Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 116

116.

Being asked for a private meeting by Baron Hamilton for the first time caught me off guard.

“You wished to speak with me?”

“Yes, Your Highness. It’s about something important.”

There was no reason to refuse, and curiosity piqued me, so I nodded.

“It’s almost dinner time. Let’s eat while we talk.”

Upon arriving at the barracks, I gestured for Baron Hamilton to sit and asked,

“Do you also prefer beer to tea?”

Baron Hamilton grinned.

“Yes, Your Highness. I prefer beer even to wine. I wasn’t born into nobility, after all…”

“Lineage has nothing to do with taste.”

I didn’t bother with elaborate flattery.

‘Actually, I wasn’t a noble either, so my way of thinking is different.’

I lived in an era where status was determined by money and power, not by birth.

“If you like beer, you should drink beer.”

The butler brought beer and food into the barracks.

“Let’s talk comfortably.”

“It concerns the Reinhardt family.”

My interest was immediately piqued. The Reinhardt family was the most important topic regarding the Wyvern hunt.

“I’m fairly certain the Ruler of the Ruins, the Wyvern, is a Guardian created by the Reinhardt family. Any information about them would be invaluable.”

“It’s also a personal story.”

I nodded.

I had marked Hamilton as a talent to keep by my side, to command the Night Shadow Walkers [a clandestine intelligence and special operations unit].

Ken’s military organization.

Gale’s Knights.

Soris’s administrative organization.

And Hamilton was the man to lead an organization that couldn’t operate openly, handling important information gathering and behind-the-scenes work.

“Personal? Oh, I’m getting even more curious.”

To emphasize the casual nature of the meeting, I listened to Hamilton’s story while eating.

Hamilton also took his time, toying with his fork.

“I was born and raised in a mine. My fate was to mine iron ore my whole life. As I came of age, I often despaired at the fact that I was essentially a slave.”
Hamilton continued.

“That’s when I found something in the iron ore mine. This.”
Hamilton produced a booklet from his chest.

It was old parchment, and although it showed signs of age, the writing seemed to have been specially enchanted to remain clear.

“Assassination… Secrets.”

“You can read the ancient language?”

It was in Chinese characters, one of the ‘treasures’ I had personally set up [referring to his past life as the author of the novel].

“I didn’t know the language on the first page, but I could guess the book’s title from the contents. Your Highness is indeed very knowledgeable.”

I smiled wryly.

“I don’t know much. You found this in an iron ore mine?”

“Yes, along with that assassination manual, there’s a special iron ore that was mined there.”

“Special iron ore?”

“I don’t know the exact name, so I just called it that… It was ore with the Reinhardt family crest engraved on it.”

I clicked my tongue.

Baron Hamilton was truly full of secrets.

“The assassination manual contains a method for refining that ore, using Mana Distortion Stone. Thanks to the Mana Distortion Stone and the assassination manual, I was able to kill Kaion.”

I summarized Baron Hamilton’s words.

“So, you’re saying you gained power through the Reinhardt family’s artifacts? And you didn’t know it until now?”

“Yes. I had only heard rumors about the Reinhardt family, and I had never seen their crest. I wasn’t well-educated, so I didn’t realize that the assassination manual and the Mana Distortion Stone manufacturing method were connected to them.”

My throat felt dry, and I reached for the beer.

Hamilton continued cautiously.

“The mine where I was a slave was the Fauen family’s mine, and the territory I received as a fief was also the Fauen family’s territory. It seems the Fauen family and the Reinhardt family are somehow connected.”
Hamilton’s words made sense.

Investigating the connection between the two families was worthwhile.

“I didn’t realize the Reinhardt family’s artifacts were so significant, so I didn’t think much of it, but after hearing the story at today’s meeting, I felt I should inform Your Highness about the Fauen family and my assassination manual.”

I nodded.

“Thank you. Having more information about the Reinhardt family will be a great help not only for the Wyvern hunt but also for my future plans.”

I found one more thing to do while in the West.

“Let’s go to your territory.”

“Now, you mean?”

“Not now. I’d like to visit the mine sometime.”

The traces of treasures that Karen would monopolize were popping up in unexpected places.

* * *

The next day, I packed my bags and headed to Baron Hamilton’s territory.

Marquis Mike was disappointed, but he conceded it was a better choice than staying in the barracks and sent me off.

I asked him to make a decision about the Western Alliance by the time Ken arrived.

David, Riorden, and Gale were following behind me.

Hamilton’s subordinates were also with us.

