“Count, I didn’t meet Baron Dalent when I inspected the Tax Department. Do you know why that might be?”
“What do you mean, Your Highness? You didn’t meet him?”
When Count Liam had spoken with Baron Dalent just earlier, the baron had acted as if he had met the Third Prince. But now, he claimed they hadn’t met?
“When I conducted the tax inspection, one of the Tax Department officials was on leave, so I wasn’t able to meet him.”
Count Liam, now confused by Ian’s response, asked again.
“Are you saying that he truly hasn’t met you, Your Highness?”
Ian frowned as he answered.
“Why would I lie to you, Count? But are you certain there is actual evidence that he and Baron Steel led the embezzlement?”
“The officials in the Tax Department were already aware of it, at least implicitly.”
“So, you’re saying they lied to me during my inspection?”
Caught off guard by Ian’s sudden question, Count Liam quickly waved his hands in denial.
“They likely weren’t confident due to a lack of concrete evidence. Surely, the Tax Department officials wouldn’t have intentionally lied to Your Highness. I will report to you immediately once I uncover any solid proof.”
“Hmm, since you’ve put it that way, I suppose we should discuss this further after the investigation results are in.”
As Ian conceded, Count Liam resolved to interrogate Baron Dalent as soon as possible. The fact that Dalent hadn’t been forthright with him suggested that he was harboring some other intent.
“But you knew that I had suddenly decided to inspect the Tax Department, didn’t you?”
Ian’s unexpected question caused Count Liam to think quickly.
“I happen to manage various affairs, so I heard about it by chance. The Imperial Palace is a place where rumors spread fast, as you know.”
‘He’s as slippery as an eel.’
Seeing Count Liam’s efforts to explain himself, Ian was now certain that Liam was the one overseeing Baron Steel. It was clear that all information was flowing through Count Liam directly to Duke Blake.
“That could be the case.”
As Ian seemed to accept this explanation, Count Liam spoke up.
“Your Highness, regarding this tax embezzlement case, if you trust Duke Blake, would it not be best to leave the matter entirely in my hands?”
Ian suppressed the urge to retort that he wasn’t leaving it to Liam precisely because he didn’t trust Duke Blake. After all, Blake was the one who had attempted to disrupt his plans using the Magic Tower Master—there was no reason to build trust with him.
On the contrary, wouldn’t it be more satisfying to give Blake a surprising and deadly gift for trying to interfere with him?
“Still, it seems odd that I, as the tax inspector, wouldn’t speak directly with such a critical figure. I’ll meet him myself. Where is he now?”
Count Liam, worried that Baron Dalent might say something foolish to the Third Prince, felt the need to warn him before they met.
“I don’t know where he is at the moment. Your Highness, is it really necessary to waste your precious time on this matter? Allow me to interrogate him myself, and if anything suspicious arises, I will report it to you.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. What could the infamous scoundrel like me have to do that’s so important? I’ll meet him myself. Also, please provide me with a list of the individuals you plan to meet. I’ll make sure to interview each of them personally as well.”
Realizing that Ian intended to hinder his investigation to the very end, Count Liam couldn’t help but frown.
It seemed this matter needed to be reported to Duke Blake as soon as possible.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
“Please take care, Your Highness.”
As Ian left, Count Liam immediately prepared to go out. He needed to report this situation as quickly as possible, given that he had no idea what Ian might do next.
Ian made his way to the Tax Department office, where he quickly located the brown-haired man who had passed him earlier.
“Are you trying to destroy the evidence?”
“What?”
At the unfamiliar voice, Baron Dalent turned his head, and upon recognizing the Third Prince, he bowed respectfully.
“I greet Your Highness, the Third Prince.”
“So, you recognize me this time?”
“Pardon me, Your Highness, what do you mean?”
“You passed by me earlier without recognizing me.”
“My apologies, Your Highness. I was preoccupied and failed to greet you properly.”
“That can happen.”
As Ian chose not to make a big deal of it, Baron Dalent seized the opportunity to ask a question that had been bothering him.
“I appreciate Your Highness’s magnanimity. But could you clarify what you meant by ‘evidence’ earlier?”
Baron Dalent spoke politely, not wanting to offend the Third Prince, who was notorious as a “scoundrel.”
“Exactly what it sounds like. I’m asking if you’re trying to destroy evidence.”
“What evidence are you referring to?”
“The evidence related to the tax embezzlement—the evidence that implicates you.”
Baron Dalent found himself in a dilemma. The Third Prince was infamous as a “scoundrel.” Would telling him the truth lead to Ian trusting him? Or would it be better to swallow his pride and beg for forgiveness from Count Liam?
When he thought about his mother, who had suddenly fallen gravely ill and collapsed just a few days ago, the latter option seemed the safer choice.
“You seem troubled. Did you really plan the tax embezzlement with Baron Steel?”
“Well, that’s…”
“When I inspected the Tax Department, you were on leave. Can you explain why?”
Baron Dalent looked between Ian and the floor before answering in a very small voice.
“I had to take leave for personal reasons.”
Seeing Baron Dalent’s cautious demeanor, Ian realized he needed to take a more active approach.
“I don’t believe that you were the one leading the tax embezzlement.”
“Do you really think so?”
“After talking with Count Liam, it became clear to me that he doesn’t think highly of you. And based on your character, I don’t think you’d align with Baron Steel.”
Even though it was their first meeting, Baron Dalent was skeptical of Ian’s apparent trust in him.
