Two splendid carriages departing from Goldport were crossing the main gate of the Travel Count’s estate.
Both were luxurious, but the one trailing behind was slightly less so. This was the carriage carrying Yossel.
‘That bastard.’
At Hevant’s command to escort Victor Stings, Yossel had to swallow his pride and visit the Blue Trading Company.
“I’ve prepared a carriage for you.”
“Oh dear. I could ride in my own carriage, but—”
“No, we’ve arranged it for you—”
“Since you’ve gone through the trouble, I won’t refuse.”
Without hesitation, Victor promptly boarded his own carriage.
“That bastard took my Sandy…”
Hold it in. The person inside that carriage isn’t just Victor Stings—he’s one billion Konas.
Thinking of it that way made Yossel feel a little better.
As soon as the carriage stopped in front of the Diamond House, Yossel bolted out like a cricket.
A servant who had approached to open the door awkwardly withdrew his hand.
“Where is the company owner?”
“He’s still inside.”
Since he had entered first, he should have stepped out before Yossel. However, the servant pointed to Yossel’s own carriage.
The thought of the company owner comfortably sitting on his cherished seats irritated him.
Yossel pushed aside the attendant standing by the carriage door and knocked directly.
“We’ve arrived, Head of the Trading Company.”
“I apologize, but you’ll have to open the door from the outside. The handle is a bit unusual—”
Clank. Clank.
“W-what are you doing?!”
The door handle rattled violently as if it might break off, making Yossel’s heart drop. He quickly grabbed it and pulled the door open.
Victor appeared, leisurely crossing his legs while gazing down at him—almost as if Yossel were his attendant.
“I never expected the young master himself to open the door for me.”
Hah!
‘One billion Konas!’
Before Victor could even fully step out of the carriage, Yossel stormed into the Diamond House.
His steps echoed briskly across the luxurious marble floors.
Despite his hurried pace, Victor Stings was closing the distance between them, which only fueled his irritation.
It was the difference in their leg length.
Bang!
“……….”
Yossel irritably pushed open the doors to the Diamond House’s reception room.
His eyes met Hevant’s, who was seated on the sofa.
“…It must have been the wind.”
“Did you bring him?”
“Of course.”
Beyond the open door, Victor’s footsteps echoed.
“Hurry up.”
Yossel moved toward Hevant, impatiently reaching for what he was owed.
Hevant pulled out a signed check, and Yossel snatched it, bringing it to his nose and taking a deep breath.
Yes, this was it. This was why he endured it.
“I’ll keep quiet about the advance payment, so don’t worry too much.”
Arrogant fool.
Hevant shook his head as he watched Yossel’s back disappear through the doorway.
“It’s been a while.”
The company owner entered the reception room, passing Yossel, and met Hevant’s gaze as he greeted him.
His eyes were sharp, fully focused.
‘He took the medicine.’
Hevant leisurely gestured for him to take a seat.
A maid served tea, and after exchanging pleasantries and drawing out the conversation, Hevant finally brought up the main topic.
When someone wants something from you, making them wait forces them to overthink.
This was Hevant’s strategy—deliberately giving his opponent time to grow anxious.
“Did you receive what I sent?”
“Yes. It was quite effective.”
As expected. Victor had definitely taken the medicine Hevant had sent.
Some of the eye drops he sent were still in the experimental phase, incomplete.
The fact that Victor had taken them despite their imperfections meant there was no other way for him to improve his eyesight.
Hevant had the upper hand.
Thinking about the contract he had prepared in advance, Hevant smirked inwardly.
“Though I didn’t use it myself.”
At those words, Hevant narrowed his eyes at Victor, who was also watching him intently.
With his long, narrow eyes, Victor’s gray gaze resembled that of a snake.
“You didn’t use it yourself?”
“I recently visited my hometown.”
Instead of answering directly, Victor changed the subject.
“I heard a man was going around asking if anyone knew a person with the surname Stings who had eye problems.”
“….……”
“No one would remember a man who died decades ago, would they? But then, a beggar approached this man. He claimed he had information about that person—if he was paid.”
Hevant’s usually benevolent expression hardened.
The man Victor mentioned was the investigator Hevant had hired to look into the company owner’s eyes.
And the beggar… knew a surprising amount about the blind man named Stings.
“That beggar used to beg alongside a blind man named Stings and his young son. The boy is believed to be Victor Stings. Apparently, he used to say, ‘My eyes won’t end up like my father’s’ all the time.”
