Chapter 55: The Price of Treachery

“Oh, please… I’m so sorry, I was wrong. I swear I’ll never do it again! Please… please, just let me go…”

Within the dark, damp confines of the dungeon, a man lay sprawled on the ground, his body a canvas of lacerations and bruises.

Stripped bare, his body was a grotesque tapestry of contusions and open wounds. His hands, bound by two thick, heavy iron chains, were secured tightly to the moss-encrusted wall, while his legs had been brutally broken, now twisted ninety degrees into an unnervingly unnatural angle.

Blood, mingling with the putrid sewage, congealed into a viscous, sickening pool upon the stone floor.

Raymond clutched the blood-slicked iron rod, a faint smudge marring the pristine fabric of his expensive tuxedo, yet he appeared utterly oblivious to it.

Beneath the glint of his gilded monocle, a pair of piercing, hawk-like eyes fixed their cold, merciless gaze upon the collapsed figure on the floor.

“Jeff, the Astria family treated you with considerable generosity. Why, then, would you betray them in such a manner?”

The man, identified as Jeff, began to tremble uncontrollably, like chaff in the wind, his words slurring as he stammered, “F-forgive me… Lord Raymond… I was utterly deluded, I swear… I had no idea he was a member of the Badley family… otherwise… even if you were to beat me to death, I would never have dared to speak!”

Raymond simply shook his head. “Excuses are superfluous,” he stated, his voice devoid of warmth. “Having spent so much time here, you should be acutely aware of the fate that awaits a traitor.”

“Please, mercy!” Jeff shrieked, summoning his last reserves of strength. “Lord Raymond! I made a mistake… I desperately needed the money! My wife is gravely ill; she requires medicine, or she will surely die! This was a one-time lapse, I swear! I beg of you…”

Thud!

Disregarding the man’s tearful supplication, Raymond merely raised the iron rod with an impassive face, bringing it down with brutal force.

Following a single, choked groan, the dungeon cell once again descended into an eerie silence.

Raymond let out a cold scoff, discarding the iron rod before casually flicking his blood-splattered gloves to the side.

Having served the Astria family as their butler for decades, he had proven himself utterly devoted and highly trusted.

Beyond the meticulous execution of daily administrative duties, he was also tasked with handling the darker, more unsavory affairs that lurked in the shadows.

Such as the meticulous eradication of any ‘vermin’ within the family’s ranks.

With no further useful intelligence to be gleaned from Jeff, Raymond saw no need for additional discourse and simply struck him into unconsciousness.

The two Men in Black, who had been standing guard over the cell, materialized beside Raymond with spectral quietude, dropping to one knee before him.

“Lord Raymond, shall we dispose of him?”

One of them inquired, his voice low.

Raymond paused in thought before shaking his head. “There’s no need,” he stated. “Simply cast him back onto the streets later. Injuries of this extent are unlikely to prove fatal.”

The two Men in Black exchanged a bewildered glance.

By all established protocols, any individual caught betraying the Astria family was to be summarily executed; a standard Raymond had always rigorously upheld.

Yet, to their astonishment, the usually ruthless, iron-willed butler had chosen to spare the man’s life.

Could it be that the man’s desperate plea had somehow touched him?

Despite their confusion, the two subordinates remained silent, simply nodding their assent.

Ultimately, their sole responsibility was the execution of orders.

Raymond smoothed his attire before ascending from the dungeon’s depths. The sudden, blinding sunlight made him wince, and he instinctively narrowed his eyes against its intensity.

Upon re-entering the grand hall of the villa, he encountered Luluti descending the staircase.

A young lady, a cat-girl with a cascade of golden hair.

In stark contrast to her customary private demeanor—often marked by arrogance and caprice—Luluti’s still-youthful face now wore an expression of profound seriousness.

She had donned a formal black gown, an ensemble that subtly elevated her entire presence, bestowing upon her the undeniable bearing of one accustomed to authority.

“Young Lady, your timing is impeccable. They should all have arrived by now.”

Raymond placed his right hand over his heart and executed a deep, respectful bow.

