My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 151

§ 151. Giving a Fish to a Cat (1)

‘Taking a picture…?’

What on earth is that?

Sian tilted his head, a notification popping up.

That’s because of the term ‘taking a picture’.

No joke or exaggeration, it was a word he was hearing for the first time in his life.

‘What is this?’

Out of curiosity, Sian activated the photo-taking function.

Click.

With a touch, the screen instantly changed.

And the scene visible on the screen.

It was the exact same scene Sian was looking at.

So.

“What… are you doing?”

There was Python, wearing a bewildered expression.

That rigid Python’s face was captured on the smartphone screen.

‘What is this…?’

Only for a moment.

Soon, the system’s notification window popped up again on the screen.

〈If you press the capture button, the scene will be saved to the screen.〉

〈This function costs 1G [1 Gold coin] per use.〉

Perhaps because the Mobile Lord was still unconscious.

It was a rather bland system notification.

But Sian didn’t really care.

What was important now wasn’t that.

‘Capture? Is this round button the capture button?’

Sian lightly pressed the capture button with his finger.

At that moment.

Click.

With a sudden sound, the smartphone screen froze for a moment.

To be precise, the previous scene was frozen and displayed on the screen.

As if drawing a picture, the scene was captured on the smartphone screen as it was.

“Oh.”

Sian unknowingly exclaimed.

That’s because the picture on the screen was almost identical to the real thing.

Even the time it took was almost instantaneous.

In short, it was no different from drawing the scene in an instant─.

‘Wait.’

At that moment, a thought flashed through Sian’s mind.

Drawing the scene in an instant…?

‘If so…?’

Sian immediately turned around.

And took out the ledger he had just checked and opened it at random.

A ledger with complex numbers scribbled haphazardly.

When Sian held up his smartphone, the scene appeared on the screen exactly as it was.

Sian adjusted the focus to make the ledger as clear as possible, then lightly pressed the capture button.

Click, the sound of the picture being taken.

As expected, the contents of the ledger were written on the screen as they were.

The appearance was almost identical to the real thing, so there was no problem at all in checking the contents.

No, it was captured more clearly than Sian could see with his own eyes!

At that moment.

“What… are you doing right now?”

Python asked Sian.

And he had a slightly suspicious look in his eyes.

That’s because Sian suddenly flipping through the ledger looked suspicious to anyone.

But.

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Sian wasn’t surprised or flustered.

There was no need to be in the first place.

That’s because.

“What is that you’re holding in your hand?”

Python had no idea what a smartphone was.

And so.

Click.

“Ah, geez, you scared me.”

Python had no idea what Sian was doing.

It wasn’t just Python.

The administrators lined up next to Python.

They also had no idea what Sian was doing.

Perhaps… even if you brought all the people from the continent, they wouldn’t be able to understand.

Smartphones were smartphones, but also.

This thing called photography.

This was a concept that couldn’t be found anywhere on the continent.

From the beginning, Sian was hearing about it for the first time.

Somehow, it seemed similar to the flashlight function from last time.

So, this smartphone has unique functions.

In other words, a concept that doesn’t exist on the continent.

There was no one on the continent who could understand the concept of photography.

Therefore.

Click.

It was safe to say that there was no one on the continent who could understand Sian’s actions.

Click. Click.

Sian openly took pictures of the ledger with his smartphone.

The ledger flipping quickly.

And the photos being captured on the screen in almost an instant.

Sian cleverly manipulated the smartphone to cover the scenery on the screen.

So Python and the administrators could only stare blankly at the scene.

Sian was transcribing the ledger.

Or memorizing the ledger.

They couldn’t even think of such a thing.

Whirr, click.

Whirlick, click. Click.

It didn’t make sense to transcribe or memorize the ledger at that speed.

They just thought he was checking something in the ledger.

Simply thought that.

So, even though the administrators had their eyes wide open.

Click.

Even though the ledger was being leaked openly.

Click.

Python and the administrators couldn’t suspect Sian at all.

#

Sian took pictures of the ledger over several days.

And finally, he was able to take pictures of all the ledgers.

Of course, if he had set his mind to it, he could have taken them all in one day.

But Sian didn’t.

Even though taking pictures didn’t raise suspicion.

If he was holding onto the ledger all day, it would naturally raise suspicion.

So Sian proceeded slowly over several days.

He took pictures of the ledger in a way that wouldn’t raise suspicion.

And so, the photos were saved on the smartphone.

“That’s a lot…”

The amount was truly enormous.

It was impossible to count them one by one by hand.

Fortunately, the smartphone’s system automatically counted the number.

