Chapter 274: Debt Counts As An Asset (1)

Keter and Daat were tossing something back and forth like a ball. At first glance, one might think it was a snowball since it was snowing. However, when seen up close, the snowball had fur and even tiny fangs that poked out. It wasn’t a snowball, but Elise in bat form. With fully armed soldiers and knights patrolling nearby, the peculiar combination of the scene looked like a creation of an insane artist.

Elise, thrown by Daat, was buried in the snow. Keter hadn’t caught her.

“Dork, I sense it coming.”

“Sense what? Poop?”

“Not that. I feel the sensation of a boomerang I threw returning.”

“In other words, you’re saying karma is about to hit you, correct?” Daat speculated.

“When you call it karma, it sounds like I did something wrong.”

Keter dug out Elise, who was delighted, from the snow, and tossed her back to Daat. Elise traced an arc through the air, giggling nonstop as if she found the flight exciting.

“Let’s just say you’re reaping the seeds you sowed, then,” Daat replied back.

“Now it sounds like I lived irresponsibly.”

“Didn’t you?”

Keter scooped up some snow from the ground, pressed it together, and threw it. Busy focusing on catching Elise, Daat took the snowball right in the face.

Daat scrubbed the snow off his face using Elise and grumbled, “No wonder loyal retainers who say the truth always die early.”

“Timing is important, even for telling the truth.”

“I don’t want to live watching my mouth like that.”

“That’s why I’m a good leader. I willingly take in foolish subordinates as well.”

“

Yeah, yeah,

you’re right as always.”

Daat threw Elise again. This time, she didn’t follow an arc and instead shot out like a flash. He had used the Flying Thunder Sword Technique to throw her.

Keter caught her effortlessly and said, “So, Dork, what kind of boomerang do you think is flying back toward me?”

“Assuming you’ve told me everything, I’d say there are three. A Seven Cursed Species, the Syndicate, and vampires.”

“I get the first two, but why vampires? I didn’t take the blood sword in Liqueur. I sold it to the Godfather.”

“It’s not about the blood sword. It’s about her.”

“

Hm?

”

When Daat pointed at Elise, Keter understood immediately.

“

Wow

, can’t believe I didn’t think of that. If vampires are looking for Dracula, then of course they would try to find the First Vampire too.”

“Didn’t you bring her already knowing that?”

“Who would look at this and think it's a vampire? It’s just an adorable white fluffball.” Keter scratched Elise under the chin. Elise purred happily like a cat. He continued, “Obviously, I’m joking. I figured we would get tangled with vampires sooner or later. That’s why I asked Grandpa Midget Volkanus to slowly prepare silver arrows.”

“Even if silver arrows are a vampire’s weakness, do you think they’ll do nothing and let themselves get hit?”

“I decided I would think about that when the time comes. And we don’t

have

to fight vampires.”

“Vampires see humans as livestock. I doubt conversation or negotiation is even possible.”

“If conversation fails, they’re beasts, and beasts can be beaten into submission.”

“

Hmm,

Big Brother, I would say it’s fine no matter what you do if we were still in Liqueur. But we’re in Sefira now.”

Keter knew exactly what Daat meant. Now that he had something to protect, his enemies would eventually target it.

“Dork, it seems like you underestimate Sefira too.”

“I think I’m being rather generous, actually.”

“Forget military strength for a moment. The scenario you’re imagining won’t happen, not likely at least.”

“You must have some kind of justification for that.”

“According to the Godfather’s theory of causality or whatever, massive families like Sefira don’t go down that easily.”

“That’s exactly the complacency I expect from you.”

Keter shrugged and tossed Elise again. “I call it optimism.”

“Shall I prepare just in case?”

“No need. Focus on the Family War. It’s tomorrow.”

“It’s tomorrow for you too.”

“I get the feeling tomorrow will be harsher for me.”

“My condolences in advance,” Daat said, and even bowed his head respectfully.

Keter smirked. “If I die, will you avenge me?”

“Not a chance.”

“Then I guess I can’t die,

huh

.” Keter brushed the snow off his head and stretched. “I’m off to greet a guest.”

“I’ll look around a bit before heading back as well.”

Keter and Daat parted with a casual farewell, like people heading off to shop at a marketplace.

