Chapter 345

"How does the assistant think about it?"

As the question was suddenly tossed to Yuder, who had been silently listening all this time, Pruelle's gaze also turned towards him. With a look that held both desperation and surprise, Yuder felt a slight confusion. It was clear that Kishiar's will was almost determined, so he couldn't understand why his opinion needed to be publicly heard.

"I don't think it's a matter for me to comment on."

"Say anything you want. There must be something you were curious about while listening, isn't there?"

It was clear that Kishiar wouldn't let go without hearing something from him. Yuder thought for a moment before speaking.

"...Understood. May I then ask a question?"

"As long as it's something I can answer."

Pruelle quickly replied.

"From what I heard, it doesn't seem like Duke Tain had been interested in investing originally, but I wonder if my understanding is correct."

"My father... I know he has always liked to gamble."

Pruelle responded, his eyes focused far away, as if recalling something.

"He was deeply immersed in various hobbies, from horse racing, tournaments, to various gambling games held at the nobles' gatherings. He still frequents those places but began to take investing seriously only a few years ago after a trade-related investment in the southern region greatly succeeded."

"It was when the maritime trade between the Southern country and the Empire was hugely successful."

As Kishiar mumbled as if knowing something, Pruelle answered, "Yes, that's correct."

"From that time on, foreign merchants began to frequent the House of Tain. My father places great trust in the information and advice they provide."

"He even said that they shared the family's interests."

"Yes. I know that their influence has been exerted on many of the current investments."

Yuder looked back on the memories of his past life. Since Emperor Katchian took the throne, the Empire had been trading with other countries much more actively for a while. Katchian had poured effort into commercial policies with the goal of recovering the devastated western region and initiating changes in the Empire, receiving praise for this new direction, completely opposite to the previous imperial policies. Yuder remembered that Emperor Katchian was very pleased with this praise.

'If the advice was from Duke Tain's side... I roughly understand why the family didn't fail.'

The money invested to achieve that policy was truly enormous. However, the ambitious policy did not end well. The failure was due to the fact that Katchian's policy didn't bring about effective results without sufficient disaster recovery. Only a few, including the nobles, made money during that period, and the collapsed villages and forests in the west took a long time to recover. As those praising and criticizing Emperor Katchian became starkly divided, Yuder had to visit the imperial palace more frequently to receive 'secret missions'. It was a chaotic time...

Yuder exhaled deeply, erasing the uncomfortable memory. Pruelle asked if there was anything more he was curious about, and Yuder shook his head, thanking him with a mere expression of gratitude.

After hearing Pruelle's words, Kishiar had been deeply lost in thought. Yuder wondered what extraordinary thoughts might be passing beneath his long, golden-shadowed eyelashes, but he silently waited until Kishiar emerged from his contemplation and opened his mouth.

"Indeed. Then... It seems the time has come to make a choice."

Upon hearing Kishiar's words, Pruelle began to tense up sharply.

"Tain's firstborn."

"Yes."

"Just like Apeto's third son Revlin, I can't accept you as a member right away. But... It's possible to grant temporary membership until the official recruitment next time."

Pruelle's eyes, which had been rigidly fixed at the beginning, trembled at the very last word. He slowly opened his mouth to ask if he understood correctly.

"Does that mean..."

"It means the deal is concluded."

"Ah..."

Finally, Pruelle's face revealed all sorts of emotions that he had hidden until now. Kishiar smoothly continued speaking.

"By the Emperor's grace and the name of God, I swear to ensure your safety and protection along with your siblings. The path ahead may be perilous, but if the youngest, who finds it hard to hide his abilities, wants it, he can be protected within the Cavalry in advance. Do you want that?"

After a moment unable to speak, he immediately knelt and pressed his lips to the hem of Kishiar's garment.

"Yes. Please... I sincerely thank you for your mercy..."

While watching this, Yuder felt a very strange sensation. He didn't know what had happened to Pruelle in his previous life, but since his younger sister had become the successor, his awakening must have come at some cost. Whether he chose this path himself or was forced into it, it hadn't ended well; but now, in this life, it seemed that it might not happen again. The realization suddenly loomed large.

