Raon turned to look behind him as the annex building's garden came into view. Balder was following, his face scrunched up with frustration.
'He's not running away.'
Balder had stubbornly insisted he wouldn't go, but his own words had trapped him, leaving him no choice but to follow Raon to the annex.
However, it was clear he didn't want to be there, as his feet dragged along the ground.
The inspectors walking at the back also looked as if they were being dragged to hell. Their confidence and arrogance from earlier when they had kicked down the great training ground's door had completely vanished.
"I'll never forget this humiliation…"
Balder ground his teeth while glaring at Raon when the Gambling Monster smacked him on the back of his head.
Smack!
The sound was like a pumpkin shattering, and Balder staggered as if he was about to fall.
"Ouch!"
Balder clutched the back of his head and screamed.
"Why did you hit me?"
"An inspector holding a grudge during an investigation? Special Inspector, you shouldn't say such things. Do you want me to take this to the Lord's Manor?"
The Gambling Monster raised his rock-like fist, eyes glaring.
"Urgh…"
Balder lowered his head, unable to retort.
"I just said it out of anger!"
"An inspector should not be swayed by emotions. You must always be calm and thoroughly understand the situation."
"Even Helyan couldn't do that…"
"That's why I didn't become one!"
The Gambling Monster twisted his mouth and slapped Balder's forehead with his palm.
"Ouch! Stop it already!"
"I've raised my language as you wished, Special Inspector. Is there a problem?"
"You're just being polite in words. You keep hitting and swearing at me! If it's like this, just speak like before!"
Balder shouted, unable to bear it any longer.
"That's more convenient for me."
The Gambling Monster smirked and gave Balder another whack on the head.
"You idiot! If you've been lucky enough to become a Special Inspector, you should work properly to get recognized by the head of house. Do you think going around letting off steam is going to help? The older you get, the more of a blockhead you become!"
He stuck close to Balder's side and nagged.
"Ugh…"
Balder curled up, clutching his chest as if he was experiencing heartburn.
"Let me give you some advice."
The Gambling Monster pointed his finger at Raon.
"As you saw today, that kid is crazy. There's no one as insane as him in this house, or even the entire continent. If you want to continue boasting in this house, you better tread carefully."
"B-boast? No matter what, I won't lose to a brat like him!"
"You are certainly above him for now. But soon, that will change. This is my last piece of advice to you as your damn master. Take it to heart."
"I refuse! I'm not done yet!"
Balder shook his head vigorously, unable to accept those words.
"And from now on, speak politely to me!"
"You flip-flop all the time, what a pain!"
The Gambling Monster raised his language and smacked the back of Balder's head again, this time with a dull thud like hitting a rock.
"Blocking with Aura now?"
"It really hurts!"
Balder distanced himself from the Gambling Monster, clutching his head. The inspectors walking behind him frowned even more at his disgraceful footwork.
"Sigh…"
The Gambling Monster sighed, looking at Balder with rolling eyes.
'He still won't listen. Well, I'd refuse too if I was told to bow to my nephew.'
But you are not fit to be the head of the house.
Having watched Balder since he was young, he knew it better than anyone.
While Balder might become a frontline commander due to his prowess and bravery, he was not fit to sit on the throne as the house leader.
If an unqualified Balder became the head, Zieghart would fall within ten years.
'On the other hand…'
The Gambling Monster looked at Raon's unwavering back and licked his lips.
'This kid is something.'
Even a composed person would have been satisfied and happy if I had appeared and stopped Balder's rampage.
But this crazy brat used my name to mess with Balder and the inspectors while taking care of the situation. Honestly, it's not a judgment a sane person could make.
Raon not only took the enemy's weapon but also their food and the containers holding it. If Raon became the head, Zieghart would break free from the Six Kings and the Five Demons and stand alone.
'But age is an issue.'
Raon is young and lacks the achievements and power compared to Karoon, Denier, and Balder.
If that gap is filled, he could genuinely enter the competition for the successor.
'Is there a way to help…'
As the Gambling Monster walked, sorting out his thoughts about Raon and Balder, Raon stopped and raised his hand.
"Welcome to the annex, Special Inspector."
Raon gestured towards the entrance of the garden and bowed politely.
"It's shabby."
Balder frowned at the garden, devoid of any flowers in the winter. He continued in a harsh voice, releasing his pent-up resentment.
"This is the ugliest, dirtiest garden in all of Zieghart. It's barely better than a field."
