Chapter 92: Praise
kkXwNeaThe second gift he received almost by accident, Frank Fontaine, spilled everything he knew.Rlawu
F2FoAfter hearing his story, Perda and Isabella understood one thing.rnYfZ
H4Jo0C“So when they said they would hand over the Dandollo Company, they meant they would hand over everything Tilda had prepared.”xuQzmC
iUmtIt had seemed somewhat strange that they would promise to transfer one of the Empire’s largest trading companies.36uSWC0
UnaX7xBut as Frank Fontaine continued confessing things, the full picture gradually began to reveal itself.SqwyK
klX6L6G— They promised that if I cooperated, in a few years I would become an executive at the Dandollo Company headquarters! In exchange, I just had to hire and manage the assassins!pdeoOF
TJAJXd1“What stupidity.”rXWfh
mE3FHe had thought that, as a merchant, he would at least carefully calculate the profits and losses before doing something like this.28L9
43MRkGyThen he remembered something Stephan had said.v4XHLN2
gONTRAiThat Frank Fontaine had never been promoted simply because he lacked talent.uvFD3
Ctu7TRAnd that incompetence had also been completely exposed in this rebellion.9yi2SfW
8QCbArbEven so, Perda did not blindly believe that Frank Fontaine was an absolute idiot either.GNm
1uKJsBHe was clumsily stupid and clumsily clever at the same time.2Pb
4msAlthough Frank Fontaine had led the plan, he had also kept documents capable of proving that someone else stood behind that entire filthy conspiracy.s6z
qi0M3PIn the section confirming who had provided all the funds, Henri Dandollo’s seal was stamped.VqdLaT
vtquETilda had prepared everything so she could completely shift the blame onto the Dandollo Company in the worst-case scenario.IWDL0
4P6exSAnd Perda could use that document as well.BlaVX
SCJ“So Black Bandana plans to use this when they hand over the Dandollo Company.”0sXaD0
7bS“Do you think it will be enough?”Di21oO7
sGv“We can destroy the credibility of the Dandollo family, but transferring the entire company is still difficult.”9WTNR0
brpOLxEither way, thanks to those documents and testimonies, Perda’s work became much easier.gJcbz6v
ep6xaOHTilda Pascal on one side.rNR
EDKoy9Henri Dandollo on the other.OHW21uI
m0eNow it was possible to bring them down separately.MRkjU2A
DQD‘Is Rico Dandollo really the client?’OG8tb
miyw0qWhen it only seemed like a matter of protecting his son and the company from a trash daughter-in-law, he had been the most likely candidate.WDAi
AsCr5TsBut handing this document to Perda practically amounted to expelling his own son from the company, even if it meant saving it.RdKLY
3Qz0wAnd it did not exactly seem like the kind of decision a father would make.QUcAo
Y0rv“Even if they end up handing the company over to someone practically unrelated like you, Regent Perda, the resistance will be quite strong.”gPqX
GEO2Ez1“There’s no need to worry about that.”oyylplP
WMIhWPerda possessed the most attractive element of all.85lc
6t3QdMagical engineering.nsZrFS
zRGnNMany investors already coveted it, and if it were presented to the Dandollo Company, they would probably welcome a new administrator gladly.kPGhC
g5i“Even so, I still can’t imagine how they plan to seize it legitimately.”k1rr5g
mvnJ“As an administrator, do you think it would be better to abandon this now?”0ve
FJrmM“This will greatly benefit the finances. How could I withdraw? I will investigate the acquisition further and begin preparing everything in advance.”8y4
Gtl“Do it.”BdFrd
ayXIsabella pushed up her glasses while smiling.yNENbnR
kNCAs someone who constantly complained about financial problems, that proposal alone was enough reason to celebrate.mr8Xn
WE0dQWhile everyone seemed satisfied, Perda glanced sideways at Ruri and asked.qGM
6AE8n7x“More importantly, what about you?”ZcGPXcy
X8IDh6“What do you mean?”Izj7
UkmAs always, Ruri answered in a cold and professional tone.cED6
R89D“I mean cooperating with a human plan. You don’t seem like someone who would enjoy something like this. Are you really fine with it?”dgyEY
RdMCD2Ruri answered.KpyQ1