***

The place Keter, who pretended to be busy, arrived at was the rooftop of his own mansion, and all he did upon arriving was lie down. Since he was already wearing a blindfold, he didn’t need to close his eyes. Any spot he lay on was practically a bed. With his arms folded, Keter fell asleep, letting the snow from the sky land on him.

After sleeping that way for a few hours, he unfolded his arms. Despite the snowfall, no snow had piled up on his face. Keter lifted his blindfold and opened his eyes, only to find a man looking down at him.

“Welcome, my karma.”

“You speak as though you knew I was coming.”

It was Kai of the Imperial Special Task Force. He was the first to come looking for Keter.

Keter sat up and glanced around. “I thought I slept for a while, but the sun’s still up. So, what brings my comrade and friend Kai all the way here?”

“You should already know if you were waiting.”

Kai’s tone was colder than winter snow, making it easy for Keter to infer the reason.

Judging from that attitude, he didn’t come about the Syndicate incident. If I’ve committed a crime against the empire, it must be that.

It was the deed he had committed just a week after arriving in Sefira. The killing of the Blade Bird Tribe brothers.

To be precise, it must have to do with the Seven Cursed Species.

The emperor wouldn’t forgive anyone who sheltered a Seven Cursed Species, not even a king. Even without being told, Keter felt it instinctively. Kai might pretend otherwise, but when it came to the Seven Cursed Species, there seemed to be no room for leniency in his voice.

“You came because of the Blade Bird Tribe.”

Keter admitted his crime. However, he omitted the mention of the Seven Cursed Species. A lie didn’t always require falsehood. One could speak the truth and still cause deception.

“Thank you for sparing me the cost of a confession agent.”

“Well then. I shouldn't keep an Imperial Special Task Force operative standing around like this. Let’s go down.” Keter shrugged.

Keter led the way as though leading a guest, and Kai followed. If Keter pretended not to know what happened, matters would have grown complicated. However, his willingness to easily acknowledge everything meant only one of two things.

He has either given up, or he is confident this situation is nothing to worry about.

The two went down to Keter’s home, where the butler, Jacques, greeted them.

“Young Master? Who is that beside you...?”

Jacques became nervous at the sight of Kai, whose presence was anything but ordinary.

However, Keter waved his hand dismissively. “No need to be nervous. He’s a friend of mine.”

“He seems too old to be... a friend.”

“Does one always need to be the same age to be friends? If the hearts align, that’s friendship. Anyway, he’s a precious guest. Please bring something good to drink.”

“Understood.”

Jacques naturally began preparing liquor instead of tea.

Kai, feeling his tension ease without realizing it, looked around the room. It was partly because his curiosity toward Keter had been activated.

He has a lot of things. Are those elixirs? How does he leave them stored so carelessly...

Keter’s room wasn’t messy, but it was filled with various items. With a bit of rearrangement, it could be seen as a shop.

“Please step out for a bit, Jacques. My friend is kind of shy.”

Jacques carried out the flowerpot he cherished with great care.

As soon as the butler left, Keter filled Kai’s glass to the brim with strong whiskey. With expensive liquor, the proper way was to savor its aroma first, as alcohol poured so carelessly was usually cheap. However, Kai knew very well just how rare the drink Keter was pouring actually was.

“Spider-Apple Liquor. Not a bad choice for hosting.”

Made from the extracts of thousands of spiders that fed exclusively on apples, Spider-Apple Liquor was so rare it had been named one of the world’s top ten delicacies. And Keter drank such a drink straight from the bottle.

“

Ahh

, every cell on the tongue feels electrified. Perfection.” Keter shoved a handful of pork jerky into his mouth and stared at Kai. “If you’re not going to drink it, give it to me.”

At those words, Kai felt a sudden rise of thirst and picked up the glass. However, he didn’t drink immediately. He inspected it with his eyes once, then felt the warmth of the glass with the fingers holding it.

No poison.

Then, he savored the scent. Kai slowly closed his eyes, took a small sip, and savored the taste in his mouth. He didn’t rush to swallow it. His mouth was completely cleared, yet the rich aroma lingered. When Kai exhaled through his nose, the smell of liquor filled the room.

Because Keter drank it so casually, it appeared mild, but Spider-Apple Liquor was so strong that even a single shot was enough to leave most people completely drunk.

