Ch.106106. So, This is How the Story Goes?

“Huff…”

I moved to a more secluded location in case any potential spies might track us again.

Taking a short deep breath, I turned my gaze toward Tristan.

“Alright, spill it now.”

“Before I confess, could you grant me one condition?”

“Do you think you’re in any position to make demands right now?”

“P-please, I’m begging you.”

“Sigh… What is it? Tell me. I’ll decide after hearing it.”

“You can kill me if you want. But please, spare my family.”

Since I had no intention of killing him anyway, I nodded immediately.

“Fine. Now really tell me everything.”

“The one who ordered me to track the young master was the second young master, Jason Alphonse.”

“Weren’t you under the first brother’s command?”

“…It was six months ago. We went hunting magical beasts together, and that’s when he tried to recruit me.”

“And?”

“Of course I refused at first. I’m not good at being a spy, and I couldn’t betray Young Master Evander Alphonse whom I’ve served for three years.”

“But then Jason Alphonse threatened you using your family?”

At that, Tristan flinched with wide eyes.

“H-how did you know that?”

“It’s obvious. You kept your mouth shut even knowing you’d die if taken to the first brother, but now you’re confessing because they threatened to kill your family.”

“My daughter is being held captive right now. I don’t even know where she is.”

“Your daughter is captured?”

Tears welled up in Tristan’s eyes and soon streamed down his cheeks.

“Yes. I won’t make excuses. I’ve committed a grave sin, and I won’t beg pathetically for my life. I only ask that you guarantee my family’s safety.”

A wave of disgust washed over me.

There’s no guarantee that among the assassins who attacked the carriage, there weren’t others like Tristan who were forced to join Jason Alphonse’s side through threats against their families.

And.

My intuition was right again.

Somehow, I kept feeling bad vibes when talking with Jason Alphonse…

This is why I can’t ignore my gut feelings.

Anyway.

Now that I know the culprit, how should I deal with this?

Even if I take Tristan with me, if he denies everything, there’s nothing I can do.

Plus, if Jason finds out that Tristan confessed, his family won’t be safe either.

It was like knowing the correct answer on a test but being unable to write it down.

I let out a short sigh and looked at Tristan.

“I’ll spare your family’s lives.”

“Thank you…”

“But in exchange, you’ll have to be a double agent.”

“A d-double agent?”

“It’s better than dying, isn’t it? Once this is over, you won’t have to be a spy anymore. And of course, I’ll rescue your daughter.”

Tristan wiped his tears with the back of his hand and continued.

“Jason Alphonse will never let me go.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll cut off the wrist of the bastard who’s got you.”

“…Pardon?”

“What? You don’t think I can do it? Because I’m a good-for-nothing?”

“I acknowledge that you’ve gotten stronger, but Jason Alphonse’s influence is deeply rooted throughout the family.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m restraining myself from killing you right now. Only because I don’t have proper justification.”

“Are you saying you’re stronger than Jason Alphonse…?”

Tristan gulped nervously.

Having lost to me in just two exchanges during our fight, he still doesn’t know how strong I really am.

Well, it’s hard to believe.

After all, I was just a good-for-nothing with terrible swordsmanship until I was exiled from the family.

After checking with my Awakened Eye, I acknowledge that Jason Alphonse is strong.

However, he’s just a magical beast hunter with no real combat experience.

“That’s not the important part. If you die, do you think Jason Alphonse would spare your daughter and the rest of your family?”

“O-of course he would, wouldn’t he?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’ve been around Jason Alphonse, so you should know better than anyone.”

Tristan’s face fell in despair.

He probably suspected it all along.

He just silently went along with it because he couldn’t do anything about the situation.

Tristan slapped both his cheeks with his palms, seemingly trying to pull himself together for his family’s sake, and continued.

“What should I do? What must I do to save my family, find my daughter, and escape from Jason Alphonse’s grasp?”

I was planning to deal with this immediately, but Leonard and Seri Familia’s wedding comes first.

If the family gets thrown into chaos and the wedding falls apart, the tower I’ve carefully built will collapse.

I firmly gripped Tristan’s shoulders and smiled broadly at him.

