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Chapter 3-21 : Dinner At House Balvin (part 2)
The laboratory that has been polluting the sea belongs to House Balvin?
Does that mean… They’re the enemy…?
「…..」(Kako)
As I wondered, Duke Balvin laughed.
「Hahaha! Don’t worry, Lady Kushaq, we’re not your enemy. I’m still not done talking.」(Baldock)
Duke Balvin said that as if he could read my mind.
He’s right. I suspected him too soon. I should listen until the end.
「…I’m listening then.」(Kako)
I nodded and then he continued.
「It’s true that the pollution came from our laboratory, but the one managing that facility is not me.」(Baldock)
「So, you didn’t know anything about that?」(Kako)
「Indeed.」(Baldock)
He looked me straight in the eye and nodded. He didn’t seem to be lying.
「I see. But why did you build a laboratory in the first place?」(Kako)
「As you know, as navies, our family has been battling formidable sea monsters and pirates to keep the peace in this region. Thousands of our men get injured in battles every year. For that reason, we built a facility to research and mass-produce potions to reinforce our military force. Other than that, we also have a hospital and and some pharmacies.」(Baldock)
That’s incredible. As expected from the wealthy ducal family.
「The laboratory has existed since my predecessor, and it never polluted the sea. I don’t understand why it’s polluting the sea now. The waste from healing potion production shouldn’t be harmful.」(Baldock)
「Perhaps they have started researching a new kind of potion?」(Kako)
Actually, I know what kind of potion they have been researching. It’s probably Lost Potion.
However, I pretended not to know it. It would be troublesome if he asked me how I found out about it.
「Hmm… Researching a new potion, huh? If they began to develop a new potion, they would report it to me since I’m the head of this family, but I haven’t heard anything about it.」(Baldock)
「So, someone did it without telling you?」(Kako)
「Most likely.」(Baldock)
In other words, someone dared to plot something behind the duke’s back. Or is it something else?
「Well, we’ll know the answer soon. I have told the person in charge of the laboratory to come. My butler told me he would arrive soon.」(Baldock)
So the person the butler said would be coming was that person.
「Who is that person?」(Kako)
「Roberto. My proud first son.」(Baldock)
「Eh?」(Kako)
His first son? That means Raykard-sama’s older brother?
「Unlike me and Raykard, who likes to fight, Roberto loves to research potions. That’s the reason I entrusted him with the laboratory. Actually, I invited him to come early and have dinner with us, but he said he was busy. I bet he hasn’t eaten properly lately.」(Baldock)
「Roberto nii-sama often zone out while doing his research after all. He will keep going even when he’s hungry.」(Raykard)
「No kidding. I wish he could fix that bad habit.」(Baldock)
Seems like this person is the workaholic type of researcher.
「I don’t praise him very often, but he’s a very intelligent son of mine. He’s probably the smartest in this region.」(Baldock)
「Father, you make it sound like I’m not very smart compared to him.」(Raykard)
Seeing his father boasting about his brother, Raykard-sama sulked a bit.
「Hahaha! But that’s the fact. You’re not like your brother. You’re just like me when I was young, always traveling around the country, collecting weapons and having fun. You’re such a prodigal son!」(Baldock)
「Hey, I inherited this habit from you, so it’s your fault I’m like this!」(Raykard)
「Gahaha! So true!」(Baldock)
Raykard-sama is a prodigal son, huh?
Well, he always spends a huge amount of money just to collect rare weapons from all over the country. I can see that.
He sighed and shook his head, seeing his father laughing. He then shifted his gaze to me.
「Father said that I inherited his strength and recklessness while Roberto nii-sama inherited our mother’s intelligence and stubbornness.」(Raykard)
「I see.」(Kako)
I wonder what kind of person Roberto-sama is.
He doesn’t sound like someone who would pollute the sea and harm the mermaids.
「That’s right. Roberto is as smart and kind as his mother. I wonder what happened to him. I hope it’s just a misunderstanding, but… Well, we can ask him later. For now, let’s finish our dinner.」(Baldock)
Our dinner was interrupted because of the serious talk, but we continued eating.
Honestly, I couldn’t enjoy my food as I enjoyed it before because I was thinking about this person. I was just hoping he wasn’t some kind of evil, mad scientist or something like that.
After we finished our dinner, we were having tea time, eating snacks and drinking tea while waiting for Roberto-sama to come.
About ten minutes later, a maid came in and whispered to Duke Balvin.
「I see. Let him in.」(Baldock)
「As you wish, my lord.」(maid)
Looks like the man has arrived.
Soon after the maid left, a cool-type young man entered the room. Unlike Duke Balvin and Raykard-sama, he had a slender body.
