"What do you mean they're shut down!?"

Viscount Raimsal's voice reverberated loudly within the estate as he frantically ruffled his hair into a mess.

"A-ah, it-it's... we can't get in touch with them. We've received a notice from them telling us that they'll be closed for the next three days. We tried to contact them but it was to no avail."

"How is this possible?!"

Viscount Raimsal's saliva flew out of his mouth.

Glaring at his poor vassal, he threw the papers on his desk aside.

"This shouldn't be possible! It's illegal! Get in contact with the Megrail family and Central! I'm filing a formal complaint."

"But sir...!"

The vassal tried to say something, but he was promptly shut down by the Viscount.

"Now!"

"Yes....!"

In the end, the vassal had no other choice but to quickly leave the estate which was filled with tension and chaos.

Clank!

"Huff... Huff..."

The Viscount's heavy breath reverberated throughout the room as he slumped back on his chair with bloodshot eyes.

"H-how did it come to this...?"

His voice was haggard and his face was pale. It almost seemed like he had aged several years in a span of a few breaths.

...And that could very well be the case.

He was on the verge of losing what he and his ancestors had worked hard for.

And all of this stemmed from the fact that he had once coveted a gold mine.

"Ah."

The Viscount covered his face in desperation.

Was there even a way for him to solve the situation?

Though the vassal didn't finish his sentence, the Viscount knew exactly what he was trying to say. That filing complaints with the Royal family and Central was a lost cause. By the time

they got back to him, Baron Evenus would've already taken everything from him.

With no funds, no troops, and no help, the Viscount was trapped.

"...I-is this really how everything ends?"

The Viscount bit his lips.

He didn't want his family to end. Not like this. Especially not at the hands of Baron Evenus.

Clench.

As his face turned red, a thought occurred to him.

"Ah, that's right... There is a way."

His face grew fanatical as he quickly opened up the drawer next to him.

Clank!

"I... never really planned on using this, but you've pushed me to his point, Baron. Don't blame me for what I'm about to do next."

With bloodshot eyes, the Viscount rummaged through the drawer and retrieved a small communication device that was nestled by the very end of the drawer. It was black in color and the moment the Viscount glanced at it, his heartbeat rose.

Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!

He could hear and feel the beat of his heart drum in his mind.

"Haa..."

His breathing quickened.

'I'm only supposed to use this when I have no other choice. Father told me to not contact them unless I absolutely had no choice... and when I did, I'd lose everything! Still.. I'm already on the verge of losing everything. What's the point of holding back anymore?'

The Viscount clenched his teeth once more.

"I'd rather this happen than Baron Evenus take over."

Click!

He pressed onto the communication device and mumbled,

"I need help. Please send someone over."

Done with the message, he tossed the communication device onto the table and slumped on his chair as he blankly stared at the ceiling.

"Наа... Наа..."

There was no turning back from this point.

From this point forward, he'd lost control of his County.

Someone else would take over. He was going to become nothing but a puppet for them. But it was necessary. He... was willing to become a puppet if it meant that he could destroy the one that was responsible for all of this.

"Baron Evenus...!"

The Viscount's face twisted as he turned to look at the communication device he had thrown on the table.

It rolled across the table for several seconds before coming to a stop, revealing a four-leaf clover symbol.

"Hehehe."

The Viscount laughed, leaning back on his chair with a dazed look. He was no longer breathing heavily and his expression had long calmed down.

He just sat there in silence for an unknown period of time, his lips curling from time to time.

Eventually, lifting his head, he mumbled,

"....I really had no ch-!?"

Swoosh!

A figure appeared in front of the Viscount before he knew it. He was donned in black, making

it hard to see his face.

"You...!"

The Viscount was startled at first, but his expression soon turned ecstatic.

"Haha, you're finally here!"

He jumped up from his seat and welcomed the hooded figure.

"...You must be the secret helper my father talked about. Perfect, perfect."

The Viscount rubbed his hands together.

"If you guys are as powerful as my father said, then you must understand my current

situation, correct?"

"...Correct."

A deep voice replied back.

"You're on the verge of losing your territory due to your conflict with Baron Evenus. He lured your soldiers into the mines and detonated them. To make matters worse, the Emirates Bank has closed, and you've lost your funds. Viscount Verlice is taking care of the Barons who

attacked the territory of Cleomia."

"Yes, yes, that's correct..."

The Viscount repeatedly nodded his head.

Although he didn't show it on the outside, he had already broken into a cold sweat. News of

the Emirates Guild shutting down shouldn't have yet spread.

The fact that they already knew this displayed just how powerful they were.

"Haa... Haaa..."

The Viscount's breathing grew rougher because of this.

'Right... If I can use them then dealing with the Evenus Barony will be no problem. Right, I might lose

my territory but I'll be backed up by someone so powerful...'

