Chapter 73. Who told you to trust me?

When Noor heard Caron's words, he hurried out of the reception room with a grim expression. Now, only Caron, Cobler, and the elf remained in the reception room.

"Y-You're really that Caron Leston from the ducal family...?" Cobler stuttered as he glanced nervously at Caron.

Caron, clearly uninterested in the conversation, nodded and asked, "You know who I am?"

"Who in the empire wouldn't recognize your name, Young Master?" Cobler exclaimed, sounding overly eager and anxious.

Ignoring Cobler's fussing, Caron turned his attention to the elf in front of him. He wondered if it was just his imagination, but he couldn't find any hostility in her gaze.

"Should I remove it?" Caron asked as he gestured toward the gag that bound her mouth. The elf hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.

But Cobler frantically waved his hands, trying to stop him while saying, "N-No! You mustn't, Young Master! What if she tries to take her own life?"

Shing!

In an instant, Guillotine was drawn from its scabbard. The moment Cobler saw the eerie blue glow, he panicked and fled to the corner of the reception room.

"I need to cut through the gag's lock. That's fine, right? Don't worry, as long as you stay still, it'll be fine," Caron reassured the elf.

The elf nodded again, and with a precise swing of his sword, Caron expertly sliced through the lock on the gag. Moving closer, he gently removed the restraint from her mouth, revealing her bloodied and torn lips. It was clear how much she had struggled, possibly even attempting to bite her own tongue in desperation.

From inside his coat, Caron pulled out a small vial and uncorked it before carefully pouring the liquid into her mouth. The elf quietly swallowed the contents, and soon after, the wounds around her lips began to heal.

"Thank... you," she whispered, her voice soft but steady.

"So you're an elf who can speak human language," Caron remarked with a nod. Then he destroyed the remaining restraints that bound her frail limbs, taking note of how malnourished she appeared.

After freeing her, Caron sank into a nearby sofa and commented, "Glad to see you're calmer than I expected. Honestly, I was worried you would bite your tongue the moment I removed the gag."

"...I sensed traces of my own kind on you... and also... the presence of the mother," the elf replied, her voice quiet but sincere.

"The mother's presence? Ah, you mean the dew of the World Tree," Caron said.

He knew the elf was referring to the dew of the World Tree that Revelio had forced him to consume four years prior at the imperial palace. It seemed Foina had cast some sort of magic on him, allowing the elf to sense their kinship.

"You're right. I was sent by your kin to rescue you from here. My name is Caron Leston. And yours?" Caron asked.

The elf hesitated, then answered cautiously, "Neria."

"Neria... Got it. Well, Neria, I'm taking you out of here, so there's no need to worry anymore," Caron assured the elf.

Thanks to the potent potion, the elf's recovery was swift. Caron studied her briefly, then began asking questions. "So, how did you get captured?"

"I was ambushed while subjugating monsters near the southern forest," Neria answered.

"Outside the forest?" Caron asked.

"...Yes. We were ordered to destroy their lair. The monsters have been crossing into the Great Forest more and more frequently," Neria replied.

Elves rarely ventured beyond the Great Forest. The fact that they had made such a choice suggested the monster threat had to be quite severe.

Caron continued his questioning. "What about the other elves captured with you?"

"I was captured when I got separated from the others... Oh, and there were knights among the hunters," Neria added.

"Knights, you say? That's some valuable information," Caron said.

He'd wondered if knights had been deployed, especially from another country. The southern kingdoms at war likely didn't have the resources for such operations, which meant they were probably under the command of Marquis Leandro.

"Do you remember their faces?" Caron asked.

"I don't recall their faces, but I remember their mana," Neria answered.

"That's good enough," Caron said.

Elves were naturally attuned to mana, having been born beneath the World Tree, the source of the world's purest mana. While they weren't known for their swordsmanship, they excelled in archery, spirit magic, and other mystical arts. As such, their ability to identify magical energy was unparalleled. If Neria could remember the knights' mana, tracking them down wouldn't be difficult.

