I turned those naturally condescending barons into terror-inducing stone statues.
Then the mansion's servants carried them and lined them up inside the gate.
That should wrap things up.
Oh, right—I should take care of one more errand while I'm at it.
"Ward, I'll be returning this now."
"So it has come to that after all... Lord Alan, I am truly sorry. That there was such a person in Lord Geese's faction—I offer my deepest apologies."
"Not at all, not at all. It's all been settled anyway. Ah, while I'm at it, could I ask—does the pendant also have a location-tracking function?"
"Yes. That feature was intended for rushing to your aid quickly in the event that an unscrupulous individual like this one appeared, or—though it is presumptuous of me to say so—should anything happen to you, Lord Alan. I hope you will not misunderstand our intentions."
"If that was the case, you should have just said so from the start."
"My sincerest apologies. However, this is something only the Duke and I know about. I ask that you understand we never had any intention of surveilling you."
"Fine, I understand. But I'm still returning this."
Handing back the pendant, I left Count Minarl's mansion.
With a row of stone statues frozen in expressions of agony at my back.
It's basically a haunted house now, but I don't think I'll ever be coming back here.
◇◇◇
"He returned the pendant?"
"I am utterly ashamed."
"It's fine. This was my own failing for not seeing through Count Minarl's foolishness. But does this mean my authority didn't hold? This calls for a stern reminder. And on top of it all, it ended up using Alan in the process. How pathetic."
"That your authority is lacking—such a thing could never be true, Lord Geese."
...For now, make sure to notify everyone under our command once more. And gather information on Alan."
"Yes, my lord."
"Be absolutely certain not to displease him. Keep all information gathering strictly indirect."
"Understood."
◇◇◇
"Lord Geese, regarding the Vermillion family—"
"Come to think of it, the Vermillion family was... Alan's birth family, wasn't it?"
"Yes. According to the head maid who retired from the Vermillion household, he endured prolonged abuse due to having a worthless skill, and was ultimately expelled."
"So the claim that they 'respected an illegitimate child's independence' was a complete lie."
"It appears so. However, what I cannot fathom is why they would expel someone of such extraordinary ability."
"Ward, don't waste your time trying to peer into the minds of fools. ...I recall now — a worthless skill, was it? I believe I once read that if it could be read, it would manifest an incredibly powerful effect, unmatched by anything else. It may have been in the royal family's top-secret documents. Heh, it seems Marquis Vermillion let a big one get away."
"And with the bonus of earning Lord Alan's enmity, to boot."
"Let us make sure we don't make the same mistake."
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Ward (Head Butler of the Ducal House)
Skills: [Master Butler] [Loyalty] [Fist Saint] [Fire Magic] [Water Magic] [Tornado Magic] [Light Magic] [Grand Chef] [Carpenter] [National Alchemist] [First-Class Gardener]