“What makes you think that, Your Highness?”
“If you were truly guilty, Count Liam wouldn’t be searching for evidence to get rid of you—he would have already fabricated it.”
In the original story, Baron Dalent, who had been viewed as a thorn in the side of the noble faction, survived precisely because he never crossed the line.
As Baron Dalent wrestled with whether to humble himself before Count Liam or preserve his dignity, he gazed at the Third Prince in front of him.
Would begging for Count Liam’s forgiveness really resolve the issue?
Baron Dalent began to wonder if the “new rope” in front of him might be the correct answer, despite the rumors. For someone notorious as a scoundrel, the Third Prince’s reasoning was remarkably logical.
“Your Highness is correct. I repeatedly told Baron Steel not to engage in tax embezzlement, but my words fell on deaf ears.”
“I see. But why didn’t you report it to His Majesty or the Chancellor?”
“I tried multiple times, but I was blocked at every turn. There’s a reason why no noble survives defying Duke Blake.”
The mention of Duke Blake caught Ian’s interest, and he looked at Baron Dalent with a curious expression.
“Do you believe Duke Blake is involved in this?”
“I don’t have any concrete evidence, of course. But it’s impossible that Baron Steel was appointed as Director of the Tax Department without Duke Blake’s influence.”
Ian was impressed by Baron Dalent’s insight, knowing the Duke was indeed involved behind the scenes.
“I see. Given the situation, why did you continue working as a tax official?”
“I needed money.”
“So, the same reason you took leave.”
“Yes…”
As the topic turned to money, Baron Dalent’s complexion darkened. Noticing this, Ian pulled out a few gold coins from his spatial pouch.
“Take these.”
“Your Highness…”
“If a few gold coins can win your loyalty, it’s a cheap price to pay.”
Baron Dalent’s suspicion toward the Third Prince eased slightly at this offer. Even among close friends, it was rare for someone to offer financial support so readily.
“I am deeply grateful for Your Highness’s generosity, but I’m not sure if my abilities are sufficient to be of any help to you.”
“That’s not for you to worry about. I’ve already determined that you’re worth investing in.”
Moved by Ian’s confident tone, Baron Dalent bowed his head.
“Thank you, Your Highness. I will repay this kindness no matter what.”
Ian found himself liking Baron Dalent’s attitude. Many people, after borrowing money, would conveniently forget about it.
“I value your talents. The fact that you noticed Baron Steel’s tax embezzlement when others didn’t shows how sharp your skills are when it comes to numbers.”
Ian knew that Baron Dalent had uncovered evidence through his abilities that Ian himself had only found using scanners and tablets. Such a person was worth betting on.
Overwhelmed by Ian’s recognition of his abilities, Baron Dalent bowed his head deeply.
“You’re the first person to speak of me in such a way, Your Highness.”
“Then consider the gold I gave you as a down payment. There’s no need to repay it. I’d also like to hear about your personal circumstances. As the Third Prince, I might be able to help.”
Unlike before, Baron Dalent opened up to Ian and confided his situation.
“My mother’s health has recently taken a turn for the worse.”
“What are her symptoms?”
“She’s been suffering from a high fever, vomiting, and severe muscle pain all over her body for the past few days.”
Hearing this, Ian immediately thought of a single word: ‘Black Death.’
This plague, which began in the northern regions of the empire, had brought devastating damage to the empire. Ian remembered it clearly because the protagonist, Kyle, had successfully resolved the epidemic and won the people’s favor in the original story.
“Has her skin turned red and swollen?”
Baron Dalent looked at Ian in shock and asked,
“How did you know?”
“How long has it been since her symptoms worsened?”
“Less than a week.”
Ian’s expression grew serious. From what he knew, if the symptoms had progressed this much, the disease was already at an advanced stage.
“Have you taken any action?”
“We received some medicine from the Medison family, which has helped a bit. I’ve also taken preventive medicine myself.”
Ian sighed in relief upon hearing that Baron Dalent had sought help from the Medison family. The Medison family had played a crucial role alongside Kyle in eradicating the Black Death.
“Do you have any relatives in the north?”
“How did you know? It seems Your Highness knows quite a lot about me. But why do you ask?”
“Has your mother met with this relative?”
“Hmm… She did say she met with him about three weeks ago.”
Ian knew from the original story that the plague would spread rapidly within the next year. However, he hadn’t expected that someone in the capital would already be infected.
“I see. I have a rough idea of the cause of her illness. I might be able to help cure it.”
“Really? If my mother can recover, I’ll do anything.”
“Are you serious?”
When Ian asked, Baron Dalent responded firmly.
“My mother is the most important person in my life. If she can return to her former health, I will never forget the debt I owe. Anyway, I’ve already been marked by the noble faction. Your Highness is my only hope.”
“I’d be more than happy to have someone with your talents on my side. However, you might have to work in the north rather than in the capital. Is that acceptable?”
“If it means getting away from the noble faction, I would be relieved. But… could you wait until my mother’s illness is cured?”
“Of course. Treating her illness is the priority. I’ll meet with the Medison family. At the very least, they’ll be cooperative when it comes to this disease.”
Moved by Ian’s support, Baron Dalent repeatedly bowed his head in gratitude.
“Then take care of your mother for now. I’ll visit the Medison family.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
Having secured a promising talent for the future, Ian headed cheerfully to the Medison family. It was time to resolve their long-standing issue.
Cliche Novel 