The Terminally Ill Young Master is the Mad Dog of the Underworld

[Translator - Pot]

[Proofreader - Kawaii]

Chapter 132: Why Are You All Making Such a Fuss Over a Little Blood?

At my question about whether there was a way to counter Verdzig, Peter, Jeffrey, and even Olivier fell into deep thought with troubled expressions.

‘If even these three can’t think of anything…’

Well, that’s actually a good thing.

In truth, I already had a plan in mind.

“Jeffrey.”

“Yes.”

“Remember those guys who attacked me at the docks and got beaten up and captured?”

“Ah, yes.”

“You remember the man who was accused of being the assassin who killed them, right?”

“How could I forget?”

Jeffrey gritted his teeth.

Those prisoners had been assassinated inside the royal prison, and while Jeffrey was narrowing down the investigation, Verdzig’s side suddenly raided his maternal clan’s estate and brought in the culprit.

“Evan Bergen.”

That was the name of the tail Verdzig had tried to cut off.

“But my conclusion is that he’s not the real culprit.”

“I agree.”

Jeffrey said.

“He didn’t have the authority or the motive. Our own investigation also revealed that the upper echelons of the Bergen had directly intervened.”

“The higher-ups were probably Verdzig’s uncle or the Count himself.”

Otherwise, there would have been no need for Verdzig to personally step in and cut off the tail. If the real culprit had been exposed, it would have been someone who could cause significant damage to him.

“In any case, they probably thought the matter was settled.”

After all, even I had essentially covered up the incident by agreeing with Verdzig to pin the blame on Flanders in exchange for sending Gemini.

“But what if we bring him back to the surface and make it an issue again?”

“……!”

Jeffrey exchanged a surprised look with Olivier, then turned back to me and answered.

“Are you serious?”

“I’m always serious.”

I crossed my arms and replied.

“Has his punishment been decided yet?”

“Yes. Evan ‘confessed’ to all the charges. Right now, the severity of his punishment is being discussed.”

“Verdzig must have dictated the contents of that confession.”

I had already been feeling uneasy about the man being wrongfully implicated and killed. This could actually be an opportunity.

“If it’s Verdzig, he probably blackmailed Evan by exploiting some weakness. If we can figure out what that is, we might be able to extract a ‘different testimony.’”

“……!”

Olivier exclaimed in surprise.

“If we can do that, it would be a blind spot even Young Master Verdzig couldn’t have anticipated.”

“Good. Since he hit me where it hurts, it’s only fair I return the favor.”

If he thought I’d cower and beg for mercy just because he messed with Peter, he’s sorely mistaken.

‘When it comes to bleeding someone dry, even the underworld scum aren’t pushovers.’

And I’m Karzan, the mad dog who once ruled that underworld.

“Then I’ll handle the investigation.”

“Olivier?”

“To be precise, my clan will handle it.”

It suddenly occurred to me that Olivier was from the Borgart Count clan.

“Are you sure?”

“I’ll ask my uncle. Fortunately, our clan’s intelligence network is quite reliable.”

Judging by Olivier’s expression, there was probably a price to pay for this favor.

“I’m sorry to put you through this.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Hmm, then I won’t.”

“…….”

“Just kidding. I’m always grateful.”

Olivier’s expression grew even stranger.

“What’s wrong?”

“Earlier, you were coughing up blood, and now you’re suddenly saying such heartwarming things… it’s a bit…”

“Ridiculous. Do you think I’m some kind of trash?”

“That’s not it.”

I shook my head vigorously.

“Anyway, Jeffrey, deliver this letter to Rudgarda.”

“Understood.”

Jeffrey tucked the letter into his chest, and Olivier bowed to me.

“Then I’ll get started on the task you’ve entrusted to me.”

“Alright, I’m counting on you.”

“Have a peaceful night.”

The two left, leaving only Peter and me in the bedroom.

“Young Master. Sniff.”

“Why are you crying again?”

“Sniff, sniff… You were so exhausted you even coughed up blood.”

“This is driving me crazy.”

I scratched my head vigorously.

“I’m not exhausted, okay?”

Compared to getting stabbed and coughing up blood, this is more like throwing up from a hangover after drinking too much.

‘Of course, I was shocked when it happened.’

“If you’re not going to call for Sir Joseph, you should at least take a potion.”

I sighed and nodded.

“Alright, give me one.”

“Yes!”

I scratched my head. Suddenly, I feel like I’ve become a precious young master. Why is everyone acting like this?

