My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 204

204. Amsberg (2)

A room in an inn located in Amsberg.

The fairly spacious room had some space left over.

And gathered in that room were a total of 8 people.

To be exact, 7 people excluding Cian.

They each let out sighs, their words laced with frustration.

“Soren is in the Count’s estate…”

“Is that really true…?”

It was the news that Soren was hiding in the Count’s estate.

“No wonder… we couldn’t find him no matter how hard we searched.”

“I thought it was strange.”

Hugo and Bonita nodded, as if a puzzle piece had finally clicked into place.

And now they understood why they couldn’t find Soren all this time.

The reason why no one could track that enormous sum of money, even though it disappeared.

To be precise, the reason why they couldn’t even find a trace.

All of that was due to the Avenne family’s Count’s estate.

Everything could be explained with this one fact.

What sane person would search the Avenne family’s Count’s estate?

They couldn’t ignore the Count’s authority.

Especially since it was a place directly influenced by Elandur and Isabel.

Soren was hiding in such an Avenne family’s Count’s estate.

That’s why no one could find Soren.

Of course, they’d have to verify this information to be sure.

But circumstantially, it seemed certain that Soren was in the Avenne family’s Count’s estate.

Then there was only one answer.

They had to continue the search, focusing on the Count’s estate.

But.

“If this is the case, there’s nothing we can do.”

“If he’s in the Count’s estate… we can’t touch him.”

No further search could proceed.

To be exact, it was impossible to catch Soren.

No matter what, they couldn’t just barge into the Count’s estate.

The situation was the same as it was in the past and as it was now.

“If it’s like this…”

“The request can no longer proceed.”

Hugo and Bonita shook their heads with dark expressions.

Hans spoke up.

“We can’t give up now, can we?”

There was no way they could give up now.

It would be one thing if they hadn’t found Soren in the first place.

But to back down when they knew exactly where he was made no sense.

“Of course. I didn’t mean to give up either.”

“It’s just… there’s no suitable method right now.”

However, there was no other way either.

In the first place, they couldn’t investigate the Count’s estate.

And if they incurred the displeasure of the Avenne family, the consequences were obvious.

And these were mercenaries who lived from day to day.

Although they were retired now, the fact that they were mercenaries hadn’t changed.

So, they probably shouldn’t have taken this request in the first place.

The risk was great, and there was no commission at all.

They were gathered solely by old friendship and loyalty.

“Why don’t we put in a request to Shadow Moon instead?”

“Yeah. Shadow Moon might be able to do it.”

The words came at that moment.

It was none other than Maxim and Thomas who spoke.

“Shadow Moon…?”

“Are you talking about the information guild of the underworld?”

The information guild of the underworld, Shadow Moon.

An information guild located in the dark city, Venerer.

To be precise, it was the best information guild in the Empire.

And a guild in the underground world that dominated the underworld.

Perhaps Shadow Moon might be able to do it.

They might be able to search the Avenne family’s Count’s estate and capture Soren.

Shadow Moon was an information guild that specialized in such things.

“But no matter how capable Shadow Moon is…”

“I don’t think it’ll be easy.”

But even for Shadow Moon, this task was difficult.

The Avenne family was not simply a Count’s territory but a Count’s territory under the influence of Elandur.

“It seems like it would be difficult unless the guild leader steps in directly.”

To be precise, it was impossible unless the guild leader of Shadow Moon stepped in.

Commonly, the underworld was a world where crime and violence ran rampant.

And those who lived in such an underworld were not human.

They committed murder, torture, rape, and kidnapping without hesitation.

And they didn’t even feel a shred of guilt.

They were truly beasts.

They were more than worthy of being called sons of bitches.

And the guild leader of Shadow Moon, Diana.

Diana came into the underworld where such sons of bitches were rampant alone.

Thus, she trampled all the crazy sons of bitches.

She gave ‘rules’ to the underworld full of chaos.

And she was the one and only existence who finally rose to the top of the underworld.

Not much was known about Diana, the guild leader of Shadow Moon.

Nothing was known about where she came from or what kind of person she was.

However, the fact that she was the head of the best information guild in the Empire.

And the content of the rumors that were known.

Just looking at these two things, Diana was capable enough to search the Avenne family’s Count’s territory.

“Well… I wonder if the guild leader of Shadow Moon would step in.”

No, the thought that it would still be difficult was dominant.

It wasn’t that they weren’t afraid of Elandur either.

“In the first place, there’s no way to contact the guild leader of Shadow Moon.”

Above all, Diana was not easy to contact.

Also, she didn’t take any requests.

“If we go through Instructor Kerner… wouldn’t we be able to contact her somehow?”

Grayson’s words came at that moment.

“Huh? That’s right. Didn’t Instructor Kerner say he used to be affiliated with Shadow Moon?”

“Kerner…?”

The current assassination instructor of Ruben.

A former hunting dog from the underworld, Kerner.

