In the mansion's corridor, I encountered Kyle Prukerus, the protagonist of the original work.
He had black hair, black eyes, and a face as refined as a young nobleman exactly as described in the original work.
Kyle was three years older than me.
He looks like an idol.
With a face like that, it's no wonder women flock to him.
So what? He's a eunuch.
As he approached, I forced a smile.
A fake smile. But I didn't care.
The foundation of acting lies in shamelessness and confidence. I wasn't aiming to become a movie star; I just needed to deceive him adequately.
In that sense, Kyle is perfect. He's gullible and easy to manipulate.
I smiled, and Kyle smiled back. If nothing else, I envied his face mask.
"Sung Yujin! Long time no see. I'm glad you look so well."
"Brother Kyle, you seem to be in good shape too."
In his previous life, Kyle had been the Plum Blossom Sword Saint of the Mount Hua Sect, and the Sect Leader's designated successor. He knew all of Mount Hua's martial arts techniques.
Most importantly, he possessed the Purple Cloud Divine Art, considered a peerless martial art.
He's been training in the Purple Cloud Divine Art since birth, right? No wonder he's in such good condition.
I wasn't interested in the Purple Cloud Divine Art. According to the Original Work, it was said to be a martial art reserved for geniuses.
Besides, I would master the Yeongcheon Qi Art in the future.
"Are you still wearing that?" I pointed to his lapel, where a golden brooch shaped like a plum blossom was pinned.
"Because you gave it to me. And I really like plum blossoms."
Well, he was obsessed with plum blossoms in the original work too.
"I'm glad you like it. I had it specially commissioned. Don't lose it."
"Okay. I'll be careful."
Losing it would be problematic.
The brooch had a location transmitter from the Code:XTK world attached to it. As long as Kyle wasn't too far away, I could pinpoint his exact location.
I chatted casually with Kyle about mundane topics my illness, recent events in the city, nothing particularly important.
To manipulate Kyle, I needed to cultivate some goodwill.
"Brother Kyle, weren't you going somewhere?"
"Ah, right. I was heading to the personal training room."
Of course, the training room was equipped with cameras. I watched Kyle's training sessions without missing a single detail, observing how he practiced the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
I tried to analyze his technique, but it was so complex and incomprehensible that I eventually gave up.
"Brother Kyle, why do you train so hard?"
"Isn't this how everyone trains?"
"Even so, spending over eight hours a day solely on training is excessive."
Perhaps it was because he had been training since birth. Currently, Kyle's cultivation level was that of an Upper-Tier Aura User. He would soon reach the Peak-Tier, and by the time the original story began, he would become an Aura Expert.
"Haha. I even got scolded by Mother for that. But I can't help it. I just enjoy training too much."
"...Are you planning to become a general or a knight commander, Brother?"
"That wouldn't be bad either. But I have my own dream."
"What's your dream, Brother?"
"To establish the Mount Hua Sect in this world."
"The Mount Hua Sect?"
Kyle smiled enigmatically at my question.
"It exists. Something like that. It might be impossible, but I have to try."
Kyle's dream comes true. He becomes an Aura Master what they call the Transcendent Realm in the martial world.
Upon reaching that realm, he establishes the Mount Hua Sect.
Becoming an Aura Master guarantees at least the title of Baron, and depending on one's achievements, one could even attain the rank of Count or higher.
More importantly, an Aura Master can become the center of political power for a time.
"Sung Yujin, what's your dream?"
"I..."
To sleep with every woman in the world. I couldn't exactly say that.
Instead, I forced a wistful smile.
"I want to see the world."
I want to fuck women all over the world.
"Yeah. You're getting better, so you'll be able to achieve your dream."
"I hope you can achieve your dream too, Brother Kyle."
"Thanks."
A warm conversation passed between the brothers.
I was starting to get annoyed. What's with this pointless chat?
"Brother, I should get going. The Head Maid will scold me again for being late to class."