Just as Kai was beginning to savor the aftertaste, Keter cut in first.

“I killed Deo and Derant. I know you won’t believe me even if I say it was self-defense, but let’s just put it at that.”

“I want to hear the situation. Briefly.”

“There’s nothing long to say. Those two came to Hacose Village claiming there was a Seven Cursed Species. We fought, and I won.”

“I think you skipped something in the middle.”

“Come on, between professionals? You know already.”

“I don’t have time for wordplay, Keter. I’ll give you a proposal. Hand over the Seven Cursed Species you’ve been hiding. If you give it up now, I’ll report that you didn’t hide it, but rather captured it and were holding on to it.”

Keter was impressed. Kai’s proposal was incredibly enticing.

“Amazing. It’s neither a threat nor persuasion. You speak as though you’re offering help, and in fact, it would actually help me. Truly befitting of the Special Task Force. Terrifying!”

“Stop acting like a kid and read the situation. Even if there’s no physical evidence, the empire can turn Sefira into ruins with suspicion alone. You wouldn’t want that, do you?”

“What if I do?”

Kai’s brows furrowed at Keter’s bold response. The empire’s power was indeed overwhelming, and destroying Sefira wasn’t an empty threat. However, the empire couldn’t bring Sefira to ruin immediately. It was true they could destroy them eventually, but not right now. No matter how mighty the empire was, it couldn’t simply erase a noble family from the map.

He wants that to happen? For what purpose?

A chill crawled up Kai’s spine. Suddenly, the thought struck him that perhaps Keter had killed the Blade Bird Tribe brothers on purpose, just to draw the empire’s attention. He had no idea what Keter could gain from such an act, yet when connected to the current Family War in Lillian, the pieces seemed to hint at something.

Is that it? Is that what you want...? If the empire steps in, the princes will no longer be able to touch Sefira at the very least. But that’s like calling in a tiger to chase away a wolf, isn’t it?

Kai was someone who could see not one or two steps, but ten steps ahead. Yet, even he couldn’t assume what Keter was aiming for. Even receiving the empire’s protection would hardly be enough, so what was he planning to gain by earning its hatred? No matter how Kai looked at it, there was no path of survival for the Sefira family once they received the empire’s wrath.

Yet, Keter continued to wear an unknown smile, and it made Kai more frustrated. It made his fingers play with the confession agent in his pocket.

“Kai, I know the empire never compromises when it comes to the Seven Cursed Species. You treat them like murderers of your parents, right? Honestly, I wouldn’t tolerate them either.”

“You don’t sound as though you intend to simply hand them over.”

“To the empire, they’re an enemy worth beating to death, but to me, the relationship is rather complicated. Thus, I put them somewhere they can’t be taken from.”

The Seven Cursed Species of the Flying Wolf Tribe, hidden by Elder Reganon, had been sent to Liqueur. That place was beyond even the empire’s grasp, after all.

Kai immediately realized that and frowned. “Liqueur, is it?”

Liqueur was indeed a place the empire couldn’t easily interfere with. Once beastfolk entered Liqueur, they were considered as good as dead. Almost everyone who entered never came out again.

However, the issue was that there was no evidence to prove Keter’s claim.

“Even if they believe you sent the Seven Cursed Species to Liqueur, it still looks like you protected them from the empire.” Kai pointed it out.

“I did protect them. As I said before, I wouldn’t have bothered if we were strangers, but we became acquainted.”

Keter couldn’t abandon the Flying Wolf Tribe, not with Reganon involved, as doing so would turn Reganon into an enemy. Even if it meant becoming hostile to the empire, Reganon was someone Keter had to protect. After all, whether Reganon sided with Sefira or not would directly influence the entire family’s morale and condition.

“This conversation is getting nowhere. So what are you proposing?”

“Let the Seven Cursed Species from Sefira slide. In exchange, I’ll sell you another one.”

“Another Seven Cursed Species?”

“Hold on for a moment.”

Keter rummaged through a storage chest. He pulled out a stone that fit snugly into his hand.

Before Kai could ask what it was, Keter tossed it to him and said, “It’s a token of the Moon Rabbit Tribe. I know where they’re hiding. I’m willing to sell that precious information to the Special Task Force.”