The place where such Kerner used to be was the Shadow Moon Guild.

Kerner, who was active as a special assassin there, naturally had a connection with Diana.

Therefore, it was possible to contact Diana through Kerner.

And if they negotiated, it was possible to make a request.

A new breakthrough in the situation.

But.

“Shadow Moon is out of the question.”

Cian shook his head firmly.

Cian also knew the reputation of Shadow Moon well.

That’s why it wasn’t that Cian hadn’t thought of Shadow Moon.

To be honest, he thought of Shadow Moon first.

And a long time ago.

That is, when Kerner became a slave (?) of Ruben.

Cian had received a letter from Diana, the guild leader of Shadow Moon.

‘I’m sorry for trying to assassinate you.’

‘I’m enclosing 3 million gold as an apology.’

‘And I want to establish a friendly relationship.’

She had sent a letter with such content.

As evidence, she had enclosed a symbol of Shadow Moon along with the letter.

Of course, at the time, he was more focused on the 3 million gold.

But the symbol remained intact in his inventory.

So, before coming to Amsberg, Cian had contacted Shadow Moon.

He didn’t think he could easily find Soren.

He had already contacted them to borrow the power of Shadow Moon.

But.

“Shadow Moon is not currently accepting any requests.”

No reply came back.

While coming from Ruben to Amsberg.

While Grayson was tracking 24 suspects.

While Hans and his old colleagues were searching all over Amsberg.

No reply came back.

And as confirmed.

Shadow Moon was currently missing.

He didn’t know why.

However, Shadow Moon had disappeared from the dark city, Venerer.

As if running away from something.

‘When did you want to establish a friendly relationship…’

Shadow Moon was not there when he needed them.

Anyway, criminals couldn’t be trusted.

Well, anyway.

“Shadow Moon is out of the question. Also, it is impossible to borrow the power of others.”

Shadow Moon was out of the question, and to be honest, it wasn’t good to borrow the power of others.

This matter had to be handled secretly.

He couldn’t let it be known that Cian was here.

Above all, who would accept a request involving the Avenne family and Elandur?

In the end, the 8 people gathered here had to solve it.

These 8 people had to search the Count’s estate without being caught and find Soren.

But.

“······”

“······”

“······”

How on earth could they search the Count’s estate?

#

The scenery of a rugged mountain road.

Clatter, clatter.

A carriage was crossing through the scenery.

The carriage led by 4 horses was nothing special.

There were no special escorts, and there were no special decorations.

However, it gave off the feeling that the carriage was luxurious.

Therefore, it was immediately apparent that it was a carriage of a noble family.

And such carriages were often targeted by thieves and bandits.

A noble family’s carriage traveling alone without escorts.

That was like advertising ‘Please rob me’.

Especially on a rugged mountain road with few people like now.

But not now.

This carriage was not like that at all.

No one blocked the carriage.

Rather, they were busy running away at the sight of the carriage.

It was none other than the emblem engraved on the carriage.

The shape of a wolf howling at the sky.

There was no bandit brave enough to rush at the white wolf emblem symbolizing Elandur.

However, they were just wondering.

Usually, the level of procession varies depending on the authority of the family.

And Elandur, called the two pillars of the Empire.

For Elandur, it would not be strange to have all kinds of escorts and the height of splendor.

But what they saw now was just one carriage.

It was a little strange to see Elandur moving with so little fanfare.

But they were just wondering.

Clatter, clatter.

Elandur’s carriage was heading to its destination without being disturbed by anyone.

And two men and women were riding in such an Elandur carriage.

“What do you think, Sister?”

A man with blonde hair, Nathan Elandur.

“What do I think? How can I know if you say that so suddenly?”

A woman with blonde hair tied in a ponytail, Roswell Elandur.

As Roswell frowned and asked, Nathan opened his mouth again.

“I’m talking about going to see grandfather so suddenly.”

At Nathan’s words, Roswell turned her gaze out of the carriage.

She knew what Nathan’s words meant.

She knew that it was not simply a visit to her maternal family.

If the purpose was really to visit her maternal family, there was no need to bring only one carriage like this.

There was no reason for Nathan and her to go alone without other escorts.

But there was no choice because there was a secret intention.

“Mother didn’t say anything special, but…”

Roswell said, still looking out the window.

The scenery of the mountain road passing by.

“She must be preparing for war.”

“I guess so, right?”

Nathan nodded slightly at Roswell’s words.

“She must be trying to crush Cian, that bastard. Then I’ll take his head.”

And then he gnashed his teeth and expressed his anger.

At Nathan’s words, Roswell shook her head slightly.

“Stop it. Even Kai was defeated, what are you going to do?”

“Do you believe that?”

Then Nathan asked back with an expression of disbelief.

Kai, who had set out to destroy Ruben.

But Kai failed to erase Ruben from the map.

He was defeated even with a force comparable to a decent Count’s territory.

