Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 159 - 152 Kevin’s Hamlet Journey

The morning in Cassandra was cleaner than in his own memory, whether it was the distant, relatively shallow clouds or the sleek stone walls beside him, washed by the rain.

Well, perhaps it was Lyle’s illusion; nothing in Cassandra had changed.

At best, it was only under Mr. Ralph’s influence that everything seemed much brighter.

When dawn was yet to come, and he had just been teleported back from Andrey’s place, lying in bed for less than twenty minutes, his cheap uncle Ralph knocked on Lyle’s door. The shadow under the hat was like a bottomless dark pool, with those original lake-blue eyes now tinted with bright yellow, as if something was hiding underneath the clear surface of the water.

Ralph’s presence had grown stronger, and Lyle wasn’t sure if it was just his guilt for sneaking out in the middle of the night.

"There is a new job for you; your time off has ended."

"Alright, uncle, where are we going this time?"

"Not we, it’s you who is going somewhere."

A solo mission? Lyle wasn’t dependent on Ralph, but Ralph didn’t seem like someone who would let Lyle operate on his own.

"A formalized private commission," Ralph clicked his tongue, and his eyes showed dissatisfaction as he looked at Lyle, "You should be more cautious when making friends."

Puzzled, Lyle followed Ralph to the security office.

"Hamlet County; that’s Duke of Hamlet’s private dominion in another country. By rights, there should be no connection with us. However, one of our noble families recently received a letter from the ailing Duke of Hamlet. The letter mentioned that the Duke was worried about his heirship. He researched his lineage and found a family branch that had strayed over here. The wealth and influence of the ancient Hamlet Family are enough to tempt even stones, and that lucky noble family is deliberating on how to secure the position of heir. They need an excellent guide to protect the heir."

"Am I that chosen excellent person?"

Lyle found peace again amidst Ralph’s disdainful gaze.

Ralph looked up at the sky, with only the spire of a high tower in his view, "I just hope that damned kid can do something reliable this time. I’d strangle you both if I could, but even jokes have their limits."

Lyle, unjustly accused, didn’t argue with his uncle, until he walked into the security office, where his doubts were finally resolved.

The handsome young man sat reservedly in the reception room of the security office. His golden hair was like drawn gold, reflecting specks of light in bright places. His carefree smile could seduce a lovestruck girl, and his stylish suit outlined a tall, youthful body. He exuded an aura of joy that affected everyone around him, even the usually aloof Mr. Gareth stopped his work to sit opposite the young man, holding a cup of fragrant tea, and chatting pleasantly with him.

This infuriatingly good-looking creature.

"You’ve arrived just in time, Mr. Butler. This gentleman is your client, the noble son of Baron Borey, Mr. Kevin Borey."

Kevin stood up, revealing a noble’s grace to his friend, "I am pleased to meet you, Officer Lyle Butler." His gaze then shifted to Ralph’s somber face, and his mouth twitched slightly, "And... and Mr. Ralph Butler too."

"Alright, you can discuss the details of the commission privately. Ralph, do not interfere with them."

Kevin, seemingly carefree, brushed past Ralph with a tense expression.

"Mr. Kevin..." Ralph turned his head to look at his nephew’s former classmate.

"Yes!" Kevin stood to attention, turning around, sweat sliding down his glossy cheek.

"There is no danger in this commission, is there?"

Kevin took out a handkerchief and wiped his cheek, "There probably isn’t any danger. Everything in Hamlet County is unknown, but my intuition tells me we won’t have any issues. My intuition assures me we will be fine, Uncle Ralph."

Ralph seemed to have temporarily let him go.

Just as Kevin breathed a sigh of relief and continued on his way, Ralph’s gloomy voice came from behind, like a cold wind slipping into one’s sleeves in winter.

"Kevin, I hate being deceived the most, you’re a good kid, aren’t you?"

"Yes!" Kevin gestured to Lyle, took off the walking stick and hat from the coat rack, and dashed out in a puff of smoke.

......

Lyle looked at the spot where Kevin had paused to catch his breath.

It seemed our noble friend had a peculiar fondness for playing in the mud, as he often chose spots where the path was untrimmed and no one passed, in shady corners.

He took two deep breaths, brushed his hair, which had stuck to his forehead from sweat, aside, and revealed a smile that still betrayed his fright to Lyle, "Mr. Ralph is still the same as he always was... ah... always turns up just at the right time."

Lyle perfectly tore down Mr. Kevin’s disguise, "If you want to say he’s omnipresent, just say it. Using compliments for Ralph is like... um... fitting a pig’s head onto a human’s neck."

"Is Mr. Ralph a pig’s head?"

"... I will be sure to feed back your true opinion to him."

"Hey! My brother, there’s no need for both of us to suffer losses!"

"Stick to the point, Kevin. I didn’t even know you had relatives in another country."

Kevin loosened a little bit of his collar, leaning ungracefully against the stone wall.

"Coincidentally, I didn’t know either. When I went to question my father with my doubts, he just looked at me with a half-smile, and then arranged for me to begin my journey to Hamlet County by myself."

"I suspect our family has no more than a distant connection to the Hamlets. My father just wants to get his hands on this windfall. A forged heir identity, an inherited glory of a duke’s son. Just like those merchants who sharpen their heads, trying to become nobility, my father is also driven by self-interest."

"I remember, Baron Borey’s fondness for you is more than indulgence; otherwise, you wouldn’t have had the chance to become the oddity among the nobility. Why would Baron Borey let his only son take such a risk, even if you do have a squad of well-equipped private soldiers, there’s no guaranteeing your safety."

"No soldiers, no servants, our Hamlet journey will be only three people."

"... Have you lost your mind? Three people traveling to a neighboring country, such a long journey, what if you encounter accidents along the way? And who’s the third person?"

"Ha! That person happens to be the reason I’m pulling you into this, that person is the gentleman my father is hopeful about investing in, and also your competitor. In the name of Kevin Borey, my Knight Lyle, defeat your opponent."

"Even if that gentleman is incredibly capable, the three of us can’t make it on this road, it’s too dangerous."

"No, according to my considerations, our going as three is actually the safest."

"What’s your reasoning?"

"My intuition."

"..."