Chapter 66

Chapter 66: Kill, Kill, Kill!!!

Now, let’s rewind to ten minutes ago.

As Sherlock held a champagne glass and flashed a smile, he watched the elegantly dressed nobles in the banquet hall.

Familiar guests occasionally passed by, greeting him with friendly hellos.

After all, he’d spent nearly twenty years in Orlen City, and everyone regarded him as the representative of the Bartleon family.

True, that family was on the decline now, but a skinny dead camel is still bigger than a horse; they were still better off than many present.

Plus, they’d heard that this clever butler was seemingly in cahoots with the Bartleon family’s nemesis, the Mosgra Family.

While they frowned upon such treachery, Sherlock nonetheless controlled a significant amount of private wealth.

And there were often mutual benefits in play.

Over time, people had almost forgotten his true identity as a butler.

Not everyone could be as wealthy as he was, after all.

Even if all that money came from draining the lifeblood of his employers.

Feeling the goodwill of the passing guests warmed Sherlock’s heart.

For years, he had diligently served the Bartleon family, hoping to one day stand tall like this.

During the marquis’s life, Sherlock never could escape the label of servant.

Now that the marquis was in a coma, he had finally ascended into the upper echelons of this town.

It felt great to finally play in the same league as those nobles.

But it still wasn’t enough.

Because he wasn’t a real noble.

He was merely trying to hold his own thanks to the Bartleon name.

Thankfully, an opportunity had arisen that could potentially free him from his butler duties and truly make him a minor noble.

“Master Dalian, don’t worry, I will find that brat’s hiding spot quickly and bring him to you for personal handling.”

Looking at the haughty young man beside him, Sherlock spoke humbly.

He was Dalian Mosgra, who had traveled all the way from the Imperial Capital, sent by the Snowhawk Family to attend the banquet.

Of course, he also had another significant title: he was the younger brother of the Valkyrie Irina Mosgra.

Just being her brother was enough to make most nobles present look up to him.

This was why Sherlock was being so subservient.

However, Dalian seemed unfazed by his humility.

The young man huffed disdainfully, “You should feel lucky to be associated with the Mosgra name, a worthless rat like you. Don’t think your three peanuts from the Bartleon family could make us look at you with favor; you have a long way to go.”

Hearing this, Sherlock became even more meek: “Your criticism is well-founded, my lord.”

Under the eaves, one must bow down.

Seeing this, while Dalian was annoyed about the guy’s disappearance, he let it go for now.

His gaze drifted over to Duke Tilius, who had begun to raise funds in the distance, a glimmer of excitement lighting his eyes.

Here was a princely elector! Dalian had been sent to Orlen City primarily to seize the Bartleon family’s assets, but the real reason was to make connections with the elector lord currently facing troubles.

The Mosgra Family had deep ties to the Church of Heavenly Justice.

And both forces, currently at the height of their power in the Imperial Capital, had all chosen to back the second prince.

To them, the most likely candidate to win the royal election was that prince who shone as brightly as the sun.

Others, including Princess Shirina, could barely keep up.

That’s why the Mosgra Family decided to invest heavily in winning over Duke Tilius.

If they formed a strong alliance, the second prince’s future path would be clear sailing.

Meanwhile, it didn’t seem that anyone could stand in their way of extending an olive branch to Duke Tilius.

Although Dalian didn’t understand why the third princess Ivyst appeared here.

But he didn’t think for even a moment that this “scoundrel” had any chance of earning Duke Tilius’s support.

Because the terms proposed by the Mosgra Family were incredibly generous.

So generous that even a powerful duke would be tempted.

As he pondered this, a sudden commotion erupted in the distance.

Under the watchful eyes of Dalian and Sherlock, a boy wearing a raven mask stepped to the front to rescue the third princess.

Not only that, but he seemed to have impressed Duke Tilius.

Who is this guy?

Both men questioned silently.

“My name is Lynn, Duke sir.”

The next moment, his casual words echoed in their ears.

Sherlock was taken aback.

He never expected Lynn, who had vanished from the manor for over half a month, to show up so audaciously at today’s banquet! Feeling Dalian’s murderous gaze beside him, Sherlock found himself drenched in cold sweat.

At this moment, all he wanted was to rush over and choke the kid, demanding to know what he was planning.

“Leave it to me, Master Dalian.” Sherlock wiped his sweat, “I’ll bring him back to the manor, just let me handle it.”

“Useless!”

Dalian scoffed.