Even though Aaron, the leader of the White Wolf Knights, was there, he was defeated.

In the process, Kai suffered serious injuries.

It was an absurd thing, even though he was now fully recovered.

“How could that cripple defeat Kai… There must have been some trick.”

Nathan did not believe that fact.

And well…

Roswell’s thoughts were not much different from Nathan’s.

It literally didn’t make sense.

Roswell knew better than anyone what kind of existence Kai was.

Why he was called the star of the Empire.

Why he was called the best genius in the history of Elandur.

Roswell really knew it to the bone.

That’s why Kai was a wall that Roswell wanted to overcome someday.

On the other hand, it was an insurmountable wall.

Kai was such an existence to Roswell.

But Cian confronted such Kai?

A crybaby who used to whine in the old days?

Of course, Cian didn’t win.

But even the fact that he injured Kai didn’t make sense.

“But it seems like there’s something.”

But she couldn’t deny that there was something about Cian.

Even if he used tricks, Kai was Kai.

The fact that he confronted such Kai meant that he had a hidden card.

And having faced Cian directly at the mansion the other day.

It didn’t seem like the old cripple Cian.

But Nathan didn’t feel it at all?

“That bastard. He was crawling up last time too. Just wait until I meet him. I’ll tear him to pieces. I’ll give one of his limbs to the wolves, and the other one…”

Nathan gnashed his teeth and chewed on Cian’s name.

The expression was a bit excessive, but…

To be honest, Roswell’s thoughts were not much different from Nathan’s.

Roswell also wanted to crush the face of that arrogant Cian.

She hated seeing Cian, who used to be bullied and cry, acting up.

But she couldn’t do anything to Cian right now.

What could she do to Cian, who was holed up in Ruben?

But he couldn’t hide like a turtle forever.

Well, she could wait until the turtle’s neck came out.

But if the turtle was scared and didn’t stick out its neck.

“Young lady. Young master. We have arrived at the Avenne family’s Count’s estate.”

There was no choice but to break it with its shell.

#

A heavy silence fell in the inn room in Amsberg.

8 people including Cian were gathered, but.

“······”

“······”

Everyone kept their mouths shut and didn’t say anything.

That’s because there was nothing to say.

Because they couldn’t think of a way to overcome the current situation.

“Huh…”

“What to do…”

Only sighs mixed with exclamations could be heard.

And in such a sighing situation.

“Hmm…”

Cian was lost in thought.

To be honest…

It was impossible to find Soren in the Avenne family’s Count’s estate.

First of all, the problem was infiltrating the Count’s estate.

There was no one here who could infiltrate without being caught through the strict security.

Kerner… would it have been possible, but that was it.

That is, only infiltration was possible.

Finding Soren’s existence in the Count’s estate and capturing him.

Interrogating him to find out the location of the slush fund and recovering it.

They had to do a literal ‘search’, but that was impossible.

And in the process, ‘without being caught’ could not be applied.

They had no choice but to be caught in some way.

Soren would be an important figure protected by the Avenne family.

In the first place, infiltration and search were completely opposite concepts.

It was faster to summon a cold fireball [a powerful magic spell].

But the problem was that if they were caught, it was over.

Here in Amsberg was literally the heart of enemy territory.

The moment they were caught infiltrating, they would be isolated and captured.

Even a stray dog eats half in its own home [idiom meaning even the weakest have some advantage in their own territory].

The situation was too unfavorable.

It was virtually impossible.

No, to be exact.

“There’s no choice…”

There was only one way.

“Wh, what do you mean…?”

“Do you have a way?”

People’s attention was focused on Cian’s muttering.

They waited for Cian’s answer with suspicious expressions.

Cian organized his thoughts once again while receiving their attention.

Realistically, there is no way to infiltrate the Avenne family’s Count’s estate.

Even if they infiltrated, there was nothing they could do after that.

To be exact, if they were caught doing suspicious things, it was over.

If they were caught in the act, Cian had nothing to say.

But if they didn’t do anything suspicious, the situation could flow strangely.

Currently, Ruben and Elandur were in a hostile relationship.

But strictly speaking, it wasn’t with the Avenne family.

Of course, it was Isabel’s main family, so it was virtually a hostile relationship.

However, formally, Avenne and Ruben had no particular grudge.

And Cian is currently a high-ranking noble who has received the title of Count.

Since ancient times, envoys of enemy countries have not been killed even during war.

Would they oppress and kill a noble without justification?

How could the fight of noble nobles be the same as that of commoners?

Isn’t that why there is a territorial war law?

Soren was hiding with his neck hidden like a turtle.

He was hiding his neck inside the solid shell of Avenne.

Well, she could wait until the turtle’s neck came out.

But if the turtle was scared and didn’t stick out its neck.

“I’m going to visit the Avenne family’s Count’s estate myself.”

There was no choice but to go and pull out that neck.