Ch.291291. The Last Supper

“Well, what does the chef think? I believe the Volance wine would be better.”

When I arrived at the restaurant before our dinner meeting, I saw Deia.

Despite her busy schedule, she had inserted herself into tonight’s dinner preparations and was badgering the chefs and servants.

“Miss! The herbalist brought some wild vegetables from the mountains! And the hunters who went with him caught a few rabbits too. Could these be of any use?”

She must have brought along herbalists and hunters from Norsweden.

The servants entered carrying fresh ingredients in both hands.

“Chef! These are fresh ingredients just brought in. What do you think? Can you use them?”

“I’ll take a look at the vegetables, but the rabbits would be perfect to replace the meat in the appetizer. They’re so fresh!”

“Great. Start preparing the rabbits first, and I’ll take a quick look at the vegetables.”

She was moving about busily, working in perfect harmony with the chef.

Does she put this much enthusiasm into entertaining all distinguished guests?

As Deia was sorting through the usable vegetables to take to the kitchen, her eyes landed directly on me.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to talk to you, but you were already here.”

“Hmm, I’m helping out. I have quite the expertise in fine cuisine, you know.”

“Is that so?”

“Blehhh.”

Deia proudly stuck out her tongue.

I naturally assumed she would pull it back quickly, but she kept it out for what felt like a full minute.

“That’s enough now.”

“I was just sticking my tongue out at you.”

“…”

“Tell Sebia to stick her tongue out. Would she do it?”

Suddenly, I received some unexpected information. How could a baby who can barely babble stick out her tongue?

“Every time Sebia pees, Findenai sticks his tongue out at her. Since he can’t swear at her, it’s his way of keeping things child-friendly.”

“What a wonderful teaching.”

After our brief small talk, Deia casually asked:

“So what did you want to talk about? Do you have something to tell the chef?”

“Yes, I’d like to add a special menu item.”

“Hmm? Tell me. I’m in charge right now anyway.”

Though she declared this quite confidently, there was something odd about Deia’s presence here.

“Why are you working here? Don’t you have other important things to do?”

“Uh, umm?”

Flustered at having her core motivation exposed, Deia’s hands wandered aimlessly before finally:

“Sigh, I did something bad.”

“Something bad?”

“About Goben. I was suspicious, so I did some background checks. But he turned out to be clean. Well, he was a petty criminal when he lived with a gang, but since becoming a coachman, he hasn’t been involved in anything bad.”

“…”

I know.

He was a gentle man.

When Stella and I met him, we didn’t see any major flaws, and Findenai’s intuition had been indifferent about him.

But.

Now things are different.

“I feel a bit sorry, so I’m deliberately involving myself with the menu. They say Goben really enjoyed our food and ate with his eyes rolling back in his head.”

Deia gave me a thumbs up and a wink, worried I might scold her.

“So as an apology, I’m preparing a delicious meal…!”

“I knew it.”

Though Deia seemed to be trying to hide it, I had anticipated this. Of course she would investigate him.

“I figured you’d naturally do a background check.”

“That’s offensive in its own way, you know? Makes me sound like some creepy woman. I did it for Illuania and Sebia…!”

As she approached me closely, ready to launch into a passionate defense, I grabbed her shoulders and pushed her back to maintain distance.

I had no intention of scolding her for what she’d done.

Instead:

“You did well.”

“Huh?”

As she stared up at me with her mouth open, wondering what I meant, I continued:

“Keep investigating further. Not Goben himself, but trace back to whoever gave him this Republic of Clark commission, all the way up to their business connections. Uncover the entire root.”

“…Why?”

Deia asked with an expression of complete incomprehension. It’s good that she trusts her investigation results, but right now that trust was becoming a hindrance.

After all, information constantly updates and changes. When Deia and Findenai investigated, Goben didn’t seem problematic, but…

“Things will be different now. We need to thoroughly dig into this. And if possible, I need it done quickly.”

“…”

Deia realized the seriousness of the matter. She nodded silently but then asked with a hint of hope:

“It’s still okay to leave Illuania and Sebia with Goben, right?”

I could almost hear her heart pounding. She was hoping for the answer she wanted to hear from me, but…

“Before going to the Republic, yes.”

However.

“Not anymore.”

* * *

“This is, this is too! Too delicious!”

Goben, having devoured the main dish of the course meal, exclaimed in delight.

Even Illuania, who would normally have given him a disapproving look, was staring at his empty plate in surprise.

“Hehe.”

Deia couldn’t help but feel proud.

Indeed, perhaps due to her involvement, today’s meal was comparable to royal cuisine.

It was a feast that captured the unique northern charm of Norsweden.

“It was truly delicious! I never knew meals could bring such happiness!”

Darius nodded with a bright smile at the exuberant Goben.

“Good, I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s our way of thanking you for your dedication to Illuania.”

“Oh, that’s too much…”

Illuania didn’t know how to respond. In truth, she was the servant with the shortest tenure.

She was receiving special treatment simply because she was a special woman to me.

Kyaa!

Perhaps due to the pleasant atmosphere, Sebia made a happy sound. This elevated the already warm mood even further.

“I, I will truly take good care of Illuania and Sebia. I’ll gain recognition from the guild for this deal! My position will become secure! We could even draft a new contract!”

Darius simply smiled at Goben’s detailed explanation asking for trust.

Goben placed his hands on his thighs and declared while looking at me:

“With the Spiritmaster watching over us, I will surely make these two happy. I will live loving them for the rest of my life!”

“…The final dessert remains.”

