[Moments Before]
Murmurs echo in the hallway as a small crowd moves ahead.
These are some of the members of the Minor Family, and all of them have sour expressions on their faces as they proceed somberly. Leon walks behind them, serving as their escort, but he barely interacts with them at all.
His presence is merely a reminder of the authority of the Main Family.
—An immutable barrier of the Aditi Household!
"Tch!"
"That brat... he’d better watch his back!"
"Shut your mouth! Do you want his aide to hear you?"
Whispers and dissatisfied grunts resonate among them, and while they do their best to hide it, hushed voices still manage to leak out.
Leon hears some of these things, but pretends not to.
None of this is his business, after all.
Stepping forward to criticize them will only amount to him speaking out of line, and it would reflect badly on his Young Master. In fact, this is probably what some of these people want to see, so they can have a justification to criticize Javier through his subordinate.
Leon is well aware of these nuances, so he remains quiet as he escorts them per Javier’s command.
’I should use this opportunity to tell the Head what just happened before returning to my position...’ Leon feels a little worried leaving Javier by himself, but he is also aware that he isn’t the only one stationed to keep an eye on the Heir.
There are others, though they are stationed far away and must keep their distance to maintain secrecy. His leaving his post is also a way to provoke any ill-intentioned party to make a move.
It is doubtful that any of them would even try, but one can never tell.
"Hmm?" Leon notices someone walking towards the crowd from the opposite end of the hallway.
He instantly recognizes this man.
"Sir Damon, greetings!" Leon can’t help but mutter aloud in recognition. ’He is the younger brother of the Head of Household...’
Leon also knows that he is the person that Javier told him to deliver a certain letter to.
The other members of the Minor Families render their greetings, but it is half-baked at best. Regardless of his status as the Head of Household’s brother, he is still a member of the Minor Families.
Plus, everyone is well aware that the relationship he has with his older brother isn’t the best.
Normally, someone of his status would have some position managing a part of the Aditi Estate, but that isn’t the case for Damon. He lives an isolated life in a secluded portion of the Aditi Territory, and he barely interacts with anyone in the family. He has refused to marry and is buried in endless research despite his impoverished state.
In essence, he is nothing.
Someone like him... with no power and influence in the family... would definitely not be well-regarded by the hungry wolves that are the rest of the Minor Family.
Damon nods at them, ignoring their snickers, and speaks to Leon directly.
"I intend to see Javier."
Naturally, this statement attracts their attention.
"What?"
"He wants to see Javier?!"
"Someone like him? When even we were chased out?"
The Minor Family members laugh amongst themselves. Some even take pity on him and go as far as informing him that Javier doesn’t wish to see anyone. If even they, who hold far more influence in the family than he, have been turned away from the Heir’s room, how much more him.
Their laughter is cut short when he ignores them and simply tells Leon:
"He is expecting me. You may proceed with your orders; there’s no need to take me there."
Damon walks past Leon after calmly stating this, his destination only ahead of him. This stuns everyone who watches, and they all raise their voices in shock.
Some chastise Leon for letting him walk over him like that, saying it reflects poorly on his Master.
Some question Damon’s intentions.
Some even want to return to Javier’s room out of ’consideration’ for him.
However, Leon stops all of them.
"He indeed has a prior arrangement with the Young Master, so please be at ease." His voice is calm, and his face remains a blank sheet that none of them can read. "Now, shall we proceed? I wouldn’t want to cause any of you further discomfort, and the Young Master could require my help for other things soon."
The Minor Family members grit their teeth, their humiliation compounding.
To think that they would be sent out of the Heir’s room, but a nobody like Damon Aditi would be allowed inside due to a prior arrangement?!
How unthinkable!
Many of them glance at each other and nod, agreeing that this has to be some scheme by the Head of the Aditi Household. However, none of them are aware that Luther Aditi is actually unaware of the kind of relationship that Javier has with his younger brother.