The ‘they’ he referred to were the regional managers of the Astria Merchant Guild, overseeing operations across the Ailamia territory.

Typically dispersed across various sectors of Ailamia, these individuals were responsible for diverse interests, yet now they had been summoned to gather in a single location.

“Very well, I understand.”

Luluti gave a curt nod. Raymond offered no further words, instead trailing her like a silent shadow.

Together, they arrived at the reception hall. Raymond stepped ahead, pushing open the grand door to allow Luluti to precede him inside.

The reception hall boasted an unparalleled opulence, with jewel-encrusted chandeliers suspended majestically from the high ceiling, casting a golden luminescence upon the myriad glittering ornaments that adorned every surface.

The lengthy oak table was fully occupied, with individuals seated along both sides, their heads together, engaged in hushed whispers and quiet discussions.

As Luluti entered, a hush fell over the room, and all conversations ceased abruptly.

Raymond drew out a chair, allowing Luluti to take her seat, before positioning himself discreetly behind her.

Luluti’s gaze swept over the assembled individuals. “Since everyone is present,” she began, her voice clear and commanding, “I shall proceed without further preamble.”

“The fishing industry has always constituted one of our most vital enterprises. This year, an anomalous warm current has caused shallow-sea fish populations to migrate at least a month ahead of schedule… This was a forecast made by our analysts, and by all rights, it should have remained exclusive intelligence, known only to us.”

“However, just yesterday, the Badley Merchant Guild’s fleet unexpectedly set sail en masse. Not only did they precisely pinpoint the timing of the fish migration, but they also encroached upon our pre-designated netting zones with uncanny accuracy, harvesting nearly seventy percent of the spawning mackerel before our own fleet could even arrive.”

Luluti’s voice hardened, her fingertips pressing firmly onto the table. “The Badley Merchant Guild, having illicitly acquired this massive catch, will undoubtedly flood the market with it at rock-bottom prices. If our remaining thirty percent of the goods are then stifled by their actions, not only will we see no profit, but we won’t even recoup the expenses incurred for our expedition!”

“Moreover, our long-standing supply agreements with the fish market will be severely jeopardized!”

A ripple of suppressed agitation spread through the room. The elderly man responsible for the fishery operations, his face visibly pale, slowly rose to his feet.

“Y-young Lady… I, your humble servant, had intended to wait a few more days to ensure maximum profit. Who could have foreseen the Badley family’s sudden, aggressive move? I swear upon my honor, I absolutely did not leak this confidential information!”

“Concerning this affair…”

Luluti cast a brief glance towards Raymond, who stood silently behind her.

Responding to her subtle, unspoken cue, Raymond understood instantly. “The cause has been thoroughly investigated,” he announced. “The individual who divulged the intelligence to the Badley family was Jeff.”

“Jeff? That dog-bastard!”

The old man slammed his fist onto the table in a fit of righteous fury, his beard trembling visibly. “I placed so much trust in him, and he committed such a depraved, beastly act! Please rest assured, Young Lady, I shall ensure he is punished in the most severe manner imaginable, making him pay dearly for his transgression.”

“There is no need,” Raymond interjected, his voice chillingly cold. “The price has already been exacted.”

Upon hearing his words, every person in the room involuntarily drew a sharp, collective breath.

It was a truth universally acknowledged that those who fell into Raymond’s grasp were destined for the most agonizing of fates.

Luluti lifted her gaze, fixing the standing elder with a stern stare. “While the primary culpability in this instance does not rest with you,” she stated, “Jeff acquired this intelligence because he happened to overhear your drunken indiscretions. Therefore, you would be wise to reflect upon your conduct.”

“Yes, Young Lady. I pledge that I shall never again touch a single drop of alcohol.”

The old man bowed his head, and large beads of sweat began to drip, one by one, onto the polished tabletop.

The meeting continued in this manner, finally drawing to a close after a full hour.

One by one, the attendees rose and took their leave. Moments later, the once-bustling conference room was left with only two lingering presences.

Luluti exhaled a long, weary sigh, feeling as though all the strength had suddenly been siphoned from her body, and instinctively propped her forehead with a trembling hand.