

"Go on."

"Father."

Even when Ian called, Derka didn't lift his head. He just raised an eyebrow, giving permission to speak.

"Did Mother receive the letter?"

"...You're asking unnecessary questions."

Not unnecessary. Ian was consciously reminding Derka that his mother was his chain. It was to make him feel that the leash was tightly in his hands. But there would be nothing at the end of it.

"Sorry. Then, I'll go."

Ian bowed slightly and left the office.

Sir Molin needed a clue about embezzlement. The palace investigator would uncover the details, so even a minor clue, as long as it had a seal, would be fine.

'The brooch is in the middle drawer of the desk. There was no separate lock. It's impossible, isn't it?'

From Ian's angle, he couldn't see into the drawer. But it was a place to store valuable mana stones, and there was no apparent safe in Derka's study. If there was a safe, it was likely connected to the desk.

While pondering how to search the desk.

"Sir Ian."

"Hana?"

As he descended the stairs, Hana poked her head out. Her cautious voice and glance around were not ordinary. She was checking if anyone was watching.

"What is it?"

"Have you heard of a man named Beric?"

"Beric?"

Of course, Ian nodded, and Hana whispered, as if she had expected it.

"Beric is staging a sit-in at the front gate, demanding to meet you."

The image made Ian chuckle. Despite not being able to see his mother, he was a precious body, and they wouldn't let him meet a street thug who had been kicked out of the private army.

"I'll be back in a moment. Tell the teacher."

"Yes, Sir Ian."

Hana dashed to the annex, and Ian headed for the front gate. The gardeners and gatekeepers were clearly agitated. As Ian approached quickly, the guard awkwardly bowed.

"What's going on?"

"They say a guest is here to see you."

"That-"

The gatekeeper scratched his nose and explained.

"He's a trainee, and it seems he harbors a grudge against the mansion, so I turned him away."

He didn't come to see Ian but used him as an excuse to enter the mansion. That's why the report was concluded by a mid-level manager.

"Arrogant."

"Sir?"

Ian frowned. The guard blinked, surprised by the unexpected scolding.

"How dare you, a mere servant, screen the guests of the master? If someone comes to see me, you should report it to the higher-ups and proceed accordingly. Who are you to decide?"

By 'higher-ups,' he meant Derka, but it didn't matter. There was nothing to hide, and it couldn't be hidden. Using Beric as a tool meant he would be reined in soon.

"...I'm sorry."

Ian rolled his eyes and nodded.

"Open the gate."

"But-"

"I won't go out."

With Ian's firm words, the gatekeeper opened the front gate.

Creak.

Beric was lying half-reclined a short distance away. He must have planned to eat and sleep there until he met Ian.

"Hey!"

As soon as Beric spotted the golden hair, he sprang up. The gatekeeper's spear blocked his path, but Beric ignored them and shouted loudly.

"You! What the hell!"

He was probably referring to the golden eyes and mysterious power from that day.

Ian smiled and stood at the door. As he had instructed the gatekeepers, he didn't step outside the mansion.

"You look quite splendid."

The whip marks were clearly visible. Ian gestured for him to come closer, and they faced each other at the boundary between the mansion and the outside.

"Everyone, step back for a moment."

"But-"

"Shall I call the butler?"

The butler, not Derka, directly managed them. If the report was cut off, they would surely be severely reprimanded.

Especially since it was Ian who came. They had orders to manage even the smallest details about the bastard.

"Just for a moment."

The gatekeepers stepped back. They were far enough that they couldn't hear small talk but close enough to respond quickly if there was a problem. Ian pulled Beric's ear.

"You seem to need my help."

"Cut the crap and tell me what that was back then-"

"I need you too."

Ian cut off Beric's words and whispered.

"So follow me from now on."