The chaos subsided and Duke Taevas was helped by the servants and his dogs to restrain all the remaining nobles, who were all so tired and injured.
Ronin was pretty impressed by Duke Taevas fighting prowess.
Sure, all these nobles were already pretty injured when he he fought them, and he had the help of his dogs, but he still managed to defeat several of them. That was no easy feat.
âItâs a wonder why he didnât pass his Triannum test. Maybe he was a late-bloomer and only improved his fighting when heâs an adult?â
âOr maybeâ¦..â
âMaybe he only became a Hero Mage later in life.â
Ronin always like theorizing about these things, since it keeps his mind sharp. But right now, they have several tied-up nobles to take care of.
And how will they decide to take care of this?
Duke Taevas was not really good at this kind of problems compared to resolving everything with his fists. âEven if I release the lot of you to the aristocratic jungles you belong to, you would surely yap your mouths and report to the King.â
âOf course we will!â One exclaimed and spat out a tooth. â You shall pay for you and your whole householdâs insolence, Taevas!â
Duke Taevas also huffed from tiredness, but did not show it an remained intimidating as ever. He pulled this man by the hair and stepped on his foot..
âHow about you try and do that, Baron Nutmeg?â He said with a growl on his throat. âThen letâs see if your bloodline would still continue.â
âYou cannot threaten to kill us all, Taevas.â A noblewoman by the name of Countess Cardamom sneered at him. âAnd even if you kill all of us now, you will become a convicted murderer and be executed as well.â
Duke Taevas let go of Baron Nutmegâs hair with a scoff at this. But itâs true.
He has to find another way besides threatening them with death.
âLet me take care of this, Duke Taevas.â
He turned around in shock to hear a certain childish voice.
It was his cursed son.
Ronin grinned at his fatherâs surprised expression. Because in truth, he actually already knew this would happen.
And he already had a plan since the moment the angry mob of nobles attacked.
(What is this boy planning to do now? Mavretri told me he protected Bella singlehandedly from 5 noblesâ¦. That cannot be true, can it?)
Ronin just smirked at his fatherâs disbelief in his capabilities and approached the group of restrained nobles sitting on the floor and rounded up, all looking miserable but angry.
âYou have all overstayed your welcome here in House Zafeiri. But you are our guests nonetheless, and weâd hate to see our guest leave without any souvenirs.â
âSouvenirs?â One of them asked dumbly.
âYes. Souvenirs. Gifts.â Ronin smiled. â Just like how Baron Nutmeg has a gift shop selling all sorts of exquisite toys and jewellery, correct?â
âThatâs correct.â Baron Nutmge was surprised this servant boy knew that.
âBut fortunately, unlike his wares, my gifts are genuine and not fake.â Ronin chuckled.
Baron Nutmeg, his wife and his two childrenâs eys widened at this. They immediately denied it. âFake??? Thatâs slander! All our toys were made by the finest toymakers and most authentic jewellersââ
âThen what does Countess Cardamom have to say about her rusty earrings that she bought from you?â Ronin tilted his head to the side. âHmm?â
Countess Cardamom agreed, exclaiming. âItâs true! Those silver earrings I bought from him which he claimes to be from real Silver Crabsâ They all rusted and turned to dust now!â
Some joined in as well to claiming Baron Nutmeg was a fraud. âMy sonâs toy horse broke the moment he sat on it!â
Baron Nutmeg retaliated in anger: âThatâs because your son is a fat pig!â
âSpeaking of pigs.â Ronin raised his hand to gain their attention again. âWasnât the wealthiest owner of pork production in Sephyrine also here? Lord Chai?â
âYes, that is me.â Lord Chai had beads of sweat on his forehead when his name was called out.
âAnd is it true that you signed an agreement to deliver several loads of it to Lord Oolong⦠and yet what you delivered to him were long spoiled meat with the maggots just cleaned out to look better?â
âYou disgusting, cheating scoundrel!â Lord Oolong from a distance shouted. âSo thatâs why I received complaints of food poisoning!? I will slaughter you like your pigs, you bastard!â
âOhhh, bastard. Could be an insult, could also mean an illegitimate son.â Ronin now turned to his next target. âIsnât that right, Earl Greye? What if your son with Lady Blackety gets called that when he gets older?â
One by one, Ronin delivered every single dirt he had gained on these nobles by reading their minds. Soon, everyone was in fear of having their secrets spilled outâ¦
That it made them reveal it to him by having them think about it.
(Gods of high, please do not let him know about my affair with my wifeâs sister!)
(He cannot possibly know about my embezzlement scandal, right?)
(What if he knew about my murder of the palace guard patrolling on my duchy? I could be imprisoned!)
âTheyâre like little mice that just keeps stepping on my trap.â Ronin sneered sadistically.
Duke Taevas could not believe that his cursed son would save his whole household one day. Soon, the nobles were all begging and pleading with him.
âPlease, Taevas! Make your servant stop!â
âWe would not say a word about this incident! Just keep his mouth shut as well!â
Duke Taevas placed a hand on Roninâs shoulder. âThatâs enough now. They have learned their lesson not to trifle with the Zafeiris.â
âWell, I hope you enjoyed our souvenirs to all of you.â Ronin bowed mockingly to them. âBe sure to treasure them and remember this humble servant who gave them to you.â
Zeuxis cannot believe all this. âSo you are just giving up because of some servant boy revealing your secretsââ
âAh, this servant boy that you attacked with your weak Clairo Mage Focus earlier.â Ronin delivered his final blow to this nuisance. âBecause I was trying to stop you from causing chaos with a house tradition you made up.â
âIs that true, boy? You lied?â They asked, starting to dislike Zeuxis.
But Duke Taevas has a different concern. âYou hurt Ronin?â
Zeuxis gulped at his strange tone. âSo what? Heâs just some weak prune with a Commoner Heartstoneââ
âYou have caused enough trouble now, Zeuxis.â Duke Taevasâ face darkened. âIf you like making trouble so much, do it outside this house and never come back.â
The nobles were shocked at this. But more so the dukeâs second child.
âFather⦠are you seriousââ
âI am disowning you, Zeuxis of House Zafeiri. I do not need a son like you. You may continue your games elsewhere on the streets.â
Zeuxis was aghast, and then angry. He spat out. âFor what!? For attacking some cursed child of yoursââ
âA liar is always a liar. Spouting lies just to gain attention.â Ronin interrupted him. âWho would believe a boy like that?â
The nobles agreed, and so they did not waste time to listen to Zeuxis âliesâ.
Everyone left fearfully from this house full of freaks. First that girl with her hailstorm, then the father and his vicious houndsâ¦.
And finally, this clever Coal boy with eyes as dark as night that can see through all their secrets.