Trash of the Count's Family - TCF Part 2 - Chapter 75

Cale ate steak with his family. Deruth was looking at him with a pleased expression. The stern Violan was thoroughly examining Cale. Lily lowered her head when she met eyes with Cale. Basen stared hard at him. Thus, Cale felt his cheeks getting hot from being stared at by everyone. He wondered if he should have invited the kids with him.
The three kids had gone to the black castle after Eruhaben picked them up. Raon was excited to see his mom again. On wished Cale to have a good time with his family. Cale felt that On was more thoughtful than most adults, though he wished On to be a little less serious. Deruth asked Cale if he was okay, and Cale answered without hesitation that he was fine.
He added that he had never coughed blood or fainted. He had slept and ate well, and did not have many difficulties. Violan remarked that he had gained some weight as she smiled. Cale commented that Lily had grown taller, and Lily flinched. Basen agreed, saying that he was also surprised at her growth spurt. The Henituse was a family of warriors, so they had good physiques. Perhaps Lily inherited most of that blood among Cale’s generation.
Deruth questioned if Cale had any difficulties in that world, but Cale interrupted as he brought out stuff from his subspace pouch. Basen and Violan were shaking upon seeing what he brought out. Cale said that these were gifts. A statue studded with gems, a fountain pen embedded with diamonds, a gem-encrusted scabbard for a dagger, and a turtle statue made of melted gold.
Cale said that he could not return empty-handed from a trip, and the place fell into silence. Violan asked if the statue was for her, and Cale said yes, so she thanked him. Deruth was in a daze, stuttering as he asked Cale where he got this. Cale calmly replied that he stole it from the tomb of the former emperor, before correcting that the next emperor gifted this.
Basen repeated Cale’s words in doubt, and Cale replied that it was a reward. Cale asked Basen if he liked the fountain pen. There were other stuff he had, so if Basen did not like it, he could replace the gift. Basen said that it was fine as he muttered that he only wished for Cale to not get hurt. Cale was puzzled at that reply.
Cale took out a magic stone and presented it to his father. Deruth said that it had a very high grade. Cale agreed, saying that in Roan, this was the highest-grade magic stone. But to Cale’s surprise, this was only considered a high-grade magic stone in Xiaolen. So Cale said that he had a magic stone mine that had a better grade than the magic stone he presented.
Deruth was shocked, and Cale asked Basen about the state of the estate’s marble and wine businesses. Basen was delighted as his eyes excessively sparkled. He asked if Cale was interested in business. Cale hesitated at Basen’s reaction, and smiled as he questioned again. Cale thought that Basen knew a lot of the estate’s businesses and was suited to being the next duke.
He urged Basen to elaborate on the businesses, but Basen was hesitant. Cale guessed that the businesses were neither in a good nor bad situation. So he said in passing that he would place a magic stone mine that had a higher grade of magic stones in their territory. Deruth was speechless before telling Cale to explain. Thus, Cale explained the situation as simply as possible without going into detail about the gods or the world.
Deruth’s expression changed from Cale’s father to the lord of the territory. But he was still speechless and constantly stuttered, so Violan took over, though her voice slightly cracked. She clarified if Cale got the largest magic stone mine as a reward, and that the grade of the magic stones there surpassed the magic stones in this world.
Cale nodded, adding that he was planning to place it between the Lord’s Castle and Harris Village. He had initially planned on putting it in the Forest of Darkness, but changed his mind later. Harris Village and the Forest of Darkness would develop rapidly around the mine, but his plan to farm slowly while being a slacker would collapse because of that.
Also, for the tigers, wolves, and dragons to live comfortably, it would be better to not have mines there. Cale continued that if Deruth wanted other mines, he should tell Cale. Deruth asked if there were other mines too, and Cale replied that there were diamond, gold, and silver mines. Deruth sincerely refused it, saying that having one was enough. 1
Cale mentally agreed since having more than one would be hard to manage. He told his father to talk about it with the crown prince. Cale knew that it was better to follow the opinions of the two as he trusted them to not take his money. Deruth nodded and studied Cale’s appearance. In the history of the Henituse, there was no one as weak looking like Cale. Even the Thames family had strong physiques.
Thus, Deruth was worried about Cale. He wished that Cale would take care of himself more. But Cale was busy going around worlds, preferring to bring gifts to his family or rewards to help with the territory. Deruth hoped that Cale would get some medicine to make his body healthier, but remembered that Cale was a person who cared for other people better than himself. The duke could not help but feel bitter at that realization.
Cale ate the pudding and said that he wanted the duchy’s power to increase with the magic stones. Deruth agreed with his opinion, though he wanted to delay the mine’s announcement for now. Cale tapped Basen’s shoulder, telling him to help their father. Basen accepted it with determination to help his brother.
Basen wished for his brother to not worry about the territory while he wandered around various worlds. He hoped that his brother could rest comfortably every time he returned. (Yeah, but you just interrupted Cale’s rest last chapter…) Cale then said that he would be gone for Puzzle City for a day, and Deruth could only nod in understanding.
***
Cale met with Billos who was still in bad shape. His swollen face had healed though. Cale stated what he had heard about Whipper, Breck, and the Jungle helping with the restoration of Puzzle city. But Cale recalled that the Whipper Kingdom had no money right now. The Whipper Kingdom was in a decline ever since the civil war.
Billos awkwardly said that the country was in deep trouble, especially in this winter time. Cale asked if despite that, they still paid for the restoration of Puzzle City, and Billos answered that Toonka had declared that they were different from the previous ruler of the Whipper Kingdom. Cale smiled and Billos gulped.
Cale said that the other countries must have taken advantage of the Roan Kingdom’s weakening. Billos reported that because of the Puzzle City incident, the countries in the western and eastern continents were now communicating with each other. The Caro Kingdom and the free cities near it were earning a lot from their trade with the three northern countries. The Roan Kingdom did not benefit much, given the country’s situation.
Cale smiled, commenting that Billos began talking about business as soon as they met. Billos grinned and replied that Cale was the only person he could comfortably talk about this stuff. The two discussed about the situation of the Roan Kingdom. Billos was optimistic that the kingdom would recover. The two conversed more and laughed.