[Saved Images – 4,238]

A whopping 4,238.

This was thanks to mastering the knack of taking pictures and taking two ledgers at once.

If not, the number would have been doubled.

And it cost 1 gold to take each picture.

Based on the Charlotte Empire, the monthly living expenses for a family of four were about 30 gold.

In other words, taking 30 pictures would cost a month’s worth of living expenses.

And there were 4,238 images saved on the smartphone.

Therefore, the gold spent was also 4,238 gold.

But Sian didn’t really care.

“It’s not my money anyway.”

Because all the photo-taking costs were drawn from Elan Dure’s budget!

In short, it was like embezzling 4,238 gold.

But well, there was nothing to worry about.

4,238 gold was nothing to Elan Dure’s budget.

Also, no matter how strictly the budget and ledgers were managed.

It was impossible to manage them perfectly.

Missing amounts and lost inventory always occurred.

The larger the scale, the larger the absolute amount naturally increased.

To prepare for this, a loss rate was set aside in advance.

So, as much as Elan Dure’s huge budget was, the loss rate was also enormous.

Basically, hundreds of thousands of gold, and up to millions.

4,238 gold here didn’t matter.

However, if the embezzlement was repeated and continued, it would be dangerous.

Doing it like this once wasn’t a big problem.

“If the Mobile Lord wakes up, I’ll have to start embezzling in earnest…”

Well, anyway.

“Now I just need to show these pictures to Amelia…”

If it was Amelia, she would be able to figure out where the slush funds were hidden by looking at these ledgers.

But.

“It’s not easy to go back to Ruben.”

First of all, Sian was currently forbidden from leaving the mansion.

It was because Durak had issued a special order.

While appointing Sian as the Deputy Administrator.

Durak had strictly ordered that Sian not be allowed to leave the mansion.

“The surveillance is too severe.”

Also, he had even put surveillance on Sian.

Even now, the White Wolf Knights were secretly watching Sian.

There were 8 presences that could be felt right away.

It was clear that there would be even more surveillance than that.

In short, it was impossible to escape the mansion secretly.

He was stuck in the family.

But well.

Sian had prepared a countermeasure for that situation.

“Now, it’s about time for His Highness to contact me…”

I don’t know why it’s taking so long.

Anyway, the relief efforts were almost finished.

He had taken all the ledger pictures.

Sian had nothing to do.

“…Let’s train.”

Sian immediately headed to Elan Dure’s training ground.

Even though the Mobile Lord was unconscious.

The training progress rate hadn’t stopped increasing.

So Sian moved his steps to the training ground.

No, he was about to move.

“Who are you?”

Suddenly, he heard someone calling Sian.

Of course, they didn’t directly call Sian.

But Sian could tell that they were calling him.

Because it was a very familiar voice.

Sian stopped walking for a moment.

And slowly turned his head… as expected.

A woman came into Sian’s view.

A woman with long blonde hair tied in a ponytail.

The second child of the Elan Dure family.

And Sian’s sister, Roswell Elan Dure, in name only.

Roswell approached Sian and said.

“Who are you really?”

“I’m Sian. The person who is your sister’s brother in name only.”

“I know that. That’s not what I’m asking.”

“Then what are you asking?”

Roswell looked at Sian for a moment.

To be exact, she scanned Sian’s whole body.

“The Sian Elan Dure I know wasn’t like this. That guy was just a pathetic loser. He was never as capable as you are now.”

“Is that… a compliment or an insult? And that word. Didn’t you say it last time too?”

I think I did.

But Roswell continued, as if she didn’t care about Sian’s question.

“That’s not all. You. I heard you stood up to Mother the other day? Nathan was very eager to get back at you. Anyway, at least that pathetic Sian could never do such a thing.”

At Roswell’s words, Sian shrugged his shoulders instead of answering.

Then Roswell asked Sian as if she was sure.

“You’re someone else, aren’t you.”

“I don’t think enough time has passed for my face to change that much.”

“Only the shell can be the same. So─.”

“Are you trying to say that another soul possessed me, or I was reincarnated? Something like that?”

Sian interrupted Roswell’s words as if cutting them off.

Roswell stared at Sian like that and slowly nodded her head.

Sian shook his head from side to side.

“Think what you want.”

And then he immediately turned his back.

But.

“Tell me for sure. You’re someone else, aren’t you.”

Roswell continued to spout nonsense, blocking Sian’s path.

And at Roswell’s appearance, Sian let out a deep sigh.

Because he knew why she was doing that.

This was a method that Roswell often used when she was young.

And she showed the same appearance last time.

