Chapter 88: Confronting Chaos [1]

"I want to do that too. I don't know why I keep getting involved every time there's a trial."

"That's because you make the right decisions."

"Ok?"

For a moment, I let out a stupid noise. I never thought I'd hear something like that from Adam.

"Why are you so surprised? Don't you know what kind of being you are in Perias?"

"No, that's not it, but I didn't know you knew that either."

"Those who are originally powerful and stubborn are bound to have a hard time. So, don't give in."

"I told you to behave yourself just now."

"Do you mean keep doing that?"

Adam turned away with an embarrassed expression. Clearly flustered, he pretended to busy himself with work. I smiled broadly and turned to leave.

"I'll try to find a tailor as soon as possible. One who keeps his mouth shut."

"Okay."

There was no need to go all the way to the shopping district; I felt like I had already seen everything I needed to. With the steamer complete, I planned to begin researching papermaking technology in earnest. There would probably be quite a bit of trial and error.

'I know how to make it, but the ingredients are different,' I thought, recalling the experiments I tried while staying at the mansion.

If things went well, I'd pick a smart kid and teach him. Maybe someone like Butler Tobias Wilkin...

Oh, but that guy wouldn't work. Since he's in charge of the shopping district, he'll be busy with all sorts of tasks.

"By the way, wasn't there one more thing?" I muttered to myself.

A curse placed on the employees. Vargas would release it, but finding the culprit was another matter.

'I don't know who he is, but if I catch him, he's screwed. How dare they interfere with my business? Isn't this a crime deserving of the death penalty?'

They had cursed me—the duke of the empire, the supreme judge, and the governor.

"Huh? Wait a minute."

Strictly speaking, I wasn't affected at all.

The curse seemed to have appeared after I went to Deliat. The maids and butlers staying at the mansion were fine, and the employees of the shopping mall weren't affected either.

I decided to see Deacon Miller Xavier.

By now, the walnut trees should have been cut down and moved into storage. As expected, I spotted the butler working with several laborers.

"Butler Xavier."

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Did you happen to share the same accommodations with sick people?"

"Yes. It was the first building we built. We isolated it immediately after the outbreak and prevented further damage."

"Has anyone new moved in there?"

"Yes, the Palmers had a baby, so they moved to a bigger room."

"Is someone else going in there?"

"Yes. I chose a sturdy young man named Margon—"

Before Butler Miller Xavier could finish speaking, I started running.

The hairs on my body stood on end as a sense of foreboding gripped me. As always, ominous feelings turn out to be reality. The moment I reached my destination, it happened.

**BOOM!**

Flames shot high into the sky with a thunderous roar. A surging, crimson aura engulfed the staff quarters. Finally, I shouted, filled with anger:

"You crazy bastards! Do you know how much that building costs? No, what are you doing in a place where there are patients?!"

**Oh my!**

I almost burst out in anger and broke the wall next to me.

***

The scene was utterly horrific. The explosion had caused half of the wall to collapse, and flames were spreading everywhere. But it wasn't a real fire—just an unknown crimson aura enveloping the building.

'What about the staff?'

I thought, more concerned with their safety than the ongoing battle between Vargas and the unidentified individual.

"Cough! Cough! Huh? Your Highness the Duke?" A figure staggered through the rubble. It was Everett, a laborer who mainly worked in the vineyards.

How does I know he's name when we've barely met? It must be thanks to the staff management window—I had reviewed it so often that I practically memorized it.

"Everett?"

"Oh my! It is an honor. You even remember the name of someone as lowly as me."

"You're my employee, so of course I should know. How are you feeling?"

"The moment I heard the explosion, I thought I was dead. But my body felt so light. Thanks to that, I was able to escape."

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"What about the others?"

"I told Gavin to bring them while I cleared the way... Ah! Here he comes."

"Get as far away from the building as possible. Make sure everyone is out."

"Yes!"

Everett shouted bravely and ran back inside, filled with enthusiasm from receiving direct orders from me. He would easily carry out his assigned duties.

Now, it was time to deal with the one named Margon.

"This guy causes explosions wherever he goes," I muttered, recalling Vargas's previous antics.

I didn't think much of it until he blew up the mercenary guild. But I never imagined he would cause my house to collapse.

**BOOM! BOOM!**

I rushed to the back of the building where the constant explosions originated.

The area looked like a battlefield.

The young man named Margon had transformed into a monstrous incarnation of fire—about 3 meters tall, without legs, and with abnormally large arms.

Vargas kept throwing something towards the fire, creating more explosions.

Throwing explosives into a huge fire—this isn't subjugation; it's madness! I couldn't tolerate such insanity on my land.

'I just have to get rid of the curse's source,' I thought, frustrated by the unnecessary complications.

If this continued, the second dormitory building might be destroyed. I needed to resolve this before it caused a bigger problem.

**The Beast's Heart Activated**

The red energy that enveloped my body burned brighter than ever, clearer than Margon's. My anger had reached its peak, but I didn't let it consume me. Searᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Cold anger is the most terrifying thing."

**Activation of Destructive Retribution**

'Lets end this chaos before it's goes any further!'