Count’s Youngest Son is a Warlock Chapter 163 - Frugally (3)

 

Even with a light knock, the door opened on its own.

 

―Oooooh!

 

Ratta’s eyes sparkled. She was happy already.

 

As promised, after stepping lightly in front of the door and jumping up and down with joy, Ratta entered Lucion’s shadow.

 

[…]

 

Russell’s eyes rolled from side to side.

 

He thought something would be different on the outside. Because none other than Lucion chose this place.

 

[Lord Lucion.]

 

Bethel pondered and then opened her mouth.

 

“Yes.”

 

[Would you… reconsider your thoughts?]

 

“You mean saving the merchant?”

 

[Yeah. I mean, is the person the Lord wants to save really the right one? It seems like the Lord might be mistaken.]

 

“No. This is the right place.”

 

Lucion spoke firmly, but Russell’s expression hardened.

 

Bethel had never opposed what Lucion did, except when it seemed like Lucion was in danger or when it could harm him.

 

[What’s so strange about this that you’re like this?] 

 

Russell asked, licking the corner of his mouth.

 

[…Um.]

 

Bethel trailed off but said nothing, thinking of Lucion.

 

‘What’s wrong with her?’

 

At the same time, Lucion also felt curious.

 

To be honest, J.L. Kell, as portrayed in the novel, had already appeared as a successful figure.

 

Not only the Empire, but other kingdoms as well.

 

“Who is it…?”

 

A slightly weak man peeked out through the crack in the door.

 

Could that man be J.L. Kell?

 

“Are you, by any chance, J.L. Kell?”

 

“So, are you a guest? The chief is inside. Chief! A guest!”

 

Without even mentioning any formalities, the man, whether he was a member or not, eagerly went inside and shouted.

 

“Tell them to leave.”

 

A deep voice could be vaguely heard from inside.

 

For a moment, Lucion frowned.

 

It seemed like it had been a while since a guest had come, and without even showing himself, he told them to leave.

 

‘Something… doesn’t feel right.’

 

“I-I’m sorry,” the member apologized on behalf of the man inside.

 

“He’s… a bit sensitive due to some unpleasant events that happened yesterday.”

 

“Why should I have to consider that?” Lucion’s words were not polite.

 

At the very least, if someone came, shouldn’t they show some sign of welcome?

 

“I’m sorry,” the member said, bowing his head once again.

 

[Something seems off. Don’t you think so, Lucion?]

 

Russell tilted his head slightly to the right.

 

As soon as they entered the shop, the strong smell of cigarettes tickled Lucion’s nose.

 

Even though he was wearing a mask, if the smell was this strong, how bad would it be without a mask?

 

Unable to bear it, Hume opened the window.

 

“Is this an ashtray?”

 

Even Hume, who had never said anything he disliked, raised his voice slightly.

 

“I… apologize.” The member looked intimidated and apologized again.

 

How many times had he apologized already?

 

Lucion was slowly getting irritated.

 

‘It was two years ago. J.L. has yet to become successful.’

 

Ha.

 

Lucion tried to calm himself down.

 

“This way.”

 

The member was in a timid state and opened the door without even making eye contact with Hume.

 

The acrid smoke billowed out and froze Hume in his tracks.

 

To Lucion, who had poor bronchial tubes, the smoke was poison.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

Hume bowed to Lucion, then dropped the ash from his cigarette and glared at the surprised man.

 

“…?”

 

At the same time, Lucion was also surprised.

 

A blue thread intertwined J.L. and himself.

 

‘Asha is a red thread. J.L. is the blue thread.’

 

Lucion could only guess that the red thread was tangled because Asha was a Ravien, but he still didn’t know why the red thread was tangled, and yet J.L. was entangled with a blue thread.

 

‘Is it because of Kran?’

 

Lucion speculated as he looked at J.L. 

 

With his unkempt beard, messy hair, and eyes so sunken that they seemed lifeless, Lucion immediately knew the state J.L. was in.

 

‘This…’

 

***

 

《“Can you tell me why you invested in our organization?”