***

Royal Guard Taris, a member of Jeffrey's squad, is one of his most trusted and capable subordinates.

Recently, under Allenvert's secret orders, he saved Gemini from an assassination attempt. Quietly, he visited the 6th Battalion of the Special Operations Division, where Rudgarda was stationed.

“Young Master asked for this?”

“Yes, Commander Rudgarda.”

Rudgarda quietly observed Taris, who had arrived amidst the early morning bustle.

“Understood.”

She carefully tucked the letter she had received into her coat.

“I’ll make sure it’s delivered to Zizek without fail.”

“Thank you.”

Taris bowed his head. Rudgarda hesitated for a moment before asking.

“Is the boy named Peter alright? I heard he was attacked by bandits.”

“Ah, fortunately, he’s fine.”

“……It must have been the Second Young Master’s doing.”

“Well, that’s…”

Taris chose his words carefully, seeming somewhat troubled.

“From our perspective, that seems the most likely possibility.”

“Bold and aggressive tactics. Was the young master not surprised?”

“Ah, he was somewhat surprised, but he’s already preparing a countermeasure.”

Rudgarda nodded.

“I see.”

Of course, such methods wouldn’t break his resolve. She rather admired that aggressiveness.

“By the way, just like when he tried to kill Miss Gemini, he really doesn’t hesitate to get his hands dirty, does he?”

Taris, who had thwarted that assassination attempt, sighed as he spoke.

“To be precise, it’s not his hands but his blade.”

Rudgarda knew well that Verdzig had many blades to wield and discard at will.

“I’ll deliver this by tomorrow. Since it’s the first task the young master has entrusted to me, I’ll carry it out flawlessly.”

“Yes, I’ll report it as such.”

As Taris saluted and left, Rudgarda took out the letter and gazed at it.

‘The survivors of Eisenach.’

If they were to align with Allenvert and become his protectors, how would they react to her then?

‘Hatred is inherently far from reason.’

Of course, she had done nothing during that midnight massacre. She had been too young to participate, and it had been carried out in utmost secrecy.

‘Moreover, I was merely a sacrifice offered to legitimize that usurpation.’

Knowing this, Allenvert had set aside his hatred and chosen to trust her, forging a bond of mutual reliance.

But such forgiveness isn’t possible for everyone. Could those who witnessed the deaths of their kin during the massacre truly forgive her? If she were in their position, would it have been easy to do so……?

“My lady.”

A retainer approached Rudgarda, who was deep in thought.

“What shall we do? Should we select someone swift and cautious to send?”

“No.”

Rudgarda replied.

“I’ll go myself.”

It was the first task entrusted to her. It was better to have too few hands than too many.

‘Above all.’

She also wanted to personally assess Zizek, the man who would be handling important missions in the future.

‘I’ll move tonight.’

* * *

At the same time.

“Our young master coughed up blood? Oh noooooo! My poor young master, what shall we dooooo!”

“Pe-Peter. Calm down and……”

As soon as morning broke, Joseph was dragged in by Peter, forced to listen to his loud wailing.

“Explain slowly. What do you mean he coughed up blood?”

“Sobbbbb.”

Peter burst into tears. Though he had bravely held back his tears in front of Allenvert earlier, the weight of his sorrow overwhelmed him as he tried to explain the situation to Joseph, whom he had known for years.

“Peter, please calm down. Let me explain.”

Unable to bear it any longer, Olivier stepped forward. His eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn’t slept all night.

“A few days ago, during a battle with a monster called Nepherus……”

Joseph listened carefully to the explanation, then sighed.

“Ah, I see.”

He quickly made his diagnosis.

“In short, a large amount of foreign mana suddenly entered his body. Whether it was due to an unwelcome guest or an existing imbalance, I’ll need to examine him in person to determine the exact cause.”

Olivier nodded slightly.

“Please do.”

Jeffrey, who had been quietly observing, chimed in.

“It doesn’t seem like a major issue, does it?”

“Hard to say, but if I’m right, it shouldn’t be. If it were serious, the young master would have been the first to feel the pain.”

“Ah, that’s a relief.”

Jeffrey let out a small sigh of relief.

“He never shows any signs of discomfort, so it’s hard to tell if he’s in pain or not.”

Jeffrey, the captain of the Royal Guards, Olivier, the prodigy of the Borgart Count clan, and just Peter.

