Chapter 191 (1): Dear Father-in-law

Seeing Wayne’s conflicted expression, Silvia made the worst assumption and asked bluntly, “Did the woman make a move on you? Tell me. How did she take advantage of you? I’ll get back at her for you.”

“It’s not that, Master,” Wayne said. “She’s a high reverend of the Church of Moonlight and its highest authority in Windsor. Her status doesn’t allow her to force anything on me.”

“That’s more troublesome!” Silvia’s expression turned frosty. “I know you. You repay kindness with kindness. I’m not worried about her using force, but persuasion.”

If you’re so smart, Master, why did you let the scum fool you into the grave of marriage?

Wayne kept the comment to himself. Silvia couldn’t be further from a fool. She was shrewd and intelligent, a typical career woman, but somehow, she made a big mistake with Auston.

The Church of Nature has you as the District High Reverend. How about the other churches in Windsor...

Oh, wait, the Church of Moonlight’s High Reverend also turned out to be a hopeless simp. You’re evenly matched in being gullible. I suppose that’s fine then!

“Anyway, you should be careful. She’s bound to do something after learning about your original bloodline!” Silvia felt a headache brewing. Everywhere she went, some bastard tried to steal her student. She could never rest easy.

Suddenly remembering something, she added, “Be careful about her using her beauty. You’re young and may judge a book by its cover, but don’t believe her facade just because she’s pretty. I’ll be frank with you. She’s in her eighties now, old enough to be your grandmother.”

...That’s hyperbolic. Half that age would be more like it.

“Speak, Wayne.”

“You know me, Master. I’ve always been good at resisting a pretty face. Besides...” Wayne gave her an impassive look. “She’s a high reverend. Even if she plans on seducing me, she won’t take the matter into her own hands, but send a subordinate to do it.”

True!

Silvia nodded. She told Wayne to go to Veronica after his talk with Auston, giving him a few pointers on how to win Veronica over: she suggested that Wayne be bolder and not let the threat of Veronica’s fist stop him. She knew her girl. Veronica only beat up someone because she liked them. If she hated someone, she wouldn’t even spare them a glance when they came face to face.

Silvia quickly walked away. Her student’s relationship with her daughter was progressing at a snail’s pace. They weren’t acting like young people at all.

She wasn’t in a position to push them, though, so the only thing she could do was to shield them from the Church of Moonlight. In case the church pulled something underhanded, she believed she needed to pay Filomina a visit.

The Church of Nature and the Church of Moonlight were allies, and Silvia hadn’t visited Filomina to welcome her since her arrival in Londan. That would be a good excuse to talk things through with her.

Silvia could forgive what had happened before, but Wayne was her student now, marked by the Church of Nature. The flies should stay away for their own good.

***

Study

.

Megan stood at the door, facing an impatient-looking Veronica. She sighed, giving Veronica the same spiel about the future of the family and why she should wait outside. After Megan was done, Veronica was clenching her fists so tightly that her knuckles cracked.

Revenge for an injustice should be targeted at the wrongdoer. Veronica’s punch was only meant for Wayne.

Inside the study, Wayne puffed out his chest to showcase his medal. Auston rolled his eyes, his mood so foul that he didn’t even play with his antique silver coin. Standing up nonchalantly, he opened the bookshelf and showed Wayne his medals and trophies.

There were so many that they filled an entire wall. The medals and certificates for his consecutive terms as the mayor of the Financial Town, in particular, sat in the middle.

Look carefully, young man. This is real status.

Auston also had a medal of Knight Commander just like Wayne’s. It was worth so little that he didn’t even bother putting it on display; instead, he stuffed it in a box and left the box in a corner.

Wayne quietly took off the medal on his chest. He didn’t understand what was wrong with the world and why everyone was so obsessed with meaningless glory. Letting fame dictate and limit oneself would only make one its slave.

Wake up. The medal’s only the Queen’s shackle on you. If you put it on, you’ll be playing into her hand.

Wayne didn’t voice those thoughts, but instead stared at Auston, hoping that Auston would realize his mistakes.

After flaunting his achievements in his earlier years, Auston sat back down on the sofa, fiddling with his coin. “Not all of the Tulip Families attended the meeting today. The one absent was the Patino family. Outside of mages, most of their members are artists and writers. Due to Obed’s actions, they are currently under thorough investigation.”

“What did Her Majesty say?” Wayne asked, eyes brightening for the chance to profit. “Have you received the order for you to establish an investigation team?”

Although being the Lando heir alone smothered him in riches, no one would say no to becoming richer. The more the merrier.

