Chapter 24: The Strategist’s True Face

“Heh heh. If only there were more tea, I’d never be able to get enough.”

“Then have a cup.”

Ethan placed some leaves and hot water into a teacup and handed it to Praxian.

“Thank you.”

He received the cup politely.

After enjoying a cup of tea, he looked at the old man and asked,

“What have you been up to all this time?”

“I’ve been running a small farm.”

“A farm?”

“Yes. I started it as a way to keep busy, and it turned out to be more worthwhile than I expected.”

In his previous life, this man who had handled the affairs of the Ducal Territory like a rampaging monster was now a farmer.

The difference was truly staggering.

As Ethan watched, Praxian’s eyes grew moist.

“To see the Young Lord grow up so splendidly like this… This old man is truly moved.”

“It’s only because my sister took such good care of me. Anyway, do you have any interest in returning to an administrative position?”

“Returning?”

“This Barony of Kargas is basically a hotbed of corruption. I’m planning to replace a large number of officials.”

“That would create a lot of vacancies.”

“If you could fill one of those spots, I’d feel much more reassured.”

“If I can be of help to you, Young Lord, I’d gladly do so.”

“Thank you.”

“Not at all, Young Lord. As someone who once served in the Ducal Territory, this is only my duty. The shortage of talented people will soon be resolved.”

Young Lord Ethan.

Until he collapsed, he had been the core of the family.

Even at a young age, his bold decisions and outstanding leadership had made many officials miss him.

Now that he had not only recovered but was spreading his wings again, news of this would surely bring out other former officials who had been in hiding, just like him.

‘I must support him as best as I can.’

Praxian steeled his resolve in his heart.

“Ah, by the way, Young Lord.”

“Is there something you want to say?”

“There’s a child I’ve been raising. Would it be possible to bring the child to the Inner Castle as well?”

“You have a child?”

“Heh heh. No, not exactly. I just happened to take in a child by chance.”

He’d taken in a child.

That hadn’t happened in his previous life.

Back then, after losing his wife, Praxian had never remarried and spent his days buried in paperwork.

“What’s the child’s name?”

“Lawrence.”

“Lawrence?”

It was a familiar name.

Ethan quickly searched his memory.

‘Could it be that Lawrence?’

He recalled meeting someone by that name several times during the war with the Demihuman Tribe.

A tactician who had made a name for himself solely through his own talent, despite the limitations of being a commoner.

‘He was quite a unique strategist.’

Even while moving for the greater cause of stopping the Demihuman Tribe, he always tried to minimize sacrifices along the way.

Most strategists treated soldiers as little more than chess pieces rather than people, so his approach was certainly unusual.

If one had to describe him, he was a warm-hearted tactician.

He had been active for a time, but after the battle known as the Battle of the Erian Plains, he had completely disappeared.

‘To think that name would come up here.’

Ethan’s interest was piqued.

He’d never met him up close, only glimpsed him from afar once or twice.

Still, he could recall his face well enough.

If he met the child in person, he could confirm whether he was truly that Lawrence.

“Where is this farm?”

“It’s about a day’s walk from here.”

A day’s walk would be about three hours by carriage.

“Let’s go.”

“Excuse me? You want to visit the farm in person? It’s quite a humble place for someone of your status, Young Lord…”

“I’m sure the Estate where I slept for the past ten years is far more humble than any farm you could show me.”

“Ah…”

“We’ll take the carriage.”

“Understood.”

They left the office together.

After getting in the carriage, they headed in the direction Praxian indicated.

Soon, they arrived at a farm on the outskirts of the village.

“It’s quaint.”

“Haha. With the money I saved, I couldn’t afford anything bigger. Still, it’s enough to get by.”

Ethan nodded.

Praxian had only been promoted to administrative head a good while after Ethan became Duke.

‘He was probably just a mid-level manager before that.’

While the salary for family officials wasn’t bad, it wasn’t enough to buy a large estate.

Well, small was only from Ethan’s perspective.

By normal standards, it was a decently sized farm. Together, they entered the house on the property.

At the door stood a child with short, bobbed hair. Their eyes met.

The child’s appearance was exactly as he remembered. Short bobbed hair, an indifferent face, and a small build.

Just like in his memories.

Except for one thing…

‘Silver hair?’

In his memories, Lawrence had black hair.

Perhaps in his previous life, he had dyed it black.

Lawrence tilted his head as he looked at Ethan.

“Master, who is this?”

“This is the Young Lord you always sang about.”

“The Young Lord… sir?”

“That’s right.”

At Praxian’s words, Lawrence began to scrutinize Ethan’s face.

But only for a moment.

The child bowed his head.

“Thank you.”

“What are you thanking me for?”

“For avenging my younger sibling.”

“You had a grudge against the Baron?”

“My sibling starved to death because of the high taxes.”