Once the crowd calmed down a bit, Sherlock hastened his steps toward Lynn.

At the same time, his heart filled with disgust and anger.

It was all because of this guy that he couldn’t make a good impression in front of Master Dalian.

All the dreams he had nurtured of nobility could be shattered because of him! Just thinking about it made Sherlock lose all rationality.

He had never considered that Lynn was actually his master.

Because from the moment that brat was exiled to Orlen City, seeing him look like a stray dog with a broken spine, Sherlock had understood that his opportunity had arrived.

A soft target like this could be squeezed however he liked.

With that thought, Sherlock impatiently patted the boy’s shoulder. “Why are you here? Get back with me now!”

He ordered with an air of superiority.

He thought Lynn would be just as obedient as before, but unexpected events unfolded.

Under Sherlock’s gaze, the boy looked at him, paused for a few seconds, confusion filling his eyes.

Then, without warning, he smoothly drew out a revolver.

He said nothing and asked nothing.

He simply aimed for Sherlock’s throat.

“Bang!”

Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.

“Huh—Huh—”

Sherlock’s shock was impossible to hide as he instinctively clutched his throat and stumbled back, falling to the ground and convulsing.

Blood spread across the marble floor like paint.

Feeling his life force gradually ebbing away, Sherlock couldn’t comprehend.

Where did the gloomy boy who resembled a stray dog go?

And, was his long-awaited fortune and splendor now slipping away? In the last second before consciousness faded, Sherlock vaguely saw indifference in Lynn’s eyes.

As if he had merely kicked a stray dog to death.

So that’s how it is.

In the eyes of these nobles, I was nothing but a servant from the very beginning.

“You—you just killed him like that?!”

Upon hearing the gunshot, Greya trembled and then hurriedly questioned with excitement.

Because, in his impression, that kid had always been calm and didn’t seem like someone who would act wildly on impulse.

“What? Am I supposed to let him swagger around in front of me, wait for his emotions to boil over, then rise dramatically to give a speech, before finally kicking him to death?”

Lynn shrugged.

That would be way too much hassle.

Moreover, even if he were to entertain such an approach, it would depend on the person.

If it were his fiancée standing in front of him, Lynn might’ve pulled off such a stunt, shouting “Don’t look down on the youth’s poverty” for effect, then cling to the prince’s leg.

The problem was, this guy was just a butler, no more than a tiny pawn.

Lynn even felt a bit pained over wasting a bullet.

But the surrounding crowd didn’t seem to think so.

The moment they heard the gunshot, many people instinctively dropped to the ground, with ladies screaming in panic.

It wasn’t until the guards arrived that the chaos began to settle.

“Duke, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Duke Tilius glared at Lynn with a darkened face, “But you better give me an explanation.”

“Duke sir, I think I should explain.”

Suddenly, a discordant voice rang out.

A haughty young man stepped forward from the crowd.

“Let me introduce myself; my name is Dalian, from the Mosgra Family in the Imperial Capital.” Dalian, although conceited, conducted himself with utmost decorum, “Moreover, this person here is full-named Lynn Bartleon.”

“You should have heard of the past between our families.”

“Whether you call it a misunderstanding or the just deserts of a traitor, in any case, this is a case ruled by Judge Nidero.”

“Yet here he is, at such a solemn and respectable banquet, thinking only of settling scores, even killing my butler!”

“This is undoubtedly a blatant provocation against you, Duke!”

“I suggest we immediately arrest this person for murder and imprison him for due process.”

Dalian spoke clearly, systematically framing the situation to place Lynn in a dire position.

Upon hearing this, Duke Tilius furrowed his brows deeply.

He turned to look at the calm-faced youth who had just caught his favor minutes ago, only to find him completely unshaken.

Duke Tilius fell deep into thought.

Seizing this moment, Dalian suddenly turned to face Lynn.

Looking at the comically masked face, he couldn’t help but snicker.

“Long time no see, Lynn.”

“Once the rock star of the academy, now reduced to this; if those classmates led by Cela were to see you, they’d be speechless!”

“.

Hearing Dalian’s taunting words, Lynn remained silent.

Seeing this, Dalian’s smirk widened, “Moreover, Sister Irina asked me to pass a message to you.”

“Your divine endowment seems very useful.”

“But… if you want to stay alive, never come back to the Imperial Capital.”

With that, Dalian straightened, looking down at the boy in contempt.

But the next second, his pupils dilated!

The revolver in Lynn’s hand was suddenly pointed at his heart.

Then.

“Bang!”

Double trouble.