mEVvs“I have pride as a dragon spawn, but I’m not an idiot. I don’t see why I should cling to my pride over something like this.”TDZwo
zajEp“Ah, yes?”3YLWRD
lMm“More than anything, if anyone should be blamed, it would be my lady.”UvGqfeI
PpKRuri let out a sigh and began complaining.ZGdfu4
XCdIZ“Unlike other dragons, he never gathered treasures and lived like a slacker. That’s why we ended up needing to attract financial resources this way. So even an insignificant maid like me has to move around, don’t you think?”RkvZSLZ
KTnD“It seems you had quite a few things bottled up against your lady.”6B2
ED0bkH“Do you have a complaint?”V2HA
zhcs“No.”3yplZ
Z73Even while insulting her own lady, she still moved for her sake.FKsOVG4
XkpbjHow could he not find that admirable?EIP4f
k32QE“I’m only grateful that you’re making the effort.”qkwO22W
9cNIcPerda extended his hand toward Ruri’s head.pZfZ4
1KeUpon seeing that hand, Ruri flinched slightly and lowered her head just a little.ouzn5lZ
Vmze“Regent.”wE1Rd
6SsCJHJust before the hand touched her head—biPy
jKxNaIsabella’s voice interrupted the moment.J6IhV
g40“What is it?”WhA
AjS“Are you trying to pat Miss Ruri’s head?”Pwh
eXk“That’s right.”xgXw
LcMAZSR“And why would you do something like that?”xIw6rU1
xYWPIsabella’s voice became more aggressive.qBa
KmoFaced with that unexpected emotional reaction, Perda answered first.m9O
8mvbwQF“I heard that it’s more effective when praising a child.”H5E
CUW“That is correct when praising minors, but precisely because of that, you should not do it to Miss Ruri.”HoxJw
FMaxbM“Ah, no?”3Pwc
Z3HoV“I….”kilOU
JpBzWK“You haven’t forgotten that dragon spawn possess extremely strong pride, have you?”EyzcP
JKNnD6hAfter hearing that, Perda nodded.r7i
Jg5EaIsabella continued insisting.cTI
vIVHpLe“And above all, Miss Ruri is several times older than you, Regent. Although she possesses the appearance of immortal, youthful, eternal purity like a flower that never withers, you must not forget that she is still an adult.”Skw2ul
UJMCX“Is that so?”eh9
o8gcgE7Although her words were loaded with clearly biased embellishments, what she said made sense.8XOy5z
n8qPerda turned toward Ruri and questioned her with his eyes.Smfl
lQt“That’s correct.”Q4h
mazOxCRuri nodded.z9bebv
mVQJ“I have lived hundreds of years longer than you. Did you really think I would enjoy being praised that way?”T39Kvo
Be342Although she appeared to support Isabella’s logical reasoning, it was also obvious from her face that something internally bothered her.MECS33
ruJ6However, Perda believed it was simply wounded pride.ztVrteU
WJDYd“My apologies. It seems my method of praise was incorrect, so I will avoid patting your head in the futu—”0zjxnC0
eevwzBN“No.”JEQ
e849X0The one who immediately interrupted was Isabella, as if she had been waiting for that moment.MLg2P
KoqIcNG“There is another way.”9fsrM
qpdA“Another way?”xdFcxW
6QUS“As I said before, that is a method of praise an older person uses toward someone younger, correct?”0Xb
YXNNFxO“Correct.”r8NV
o7ssjIsabella adjusted her glasses and said,Vqi2
Dex0mG“Then wouldn’t it be enough for an older dragon spawn to praise a younger one?”V651ov
DGbAr“……?”0jPA
aPk“……?”z7an
sM7hX5Ruri and Perda had no idea what the hell she was talking about.GRg
gTlifwIsabella pushed up her glasses and spoke.d6nt
5Axb“What I mean is that I, as someone older, can praise Miss Ruri.”DseMVq
5Yit“Hm?”w1m2jK
XNUS“……What?”sXu
4ziPerda became confused once again, while Ruri’s face completely fell apart.eFig
TFikIBoth of them looked as though they were wondering what kind of joke this was.O7dsAF
Zz5gL“What exactly did you just say?”DdWV
juKxzp“To repeat it clearly, I am saying that I will praise Miss Ruri by patting her head.”a3GTJ
ZGScnqWIsabella’s glasses gleamed.0w8e3x
a5ywGguShe was being completely serious.mkjSohE
OUNIsabella took a step forward.pzsy5OO
WjnfciRuri stepped back and instinctively assumed a defensive posture.7q5
Y8R093“Do not come closer.”Qmu
0qsrMf“There’s no need to be embarrassed. As someone older…”WWWl
mIRHer fingers slowly began to twist.vLfSXB
