Chapter 23 - Lucian's Pet Gorilla

'Should I really trust that kid?'

The question reverberated in the guest room where a man of substantial girth, adorned with golden rings, sat on the sofa.

His feet rhythmically tapped against the floor.

Despite his ample size, he emanated a profound sense of isolation, his weary eyes encircled by dark circles that suggested he had aged two decades in the span of four years.

Four long years had passed since his last visit to this place.

On that day, Vorila had ventured into the Vinlig territory, compelled by the news that Kassidy Liander had filed for divorce from Count Vinlig.

Little did he know, he believed she was leaving behind not only a potential fortune but perhaps even something far more significant—the entirety of Vinlig Territory itself.

Yet, in her haste, the woman had inadvertently left behind a devil.

Vorila understood that if he ever revealed the truth—that a three-week-old newborn had made an attempt on his life—no one would believe him.

Sitting there, he found himself mulling over the entirety of his existence, encapsulated in a single, haunting image.

He held the answer to a question that plagued many: What kind of child would emerge from the union of a demon and an angel?

Vorila was acutely aware of that answer.

Krieek—

The door swung open, and a familiar voice sliced through the air like a knife.

"How are you, gorilla?"

At the sound of those words, Vorila's teeth clenched and his fists tightened.

A grimace formed on his face, but he forced a smile to mask his irritation.

It was Lucian Vinlig, standing before him.

"This is Vorila, not a gorilla, young master." he managed to reply, too weary to rise from his seat, opting instead to shake his head at the child's repeated mistake.

Though, in fairness to the three-year-old, mispronouncing words was typical for a child still learning to speak.

He was here for a reason, after all.

Just a month earlier, he had undertaken a perilous task for Lucian, involving the illegal transportation of slaves into the Vinlig territory—a place where such practices were strictly forbidden.

It was the only territory that had outlawed slavery altogether.

"Oh, yes, it's just a mix-up with 'g' and 'v,'" Lucian's voice dripped with sarcasm, prompting Vorila to slowly lift his head.

He intended to clarify that the proper pronunciation should start with 'v,' as it appeared that Lucian was calling him by the name of his supposed gorilla.

But—

"Fine, have you managed to retrieve those papers?" Vorila cut straight to the chase, fully aware of how easily he could deceive this child.

However, the boy's actions were baffling, forcing Vorila to confront the reality that he had somehow manipulated this child into agreeing to relinquish the unfair contract that bound him to the trade of monsters.

For three long years, Vorila had sought to maneuver this child into returning that vital document to him.

The boy's naiveté made him a simple target for manipulation, and Vorila patiently bided his time, holding onto the resentment he felt toward the child, knowing all too well that it was because of this very boy that he had been coerced into signing away his rights.

Vorila's anger simmered just below the surface; he was acutely aware that once he recovered that contract, he would no longer follow anyone else's orders.

Instead, he would act as an obstacle for other merchants, ensuring they stayed clear of Vinlig territory.

He envisioned himself strangling the lifeblood of trade in Vinlig, all with his own two hands.

As a member of a merchant association, Vorila could use that contract as leverage, showcasing it as evidence of the count's mistreatment of honest merchants like himself.

His plan would ultimately drive them away, forcing them to abandon the Vinligs entirely.

However, to bring this scheme to fruition, he first needed to reclaim the document.

Only then could he rid himself of the crippling five-coin obligation and take his revenge, laying waste to the entire place.

'At least try to conceal your emotions,' Lucian thought while observing Vorila's changing expression.

He climbed onto the sofa and settled in, gazing at the man who was under the illusion that he was the one using Lucian, unaware that it was the other way around.

"I told you before, Father has hidden those papers in a metal safe," Lucian replied, raising his arm and shaking his head.

He feigned a sense of helplessness, gently reminding Vorila of their previous discussion about seeking out individuals skilled in metal manipulation.

"Tch," Vorila clicked his tongue in frustration upon hearing the same information he had received a month ago.

However, he knew that this child was not lying to him, especially considering how much profit he had made thanks to him over the past few months.

The idea to bring skilled individuals into the Vinlig territory to teach their crafts had originated with this child.

Initially, Vorila had suspected the boy was just trying to exploit him, but when Lucian elaborated on his plan to persuade his father to eliminate all taxes Vorila was obligated to pay in the territory while also providing labor at a lower cost, Vorila began to see the potential benefits.

This arrangement promised to significantly increase his profits, so he agreed.

True, Vorila had to spend some money to bring in these experts from his merchant guild located in the capital city.

Nevertheless, he managed to recover all those initial expenses within two months, thanks to the tax savings and the lower labor costs associated with hiring the individuals who had been trained by the experts he brought from the capital city.

It was a testament to the boy's ability to influence the count to his advantage, a skill that Vorila came to greatly respect.

While Vorila recognized the child's intelligence, he also sensed a certain naïveté in him.

This was clearly a trait inherited from his parents—his mother was sharp and astute, while his father was more gullible and trusting.

Yet, Vorila pondered how this dynamic did not concern him at all.

The profits he had begun to realize through the arrangement were significant, especially since the child had assured him that he would secure the Contract, even if it meant sneaking into the count's metal safe and obtaining it through less than honorable means.

Vorila understood this as a golden opportunity.

Just a month prior, when the child proposed the idea of bringing in awakeners—those who could manipulate metal—Vorila wasted no time.

He scoured auctions and other venues to purchase slaves possessing that particular skill, even though it cost him over 500 gold coins.

In the grand scheme of things, he was confident that this investment would soon pay off.