Chapter 17

Episode 17

Baron Roman finished writing the letter, his face etched with despair.

Sending this letter to Lord Hylix would be a grave insult.

And he was now obligated to sponsor Lady Lucia instead. If Hylix became the next Duke, his career would be over.

But his fear of death had outweighed his ambition.

Even without a prestigious position, he could still enjoy a life of luxury as long as he maintained his power base.

“I have a question.”

I glanced at my pocket watch.

“Make it quick. We don’t have much time.”

“Does the Lady have ulterior motives? I don’t understand why she would accept my sponsorship.”

“Speak plainly. We’re alone.”

“Is she aiming for the Dukedom?”

He was half right, half wrong.

She wasn’t interested in the Dukedom. Her goal was likely to overthrow the empire or establish her own kingdom.

Or perhaps she aspired to become a puppet master, controlling everything from the shadows.

It sounded like something out of a novel, but this world was based on a game. Dramatic events were not out of the realm of possibility.

(TLN: i feel like our MC is like momongas servants from overlord making assumptions from little interaction and handing her the world on a silver plate)

“I can’t answer that. I’m just a pawn in her game. But judging by what we’ve seen so far, it’s clear that this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. She’s been planning this for a long time.”

“Hmm… You can guarantee my safety, right?”

“I’ll protect anyone who cooperates with the Inspection Unit. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure the incident with the maid at the Duke’s castle is forgotten.”

I suddenly recalled my encounter with Lady Rosalyn. Her words echoed in my mind.

How had this wretched place become a ‘land of opportunity’?

“What’s your relationship with Baroness Rosalyn?”

I activated ‘Mind’s Eye’. He stared at me, then sighed.

“We’re not involved. I’ve only met her a few times at social gatherings.”

His gaze was too evasive.

It was a lie. And considering their reputations, it meant they had been intimate. This was intriguing.

There was only one reason why I was concerned about Baroness Rosalyn.

‘Hylix, the eldest son of House Kalisto.’

She was a promiscuous woman, but if she was connected to Hylix, it could complicate things.

I had a hunch that Baron Gerard’s territory was their point of contact.

I recalled Lady Rosalyn’s expression, a mixture of concern and disapproval.

“Why do you ask?”

“I encountered her at the inner castle recently. She seemed concerned about the situation in your territory. You know what kind of woman she is. I was just curious.”

“I intend to keep a low profile for a while. So we won’t be seeing each other.”

“I suggest you keep your word.”

I opened the door and stepped out of the office. Selendis approached me.

Her eyes questioned me silently.

“Let’s go back. Jericho will be wondering what happened.”

We returned to the camp. I dismissed the investigators and addressed Selendis and Jericho.

“The plan was a success. Baron Roman has agreed to sponsor Lady Lucia.”

“Wow! That’s amazing! I thought it was a risky move. And I’m sure Selendis did too, right? But you managed to resolve the situation quickly and without any complications. Kudos to Lady Lucia for choosing the right man for the job!”

“Enough with the flattery. Jericho, I have a few tasks for you.”

“As you command, Master.”

I told them about my plan, how I had tricked Baron Roman into drinking Mana Tea by claiming it was a deadly poison.

Selendis stared at me, her expression a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

Jericho burst out laughing.

“Hahaha! He actually fell for it? He’s not as smart as I thought. Mana Tea is rare, but if he had paid attention to how his aura reacted, he would have realized something was amiss.”

That was an interesting observation.

It strengthened my suspicion that Jericho was a mage.

“He was desperate. It was a tense situation. Anyway, make sure to deliver the antidote once a month.”

“Yes, sir! I’ll make it as unappetizing as possible!”

“And one more thing. Gather information on Baroness Rosalyn. And keep an eye on her.”

“The Lady-in-waiting? Are these the Lady’s orders?”

I shook my head.

“This mission feels like the beginning of something bigger. There are too many loose ends. I intend to investigate.”

“Intriguing. Perhaps the Lady’s true intentions lie there.”

“I agree. Proceed with the investigation.”

“Yes, Inspector.”

We wrapped things up and left Baron Gerard’s territory.

I returned to the Inspection Unit headquarters, but something was different.

“Welcome back, Inspector! And Lady Selendis, you’ve worked hard.”

Chloe, the office worker, greeted us with a polite bow.

The office had been redecorated. There was a new sofa for guests, a table, and various other amenities.

It reminded me of the Adventurer’s Guild, but more upscale.

“It looks nice. Did the Lady order this?”

“No, sir. I thought we needed a proper space to receive guests.”

“Good work.”

Technically, Chloe was an office assistant, not a clerk.

She seemed to have a good rapport with Jericho, the clerk. Either she was hiding her true abilities, or they had good chemistry.

“Hey, assistant, am I invisible? You didn’t even acknowledge my presence.”

“Oh my, Jericho. You didn’t participate in the battle, did you? I heard the Inspector and Lady Selendis took care of everything.”

