Chapter 73

"Shit!! You idiot! How could you fail at something this simple?!"

"Kee…! B-but, I didn't—"

Donko, the lowly servant, was hit by a paperweight thrown from the desk and screamed in pain. "Shut up, you bastard! I'm right here, so don't yell so loud!" I thought to myself, but I didn't voice my complaint because it would only cause trouble. I didn't like the way Donko's eyes, full of excuses, looked at me and my father. I kicked him under the knee.

"What? Do you have a complaint?"

"Kee… No, nothing at all."

Donko, who was kicked by me and was in a pitiful position, didn't even offer a proper apology but kept glancing at me and my father. This made me even more irritated, so I lightly kicked his back. It's frustrating that he can't even speak properly to his employer. If he had said "Nothing at all," it would have been better. His pitiful behavior made me angry, but I needed to move forward. I endured my irritation and listened to my father's words.

"The patrol guards are stationed at both the workshop and the house, so we can't get in. We were supposed to steal the key, threaten the previous owner, and do it without getting caught, but now that this has happened, we can't do it, right?"

Donko, who cowered like a stray dog at my father's loud voice, was originally a low-level worker in the underground business. He was stupid and bad at his job, which is why he was the lowest of the low. Because all the others were caught, I had to bring this unimpressive guy, who usually just organized the warehouse and moved goods, into my house. We had to make sure that the captured Grogs and the others took full responsibility for the failure and the current situation.

Regardless of what happens next, we need to solve the problem at hand. The foreign man we were supposed to deal with is about to arrive in town, but we still don't have the method to create the artificial magic stones. None of the employees were able to defect, and it turns out that none of them knew the most important part of the process. It was a waste of time to find out later, and it made me incredibly angry. Everything was going well until we stole the key and got the previous owner to cooperate. We were supposed to kill him to keep him quiet and escape the country without being noticed, but how did it end up like this?

No, I know the reason. It's because of that woman and Fred. Fred was a guy I never liked, always getting in my way. If I had seduced that woman, Liana, instead of stealing, I would have had plenty of opportunities to get what I wanted. Then we wouldn't be in this dangerous situation. If it weren't for that guy intervening in the guild's commotion, things would have been different. He's a real pain. He always has that smug look on his face. It's all their fault. I want to make them suffer for embarrassing me, but I can't do that until I get the method to create the artificial magic stones. I need to focus on that now.

"Father, try to keep your voice down. Most of the servants here don't know our situation."

"Duke! What are you acting like it's not your problem! You said it wasn't a big deal, didn't you?"

"What? The fact that Fred and three others lost to a guy who's not even that good just shows how weak they are. If you had used better people, it wouldn't have happened."

We lost five people when the kidnapping failed and four more at the workshop. Besides the three who were sent to the house, only Donko was left to do the dirty work. If you had hired better people with money or something, it wouldn't have been a problem. You're so cheap, Father. You should have left everything to me from the beginning. The other reason is that they probably had some underhanded magical device, like the one that woman used at the mine. It's possible. There's no way Fred and three others of similar skill could have won. They should have been able to beat Fred, and with the help of the maid and the young adventurer, it should have been easy. But they were useless.

Donko, who is stupid, is just in the way, but there's no one else to send for help. I can't let him wander around the house. If Morick finds out that a guy who looks like a town thug is coming and going, it will cause trouble.

Shit, just thinking about their names makes me angry again. "I work for the Betametal family, not you," that guy said, acting like he was in charge of our family's business. I want to do something to that guy, but the timing is bad. This town should have been mine, not James'. I hate that old man, Diminik, who stole the head of the family from my grandfather long ago.

Ah, damn it, if they hadn't failed. I was about to get angry at Grogs and the others again, but I tried to focus on the next move.

We have a few people in the patrol guard who are on our side, but those with other jobs don't want to get their hands dirty. It's frustrating, but we don't want to show our weaknesses. They are just "cooperators." There's no one in the patrol guard who has enough leverage to be one of us. If they know too much, it's too risky. If they can't imagine how scary we are, they might try to sell us out before anything happens.

