CH 29

“Investigation?”

“Since all the assassins are dead, the information search itself is having difficulties.”

Adler ran his hand across his pensive face.

“I guess so…”

Suddenly, fifteen assassins came in. Even when Adler was away. He kept on thinking about it: assassins attacked in Adler’s absence. Could this really be a coincidence? Wasn’t the timing too exquisite to be a coincidence?

‘Nope. I don’t know exactly.’

No matter how much he thought about it, the conclusion was that he didn’t know exactly on that side. Grand Duke Evans was not the kind of guy who blindly sent assassins to destroy them all. Rather, he was convinced when he thought that the Grand Duke’s many tricks were unreasonable to impress.

Adler tried to think soberly. They knew Adler’s existence was there and were ‘careful’. But even without Adler, Leone was strong. And there was no ‘information’ about it. If you think that they were wary of only Adler, the ghost was right. But… How did they know he was leaving?

‘Is it Trixie?’

It was Trixie who made Adler go out, and she was the only newcomer to the mansion. Naturally, his suspicions were directed in that direction.

He immediately shook his head.

Nothing about Trixie nor Benjamin, who she recommended, came up after investigating. Could it be that he and his men lacked intelligence? There were more strange things. If they were really the Grand Duke’s people, it was strange for the two of them to help Leone like that.

The Archduke would be most concerned about Leone acting ‘like a human’. If they were spies, they would just break in, gain their trust, and stop there. They would make Adler nervous by slowing down the progress of education, and they would only look for an opportunity to kill Leone. Because when one was nervous, one used to be lazy.

But weren’t these two really helpful resources? Enough to let Adler ease his worries about Leone and focus on hunting down the assassin and preparing for the capital.

Then… were there others?

Mouths were closed. The servants of the annex were the ones who swore allegiance to Adler, wrote a contract stating that they were forbidden to go outside while they were here, and kept their place. The day to end their life there came by chance, but as originally expected, they could have stayed for well over five years without any commitment. No, even though they might be in the mansion for the rest of their lives, they followed Adler. As a result, there were many people who came to the foot of Meto Mountain as a family unit, or alone as workers far from home or orphans that didn’t care about the capital or the mansion.

Such people followed Adler with the promise of monthly payments to their families. So, the people of this place willingly hid themselves deep in the mountains. Not offended by Adler’s daily personal checks. Boys and girls of the prime age had to grow up in the deep mountains and see only the narrow world. To think that they betrayed him… Really, was it like that?

“All unidentified, no personal belongings whatsoever.”

Adler knew from a very young age what a vicious opponent politicians were. That’s why he trained several messengers to hear outside news. Every time the messengers entered the foothills of Mount Meto, they came to the mansion by paths unknown even to Adler.

Adler used the secret space he had prepared behind his study, so neither the servants nor the butler knew they were going in and out.

Adler recruited only those with a great talent for working secretly within his family’s Knights Templar. He never doubted that the loyalty of a knight serving a family was at stake.

The messenger sent reports back and forth between the Information Guild and his trustworthy limbs, which he had been dealing with for a long time.

“Yes. If the Grand Duke sent it, it would have to be.”

“… Yes.”

“Find the secretaries of Grand Duke Evans and make a list.”

Adler finally made up his mind to start a war. There were limits to defending against attacks. He had better stab him first.

“You didn’t touch that one, did you? Dangerous.”

“Because I haven’t been caught for the past five years.”

“…”

“It’s only a matter of time before they find out that Sir Leone is alive and even here.”

“Yes.”

The loyal herald bowed his head.

He didn’t know how far Grand Duke Evans knew. There was nothing bad about the comparison.

“Trixie, no. Keep an eye on Beatrice Giuseppe’s husband.”

“You mean that commoner?”

“Yes. He was said to be very prodigal and light-mouthed… I don’t know how far the Grand Duke knew, but he might be able to get close.”

The messenger bowed his head. The person served by the messenger was always meticulous and sure. So even if he didn’t know what that commoner or something could do, if Adler said so, there must have been some insight.

