MTLNOVEL Chapter 118: Our deal ends here.
Aiden pointed with an elegant hand and, in a firm voice, said:
"Take a seat, young heir to the Abraham family, Michel Abraham, and Kael Medici."
Kael stood tall, the mask of coins covering his face, hiding any trace of emotion. Beneath the metal, his cold gaze dissected every detail of the baron, assessing his bearing and his intentions.
With a barely perceptible gesture, he took his seat, every movement measured, controlled.
Elizabeth, at his side, watched him with sharp eyes, like a predator sizing up its prey. Kael didn't even give her a second thought. Prodigy or not, she was irrelevant to him.
Michel mimicked the movement, maintaining an impassive expression. Ever since he had been called by his title as the young heir, his caution was at its peak.
Aiden, meanwhile, rested his head on one hand and let a smile spread across his lips before speaking with studied calm.
"I didn't expect any survivors from the destruction of the Medici Clan," he said, fixing his gaze on Kael. His smile grew as if he expected to provoke a reaction.
Beneath the mask, Kael's lips curled slightly. Such a crude attempt at intimidation was almost amusing. He knew that with the fall of his clan, he had lost all political backing, becoming, in the eyes of everyone, a fallen noble. A label that, far from bothering him, proved useful: it would allow him to move around the territory with less attention while he searched for the inheritance of the wizard of the Tower of Babel.
"We were lucky," he replied, pushing his thoughts aside. "It seems fate was on our side."
Michel remained silent, preferring to observe the conversation unfold.
Aiden's expression hardened for a moment before he spoke again.
"What brings you to my territory?"
"We just want to spend a few days here, reorganize ourselves before continuing our journey."
"That sounds reasonable, after the destruction of your clan..." Aiden narrowed his eyes. "And where is your next destination?"
Kael smiled slightly.
"You're right. With the destruction of my clan, I must prepare myself sufficiently for what lies ahead."
He deliberately ignored the question. He already knew where he would go after claiming the inheritance.
"I see..." Aiden muttered. "Then why don't you stay at our mansion? That way you'd save on expenses."
He wants to keep us under surveillance. The assumption didn't surprise him. He would have been suspicious if he had let them move around freely without knowing their intentions. And for the same reason, he couldn't refuse: any rejection would raise suspicions, especially coming from someone with no resources or protection.
Kael's expression softened, as if the proposal had moved him. He lowered his head for a moment, and when he looked up again, his eyes were shining. Then a tear rolled down his cheek... and another... until he seemed unable to hold back any longer.
"Really? That would help us so much... Thank you... Thank you so much."
Michel was the most shocked. He had never seen him shed a tear, not even when his clan was destroyed. And now he was crying over a simple gesture of help? It was absurd!
He must be acting. Doubt gnawed at him, but he couldn't understand what Kael was looking for with this sudden display of vulnerability.
Aiden pretended to cough to snap everyone out of their daze, and said,
"It's the least I can do, knowing about the destruction of your clan. Follow the maids so they can show you where you'll be staying."
He then clapped his hands twice, and several maids appeared. He added:
"Show them to the guest room. They must be tired from their long journey."
The one who appeared to be the leader of the maids approached Michel and Kael and spoke in a very respectful tone:
"Please follow me. I will show you the way."
Kael, wiping away his tears, rose from his seat. Followed by Michel, he walked behind the maid toward the exit, leaving Aiden, the old man, and Elizabeth lost in their thoughts.
After Kael and Michel left, Elizabeth looked at her father for a moment and asked,
"Father, why did you offer them a place to stay? Wouldn't it be better to let them go?"
Aiden looked at his beloved daughter for a moment and shook his head gently.
"Daughter, the young man with silver hair is the heir to the Abraham family. By hosting him, I can establish contact with them and earn a favor, which would be beneficial for our family... and for my research."
"Father, I understand that. But why let that fallen noble stay? Wouldn't it be better if he just stayed in the city?"
Elizabeth felt no sympathy for Kael; in fact, it was the first time she had seen him, but she disliked his attitude.
