The Servant in the Horror Game is Suspicious Chapter 40

A vast empire with territories stretching from the endless snowfields of the North to the lush green plains of the South—a powerhouse that achieved prosperity through formidable military strength, clever diplomacy, and thriving trade. That was the Vilheim Empire.

The capital of Vilheim sat right in the heart of the Empire. Sky-piercing spires and a Golden Imperial Castle glowing like a beacon illuminated the center, while wide boulevards paved with brick instead of dirt cut through the capital square.

A massive statue stood in the middle of the square, surrounded by rows of extravagant shops. It was a sight you simply couldn’t find anywhere but the Vilheim Empire.

The Empire was several steps ahead of its allied neighbors in terms of development. And the family running the largest merchant guild in the Vilheim Empire was none other than the Ducal House of Linwood.

The Linwood Guild operated two major branches: the Arms Guild and the Trading Guild.

The Arms Guild supplied the Imperial Army with armor, combat boots, swords, and spears, and on a larger scale, they even developed weapons for war. Everyone from the Imperial Guard to the high-ranking nobility used Linwood blades.

The Trading Guild, in particular, could be called the very source of the Linwood family’s wealth. They had established a massive trade network that spanned even to continents outside the Empire; every merchant ship entering or leaving the Empire passed through the Linwood family’s shipping lanes.

Linwood carriages and vessels roamed every corner of the continent. It had reached the point where people joked that there wasn’t a single patch of land where the Linwood flag didn’t fly.

The wealth the Linwood family accumulated through these two guilds was astronomical. From the Empire to its allied nations, there wasn’t a place the Linwood reach didn’t touch.

They moved the Empire’s economy with their Trading Guild and solidified its military might with their Arms Guild.

Naturally, it was only expected for anyone bearing the Linwood name to lust after the position of head of the family.

But as they say, the wind never stops blowing on a tree with many branches—the brothers of the Linwood family had never gotten along for generations. The distant relatives were the same. Everyone was wide-eyed and alert, hunting for the others’ weaknesses to drag them down.

“I really love this place.”

Visiting the Trading Guild headquarters, Malderic Linwood leaned back lazily in a high-backed chair and lifted a teacup. The headquarters was located near the main Linwood estate, and Malderic practically lived there from morning till night. It was his way of making it clear to everyone that he would soon be the master of the place.

The headquarters was a massive five-story building. Aside from the family’s main mansion, this was the largest and most luxurious place around. The sight of countless talented individuals busy handling business and the magnificent, high ceilings gave Malderic a sense of security.

“So, the brat is still alive?”

Malderic asked, swinging his legs while sitting in the chair, having made Victor stand before him. This was the seat where his dead brother—and later, Ian—was supposed to sit. But now, he was sitting in it. That was what mattered.

“Yes. They say he’s in poor health, but I haven’t been able to confirm it personally.”

“He’s probably just sickly. What can a pipsqueak like him do in that North anyway? He was nothing special since he was a baby. He’s not even worth considering an opponent, tsk.”

Malderic sneered. Imaginations of his nephew—a boy he considered less than an ant—dying in all sorts of cruel ways tangled in his mind.

Yes. The day he would take over the Linwood family was not far off. How long had he waited and labored for this? Just thinking about that day made his heart race with excitement.

Malderic Linwood had lived in his brother’s shadow for a long time. Though they shared the same blood, his brother became the Duke leading the family, while all he inherited was some territory.

Of course, the territory he inherited was vast. It overflowed with jewels and servants, and he possessed massive wealth that everyone envied. It was the kind of wealth that naturally followed being a member of the Linwood family.

But they say human greed knows no bounds. He couldn’t be satisfied with just that. For generations, the Linwood family only passed down the business rights to the eldest son. Malderic had always felt wronged by that.

What was the point of having overflowing riches? He had been born with wealth in his hands, so it didn’t impress him. True value lay in honor. He needed the kind of power that would make even the Emperor grovel.

He failed to realize that he hadn’t been made heir not just because he was the second son, but because Malderic himself was a man fundamentally unsuited for business.

His inferiority complex toward his brother since they were young was beyond words.

His brother was always welcomed in political and social circles, but Malderic was not. Since he was the second son of the Linwood family, people treated him with polite formality, but no one truly wanted his company.

His brother was also famous for his outstanding looks. In contrast, look at Malderic. It was as if he carried different blood—he was short, and he was balding right in the center of his head. Unlike his brother, who had beautiful blond hair, his own hair was a muddy, brownish blonde. And half of it was gone, at that.

Their personalities were opposites as well. Unlike his cold and silent brother, Malderic was hot-tempered and talkative. Perhaps because of that, people didn’t seek him out unless they absolutely had to.

Malderic looked for the reason for all of this in the position of the family head. Power. It was all because of power. Everyone liked his brother solely because of his authority, while he was always pushed to the background. That pathetic miscalculation was enough to sink Malderic into a swamp of delusion.

