Ch-10: Plan

Now that all the attention was on me. I decided to let it play as somehow or the other; it ended in this direction where I had the hold over the conversation.

"Mom, grandpa is right. No way, I'll risk my life, it's a true bait. My plan is simple which increases the chance of it being the truth" I said while observing their silent faces.

"First and foremost, spread exaggerated rumours that I was near death and barely survived due to the healers and then the attention would go on them as everyone would think they are excellent healers who could even revive half-dead people"

"Secondly, leak rumours that 'I was unofficially banished from the duchy and my right to inherit it was relinquished'. Do it after I have already left through a safe route lest I get caught and the plan foils"

"Lend me Knight Captain Richard who is Knight Commander Lebron's disciple and also brother Arthur's friend. Give us some artifacts to mask my mana entirely and he would need to masquerade as a C-rank"

"Build a secret escape passage that no one knows in a newly bought house under his disguised identity such that it seems like someone used up all their life's savings after quitting mercenary work"

"It would be good if there's an underground training area so that I can train under him before entering the Academy next year. This can be skipped as traces may be hard to hide"

"Before you ask, I have been working on this since I woke up 9 hours ago. I can't go with a troop of knights but just a retired C-rank mercenary spending all his money in the countryside to train his sister's child who is his last family member to make sure he gets into the academy works the best"

"If we're not found, I can live in peace till the academy starts next year. And if we are found, then Richard is a peak B-rank so he will be able to call for the secret guards nearby and help catch the assassins as long as no S-rank comes while he can surely hold on A-ranks with help of some artifacts. In the worst-case scenario, we can just run away using the secret passage and the secret guards can deal with them"

Phew. I tried my best but a lot of details are missing. I guess they will figure the rest out. Now the last part, as I have to 'die' in the hands of the assassins so let's do this.

"The secret guards should be sent there after we have settled down, otherwise it'd spell trouble and they should stay at least 5 km away from us to not attract attention. The place to go is where Soubelle family's borders, that is the western border of Cuzlades, Volley City in Batarang region"

"No!! Not that place, it's dangerous. I am iffy about everything but I will allow it if you do not go to that place" Mom immediately burst into anger and denied it. Honestly, I expected it but this was too extreme a reaction and I swallowed my saliva looking at her knowing she wouldn't get convinced so I accepted it.

"Okay mom, but Batarang region is the best for my plan to work so I'll go to Ignus city where our regions meet and it's still in Batarang so please allow this" I looked at her with a pleading gaze because I have to be in Batarang.

"Hmph. Why do you even have to go somewhere? If not for someone's incompetence, would you have to risk your life. What nonsense" she muttered it but obviously everyone heard it as I was too close and the three had excellent hearing.

Due to her acting, I chuckled and my body unconsciously relaxed and I felt like I was back to home and I slumped my head on her shoulder and said "Mom, cool down, I promise I won't let any harm come to me or Richard. And we had run away at first sight of trouble, we'll let the secret guards do the job okay?"

To my child-like actions, she took off her pretense and patted my arm, sighing and said "Haah, it's right that children grow up and it'll also let you see a new environment before the academy so go expand your worldview but meet Evelyn too. She's also worried you know, okay?" I nodded at her and left as she had agreed, no one will oppose any more making it easier.

While I wanted to recalibrate my thoughts and sort out the incoherence in my mind and body, I decided to meet Evelyn first as I would need quiet and time alone for the other task.

***

While Jarien was walking to Evelyn's room, back in the main office they were discussing and solidifying the plan.

Viria after the discussion ended skeptically spoke "Is it okay to do this? I agreed to it but I still don't want him to risk his life for something like this"

Davin replied "Viria, he would've to risk his life one day when he goes to dungeon exploring and this world doesn't allow for the weak to live freely, they can only live as the truly strong will it."

*Sigh* "I know... I know that but... it still doesn't sit right with me, like the fact that he was poisoned and accepted it calmly. He is just a child, why does have to go through this?" said Viria in a defeated tone.

"Mother, I agree with you but... he also awakened dual bloodlines. I feel like if he develops properly, then he can even become the next family head. To be honest I think it'll be better if I go in place of Richard..." Arthur replied excitedly but was poured cold water on immediately.

"Huh. Stop dreaming. That brat planned it well knowing your personality and made his statement that he does not want to become the heir else why would he ask to get unofficially 'banished'? As soon as rumours leak, all kinds of people will surround you as the heir of the family and floods of marriage proposals will come for both you and Evelyn" concluded Nathan who was just silently observing until now.

"Jarien would reject the family head position even if it is offered to him. While in other families, siblings and relatives stab each other vying for power and authority; on the other hand is Jarien, who wants to run away from even getting called a contender for the position and Evelyn is not suitable for the position, so accordingly you'll be in trouble soon" added Nathan from his knowledge of his grandchildren.

His conclusion made Arthur unhappy as he too did not want to be the family head, he had already seen how his father was burdened with paperwork and could not even go raid dungeons which is the reason he never even tried breaking through to S-rank and decided to stay at his current rank for as long as possible.