 

As the words leaked through the crack in the door, Heint realized that he had come too quickly.

 

“It’s nothing special. It’s because I trust my own eyes. It’s also because I trusted my two legs, which held strong despite being rolled around with all my might.”

 

As Heint was about to turn away, Kran spoke.

 

“Let’s talk about this later. A very important guest has arrived.”

 

“I understand. I have detained you for too long. I will see you later.”

 

J.L. got up from his seat, bowed his head slightly towards Heint, who entered the room, and went out.

 

His gaze seemed to be genuinely bright.

 

“Who is he?”

 

Heint asked.

 

“He is J.L. Kell, currently known as the Golden Hand.”

 

Heint was puzzled by Kran’s casual tone.

 

Kran had reached out to the person known as the Golden Hand.

 

What on earth was Kran’s true identity?》

 

‘What? He trusted his two legs, which held strong despite being rolled around with all his might? Damn it…’

 

Why is that person still standing after being rolled around?

 

*** 

 

A loser.

 

It seemed like Lucion was about to sigh at the sight, as if something were written on his forehead.

 

“Are you a wizard…?”

 

What a dull voice.

 

“Who do you think I am?”

 

Lucion’s voice became fierce.

 

“No, it doesn’t matter who you are. Please leave.”

 

“You won’t even listen to my story?”

 

“Because it’s obvious, I don’t need to hear it. You’re here to tell me some bullshit about this commodity going up tenfold later, or to blackmail me into giving up my client, or to give away the merchant, or something like that.”

 

A very tired voice came out of J.L.’s mouth.

 

His eyes were full of suspicion and distrust.

 

His gaze was darker than Miella’s, who had lost everything due to being deceived.

 

“This store is such a mess, and you wearing such expensive clothes wouldn’t have come to give me a job.”

 

He was quite aggressive.

 

‘Amidst all this, you even recognize that this clothing is expensive. Should I be thankful for that or not?

 

Lucion chuckled.

 

[Is that how he treats the customers? I want to storm out of here, but Lucion, are you holding back from that?]

 

Russell looked at Lucion with curious eyes.

 

To be honest, it was quite surprising that Lucion hadn’t moved an inch. Surely, he would dislike such an attitude.

 

[Did you understand what I meant a moment ago?]

 

Bethel was silent and asked Russell.

 

[Of course, I understand. It’s messed up from the basics.]

 

“Yeah, I came to give work to this shabby place. More precisely, I came to acquire it,” Lucion said as he sat down nonchalantly.

 

What’s so good about this guy speaking so arrogantly that he deserves to be treated well?

 

J.L. glared at Lucion.

 

“What’s the use of glaring at me? It seems like your worn-out eyes can’t even distinguish whether I’m a guest or not.”

 

Lucion began to sneer.

 

“You turned me down when you don’t seem to have a lot of money anyway. So what difference does it make if you have the merchant in your hand with such discerning eyes? You might as well sell it to me early, and I’ll pay you well so you don’t feel bad.”

 

Russell’s mouth opened slightly.

 

He’d known Lucion wouldn’t hold back, but he hadn’t expected him to be so blunt.

 

“Or do you think that if you stay in this room that smells like cigarettes and smokes all day long, you’ll make money? I don’t even know why your subordinates are so paranoid, constantly watching your every move, my every move, as if we’ve committed some terrible crime.”

 

“Are you here to mock me?”

 

“No, I’m here to take over.”

 

“If you came here with the intention of being sarcastic, you succeeded. You’re so annoying.”

 

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to annoy you. I just did it when I felt like it. I wanted that unpleasant feeling to stick around for a few days. Don’t you feel that way right now?”

 

“If you’re done, please leave.”

 

“And what if I don’t want to? Are you going to call someone? Do you even have the money to pay someone? Or are you going to use your lackeys…”

 

Thud.

 

Lucion’s darkness stirred, and Hume grabbed J.L.’s arm.

 

―Hop!

 

Ratta, who had been lurking in the shadows, was startled.

 

“Your grip is quite firm.”

