STM 24

“Do I need to know?”

Rick couldn’t answer yes. Then again, Tairok was the type who paid no attention to anyone, no matter how conspicuous they were.

The Tairok Rick knew had been the envy of everyone since his student days, yet he himself seemed oblivious to those around him.

“But he changed like that. Anyone seeing him would think he’s a different person.”

Rick’s casual remark made Tairok’s hand pause.

“Your Grace?”

“What about the investigation into Adeye Lu?”

“Rumors that he’s changed have been circulating in the Adeye household for quite some time now. Apparently, he’s been training exceptionally hard. According to intelligence just received, he was bedridden all day yesterday, but this morning, someone witnessed him running around the estate the moment he opened his eyes.“

Rick shook his head in disbelief even as he reported.

“But unlike usual, he was clenching his teeth and cursing while running. What on earth could have made him so angry at the Penuang family estate…”

Tairok’s hand paused.

“That bastard got angry?”

His voice was calm, but Rick could detect the subtle anger beneath.

Adeye an enemy, so even his anger is unwelcome? Rick nodded, confused.

“Yes, he was cursing someone loudly in an empty place. His head was filled with nothing but men, but now that he’s back from the dead, he seems to be feeling other emotions too. At this rate, he’ll end up attacking someone in revenge.“

Snap.

The pen Tairok was holding suddenly snapped in half.

Rick looked at his master’s expression in surprise, but he was actually smirking.

”Next time, I’ll have to knock all his teeth out. “

”Huh?“

”Any signs of his powers returning?“

Ah, that. Rick shook his head.

“He’s been so quiet, just staying in the mansion, it was hard to tell. But it’s clear his fear of non-human beings is immense. He used to shudder and hate it whenever spirits were mentioned. If he saw one again, he probably wouldn’t be able to exercise normally.”

“Who knows. Maybe he’d be fine seeing anything now.”

Tairok glared at the documents for a moment. Rick thought he looked unusually angry and opened his mouth.

“But there’s no way to check. They say he never leaves the mansion.”

“Then drag him out.”

Tairok signed the documents roughly, twisting the corners of his mouth.

“Throw him some bait he can’t resist. Something Adeye Lu absolutely won’t be able to resist coming out for.”

Bait. Rick nodded as something immediately came to mind.

“It’s fortunate it’s the social season now. There are a few events he would be desperate to attend. Oh, and as you instructed, I checked Borhumi Zav’s surroundings. His right-hand, Ottma, is nowhere to be seen.”

Tairok’s eyes turned cold as he heard the enemy’s name. He suspected Zav was the one who had cast a terrible curse upon the Kun family.

“Zav found a clue at the entrance to the Forest of Crimson Waves. Since he sent Ottma herself, it might be quite accurate.”

“The Forest of Crimson Waves? Isn’t that the domain of non-human beings? Only the Chosen can enter.“

Rick trailed off, pulling out the information he knew.

”I vaguely recall seeing a record of an elementalist who visited there long ago. But even finding the entrance is difficult…“

”It’s in the Owick family.“

”Yes, the entrance is in the Owick family… What?!”

Rick’s eyes widened in shock.

“How did you know that? Ah, could it be…”

Rick asked the question, then deduced the answer himself. There had been only one person who had provided crucial information before. To confirm his guess, Tairok turned his gaze toward the window, lost in thought.

The Sword of Silence.

He had no intention of claiming this imperial emblem, but it was better than letting it fall into enemy hands.

But as he stood now, his strength was still insufficient to suppress his enemies. Things would be different if he gained a reliable ally. Someone who knew the future, perhaps.

“Should I make it mine?”

Rick’s eyes nearly popped out of his head at Tairok’s indifferent murmur.

Who? That person?

“Honestly, I think they’d make a decent marriage partner.”

Rick offered his opinion, then habitually glanced at Tairok before adding.

“If he truly has foresight, couldn’t he be Salvation?”

“Salvation?”

Tairok smiled in a mocking way. Salvation? Wasn’t that the absurd legend about summoning the First Divine Beast to this land?