AZwEn“I plan to praise you very thoroughly.”ZSJd
Uv7CdeYHer fingers moved with a flexibility impossible to believe from someone devoted solely to administrative work and magic.RiEwK
45OvzThey twisted like tentacles crawling up from the depths of the abyss.1HIgv
ftj0hFinally, with a completely fed-up expression, Ruri fled as though escaping for her life.8e6
7ZY“Ah.”dbxiiW
awTIsabella blankly stared at the place where she had disappeared like the wind.cwc
GdXW32FMoments later, she returned to her usual stiff and professional expression.6tgyz
VIXzPerda spoke.4qAAQi
YSP“It seems that wasn’t a good idea.”ZO6
0cIuzp“……It seems so.”iuekBsZ
zXEIsabella genuinely looked disappointed.STp
tGR1***MbDdu
Api1ERKBlack Bandana’s main base.5kMvP
AK2In truth, there was no such thing as a fixed main base.fFSfTV6
U7ycJWFor security reasons, the base relocated every three months, and the movement was kept so secret that even low-ranking members did not know where they would be going until the very day of the move.iG3N
BP3QX5NThe place they were currently using as a hideout was located in a mountain range in eastern Serdes.5G4M6
4LriLULong ago, it had been used as a shelter by traffickers and drug manufacturers until they were exterminated, after which the place ended up becoming one of Black Bandana’s dens.J8aDgW
R070It was rare for outsiders to be allowed into such a secret location.BwrU
eVTNAnd it was even rarer for those outsiders to end up receiving killing intent.4i5
g9RoRCAIn that sense, Zed Swallow was the first case in Black Bandana’s entire history.U7zWare
zPr6o“Zed Swallow. We always saw you in drawings, but this is the first time we’ve seen your real face, huh?”lXs9NeC
e024AoC“Ha, look how soft this bastard’s skin is.”iB1qUiW
HwNjMen with hands as large as pot lids began groping Zed’s body.HgV4D
snbZed completely stiffened while forcing out an awkward laugh.EkzWaRI
UxvgsO“Haha… could you stop touching my face? Even if it doesn’t look like it, I put a lot of effort into taking care of it….”PyD
jm3AZut“Oh yeah? Then let’s check out your ass instead. Some people here enjoy men, and once they see that ass of yours—.”BCQshyS
ld0“Bah! What’s the big deal about touching my face? Go ahead and touch it all you want! Hahaha!”fQdI4H
q3omRealizing he had said something dangerous, Zed hurriedly tried to correct himself.8GmkdY
DGEwdJWhile laughing, he cursed his life internally.VMG
TzfD2Bb‘Why the hell did I end up here putting up with this…?’QjpzBjh
P1BNHe hated Garnet for dragging him there.GagmK
tgfBut he hated Perda even more for selling him off.GSj2Gjx
cDGQW‘What’s so important about money? What’s so important about a knight’s title?’c4500g
NZZHe thought about it carefully and arrived at only one answer.yCQ
ima‘They really are important, damn it.’xUxS5
BtxU2He had no choice but to keep smiling obediently.j6eJe9
mMLn0rD“Brothers, I have a question.”A6W
a4D“What is it?”yiKEu
aZOP5“Why are you all so desperate to eat this guy alive?”6m9R
riFG0mD“Huh? Didn’t you hear?”5yBvn
jGotdQMThen the man grinned widely and started brutally smacking Zed on the head.dq2T3
1ZHkjM“This bastard violated our young lady. Are you telling me you don’t know that famous story?”F5Ic
1WzRR“Huh? I think I heard something like that before, but it was this guy?”HF3kZf5
nbmiL7e“Yeah, this very one.”QBagfz
ALM99k“Oh, daring to touch our young lady….”ZgX6AW
6Xs1Even the most innocent-looking man began burning with rage, so Zed frantically waved his hands.b1H
V8F“Wait a second! Saying I violated her is way too exaggerated!”Oqn2P
zyawS“Go ahead, explain.”y1C3qXe
98KVnO“That day we had just finished a really difficult mission, both of us were exhausted, and we were comforting each other. Then a man and a woman end up alone in a room, the mood turns nice, and I thought leaving at that point would also be disrespectful….”y77f
MPfMe“And then you acted like a man and took responsibility?”D9HVa
St5U“Well… if I had known she belonged to a family like this….”UGD7oyk
f6yxm“Did you take responsibility?”omr
VRHy“……I ran away.”ryaj
