Chapter 224: The Handsome Man in a Mask (1)

The guard captain asked, suppressing his anger."The intruder, still hasn't been found?"

"No..."

"Damn it, four hours have passed and you can't find one thief! Does that make any sense?"

His anger finally exploded. seaʀᴄh thё NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The one being scolded didn't know what to do.

"Find them! Find them by any means!"

"But there aren't even footprints..." Read new chapters at M V L

"Damn footprints. Before I stamp footprints on your face, go bring hunting dogs from outside."

"Y-yes, I'll do that."

It was certain the thief escaped through the window.

The guards who should have been watching outside had rushed in when they heard the alarm.

Because of that, they had no way of knowing where the thief escaped and hid.

Not a single trace remained - it was enough to make a ghost weep.

"High chance it's a mage capable of invisibility and levitation."

"There were traces of magic use inside... we've given all artifact detection items to the search team."

"...Something feels off no matter how I think about it."

In reality, the guard captain doing the scolding was in a more difficult position than the one being scolded.

"Strengthen security around the Court Count's quarters. Summon the knights."

"Then..."

"Maybe this was their plan from the start - cause a commotion to move the guard forces, then try to infiltrate somewhere important."

"Surely not an assassination attempt..."

'Assassination attempt.' When his subordinate uttered those words, the guard captain glared at him murderously.

Even the current situation with the warehouse being robbed was more than enough for the guard captain to handle.

He didn't want to even imagine something more terrible.

"Puhehe, that's enough."

The Court Count, sitting in his rosewood chair, said this.

"If they were after my head, several would have infiltrated at once. Would a single person play hide and seek for 4 hours? Am I, Jimier Berollinger, such an easy target? Kid... how do you function with such a slow brain?"

"M-my apologies."

"It's been over 2 hours since dawn. They clearly escaped, so stop this nonsense and call off the kids. Guests will be coming soon, are you trying to spread rumors about my embarrassment around the neighborhood?"

"I will follow your orders."

The guard captain retreated with a pale face.

And so, where did the master thief who robbed the Court Count's warehouse disappear to?

None other than right next to the Court Count!

"My, for someone who stole so much to be this calm, he must be quite something. Must be very wealthy indeed."

Pelerian floated, arms crossed, observing Count Jimier.

In reality, the Court Count showed no signs of anger. Though his true feelings might be different...

What the Court Count held was a list checking the warehouse inventory.

According to Pelerian's check, my name was 'Crystal Wyvern Deformed Specimen.'

Bastards with no eye for quality.

And next to it was marked 'outgoing.'

Thus I ended up beside Count Jimier along with other items marked for outgoing.

The fate of outgoing items soon became clear.

After the mansion quieted down again, "guests" started arriving.

"I pay my respects, Court Count. I am Lieutenant Jared Lakers."

"Oh, so you're Jared. I've heard many boasts about you from the Viscount. You graduated from the military academy recently?"

"Yes, I was fortunately appointed to the Capital Guard and came to pay my respects."

He handed over a small wooden box.

I could guess what was inside. Must be a bribe!

"You shouldn't have."

"Father always said to convey his gratitude..."

"I know the Viscount's heart well."

Sound of laughter - hoho, haha.

The Court Count was maintaining the traditional noble custom.

Receiving greetings, receiving gifts.

That seemingly insignificant wooden box surely contained precious metals and jewels.

"Ah, seeing you reminds me of something. I've been saving it thinking it would suit you well..."

Then without looking, he feels around and picks one of the items.

A brilliant... next to me.

"Oh, it's a hairpin. Give it as a gift when you meet a young lady you like."

"Ah... thank you!"

Is it against etiquette to just take bribes and keep quiet?

The Court Count seemed to select items to be given away as bestowments from things he received.

What does it matter what the item is? The young officer gratefully tucked the hairpin into his chest and left.

But when he left, the Court Count didn't even try to open the wooden box and just tossed it behind him.

Clang-

Gold coins spilled out from inside the wooden box.

A servant quickly came and gathered them.

'He doesn't seem interested in money, so why does he do this?'

"It's not that he's not interested in money, but that he's not interested in small amounts. For people of his level, bribe trading is just pocket money. It's probably like daily business to maintain his power."

Pelerian's tone was not friendly.

Come to think of it, though Pelerian was old-fashioned, he was treated similarly to a continental hero.

It makes sense he wouldn't be friendly toward those in power.

'I wonder who they're planning to give me to?'

"Anywhere would be better than here."

While progressing with evolution, I had many thoughts.

This is my first time in such a big city, isn't it?

Since I came all the way to the capital, I planned to accomplish everything I could.

First was finding Pelerian's vault.

He said it was a special vault in the royal bank. I want to see what's inside.

While I'm at it, I could take a few nice things if there are any.

But the problem is that even if I take the key, they probably won't open it for me.

I needed to find a human collaborator.

Actually, I originally thought of asking Heilit Langrey.

But since that bad person sold me off, I need to find a new collaborator.

It would be nice to meet Roil or Amain, but first I need to know where those two are.

In that sense, this place wasn't very good.

Too many soldiers, and that Court Count Jimier doesn't look easy to deal with either.

Someone living alone would be good.

Someone clumsy and foolish would be perfect to use.

"There are several ways to control humans."

'Oh?'

"Either completely win their heart and make them a loyal subordinate. Hire them by offering compensation. Or grab their lifeline, threaten them and enslave their soul. Among these, the best is..."

According to Pelerian's human resource management method.

"Third. Making them slaves."

Just as I thought.

When I asked why.

"Winning hearts sounds easy. But hearts sway like reeds when the target acts differently from their thoughts. So that's out. If you hire them with compensation, they'll surely betray you when someone offering more appears. Therefore, enslaving them is best."

'That's why you only have golems and magic spirits as proper subordinates.'

Ah, I see!

I accidentally reversed thought and 'thought'.

Pelerian is grumbling and getting angry.

Someone else entered.

"Master, Professor Obern has arrived."

"Oh. Tell him to come in."

Unlike before, there was joy in the Court Count's voice.

One of those coming in might become my subordinate (or retainer).

I watched the door with the heart of a king looking for retainer candidates.

And when I saw 'Professor Obern' who entered.

I'll be honest.

I was a bit overwhelmed.

Step.

I thought 'professor' meant a middle-aged man with a pot belly, but no.

What appeared through the door was a tall young gentleman.

His long golden hair was neatly tied back, and he wore an extremely expensive-looking coat.

With long eyelashes and fair, clean skin, he looked more like a famous capital model than a scholar.

However, the atmosphere he gave off wasn't light.