‘I thought she was talking nonsense.’

Sian shook his head again and said.

“What do you want?”

“Let’s do it.”

As expected, Roswell said as if she had been waiting.

“I won’t.”

“I haven’t even said what we’re going to do?”

“Whatever you say, I won’t do it.”

Sian coldly brushed past Roswell.

“Why!”

“Because it’s annoying.”

“Are you even a man if you do that?”

“Anyone can see that I’m a man… what are you talking about that makes you say that?”

Sian stopped walking for a moment and tilted his head.

Then suddenly Roswell shouted in great embarrassment.

“Sparring! I’m saying let’s spar!”

Roswell looked startled.

‘Why is she like that?’

I suddenly wondered why she was like that.

Well, anyway.

“Do men have to spar? Then I won’t be a man.”

Sian moved his steps again.

Then Roswell shouted without caring.

“Aren’t you on your way to the training ground anyway? While you’re going to the training ground─.”

Sian turned around.

“I was going to, but I changed my mind. I think I should rest.”

Sian turned his steps away from the training ground.

“······”

Roswell’s words were cut off.

But only for a moment.

“No way. You can’t go until we spar.”

Roswell continued to block Sian’s path.

“Haa…”

Sian let out another sigh.

Because he knew that unlike Nathan, Roswell would stick to him tenaciously.

It was as if her head was full of sparring thoughts.

It was quite rude to say to a woman, but it was as if her brain was full of muscles.

‘That’s why she can’t get married even though she’s that old.’

Her family is great.

Her face is pretty.

Roswell should have gotten married a long time ago.

Nevertheless, Roswell didn’t even think about marriage.

As far as Sian knew, she hadn’t even dated a single man.

I wondered if she could get married.

I wondered if you had to be that obsessed with swords to reach the highest level of Expert.

When I met her last time, she was clearly at the upper level of Expert.

Now Roswell was clearly stepping into the highest level.

So, I was actually curious.

‘What is my level now?’

In fact, Sian couldn’t objectively grasp his level.

That’s because there were only monsters around Sian.

First of all, Sian was learning the Demon Soul Asura Sword.

This Demon Soul Asura Sword was none other than Kyle’s swordsmanship.

Kyle, one of the six Arnice [Heroes] who saved the world a thousand years ago.

The strongest Arnice among them.

The only one in history to reach beyond the realm of Exceed.

No matter how much Sian had grown.

He couldn’t even reach Kyle’s toes.

Are the people around him ordinary?

That wasn’t the case either.

Kendrick, Sian’s sparring partner, was a Death Knight of a thousand years and a Master-level expert.

Even if he fought Durak now, there would be no problem at all.

Besides, there was Rea, the vengeful spirit of a thousand years, and Asrandiz was a great wizard who had reached the 8th Circle.

‘How come there are no normal people around me?’

Since the comparison group was like this, Sian didn’t show any signs of growth even if he grew.

‘Should I just fight once?’

So, for a moment, I had this thought.

Roswell, the highest level of Expert.

If I fight Roswell, I can find out what level Sian is at.

But Sian quickly shook his head.

I wouldn’t care about others, but Roswell was a member of Elan Dure.

Would there be a need to reveal Sian’s true skills?

‘I might have to have a life-or-death battle later, not a sparring match.’

Roswell didn’t know it.

Sian shook his head and continued to move his steps.

But.

“You can’t leave the mansion anyway.”

Unlike Sian, Roswell was still unmoved.

“What does that have to do with me sparring with you, Sister?”

“You have nothing to do stuck in the family.”

“Not at all. I’m very busy right now. I’m the Deputy Administrator, you know.”

“You were going to the training ground just a moment ago?”

Sian stopped walking for a moment.

“I was just going to stretch my body.”

“So you were going to the training ground?”

“······”

“Then with me─.”

“I don’t want to.”

Sian continued to move his sword.

“You can’t go.”

But Roswell blocked Sian’s path once again.

It was the usual behavior of Roswell.

This time, it felt a little too much.

I really wondered if her brain was full of sparring and muscles.

“Why are you so obsessed with sparring with me?”

“Because I can’t believe it.”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

Then Roswell narrowed her eyes and looked at Sian.

Roswell’s appearance was unusual.

“The new star of the Empire, I mean.”

Roswell continued in a disbelieving tone.

“How can a pathetic bastard like you be called the new star of the Empire? You were a real pathetic bastard.”

“······”

Sian was speechless at Roswell’s answer.

That’s because the emotion that Roswell was showing now.

It was quite an unfamiliar emotion.

