Chapter 87

In the past week, there were two new developments worth mentioning.

First, that bastard, whether he’s Lloyd or Steroid, was eventually dragged away in chains and confessed to receiving money from suspicious individuals. I suspected he was hiding more, but no matter how much I tortured him, he wouldn’t talk. Even though he was related to the Empress, the situation had spiraled out of control, and there was no mercy. The Crown Prince had also issued a stern warning to investigate this matter thoroughly, so even the nobles close to him couldn’t intervene.

When he gets out, he’ll probably have quite a few body parts that won’t function properly. Why? Because who was in charge of the investigation? That’s right, me. I hate outsourcing, so I prepared the torture myself. Hanging him upside down and beating him was considered a break. Other methods included pouring saltwater into his nose, sticking needles in like a pirate game, electrocuting him with magic, freezing him, peeling the skin off his feet and pouring oil… Anyway, I made sure the screams didn’t stop.

But I didn’t expect him to be so weak despite not being used to pain. He kept insisting he only took money, but eventually, he couldn’t withstand the pain and passed out. I had to wake him up, so I used a very traditional method.

“Cold water, cool his body.”

I poured cold water on him using magic. Jesus gave his disciples wine like his blood, and his descendants, the Inquisitors, gave cold water to heretics. As the last Inquisitor, isn’t it natural for me to pour cold water too?

“Gasp!”

Surprised by my kindness of offering cold water even to trash, he woke up immediately.

I lit a cigarette. I don’t usually smoke, but a torturer biting a cigarette is a given.

“Hey, let’s not do this. Let’s just confess and relax, okay? I’m tired too… I want to finish this and go home, you damn bastard… So just confess, please…”

I followed Jesus’ teaching that even human trash is human, so I earnestly pleaded with the trash. I could see the Three Great Saints smiling at me.

“I really don’t know…”

“Ah, so you’re into that.”

A masochist, someone who derives sexual pleasure from pain. If that’s your thing, then Werner, the true artist of pain, will personally assist you. A true artist of pain doesn’t give away their art for free.

“So, what’s next? Pour boiling oil into your ears? Break your legs and roll you down a slope? Or… oh, let’s do peanut cracking.”

“Peanut cracking…?”

“You don’t know peanuts? The thing hanging between your legs, idiot.”

His face turned pale. He must really love peanuts. I would’ve stopped if he had a peanut allergy.

“I remember now! I remember everything!”

How much does he love peanuts that even forgotten memories resurface? Peanuts, native to South America, are a type of legume in the Rosales order. I paid my respects to Mr. Peanut.

“Good, good. What do you remember?”

“The person who gave me money… he was tall, carried a sword, and had an unusual aura.”

That bastard Lancelot? In my world, he was known as the ‘Adulterous Knight,’ ‘The Bastard Who Shows Loyalty by Taking the King’s Woman,’ or ‘Lower Body Berserker.’

“He asked for the key and rental rights to the sewer.”

“You sold that? You traitorous bastard.”

Following Mr. Peanut’s will, I kicked his stomach.

“Cough… When I asked why, he said knowing too much would get me hurt.”

“That’s the same as what you just said, you bastard. Knowing is power, you idiot! You’re getting hurt today because you don’t know enough.”

I kicked his stomach again. And this time, I kicked his shin. Kicking his shin didn’t mean much. I was just pissed.

“Gasp!”

“Are you going to tell me what that bastard said or not? Do you want me to really spill blood today? Should I return to my days as the Prince of Blood?”

“He said… ‘We’ll select the goods.’ Yes, that’s what he said! And then he left! Really!”

“Why are you telling me this now, you bastard!”

I beat him for a while. Ricardo, the Crown Prince, Camellia, and everyone else watching the torture eventually stopped me, but the fists of justice didn’t stop until then.

—

The second development was that I finally got my own house and bank account.

To be precise, it was Werner’s old account that I reclaimed… but I was still happy. However, the happiest moment was when I checked the amount inside. In the original story, it was said that he saved up pocket money from his brothers and sisters and his salary, but… the amount was beyond imagination. It was enough to start several top-tier businesses in this world. It was a fortune that made me think, “Screw the world I originally came from.”

And the house Ricardo prepared for me wasn’t huge. Well, it was quite big, but compared to Ricardo’s house, it was small. Still, it had a pond in the garden, and the elegant white exterior was very appealing. Ricardo said he’d arrange for servants and guards.

Oh, and when choosing rooms, there was some noise. Glacia and Airi fought over who would sleep in the room next to mine. Honestly, moving day was already tough without being able to eat jajangmyeon, and now they were fighting, so I just moved next to Camellia’s room. I gave the room I was supposed to take to Glacia. Glacia and Airi seemed impressed by my Solomon-like wise decision.

They just glared at each other without saying a word. Camellia was the only one who laughed at this Solomon-level decision.

“Oh, sister, your expression has been bad lately, but you seem to be feeling better now?”

“Ah… I’m fine now. I’m sorting out my thoughts bit by bit.”

“Sorting out your thoughts?”

“Well… the man we met in the sewer was actually…”

At that moment, a knife flew towards us, and Camellia deflected it with her hand.

“What’s all this commotion?”

Camellia’s hostility wasn’t directed at me but at the two daughters of her friends. Airi and Glacia had started fighting over something trivial, and it escalated to knife-throwing. These kids really need regulation, or else someone’s going to get seriously hurt, and I’ll be the one taking the blame. Whether it’s gambling or life, you have to avoid taking the blame.

But hastily implementing regulations would backfire like that idiot shutdown system. I didn’t want to end up like that moron who restricted teenagers to one hour of gaming per week. So, even though it’s tough now, I need to think of an alternative.

But the half-elf’s thoughts were different from mine, and she quickly proposed a regulation.

“If you fight again, I’ll tell your parents and have them take you back. Airi will follow Zick, and Glacia will be stuck in the northern territory.”

The elder’s ultimate move, the “Parental Tattling Technique,” was in full effect. As expected of an older elf, her skill in handling children was top-notch. The two of them bowed their heads and agreed.

I felt bad for Airi, whose date was interrupted last week, but I’ll make it up to her next time.

“Airi… your birthday is coming up. Is there anything you want? I’ll get it for you.”

Within the limits of my budget, of course.

“Then, on my birthday, have a proper date with me. No matter what happens, don’t leave my side.”

“Sure, even if a meteor falls or a tsunami hits, I’ll stay with you.”

Only then did Airi’s gloomy expression brighten.

And I whispered into Glacia’s ear, who looked even gloomier.

“The day after, I’ll spend time with you, Lady Glacia.”

I’m Werner, a man of fairness.

As the two of them left the corridor with smiles and went to their rooms, Camellia resumed the unfinished conversation with a serious face.

“About the man we met in the sewer last time… I know who he is.”

Her tone was uncharacteristic.

“So, who is it?”

Knowing who he was would be a big help for future investigations.

“That man… his name is… Raven.”

She continued with a trembling voice.

“Raven Peony… he is my father…”