For someone expressing thanks, Lawrence’s tone was extremely calm. Seeing his eyes, Ethan’s gaze sharpened with interest.

‘Such venom.’

Those were some fiercely sharp eyes.

The gratitude wasn’t entirely a lie. But it wasn’t pure sincerity either.

If he had to put it into words, it was a gaze mixed half and half with truth and falsehood.

“How old are you?”

“Seventeen.”

For seventeen, he was quite small. If you didn’t know his age, you’d think he was fourteen or fifteen at most.

“Your parents?”

“They died with my sibling.”

For someone talking about his family’s death, his tone was so indifferent it was almost dry.

‘He’s changed.’

His basic temperament seemed very different from the past.

He was venomous and cynical.

What could have caused such a change in personality? As Ethan looked at Lawrence, he realized something.

‘I understand why he changed.’

When the Ducal Territory was prosperous in the past, excessive taxes were unthinkable.

But now, things were different.

Excessive exploitation had arisen as the past changed. Not only had he lost his family because of it, but he’d also spent years at the very bottom—so it was no wonder his eyes were filled with venom.

Ethan smiled gently and asked Lawrence,

“Do you really consider it a favor?”

“About half.”

“And the other half?”

“I’m resentful.”

“Why?”

“Because you took my prey, Young Lord.”

“Do you think you could have succeeded in your hunt if I had left the Baron alone?”

“Given about three more years, I think I could have.”

His eyes were full of certainty.

A bold child.

Which made him all the more appealing.

‘If I raise him right, he’ll make a fine chess piece.’

Hans was good at scratching where it itched, but he wasn’t the type to see the big picture.

He was perfect as a field agent for sowing discord among the enemy.

Praxian, on the other hand, was a classic bureaucrat.

‘But Lawrence…’

Judging by the venom in his eyes, if he grew up properly, he could become a ruthless and cold-blooded strategist.

A strategist was most effective with that kind of temperament.

“Praxian will be working in the Inner Castle of the Baron’s Territory from now on. He wants to bring you with him. But you’ll need to prove your usefulness first.”

“What do you want from me?”

Lawrence.

He boldly accepted the challenge.

Ethan smiled and asked,

“What do you think of my current situation?”

“It doesn’t look good. From the King to all the neighboring families, everyone is your enemy.”

Lawrence swallowed nervously as he looked at Ethan.

The Young Lord’s gaze seemed to see straight through him.

That’s why he had answered honestly when asked if he felt grateful.

He didn’t think he could lie to the Young Lord.

It was the same now.

‘This must be a test.’

If he failed to prove his worth here, the Young Lord would leave him behind without hesitation.

That was not what Lawrence wanted.

“Are you thinking of killing all the Baron’s heirs? I think it would be better to spare at least one.”

“Why?”

“There are four reasons.”

Ethan nodded calmly.

‘Does he already know?’

Lawrence’s heart skipped a beat.

Ethan’s meaningful smile.

Looking at his face, it felt as if he knew more than just four reasons.

“Let’s hear them.”

“Yes.”

Lawrence swallowed and spoke.

“Even if it’s just a puppet, letting a collateral bloodline inherit will reassure the other branch families. It gives the impression that you’re observing the minimum decency.”

Ethan nodded.

If he wiped out the Baron and all his children and ruled the Baron’s Territory himself, it would be no different than an unauthorized occupation of the land by someone with no authority.

He wasn’t yet the head of the family, after all.

Given that, setting up a puppet was the proper procedure.

“And?”

“If you plan to move against other branch families later, that puppet could play a big role. No matter what, it shows you’re willing to let at least one blood relative keep their position, so when you move against the branches, there could be traitors.”

‘Like an heir far down the line of succession.’

Even if it’s just a puppet position, there are always those who want a title that looks good on the outside.

“And?”

“There are a total of ten branch families, and it would be difficult to place your trusted aides in charge of all ten. You probably don’t have enough trustworthy people right now.”

That was true.

He had plenty of power, but not enough talented people he could trust.

If he wiped out everyone connected to the branch families, he’d face a severe manpower shortage.

“The last benefit is that by installing a puppet, you can completely block the branch families from sending other people to intervene in the territory. There remains someone with legitimate rule over the land.”

Ethan smiled faintly.

Would his answers satisfy the Young Lord?

Lawrence looked at Ethan with a calm face, but couldn’t hide the slight trembling in his eyes.

“Well said.”

Ethan nodded and looked at Praxian.

“You’ve raised a much sharper child than I expected.”

“Heh heh.”

Praxian laughed sheepishly.

But behind that sheepishness was a deep sense of satisfaction.

The old man had clearly raised the child as his own.

“Then, can I go with you too?”

“Of course.”

He wasn’t just a guest, but a true talent. Once they returned, Ethan planned to entrust him with various tasks.

They had left with two, but the carriage that headed for the Inner Castle now carried three.