I avoided responding and changed the subject.

Right on cue, the chef brought in a plate with dessert.

A small plate that could be held in one hand.

On it was a slice of cake.

The dessert, covered with a translucent lid, was placed in the center of the table.

“Hmm? Is this all?”

To Darius’s confused question, the chef bowed and answered:

“Yes, this is the special dessert requested by the second young master.”

“Deus?”

Darius glanced at me.

But my gaze was fixed on Goben.

And Goben…

“Huh?”

He was flustered.

His eyes were shaking violently as he stared at the golden flower decorating the cake.

“Goben.”

As my cold voice echoed, the previously warm atmosphere instantly chilled.

“You know what that flower is, don’t you?”

“Ah, no, Spiritmaster. That, well!”

“It’s something my maid brought from your carriage. Don’t pretend you don’t know.”

Findenai, who had been standing guard behind us, casually walked forward.

With folded arms and a snort, she mocked Goben.

“There were quite a lot of sample flowers and seeds. Are you raising hamsters?”

“That’s not it! Please listen to me just once! I have my reasons!”

Goben stood up urgently, sweating profusely as he shouted.

“It was for my family! And it was an offer that would allow someone as lowly as me to rise instantly!”

“Goben.”

I exhaled and warned him quietly.

“Don’t carelessly mention those two people in front of me.”

“Ah…”

As Darius and Deia, who didn’t fully understand the situation, looked to me for an explanation:

I pointed at the flower and said:

“Republic of Clark. It’s the raw material for the most vicious drug manufactured by Flower Garden, which specializes in drug production.”

“Drugs?”

“…”

Darius frowned as he looked at the flower, while Deia folded her arms, waiting for me to continue the explanation.

The pleasant dinner atmosphere had already vanished. This was now a place to interrogate a criminal.

“Just one inhalation causes extreme addiction. Beyond the basic symptoms like hallucinations and auditory hallucinations, it completely destroys one’s personality, turning people into vegetative states.”

“Wait! I didn’t know it went that far! I thought it was just an ordinary drug being distributed!”

At those words, Illuania’s expression darkened dramatically.

“So… that’s why you were looking for Colton’s gang?”

“Illuania! It was for you! So you and Sebia could live a better life! So you could live happily as promised with the Spiritmaster!”

Goben shouted desperately.

But Illuania’s face had crumpled.

She now understood.

The family she had envisioned was being destroyed.

The days she thought would continue happily were crumbling.

“If these seeds spread throughout the kingdom, it’s beyond crisis level. It could shake the very foundation of the nation.”

That’s why even in the Republic of Clark, where drugs are available in pharmacies, the golden flower was strictly controlled.

“I trusted you, Goben.”

A heavy statement that landed with impact.

Goben’s face turned pale, and he rushed to kneel before me, bowing his head deeply.

“Spiritmaster! I have committed an unforgivable sin! But! But please believe my sincerity! It was for my family! I did it out of love.”

My fist clenched.

My hand trembled.

My teeth clenched so hard my jaw ached.

I became even angrier.

Because what he was proclaiming now.

His declaration of love for Illuania.

Was sincere.

“You should have…”

Truly, you should have…

“…never loved her.”

He should never have given such hope.

“Judging by the quantity you brought, I assume there’s a separate seller in Griffin.”

“That’s…!”

It had been a while since I felt such boiling anger. It was similar to when I faced the Great Warrior of Marias Great Forest who had kidnapped Illuania.

“Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

Though my head was hot with anger and my vision swayed dizzily:

“Those who created these seeds and grew these flowers.”

My legs remained firmly planted, and my lips prophesied death.

“Those who sold all of this to you. Those who helped load it onto the carriage and tempted you with their wicked tongues.”

Everyone’s attention was focused on me.

Good.

“The distributors who will receive the seeds, the brokers who will connect them, the buyers who will purchase them, the people who will grow them, and the land itself.”

The more witnesses, the more heavily my declaration would land on this earth.

“Whoever drew this contemptible picture.”

The quantity was no ordinary amount. Though it was just what could fit in one carriage, the important point was that they were seeds.

Thousands, tens of thousands of seeds almost spread throughout Griffin.

Goben might not know, but there must be a reason why a “former drug dealer’s” gang member ended up driving the carriage to the Republic of Clark.

“As the great cemetery bearing the souls of the continent.”

With all that I am.

“As the Spiritmaster who comforts the lion of the kingdom.”

I sincerely pledge.

“As another Deus Verdi.”

I swear.

“All of them will be held accountable today. Even death will not be an escape.”

“Sp-Spiritmaster! Please! Pleeeease!”

Goben grabbed my pant leg, crying and begging. Findenai moved to remove him, but I gestured for her to stop.

“As the head of the family! I just wanted to make them happy! Truly! Truly I just wanted to be a husband and father they could be proud of! I, I’m such a worthless man that I didn’t know any other way! Please! Please!”

His wailing pleas continued to stab my heart like daggers.

Because they were sincere.

Because those feelings were genuine.

His pleas tormented me.

I remembered the bright smile of the man before he left for the Republic of Clark.

Just one week.

One week that changed everyone’s future.

“I hope you enjoyed your last supper.”

I’m sorry, but…

“Everything you ate was Illuania’s, Sebia’s, and my…”

Blood and flesh.

I bit my lip hard and turned away. The sudden movement caused Goben to lose his grip on my pants, and his hands trembled.

Without even looking at him prostrated on the floor:

“You’re a smuggler.”

I declared, swallowing the bitterness.

“Arrest him.”