zkGVEk“Then what’s the difference between that and rape, prostitute?”DtYVR
kK77IThe hands gripping his face became rougher.L1DO
pAZG5qNow they had him completely immobilized.0PKFPB8
nbu“Haha… what are you doing, brothers?”50OFZV
IEdLBb“We’re not asking for much. We’re just going to leave a mark on your face. Then you can regret it and marry our young lady.”bECAt
9fR“Haha! Could you lower that knife!? I really don’t like these kinds of jokes!”cotFQ
7lW4“What’s a joke to you is reality to us. Hold this bastard down properly.”l7GnXZ
9sRAEm“What are you doing?”6U3l3vx
Rkd3AA rough female voice echoed through the smell of sweat surrounding those men.Qn86
yNhusC“Oh, boss, you’re here. We were just giving him a little welcome.”9HM5mCT
LJ92“He doesn’t belong to the organization, so what kind of welcome would that be? Besides, that’s not done with a knife.”rdm2
7DS“Come on, at least he should feel like part of the family.”vR0OY2
waKmMQZed shot Garnet pleading looks for help.pLyR
PjeTB9Garnet let out a sigh and drove everyone away.JtEnw2
N59R0w“Stop screwing around and back off. No matter what you say, Zed is still a knight under the Regent.”guG
hvUiLT“Tch, consider yourself lucky.”TvrJX
bDnVcs“Next time we’re definitely checking out that ass.”bdZD
tEQ5At Garnet’s order, everyone withdrew.JfXPyHf
XQdZed, who had been trembling like a gazelle surrounded by predators, looked at Garnet and said,wFzL6W
JPBRO8P“Thanks for saving me.”CQYpR
gYCvSGarnet slapped him across the face.TDrJv
tf0Slap!LzcXoR9
jfWi1y“Ow! Why!?”wABMR
ZMty“That’s for the stupidity you pulled at Castle Valdrova.”g7lSwP
7SuKZ8U“You’re right, I deserved that. So aside from that, you’re not still holding a grudge against me, right?”ReDfLJZ
I4qBH8w“Not for now. Although I still resent you, it’s not enough to ruin the job.”fHG
vgQnZ6“What? No woman who’s been with me would ever say something like that….”Imh
tJv“……Do you want to explode?”YIMU
gLy“Sorry. Please continue.”juYzhy
bFiOEven after so many years apart, there were still many emotions left between them.P8Z
6HhSUUGThey could have gone straight to the main subject, but first they decided to talk about everything they had not been able to say before.HHnw
64Hrj“What nerve you have, still using the surname Swallow.”hRz82
BbvIR“You’re still using it too, Pindteeth.”YNNRwYB
K1RM2q“Don’t use that nickname.”q4H
eLO0K7o“Why not? It brings back good memories.”FcR1F
Na3“Didn’t I break your nose for using it?”XzNDqag
FLCeLa“And I still kept using it with you.”E4Zt
bJLZed grinned shamelessly.EzVQw
kgiriySeeing that face, Garnet growled like an angry dog.QZn
o1ORv0g“Don’t smile like that. Easy women might like it, but it only irritates me.”K9g
qrCXI“Yes, ma’am.”g90U
7BphoroZed immediately erased the smile.GCvx
kOYGarnet took a deep breath and spoke in a cold voice.PrBJ6L
tzI5po2“I need your help with this job.”lOk
auTUnd“What kind of help?”IIaygX
CwDC“Infiltrate a mansion and find an object.”Fmh1FrK
I7GCdNBZed waved his hands dramatically.ozd6
u2R“Infiltrate? What ability would I have for something like that? I can’t do it.”dgiBPV
qADH0“You’re perfect for this job.”yIEM0
BEJMJL“Based on what?”1h5J
43BzMdX“It’s the conclusion I reached after considering both your recent actions and the things you did when you were a mercenary.”aEuJu
0UjAP“And what did I do as a mercenary? I don’t remember doing anything special.”ha2
cUrOMmiSince Zed kept pretending ignorance to the very end, Garnet let out a sigh.6Yn
OoPhj5“Do you remember the battle at Castle Palestina?”OtmLfsS
KgT9“Of course. It was hell.”Ck3k8oP
N6dD3wa“All of us were captured except you. Everyone thought you had escaped, but in reality you infiltrated the castle and got us out.”OPGyUM5
alVg“I was just lucky.”htCvIW
9FmaD“You had that ‘luck’ seven times. Maybe nobody else noticed, but I did. I know you moved in secret to save us.”VCuX
4AlG“You’re overestimating me too much….”qH0NQk
aax3In fact, even Zed himself was not aware of it.hByxIYK
h9QC1sHe did not see it as infiltration.2Wlp4Xk
