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There is a man named Wallace.
He is a royal with a place in the line of succession that is well beyond the hundredth, making his value as a royal quite dubious.
His abilities are generally low, with all of them in the fortiesâneither failing nor excelling in anything.
"HmmâLiam, are you telling me to hold parties every day? Let me be clear, it's impossible."
Liam struck Wallace as he made this declaration.
"What are you doing! It hurts!"
"Listen, Wallace, I'm very busy right now. I've even mobilized Yurisia, who used to wander around every day, to seize this opportunity."
"Opportunity? You mean a crisis, right?"
"No, it's an opportunity. I'm on the verge of grabbing luck."
What are you talking about? Wallace thought, but he couldn't say it out loud, as he couldn't disobey Liam, his patron.
"Why don't you handle it, Liam?"
"There are various reasons. Just prepare the party. Make it interesting, or it will get boring."
Liam's unreasonable demands were giving Wallace a headache.
"It's impossible to make each party interesting if I have to hold them every day. Let's just make them go smoothly."
"---Wallace, I have a certain level of commitment to parties. I can't tolerate any shortcuts. I'll provide the people and the money, so do your best."
I think this guy is the worst, but I can't say it out loud.
Liam is indeed busy.
Rather, Wallace thought that Liam was energetic for being so busy and still wanting to hold parties.
"Well, I'll do my best for you. But don't expect too much. And why don't you do it yourself?"
"If I handled everything, it wouldn't be fun to participate."
Even if I put in a lot of effort, it wouldn't be surprising if people already knew about it from the start.
Moreover, Liam thought it would be unpleasant to see if others were enjoying themselvesâso Wallace thought he was being selfish.
(I wanted to take it easy, but I can't. If I anger my patron, it's scary. I'll at least try to make a good excuse.)
â
The Calvinist meeting hall.
There, Liam's actions were being discussed.
"You're not joining the expeditionary army!?"
"Did he run away?"
"No, he's sending capable knights, who are close to him, to protect Prince Cleo. Indeed, he's sending Klaus, who often accompanies him in the capital."
"Is Klaus one of Liam's confidants?"
"Since he's sending his confidants, it doesn't seem like he's trying to escape from the Cleo faction. Howeverâ"
Everyone believed that Cleo was the supreme commander, but in reality, Liam was the actual commander.
However, Liam announced that he would stay in the capital.
Calvin smiled.
"---We've won, haven't we?"
"Prince Cleo?"
"With this fact, rumors will spread that Liam is afraid and has backed down. No, we'll spread this rumor. Even if the expeditionary army wins, his reputation will fall."
The nobles agreed with this, but they had a concern.
"Prince Cleo, did Liam stay without thinking? He seems to be attending parties every day and showing no signs of worry since the lineup was announced?"
Calvin was also concerned, but in this situation, there was no way to reverse it.
Liam had taken a wrong step.
"I'm worried, but he made the wrong choice. From here on, his credibility will fall to the ground. After all, he didn't fight and ran away. No matter how much he moves now, it's too late."
Sending his subordinates to the battlefield while staying in the capitalâhow would others see this?
---They would think Liam ran away from the battlefield.
No matter how hard Liam tried, even if he didn't need to go to the battlefield, he would be seen as running away.
Calvin also ran away, but it was before the announcement of the supreme commander.
He could make excuses, and his faction would target Liam.
"---We've gone a bit too far. It's a rather anticlimactic ending."
"It's not over yet, so we can't let our guard down. However, for Liam, it's over, but he's still a problem as long as he's alive."
Even with his reputation fallen, Liam was still a problem just by existing.
Recently, he had been active in a corrupt region where he was sent for training, implementing reforms and purging corrupt officials during his training.
His high abilities and overly righteous spiritâsurely, he would continue to be a thorn in their side.
"---I'll send the pawns I've prepared."
Calvin was almost certain of victory.
However, Liam, who defeated Linus, should have been eliminated when the opportunity arose.
He was probably being complacent before the victory.
â
At the party venue.
The nobles who attended were impressed.
It was a standing party held among art exhibitsâmainly statues.
It was also a showcase for new works by up-and-coming artists.
"Wow, it's impressive."
"I want this one."
"I've already reserved that one. However, it's been a while since I attended such a party, and it's quite enjoyable. The last party I attended was too eccentric to enjoy."
The party seemed to be lively.
The invitees were nobles and their families.
While I wasn't the official host, everyone knew I was involved.
It was a good opportunity to show off my wealth, so I invited promising nobles.
Most of them were from my faction and their families.
As I chatted with the surrounding nobles with Rosetta, Kurt, representing the Exner baron, was attending in his military uniform.
When the surroundings cleared, Kurt waved at me.
"Liam!"
Next to him was Princess Cecilia, Cleo's full-blooded sister, whom he had recently become engaged to.
As I approached and started talking, Rosetta began a conversation with Princess Cecilia.
I chatted with Kurt.
"Finally, we meet. How's the military?"
Kurt had grown taller and more built.
"To be honest, it's tough, but it's not bad. The rough life is more familiar than my life as a bureaucrat in the capital."
"Are you assigned to the capital's defense forces now?"
"I'm supposed to be transferred to administrative duties soon, and then to the patrol fleet, I guess."
"If you're going to the regular fleet, I can introduce you. Sedric has been promoted to vice admiral. His fleet is flexible."
I helped him get promoted and made sure he had enough achievements by constantly giving him work.
Sedric looked tired, but there were no issues.
"Liam is as always. Then, I'll ask him?"
"Leave it to me."
Seeing Kurt's happy face, I realized he was indeed the second-generation corrupt lord, just like his father, the Exner baron.