In fact, he is also very curious about it.
This is why, despite their bitter expressions and disgruntled sounds, none of their mood is as bad as Leon’s.
’Is it a coincidence that Sir Damon decided to seek out the Young Master the moment he ordered me to see these people off? If they’re meeting this way, I won’t be able to eavesdrop on their conversation so I can report to the Household Head!’
Leon naturally begins to panic.
’Damnit... what should I do? I can’t disobey the Young Master’s orders, so I have to see this through to the end. Should I return as soon as I complete this task? But the Head has made this a priority report, which means I must tell him everything that transpired between the Young Master and the Minor Family members as soon as I possibly can! But, even if I hurry with this and postpone my report, will I make it in time to listen in on their conversation?’
Beads of sweat form on Leon’s face, but he does his best to remain calm.
What a strange coincidence this truly is.
*********
[The Present]
"So let’s get down to business, Uncle Damon. What do you think about the letter I sent to you?"
I’m still paralyzed for the most part, but my mood is really good.
Uncle Damon truly is an intelligent man.
He took advantage of a situation I created for him to see me privately.
I’m not a Diviner, so even I could not have predicted that the Minor Families would visit me in such a way. However, after fully understanding what was happening, I took it as an opportunity to send Leon off so he wouldn’t be able to listen in to my conversation with my Uncle.
Even if this whole thing didn’t happen, I was still planning on creating a scenario where I could talk to my Uncle without giving Leon or my father sufficient time to react.
It was only a matter of time.
’Who would have thought the opportunity would come so fast? Turns out my father’s test ended up helping me more than I thought.’ I laugh silently, taking a look around the room. ’I’m certain other people are keeping an eye on me apart from Leon, but they will be keeping their distance, so I shouldn’t be worried about them eavesdropping.’
If they could eavesdrop on my conversation, why would my father need Leon so much?
Due to all of these factors, I can speak to my Uncle more freely. After giving him the signal that the coast is clear, he finally responds candidly.
"It’s... I think I still need you to confirm some things for me, Javier." He responds while peculiarly shifting his glasses. "There’s a lot I’m unclear on."
"Were you able to confirm the information I sent to you?" I ask with a raised brow.
"I confirmed the ones that I could. They were spot-on." My uncle looks at me with a slightly terrified and puzzled gaze. "How did you know about all those things?"
"Does it matter?" I shrug nonchalantly. "What matters is that they are legitimate. All the information I gave you is accurate, and I plan to give you even more information, which will be used as I instruct you to do—"
"H-hold on a moment." Uncle Damon raises his hands to stop me, his expression a little anxious.
"What is it?"
"I just want to confirm something first..." He sighs, staring at me with a genuinely curious, but also determined expression. "Did you mean what you said in that letter? About the profit?"
"You doubt the potential returns?"
"No, not that. I know this will be a very profitable business if done right, but are you really sincere about giving me fifty percent of the profit?"
My smile broadens.
I already knew it would come to this..
If all goes well in this collaboration between me and my Uncle, then we are bound to make a lot of money—especially in the short run. Giving him a total of fifty percent will make him even richer than the Main Family.
But I’m not worried at all, especially since he’s the one handling all of the grunt work.
Plus, I currently have no other options, and I have to provide sufficient bait that will ensure he performs his role to the utmost.
Most importantly, there’s no loss for me, yet I stand to gain plenty.
’I’m simply using knowledge from my past life, so it doesn’t come at any cost...’
Using the proceeds from this endeavor, I should be able to afford the Royal Academy Entrance Application Fee. Since I can’t leave the Estate, he is going to help me with registrations and handle all the details until the time is right.
Since I require him for many things, fifty percent of such a short-term business isn’t a bad deal.
After all, there is only so much I know, and it’s best I take advantage of it now before it is too late. Trying to haggle for percentage cuts will be a waste of time, and it contains a risk that my Uncle might get too greedy or not perform his role as well as I want.