From his appearance alone I could tell that he rarely eats and exercises. It made me wonder if he was really related by blood to Duke Balvin and Raykard-sama.
He glanced at me for a second, probably wondering what was a girl like me doing here.
He then glared at his father, looking a bit annoyed.
「Father, I told you not to summon me if it’s not urgent. I’m busy.」(Roberto)
「Oi, oi, you’re so cold. I’m just a father who wants to see how his son is doing. Look at you. You’re so skinny! You haven’t eaten properly, have you? You should eat and train often and be like me! Hnnghhn!」(Baldock)
Saying that, Duke Balvin flexed his muscles.
Seeing his father being silly, Roberto-sama sighed.
「Enough with that. What’s your business?」(Roberto)
「Come on, relax a bit, will you? Have a seat first.」(Baldock)
Somewhat unwillingly, Roberto-sama took a seat next to his brother.
Raykard-sama slightly waved his hand and smiled at him. He responded by squinting his eyes.
「Father, who is this young lady?」(Roberto)
As soon as he took a seat, he glanced at me again and asked curiously.
「She is the daughter of Marquis Kushaq. I invited her. Didn’t my messenger tell you we planned to have dinner with her?」(Baldock)
「Ah, he did say that, I think. I was too focused on my work and didn’t pay attention.」(Roberto)
「Hah, you never change.」(Baldock)
Roberto-sama elegantly took a sip of his tea and turned to me. He put his hand on his chest and lowered his head.
「I’m Roberto Elt Balvin, the first son of the Balvin Family. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Kushaq.」(Roberto)
「I’m Kako Mayama Kushaq. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Roberto-sama.」(Kako)
After introducing himself, he turned to his father.
「So, why did you summon me?」(Roberto)
「Say, Roberto, have you started researching a new potion at the laboratory?」(Baldock)
「…..!」(Roberto)
Hearing Duke Balvin’s question, Roberto-sama frowned as if saying, “How did he know?”
「You know the mermaids on the mermaid island, don’t you? They were poisoned by the waste leaking from your lab. Because of that, they began to attack people. Even Lady Kushaq almost got killed because of that. Say, Roberto…」(Baldock)
Duke Balvin folded his arms and looked at his son with a serious expression, and suddenlyー
「You know something, don’t you?」(Baldock)
The moment he said that, the atmosphere in the room changed drastically.
「ー!!?」(Kako)
The leisure atmosphere after dinner turned heavy all of a sudden.
I could feel shivers down my spine as if there were something intimidating and terrifying right in front of me.
What is this pressure? A killing intent?
Nyat also felt it. He pulled his claws out and glared at Duke Balvin.
「Father, you’re frightening Lady Kako.」(Raykard)
「Oh, shoot! I’m sorry, my lady. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I just got angry at my son. Are you alright?」(Baldock)
「Y, yes… I’m fine…」(Kako)
「And Mr. Nyat, you can relax. Sorry about that.」(Baldock)
「I’m sorry for my rude behavior too-nya.」(Nyat)
「No, I don’t mind.」(Baldock)
Nyat pulled in his claws and took a deep sigh.
I don’t know what that was, but… that pressure. It was so frightening…
I’ve seen how Nyat and Izack-san fight their enemies, and I can say that they’re really strong. I’m not that good at combat, but I can somehow tell that this man, Duke Balvin, is far stronger than them both.
This man is seriously scary. He’s a weirdo who loves his muscles so much, but at the same time, he has the imposing presence of a real warrior who has fought through countless battles in the front lines.
「So, Roberto, I’m still waiting for your answer.」(Baldock)
Being glared at by his father, Roberto-sama looked him in the eye and replied to him.
「I have no idea what you’re talking about.」(Roberto)
Even after being exposed to such terrifying pressure from his father, he surprisingly remained calm. He must have a strong mentality.
「My son, you’re smart. You know it’s futile to play games with me. You’re researching something behind my back, aren’t you?」(Baldock)
「……」(Roberto)
Without answering, Roberto-sama averted his eyes.
「…..It’s Lost Potion, isn’t it?」(Baldock)
「…!!」(Roberto)
Hearing those words, Roberto-sama flinched slightly.
He was trying to hide it, but it wasn’t good at it. That flinch was enough to give Duke Balvin the answer.
「I knew it…」(Baldock)
I didn’t tell the duke nor the captain that the waste polluting the sea was actually the harmful substance from a failed production of Lost Potion, so I thought he didn’t know, but I was wrong. He seemed to know about the Lost Potion.
Being cornered by his father, Roberto-sama had nowhere to go.
He sighed and answered.
「Hahh… Can’t hide anything from you, can I? You’re right. I’m researching Lost Potion.」(Roberto)
He admitted it.
I don’t want to believe it but it looks like Roberto-sama is indeed a mad scientist…
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