Chapter 30: Baron Returns
A large crowd had gathered in front of the Percival Mansion gates, their voices rising in sorrow and frustration. Guards stood firm, struggling to maintain order as the people pushed forward, their demands growing louder. These were the families of the miners who had perished—wives, mothers, and children, all seeking answers and aid.
Just then, a luxurious black carriage came into view, its wheels rattling against the stone path as it rolled to a stop before the gate. The guards quickly straightened, recognizing their master. Baron Jamie Percival stepped out, his sharp gaze sweeping across the gathered mass. His expression twisted in irritation at the unexpected sight.
"What the hell is going on here?" he barked, his voice laced with fury.
One of the guards quickly saluted. "Milord! These are the families of the miners who lost their lives. Lady Cassandra has organized a relief campaign to compensate them for their loss."
Jamie clicked his tongue in annoyance. If he dispersed the crowd now, rumors would spread like wildfire, painting him as a cruel and heartless lord. With a deep breath, he forced a sorrowful look onto his face and approached the people.
"My dear citizens," Jamie called out, spreading his arms wide. "I am truly saddened by this tragedy. Those who lost their lives in the mines were heroes, brave men who gave their all for the prosperity of our land."
The people murmured among themselves. Some nodded, others wiped their tears.
"I promise you," Jamie continued, "that they will not be forgotten. Their sacrifices will be honored, and their families will be cared for."
A hesitant cheer arose, growing louder as more people joined in. Jamie smiled, knowing he had successfully turned the situation in his favor. Without another word, he climbed back into his carriage, his expression darkening the moment the door closed.
"That bitch," he muttered under his breath. Cassandra had once again meddled in his affairs.
As the carriage passed through the main gates and arrived at the mansion, Jamie didn't wait for the servants to open the door. He stormed inside, his anger boiling over.
"Where is Cassandra?!" he roared, his voice echoing through the grand hall.
The maids and servants flinched, scurrying away to avoid his wrath. Among them stood a man observing the scene with interest—Shennong, a traveler with a hidden agenda. A slight smirk played on his lips as he took in Jamie's outburst.
"So this is the man I've been waiting to meet," Shennong murmured to himself. His eyes glowed faintly as he activated his skill—[Scannable].
A translucent screen appeared before him, displaying Jamie's stats. He frowned slightly. "Huh... This man isn't as powerful as I expected."
A notification appeared in his vision with Yenissa's voice muttering some words inside his mind: [One more scan required to unlock Power Level Analysis.]
Shennong chuckled. "Interesting."
Meanwhile, Jamie continued his rampage, knocking over a vase with a loud crash. At last, Cassandra appeared at the top of the stairs, her face etched with surprise.
"Jamie?" she called out, her voice laced with confusion. "What's wrong?"
Without a word, Jamie stomped up the stairs, grabbed her wrist, and dragged her away. The servants gasped but dared not intervene as he pulled Cassandra into a private chamber, slamming the door shut behind them.
Shennong, still standing nearby, narrowed his eyes. He heard the unmistakable sounds of objects being smashed and Jamie's voice raised in anger.
"You should know your place, woman! Stop interfering in my work!"
Cassandra's voice, though muffled, held a note of defiance. "These people have lost their loved ones, Jamie! They deserve—"
A loud crash cut her off.
Shennong leaned against the wall, his smirk widening. "So that's how it is," he mused. "This Baron is nothing but an insecure fool. He fears his wife's competence more than he fears losing his reputation."
He shook his head, muttering under his breath, "No wonder this noble family never rose beyond the rank of Baron. A leader like him... what a waste of power."
Minutes passed before the door creaked open. Jamie strode out, his face red with frustration. Without sparing a glance at the servants, he stormed down the hall and disappeared into his study.
Curious, Shennong peered into the room Jamie had just left. His gaze fell upon Cassandra, who lay on the floor, her eyes dull, her body limp with exhaustion. She looked utterly defeated.