But Rick expressed his opinion earnestly.

“I know. Salvation is a legendary figure straight out of a fairy tale. But did you know? Salvation didn’t just summon the Divine Beast to save the world, they also possessed the power of foresight.”

“Rick, I can predict your future too. Does that mean I’m Salvation?”

“My future?”

“Yeah. You won’t get a wink of sleep tonight, just work.”

“……I’ll shut up.”

“Report on Baron Owick’s situation and then shut up.”

Ah, right. Rick opened his mouth again.

“It seems there’s definitely trouble brewing in the Owick household. Torida, Baron Owick’s partner, has been showing up at all sorts of parties and gatherings lately. It’s as if… he’s searching for someone.”

Rick didn’t elaborate further, but his quick-witted lord understood the implication.

“Owick might have disappeared.”

“Yes, she might have run away.”

Tairok chuckled softly.

“She wouldn’t run away with that temperament. Unless someone actively stepped forward to hide her.”

“If that’s true… Good heavens, hiding Baron Owick?”

Rick gasped in shock.

“That person must be the most fearless in the world.”

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“Well done. You saved that person.”

Doctor Kim, whom I met at dinner, praised me. For someone who had collapsed from Grand Duke Kun’s harsh words and then recovered, her complexion looked good. Perhaps hearing about my actions had lifted her spirits.

“But Bilge’s victim doesn’t know it was me who saved him.”

“Victim? Ah, you meant you stopped that scumbag Bilge from doing his trashy deeds. But I’m talking about Sillian.”

I lifted my eyes from the spoonful of soup I was sipping. Sillian was the name of Baron Owick.

“Is Baron Owick close to the Grand Duke Kun’s family?”

“Not at all.”

“Then is she helpful to our cause?”

“No.”

Thud. I slammed my spoon down on the table, revealing my discomfort.

Are you kidding me?

But Doctor Kim, sounding excited for some reason, explained.

“Sillian is famous for cultivating poisonous plants, so she knows about many unusual plants we haven’t encountered. We talked, and we’ve already got results.”

Chewing on a juicy steak, I asked half-heartedly.

“Is there a plant you’d like to grow?”

“Yeah, chili peppers.”

“Huh?”

I reached for a pickle that tasted like baek kimchi to cut the grease, and my hand stopped.

“Why couldn’t you grow chili peppers?”

“Why? Because they don’t exist.”

“……”

“There are no chili peppers in Tubain. That’s why I couldn’t make proper kimchi……”

Clang!

The fork I dropped hit the plate, making a loud noise. As if that weren’t enough, I jumped up from my seat.

“You mean there really are no chili peppers?!”

“Yeah.”

“That’s impossible!”

“It is.”

“No, what kind of cursed land is this?!”

Doctor Kim nodded vigorously.

“Yeah, cursed. That’s the only explanation.”

Doctor Kim’s eyes moistened, as if the past decade of living without chili peppers flashed before her eyes like a slideshow.

“Even this cursed land has spicy flavor. But the aroma is different, and it lacks that refreshing taste. Plus, the most crucial issue is the color. You know? Spicy means red, red. Haa.”

Doctor Kim soothed the wave of sorrow with a sip of chilled radish soup.

“But I haven’t given up yet. Heaven gave us a chance to connect with Sillian. I’ll work hard to develop Sillian, no, coax her into development. Ah, right, have you talked to her?”

Doctor Kim called the baron by her name, as if they were close friends.

Of course, given Sillian’s timid and cowardly nature, it seemed unlikely they could even be friends.

“We met before coming here. She knew exactly why she ended up like that.”

‘Torida… my companion Torida gave me medicinal herbs that were good for my body… but… they were practically poison to me… Ha, but Torida must have done it for me… for me…’

Her murmurs was barely audible, requiring Mo’s help to decipher.

“Even though it was her mate’s doing, she took Torida’s side.”

“She probably doesn’t want to believe it. That the one she loves tried to poison her, no, nutrient-ize her.”

Doctor Kim replied coldly.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. Now that I’m involved, I won’t let anyone harm her.”