Flicking his head to stare at the hooded figure, the Viscount tried his best to keep his

expression steady.

"Perfect, since you already know of my situation, I won't waste time with useless chatter. I

want you to-Ukh!"

Pfttt-

The Viscount's eyes suddenly widened, a sharp pain piercing through his chest. He staggered

back a few steps, struggling to lift his gaze.

"W-wh..."

He struggled to understand what was happening.

Looking down at his chest which was stained with his own blood, he stumbled back over to his

desk.

Thump!

A cold voice followed shortly after.

"...In light of the events following the impending collapse of his family, Viscount Raimsal,

overcome by the guilt of failing his people and ancestors, chose to end his own life. Rather than allowing his people to endure prolonged suffering, he chose to end things in the quickest

and most honorable way."

"A-ah... Aukh...!" Blood spilled from the Viscount's mouth as his vision grew blurry.

Even now, he couldn't understand what was happening. His father... he had clearly told him

these people would help him.

Why...?

Why did they instead kill him?

Had his father lied? How is this possible?!

Pftt-

Blood continued to spill from the Viscount's mouth as he slumped down on the ground.

Tak.

A pair of boots halted in front of him as he summoned the last of his strength to lift his gaze.

There, a hooded figure loomed, staring down at him with cold, unreadable eyes.

"

He was silent at first, but the silence lasted only for a short moment as he spoke,

"Had it been any other house, we would've helped you. Unfortunately..."

The hooded figure shook his head.

".... You chose to attack the wrong place."

Wrong place...? Are you saying the Evenus Household is under your protection?

Them...!?

"Ukh... akh!"

The Viscount wasn't satisfied with this answer. He tried to speak, but he had long lost his

breath. All that came out of his mouth was his own blood.

Eventually, his vision grew dark.

'No, no...'

Despair quickly overcame his mind, but it was too late.

He took his last breath shortly after.

A strange silence befell the room after his death.

Staring at the Viscount in silence, the hooded figure walked over to the recording device and

clicked on it.

"Done."

-Right, good job.

A warm voice replied shortly after.

-Take care of the rest. Make it look like it's a suicide.

"Understood."

The hooded figure replied with a tone of indifference. He was just about to turn off the

communication device before stopping.

"Lord..."

In fact, he was also curious as to why he had been ordered to kill the Viscount.

As the Leader of the Branch stationed around the area, he knew about the situation quite well.

From what he had gathered, the Raimsal County held significant potential. If properly cultivated, they could become a formidable asset to the organization-a weapon that could be sharpened and wielded with the intention of backstabbing those it had earned its trust. While the Royal Family was also under their control, not all Houses were.

The County could've been a great sword they could utilize to stab several Households in the

back.

It was for that reason that the Branch Leader struggled to understand the command.

Especially since he knew that Baron Evenus had nothing to do with them.

At least... as far as he was aware.

Not only members were aware of each other.

-Are you confused about my orders? About why I told you to discard such a potential asset?

"...Yes."

The Branch Leader truthfully answered.

A light laugh came out of the recording device.

-Well, there are multiple reasons if I have to be honest. After what happened recently,

Central no longer appears interested in taking them in. Even if we do end up helping the

County make a comeback, it'll take a few years for it to return in the same position as it was

before the entire situation.

"Oh."

The Branch Leader nodded faintly.

That made sense. He had also thought about this case and could agree. However, if they

played their cards right, they'd also be able to shorten the time it took for them to come back

into the same position. Especially if they swallowed the Evenus Barony.

'... It feels like there's something more that I'm missing.'

Though he felt that was the case, the Branch Leader remained quiet. He was sure the Lord had

its reaso-

-Well, that's the surface answer.

"Hm?"

The Branch Leader lowered his head, frowning slightly as he felt a sudden change in the

Lord's tone.

-The real answer is different.

Despite just hearing the voice from the communication device, the Branch Leader felt every

hair on his body rise as his expression changed.

-You see... There's someone important within the Evenus Barony. Far more important than

you, or anyone beside the Leader. It's been a while since I've last seen him, and it's about time

he returned.

"....."

The Branch Leader struggled to keep his breath in check as the Lord's tone lowered further.

-...Make sure to handle this smoothly. Don't give any more trouble to the one I chose.

Click.

The communication device closed shortly after, leaving the Branch Leader drained for breath.

"Huff... Huff..."

Resting his hand over the table, his chest heaved up and down uneasily.

The one I chose...?

The words the Lord had mentioned repeated in his mind over and over again until his

expression changed. "That....!"

Realization finally dawned on him.

"The Lord..."

The one who had never shown any interest in anyone for the past decades.

He...

Had finally chosen his successor.

The Low Seat of Dawn.