Plus...
"Fifty percent is nothing much for me. If this plan succeeds, I will introduce you to an even bigger business that will make us both a lot of money. I just need to know that you’re on my side, Uncle... no matter what."
My smile vanishes, and I await his response.
Out of all my Uncles, Damon is the most reliable. Even though he is only a Second-Rate Scholar, he is still a learned person, which makes him a lot more mature and reasonable in dealings.
He has the connections I need to start this business of mine, and he is capable of handling my registration into the Royal Academy, since he once attended. Plus, his digging around for Academy-related information among the Nobles who will attend my Coming-of-Age Ceremony won’t be too difficult or suspicious, since he is an alumnus.
All of these things are only secondary, though.
The primary reason I chose him is simply because I like this man... and I trust him somewhat.
Aside from my brother and sister, he was the only family member of mine who showed genuine concern for me and the path I was walking on in my past life.
In fact... he told me—
"You’d better live life for yourself. It’s never too late..."
I didn’t think too much of him or his words back then, but I understand it now.
Uncle Damon... is just like me.
He understands what it means to live for others, but he has chosen to live for his own sake.
That makes him the most honest person in this family.
"To be honest, I’m still very skeptical about a lot of things..." My uncle begins, his expression a little grim as distraction plagues his eyes. "Your knowledge is suspiciously accurate, and this business idea seems too good to be true. It also came at a rather opportune time, since I am in serious need of a lot of money to help fund my research. However, it seems you are genuinely serious about this, and now that I stand before you, I can see that you are truly serious about your intentions."
I nod sternly, my expression even more resolute.
I’m sure Uncle Damon has his fair share of questions. I won’t even blame him for thinking this is some kind of scheme cooked up by my father, or that I’m trying to scam him. I don’t blame him for showing hesitation at all.
He is taking a very big risk for me, after all.
But, I still want a concrete answer.
"I haven’t been able to do much for you as your uncle, and even now it feels like I’m relying on you for a lot, but... if this is what you need me to do, then I will help you. Just like me, it seems you desire to pursue a different path. You wish to be a Scholar. You do not wish to be shackled by the Household’s expectations. To do that, you need money. Unlike me, who had to take loans from all over to support my education, you have come up with an ingenious plan to raise sufficient capital for yourself. How can I not support you?"
Uncle Damon places his hand on his chest and looks at me earnestly, his silvery eyes flashing with sincerity.
"I am on your side, Javier!"
"Thank you, Uncle." I smile gratefully. "That is all I needed to hear."
With this confirmation, we can get into the details.
I intend to exploit all my past life’s knowledge and create a multi-layered business strategy that will sell all manner of information regarding the immediate future. I will also obtain certain materials from remote areas that haven’t been discovered yet, or use my past life as a reference and create staple goods that eventually became mainstream ahead of their time.
All of these things have been drafted out ahead of time, but in the meantime, we will start with just selling information, since it has little to no cost.
My Uncle will handle all of these things, since he is sufficiently connected to some people.
’I’m glad to see he’s well-motivated. After all, he’ll be able to pay off all his debts and even fund his research with the kind of money he’s going to get from this.’
I know about my uncle’s situation well.
His family wanted him and his brother—my father—to enroll in the Knight Academy, but he held a deeper interest in books.
To pursue his dreams, he took all manner of loans using the Aditi Household’s name and sent himself to the Royal Academy. He managed to secure a scholarship in his first year, but couldn’t keep up at some point, which caused him to take up more loans until he finished his education.
This is one of the reasons his relationship with my father is so strained.
For the sake of his selfish goals, he nearly ruined the Aditi Household... and all for what?
He graduated as a Second-Rate Scholar and has been buried in research ever since, trying to unearth some important mysteries involving the existence of some supernatural forces that he claims control everything.
Even I don’t know much about my uncle’s research, but I know it’s about these obscure figures.
He calls them Leviathans—the ones who move the world.