 

J.L. seemed a little taken aback by Hume’s voice.

 

Stop this?

 

Looking at J.L. with that expression, Lucion let out an exclamation of admiration without even realizing it.

 

“Oh!”

 

[He knows how to use a sword.]

 

Bethel said, glaring at J.L.

 

Lucion thought he was just a merchant, but he didn’t expect J.L. to quickly pull out a dagger and point it at him.

 

“I like this behavior, a merchant who knows how to fight.”

 

“What is this trickery now?”

 

J.L. tried to pull his hand away, but it didn’t move.

 

“Trickery? It may seem like a farce, but I prefer capable individuals over good-natured but incompetent ones. At least you know how to defend yourself. Quite intriguing.”

 

Lucion wrapped his arms around and placed them on his stomach.

 

This was genuine.

 

Merchants always had their own guards or mercenaries.

 

Not all of them, of course, but there was no reason for a man who could fight well to be a merchant.

 

Being a merchant was quite complicated and dangerous.

 

“As expected, I came to the right place. Give it to me.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Well, since you’re the owner, you have a ledger, right?”

 

“Why should I give it to you?”

 

J.L. said in bewilderment.

 

Even now, he couldn’t escape the grip of the woman who came with the masked man.

 

“Did you forget the life you just owed me? Do you really want to die? No, right? You should know that I’m just playing along because I know you’re only trying to scare me away. You seem to have enough sense to understand that.”

 

A grinning sound was heard.

 

At that moment, J.L. felt a shiver running down his spine.

 

“Are you crazy?”

 

“Should I take it myself?”

 

Lucion was relaxed, J.L. was not.

 

He hadn’t done anything to deserve his head being blown off.

 

Like the masked man had said, he was honestly just trying to make a show of attacking.

 

It was a ploy to scare them off.

 

“Let him go.”

 

When Lucion spoke while looking at Hume, she immediately let go of her hand.

 

“Why on earth are you interested in this little store?”

 

J.L. rubbed his wrist, which throbbed like it was broken.

 

His anger didn’t erase the sullen expression on his face.

 

“Even a small merchant has a use, doesn’t it? It’s inconspicuous, and no one would pay attention to it.”

 

“If it’s drugs, I’ll never do it! Just kill me instead!”

 

J.L. shouted.

 

‘Hmm, not bad. Better than I thought.’

 

Lucion was relieved by J.L.’s determination not to engage in illegal activities.

 

He thought it was bad, but it wasn’t that bad.

 

“Did someone say I was selling drugs?”

 

“Then what is it?”

 

“You just got interested, right? I knew it.”

 

Lucion spread his hands.

 

“You have caught the golden rope, which is me. So, hand it over.”

 

J.L. took a deep breath and looked at Lucion.

 

He was dumbfounded.

 

What was this man?

 

What gave him so much confidence?

 

J.L. felt a wave of depression wash over him.

 

The floor that creaks when he steps on it, the house that leaks when it rains, and the members who have endured this far thanks to past ties.

 

Because everything was miserable.

 

J.L. barely swallowed the misery that rose to his throat before he spoke.

 

“What are you here for?”

 

“I’m here to take over the merchant. How many times do I have to tell you?”

 

“Are you amused?”

 

“I am flattered that I have made such a lasting impression on you that you would say such a thing.”

 

“What the hell do I look like in your eyes? Yes. If you’re here to provoke me, you’ve succeeded, because I’m so miserable right now, I want to stick my head in a rat hole.”

 

“Is being crooked your nature?”

 

Lucion asked casually, stroking his finger.

 

“I have nothing more to say. Please leave.”

 

Honestly, Lucion also wanted to leave.

 

It was annoying to be so groggy that anyone who saw him would think he was the real deal.

 

But knowing that J.L. could be the key to his success, he couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.

 

“J.L. Kell.”

 

Lucion changed directions slightly.

 

Ting.

 

The blue thread was also affected.

 

‘Damn it.’

 

Mocking him was worse than saying his name.

 

Lucion was very disappointed, but J.L.’s eyes sparkled for the first time.