I thought about getting one of my associates to help, but I dismissed the idea. They are adventurers, but they aren't very skilled, and they can't do anything without me. Even if I used them, I couldn't see a successful outcome. I've made them my accomplices by letting them enjoy the women I've used and giving them a taste of power, but if they can't execute, it's useless.

The patrol guards are at the workshop and that woman's house. They might be a bit thinner at night, and I have someone in mind who has a position that can help. Should I sneak into the workshop at night in a patrol guard uniform? I thought of Delbert, a man who provides information in exchange for bribes. No… I'm known, so I need everyone to be on our side. If I do this, Delbert will know too much.

What to do. I've already received the advance payment from the buyer and used it. I have debts. If I can't prepare it, we'll be in trouble.

I went through the information, but no good ideas came to mind. I checked where that woman was and found out she was staying at the best room in the highest-class hotel in town because of the incident and the investigation. It made me even angrier to think that it was arranged by the grandson of the man who stole my grandfather's position, the viscount of this town. He's using power he didn't earn. He's the same age as me, but he's shorter and dumber.

I was irritated to find out that they were using the incident as an excuse to live luxuriously, but it gave me an idea.

"An inquiry from the Alchemists' Guild about the secret patent for artificial magic stones?"

"Yes, yes. The workshop will change significantly, and I don't know the details, but apparently, the contract magic needs to be updated."

"Indeed, that makes sense."

I decided to use this. If the workshop, which is currently run by a few people, is going to expand to employ dozens of alchemists, the contract magic for technology secrecy needs to be changed. The alchemists' method and the design of the magical device used to manipulate the magic during the process need to be prepared for the contract.

I'm using Tobalck, a real employee of the Alchemists' Guild, who I've been blackmailing with the bribes and embezzlement he's received. I've let him have his way, so I'll make him useful in the end.

"Because of the terrible incident, it's dangerous outside. The Viscount of Betametal and the Guild Master of the Alchemists' Guild will visit this hotel."

"When do we need to prepare?"

"It's urgent, but the renovation of the workshop is approaching. If possible, tonight, but if it's difficult, any time after tomorrow is fine. They said to send a message to the viscount's residence with a specific date and time."

"We can't delay the viscount's schedule. I understand. Please tell them we will be waiting tonight."

Sure enough, commoners act submissively when dealing with nobles. They would refuse to send a messenger to a noble's house, so they can't change the date.

"The Alchemists' Guild will prepare the necessary documents and mages."

I met Tobalck outside the hotel in a private room. I confirmed with Donko, who was disguised as an alchemist's assistant, that he said what he was supposed to say and didn't say anything extra.

"Will you keep quiet about this to the Alchemists' Guild? Make sure it doesn't cause me any trouble."

"I can promise that only after we get the method to create the artificial magic stones. But don't worry, I'll handle it well."

I told him to make it look like a random crime, but it's impossible. Tobalck will have to become a criminal. By tomorrow, my father and I will be out of town with new identities, so it won't be related to us. I couldn't find anyone to be the perpetrator, but since we'll be leaving town soon, it doesn't matter if it's discovered later. If the patrol guards in custody find out we're not working to get them released, they might confess at any time. We need to escape quickly. My ex-girlfriends might make the situation worse by suing me, so I already planned to leave town for a while. Now, I won't be coming back… It's really tiring. It was consensual, wasn't it?

The failed incident has left a tense atmosphere, which is annoying. I can't do anything about their failure, but I can't help being angry. I found out that three patrol guards are guarding them at the hotel. They can't all come, so two will come. One of them might be willing to listen if asked for a small favor. I arranged for Riana to be called away on another matter, so she won't be there.

The method to create the artificial magic stones, which is stored in a safe in the workshop, can be opened by a trusted maid who came from the old house. I need to send Anna to get it tonight to match the schedule of the noble who will be coming. Fred might come too, but it shouldn't be a problem.

...Sigh, if she can open it, I should have targeted this woman instead of the old alchemist from the beginning. I could have made it look like she ran away with someone and gotten rid of her easily. I could have enjoyed myself while keeping her captive until night.

I waited in the shadows, and the target came out to go to the workshop. Only one patrol guard came with her. I thought my luck was finally turning.

