Chapter 173: Great Light Temple, Again?

Chapter 173: Great Light Temple, Again?

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“Did you enjoy the meal?” the matriarch asked Lucion.

“Yes, the chef’s skills are excellent,” Lucion replied.

―Yummy! Ratta loves it so much!

Ratta, with her face buried in the dish next to Lucion, wagged her tail happily.

―Ah! Lucion said foxes don’t bark like this! Um... How do foxes bark? Ratta doesn’t know.

Ratta looked at Russell and Bethel, but the two just exchanged glances without saying anything.

“Foxes... they howl in a very unique way,” the matriarch tried to change the subject, but Lucion was taken aback.

“Not many people know how foxes bark.”

“Anyway, I’m glad you enjoyed the meal. I was truly unsure of what to serve today since I didn’t know the preferences of the guest of honor.”

The matriarch spoke again after finishing her own meal.

“Now, let’s discuss why I called for Lord Cronia.”

“Is that why Lady Tella wasn’t allowed to attend the dinner?” Lucion asked, and the matriarch smiled.

“That’s correct. She shouldn’t hear it, and even if she did, there’s nothing she could do about it.”

The matriarch didn’t deny it.

Observing the peculiar statement, Lucion brought up a different topic, pretending to be unaware.

“I have no idea why the matriarch called me.”

“I am quite busy myself.”

When Lucion saw the corners of the matriarch’s eyes slightly raised, which was different from when they were eating, he immediately responded.

“That goes for me too.”

“I didn’t mean it in that way.”

The matriarch stepped back very naturally and skillfully.

‘If I hadn’t intervened, she would have tried something else.’

From the moment Lucion first saw her, he thought she was unusual.

Her gaze, assessing him, was as skilled as that of a mercenary, not just someone holding a knife.

She was currently trying to understand him because the person she heard about through rumors might differ from the actual person.

And she was attempting to outsmart him with her cunning.

“Yes, I would appreciate clarification to avoid any misunderstandings. As you know, I can be quite sensitive in such situations,” Lucion replied with a gentle smile.

In an instant, the corners of the matriarch’s mouth lifted.

Look at that.

She seemed amused.

“Before we proceed, I want to make one thing clear,” Lucion spoke first.

Even though she held the position of a noble family’s head, she had nothing to lose.

“Please, go ahead.”

“I came here unofficially, and I would like to continue to remain unofficial in the future.”

Lucion emphasized the need to keep his visit a secret from the outside world.

Despite the mixture of requests and warnings in his words, the matriarch maintained her smile.

“Of course. It would be a disgrace to my family if I couldn’t even manage to keep a mansion discreet.”

“Thank you, matriarch.”

“No, it pales in comparison to what Lord Cronia has done for us.”

“You flatter me.”

Lucion acknowledged the fact that he had assisted the Luteon family.

The noble in front of him was a true noble.

A wrong move could lead to his downfall.

Loyalty existed even among nobles, but they also sought personal gain over loyalty.

‘It’s tricky when your opponent is a noble.’

“I am busy,” the matriarch repeated.

This time, Lucion patiently waited.

“My time is valuable, and so is information. To run a bank, you need a wealth of information. You have to be faster than anyone else and have your ears open.”

Her grand words held no real significance.

She was simply skirting around the issue, beating around the bush.

“Since you’re busy, let’s get to the point,” Lucion, also pressed for time, cut straight to it.

“Do you dislike beating around the bush?” the matriarch inquired.

“It may not be pleasant to hear, but if necessary, I do employ such tactics.”

The matriarch softly chuckled at Lucion’s response, realizing his skill in making sarcastic remarks while being indirect.

“I won’t take up too much of your time. I am a busy person as well.”

The matriarch slightly softened her tone and pointed to herself.

“And before being the head of the family, I was a mother to my daughter. It’s only natural for me to check who my daughter’s friend is, right? Please forgive my rudeness.”

The matriarch was the first to declare an end to the confrontation.

Lucion Cronia.