For a moment, Shennong considered stepping in. But then he held back, a knowing gleam in his eyes. "Not yet," he whispered. "I need to take this slow... If I act rashly, I'll ruin everything."
He turned away, a plan forming in his mind. Jamie Percival had no idea what was coming.
***
Within just a few days of Baron Percival's return, Shennong had already noticed several things about him.
The most concerning was the man's security detail, particularly his commanding knight, Sir Maron.
Shennong once caught a glimpse of Sir Maron when he came to give a report.
When Shennong secretly scanned him, his wariness spiked—Sir Maron was a B-ranked fighter. That alone wouldn't have been much of an issue, but when compared to Yenissa, who was A-ranked, Shennong could tell that things might not be so easy. Even though Yenissa had the advantage in rank, the sheer number of soldiers under Sir Maron's command meant that if a fight broke out, Shennong and his allies would lose.
He was able to extract all this information thanks to unlocking the power level in his system. It was a game changer for Shennong, as it revealed more details about people he should be wary of more than anything.
Not only was the Sir Maron well-armed and had lot of men, but he also had experience in monster hunting and personal connections with famous monster hunters across the nation. That made things complicated. Shennong had no desire to make an enemy out of someone so well-connected, at least for now.
Then there was another matter that caught Shennong's attention—Baron Percival's relationship with Lily.
One day, while watching the halls, he caught Jamie sneaking into the his chambers. Lily had been cleaning at the time, seemingly unaware of Jamie's presence. But when Jamie wrapped his arms around her from behind, Shennong tensed.
"He's abusing her?" he muttered under his breath, feeling a little disgusted because he thought Lily was a good girl.
However, before he could intervene, Lily giggled and leaned into the Baron's touch. Her fingers traced his arm with familiarity, and the two shared a quiet moment, completely oblivious to Shennong's watchful eyes.
Realization struck him immediately.
"So they're in a relationship, is it a real one?" he murmured, a smirk creeping onto his face. "Interesting."
This information was invaluable. It meant that Baron Percival had a weakness—he was the kind of man ruled by emotions. Shennong wanted to find out more about their relationship because he had suspicions that Lily was using this man for something. Looking at everything, Shennong realized that the Baron was nowhere near as dangerous as he had thought; instead, it was the people around him that he had to be careful of.
"Killing him is out of the question," Shennong mused, tapping his chin. "If he dies, the capital will send officials, and that would be a pain to deal with. But letting him remain in control also isn't ideal."
He weighed his options carefully. If the Baron remained in power, Shennong would have to share resources with him, which he disliked. The best option, then, was to keep the Baron alive but find someone else to control the Barony under his shadow. And he already knew the perfect candidate.
A sly grin formed on his lips. "It's time to see if she's ready to make a decision."
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But as he planned his next move, another thought surfaced in his mind—his very first encounter with Baron Percival.
From the moment they met, Shennong had noticed the Baron's hostility. The man had eyed him with suspicion, as if plotting his removal before they had even exchanged words. It was clear that Baron Percival saw him as a threat. But why? What had Shennong done to earn such immediate disdain?
Yenissa was easily able to answer his question because she had recently become a good judge of character. It was as if she had become so familiar with human society that she might have forgotten what it was like to be a real succubus.
"He's insecure," Yenissa muttered with amusement. "He doesn't like how young and handsome you are."
It made perfect sense. Baron Percival, for all his power, wealth, and influence, was the type of man who despised competition—especially when it came from someone younger, better-looking, and possibly more charismatic. That kind of weakness was something Shennong could exploit.
"A man like that is easy to work with," Shennong chuckled. "So long as I smile and play my cards right, he won't even realize I'm pulling the strings."
With that realization, his confidence grew. The Baron wasn't an enemy to be feared—he was an opportunity waiting to be seized.
But to take full advantage of this opportunity, he needed someone—and that someone was none other than Lady Cassandra Percival herself.