The Head Maid was my tutor. Within the mansion, she held the second-highest authority after the Butler, and since she had been Countess Elaine's wet nurse, I was the one who had to be careful around her.
As I tried to pass Kyle, he grabbed my right shoulder.
"When I heard about what happened last time, I was worried..."
"...It was a mistake."
"Everyone makes mistakes at least once. What matters is not repeating the same mistake."
"..."
"I'll be going now."
"..."
Kyle walked past me. After confirming he had disappeared down the corridor, I brushed off my right shoulder with my palm.
"Who's lecturing whom? You gullible bastard."
***
Three months had passed since I arrived in this world.
Of course, I had used auto-progress intermittently. Since I acted normally, the auto-progress avatar also behaved normally.
Over the years, I had consistently utilized the Information Guild through Hassent. The guild's strength lay in its ability to provide information that Count Prucus's House wouldn't bother collecting.
In terms of intelligence gathering, the Information Guild far surpasses Count Prucus's House by several orders of magnitude.
For domestic intelligence, there was no need to rely on the Information Guild.
The Prucus Family also maintained a decent intelligence network. I could simply ask Elaine or the Butler to obtain domestic information.
The Prucus Family's intelligence capabilities are mostly limited to the nobility, and their foreign intelligence is lacking.
My concerns extended beyond the Rapelli Kingdom to include foreign affairs.
"War is inevitable. It's been brewing for too long."
Currently, the Continent enjoys a period of sustained peace.
"Though there are skirmishes here and there... they're just small-scale territorial disputes."
The kingdoms of the Continent possess roughly equal military strength. Sooner or later, someone will reveal their ambition, and someone else will counter with their own.
"The clever ones are probably already preparing for war."
War is certain. After all, it happened in the Original Work!
"I have no intention of preventing the war."
It's impossible to stop, and there's no reason to try.
"The important thing is how to profit from the war."
I chuckled as I reviewed the intelligence reports.
My primary concern was whether my actions had disrupted the future. I had no desire to alter the future, and if it were to deviate, I needed to respond immediately.
After all, my plans are based on my knowledge of the Original Work and information about the future.
Fortunately, the future remained unchanged.
There was a report of an undead horde causing chaos at the southern tip of the territory, but that was no problem. It was exactly as described in the Original Work.
Artel Village's location has been confirmed.
The Pfrek Mercenary Group... they'll be arriving in our territory soon. I need to prepare for their arrival.
I had already placed a request with the Information Guild to track the Pfrek Mercenary Group. If I wanted, I could access their real-time location data at any time.
After reviewing all the information, I rose from my seat.
"Today... I think I'll try selling wet wipes."
***
I stepped out of Elaine's office.
Elaine gave me a lecture, urging me to finally get a personal servant a valet.
Of course, I wanted a personal servant too. Having one would be much more convenient than not. The problem was finding one who met my standards.
A butler? They're capable, but they're men. The fact that they share my gender makes them unsuitable.
A maid? If I'm going to have one, I'd prefer a pretty one.
The issue is that my high status means ordinary maids rarely become my personal servants. Plus, the Lexi incident has made maids somewhat wary of me.
They're afraid being labeled with the same rumour.
All the maids I like are already occupied.
The maids attending Elaine were the most appealing, but since they were Elaine's, I couldn't take them.
Next, my gaze fell on Kyle's maid. As the personal maid of the protagonist, Kyle, she was remarkably beautiful.
Damn it. How can House Baek have so little talent?
The maids assigned to menial tasks lacked competence. A personal maid needed to be at least somewhat capable for my own convenience.
Perhaps it would be better to recruit one directly from outside the estate.
Within the estate, my nickname was "Genius Inventor." Elaine and the other staff already knew how remarkable my inventions were.
Bringing in a personal maid under the guise of assisting with my inventions wouldn't be a bad idea.
"Right. I need to find my own personal maid! Heh heh heh."
Naturally, she'd be beautiful and capable in the bedroom.
"Young Master Sung Yujin."
I ran into Hassent on my way back to my room.
"Butler?"