On the other hand, Shier, who was with Rosetta, was different.
She was looking at her brother with a shocked expression.
I teased Kurt by bringing up Shier.
"Kurt, Shier wants to talk to you."
"Really? Shier, you look well."
Seeing Kurt's smile, Shier looked disappointed but quickly smiled and said something polite.
"Yes, I'm being treated well by the baron and Rosetta-sama."
"Good. Oh, is that dress from Liam?"
Kurt noticed Shier's new dress.
I boasted to Kurt, knowing Shier would dislike it.
"Ah, I gathered popular designers in the capital to make it. I think I've had about sixty made so far?"
The dresses change every day during the party.
Once worn, they are never worn again.
This waste is good.
It makes me feel like a villain.
"Liam is amazing."
Then, Rosetta, who had finished her conversation with Princess Cecilia, joined our talk.
"Darling is tough. But I have my favorites, so I want to keep them."
---Rosetta, who grew up poor, still has a habit of saving.
As we were talking, the children of the nobles came over.
Among the attendees were those from the same faction as us.
It's to show that we are here.
Also, to please the nobles in the expeditionary army.
We are showing that we are taking good care of their families.
"Rosetta-sama, today's dress is beautiful."
The girls were excited about the dresses, showing interest in dressing up for social events.
Some children who weren't interested were also there.
"Thank you."
"Where did you buy it?"
"It's custom-made."
"Really?"
When a girl asked where it was bought, the other children looked at her with a disappointed expression.
"Isn't it obvious that dresses are custom-made?"
"Where are you from, lady? A rural area?"
"Ready-made dresses are not fashionable at all. You should have a popular craftsman make them."
---Even children can be scary.
Rosetta comforted the girl who was about to cry.
"Don't be upset."
Seeing the girl about to cry, the staff hurried over, quite flustered.
"Forgive us, Lord Liam. ---Go back to your families immediately."
"Yes."
As the children left, I received multiple apologies.
Well, I'm from a remote rural area.
Also, Rosetta couldn't afford dresses because she was poor.
The children's innocent words probably made them fear our displeasure.
"I don't mind."
However, those here are related to the Cleo faction.
We can't afford to make mistakes.
I spoke to the crying girl.
"Don't cry. If you like, I'll have a dress made for you. Will you attend the next party in it?"
The girl looked happy.
Good! Now she won't say she won't attend the party because she's hurt.
Her family came over, thanked me, and left.
Kurt, who had been watching, smiled and talked to Princess Cecilia.
"Liam has always been kind."
"Yes, I suppose so."
This guyâKurt is making sure Princess Cecilia sees me as a good person.
Indeed, a man who can be a corrupt lord is different.
Shier looked at me suspiciously, so I smiled at her, and she turned away.
What an interesting kid.
I'll tease her more.
Then, Rosetta thanked me.
"Darling, thank you."
"I didn't do anything to thank me for."
Why are you thanking me? I didn't do anything for you.
Still, I've been holding parties every dayâWallace has unexpected talent.
I've been attending every day, and it's been enjoyable without getting boring.
â
Outside the party venue.
An armed group trying to infiltrate the venue was eliminated by Kukuri and his team.
The armed group slowly sank into the ground and disappeared.
Kukuri laughed.
"---You finally showed yourselves."
A shuriken flew at Kukuri.
He deflected them, and they turned to flames and disappeared.
Kukuri and his masked, black-clad subordinates appeared, and black flames emerged, transforming into ninjas.
As the flames took the shape of ninjas, they readied their weapons.
"---Kill."
They attacked in the narrow alley.
Two ninjas jumped at Kukuri but were swept away.
They turned to flames and disappeared, but Kukuri, without panicking, grabbed and crushed the core in the center of the flames.
The ninjas were surprised and backed away.
In front of Kukuri, who knew their secrets, they showed signs of panic.
"Memories. You've caused me a lot of trouble. But, to be anxious at this level is disappointing. Your ancestors didn't show such anxiety at this level."
"---Who are you?"
"Nice to meet youâand it's been a long time. I am known as the Shadow Clan of the Imperial Dark Forces. Though, the Shadow Clan is just a name given to us."
Hearing this, the ninjas tried to escape, thinking they were at a disadvantage.
Kukuri didn't let them escape, piercing their cores with black thorns from his shadow and defeating them.
Kukuri's subordinates also disappeared into the shadows.
Kukuri remained and announced to those who saw this.
"Two thousand years. We have waited two thousand years for this moment. We will definitely take revenge. Tell your master that it's their ancestors' fault."
Saying this, Kukuri also disappeared into the shadows.
â
"Wallace!"
"LiamâIâI'm afraid of my own talent."
Liam, in a rumpled party suit, came to praise Wallace.
Rosetta had returned from the party, looking a bit tired.
Shier was preparing a drink for Rosetta, who was watching Liam and Wallace's banter.
"I thought you were a freeloader, but now I'm truly grateful! The parties have been a huge success!"
"Thanks, even though it was a big insult. I never thought I had such talent."
Liam brought Wallace's favorite drink, and they started drinking together.
Wallace, who planned the daily parties, unexpectedly received good reviews.
It was an unexpected talent.
(But, in normal circumstances, this talent would be unnecessary.)
It only looks like he's wasting money by holding parties and playing every day.
In reality, Liam was enjoying it.
On the other hand, Rosetta was exhausted from constantly worrying about the attendees.
"Rosetta-sama, why don't you take a break tomorrow?"
Shier, worried, suggested, but Rosetta shook her head.
"Shier, I can't. Darling is holding parties and gathering attendees to protect the families of the nobles participating in the expedition