Chapter 46 - Actually, I Have a Cheat Too

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Chapter 46: Schemes

 

 

"Locke claims it was you who encouraged Carlos to go to Tasha Forest. Is that true?" The Duke's deep voice filled the study—imposing, impenetrable—and his sharp gaze was fixed squarely on Ge Yan.

 

Captain Locke looked up, startled, wanting to speak, but the Duke's eyes never once shifted toward him. With no choice, he swallowed his confusion.

 

Ge Yan was no less shocked. That was blunt. If the Duke had intended to lay all his cards on the table, why bother sending them out earlier? Still, he responded quickly, dropping to his knees with a loud thud, his joints crying out while his face displayed only trembling dread.

 

"Your Grace, that's absolutely untrue! I never encouraged Young Master Carlos. The facts were already clear—it was someone from the mercenary corps who let the secret slip, and the culprit was caught. Captain Locke executed them on the spot. Rex can vouch for this."

 

When your life is on the line, there's no room for hesitation. Ge Yan's performance was impeccable, almost Oscar-worthy.

 

"He's lying! He and Rex are working together!" Captain Locke shot back, voice raised in protest, even sneaking a glare at Ge Yan.

 

Ge Yan flinched theatrically, but straightened his neck stubbornly. "I'm telling the truth. Rex isn't our only witness—there are other former members as well. Captain, you're just trying to shift the blame to us to save yourself. The Duke is wise and just. I believe he'll see through the lies."

 

Captain Locke choked on his breath. Glancing at the Duke's unreadable, dark expression, he growled, "I will accept my share of responsibility. But Carlos can't be allowed to die without a clear explanation. Your story has no proof beyond your own words. As for the others you claim can testify, they deserted the Black Wolf Mercenary Corps in Sarge out of fear of punishment. They're nothing more than cowards who'll be dealt with soon enough."

 

"So that's why you warned us earlier not to speak out—you were planning to pin Carlos's death on me and Rex all along. And here I thought you were someone worthy of respect," Ge Yan snapped, without fear.

 

"I'm surprised as well, Captain Locke," Rex added calmly. "Before I joined the Black Wolf Mercenary Corps, my father spoke of you with great admiration. It was one of the reasons I wanted to be part of the corps."

 

"You—!" Captain Locke pointed at them, stunned by their boldness.

 

"Enough!" The Duke's voice thundered through the room.

 

Captain Locke froze. Meeting the Duke's gaze, heavy with fury and disappointment, felt like being doused in ice. A cold chill ran down his spine. He had believed the Duke trusted him—now he wasn't so sure.

 

The Duke's voice turned low and biting, and Captain Locke dared not speak another word.

 

Ge Yan, having achieved his goal, wisely chose silence. He tried to make himself invisible—after all, Rex, the real killer, wasn't even worried. What did he have to fear?

 

"Locke," the Duke said with frightening calm, "you've disappointed me. Even now, your first instinct is to push blame onto others. Do you truly think I know nothing of what really happened?"

 

The Duke's eyes narrowed. Carlos had been his youngest and most beloved son. But now the boy was dead. And no amount of rage or grief could change that. He'd already lost too much. He didn't want to lose a capable subordinate too—especially not one as talented as Captain Locke, a ninth-rank swordsmaster on the brink of becoming a Greatswordmaster. If kept, he could still be useful. Very useful.

 

The Duke had originally planned to strip him of his captaincy as punishment—enough to appease the grieving family, then quietly reinstate him once the dust had settled. But things hadn't gone according to plan. Captain Locke, in his desperation, had tried to frame Ge Yan and Rex.

 

That… was unacceptable.

 

Captain Locke staggered back, stunned. How did the Duke know?

 

The Duke saw the confusion on his face and sneered. "Colin and the others told me everything. You still dare lie to me?"

 

Captain Locke's face drained of all color. He dropped to his knees again, head bowed low in panic. "I—I know I was wrong, Your Grace. For the sake of the years I've served you loyally, please spare me just this once. I swear… it won't happen again."

 

"If not for your past loyalty and sacrifice, I would've had you executed already." The Duke's voice was ice. "Don't mistake mercy for ignorance."

 

Later, the Duke summoned Ge Yan and Rex back in to recount the events in full. His questioning was even more detailed than Captain Locke's had been—but Rex had long since anticipated every angle. Between their careful answers and Colin's corroboration, the Duke eventually let go of his doubts.

 

It wasn't until they left the Strych estate that Ge Yan finally allowed himself to breathe again. That Duke… his gaze was too sharp, too penetrating—as if he could see straight into your soul. Ge Yan hadn't dared make eye contact for more than a second.

 

"You knew about Colin, didn't you?" Ge Yan turned to the ever-composed Rex. Thinking back to what Rex had said earlier, realization dawned.

 

Rex gave a slight nod, unsurprised. "Members who desert or go against the captain are no different from deserters. Colin and the others knew that. If they didn't want to be punished, they had to report to the Duke before Locke could accuse them first."

 

"That's all you based your gamble on? What if Colin didn't have the brains to act?" Ge Yan asked, a shiver running down his spine at the sheer risk of it all.

 

"I never take a step I'm not sure of."

 

Ge Yan didn't understand at first. Then, realization struck—and his eyes widened as if he'd seen a ghost. Every time Rex took action, he seemed to anticipate every outcome, plan for every contingency. Things that Ge Yan hadn't even begun to consider, Rex had already resolved. Maybe even Colin's decision to leave had been something Rex predicted—or worse, orchestrated. The thought was terrifying. Thank the heavens he'd chosen to cling to Rex's coattails. Otherwise, he'd probably be dead by now and wouldn't even know how it had happened.

 

The two of them took the same carriage they had arrived in, leaving the Strych estate behind. It wasn't until they reached a bustling avenue that they finally disembarked.

 

As they stepped into the thrumming chaos of the street, Ge Yan felt momentarily overwhelmed. Then, all at once, something vital occurred to him. He quickly reached out and grabbed Rex, who was about to walk off.

 

"Wait!"

 

Rex turned, his gaze sharp and instinctively dangerous, falling on Ge Yan's hand like a drawn blade.

 

Ge Yan let go like he'd touched a hot stove, flashing a sheepish smile.

 

"What is it?" Rex asked coolly, his fierce gaze softening ever so slightly.

 

"Where are you going?" Ge Yan asked quickly.

 

"Back," Rex replied.

 

Ge Yan's face twisted into a look of despair. "And what about me?"

 

Rex paused. He suddenly remembered—the soul in front of him had changed. This wasn't Jimmy anymore. He probably didn't even know where Jimmy's home was. Rex frowned. He'd never paid much attention to Jimmy's family, either. Maybe Carlos had mentioned them once or twice back in Triss Town, but nothing stuck. He glanced at Ge Yan's hopeful expression, and for the first time, found himself at a loss. The words "figure it out yourself" got stuck in his throat.

 

In the end, he didn't invite Ge Yan to return with him. But sending him back to Jimmy's original home wasn't an option either. He'd be found out almost instantly. If the Duke caught wind of it, he'd assume Ge Yan had lost his memory, and then everything they'd said earlier would unravel. After all, how could someone who couldn't recall his own past give a reliable account?

 

So the compromise was that Ge Yan would stay at an inn or a tavern.

 

Ge Yan didn't know anything about the city, and he had no money. So Rex, unwillingly assuming both the roles of protector and provider, had to personally escort him to find a place to stay.

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