Caron nodded in satisfaction and gestured toward Cobler, who was still cowering in the corner. He called out, "Cobler."

Reluctantly, Cobler shuffled forward and replied, "Y-You called, Young Master Caron?"

"Let's work on something together. Since you've come this far with me, if I cause trouble, you're an accomplice anyway," Caron said.

"H-How did you get to that conclusion?!" Cobler exclaimed in surprise.

"Well, I have my family's protection to fall back on, but you don't, do you? So, instead of getting your head chopped off by the marquis, why not throw in your lot with me?" Caron suggested.

"...Wouldn't it be easier if you just didn't cause any trouble and left peacefully?" Cobler's voice wavered barely above a whisper.

"Didn't you say you'd do anything for money? Honestly, how much longer are you going to live like this? This might be your last chance to change professions," Caron said.

"It's not just about the money... I mean, I can't spend it if I'm dead," Cobler muttered nervously.

"How does a hundred thousand gold sound?" Caron offered.

"...I'll serve you with all my heart. How can I assist you?" Cobler's attitude shifted instantly, his eyes lighting up at the staggering sum.

For a lowly slave trader like Cobler, a hundred thousand gold was an offer he couldn't refuse. With Cobler now on his side, Caron lowered his voice and said, "I'm going to start a rebellion here."

"...I'm sorry, could you repeat that? I think I must have misheard. I've been feeling a bit off lately," Cobler said.

"I said a rebellion," Caron confirmed.

"...Are you planning to overthrow the slave market out of some sense of justice?" Cobler asked.

"No, I just want to start a rebellion," Caron replied.

"But why, all of a sudden...?" Cobler asked.

"What do you mean, why?" Caron's grin widened as he tapped the flat of his sword against his neck. "Because watching those who sell slaves living so comfortably makes me sick. You know the saying—if your cousin buys land, you feel envious. How do you think I feel watching this nonsense?"

He intended to turn the city upside down. It wasn't some noble pursuit of justice. It was just a matter of personal revenge, born from the dark, festering emotions left behind from his previous life as a slave.

These scum don't deserve an easy death,

Caron thought.

After four years of probation in Azureocean Castle, the first act of Caron, the Mad Dog, was rebellion.

***

After a while, a middle-aged man entered the reception room and said, "My apologies for keeping you waiting."

He was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, and walked in with an air of confidence. His well-fitted clothing highlighted his muscular physique, leaving no doubt that his body was honed for combat. As expected of Marquis Leandro, a lord of the border, his appearance was that of a battle-hardened warrior.

He stood nearly 190 centimeters tall, his imposing build exuding a natural authority. Simply being in his presence could make one feel overwhelmed by the sheer force of his personality.

Caron stood up and extended his hand in a handshake, saying, "I am Caron Leston, Marquis Leandro."

"I had no idea someone of your stature would visit us here. If I had known you were coming to Reben, I would have welcomed you at the manor," Marquis Leandro said, smiling leisurely as he shook Caron's hand. His gaze then shifted to the elf standing quietly behind Caron. He asked with a hint of amusement, "How does it feel to be the center of attention today, Mr. Caron?"

"It's not bad," Caron replied calmly.

"Haha! Who would've thought the Mad Dog of Azureocean Castle had such refined tastes? If I had known, I would've prepared a different kind of gift for you." Leandro's booming laughter filled the room as he sat down on the sofa.

"Hmm, the elf seems much more docile than I expected. If only she had been like this from the start. Do you have a secret technique? I could use some tips next time I capture one," he then asked.

"Really? She was calm from the beginning," Caron answered.

"Ah, elves must be quite fond of appearances then, huh?" Leandro chuckled suggestively, making no effort to hide his ownership of the slave auction. It seemed he no longer saw the need to conceal anything between them.

He leisurely poured himself a glass of liquor and offered Caron some as well, asking, "Care for a drink?"

"I've already had plenty while waiting for you. Oh, by the way, everything I've had today is on the house, right? I spent 500,000 gold today, and now I'm broke," Caron replied with a smirk.