“From now on, you need to understand and follow what I say, okay?”

*

“As you instructed, I secretly sent Tristan away in a carriage. He should arrive at Lake Estate soon.”

“Thanks for your hard work. I feel bad making you do this when Rio isn’t around.”

“N-not at all! I think there’s so much to learn from being with you, young master.”

In a quiet tavern in Alphonse territory.

With a glass in hand, I tilted my head at Lightner’s words.

“You think there’s something to learn from me?”

“Yes, you seem to be thinking several steps ahead. I could tell just by how you didn’t immediately rush to confront Young Master Jason Alphonse.”

“That’s simply because I don’t want to ruin Brother Leonard’s wedding.”

I chuckled and took a light sip from my glass, which was followed by Lightner’s exclamation.

“Wow!! You’re truly amazing. Even when you’re angry, you step back for the Fourth Young Master’s sake!”

How did the conversation turn this way?

Well, I guess it’s not wrong?

I am holding back for Leonard’s sake, after all.

I laughed awkwardly.

“Y-yeah, that’s right.”

“I recognized your true self since Lake Estate. That your good-for-nothing act and terrible swordsmanship were all just a performance.”

“But I only started sword training at Lake Estate?”

“R-really!? Then you must have hidden your genius talent, deliberately got exiled, and then blossomed your abilities when surveillance was lax.”

Feeling like he would twist anything I said to fit his narrative, I reluctantly nodded.

“Sure, think whatever you want.”

“But Young Master, I’m curious about something.”

“What is it?”

“Now that you know it was the Second Young Master, what do you plan to do?”

“I told you earlier, I’ll cut his wrist.”

“A-are you really going to cut his wrist?”

I showed my palm to the startled Lightner, gesturing for him to calm down.

“No, I mean, Jason Alphonse’s influence has grown a lot within the family.”

“That’s right. Seeing how he’s recruited people from both the First Young Master and Baron Byron’s subordinates, he must have recruited many people.”

“I’m saying I’ll cut off those people from him.”

“Is that really possible?”

“Recruiting people is actually a very tricky business. Why? Because you have to risk being exposed.”

“That’s true. Someone could report the recruitment attempt to their lord.”

I speared a chunk of meat with my fork and continued.

“So what happens if you get caught?”

“If he messed with Baron Byron’s subordinates, he’d be expelled from the family. If it’s the First Young Master’s people, there could be war between the brothers.”

“Exactly. No matter how fierce the succession battle gets, you can’t fight dirty within the family.”

“…The succession battle is much more complicated than I thought.”

“Anyway, to avoid getting caught, Jason Alphonse found a clever solution.”

Lightner’s eyes lit up with understanding.

“He threatens the families of those who refuse, like he did with Tristan?”

“Yes, that’s right. The problem is, when recruitment involves threats, you can’t expect loyalty.”

“…But fear can substitute for loyalty, can’t it?”

“Then what happens if that fear disappears?”

“It would all collapse, of course.”

“Exactly! So what I need to do is simple. I need to remove the fear that’s been instilled in them. Or show them an even greater fear.”

Lightner, who had been listening with interest, picked up his glass and sighed.

“Sigh… Do you intend to get involved in the succession battle, Young Master?”

“No, not in the slightest.”

“Phew! Then if the Second Young Master falls, the First Young Master has the highest chance of becoming the family head right now.”

Yes, that’s the biggest problem right now.

If Evander Alphonse is a good person, it wouldn’t matter, but if he’s similar to the second brother, things get complicated.

What’s the problem, you ask?

If he’s that kind of person, he’ll interfere with my sweet, carefree life even after becoming the family head.

It’s natural for the successor to keep other siblings in check, but still.

Sigh…

From what I can see, Miria Alphonse doesn’t seem interested in becoming the family head. Should I push Leonard Alphonse instead?

‘…Still, I should meet the first brother first.’

With a bitter smile, I was about to raise my glass again when someone grabbed my shoulder from behind and called out loudly.

“Hey!! Look who it is!? The good-for-nothing from the edge of the Eastern Continent, our Selden!”