"Is it done?"
Su Yin's voice echoed through the hall.
Lu stood before him with several servants, each holding scrolls and brushes. The quiet murmur in the room died instantly.
"My lord… if this is revealed to be a bluff… I fear the consequences may outweigh the benefits. Please reconsider," Lu said, bowing politely.
Su Yin stroked an imaginary beard, one hand behind his back.
"Is the problem the Duke Hyou part? Keep it in. He did train me for a week… or was it two?" He paused, thinking. "Either way, he wouldn't mind me lying a little. He's our backer from now. Let that sink in."
His tone made it clear the decision was final.
Lu sighed softly but nodded. He had seen Duke Hyou before — a man who lived on battlefields. Whether the claim was true or not, the duke would never bother clarifying it.
"My lord, one last matter. If the bluff is exposed… what shall we do?" Lu asked.
Su Yin snickered. The sound was sharp, unsettling the servants nearby.
"The goal is simple. Delay anyone opposing my inheritance until I've consolidated everything. In about a month, everyone will know it's a lie anyway."
He spoke as if explaining something obvious to a child.
Lu's lips curved into a faint smile. "Brilliant, my lord."
Su Yin nodded. "Mother will probably try to expose it. But what can she do? It's such an outrageous claim that confirming the truth will take time."
He turned toward the door.
"Get this moving. Notify Jo. It's about time I take the next step."
***
Present.
SLAM!
Two massive doors burst open, revealing a wide, lavish hall.
Luxury filled the space — polished wood furniture, expensive paintings, silk drapes. At the center sat a large stone bath, steam rising in thick waves toward an open ceiling vent.
Dozens of servants attended the bath. Fruits floated on the water alongside carved wooden toys meant for leisure.
And inside…
Several figures relaxed comfortably.
The man who had rushed in dropped to one knee.
"Lord! You must hear this! The young lord has arrived — he requests a meeting!"
A whistle cut through the air.
"Lord? Aren't I the lord, though?"
The kneeling man froze.
Slowly… he turned his head.
Behind him stood Su Yin — the very person he had just directed toward the meeting hall.
Color drained from his face. He immediately bowed fully, forehead nearly touching the floor.
"M-my mistake! Please punish this lowly one!"
Su Yin chuckled and waved a hand.
"You're forgiven."
The servant exhaled in relief and stood, hands cupped respectfully.
Su Yin's gaze shifted toward the bath.
His expression stayed calm.
Inside, however—
What rich nonsense is this? A damn jacuzzi at in this era? Father really wasn't lying…
He was genuinely stunned. The scale of luxury bordered on absurd.
And not a single word of acknowledgement. Not even a glance.
Interesting.
As he approached, the figures became clearer.
As expected.
One fat guy… surrounded by women.
Tsk tsk.
He took a few more steps.
Still no reaction.
Nothing.
Su Yin stopped.
Then quietly turned around and began walking toward the entrance.
A loud laugh suddenly burst from him.
I had forgotten what it feels like to be looked down on.
Thank you.
A bright smile spread across his face.
The earlier subordinate saw it — and his stomach dropped.
That wasn't amusement.
That was the smile of someone deciding something.
The killing intent behind it was faint… but unmistakable.
The lord was serious.
Even if he was only a boy.
"L-Lor—"
He was cut off.
"It seems I was rude," Su Yin said calmly. "Let us speak at a more reasonable time."
The words struck the man with a strange sense of dread.
The doors slowly closed behind him.
***
"Where is the young lord?"
"With all due respect, Steward Lu, ten minutes have passed without the lord's arrival. This is—"
Crack.
The murmurs in the meeting hall died as the wide wooden doors were pushed open.
A young man in a noble silver robe stepped inside.
He was not what they expected.
This boy—no, this young man—was not childlike in the slightest. He stood tall, broad-shouldered, and firmly built, nearly eye level with the garrison commander. His robe, embroidered with subtle silver thread, rested neatly over a strong frame. His steps were steady and graceful.
"Nice to meet you all," he said calmly. "I am Su Yin, twelfth head of the Su Barony and son of the late Lord Su."
Despite standing at the highest position in the room, he cupped his fists and gave a slight bow.
The gesture startled the gathered officials. A breath later, they returned the salute in unison.
When Su Yin straightened, the light smile on his face did not reach his eyes. His gaze swept across the hall—slowly and carefully—meeting each pair of curious eyes without flinching.
Was this really a twelve-year-old?
"It is an honor to meet the hardworking men and women who keep Su City flourishing," Su Yin continued with a polite nod.
He stepped forward toward the long meeting table—
"No! The honor is ours, Young Lord!"
An official suddenly dropped to one knee.
The movement caused a ripple through the hall.
Su Yin glanced down. "Mr. Tie," he said smoothly. "I trust all is well? It has been some time."
The tax officer kept his head lowered. "We are all devastated by the unjust passing of Lord Su. This old official wishes the young lord peace and strength."
Before Su Yin could reply, another voice rang out.
"This captain also offers his loyalty!"
A senior garrison captain stepped forward and dropped to one knee.
Su Yin almost raised a brow.
What are these two playing at?
"Captain Bai," Su Yin said evenly. "The last time we met was during the bandit suppression beyond the east hills, if I recall."
The captain's eyes trembled slightly.
The young lord remembers…
Su Yin gestured for him to rise.
The murmurs slowly faded as an older man stepped forward from the front row. His expression was tight.
"Enough pleasantries. Where is the City Lord?"
Silence filled the hall.
Everyone knew where the City Lord was.
But no one dared to speak it.
Su Yin did not look at the man immediately.
Instead, he adjusted his sleeve.
"The Chief Steward is correct," he said calmly. "Enough time has been wasted. We will now begin the meeting."
Several faces paled.
Su Yin walked toward the head of the table—the city lord's seat—and sat down.
The scrape of the chair against the floor sounded louder than it should have.
The Chief Steward's composed expression finally cracked. Shock flickered across his face.
"Young Lord," the garrison commander said sharply, stepping forward, "this meeting cannot proceed without the City Lord present. What kind of—"
Crash!
The porcelain tea cup shattered against the stone floor.
Shards scattered.
Su Yin was already on his feet.
His eyes locked onto the commander.
"Is this a joke to you?" His voice thundered through the hall. "Am I a joke to you all?"
The sheer force behind his shout made several officials instinctively step back.
"City Lord?" Su Yin barked. "You call that man City Lord?"
His hand slammed against the heavy meeting table. The massive wood trembled under the blow.
"If I had a sword at my waist," he continued, voice cold and sharp, "I would have cut his head off ten times over."
The killing intent in the room was suffocating.
No one breathed.
No one dared move.
Then—
"Hahaha!"
The tension shattered.
Su Yin leaned back into the main seat, laughter spilling from his lips as if nothing had happened.
"I really frightened you all," he said lightly. "Why so stiff? It was only a joke. A joke."
The warmth had returned to his smile.
But the sweat on the officials' backs remained.
Just what kind of child is this…
Several men audibly swallowed.
Others discreetly wiped their foreheads.
"He has definitely inherited Lord Su's trait…" one official thought to himself.
Everyone knew that wasn't a joke. The young lord had voiced his opinion of the city lord… straight in their faces.