"Is that so?"
Despite the insult to Sylvia's garden, Raon did not lose his gentle smile.
"You can tell the owner's personality by looking at the garden. The annex's owner is small-minded and petty…"
"Chief."
At Raon's call, the Gambling Monster immediately ran up and slapped Balder's mouth.
"Ugh!"
Balder, in the middle of talking, winced and stepped back.
"Did you wash your mouth with a mop? Speak nicely."
The Gambling Monster wiped his hand after hitting Balder, scrunching his nose.
"Ugh…"
Balder groaned, clutching his mouth, unable to do anything else. His eyes looked like a tired puppy wanting to go home.
"Please come in."
Raon led Balder and the inspectors to the entrance of the annex. Thanks to the Gambling Monster, they followed silently.
When the door opened, Sylvia and Helen were coming down the stairs.
"Young Master?"
"Why are you back so soon? There's still a lot to organize today…"
Sylvia tilted her head, then stopped in her tracks when she saw Balder standing behind Raon.
"B-Brother. No, Sir Balder…"
She trembled, her lips turning white as if she was terrified of Balder.
"Sylvia. You still haven't come to your senses…"
Balder frowned at Sylvia. Just as he was about to say something, the Gambling Monster lifted his foot.
Wham!
The Gambling Monster cheerfully kicked Balder's backside and walked into the annex.
"Move aside! I can't get in with you standing like a bear!"
"Urgh…"
Balder rubbed his kicked backside and stepped aside. While glancing at the Gambling Monster, he unknowingly bumped the door with his shoulder.
Raon didn't miss the moment and yanked the door off its hinges.
Crash!
The sound of metal twisting echoed as the door broke off and fell backward.
"What…?"
Balder stared at the fallen door, his mouth agape. Everyone's eyes were on him.
"It wasn't me! It wasn't!"
"You shoulder-checked it, Special Inspector."
"How does a door break from a shoulder check!"
"I told you, the annex is old and fragile."
Raon gestured to Dorian.
"Ah, yes. One door…"
Dorian took out a notebook and wrote down one door.
"That's not right."
Raon shook his head, looking at the notebook.
"We can't replace one door at a time. Both need to be replaced."
"Oh, yes!"
Dorian nodded and changed it to two doors.
"It wasn't me! This kid ripped it off with his hand!"
Raon ignored the argument and called for the Gambling Monster.
"You shoulder-checked it; everyone here saw it."
The Gambling Monster approached Balder, frowning.
"How does a shoulder check break a door!"
"Look at your body! It would be strange if it didn't break!"
"Ugh…"
Balder sighed in resignation and gestured to the inspectors behind him.
"Investigate, quickly and carefully. Don't break anything."
He glared at them, signaling not to waste money on repairs.
"Understood."
"We will be cautious."
The inspectors, also intimidated, nodded and scattered.
"What is this…"
Sylvia's tense expression relaxed upon seeing the now subdued Balder.
"Why is Brother Balder so meek?"
She blinked, unable to comprehend the situation.
"Indeed…"
"I have no idea."
"Hmm…"
Helen and the maids, also puzzled by Balder's demeanor, exchanged bewildered glances.
"The Special Inspector wanted to investigate the annex, so I brought him here."
Raon approached Sylvia and the maids, giving them a gentle smile.
"There's nothing to worry about. Everything will be fine."
He infused his voice with Willpower to reassure them. Sylvia and the maids' expressions softened considerably.
"Special Inspector, let's start over here."
Raon raised his hand and led them to the left corridor.
"Tsk."
Balder clicked his tongue and followed.
The left corridor was the narrowest in the annex, and with Balder's large frame, it was almost completely blocked, causing the picture frames hanging on the wall to fall.
Crash!
The frames hit the ground, shattering with a sharp sound.
"Ugh!"
Balder leaned against the outer wall in surprise.
Crash!
When Balder's back touched the wall, Raon used all his strength to push against it.
Thanks to his title of Destruction King, even a light push caused the wall to crumble.
-You crazy bastard! Why are you breaking your own house!
Wrath exclaimed, shocked at seeing Raon destroy his own home.
"Oh…"
Balder gaped at the wall turning to dust.
"No, no! It wasn't me! This kid broke it!"
He pointed at Raon, his chin trembling.
"It's too much. Everyone here saw you hit the wall with your back."
Raon gestured to the people present, shaking his head.
"How can a wall break from someone leaning on it!"
