Chapter 166: That Disgusting Coward
One of the gate guards, upon seeing the cavalry formation carrying the royal flag, rushed back to the mansion to report. Without even bothering to knock properly, he burst into the steward’s office.
“Lord Bowzlein! It’s an emergency!”
“Do you not know how to knock before entering?! What is it?”
“It’s the Royal Knights! The royal flag—”
“The Royal Knights?”
“Yes! They’re here under the royal banner! At the main gate—”
“Say that first!”
He quickly rang the desk bell to summon a maid.
Before she could even bow, Bowzlein shouted:
“Wake Lord Vincens immediately! Inform him that a royal envoy has arrived! And the ladies of the household as well—hurry!”
After the maid left, he called for his assistant, Rextain.
“Just in case, inform the duke of this immediately.”
He sent him off with the order.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
The carriage formation passed through the main gate and arrived at the front entrance—but then nothing happened.
From my position, the coachman’s body conveniently blocked the view from inside the mansion. Watching carefully, I saw him step down.
He opened the carriage door, stood at attention—but still, no one came out to greet us.
Instead, a man who looked like a butler stepped forward, knelt, and said:
“I deeply apologize for the lack of reception at such an early hour. We have informed our master and kindly ask for your patience.”
Inside the entrance hall, maids had gathered and lined up, but no one even looked toward the driver’s seat.
After a while, a man rushed out, tying his scarf as he ran. He stopped, took a deep breath, and then approached the carriage.
Commander Josefane stood rigidly in front of the carriage, not moving a single step after disembarking. He looked imposing enough for a royal envoy, so I said nothing.
The man giving the greeting looked refined, but his disheveled clothes and hair clearly showed he had just woken up.
“I’m sorry for the delay in welcoming you. I’m Vincens Langueille, master of this house. What brings you here without prior notice?”
“Vincens Langueille—where’s your family?”
“Y-yes, I apologize for the sudden visit preventing proper reception…”
“I need to deliver a letter and words from His Majesty the King. Summon your family and your retainers.”
Although Josefane didn’t look like a high-ranking royal envoy, the royal flag and the crest on the carriage were unmistakable. As a viscount under ducal authority, he had no room to argue.
And if he mishandled a royal envoy, he risked dishonoring his father.
He ordered the butler behind him to quickly gather the retainers.
Soon, well-dressed individuals began assembling behind Vincens.
“Everyone is present,” the butler reported.
Commander Josefane raised the royal seal letter and declared:
“This is by order of His Majesty the King!”
At once, Vincens and his household knelt. Even the maids lowered their heads.
Taking advantage of the moment, I slipped out of the carriage, concealed myself, and moved along the wall.
“Vincens Langueille, you’re suspected of illegal slave trade and trafficking. By order of the king—”
The moment “illegal slave trade” was mentioned, Vincens visibly flinched, his face changing color.
I tried using [Appraisal!]…
No result?
But his shoulder was trembling.
Did I do it wrong?
[Appraisal: slave trading…]
[Appraisal: human trafficking…]
[Appraisal: sexual preference… young girls]
Oh. So that’s it.
So he’s involved in receiving them.
“Your envoy is insulting us! Are you trying to disgrace House Langueille?!”
“Shut up. Vincens. A man with that kind of taste has no right to speak of noble dignity.”
“Who said that?!”
“Tell me where you’ve been receiving the children from.”
“The voice is coming from the wall to the right! What’s the meaning of this?! Is the royal house resorting to such cowardly tricks?!”
The butler jumped up and tried to confront Josefane, so I wrapped him in a [Whirlwind!] and spun him away.
“Gah—wha, wha, wha?!”
“A saboteur is hiding here!”
“Cut him down!”
“Call the guards!”
One of the retainers drew his sword and swung it wildly, so I trapped him in a [Whirlwind!] and slammed him into the wall. The others who stood up were bound with a [Ring!], tightening around them.
“Leon-dono… what’s this?”
“It’s concealment magic. In adventurer terms, just blending into the surroundings. Calm the servants.”
“What about those people?”
Josefane pointed at the group bound in the ring.
“It’s just wind magic restraining them. And Vincens here seems to have a sexual interest in young girls. Search the mansion—you’ll likely find victims.”
Knights arrived in response to the commotion. Outside, guards were panicking.
The guards hesitated, unable to believe that men bearing the royal flag had truly come to arrest their master.
I took the flag from the knight and slammed the staff down.
“Silence! We’re here under direct royal command!”
“Vincens Langueille, I’ve been ordered to arrest you. And I already know through appraisal—you’re into that kind of thing. If you didn’t buy them, then tell me where you got them.”
“Don’t listen to them! They’re trying to slander Lord Vincens! Cut them down!”
I had only spun them lightly, so they weren’t even dizzy yet. They were surprisingly steady on their feet.
The knights, urged on by the butler, drew their swords—but I knocked them back again with another [Whirlwind!].
The guards flew into the maids behind them. Chaos erupted—screams, shouting, total disorder.
Meanwhile, those trapped in the ring just stared blankly.
“Josefane. I’ll handle anyone who comes at us. You question those guys—beat it out of them if you have to.”
“Is that acceptable…?”
By then, the household members and retainers had been thrown into complete confusion.
I dragged Vincens out of the group. He resisted, so I had a knight help and kicked him forward toward Josefane.
“This is Commander Josefane of the Royal Knights. Answer honestly, or your face is going to change shape.”
I tapped his head and pushed him forward.
“Eeeek!”
Josefane looked exasperated. I told him:
“Just beat him and make him talk.”
Those who looked like they might resist were already lying on the floor, not even trying to get up.
A complete coward.
“Seriously… how are they this useless?”
The knights had come prepared for battle, yet they were stunned by how spineless the enemy was.
Honestly, it made my job easier.
We tied up Vincens, the retainers, and the butler and sent them to the office, while the women and children were confined to a salon.
If they don’t oppose the kingdom, they won’t be punished—just keep working. But if they leave the mansion or leak information, they’ll be severely punished.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
Appraisal confirmed that Vincens was sexually attracted to young girls.
I didn’t want to think too deeply about it, but the victims’ presence made the meaning painfully clear.
Better leave the detailed investigation to Josefane.
Searching the mansion revealed a locked room containing enslaved maids and several young girls.
Their testimony revealed that Vincens had abused them and that the butler used other slaves to dispose of the bodies of children who died.
I told Josefane to compile a report and continue the investigation.
I couldn’t stay here any longer without feeling like I’d rot inside.
Brighton definitely knew more than he admitted. He must have deliberately withheld information so the field investigation could uncover evidence.
＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊
The next morning, I flew to the royal castle with Josefane’s first report and slammed it onto the chancellor’s desk.
“If you knew, couldn’t you’ve told me?”
“If I had, it might have biased your investigation. Testimony alone isn’t evidence. We needed proof discovered in the field. However, the next target—the Romberg estate—should be taken quickly.”
“Why?”
“According to Count Arkwright’s information, the Romberg estate is a transit hub for kidnapped victims and slaves. If you delay, evidence and witnesses may be eliminated.”
“So you want me to check the dungeons?”
“Leave Jewelron in Commander Josefane’s hands and send reinforcements. I’m heading to Moorian next.”
Maybe I should go blow off some steam.