[BL] Challenge: 100 Baby in Fantasy World-Chapter 282: Eshaan House’s Situation

This wasn’t the first time Wina told Gara how much she wished he could live freely, doing whatever he wanted without anyone tailing him.

"Mom knows you want to protect and take care of your kids," Wina said gently,

"but someday they’ll have to see the outside world too. Are you planning to keep them inside your space forever?"

Her question made Gara picture the day the triplets would be old enough to enter the academy.

’Because I want them to do anything they want in the future, that’s why I’m earning as much money as I can... gathering information... figuring out how to hide their scent...’

"They can only go out once their scent is masked? Then what about their identities when they step outside?" Wina asked again.

"Are you planning to give them fake identity, making them pretend to be someone else?"

This time, her question hit deep because, honestly, that was Gara’s plan.

A sudden thought surfaced in Gara’s mind.

’Would the triplets be happier if they could walk outside without hiding anything? Their scent... or even who they really are?’

...

That night, Gara met Tristan, who had just stepped out of his room. The old man looked exhausted, but his eyes gleamed with excitement.

"I did it, Gara. Thank you. This is all because of you!" he said, bursting with energy.

"You’ve helped me in so many ways, Uncle. One enhance crystal doesn’t even compare."

Tristan shook his head.

"It’s nearly impossible to find a Liner who can detect the type of enhance crystal. And even when you do, the wait is long and the fee is outrageous.

I’d already given up on ever upgrading my Talent. But now, I finally did it. Once again, thank you, Gara.

Especially with the large-scale mist-monster assault coming at the end of the year."

"The end of the year?" Gara blurted out in shock.

Tristan nodded.

"I’m not joining, but I can’t let my guard down. If anything happens to my brother... Anyway, a Talent upgrade after all these decades will be a huge help to Cakra House."

"I’m glad I could help, Uncle." Gara smiled, though a knot of worry tightened in his chest at the mention of the assault.

...

Break was almost over, but Langga hadn’t left Gyakarta Academy since the start of the holiday.

Pere walked in carrying several documents. "Today, Gara and his friends—the ones who aren’t Class S students—met at a small restaurant on the outskirts of town, but..."

The bespectacled man listed the names of the guests, each more shocking than the last. Langga’s brows furrowed multiple times as he listened.

"What kind of event was that supposed to be?" he asked.

"I haven’t found any information, Sir. The event was arranged directly by the Chief Manager of Alrova Merchant House.

She’s known for being meticulous and extremely cautious. Not a single staff member involved in the event has said a word."

Langga wasn’t surprised. He already knew many of his investigations had hit dead ends because people from Alrova House were covering them up,

and all of that was orchestrated by Hilda.

"But sir, only Tristan Cakra went with Gara to the third floor of Alrova Shop," Pere added.

"There’s no way Alrova House would prepare their small third floor as accommodation for someone like Sir Tristan.

Besides, that floor is supposed to be the living quarters for Madha and Fian." Langga began piecing the clues together.

"You’re right, Sir," Pere nodded.

"And since I saw Sir Tristan’s arrival, I started digging into him a bit. It turns out he’s been trying to contact Duke Eshaan’s side recently."

"He’s doing that now, with the Eshaan House in its current state?" Langga raised a brow.

"This is far too suspicious. He’s definitely hiding something."

...

Tristan stayed only one night before he had to return home.

"I really don’t want to leave my sweet grandkids, but Grandpa has to go," Tristan said while hugging Aldwin and squishing Ava’s chubby cheeks.

Thanks to his persistent efforts to bond with Ava and Arion, Ava finally allowed him to hold her. Arion, however, still kept his distance.

Gara smiled quietly, watching the middle-aged man’s eyes grow watery.

Before sending Tristan out of his space, Gara looked at him seriously.

"Uncle... I’ve decided to follow your plan."

"My plan?" Tristan blinked in confusion.

"I’m ready to reveal my real identity," Gara said firmly.

Tristan was stunned. He thought it would take much longer to convince Gara.

"Before that... I need to tell you about the situation in Eshaan House. The reason they can’t focus on you right now..."

