The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - LLD Chapter 29: Variable (2) (Part 1)

“What… did you just say?”

Kai couldn’t believe what he’d heard from Bernard.

“Are you saying you gave the former Count’s personal property to that bastard—no, to Lord Adrian?”

Kai’s tone was accusatory as he repeated Bernard’s words—that the former Count’s personal assets had been handed over to Adrian.

But Bernard couldn’t say anything definitive.

“…I’m sorry.”

All he could do was repeatedly apologize.

Until Serapia stepped in to stop him, Bernard kept murmuring apologies.

“It’s not your fault, Chief Steward.”

“…….”

“My brother’s demands were… justified. You only followed the proper procedures.”

“…….”

“More than anyone, the fault lies with me.”

Even if I never imagined it would turn out like this.

Serapia swallowed down her final words.

Just like she said, Bernard wasn’t really at fault.

As the Chief Steward of House Whitewolf, he had acted according to protocol.

Kai knew that too.

Which is why he didn’t blame Bernard or scold him.

But that didn’t change how grim the road ahead looked.

The funds Adrian had taken weren’t just some private inheritance from the former Count.

The funeral expenses alone had cost a fortune, and that had to be covered using the county’s treasury.

Because Adrian had ties to the former Count’s personal property, it couldn’t be touched carelessly. It had to remain untouched until the will was officially processed.

Serapia had planned to retrieve it once she was formally appointed as Lord.

But in the meantime, Adrian had swooped in and stolen it all.

“And now, when we barely have enough food or firewood to last the coming winter…!”

“…I’m sorry. I should’ve refused no matter what…”

“No. You’ve done nothing wrong, Chief Steward. This is entirely my responsibility, so please don’t say that.”

Serapia comforted Bernard, then spoke again.

“For now… let’s track the funds. We have to recover as much as we can. Chief Steward?”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Do you know what my brother intends to do with the money?”

“Well…”

Bernard trailed off briefly. His expression seemed to question the answer even as he gave it.

“He said… he was establishing a merchant Group.”

Both Kai and Serapia tilted their heads in sync.

“…What?”

“A merchant Group?”

So… he wasn’t planning to gamble it all away?

A merchant Group referred to a group of two or more merchants united to pursue profit.

Naturally, its purpose was to sell services or goods with economic value.

That’s why Serapia and Kai found it so puzzling.

“A merchant Group… seriously?”

“What do you mean by that?”

A merchant Group? Out of nowhere?

Even assuming that part was true…

“What exactly does he intend to sell?”

The County of Whitewolf was situated on the edge of snowy plains and mountains.

A land so frigid that even conifers struggled to grow. Only a few moss-like plants barely managed to survive—and even those were rare.

There were no mines, no underground resources. In other words, the county had no unique local products.

They could barely survive by importing all their food from neighboring territories.

“He mentioned selling monster byproducts…”

Byproducts meaning monster hides, bones, and so on.

Monsters in the snowy plains and mountains had evolved to survive the harsh cold, and their bodies could indeed be considered valuable resources.

That much… was understandable.

In fact, selling monster byproducts was currently the County’s only reliable source of income.

“Still… the supply can’t be that big, right?”

But the supply wasn’t stable.

To be exact, they couldn’t guarantee a steady stream of products.

Once sold, that was it.

It wasn’t enough to justify founding an entire merchant Group.

“Most likely…”

Bernard slowly closed his eyes.

Though he didn’t finish the sentence, Serapia knew what he was implying.

It was all a front—a made-up reason.

Adrian only brought up a merchant Group as an excuse to squeeze out money.

The real reason for taking the funds… lay elsewhere.

And Serapia had a pretty good idea what that was.

In the end—

‘I thought he had changed…’

Adrian had reverted.

Once again, he was the disgrace of the house—living in debauchery, indulging in gambling and pleasures.

Serapia’s expression darkened drastically.

That’s when—

Knock knock.

A soft knock on the door.

Serapia quickly adjusted her face and called out.

“Come in.”

With her permission, a maid from the lord’s castle cautiously entered.

“What is it?”

“Pardon me, my lady, but Lord Adrian wishes to see you…”

“My brother wants to see me?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“He could’ve just come himself…”

She could understand knocking.

But asking through a maid felt a little… cold.

And then the maid gave the reason.

“He’s waiting for you in the dining hall.”

“Excuse me? The dining hall?”

“Yes, my lady. Shall I tell him you’re busy?”

Serapia gently waved her hand.

“No, it’s fine. I’ll go to the dining hall.”

She immediately stood and made her way there.

A delicious smell wafted from the end of the hallway.

When she opened the dining hall door, a plate of steak was elegantly arranged on the table.

“He made this himself?”

It was a steak cooked by none other than Adrian.

The marbling was exquisite. Crimson meat laced with white fat, seared to form a golden, crispy crust.

‘Was my brother always this good at cooking?’

It looked too perfect to be real.

A steak that could make anyone drool just by looking at it—it could pass as a first-class dish from a top chef.

‘But… where did he even get such rare ingredients?’

Steak-quality meat was incredibly scarce—especially here in the county.

He must’ve called her here because of this.

“Try it.”

“…Huh?!”

Serapia’s eyes widened.

She glanced around, looking for someone else.

But there was no one.

Just in case, she pointed to her chest with her index finger.

“M-Me?!”

“Don’t want to?”

Translatin_Otaku

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