Like Recognizes Like

The detached house is quiet from the morning.

“I’m going out to take care of some personal business.”

“Have a good trip, Scarl.”

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there was an unpleasant incident yesterday. Make sure everyone stays inside the resort today.”

“Yes, I will let them know.”

After informing Luna, I put the invisibility robe that had returned to my arms over my shoulders.

I dress as flamboyantly as possible, put on large sunglasses, and leave the resort.

‘Shakline, huh?’

I can smell something.

‘That bastard. He smells just like Scarl.’

Sanuf’s atmosphere has changed a lot in just one day.

‘There are a lot of tattooed people around.’

Some are carrying drawings of academy uniforms, asking the merchants who have set up stalls if they saw anyone wearing them yesterday.

‘He’s really getting started. Shakline.’

Perhaps because I’ve been watching them for so long, two members of the security force approach me.

“Excuse me.”

“We’ll need to conduct a brief inspection.”

They must recognize the expensive clothes, as they approach me quite politely.

“What’s going on?”

I lift my sunglasses, and they visibly cower at the natural force that emanates from me.

“I am Baron Bernatore. What are your names?”

“W-we’re sorry.”

“What are your names?”

“I’m Alex, sir. We’re conducting an investigation under the orders of Count Shakline. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

“And?”

“The culprit is a rogue wearing an academy uniform, and we advise you to be careful if you encounter them. They are committing crimes targeting nobles.”

‘He’s not wrong, but he’s making someone sound like a murderer.’

“I understand. You may go.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Understood!”

Should I look around a bit more?

I asked the merchants, telling them I was a member of the security force, and they said that some pretty tourist girls they had seen recently had ordered items but never came to pick them up.

It’s obvious who took them.

I think I was stopped for questioning three more times by lunchtime.

I went into a decent restaurant and ordered food, and I overheard an interesting conversation at the next table.

“Count Shakline must be completely insane!”

“I’m telling you, they took our Lord Brookrudi!”

Listening, it seems they are Brookrudi’s people.

‘Shakline took Brookrudi? Why?’

I casually join their table.

“Excuse me.”

“Who…?”

“I didn’t say anything. He said it all!”

‘Does he think I’m one of that bastard’s subordinates?’

I chuckle and take out a 1 gold coin from my wallet.

“Would this be enough to hear more of that story?”

Both of their eyes are immediately glued to the gold coin.

‘Their servants’ earnings can’t be much.’

Our mansion employs a lot of them, so I know very well.

This one coin is worth almost a year’s salary for them.

“If you promise not to spread rumors…”

“Of course. Do you doubt our word? Fine, I’ll give you another one.”

Two gold coins.

The servants, consumed by greed, start talking over each other without caring who might be listening.

“Last night, Count Shakline’s security forces came and took our Lord.”

They speak as if they won’t get the money if they don’t answer.

‘Hoo.’

“By any chance, is there a son or something attending the academy?”

“Yes! Yesterday, our Lord said he was going to protest to the Count about Ruijin getting beaten up…”

“Our Lord didn’t return, and someone from the Count’s mansion came and took everyone, saying our Lord wanted to find his family. And they haven’t come back all night.”

‘Why did that bastard take the Brookrudi family?’

I can’t tell yet.

“Good. You can both have it.”

It’s obvious which greedy eyes in the restaurant will target them first.

The bait on the fishing rod should just be left in a quiet alley.

Five people follow me.

They call out to me with menacing expressions.

“Hey, mister.”

One familiar face.

‘That bastard. The one who was hitting on me in front of the station.’

Well, well, well.

“Hey! Don’t you have an ans― Brother?!”

The guy shuts his mouth and tries to back away when I take off my sunglasses.

“I told you you’d die if you caught my eye.”

I immediately grab the guy with the beady eyes by the collar and slam him against the wall.

The other guys next to him panic.

“Hey, hey! James. You didn’t say the brother you knew was him!”

James begs and pleads.

“B-brother, please spare me just this once.”

“…Fine. I have some questions. I know why you followed me. Answer well. First, you. James. You know what I’m going to ask, right?”

“O-of course, brother. Actually, back then…”

James can’t bring himself to say it.

“It’s okay. I’ll be lenient.”

“R-really?”

“Of course. I don’t lie.”

“Actually… to offer the ladies to the Count― really. You’re not going to get mad? It’s just. That’s what Count Shakline does!”

“What! Say it quickly!”

The guy finally speaks when I raise my hand.

“T-to, to, offer them as tribute…”

I grab James by the collar and twist it.

“You little shit. What did you say? Say it again.”

“S-spare…”

Who are you going to do what to?

“S-save― Keek! Keck! Keck!”

His face turns red in real time as I choke him.

I threaten the guys who are trying to help their friend.

“Don’t come any closer. The one who moves even one step is next.”

The guy, who looks like he’s really about to die, tries to resist by raising his fist, so I punch him in the gut.

“Keek― Keck. Keck. S-save…”

I let him go when he drops his arms limply, unable to resist.

