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.
‘It’s a wonder why he didn’t pass his Triannum test. Maybe he was a late-bloomer and only improved his fighting when he’s an adult?’
‘Or maybe…..’
‘Maybe he only became a Hero Mage later in life.’
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. “Even 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.”
“Of course we will!” One exclaimed and spat out a tooth. ” You shall pay for you and your whole household’s insolence, Taevas!”
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..
“How about you try and do that, Baron Nutmeg?” He said with a growl on his throat. “Then let’s see if your bloodline would still continue.”
“You cannot threaten to kill us all, Taevas.” A noblewoman by the name of Countess Cardamom sneered at him. “And even if you kill all of us now, you will become a convicted murderer and be executed as well.”
Duke Taevas let go of Baron Nutmeg’s hair with a scoff at this. But it’s true.
He has to find another way besides threatening them with death.
“Let me take care of this, Duke Taevas.”
He turned around in shock to hear a certain childish voice.
It was his cursed son.
Ronin grinned at his father’s 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 nobles…. That cannot be true, can it?)
Ronin just smirked at his father’s disbelief in his capabilities and approached the group of restrained nobles sitting on the floor and rounded up, all looking miserable but angry.
“You have all overstayed your welcome here in House Zafeiri. But you are our guests nonetheless, and we’d hate to see our guest leave without any souvenirs.”
“Souvenirs?” One of them asked dumbly.
“Yes. Souvenirs. Gifts.” Ronin smiled. ” Just like how Baron Nutmeg has a gift shop selling all sorts of exquisite toys and jewellery, correct?”
“That’s correct.” Baron Nutmge was surprised this servant boy knew that.
“But fortunately, unlike his wares, my gifts are genuine and not fake.” Ronin chuckled.
Baron Nutmeg, his wife and his two children’s eys widened at this. They immediately denied it. “Fake??? That’s slander! All our toys were made by the finest toymakers and most authentic jewellers—“
“Then what does Countess Cardamom have to say about her rusty earrings that she bought from you?” Ronin tilted his head to the side. “Hmm?”
Countess Cardamom agreed, exclaiming. “It’s true! Those silver earrings I bought from him which he claimes to be from real Silver Crabs— They all rusted and turned to dust now!”
Some joined in as well to claiming Baron Nutmeg was a fraud. “My son’s toy horse broke the moment he sat on it!”
Baron Nutmeg retaliated in anger: “That’s because your son is a fat pig!”
“Speaking of pigs.” Ronin raised his hand to gain their attention again. “Wasn’t the wealthiest owner of pork production in Sephyrine also here? Lord Chai?”
“Yes, that is me.” Lord Chai had beads of sweat on his forehead when his name was called out.
“And 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?”
“You disgusting, cheating scoundrel!” Lord Oolong from a distance shouted. “So that’s why I received complaints of food poisoning!? I will slaughter you like your pigs, you bastard!”
“Ohhh, bastard. Could be an insult, could also mean an illegitimate son.” Ronin now turned to his next target. “Isn’t that right, Earl Greye? What if your son with Lady Blackety gets called that when he gets older?”
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 out…
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 wife’s 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!)
‘They’re like little mice that just keeps stepping on my trap.’ 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.
“Please, Taevas! Make your servant stop!”
“We would not say a word about this incident! Just keep his mouth shut as well!”
Duke Taevas placed a hand on Ronin’s shoulder. “That’s enough now. They have learned their lesson not to trifle with the Zafeiris.”
“Well, I hope you enjoyed our souvenirs to all of you.” Ronin bowed mockingly to them. “Be sure to treasure them and remember this humble servant who gave them to you.”
Zeuxis cannot believe all this. “So you are just giving up because of some servant boy revealing your secrets—“
“Ah, this servant boy that you attacked with your weak Clairo Mage Focus earlier.” Ronin delivered his final blow to this nuisance. “Because I was trying to stop you from causing chaos with a house tradition you made up.”
“Is that true, boy? You lied?” They asked, starting to dislike Zeuxis.
But Duke Taevas has a different concern. “You hurt Ronin?”
Zeuxis gulped at his strange tone. “So what? He’s just some weak prune with a Commoner Heartstone—“
“You have caused enough trouble now, Zeuxis.” Duke Taevas’ face darkened. “If you like making trouble so much, do it outside this house and never come back.”
The nobles were shocked at this. But more so the duke’s second child.
“Father… are you serious—“
“I am disowning you, Zeuxis of House Zafeiri. I do not need a son like you. You may continue your games elsewhere on the streets.”
Zeuxis was aghast, and then angry. He spat out. “For what!? For attacking some cursed child of yours—“
“A liar is always a liar. Spouting lies just to gain attention.” Ronin interrupted him. “Who would believe a boy like that?”
The nobles agreed, and so they did not waste time to listen to Zeuxis ‘lies’.
Everyone left fearfully from this house full of freaks. First that girl with her hailstorm, then the father and his vicious hounds….
And finally, this clever Coal boy with eyes as dark as night that can see through all their secrets.