“Is it far?”

“No, my territory isn’t that far. About half a day’s ride on horseback.”

I stroked Gale’s mane and replied,

“Good!”

I brought up yesterday’s story.

“It was originally the Fauen family’s territory?”

“Yes.”

I asked what I was curious about.

“What happened to the Fauen family?”

“The Fauen family had no heir, and the territory became vacant after the last head of the family died.”

Since there was a high possibility of them being related to Reinhardt, I was also planning to find out about the Fauen family.

‘If I can learn about the Fauen family and grab the Reinhardt family’s thread, I might be able to find the treasures that Karen and her companions will monopolize first.’

Ron Karl Leord, and Karen needed many things to defeat the giant enemy called the Calpeon Empire.

I gave Karen many companions and filled her lacking power by setting her to monopolize treasures.

I set up the first few treasures in detail and wrote about the adventures to obtain them, but it was different later on.

Obtaining treasures ended in just one or two lines.

If I had described in detail only how to obtain the Sword of Destruction, I probably would have found it in the Dark Forest.

‘I got it by chance, it was a stroke of luck. I was really the worst writer.’

I shook my head and erased my past.

Even if I regret it now, nothing will change.

Thanks to the setting of the Reinhardt family’s artifacts, I found a thread of hope.

‘The Sword of Destruction is the best sword made by the dwarves… and all sorts of magical weapons and items.’

All were treasures made in ancient times and played a major role in Karen’s destruction of the Empire in the future.

‘I can move first now.’

When I didn’t say anything, Hamilton also stopped talking for a while.

“How much remains of the Fauen family?”

Hamilton quickly replied.

“We are still using the lord’s castle as it is, and all the items used by the Fauen lord are kept separately.”

“Really?”

Hamilton glanced back and bit his lip.

“In the process of inheriting the lord’s legacy, I committed a great sin. Many people already know, but…”

“You can tell me. Everyone here is trustworthy. They are your subordinates.”

I roughly guessed what it was, so I asked with a smile.

“Did you burn the slave documents that the Fauen lord kept? I’ve heard rumors that the number of commoners in the territory has increased, and their livelihoods have improved.”

Hamilton couldn’t say anything.

“The Fauen family was destroyed, and all of his property was vested in you, but burning the slave documents is not a sin but your generosity. Have all those who worked in the iron ore mine become residents?”

“Yes.”

Hamilton’s voice cracked as if he was choked up.

“You did well. To be clear, that’s not a sin but a natural right that you can exercise as a lord. Don’t keep it in your heart.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

In fact, if you were to argue, it was a sin.

It was true that Hamilton inherited all of the Fauen family’s property, but the case of slaves was a bit different.

Usually, slaves among the list of properties are inherited with the Emperor’s approval.

This is because slaves also become soldiers.

Hamilton burned the slave documents without reporting to the Imperial Family and accepted them as his residents.

“Don’t take it too hard. It’s a good thing.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Watching Hamilton bow his head several times, I said with a smile.

“Now, let’s hurry. Shouldn’t we have dinner at your castle?”

As soon as I finished speaking, I signaled to Gale.

Gale gradually began to pick up speed.

Feeling the refreshing breeze as I ran with Gale, I felt like I had the whole world.

This is why people learn to ride.

At the same time, I summoned the spirits.

Summoning four high-level spirits at once also requires practice.

‘The Fauen family.’

I thought about the Fauen family while running.

I definitely remember the Reinhardt family, but there was nothing about the Fauen family.

No matter how much I searched my head, it didn’t come to mind.

A smile naturally spread.

Variables happen countless times in life.

My life was no different from the lives of others.

Why be embarrassed that it’s different from what I wrote?

If you do your best every moment and make appropriate choices repeatedly, you will eventually reach your goal.

How much time has passed?

When I forgot all the distractions and was only intoxicated with the feeling of running with Gale, the castle walls were visible in the distance.

The rather shabby castle walls clearly showed that they had not been repaired for a long time.

“Your Highness, we have arrived.”

At Hamilton’s words, I slowed down.

“Let’s go.”

What did the Fauen family leave behind?

I was secretly hoping that there would be something like the assassination manual again.

The assassination manual that made Hamilton an assassination Sword Master!

‘There are several secret manuals released on the continent, all of which were for Karen’s companions. I’ve secured one for now.’

Since I even added the setting of martial arts, there were of course secret manuals. Even the assassination manual is a martial arts manual.

I entered Baron Hamilton’s castle with anticipation.