At no point had Kael looked in her direction, as if she didn't exist. Even when he smiled, his gestures didn't seem to include her. This not only irritated her; she considered it an unforgivable offense.
"No. If we let him go, we would suffer a great loss," said Aiden, with a smile that slowly widened.
"Huh?" A look of confusion appeared on Elizabeth's face. We would suffer a great loss? She didn't understand.
Noticing her confusion, Aiden explained:
"If we let Kael Medici go, who has just lost his entire clan, it would be a huge waste. And it would be very stupid of us. Do you know why?"
He paused before continuing:
"His clan has just been destroyed, and he is the sole survivor of this tragedy. Do you think he has nothing to offer? Of course not. If we treat him well, he may open up to us, and we could obtain part of his fortune or, better yet, some of his clan's valuable items. Now you understand why I offered him to stay."
Elizabeth nodded; she understood now, but that didn't mean she liked it. However, for the sake of the family, she would endure it.
"I'm going to study," she said as she got up. She didn't want to stay in that room another minute; she wanted to practice her poison magic.
After Elizabeth left, only Aiden and the elderly Max, the Blander family's butler, remained in the room.
"What do we do now, sir?" Max asked, looking at his master curiously.
Aiden looked at him. This man had been by his side since his parents were killed by the barbarians of the Lion Kingdom. A slight smile appeared on his face.
"As I told my daughter, I just want to win that young man's favor to obtain some resources from his clan."
"But, sir, you know it won't be easy to gain his trust. I feel that young man is quite unpredictable and dangerous... like those bastards from the Demon Way."
Max couldn't help but feel a deep distrust toward Kael. It was as if he were caught in a spider's web, and he was nothing more than an insect ready to be devoured. He didn't like that feeling at all!
"I also sense the scent of the Demon Way," admitted Aiden. "But he is still young and easily manipulated, so you have nothing to worry about. If he were a demonic human, you would have to eliminate him immediately. Keep an eye on him."
"Yes, my lord."
Max bowed, smiling slightly, before leaving the room.
Aiden remained in the room, his thoughts a complete mystery, gazing out at the bustling city in the distance.
"I wish I had some sake."
...
In a room with light wooden walls and shoji screens filtering the light from outside. The tatami mats, cool underfoot, gave off a soft scent of straw. In the center, a low kotatsu table with a brazier hidden under the blanket.
In one corner, a tokonoma displayed a delicate kakejiku with ink strokes and a maple branch in a slender vase. The sliding doors, ajar, offered a glimpse of the interior garden, where moss and stones seemed to spread out in calculated harmony.
Kael sat watching the colorful koi fish with a completely indifferent expression. The tears he had shed minutes ago had disappeared without a trace.
Michel, dressed in a white yukata with blue trim, approached and asked,
"What do we do now?"
"Nothing at the moment," Kael replied without taking his eyes off the fish. It wasn't time to make a move yet.
To do so now would be a rash mistake. And haste... haste is man's worst enemy.
Before Michel could say anything, Kael continued:
"So, for now, you need to rest. You've been sleeping poorly for almost ten days."
Michel nodded. He hadn't slept well in many days, and all he wanted to do at that moment was relax. However, he wasn't entirely at ease.
They were in unfamiliar territory; letting their guard down would be the height of stupidity. Besides, he was still on alert against Kael. He hadn't forgotten the moment, just a few minutes ago, when that man had burst into tears for no apparent reason.
I must be careful with him... he said to himself, determined not to make any mistakes in the future.
At that moment, Kael remembered something and, in a calm voice, declared:
"Our deal ends here."
Michel's eyes widened. He had completely forgotten the agreement they had made in the jungle. Now there was no bond between them; he could return to his family. Although he didn't like the way Kael treated him, he couldn't deny that he had enjoyed the trip quite a bit... something he would never admit out loud.
Kael stood up, looked him straight in the eye, and repeated:
"We no longer have any ties. Do as you wish."
At that moment, the door opened and a maid entered with a tray of food. She placed it in front of Kael, who calmly set it on the table and began to eat slowly with elegant bamboo chopsticks.
Michel remained standing, a thousand thoughts racing through his mind, until he finally sat down at the table. He ate in silence.