Because Revlin, who had died quietly in his previous life, survived and proudly stood in the court, another person was standing here now. The chance to protect those who had courageously stepped forward and move towards a greater future was all because Kishiar La Orr was alive and well.

Yuder looked at Kishiar, who was gesturing Pruelle to stand. As he took a deep breath, his heart continued to beat loudly.

"Where are your siblings now?"

"The Tain children are in the capital, but Nipollen... actually, he came with me."

Pruelle said with a slightly embarrassed face. Yuder was not the only one surprised by this.

"He came with you? I didn't hear that."

"Even Baron Willhem doesn't know Nipollen is here. He's currently using his ability, so he's not easily noticeable to others."

"What's the ability?"

Kishiar asked, not hiding his interest, and Pruelle obediently answered.

"It's similar to mine... but there's some difference. He can only transform into a specific animal, like a cat we used to keep."

Perhaps because of their similar abilities, Nipollen only found stability when he was near Pruelle; otherwise, he couldn't control his ability properly. So Pruelle had brought his sibling, transformed into a cat, all the way here.

"He seems to find it harder to maintain his original appearance after awakening his ability. When he's with me, perhaps because our abilities are similar, he stabilizes quickly, but with others, he can't control it properly. It might be due to an innate illness from birth."

This was an extraordinarily rare case among those with transformation abilities. If someone was more comfortable being a cat, then it was probably better for them to come here than to stay in the capital.

'It wasn't like he had any significant offensive abilities, and if he could only transform into a cat, I could understand why his sibling would be so worried.'

Kishiar's expression changed slightly, as if he had had a similar thought.

"Then I hope to meet with him tomorrow. The sooner, the better; it will ease your mind, I think."

"I would truly appreciate that."

"I'll come find you tomorrow, so wait for me. Until then, I would like you to investigate the 'secret trade' of the Tain House, which is taking place here."

It was Kishiar's first request and a test for the one who had boarded the ship. A sharp look passed between the eyes of Pruelle, as if he had caught on to the meaning.

"I have heard news that His Grace discovered circumstances where three knights of our house were killed in Great Sarain Forest, accompanied by his cavalry. Is that what you're referring to?"

"One could say that. Although Baron Willhem spoke as if he had no idea what they were doing in Great Sarain Forest, I think otherwise."

He had already moved beyond thinking otherwise and was gathering evidence, but he did not mention that part, probably to test Pruelle's abilities. Pruelle seemed to organize his thoughts for a moment before standing up and bowing politely.

"I understand. I know what I must do. I'll strive to live up to your expectations and await your visit tomorrow."

Yuder escorted Pruelle, who looked much happier than when he had arrived, to the door of the lodging. Pruelle thanked Yuder with a flushed face.

"I really owe you one today. If not for you, His Grace the Duke wouldn't have listened so easily."

"I didn't do anything."

"Nonsense. Because I saw you first, I was able to have a certainty beyond my imagination about what kind of person Duke Peletta is."

After a small smile, he left one last meaningful remark.

"I'm glad I saw you myself. I've never looked forward to tomorrow before, but now, for the first time, I'm excited."

He transformed into the appearance of a servant, as he had been when he first came in, and left the annex. Yuder made sure he got back all right before returning to the lodging. Kishiar was looking at the fireplace, where no fire had been lit, lost in thought.

"Commander? Are you tired?"

"No, just lost in thought for a moment."

Kishiar finally looked up and smiled.

"They say they don't often use magic stoves in the West, and it seems true. This stove isn't for magic stones, but an old wooden wall stove left as it was."

"...I see."

Yuder's response was slightly delayed, having never paid much attention to stoves in his life. Now that he thought about it, it seemed that magic stone stoves, usually set apart in a corner, were rarely seen in the West. This was in stark contrast to Kishiar's office, where the magic stone stove was always in the middle of the room, always burning magic stones.

"Do you know what happened when magic stone stoves were first invented?"