CHAPTER 26
Every divine beast had a special ability, but the White Tiger divine beast, Mion, had a particularly unique one.
“He can read others’ memories.”
So-called psychometry.
In the original story, this ability was only used as a plot device for him to fall deeply for Mellin after reading her memories.
But to waste such a powerful ability on mere romance?
“What a loss.”
The power to read memories—
If used well, it could be a goldmine.
A massive goldmine, in fact.
Besides, information is power, isn’t it?
“It’s totally a cheat code.”
“What? No way!”
Mion recoiled in fear at my smile. That kind of reaction to someone smiling… hurts my feelings a little.
“Hehehe…”
“Witch! Demon!”
“They say people who live kindly die young. I plan on living a long life this time around.”
Remembering how my meddlesomeness got me killed early in my past life, I shrugged my shoulders.
Still, he seemed especially prickly toward me.
“Do I smell bad or something?”
I buried my nose in my sleeve and sniffed.
They say people can’t smell their own scent, but I didn’t smell anything.
Mion’s eyes grew more wary, probably because my behavior looked suspicious.
Feeling embarrassed, I lowered my hand and reached it out to him.
“You’re going to grow huge, so at least earn your keep in pet food, okay? Let’s get along.”
“I-I’d rather go to Penelope…”
“If you really think that, I’ll send you there right now. I’m a good owner who respects her pet’s wishes.”
“…‘Good owner,’ my foot!”
Mion slapped my hand away, but his fate was already sealed.
Oh, and there’s something important.
“By the way, if you turn into a human in front of anyone besides me, I’ll ship you off to Penelope.”
“…Even in front of Mellin?”
“Do you want to humanize in front of Mellin?”
I grinned wickedly.
“Then I can show you just how much of a paradise Penelope really was…”
Sensing danger, Mion shook his head frantically.
“Smart choice. You almost became the first divine beast to get neutered.”
At my words, Mion’s face went completely pale.
“Information really is money!”
With Mion by my side, I could definitely launch a business or avoid all kinds of dangers.
My mouth was practically watering already.
“But getting on Penelope’s bad side is terrifying…”
Then how about playing a little trick?
Let’s make sure they never guess Mion is here.
“Just wait, you old geezer. I’m going to dig up your weakness and get that inheritance no matter what!”
I clenched my fist, silently cursing the Duke Dinero.
* * *
“My ears are ringing.”
Someone must be talking about him. Not that anyone other than Clemence would dare.
The Duke of Dinero calmly sipped his tea.
He was seated at the Imperial Round Table Conference Room.
As usual, the Emperor wasn’t present, and the nobles who held key positions in the Imperial Court were lounging around arrogantly.
“But Duke Dinero, who normally never attends such meetings—what brings you here today?”
The loudest among the Emperor’s supporters, Count Bentley, grinned at the Duke.
“That tone of his…”
Acting like he’s the Emperor himself. Disgusting.
But the Duke dismissed him without even acknowledging him.
Count Bentley’s face flushed at the snub but quickly twisted into a smirk.
“Have you decided on an heir yet, Duke?”
“Yes, surely it’s about time for that, isn’t it?”
The Duke responded with a bored expression.
“This old man has high standards. No one quite measures up.”
Count Bentley’s expression cracked.
In fact, he had quietly introduced some handpicked candidates to the Duke, hoping to have one selected as heir.
“Damn it! He didn’t like that one?”
The guy graduated top of his class at the academy! So much money went into grooming him!
Swallowing his anger, Bentley forced a smile.
“If it were a family succession, things would be easier, wouldn’t they? Such a shame.”
“I prefer this method. Others may call it old-fashioned.”
The Duke’s gaze briefly landed on Baron Hugo, who’d been mocking his succession method behind his back. Hugo quickly looked away and struck up conversation with nearby nobles.
“Did you hear? Count Bernard is apparently searching for a surviving child of the Euclide family.”
“Weren’t they wiped out five years ago?”
“That’s what the official records say… but rumor has it the youngest son escaped.”
The Duke took a sip of his tea as he listened.
“So those looking for a black-haired, green-eyed boy are from that side.”
“If someone were to present the Emperor with a black-haired, green-eyed boy as tribute, what better way to prove loyalty?”
In other words, offering up boys resembling Lennox Euclide as pawns to gain political favor.
“Duke Dinero might benefit too. Lately, the Emperor’s attention seems to be shifting away from the divine beasts…”
Bentley’s provocation was met only with a mocking smile.
The Duke had no interest in such revolting ideas of exploiting innocent children for power.
In the old days, he’d have half-killed someone for saying such a thing, but now he no longer had the energy for it.
“Tch. This is why I didn’t want to come.”
But if he missed one more nobles’ meeting, he’d be automatically retired from his Elder Council seat—hence, this reluctant visit.
He might need the authority of an elder someday.
As rumored, the old Duke’s mind was still as sharp as ever.
Just then, another noble spoke up.
“By the way, Count Bentley, I heard you’ve got a pesky fly buzzing around you lately.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Haha…”
Bentley’s smile faltered.
“Well, given your history, I’m sure it must be frustrating.”
The “fly” referred to Arthur Vince.
Bentley had once bought some Rosdella drugs from him out of curiosity and even shared drinks occasionally.
“Then he vanished after pocketing the money, hiding in a mine.”
Bentley had helped him out, expecting to get something in return.
Arthur had promised to deliver the medicine after winning a lawsuit against Clemence Jacqueline—but ended up losing.
Worse, when the Duke of Dinero demanded 100,000 gold in damages, Arthur began making excuses.
“Please, Count! Help me get back on my feet and I swear I’ll repay you!”
He begged for one more chance, but Bentley knew Arthur would just squander the money on drugs and alcohol.
“If you just help me return to House Jacqueline, I’ll repay your kindness in full…”
Bentley’s face twisted as he glared at the Duke who had just ignored him.
The Dinero household had very few vassals.
The founding Duke had famously been picky and strictly limited the number of retainers.
Even so, the power of the Dinero family was undeniable.
The sheer wealth behind them was enormous.
Money isn’t power by itself—but vast amounts of it can be.
“That old man is a real thorn.”
Bentley had hoped to win the Duke over and solidify his own faction’s position.
He had even secretly placed heir candidates around the Duke—but they didn’t last long.
The Duke dismissed them one after another, unimpressed.
After all his careful planning went to waste, Bentley gritted his teeth.
“Don’t tell me… he’s planning to name Clemence Jacqueline as his heir?”
There were rumors that the Duke had taken a liking to her recently.
Bentley had even planted Istasha Rowen inside House Jacqueline just in case, but that had all gone sideways.
“Damn it. I can’t let this go.”
If he could just get the Dinero family under his control, everything else would fall into place.
“I have to do something!”
He couldn’t let all his efforts go to waste.
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