He wasn’t as kind as Tella had described, but that was sufficient.

Lucion’s lips involuntarily curled up at the brazenness he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Nobles should be treated as nobles.

“Is this your way of repaying the favor, as you mentioned, matriarch? Quite amusing,” Lucion remarked.

“I simply desire a closer connection to Cronia compared to other banks that engage in business with them. I hope you won’t be so blunt about it,” the matriarch responded.

“It is not within my authority but that of the head of Cronia. I’m sure you are aware of that, so I find it slightly offensive that you would make such a remark.”

Slowly.

Gradually.

Lucion seized the initiative and directed the conversation towards himself.

“I know that the head of the family holds Lord Lucion in high regard. So I’m asking for a favor,” she stated.

The matriarch appeared momentarily taken aback but deftly evaded the request.

However, Lucion wasn’t ready to let it go.

Cronia was vast and influential.

Without him, it could have been a formidable stronghold, capable of safeguarding the empire for centuries.

‘It seems like she hasn’t met my father.’

Lucion saw the greed in the matriarch’s eyes.

The greed that stemmed from the nobles’ self-interest rather than genuine assistance to the Luteon family.

He understood it all too well.

With a more relaxed expression, Lucion addressed the matriarch.

“We are already well off. Why should we choose Luteon Bank?”

“I can offer additional benefits,” she replied.

‘I understand now.’

Lucion knew why Luteon Bank grew when Tella became the head of the family, but not now.

The matriarch’s perspective had been narrower than he had assumed.

Lucion lifted his hand from his thigh and lightly tapped the table.

“The head of Cronia is a stringent person. Merely adding benefits at that level won’t sway his heart. Or do you believe you can offer enough to truly sway him?”

A smile crept onto Lucion’s face.

“Is that even possible?” he inquired, based on the circumstances surrounding the Luteon family.

The fact that they were only growing now implied that they hadn’t grown until this point.

Lucion had deposited his funds not in Luteon Bank but in Luteon Bank, managed by Tella.

It would be quite amusing to reclaim the branch she had given to her daughter.

The next steps were already prepared.

“...I apologize.”

The matriarch backed away first.

She had acted impulsively, assuming Lucion was young and naive, and nearly made a grave mistake.

“Yes, I thought it was an amusing joke,” Lucion dismissed all of the matriarch’s suggestions.

Even when he explicitly stated, “Nothing has transpired between you and me until now,” the matriarch had nothing to say.

She had crossed the line, driven by the sight of the gold in front of her.

“Then. Shall we get up now?”

Instead, Lucion suggested.

It’s time to end this meeting.

“I’m sorry... sincerely,” the matriarch bowed her head.

“I hope my rudeness doesn’t affect Cronia, and no, I mean Tella.”

“I also want to get along well with Lady Tella. That’s sincere.” Lucion smiled.

“Well then, please provide the information you initially intended to share,” Lucion extended his hand, momentarily leaving the matriarch speechless.

His demeanor was completely different from before, when he only brandished sharp accusations.

If she pondered the reason behind this change, she would understand it all too well.

“....”

The corners of the matriarch’s eyes drooped down.

Soon, she awkwardly fiddled with her teacup and lowered her head slightly.

“I ... I must have wasted a long time. I trampled on the purity of justice. I truly have no face. I’m sorry, Lord Lucion. I apologize.”

With an expression of remorse, the matriarch extended her hand.

She had strayed from Lucion’s original intent in coming for Tella and instead played with money.

She felt deeply ashamed.

[...Phew. I can finally catch my breath now.]

Russell broke the long silence and spoke. He had exerted considerable effort to avoid interrupting Lucion’s concentration.

“I will make sure to speak in your favor to my father.”

Lucion accepted the matriarch’s outstretched hand.

Only then did the matriarch genuinely express her gratitude.

“Thank you. But you don’t have to go to such lengths now...”

“No, I am indebted to you, matriarch,” Lucion responded.

Knowing that Tella would eventually inherit the Luteon family, Lucion had laid the groundwork for that pivotal moment.