“Hoo-ahhh!! Hoo! Hoo! Uwaaaah!”

I ignore James as he vomits and call out to the other guy standing there.

“Next. You.”

“M-me?”

“Does Count Shakline often receive tributes of tourists?”

It’s called tribute, but it’s kidnapping.

“…Only commoners.”

“Good. Next. You.”

“Yes! Brother!”

“Why was Lord Brookrudi captured?”

“…I don’t know.”

Are you hesitating?

“Come here.”

“B-brother! I-I really don’t know!”

He tries to run away, but the guys behind him don’t move an inch.

‘They listen well.’

“Did he move?”

“G-get out of the way, you bastards!”

Instead, his so-called comrades push the guy who couldn’t answer properly.

I raise my foot over the head of the guy who fell in front of me.

“If you don’t answer… you saw what happened, right? If you answer, I’ll spare you.”

“Yes! Yes! Please! I’ll answer! I’ll say anything! Please!!”

“Good. I’ll give you one more chance. Why was Brookrudi captured?”

“Imprisonment! His whole family is trapped in the mansion! A-and Drake ordered us! To bring the student who crippled Brookrudi’s son!”

The information I’ve heard today and yesterday is somewhat cross-verified.

‘He captured Lord Brookrudi and imprisoned him in the mansion, and he’s looking for Hati…’

Is he trying to get Flare?

‘No. Then he wouldn’t have imprisoned Lord Brookrudi.’

Did he meet Sophia and Kasha yesterday?

‘The Imperial Family and Aiden.’

Either way, it was a juicy story for the pirate bastard.

“Whether you believe it or not, my name is Baron Bernatore.”

“”Yes! Brother!””

“A real noble, fundamentally different from that pirate bastard Shakline.”

“…”

I kick James, who was coughing next to the guys who were quietly watching, in the stomach.

Thud!

“Hoo-ahhh!”

I grind my shoe into the back of the guy who can’t breathe, his face contorted.

“I’m the real noble. Right?”

“That’s right!”

“You’re the best noble!”

“You’re a real noble!”

“You’re amazing!”

‘What do you expect from guys under a pirate bastard?’

“Okay. Two questions left.”

To these guys, this is Bernatore’s declaration of war against Shakline.

“What is the relationship between Princess Sophia and Count Shakline?”

“When they first met, the Count called her ‘My Sophia!'”

‘So he didn’t have any relationship with Kasha.’

The Imperial Family and Sophia.

“When did Count Shakline receive his title?”

“Ten years ago! He went to the capital to receive his title back then!”

‘Something happened back then.’

Sophia’s ill-fated relationship.

I wish that human, who should have been eaten by Leviathan and died, had…

“Good. Take it.”

I take out my wallet and throw each of them a special gold coin. Except for that hateful James.

“T-thank you!”

“Brother!”

One guy bites into it without thinking and is surprised when his teeth sink in.

“I-it’s real!”

“This!!”

“Wasn’t it a fair reward? Is it not enough?”

The other guy slaps the back of the head of the clueless guy who was about to say yes.

“It’s enough! Baron!”

“Yeah, yeah. Take this guy and go.”

“”Yes!””

They become quick-witted when they get money.

‘It’s obvious. Would a guy like Scarl spend money on his subordinates?’

You need live bait to catch a carnivorous shark.

Sooner or later, those five guys will tell Count Shakline what I did.

‘At least that guy James will.’

That’s why I deliberately didn’t give him money.

Back at the detached house, I see Sophia sitting on the sofa, staring blankly.

“Sophia.”

“Ah! Brother! You’re back?”

“Have you eaten?”

“I don’t have an appetite…”

“Come see me for a moment.”

“Yes? Yes!”

Sophia naturally comes into my room and sits on the chair.

“Coffee, please! And cookies!”

“…Didn’t you just say you didn’t have an appetite?”

“It’s rude to ask a lady such a question! But I’ll let it slide since you’re my brother!”

I don’t know what that “brother” thing is all about.

Her eyes look hollow, probably because she didn’t sleep well last night, so I make her some tea. I grab some random cookies and put them on a plate.

“O-oh…? Y-you really made it? But why tea?”

“Just eat it. And wasn’t it Sophia who asked me to make it, not the Princess?”

“Ah, aha~ That kind of concept? So. Why did you call me? You’re not the type to call me just to have tea…”

I think she’s roughly figured it out.

“Shakline.”

“…That’s not something I really want to talk about.”

“Then you don’t have to.”

I’m not going to upset Sophia just to ask.

He’s just a guy who’s going to die to Leviathan anyway.

‘So his strength is out of the question.’

Judging by how his subordinates’ eyes lit up at just one gold coin.

‘His financial power is also out of the question.’

A measly Count title? The name of a pirate lord? The Sanuf security chief?

‘It’s obvious just by looking at the level of the subordinates I just met.’

No matter what tricks he uses, I can just crush him myself.