“And…”

Adler had a rather dark face. He looked more tired and depressed than he had previously talked about.

“Investigate all the activities of the servants, and find out if anyone has other feelings.”

“… Adler.”

“It’s okay even if you didn’t say it yourself. Contact with outsiders can make mistakes. Absolutely find it.”

“…”

“If you think it raises suspicion, it doesn’t matter if it’s coercive.”

The messenger looked at Adler with a puzzled face.

The servants brought to the mansion here were old loyalists of the Wickingham family who had taken care of Adler since he was a child.

Adler now decided to suspect even such people.

“My absence leaked out. That’s for sure.”

“My, I will serve you.”

As he waved his hand to defeat the messenger, Adler sighed.

* * *

“I guess I should put some clothes on.”

For two days in a row, Leone sat in his chair. Sitting in his chair, Leone’s body was a perfect inverted triangle. Broad shoulders, embroidered abs and a slim waist. It was like a work of art, so it felt good as a viewer, but he couldn’t live with such a wild look forever.

She whispered seriously, and Benjamin nodded.

“I think so too. If you don’t wear a top, you’ll get more scars.”

“It will be inconvenient.”

She thought of Deoksoon who was annoyed when she dressed him in dog clothes. She heard that it was warm, so there were dogs that dressed well, but Deoksoon only hated wearing clothes.

“That’s the important part.”

“Yes?”

“When he wears clothes, he feels uncomfortable, so his actions are more limited than before. Sir Leone needs to reduce his range of action.”

“Yes.”

Because Leone was learning how to be human. He would have to put up with some discomfort.

“… no.”

The two of them were talking for a long time when an arm came between them.

“Leone?”

It was Leone. He bent his arm towards her and pulled his arm around her shoulder. It was only one arm, but even after holding her, his arms remained. Naturally, the distance with Benjamin widened. She looked at Leone and smiled.

“Leone, are you bored?”

When Benjamin and she were engrossed in discussions about education law, Leone would always interrupt. He always rested well even when left alone, but these days he seemed to be very bored. Being in need of someone was a process of socialization, so it was seen as a positive sign.

“Hmm… ”

“Teacher.”

“Leone. Didn’t I ask you to sit in your chair for half an hour?”

“No.”

“It’s a big deal that you’re having a hard time holding back.”

Benjamin, who had a troubled expression on his face, looked at her.

“Trixie. Could you please get out of here?”

“Yes?”

She was momentarily dazed at Benjamin’s request to leave.

“I think Sir Leone and I should train together.”

“Ah. It doesn’t matter… 1Why suddenly?”

“It’s a problem that he keeps focusing on other things. Because concentration is disturbed. And…”

His gaze shifted from her to Leone.

“Looks like we need to have a goal for Leone.”

“Leone’s goal?”

They were educating him on what he didn’t like. Was it possible that such Leone aims to be humanized?

“Yes. I need your empty seat to have a goal.”

“I am…?”

“That… You will find out once you leave.”

Benjamin gestured to her. After thinking about it, she untied Leone’s arm.

“Leone. Can you and Benjamin do well together?”

“… no.”

Leone let out an unpleasant voice. Maybe the fact that she was too close to him encouraged Leone’s childishness? It interrupted Benjamin’s class. It was true that she hadn’t been adamant lately.

“Also… Just don’t make it hard. Leone is still very unstable.”

“I don’t know what trauma is, but I wouldn’t touch it.”

Benjamin’s determined voice gave him credibility. It was to the point of wondering how he could feel such strength in such a skinny body.

“By the way, Mr. Benjamin, are you okay? You could get hurt.”

“He can’t hurt me.”

“That’s something you never know.”

“I am sure.”

Benjamin grinned.

“Well… All right.”

“Trixie.”

“Leone, see you later.”

After saying goodbye to Leone, she closed the door and left. The hallway was quiet.

It would be really good. Yeah, if she was going to leave this place anyway, it would be important to let Leone know that she wouldn’t be there always.

Rather, it was a good thing.