“The investigation team looking into the Patino family is led by Princess Elizabeth. The Tulip Families aren’t even considered for the job.” Auston glanced at Wayne, his lips curling up when he saw the disappointment on Wayne’s face.

Yes, that was on purpose.

“Auston, about Princess Elizabeth...” Wayne hesitated. Although it could be a coincidence, wouldn’t a princess with her name become the next queen?

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Auston warned. “It’ll be too obvious!”

Wayne rolled his eyes. Auston misunderstood him—at least he did this time.

“The princess has a fiancé, and they are so close that no one else will get between them,” Auston emphasized, warning Scum Jr. to behave and not make a mess for him to clean up.

“I know. Tell me about the investigation team. Which pie did you get?”

“I’ve got two.” Auston glanced at his desk, telling Wayne to bring the map over. He said pointedly, “A country is just like the human body. Things are fine when you don’t get it checked, but any examination is going to reveal problems. If not today, it will happen sooner or later.”

Who do you think you are?

Wayne grumbled silently, but brought the map to Auston and listened to his philosophy on life while looking at the two circles on the map. He had to admit that Scum Sr. was better than he was in some aspects, having been beaten up for a few more years.

“Aside from his other titles, Obed being the Vice Minister of Magic alone drew many people to him.” Auston pointed at the map. “The Jins and the Snows are not part of the Tulip Families, but they are nobles with hereditary titles and their own territories. After Windsor became a constitutional monarchy, the two families maintained their status with the capital that their previous generations had accumulated.”

“There are many nobles like them. The Queen doesn’t want them to stay prideful, so she ordered the Tulip Families to give them a reality check...”

Auston gave a long explanation, but simply put, the Queen, the Ministry of Magic, and the Tulip Families all wanted to settle an account. Going after Vice Minister Obed and the Patino family wasn’t enough. Therefore, nobles who had a close relationship with Obed or had connections to him took the fall.

Well, it wasn’t exactly unjustified since anyone with a high enough status would have dirty laundry!

The Queen was merciful and noble, wearing white gloves that would remain pristine as she stayed aloof from the former nobles. However, her subordinates were different. An order could be interpreted differently, so it wouldn’t be unthinkable for those serving her to misunderstand her.

That misunderstanding led to the families close to Obed being invited to a game with a simple name: Match Three with Nobles.

Auston explained it in a roundabout way, misinterpreting the Queen’s intention, but Wayne understood the subtext perfectly. He blurted out, “Is Windsor really a constitutional monarchy? Because it sounds pretty authoritative to me!”

“The families in question have pursued magic, and the world of magic has not undergone the revolution!” Auston responded.

Wayne nodded. You learn something new every day.

It was true that the world of magic had not been revolutionized. It operated on a strict hierarchy and stuck to a handful of approved faiths. No amount of sugarcoating would conceal the fact that there was a class system in place.

Since the families had chosen to enter the world of magic, they had to follow its rules.

“You’re smart, so I won’t waste my time explaining what you already know. I’ll just tell you that your personal point of view will determine how you interpret Her Majesty’s orders. It has nothing to do with Her Majesty’s original intention.”

Since Auston was the head of the family, Wayne’s interpretation would be his, also unrelated to the Queen.

Wayne could hear the hidden message loud and clear, which excited him. With someone cleaning up the mess for him, he would be free to twist the Queen’s order for his benefit.

“Don’t cross the line. Every family has their friends and relatives. Not one is completely isolated.” Auston warned him. “Something you deem a crime may not be a justifiable reason to incriminate the family to other people since they aren’t completely clean themselves. Know where to draw the line and avoid making too many enemies.”

Wayne nodded in understanding. He would make sure to control himself.

Auston smirked. “On the other hand, there are misdeeds that are so serious that they keep people from looking closely. In that situation, you’ll be free to do whatever you want with the excuse.”

Again, he said that for a reason.

Wayne rolled his eyes. “Dear father-in-law, which crime should I respond to with a slap to the wrist, and which crime should I get to the bottom of? There should be a line, right?”

“...”

“Auston?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Auston scowled. “Why would there be a line in manipulation? What matters is the result you get with your method, and what price you’re willing to pay for that result.”

Wayne didn’t understand it fully, but before he could ask more questions, Auston dismissed him with a wave, unwilling to go deeper into the matter. He had promised to pay the price. It was Wayne who had to determine the method he would employ and the result he wanted to achieve.

“Pick one among the two.”

“Only one?”

Auston stared at him blankly. Giving Wayne one task would be good training, but giving him two would be insanity. Auston couldn’t clean up that much mess.

Wayne shamelessly responded with an innocent smile before looking at the two red spots on the map. After a moment, he pointed at the Snow family.

It was close to the sea!