Currently, there were two people in the Charlotte Empire who were called the stars of the Empire.

Kai Elan Dure of Elan Dure.

Panat Rothschild of Rothschild.

I don’t know if Roswell has met Panat.

Kai had no choice but to run into him if he was in the mansion.

Kai was Roswell’s older brother and the eldest son of the Elan Dure family.

So Roswell knew.

She knew better than anyone why Kai was called the star of the Empire.

At the same time, she also knew how far the wall between Kai and herself was.

Roswell’s head was full of muscles.

In some ways, Kai was Roswell’s idol.

I’m sure she worked hard to catch up with Kai.

In the meantime, I heard that Sian was the new star of the Empire.

Of course, it’s just a story yet.

That itself didn’t make sense.

That meant Sian and Kai were on the same level.

But the Sian that Roswell knew wasn’t that kind of person.

At least in Roswell’s memory, he was a pathetic person who was bullied and cried.

“So I have to check it myself. Why are you called the star of the Empire?”

Roswell was feeling a clear sense of ‘jealousy’ towards Sian.

Sian felt quite strange at Roswell’s appearance.

I didn’t know I would be jealous of Roswell.

Sian, who had broken talent and was always behind.

When he was young, Roswell was always someone Sian looked up to.

She was a knight who was only in her early 20s and had reached the highest level of Expert.

She was a genius among geniuses.

But Roswell was now jealous of Sian.

She was ignoring and bullying him when he was young.

Smirk.

Sian unknowingly smiled.

I didn’t know it would be like this.

It wasn’t a bad feeling.

But that was that.

“If you keep doing this, I’ll cut your allowance.”

Sian still had no intention of sparring with Roswell.

Flinch.

Then Roswell trembled greatly.

“What authority do you have…?”

Roswell’s voice trembled slightly as she answered.

Sian was momentarily puzzled by Roswell’s reaction.

Is allowance that important?

Well, allowance is important….

“Yes, how can you…?”

Is it enough to show that kind of reaction?

Sian tilted his head inwardly and spoke calmly.

“What authority do I have? As I said just now, I’m the Deputy Administrator.”

“So what authority does a Deputy Administrator have?”

Sian tilted his head once again.

That’s because what Roswell said just now.

It contained a feeling like, how dare you?

Well… she could show that kind of reaction.

No matter how much of a Deputy Administrator he was.

He couldn’t easily touch the blood of Elan Dure.

But even considering that, Roswell’s reaction was a little strange.

At first glance, it seemed like she was ignoring the Deputy Administrator, but looking at it a little differently….

It was a feeling that the Deputy Administrator could never interfere with her allowance.

‘Does that make sense?’

Not Durak or Isabel.

Not even Kai, to give him a little more credit.

Just Roswell’s allowance?

“This position was appointed directly by the Lord.”

“······”

Then Roswell shut her mouth.

She couldn’t say anything else at the word Lord.

The Deputy Administrator is impossible, but the Lord is possible.

Well, that’s obvious.

‘How much is her allowance that she’s like this?’

Sian was lost in thought for a moment.

The Deputy Administrator is a position that manages and operates Elan Dure.

Of course, he has the authority to touch the budget allocated to the blood of Elan Dure.

But even if he has the authority, he couldn’t do it easily.

Because it was the ‘blood’ of Elan Dure.

However, if there was a proper reason, it was possible.

“As you know, the entire Marquisate is suffering from famine. Wouldn’t it be good for Elan Dure to set an example of frugality at times like this?”

“You… you….”

“Thinking about it, it would be very good for your image. I’ll go and push it right away.”

Sian took a step.

At that moment.

“You’ll regret it?”

Roswell’s meaningful voice was heard.

I turned my head and looked at that place.

There, Roswell was looking at Sian with a strange expression.

‘There’s something.’

It wasn’t just a monetary issue.

Roswell’s allowance.

Something was hidden in this seemingly insignificant thing.

I don’t know what it is, but….

“Okay. I don’t want to spar.”

There was a reason why Roswell reacted like that.

Soon, Roswell turned around and left.

“Hmm….”

Sian was lost in thought, looking at Roswell’s back.

She gave up more easily than I thought at the word allowance.

I thought I should go and check the related matters.

Sian turned his steps towards the administration office instead of the training ground.

But only for a moment.

Sian had no choice but to turn back even those steps.

Ding!

The cheerful notification sound of the smartphone suddenly rang from his pocket.

I wondered what it was for a moment.

《Mobile Lordddddd~!!! A wild appearance~!!!!!》

The Mobile Lord’s notification window was floating on the screen.