Leandro let out another hearty laugh, downing his glass in one gulp before nodding slowly, then said, "Considering we'll be sharing secrets from now on, I don't mind. Drink as much as you want. I hear from Noor that you're planning to settle the payment later."

"I can't pay you right now. You know why, don't you?" Caron replied.

"I've heard rumors of your exceptional swordsmanship, but I didn't realize you were already building a slush fund," Leandro remarked, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. He wiped the liquor from his lips with a careless hand, laughing loudly before continuing, "But even so, I'll need some collateral, won't I?"

Caron casually crossed his legs and chuckled, then asked, "Is collateral really necessary? This situation itself is collateral."

"Go on, explain to me how this situation serves as collateral," Leandro said, intrigued.

"The youngest grandson of Duke Halo lusting after an elf at the slave market... That's quite the valuable piece of leverage you've got there. Asking for more collateral on top of that stings a little. You know my name carries some weight, doesn't it?" Caron explained.

"Haha! You're not in your right mind, are you? You're offering your family's honor as collateral?" Leandro asked.

"Not just any family's honor. It's the honor of the Ducal Family of Leston," Caron clarified.

"Not bad! That's worth a lot more than just 500,000 gold! This is quite the deal!" Leandro laughed heartily, his eyes locking onto Caron with amusement.

What a rotten bastard through and through,

Leandro thought.

The young genius who had vanished for four years had reappeared. The actions this young man had taken four years prior had been shocking enough to raise expectations that he could one day lead the empire. Even as a 6-Star knight, Leandro found it hard to gauge the extent of Caron's abilities. Considering the young man had just turned seventeen, it was difficult to believe he had achieved such feats.

Has he already surpassed 6-Star?

Leandro mused.

A seventeen-year-old reaching the 6-Star level was unprecedented. Caron's talent was nothing short of extraordinary. And yet, for all that brilliance, it seemed he also harbored a fatal flaw.

It doesn't make any sense for a boy his age to have amassed a slush fund of half a million gold,

Leandro thought.

Caron's father, Fayle Leston, was the man managing the Leston family's vast business empire. It seemed clear now that Caron had been siphoning off his father's wealth to build his hidden fortune. Though he was touted as the future of the Leston family, it was apparent he was a festering tumor, draining the family from within.

Duke Salmon will love to hear about this,

Leandro thought, a smirk creeping onto his face. If a rumor that the supposed future of the Leston family, Caron Leston, was secretly obsessed with collecting slaves spread, the Leston family's influence would surely plummet.

Leandro suppressed his amusement and asked, "Aren't you afraid of your family, Mr. Caron? You seem to be a man without fear. What will you do if I report this to Duke Halo?"

Caron chuckled and offered, "Why don't we both keep each other's secrets, then?"

"Secrets?" Leandro repeated.

"In exchange for you keeping quiet about me buying a slave here, I'll keep quiet about the fact that you're running this slave market. I get the elf, and you get your money. I'd say that's a mutually beneficial arrangement, wouldn't you?" Caron explained.

He drew closer to Leandro, then poured liquor into the empty glass in front of him. He raised his own glass toward the marquis with a smooth smile on his face, then said, "This is what they call a good deal. So, we are agreeing on settling the payment later, right?"

Leandro pretended to deliberate for a moment, but it didn't take long before he raised his glass and clinked it against Caron's.

Clink.

"Since this is our first transaction, I'll grant you this favor. But only this once. Understood?" Leandro asked.

"I appreciate your generosity, Marquis Leandro," Caron said.

"Since you said you'd be going to Thebe, I'll send some of my men to escort you. No one will dare cross your path," Leandro offered.

"Feels more like you're sending debt collectors, not bodyguards," Caron quipped.

"As you know, the area around Reben has become quite dangerous. Surely you won't refuse such an offer?" Leandro asked.

"Of course not," Caron replied, laughing as he downed his drink.

The illusion of control always led to complacency. And complacency bred disaster.

Foolish bastard,

Caron thought.

The cracks in this fortress of a city would begin to form with that very complacency.