# 25
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⌈Etheus von Clyde⌋
Health Points (HP): ♥♥♥♥♥♥♡♡♡♡
“Good.”
His HP rose to six before starting to decline, confirming his recovery.
I let out a long exhale of relief when I saw Ethie's condition.
Looks like the drug dealer gave me the right medication.
With a lighter heart, I stretched and got out of bed.
That's enough.
Now that the anxiety is gone. …
Maybe it's time for an asset review today.
After finishing breakfast, I sat at my desk in the workroom and began to leaf through the notebooks updated by Hirose.
More than half of the Ellimore family's assets had already been invested in Montella, doubling and tripling.
This time, it acquired the rights to various works borrowed from branches of the Elmore family.
In exchange for not reporting themves to the palace, it was a very profitable deal.
While I was examining the list, I contacted prospectors through Hirose.
Soon, the leader of the labor group, Cain, arrived, and I presented him with a free labor rights waiver that I knew they would be very interested in.
". …What is this?"
“Like I told you, the next reward will be worth the wait.”
This was in exchange for receiving the item you ordered from Vadelmon.
Legal liquor manufacturing rights were the perfect complement to their diverse underground businesses.
*As a reminder, this is forbidden.*
With these rights, they can expand their work into more diverse fields.
In addition, even if Ethios became emperor, he would not interfere with the small business rights of local nobles unless they were close supporters of the emperor who were akin to traitors.
This was one of the reasons why the local nobility accepted Ethios as the new emperor without fanfare.
So the business rights that the branches ceded to me, and that I ceded to the prospectors, will remain in effect for a long time.
Unless it is in the possession of the supporters of the Emperor who will be liquidated or the Elimore family.
Then they will all belong to Ethiye.
“Ah...”
Cain seemed surprised by my gift, and looked at me for a long time.
If we calculate the value of these labor rights in imperial currency, it would be at least 50,000 coins, so it might be difficult to accept them easily.
Especially since he doesn't know what I will ask for such a big gift.
When I read his thoughts, the corner of my mouth raised.
“Can you do me a favor?”
The body of Ethios, who has not been well nourished for a long time and has been exposed to harsh conditions, easily becomes weaker than others if he is injured or sick.
Although from the outside it looks like it has a sturdy body and sturdy build.
However, if Jeffrey Whistler, the leader of the group, asks Ethi to give up his jobs as in the original story. …
“He will die.”
Etheus, who had recently become emperor, fell ill and died after a while.
I can't let this ending happen again this time.
“I want to meet the leader of your group, Jeffrey Whistler.”
When I said that, the working group leader's shoulder trembled.
“There are rumors of his death or disappearance, but I know he is not dead, and I know you know where he is hiding.”
He opened his mouth with a slightly confused face.
“The leader of the group... is not someone we can meet whenever we want.”
“Isn’t he hiding in the headquarters after he disappeared?”
That's how it was in the original story.
When his words sounded as if the leader lived outside the guild headquarters, my eyes narrowed, and he lowered his gaze.
It's as if he's trying to prevent me from reading the information he knows.
“You can only meet him when he wants, I can't say more, but...”
After a short silence, he continued.
“This may be an inappropriate comment, but he probably views you in a positive light.”
Look at me in a positive light?
“This is just my personal opinion, but I believe you will meet him soon.”
Then he returned the contract I had presented to him.
“Since we couldn't accept your request, we can't take this.”
She smiled warmly at him and pushed the necklace towards him again.
When he looked at me with a questioning face, I said.
“As I said before, this is not a request but a favor. I cannot withdraw the reward just to refuse the favor.”
“Madam...”
“The real demand, although it will not be as large as last time, will require a great effort. We will storm Vadelmon Palace.”
I have already received an invitation from the desperate Vadelmon.
After his failure to kill me and betray his relatives, this is to be expected.
I plan to collect all the evidence of his crimes and report them to the authorities.
The leader of the group looked at me for a moment and then bowed.
“We will do our best in proportion to the generosity you have shown us.”
* * *
Count Elmore's palace.
When Vadelmon arrived at his modest home compared to Duke Elmore's palace, he suddenly stopped when he saw Catherine sitting on the sofa.
She was drinking tea in comfort as if she were at home.
“Don’t blame the maid, I made the tea for myf.”
Catherine said without getting up, crossing her legs.
He knows his niece's rebellious personality, who does not know the difference between superior and inferior.
Anyway, Vadelmon coughed, “Ahem, Ahem,” and began lecturing while standing.
“Even if I was the one who invited you, you should wait quietly for the host to come when visiting the home of someone older than you. To put your hands on everything as you wish, that is rude.”
Then he took off his jacket and handed it to the servant standing behind him.
“Now that your parents are dead, there is no one to teach you manners except me, this is really sad.”
Catherine merely curled her lips sarcastically.
'He's trying in every way to break my will, well, he has to do it to feel like he has a chance.'
“Well, you know why I summoned you today.”
Vadelmon sat across from Katherine with a face showing obvious annoyance.
To him, she was just a little girl whom he had watched since she was knee-aged.
Just the fact that he raised his voice as an adult in the family, almost like a father, she should have shuddered and feared.
“Put the teacup down and sit in a proper position. You should listen politely.”
Vadelmon angrily raised his voice to assert his control.
“You divorce Filius as you wish, dispose of the family assets as you wish, and sully the name of Elmore, how can I leave you like this?”
He hoped that Catherine would shrink a little in this controlling atmosphere.
But Catherine's expression did not change.
She was just looking at him with a cold smile, as if she was observing something interesting.
Well, if I had been Katherine before I took possession of her, I might have been temporarily influenced by “Big” Fadelmon.
Especially after the Duke of Elmore died and she had no other relatives to rely on.
Even if she wasn't completely obedient, the moments where she showed weakness would have been her weak points.
“I couldn't take it.”
But the current Catherine will not be affected by Vadelmon's screaming, no matter what he does.
After sending two killers, he comes to preach to me about etiquette? Words not worth listening to.
When Vadelmon heard her words, his nostrils flared and he asked.
"What?"
“Is this the reason?”
When Catherine leaned forward and looked directly into his eyes, his pupils twitched for a moment.
Then he heard a sharp, clear, unhesitating voice reach his ears.
“Is that why you tried to kill me, uncle?”