“A hereditary disease?”
“That seems highly likely. The father froze to death one winter, and after that, no one saw the child again—at least, that’s what the beggar reported.”
Poor eyesight. A trading company leader interested in my new medicine. The possibility of a hereditary condition.
It was as if a perfect prey had walked right into my trap.
“So, that investigator must have relayed all this information to you, Master Hevant? And out of concern for me, you sent the medicine?”
“…Indeed. But how are your eyes now?”
Even though his scheme had been uncovered, Hevant had no intention of conceding his position.
Victor responded smoothly.
“I feel bad for making you worry. My vision issue that day was caused by mushroom spores.”
“Mushroom spores?”
“Yes. But since I couldn’t let your medicine go to waste, I gave it to some people who might need it—”
Victor locked eyes with Hevant for several seconds.
Then, he smirked.
“The effect was terrible.”
“T-terrible…?”
“So, I disposed of all of it and told those who were interested in your new drug to wait a little longer. After all, it’s an expensive medicine. If word got out that it was a failure, your reputation would suffer, wouldn’t it? And it is your business, Master Hevant.”
“…….….”
“Here, consider this payment for the medicine. May I take my leave now?”
Victor placed a small pouch of gold coins on the table as compensation for the ‘terrible’ medicine.
Hevant could already imagine Victor spreading rumors that his medicine was a failure.
And since he had included some experimental formulas among the ones he sent, there was no way to counter the claim outright.
Silently, Hevant clenched his fist beneath the table, his arm trembling slightly.
“…You may go.”
“Thank you.”
Victor left the reception room with a sly smile and descended the stairs.
‘That felt good.’
As he reached the first floor, his eyes met those of a young girl.
She had long, blonde hair. Hevant’s eldest daughter—Ciel.
“Greetings.”
Startled, Ciel quickly averted her gaze and hurried away.
‘Hmm? So, even if they share the same blood, not all of them are as bold.’
Humming a tune, Victor shamelessly boarded Hevant’s carriage and headed back to Goldport.
***
15. The Most Perfect Gem
“…Thank you.”
For the past few days, the image of Theon’s wounded palm healing had lingered in my mind.
Was the pain really bad enough for him to thank me?
‘I want to buy Theon a healing potion when he needs one too!’
Between the money I earned from restoring the water veins and the future earnings from the healing potion recipe usage fees, I had more than enough extra income to buy one.
The problem was, I couldn’t spend money secretly without my dad noticing.
I poured out all the allowance I had saved up onto my bed.
“This isn’t nearly enough.”
“What’s not enough?”
I turned my head. A pair of plump, triangular ears peeked over the edge of my bed.
It was Jeffrey.
“Oh? When did you come in?”
“Just now! Big Sis Anne said Big Sis Berry was going to her room, so I followed!”
Then, he spotted the pile of money on my bed and teased me.
“Big Sis Berry, you don’t even have a single Konas? I thought the Travel Count’s family was rich!”
“J-Jeffrey! You can’t just barge in like that! My lady, I’m so sorry. And you! What do you think you’re saying to the young miss? Get out right now!”
“No~ If Big Sis Berry needs money, I can give her some~”
“Get out…!”
Bam!
Jeffrey was dragged out by Anne.
I stared at the closed door for a moment before slowly putting the money back into my savings box.
Being pitied by Jeffrey… How humiliating.
“I do have money.”
[Having money is great. What’s the problem?]
Aqum wagged its tail as it spoke.
“The problem is that I can’t use it in this body. Isn’t there some kind of medicine that can make me temporarily bigger? If an adult spent gold coins, no one would question it…”
Oh.
A brilliant idea suddenly flashed through my mind.
“If there’s something you can’t tell your dad, you can always come to me.”
***
“No.”
I had snuck into the mansion’s study, avoiding people’s eyes, and managed to meet with my grandfather.
But when I explained my request, his response was firm.
“Why should I take your money and buy a healing potion for you? Do you think the Travel Count is your errand boy?”
“But you said if I had something I couldn’t tell Dad, I could always ask you…”
“I thought you’d ask me for help with something like difficult studies, not this. Honestly, you never fail to surprise me. Where did you even get the money for a healing potion? It can’t be just from your allowance.”
“It’s extra income…”
“You earned that much from extra income?”
I had expected my grandfather to help me, but he refused. Feeling dejected, I hopped off the sofa.
“I’ll be going then…”
“Hey, wait a moment.”