Gara nodded.

Tristan took a deep breath and continued, "Duke Eshaan—your biological grandfather—has been unconscious. For a full year."

"Unconscious?" That was far from what Gara had imagined.

He had assumed his father’s siblings and cousins were in the middle of a power struggle, which was why they had no interest in meeting him.

They didn’t want a new competitor entering the picture.

"Duke Eshaan suddenly developed a fever, and after that, he never woke up. The strange thing was the injection mark on his body, and no one knows where it came from.

Then one of Sir Karon’s maids was found burying something behind the castle’s hill. Turned out it was an injection device.

She told the guard who caught her that she knew nothing and was simply ordered by Sir Karon. But after that, the maid committed suicide...

in a very suspicious manner. Sir Ramun immediately accused Sir Karon of orchestrating everything—"

"Wait! Who are Sir Karon and Sir Ramun?" Gara cut him off.

"Oh right, I haven’t explained that part. After Commander Gavin died, the one who took his place as Duke’s heir was Sir Karon, Duke’s second son.

But he didn’t inherit Commander Gavin’s position as Esalavya Duchy’s main general. Duke didn’t want the same thing that happened to Commander Gavin to happen to Sir Karon, so he wasn’t allowed on the battlefield. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Because of that, the one serving as the main general now is Duke’s third son, Sir Ramun."

"But isn’t accusing Sir Karon completely unreasonable? Why would he try to kill his own father when he’s the heir?"

"Sir Ramun believes Sir Karon feels threatened. After becoming the main general, Sir Ramun has achieved a lot.

According to him, Sir Karon wanted Duke Eshaan out of the way as quickly as possible so his status as heir wouldn’t be replaced."

"What do you think, Uncle? Do you all share Sir Ramun’s view?"

So in the end, this was just another version of a power struggle. Gara let out a long exhale.

Tristan’s expression softened. "Sir Karon... He used to be the vice commander, always following Commander Gavin onto every battlefield.

The requirements Duke set for the heir didn’t forbid them from going to war entirely. They only needed to serve five years.

Sir Karon served far longer than that, so when he was named the heir, he no longer had to go to the front lines."

"The people who truly follow Duke Eshaan know what Sir Karon is like. He’s the kindest and most honest. There’s no way he’d do something like this to Duke Eshaan.

In fact, all the nobles under Duke Eshaan support Sir Karon. His achievements as the former vice commander alone were enough to earn their trust."

"So... is all of this Sir Ramun’s scheme to frame Sir Karon?"

This time, Tristan shook his head. "Sir Ramun is known for having no ambition. He would never—"

"But people can change, Uncle," Gara cut in.

Tristan fell silent. "Whatever the truth is, the military is entirely in Sir Ramun’s hands now. He’s forbidden anyone from contacting Sir Karon."

"So this really is a battle between the heir and the main general?"

"Yes, but right now Sir Karon has no power at all. He’s practically under house arrest, confined inside his own castle." Tristan’s gaze dimmed.

"What happened to the Duke made me realize I need to be more careful about telling them you’ve appeared. That’s why I haven’t informed them I found you.

I only asked them to search for you. But Sir Ramun said he must focus all forces on the duchy’s capital to prevent Sir Karon’s faction from attacking... so nothing has moved."

"Well, it is dangerous to reveal my existence to Sir Ramun right now. He might try to get rid of me the way he framed Sir Karon," Gara muttered.

"Sir Ramun isn’t a bad person, Gara. But we don’t know about the people around him."

Gara scoffed lightly, watching Tristan defend Ramun even after everything.

"Then how are you supposed to tell them about me? And how will they protect me when things over there are a complete mess?"

"Marquess Cakra will personally request a meeting with Sir Karon. No matter how much Sir Ramun ignores me or other nobles, he won’t be able to ignore Marquess Cakra."

Gara finally nodded.

After discussing more about Duke Eshaan and the current state of Esalavya Duchy, Tristan at last took his leave.

"I hope I’m making the right choice," Gara muttered, letting out a weary sigh.

...