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Chapter 43
Of course, that was the only reason Winstonz would be wandering around outside for this long.
He might look like he’s just roaming about, but he’s a man who hates wasting time more than anything.
It’s not like someone who only ever knew work suddenly wanted to “get some fresh air,” either.
“You know, don’t you?”
“What… what do you mean—”
“The reason the old man hasn’t come back.”
Felix’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“It looks to me like it overlaps a little with the reason you came here.”
“……”
“Am I wrong?”
God, that uncanny intuition—still as sharp as ever. How can someone’s gut feeling be that freakishly accurate, both then and now?
“Talk.”
“Master Felix, I’m sorry, but that’s the one thing I can’t—”
“Then how about we go see the old man right now?”
“Please—absolutely not, I swear to the heavens! I tried my best to persuade His Excellency too, but… well, you know how stubborn he can be. He wouldn’t listen even to his friend of several decades.”
“What did he tell you to investigate?”
“Haa…”
He wasn’t listening at all.
That stubbornness had to be hereditary.
Still, this wasn’t something I could just blurt out.
If only Winstonz were involved, I’d tell him in a heartbeat.
But this time…
“I’m sorry, but I truly can’t tell you, Young Master. Not this time. Someone else is involved too—”
“Someone else?”
“Haa.”
Guess I’m doomed.
Dion let out a deep sigh.
“Father, what do you mean, someone else? You mean apart from His Excellency?”
Hearing that, Maytal—ever tactless—asked the question out loud.
Dion coughed loudly and jabbed his son in the ribs.
“What did I just say?”
Pretending not to notice, Felix raised one brow.
“You said the old man and someone else are involved. Since you called that person a ‘friend,’ I’m guessing he’s not a noble or one of our usual business partners?”
“As expected of the future of House Kazliden!”
What quick perception! Such brilliant deduction!
Dion felt truly honored to serve such a sharp young master.
“Who is it?”
“…Please spare me.”
Then, of course, Maytal had to chime in again.
“Who is it, Father?”
“Would you shut it for once?!”
“……”
Maytal fell silent immediately. Felix didn’t miss the opportunity to press on.
“So, the answer?”
“What happens if I don’t answer?”
“Then Maytal dies.”
“That’s fine. Feel free to work him to death.”
“Father!”
Now used as collateral, Maytal turned on his father with a look of deep betrayal. Dion swallowed hard and rubbed his thigh nervously.
“Truly—fine, I’ll just give the briefest answer possible.”
He couldn’t hold out any longer.
After finishing my meal with Gilbert, I headed back to headquarters. I still had unfinished work to wrap up.
But the moment I reached the entrance, Gilbert suddenly blocked my path.
“What’s wro—”
“Ahk!”
A short scream—then thud!
Startled, I peeked over Gilbert’s shoulder.
A neatly dressed boy sat on the ground, wincing as he rubbed his backside.
“Who’s this?”
Gilbert frowned, just as surprised as I was. A nearby staff member came running over, pale-faced.
“M-my apologies, Master!”
He hurriedly grabbed the boy by the arm and bowed his head. But the child clearly hated being touched—he bit his lip hard and struggled with all his might.
“Y-you little brat!”
“Where did he come from?”
“Uh, well… You remember that illegal slave ring we busted recently? He was one of the captives. But he’s been extremely wary, keeps trying to escape.”
“He wouldn’t have been able to just walk out.”
“No, sir, I was only bringing him out for a brief training session—please forgive me, Master. I’ll take him back immediately.”
The staffer urged the boy to stand. From behind Gilbert, I quietly studied the boy’s face, twisted with fury.
His skin was unnaturally pale, his unkempt black hair stuck out in all directions, and between the strands, faintly visible—eyes the color of blood, shimmering with unshed tears.
He looked about my age.
But—
‘…What the?’
Why did he look so familiar?
‘Where have I seen him before?’
A sudden wave of déjà vu made me blink. Then the boy, still struggling to his feet, snapped his head up.
His crimson eyes blazed with mistrust and anger toward the world.
“Let go of me!”
His resistance was fiercer than I’d expected. But with such a frail body, it was useless.
The staff member overpowered him easily, forcing him to turn his head away—and that’s when I saw it.
On the back of his small hand was a scar shaped like an X.
“……”
I swallowed hard and looked him over again.
Black hair. Red eyes.
And that scar.
“This boy—”
“Huh?”
“What’s this boy’s name?”
“His name?”
Gilbert tilted his head, puzzled. The staffer finally spoke, a beat too late.
“Ah, well, he’s been in captivity since he was very young, so… he doesn’t have a name. They just called him Number Four.”
“Number Four?”
At that, the boy’s body trembled violently. There was no mistaking it—he’d reacted to his name.
‘…No way.’
If my guess was right—
‘Impossible.’
Euclas Reumvel.
That kid… was the male lead of the original story.
‘Why is he still here? The job’s already done.’
‘……’
‘The Emperor’s begun to move. When the master’s away too long, the dogs start barking. You should return soon.’
I know.
Of course I know.
Winstonz already realized it was about time to go back.
But as I said before, he couldn’t bring himself to leave Amelia here alone.
He also needed to meet that so-called brother of hers.
‘She looks so composed, but she’s always breaking things, tripping over herself.’
He couldn’t take his eyes off her for even a moment. Never in his life had someone made him so anxious.
Even his grandson Felix had never worried him like this. That boy had always been capable and self-sufficient.
Yet strangely, it didn’t annoy him.
It was a new feeling—astonishing, even.
He, who despised wasting time, didn’t mind spending so much of it caring for a single little girl.
Even Winstonz himself found it baffling.
‘And that brother of hers—just where the hell is he?!’
How could that man wander off, leaving behind his one and only sister?
Winstonz climbed the stairs, swallowing his irritation.
‘Even if I wanted to move her to a safer place, that brother of hers would have to show up first before I could do anything.’
