How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 95

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Family- Episode 95

The investigation into Gillas, the administrator, and the suspects and witnesses involved in the incident proceeded swiftly.

Meanwhile, Galanto focused most intently on suppressing rumors.

Anyone with even a slight knowledge of the inside story was taken into custody to cut off contact with the outside world.

This was to prevent the mastermind behind the incident from hearing the details and covering their tracks.

Of course, with martial law declared, it was impossible to hide the fact that something was happening. Therefore, we worked tirelessly, conducting joint investigations with nearby direct territories in secret.

Afterward, when the news arrived that Baron Gorde had been arrested in a nearby direct territory and was being escorted here, we were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

The face of Baron Gorde, whom I met later, was haggard.

The restraints on his arms were tightly bound, and the authority that came with his position as lord of the castle was nowhere to be found.

“Baron Gorde.”

At my call, Baron Gorde, who was confined in a carriage transporting prisoners, slowly raised his head.

“…Third Son.”

“Is our dinner appointment canceled?”

When I brought up his words from before, when he had diverted the conversation with a dinner invitation to prevent me from notarizing [officially certifying a document], Baron Gorde bit his lip.

“If you’re trying to humiliate me, leave now.”

“Your sins are grave, but if you reflect even a little, I hope you will testify truthfully to all charges. Contemplate how much damage your greed has caused and atone for it.”

“…….”

Baron Gorde turned his head without answering, and the escort carriage soon disappeared deep into the inner castle.

As I watched him from a distance, Ruth, who had approached me, stretched his neck, cracking his joints as if he were tired.

“It seems like things are roughly wrapping up.”

“Yeah.”

“Now, all that’s left is to go to Windnest and tie up the loose ends. Is there anything else we need to do here?”

At Ruth’s question, I turned and walked through downtown Leydin, nodding.

“We need to plan meticulously. Even if we have evidence and witnesses right now, we can’t just hand it over to the Count, can we?”

“Hand it over?”

“Why are you asking as if you don’t know? This is what I accomplished.”

“Ah.”

Ruth smiled and nodded.

“You want the Count to see that the punishment is carried out by you, not him?”

“Of course, isn’t that obvious? If I’ve set the table so nicely, I should eat it, not feed it to someone else.”

“That’s right.”

“But that’s not the only reason I’m staying here.”

“Yes?”

“I said there’s still one thing left.”

“You’ve been saying there’s one thing left, a final blow, but what is it?”

“It’s a secret. Guess it yourself.”

“Ugh, I don’t have any more brainpower to use.”

I was walking down the street, chuckling at Ruth’s grumbling, when I saw a soldier running towards me breathlessly from afar.

“C-, Commander!”

Although it was a temporary position, the authority of the defense commander that I had received from Galanto was still in effect, so the soldier in front of me saluted.

“What’s going on?”

“I came straight from the city gates. I remembered what you told me firmly before…”

At the soldier’s words, Ruth snapped his fingers and looked at me.

“Don’t tell me, is that what you were waiting for?”

“The timing is perfect. That’s right. This is what I was waiting for.”

Things in Leydin were roughly coming to an end, but my work was not over yet.

I had to prepare my own counterattack against Sein.

And the beginning of that preparation would start with the guard who had come to find me now.

“Where is he now?”

“He’s been escorted to the Lord’s castle according to procedure.”

“Affiliation and status?”

“It’s Sir Bellis of the Wind Knight Order.”

“Bellis.”

At my words, Ruth nodded.

“He’s a young fellow. His skills are only at the beginner level for mana users, given his age.”

“Really? Do you know him well?”

“We weren’t that close. As far as I know, he’s sponsored by the Second Son, Sein.”

“Sponsored by Sein?”

“Yes. So all the swords and armor he has are flashy. His colleagues complain that he exchanged money and fame [through Sein’s sponsorship], but I just thought it was the path he chose.”

With Ruth, I followed the soldier’s guidance to the Lord’s castle, and upon entering the reception room, I met a knight with a face that showed he couldn’t understand the situation.

“R-, Ruth Meyer!”

The knight, who had been waiting, jumped up when he saw Ruth and stood at attention, saluting.

Ruth smiled and waved his hand.

“Long time no see, Knight Bellis.”

“Not even the Third Son?”

A flustered Bellis widened his eyes.

“Nice to meet you, Knight Bellis. How long has it been since you left Windnest?”

“It’s been about a week now.”

“Considering the distance, you’re quite late.”

“I stopped by small towns along the way to handle overdue business at the same time…”

“Really? Tell me all the cities you’ve passed through.”

The towns that came out of Bellis’s mouth were all rural villages without proper communication networks.

I had no choice but to think he was lucky.

The quick-witted Jonathan would have noticed at least roughly what was happening in Leydin, and therefore would have tried to take appropriate measures for Bellis.

A smile came out of me at the sight of Bellis avoiding all those communication networks and coming down.

“Let’s go, Bellis.”

“Where are we going…?”

“Where else? The interrogation room.”

“Y-, Yes?”

Tugging the surprised Bellis, I headed to the interrogation room. When I presented the circumstances and evidence I had secured so far, Bellis’s face darkened as if he was carrying all the worries of the world.