"Then how does it make sense for a wall to break from a finger push?"
"Ugh…"
Unable to retort, Balder's face turned red.
"This is driving me crazy. It wasn't me!"
He couldn't contain his anger and stomped his foot.
Crash!
Raon timed the vibration with his own strength, causing the remaining wall to collapse, taking the ceiling down with it.
Crash!
The noise of the collapsing ceiling and walls brought everyone running to see Balder, staring at him with wide eyes.
"Don't look at me like that! I'm innocent!"
Balder thumped his chest and shouted, but no one believed him.
"Are you trying to destroy the entire house!"
The Gambling Monster punched Balder's head, telling him to get a grip.
"I'm really innocent!"
"Shut up!"
He silenced Balder with a slap.
"Dorian."
"Ah, yes…"
Despite being scared of Balder, Dorian faithfully noted down the damages in his notebook.
'It's working perfectly.'
Raon had deliberately led Balder to the narrowest, oldest corridor, and the plan was working flawlessly. It was almost absurd how well it worked.
-You really are crazy. Even the heavenly beings who specialize in deception couldn't compete with you!
Wrath exclaimed, genuinely impressed.
"I won't move from here! I won't play into your schemes anymore!"
Balder sat down, arms crossed, eyes closed, refusing to move until the inspection was over.
'There are other ways.'
Raon left Balder and followed the inspectors.
While they searched the annex, he subtly damaged insignificant items, adding them to Dorian's list.
"Why are you doing this!"
"Leave it alone! It's your stuff!"
"I didn't break that vase!"
"You demon!"
The inspectors were at a loss, unable to do anything as the financial damage piled up.
"Aaah!"
"Please stop!"
Balder's eyes fluttered open at the screams echoing through the annex.
"Is this the devil's castle…"
An hour later.
The inspectors stood in front of Balder.
"There's nothing here."
"Same here."
"It's clean."
Everyone bowed, reporting no suspicious findings.
"Really? Then let's go!"
Balder smiled, delighted to finally leave the annex.
"Where are you going?"
Raon blocked his path, shaking his finger.
"You need to compensate for the damage you caused to our house."
"Hah! That negative ion nonsense doesn't work on me anymore! That's a scam term! There's no such thing in the world!"
Apparently, Balder had researched negative ions in the meantime and was confident.
"Unfortunately, we don't have negative ions."
Raon shook his head calmly.
"The damaged items are all ordinary things."
"Really? Then it shouldn't cost much!"
Balder laughed, pleased that there were no negative ions.
"But."
Raon sniffled, lowering his head.
"These items, this house, contain the lives of my mother, the maids, and me. They are more precious than negative ions…"
"Aaah!"
Balder clutched his head, screaming.
"So how much?"
"About thirty gold coins?"
"That's too expensive!"
"Memories are priceless. I want to replace them with the best items to give my mother a little joy."
Raon trembled, keeping his head down.
"It's sad."
The Gambling Monster sniffled behind him.
"Ugh, this is driving me crazy…"
Balder, trembling, finally pulled out thirty gold coins.
"Now I'm leaving!"
"Wait a moment."
Raon blocked Balder's way again.
"I don't see the state-of-the-art temperature control artifact No. 1 that was here."
"What are you talking about now?"
"There was an artifact next to the frame you broke, from House Yonaan. It warmed the entire house, but it seems to have broken with the frame."
"Ridiculous! There was only a frame! How far are you going to go…"
"Chief!"
The Gambling Monster immediately nodded.
"Ah, yes. I saw it too. A small orb, right?"
"Correct. It seems to have broken when Balder moved."
"Hm…"
Raon and the Gambling Monster both stared at Balder.
"Sigh…"
Balder sighed in resignation and pulled out his spatial pouch.
"How much is it?"
"Since it's a valuable artifact that controls the entire house's temperature and is handmade by the Yonaan heir…"
"Just tell me the price!"
"Thirty gold coins."
"Can't you cut it a little…"
"Chief!"
If Balder's words got longer, Raon immediately called for the Gambling Monster.
"Want to pay three hundred?"
"Why are you doing this!"
"Just pay up!"
"You're going to live a long life."
Balder, glaring at Raon, handed over thirty gold coins again.
"Thank you."
"..."
Balder, too exhausted to reply, walked towards the entrance.
"This door is settled, right?"
"Of course. But…"
Raon frowned at the table next to the door.