And finally, the opportunity had come. Malderic sensed his time had arrived the day his brother died.

There was much to do. Using Ian’s young age as an excuse, he submitted a petition to the Council of Nobles to claim the position of guardian and had his own son officially adopted as his brother’s heir.

His son, Cain, had turned eighteen this year, reaching adulthood. Even if by some miracle Malderic couldn’t take the family head position after Ian died, it wouldn’t be a problem since he had a son who was legally his brother’s heir.

Unlike his usually sloppy personality, Malderic had prepared for this thoroughly for years. He sent the old butler, who had been loyal to the previous Duke, to a rural estate under the pretext that he was too old and needed to rest, and he transferred the Knight Commander to the southern tip of the empire. He dismissed the longtime managers of the guilds and forged his brother’s will to get rid of it.

In short, his plan was perfect. He was moving forward step by step.

“Are you not worried, sir?”

“About what?”

Malderic, who had been swinging his feet, asked back while picking at his ear. The teacup in his hand shook, spilling tea onto his bulging stomach.

“He’s holding out longer than we anticipated.”

“Ian? Why would I worry about that brat?”

Malderic chuckled as if he had just heard something ridiculous.

In truth, a twelve-year-old brat didn’t even register as a concern for him. His biggest hurdle right now was the Imperial Family.

The Imperial Family was wary of power concentrating in the Linwood family. Perhaps that was why they seemed pleased with the current situation, where the head of the Linwood family remained vacant for so long.

Everyone knew Malderic was eyeing the position. That was exactly why he couldn’t just kill Ian right away. It was too obvious an opening for someone to find fault with him.

He had to solidify his position before the kid died. This was no time to worry about a twelve-year-old boy abandoned and stuck in the North.

“To call him just a brat…”

Victor’s thoughts were different, however. Two servants had already gone missing, and the current servant still hadn’t managed to deal with the child. This part nagged at Victor. The fact that Ian, who they thought would be dead in a month, had survived for nearly a year bothered him as well.

“Right, about that servant we commissioned this time.”

“Yeah, that petty thief.”

“Why didn’t you hire a professional, sir?”

More than anything, the new servant they sent this time was highly suspicious.

He was a servant in name, but he was a man who had been ordered to assassinate Ian. Yet, it had been nearly three months since he went to the North, and there hadn’t been a single word.

If he just killed the child, he would receive another payment equal to the commission he’d already taken, so it was very strange that he was dragging his feet like this. However, Malderic didn’t seem to think much of that either.

“Professionals are more of a headache. Those types can use the commission as an excuse to blackmail me. They’re prone to getting ahead of themselves. I’d rather have some random nobody.”

“But he’s a man whose very identity is unknown. This isn’t like you, Mr. Malderic.”

“He was just a petty thief, so he’s too stupid to think of anything else. Bold guys are the ones who start having dangerous ideas. Even if it takes time, guys like that are easier to deal with. And they’re easier to dispose of once the job is done.”

“But…”

The problem was that a man who was only ever a petty thief had been surviving in the North for nearly three months.

Was that the kind of environment where someone could just “hold out”? That servant looked like someone who was miles away from having any survival instincts.

That was exactly why Malderic chose him. He planned to dispose of the servant as well once Ian was successfully killed. Dealing with professionals afterward was a pain.

“Victor. Take it easy. I’m telling you, the Emperor is currently wide-eyed looking for any excuse to pick on me. Natural is what’s important. Natural. You know?”

Both the adoption and the guardianship required approval from the Council of Nobles and the Imperial Family. Naturally, no one openly interfered. After all, most of the council members received Linwood weapons, and the Imperial Family even took “special donations.”

However, what was one of the primary virtues of a noble? It was that gloominess where they hid their true intentions while laughing and acting friendly. They were all just watching and waiting for an opportunity to catch him in a slip-up.

“I will go to the North once more.”

“He’s going to die anyway, so why bother?”

“I have a bad feeling. You have to crush the sprouts that could ruin the work early on.”

“What’s the rush? That’s your problem. You worry too much.”

Malderic casually swirled his teacup. Victor looked at the cup and fell into thought.

As Malderic said, it might be excessive worry. But regardless, that servant fellow was extraordinary. He particularly didn’t like the look in his eyes. On the outside, he answered “Yes, sir” and acted submissive, but he wasn’t intimidated by Victor in the slightest.

His experience told him—tough, tenacious bastards. Those were the ones who always had eyes like that.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Tsk, that personality of yours.”

Smacking his lips a few times, Malderic tilted his chin as if he couldn’t help it.

“Send someone else instead. You have a lot to do here.”

“Yes, sir.”

Victor bowed and answered shortly. Several names flashed through his mind—names of suitable people he could put in that spot to fulfill Malderic’s order to send someone else.