EotbHe simply thought it was the right thing to do for his comrades and that he needed to move stealthily in order to accomplish it.aL3
6DmHe never believed it was anything extraordinary.9tJe7E7
tQPFDLdWhen he continued trying to dodge the issue, Garnet decided to use her final trump card.Ols
SJSkEn“Do you want me to mention that you’re the last descendant of the Red Eyes Tribe too?”Za3bD
kIWq2qZed’s expression hardened.9EltEU
OVhJPW“I don’t want to make this uncomfortable, but right now I—.”gXFxbNC
UB5“That information.”pZJy
wDMH“What?”4Y4
syf“Who else knows it?”cUb
VJlukcmUnlike before, Zed asked with a completely murderous expression.BF4E3
Zz6iQEGarnet endured that pressure and answered.DjKgW
YUvHU“Only me.”tY4jG
cMPM0zj“If you’re trying to protect me, don’t. Even if we have history together, I can’t let this slide.”vysaiPJ
hEcDuUYGarnet frowned and exploded in anger.B7acOH
Lii5N“Idiot. Who do you think has been controlling your information all this time? Every piece of information about you is under my control.”VvdtRZs
HNXAS9“My information?”iYQb
Ebhrk0“You think you hide yourself that well? You think living like a prostitute helps you stay unnoticed? Idiot. If it weren’t for me, you’d already be dead. Do you understand? Everyone would have figured it out already and captured you to display you like some zoo monkey!”Mtnh5
429Fvm0While Garnet breathed furiously, Zed awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.yhJ
Onlzlds“Really? I always thought you hated me enough to want me dead.”Tf8hxaN
D4X6M8“And why would I want to kill you? At the end of the day, you’re still a comrade I shared life and death with.”cHYFUhM
NH41xD“Oh.”YnS8n
h6LT0Bw“Though those people over there do want to kill you.”SP6ZaWX
AG40hlz“Ah….”rDz
Wb6G6mZed smiled, although his face was completely pale and sweat poured down him in streams.bFHWU
QGLsoGarnet let out a small laugh at how pathetic he looked.4fw60
Yr8nI“So, what exactly is the job?”2LYWhu
fNn0“You need to infiltrate the mansion and find the medium of the Garden Contract.”vg0R
1ddG“Garden Contract… I’d prefer to avoid problems with witches from now on.”I5q
DbZWX“Your name has already appeared several times on their blacklist, so it doesn’t matter.”bW0J
IV7fU7“Really?”ItHIf
4MI“Are you stupid, or are you only pretending to be?”8Xd1Onv
avqGarnet looked at him as if he were useless before returning to the subject.Tr6APFp
5h5Yn8“We believe the other side made a contract with Yor Philiaz. We think you’re the most suitable for this job. What do you think?”hvD0
BTH“It’s the best decision possible.”uFf4
iFYRFor someone from the Red Eyes Tribe, known as Mage Killers, magic users were easy prey.rldbYGH
PtHA true witch would be troublesome, but the enemy was only a villain imitating those powers.snkHG
g88R2“Then show me the blueprints of the place I need to infiltrate.”SYWn
eX5evGarnet placed an enormous stack of documents in front of Zed.Ips
EgyNAn image began forming in Zed’s mind.CAlFChR
tXyXThe blueprints and the locations of the identified objects.NCdwDmZ
WuHwvWith that, he began pointing out the place where the object he needed to steal was most likely located while mentally constructing the operation.M0G
SGhWhen everything finally took shape, Zed looked at Garnet.Sy2
8p5“But tell me something.”XYrcQ
hp8gZ“What?”9PIfI
akL“This doesn’t have to be done completely in secret, right?”wxpu
RYH“What do you mean?”F85
iC2roWD“I mean if I can do something a little flashy.”u13j
zVJLzihGarnet showed an exhausted expression.BPTSN
ATQXvK“……Are you planning to seduce Tilda Pascal?”sAQ3t
7a21g“No, why would I do something that annoying?”GjfK8ZC
xzquT“Because that kind of thing is exactly like you.”pBMH
haj“Haha. You say you know me, but you actually don’t.”fmde
o5RD7Zed grinned widely.EsH358S
EAo“These kinds of matters only get resolved once everything turns into one giant scandal.”lGsK
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Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationBro this whole black bandana group is weird.
Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationBro have weird fantasies.