The other brothers also coveted the retainers who were all fawning over Allenvert, and Joseph muttered to himself as he watched the scene.

‘It’s not surprising, but—’

Can a person really change this much?

‘He’s truly remarkable.’

The fragile boy who had once crumbled under great trials had long since shed his old self like a cicada shedding its shell.

* * *

“Why is everyone making such a fuss since morning?”

I grumbled as I looked at the retainers gathered since dawn.

Olivier, Peter, and Jeffrey stood by with serious expressions—

Joseph, with a somber face, examined the handkerchief stained with the blood I had coughed up and checked if there were any remaining external injuries.

‘I’m really not used to this.’

The atmosphere was heavy. Somehow, everyone seemed to be looking at me with pity.

“Sniff, sob. Sniff.”

For some reason, even Julia was here, sniffling.

“Why are you crying?”

“Huh? Well……”

“I’m fine, so stop it already.”

“Okay.”

Julia wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

“Olivier. Why is everyone acting like this?”

“……It’s because the fact that you, my lord, are living on borrowed time has suddenly become all too real.”

“How cliché.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“You’ve been so composed all this time that we had started to delude ourselves.”

“Delude ourselves? About what?”

“Even though we knew you were living on borrowed time, we held onto a baseless optimism, as if you might recover at any moment. But yesterday, we realized that wasn’t the case.”

“Hmm.”

Now that I think about it, that makes sense.

But I’m not a man accustomed to being the object of others’ worry. Especially when Peter is standing there with tears in his eyes…… it’s kind of embarrassing, isn’t it?

“My lord.”

Meanwhile, Joseph, who had finished his examination, spoke cautiously.

“It seems that the toxic energy settled in your body has damaged your organs. It’s hard to say for sure which of the two energies is the cause, but……”

“I see.”

I nodded calmly.

“First, I’ll prepare some medicine. It’s effective for internal injuries, so make sure to take it after meals. I’ll also prescribe a potion……”

“Well, you can explain all that in detail to Peter.”

I quietly watched Joseph, who kept wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

“Ah, do you have something to ask, my lord?”

‘I do.’

It was thanks to a small clue I got from Joseph that I eventually found the survivors of Eisenach.

I wanted to express my gratitude, but Joseph is a sensitive man, and revealing such a heavy truth to him wouldn’t be easy.

‘If word gets out, he might even be tortured.’

Didn’t I just confirm yesterday that Verdzig is more than capable of such things?

So, telling Joseph the truth wouldn’t be a good idea. Sometimes, silence is golden.

“It’s nothing. You’ve had a tough morning.”

“N-not at all, my lord. I am your personal physician, so please call on me anytime.”

“For that, you’ll need to finish your training under your master first.”

“Yes. I’ll work hard.”

Joseph left with a strangely moved expression, and Olivier reported the progress of our tasks.

“Regarding Evan Bergen, we should receive information by tomorrow at the latest, possibly even today.”

“That’s fast.”

The vassal clan that produced the head butler is indeed different, isn’t it?

“Additionally, the byproducts of the Nepherus corpse will be put up for auction.”

“Oh ho.”

The Grunewald auction house often auctioned off the remains of monsters hunted by the clan. It might seem insignificant, but it’s actually quite a clever method.

Monster remains are highly sought-after commodities. Isn’t it possible for collusion and corruption to occur during the selling process?

‘That’s why they use a fair auction system to nip any discord in the bud.’

It’s truly fitting for a clan that has long ruled over a city of merchants, isn’t it? It’s not easy to establish such a rational system for fairly distributing spoils.

“You, my lord, will receive 90% of the profits.”

“Good. That’s a hell of a lot of money.”

“Indeed.”

“Then get me some more spirit medicines. Use the rest appropriately, and distribute the daily wages.”

“Understood.”

No matter how many spirit medicines I consume, it’s never enough. Relying solely on what others give me won’t suffice. The enemies I have to face are too strong.

“Alright.”

“Young master, where are you going?”

Peter asked as I got up from my seat.

“I’m going to train.”

Then Jeffrey asked,

“Shall I assist you?”

“No thanks.”

I snorted.

“I want to be alone and quiet today, so don’t disturb me.”

“…….”

“Well, I’m not going off to cry or anything, so stop looking at me with those dramatic eyes.”

“Ahem. Understood.”

Why are you all making such a fuss over a little blood?

‘Even if I’m not planning to die anytime soon, they’re acting like this.’

[Translator - Pot]

[Proofreader - Kawaii]