I looked at Hassent with a puzzled expression. He was an unusually taciturn man; he rarely approached me directly unless it was something urgent.
"The Information Guild has contacted us. The Pfrek Mercenary Group is moving rapidly toward Artel Village."
"...They're still a long way from our territorial decree, aren't they?
Based on their last reported location... I thought it would take them at least three days to reach us."
"The informant who was tailing the Pfrek Mercenary Group has betrayed the guild."
"...So, the location information I had on the Pfrek Mercenary Group was incorrect?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Damn it!"
I cursed and started running.
My original plan was to ambush the Pfrek Mercenary Group in Artel Village the moment they arrived within the Territorial Decree.
One piece of false information had completely derailed my plan.
"Young Master Sung Yujin?"
"Butler Hassent! I'm heading to Artel Village with the Plum Knights! Please explain the situation to my mother!"
"Young Master Sung Yujin, please calm down and consider asking Madam for assistance.
I understand the Pfrek Mercenary Group is of poor quality, but there's no need for you to personally intervene."
"No! I must intervene personally!"
"...I also made a mistake in this matter. I will accompany you."
Hassent's expression was resolute. He seemed determined to follow me regardless of what I said.
I didn't bother trying to dissuade him. Having Hassent's support would only make me feel more secure.
I raced to the Plum Knights' training grounds, ignoring the squire guarding the gate and heading straight for the training area.
Knights were practicing in various drills, and Hent happened to be at the center of it all.
"Lord Hent! I need your help!"
"Young Master Sung Yujin, what's the matter? Why the sudden urgency?"
"A band of wicked bandits is planning to attack Artel Village! The Plum Knights' assistance is crucial!"
At my words, Hent scratched the back of his head, looking troubled.
"Young Master Sung Yujin, we cannot deploy without Countess Elaine's permission. Please obtain her approval first, and we will gladly join you."
Elaine would likely grant permission within five minutes. Despite her stern appearance, she's a kind woman.
But if that happens, I won't be able to go with them. She'll undoubtedly exclude me, claiming it's too dangerous.
"I'll take full responsibility!"
Elaine will surely confine me to quarters. That's fine. I can handle that.
"Ten men will suffice! Just ten! Can't anyone help me?!"
I pleaded with the knights. In this world, knights are considered superhuman.
One of the qualifications for becoming a knight is being an intermediate-level Aura User.
"..."
The knights remained silent. They knew I wasn't thinking rationally.
Damn it. I can't face those bastards alone right now. I need the knights' help to move quickly...
They could at least lend a hand after all I've given them!
I was getting worked up, but when I calmed down and thought about it, our positions were different.
"If you help me, I'll give each of you a box of ramen!"
"...!"
The knights' eyes widened.
Ramen.
A rare treat I occasionally provided, and a wildly popular dish among the Plum Knights. They often approached me privately, begging me to sell them ramen.
"How many packs are in a box?"
Hent was just as addicted to ramen. While chicken could be replicated by sourcing and frying the meat, ramen was something only I could provide.
"Forty packs in one box!"
"...!"
The knights' eyes widened.
Forty packs of ramen. Enough to eat one pack a day for forty days.
"Commander! As knights, we cannot tolerate injustice! I will follow Young Master Sung Yujin to uphold justice!"
"I will join you!"
"Bandit extermination is my specialty!"
"Commander! This is for justice! Please allow us to participate!"
"Commander! Please grant us permission!"
The knights clamored.
Hent frowned and glared at me. I subtly held up three fingers toward him.
Three boxes. The perceptive Hent would surely understand my intention.
"...Young Master Sung Yujin will take full responsibility."
"Of course."
Hent shouted to the surrounding knights, "Squires, prepare the warhorses immediately!
The knights accompanying Young Master Sung Yujin will be twenty in total, including myself! Exactly twenty!"
The knights surged forward.
"I'll go!"
"Commander! We've known each other for eight years!"
"Those with less experience, step aside! Understand?"
In the end, seniority prevailed.