I followed them at a distance, occasionally looking back. No one seemed to be following us. Am I being too cautious? No, I can't afford to fail again. As a professional adventurer, this level of caution is normal.

I heard her talking to a patrol guard she knew when she arrived at the workshop. I was irritated and impatient, waiting for her to finish. I was disguised, and Anna probably doesn't know my face, but I can't draw attention. It's hard to act like a passerby in this area with workshops. I had to pretend to look at small items in front of a woodworking shop and wait, which felt like it took forever.

Finally, she came out. I gave the signal to Donko, who was waiting. As planned, a few kids from the slums, who were given some coins, caused a commotion far enough away from the remaining patrol guard. When the guard turned to watch, I grabbed the woman's bag and ran.

"Ah!"

The momentum of grabbing the bag pulled the woman down, but it wasn't my problem. I used a smoke screen to obscure my vision and ran through it with goggles to see.

"Ha... Shit. Why am I doing something like a criminal... damn..."

I entered a back alley far from the commotion and threw the coat I was wearing and the bag I stole into a trash can. I gave the wallet inside to a beggar nearby to avoid leaving a trace. I could finally relax.

The notebook and the design... This is what's needed to create the artificial magic stones. I looked at the notebook, which had a fancy binding like a Bible. I'm not an alchemist, so I didn't understand everything, but it was detailed, including the materials and the process.

I see... The artificial magic stones, which have a strange texture that is both hard and soft, are made by solidifying tree sap. Despite keeping it a secret, it can be made easily with cheap materials. Maybe I can make it too? If I give this to them, I can escape this mess and live well in a new place. Thinking about it made me feel better.

...Right. I'll copy this and sell it to others when I settle down. Then I'll make double the profit. Maybe I'll celebrate when I get home. My father is my father, and he's in a good mood, so I might celebrate with him. I'll bring a good brand of alcohol, or maybe I'll put it on James' tab... I reconsidered. The head of the market warned me that if I put it on the viscount's tab without permission, it would cause trouble...

I can't afford to draw attention now, with important items to carry. I'll hold off on that.

"Welcome back, sir."

"Ah."

I usually don't greet the middle-aged maid at home, but I was in a good mood today, so I responded.

My father, who had been waiting in the house, looked at me as soon as I entered his room and asked, "Do you have the notebook for the artificial magic stones?" This made me angry. I thought about celebrating with him, but now I'm just irritated.

"You let me do all the work and can't even say 'good job'?"

"What? What kind of talk is that to your father?"

We argued for a while, but I decided to be the adult and not waste time. ...Wait. I could keep the notebook and the design and leave my father behind. It would be easier to travel alone, and I would get a larger share. Since I'm the one who took action, don't I have the right to everything?

"What's wrong, Duke? Show it quickly... You didn't fail and couldn't get it, did you?"

"What? Who are you talking to? Not the idiots in the patrol guard's jail, right? I can't fail that badly."

Provoked by his words, I took out the notebook and design from the body bag I was wearing under my clothes and thrust them in front of him.

Fine. I know I can't memorize the contents just by looking at it once.

"This is... the... artificial magic stones... With this, we can get the money..."

"Don't touch it with your dirty, alcohol-soaked hands. If the ink smears and becomes unreadable, what will you do?"

What if the price is lowered? I haven't copied it yet, and I don't want to lose value. I grabbed my father's arm to stop him, but the door opened without a knock.

"...Hey! Don't just come in without being called!"

Did my father call them? You should have dismissed the servants. I almost panicked, thinking I needed to hide, but the servants wouldn't know what this is. I turned to the door and shouted to get them out.

An unfamiliar servant... Who is this? There shouldn't be a young woman like this in the house...

"Mr. Bernook, as you heard, the incidents in the craftsmen's district and the residential area today, and the robbery I just experienced, provide undeniable evidence that this is the culprit."

"Yes, indeed. This will make James, who has been lenient with us because we are relatives, realize the truth."

The servant... It wasn't a servant. It was a woman in a dull dress similar to a servant's uniform, who I had been following all day.

When I saw Morick enter the room with