"I don't see the latest security alarm artifact Peekaboo No. 1. It seems to have broken when the door fell."
"There wasn't such a thing!"
"Dorian, did you see it?"
"Uh…yes, Peekaboo No. 1!"
Dorian nodded, avoiding the Gambling Monster's eyes.
"Peekaboo! It's Peekaboo, not Peekaboo!"
Balder shouted triumphantly.
"That's not the point, Chief!"
"Hey!"
The Gambling Monster gestured for the money.
"Sigh, will this end only when I die?"
Balder stared at the ceiling in despair, his mouth open.
"So how much for Peekaboo?"
"Thirty gold coins."
"Did you guys agree on this? Why is everything thirty coins!"
He laughed helplessly, shaking his empty wallet.
"I have no money left! You bastard!"
"Credit is available."
"Credit…"
"Since you're a Special Inspector, I'll charge only ten percent daily interest."
Raon nodded, raising a finger.
"Not even loan sharks charge that! You crazy bastard!"
Balder thumped his chest and stomped his feet.
Crash!
The table crumbled from the shock.
"Table added…"
Dorian automatically wrote down the broken furniture.
"Ugh! I'll send it today!"
Balder stormed out, glaring as if he wanted to kill.
Raon followed, using Spatial Sword to strike the garden's center.
Boom!
An explosion from the ground shook the garden violently.
"This…"
"It seems to be due to the inspector."
"What did I do now!"
Balder glared, wide-eyed.
"Did you know that plants can understand words?"
"Huh?"
"Research shows that plants grow faster with kind words and slower with harsh words."
"What's your point!"
"When you first arrived, you called the plants shabby and ugly. The seeds seem to have committed suicide from the shock."
Raon said, using Spatial Sword again.
Boom!
Another explosion sent dirt flying into the air.
"See? They couldn't handle the stress and exploded."
"Don't be ridiculous! You used Aura just now!"
Balder, experienced, recognized Raon's Aura use.
"That was to protect myself. Did you see Aura coming out of my hand?"
"Th-that's…"
Unaware of the Spatial Sword, Balder had no answer.
-Wrath is about to go insane.
Wrath sighed in disbelief.
-Using skills learned from fighting dragons for this… You're a devil!
He shook his head, amazed.
"This is unavoidable. You must compensate for this too. The seeds were infused with germanium…"
"Stop! Please stop!"
Balder covered his ears and fled at full speed, disappearing from sight in an instant.
"Now that the Special Inspector is gone, let's settle the remaining balance."
Raon gestured to the remaining inspectors.
"Ugh…"
"Why are we here…"
The inspectors looked at Raon's hand as if it were the Grim Reaper's scythe, trembling.
Rimmer leaned against the Tiger Rock, then stood up.
"This is the first time I've seen Balder run away. That guy fought no matter how many enemies there were, but he ran like that?"
He burst out laughing, watching Balder flee without looking back.
"Did you foresee this?"
Rimmer looked up at Glenn with a smile.
"Of course not."
Standing atop the Tiger Rock, Glenn shook his head, a smile also playing on his lips.
"I thought Helyan would stop Balder's tricks. But…"
Glenn turned his gaze from the fleeing Balder to Raon, who was directing the inspectors to fix the garden.
"I didn't expect Raon to take advantage of this situation."
"Well, who could? Raon is a madman."
Rimmer nodded in agreement.
"He extorted sixty gold coins at the training ground and brought them to the annex to squeeze more out. He's relentless."
"That's not it."
Glenn shook his head, looking at Sylvia, who stood behind Raon. Her pale complexion had regained color.
"Raon brought Balder to the annex to give Sylvia confidence."
"Confidence?"
"Yes. Raon said he would elevate Sylvia to the direct line next year. Then she will face the house leaders again. He showed her a defeated Balder to boost her confidence."
"Ah…"
Rimmer nodded, understanding Glenn's point.
"Raon is indeed thoughtful… huh?"
As he admired Raon, he saw him extracting gold coins from the inspectors, looking like a thug taking pocket money from children.
"Is that really it?"
He asked, Glenn's fists began to tremble.
"Head of house?"
"It's frustrating."
"Yes?"
"I have nothing to give that admirable kid. If only he'd extort money from me like Balder…"
Glenn, genuinely angry, shook his fists.
"I'd happily give if he threatened me!"
"..."
Rimmer shook his head at Glenn, who was muttering about giving away the entire house fortune.
"This house is doomed."
Should I find another job?