“Well… I…”

“That’s why I told you to exercise and learn some swordsmanship. You need to be able to contribute, even if it’s just a little.”

She was his natural enemy.

I ignored their bickering and turned to Chloe.

“Inspector, we’ve obtained confessions from all the prisoners. They were quite the operation. Those bastards.”

“What about the victims?”

“They’re being cared for in a safe location. They’re all overjoyed.”

“Good work. Jericho, you’re in charge of processing the prisoners and assisting the victims. I’m going to see the Lady.”

“Yes, sir. Will you be joining us for dinner? I was planning to celebrate our first successful mission.”

“Are you sure you should be celebrating? Chloe wants you to lose weight.”

“Hmph! Delicious food doesn’t make you fat!”

I left them to their bickering and headed towards the Lady’s chambers.

She was available, so I was granted an audience immediately.

“The mission was a success. Baron Roman has pledged his full cooperation.”

“I received the interim report. I heard you displayed remarkable skills once again.”

“It was nothing special, my Lady.”

She smiled, her expression benevolent. She even poured me a cup of tea herself.

“You apprehended all the criminals and eliminated the ringleader. It’s a good start. But I’m curious about something. You took that vial of Mana Tea with you. What did you do with it?”

“I used it as a poison.”

“You’ll need to elaborate.”

Those in power didn’t appreciate long-winded explanations. I summarized the events, focusing on the key details.

Her eyes sparkled with amusement.

It was a beautiful, innocent light.

“So you tricked him into drinking Mana Tea by claiming it was poison? And you used it to ensure his loyalty?”

“Yes, my Lady. And that’s not all. Baron Roman will now be sponsoring you, both financially and politically.”

“Sponsoring me?”

It was time.

I delivered my prepared speech.

“I don’t fully understand your grand vision, my Lady. And I might never understand it. But every endeavor requires resources. This will help you achieve your goals.”

“But he acquired his wealth through illegal means. Accepting his money…”

“The funds you receive will be a portion of the Gerard Trading Company’s profits. It will be a legitimate source of income. And as long as Baron Roman believes he ingested a deadly poison, he won’t dare to commit any more crimes.”

“Aubrey.”

She addressed me by my name.

I wished ‘Mind’s Eye’ worked on her. She was staring at me with genuine admiration.

“You’re not just a loyal servant, Aubrey. You understand the struggles of the people. You realized that simply removing Baron Roman and appointing a new lord wouldn’t solve the problem.”

“You’re giving me too much credit, my Lady.”

“I misjudged you. I thought I was a good judge of character…”

What was this? A plot twist?

“You’re even more capable than I anticipated.”

Yes! This was it!

My path might become more challenging, but I was pleased. Impressing the mastermind was a novel experience.

“I couldn’t have done it alone, my Lady. Your trust and the support of the other members of the Inspection Unit were essential. Without them, I would still be lost in the darkness.”

“My father will be pleased. The Inspection Unit has achieved a great victory.”

“There’s one thing that concerns me, my Lady.”

“My brother?”

I nodded.

Lady Rosalyn hadn’t called Baron Gerard’s territory a ‘land of opportunity’ for nothing. The scale of his illegal activities was likely astronomical.

And now that his funding had been cut off, someone, perhaps even the eldest son, would surely resent the Inspection Unit.

“I’ll handle it. We can’t allow anyone to interfere with our efforts.”

“Thank you, my Lady.”

She retrieved something from her pocket. It was a small gold coin.

It wasn’t a standard currency. It was a gold coin bearing the Lucius Inspection Unit emblem.

“This is…”

“Take this coin to the old town district. There’s a large tree there. You’ll find a house with a door bearing the same emblem as this coin. Knock on the door and show them this coin. Something interesting will happen.”

I accepted the coin.

“Don’t assume that Baron Roman is truly on our side. I trust you’ll handle this matter appropriately.”

Of course, I had considered that possibility.

He could easily run to Hylix and beg for help, claiming he had been coerced.

But my priority wasn’t securing Baron Roman’s loyalty. It was impressing the mastermind.

And I had succeeded.

“I’ll keep your words in mind, my Lady.”

I left her chambers, intending to return to the headquarters, but I changed my mind. I decided to use the coin.

‘Is this it?’

I found the door with the emblem near a large ginkgo tree. I knocked gently.

The door opened.

I showed the coin to a man in a tuxedo. He grinned and ushered me inside.

“You’re the new Inspector, aren’t you?”

“Indeed.”

“I’ve heard great things about you. It’s an honor to meet you.”

He pushed a bookcase, and it rotated like a revolving door, revealing a secret room.

It wasn’t just any secret room.

It was a spacious chamber filled with weapons and armor.

‘This…looks familiar.’

The display was impressive. The weapons and armor were meticulously arranged in glass cases, spotless and gleaming.

A long glass showcase beneath the cases displayed an assortment of throwing weapons and other combat gear.

“Welcome to the Lucius Club, Mr. Walker.”