Of course, the biggest cause of that gloom was Ruth, who was dealing with his direct subordinate.

“You son of a bitch, do you know what you’ve gotten yourself into?”

Bang!

Ruth slammed the table and scowled at Bellis.

“W-, Well, that is.”

“What is it?”

“I-, I really…”

“Huh? Are you not going to speak properly?”

At the sight of Bellis shrinking back, I pulled Ruth back for now.

“You’re scaring him. Stop it.”

“But, Young Master.”

“Shut up. If you push him like that, he won’t be able to say anything even if he wants to. Go out for a while.”

Of course, it was a planned act.

Ruth, who had been constantly pushing, went outside, and when I spoke to him gently, Bellis’s expression finally brightened.

“Knight Bellis.”

“Yes? Y-, Yes, Young Master.”

“Have you properly grasped the situation that’s unfolding now?”

“Yes, roughly.”

“And the aftermath that will follow?”

The unprecedented drug distribution case that occurred in the direct territory.

And the fact that the Sein Trading Company, as well as perhaps the Second Son of the Lindaier family, may be involved.

Bellis’s face hardened as he imagined the aftermath it would bring.

“All we want to know is one thing. How far are you involved?”

At my words, Bellis’s head stiffened.

“I-, I had no idea that this kind of thing was happening.”

“But you’ve notarized all the punishments that have been handed out so far. Isn’t it reasonable to have some suspicion?”

“Y-, Young Master. I really don’t know anything about it. I just notarized it according to the procedure as I was told!”

“Yes. That’s important.”

“…Yes?”

I put my clasped hands on the table and smiled brightly.

“You were just doing as you were told. In my opinion, you’re not guilty. What’s wrong with you, who just proceeded according to the procedure? Isn’t that right?”

“T-, That’s right.”

“So that’s what’s important. Who told you to take charge of all the notarizations happening in Leydin?”

“…….”

Bellis, with his shaking eyes, slowly began to open his mouth as if possessed by something.

* * *

“You’re leaving?”

Galanto came out to see me off as I finished preparing to leave for Windnest with the Leydin forces, including Meir.

Galanto looked as if he had aged quite a bit in the past few days. Well, he was taking on the role of temporary lord and digging into all the details of the matter, so it must have been quite a heavy task.

Fortunately, unlike his appearance, his eyes were full of enthusiasm.

“Yes. We’ve secured Sir Bellis, so all that’s left is to get to Windnest as soon as possible.”

“Oh dear, what would have happened if you had left with the authority of the defense commander as it was?”

“Ah, were you caught? I was going to keep using it without returning it, but it’s a pity.”

Galanto smiled at my nonsensical joke.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“What did I do? It was all possible thanks to Sir Galanto’s cooperation.”

“Spare me the flattery. I know very well that this all stemmed from the Third Son’s courage to set justice right.”

“Then let’s just say that Sir Galanto and I both did well.”

“That would be better. Neither of us is willing to yield.”

I nodded to Galanto, who was laughing heartily.

“The remaining work…”

“I’ll take care of it. With the Third Son finding all the evidence and leaving, what else is there for me to do? Baron Gorde will be punished according to the laws of the kingdom.”

“It can’t be helped that the remaining culprit has been confirmed to be in the Lindaier County now.”

“I’ve heard that Count Lindaier is also a righteous man. He will surely give a punishment befitting the crime.”

That guy is a champion of justice?

I barely held back the laughter that was about to burst out and nodded.

“Meir, who is accompanying me, will report every step of the way back here.”

“Of course, that’s how it should be.”

Galanto sighed deeply and looked bitter.

“But when I think of the citizens who have been sickened by the drugs that have been distributed so far, I still feel uneasy. There are many who have been addicted and lost their fortunes after using it without even knowing it was a drug.”

Although the drugs had spread to various parts of the continent, a certain amount was also consumed in Leydin, and in the process, there were definitely people who were unintentionally harmed.

I shrugged at the sight of the old knight’s expression hardening with concern for them.

“Oh, Sir Galanto.”

Galanto tilted his head at my call.

“Hmm? Do you have something to say?”

I rummaged through my pocket, took out a key, and threw it to Galanto.

“What is this?”

“It’s a thank you for the send-off.”

“A thank you?”

“I found a secret vault while rummaging through the warehouse the other day. I thought it might be Baron Gorde’s slush fund [illegally obtained money], but I just quietly passed it over for now.”

“Is that so?”

“Since it will be returned to the national treasury anyway, I only took the key to prevent others from touching it, but now that I think about it, I thought it might be used elsewhere.”

“Used elsewhere?”

“Who would know the exact amount of Baron Gorde’s slush fund? Even if it were used for people suffering from drugs.”

“Are you telling me to commit a crime?”

“Well, my conscience tells me not to call it a crime.”

“Huh.”

Galanto, who showed a look of helplessness, clenched the key tightly as if he had made up his mind.

“I will never use it carelessly and will use it all for the victims.”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

When I tilted my head with a sly look, Galanto laughed heartily and then called Meir, who was standing far away.

“Take good care of the Third Son. And watch the punishment of the heinous criminal in Windnest and come back to report.”

“Understood.”

Galanto, who heard Meir’s answer, drew his sword with a faint smile.