"Normal Speech"

'Thought'

**********************************

"You are a very interesting person."

The wealthy Count who resides in the outskirts of the northeast without being part of any faction. Who would try to develop a relationship with such a family? If anything, people would just be greedy to take that land as their own.

However, Venion didn't like Cale as a person. The trash eldest son and a smarter younger son. The fact that their relationship didn't worsen even after the younger brother was chosen as the successor in replacement of the older brother, made Venion thought of his elder brother. That person wasn't worthy of being Stan's successor.

Nevertheless, Venion had to kept up the act of a proper noble, and hand the reigns of this incident to Cale. "An unexpected obstacle has made me waste my time, but I guess it was a pretty good thing since I got to make your acquaintance, Young master Cale."

An unexpected obstacle. Venion was referring to the old man. He was disappointed at the fact that his time was wasted because of the old man, and still wanted to finish this on happy note.

"It looks like you need to teach your subordinate to clearly distinguish between the people who have the right to travel across this road and this earth, as well as the people who have the right to make them stop."

As a well-known Marquis's unofficial successor, this is the most he could do to the trash of the Count's family. His tone suggested that even though they were both Young masters, their statuses were completely different.

Of course, Cale was just standing there quietly. He wasn't the type to pay attention to a dog's yapping, though he couldn't said the same thing as Ron and Beacrox who seemed to misunderstood his silence.

'This guy really wants to die fast, even though I've been trying to keep you alive longer.' Cale thought after sneakily signal Ron and Beacrox to calm down their vicious aura.

The uncomfortable old man was quickly kneeled down to the ground, shaking, when he got a glance from Venion. In turn, Choi Han's hands were shaking as he watched the old man apologized.

The corner of Venion's lips started to go up, he was satisfied with this reaction.

Cale called out Venion with a smile. "Young master Venion"

Once Venion turned his head back to him, Cale asked him a question. "Are you done?"

"...I am" Venion was curious about what this trash wanted to do after asking him that. What he didn't expect was....

Cale crouched down. His expensive clothes started to touch the ground. He looked toward the shaking hands of the old man.

'Haa, it's getting dangerous if I let this bastard continued running his mouth.' Cale was certain he heard the sound of Choi Han taking a deep breath to hold his anger as well as the fact that Ron's benign smile was growing vicious by the second.

(Tsuki: Ron had at one point during the conversation between Cale and Venion, moved to stand silently behind Venion, as if he could kill the guy as soon as Cale give him a go. That's how Cale see Ron's expression.)

As the matter of fact, Cale was really tempted to let these two people do as they please with Venion, but this guy is needed alive, for now. He shall not be given an easy death, anyway.

Cale put his hand on the old man's shoulder. Venion's eyes twitched at the action. A noble's hand was touching a commoner.

"Old man"

"Y-Yes?" The old man was extremely shocked as he lifted his head to look at the red-haired noble.

"Where's the bar?" Cale asked casually.

"E-Excuse me?"

"Where can I get some delicious alcohol? As you have heard, I am a Trash. I don't feel refreshed in the morning if I don't drink any alcohol. I need to drink to make sure tomorrow is another great day. So?" Cale tried to lift up the old man.

Venion who heard Cale mentioned alcohol, shook his head. 'A trash is a trash.'

"Lead the way, old man." Cale frowned and continued when the old man wasn't moving. "Are you not going to get up?"

The old man hesitated; he looked back and forth between Cale and Venion.

Cale ignored the old man and got back up. He then extended the hand that touch the old man toward Venion, asking for a handshake. "It's nice to meet you today, Young master Venion."

Cale smiled. 'I'll disgust you to death. Come and shake my hand.'

Venion quietly stood there frozen, until his lackey come to whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. "Young master, we have delayed enough already."

"...Do not interrupt a conversation between nobles." Venion then grabbed Cale's hand for a very brief moment. "I will be on my way as I'm quite busy."

Cale grinned like a drunken person. "Let's drink together if we meet at the capital."

"I don't think we would appreciate the same thing. But, sure." Venion's smile was lukewarm now, so Cale decided to do something big to finish the conversation.

"Based on our interaction today, it truly looks like only Young master Venion deserves to be the future patriarch of the Stan family."

Patriarch. The word made Venion's eyes cloudy. As Cale expected, Venion's smile started to get brighter again, he offered a praise in return.

"Young master Cale is such an interesting person to be friend with. Let's meet again in the future."

'Who would want to meet you again?' Cale hid what he thought with a bright smile until the Stan carriage disappeared from his sight.

Cale's smile was gone as soon as he didn't have to pretend anymore. He turned to Choi Han and patted his shoulder.

"Good job holding in your anger. But Choi Han, half of the nobles are like that, you need to learn how to stay calm. If you act like this every single time, you'll end up bringing troubles for the people around you. Anger makes you irrational."

Choi Han flinched at what Cale had said, but Cale had already back in front of the old man. "Old man, are you injured? Why are you not getting up? He's gone."

Cale didn't wait for the old man to answer. He quickly checked just in case, he had some experiences as Kim Roksoo often got hurt. 'Hmm nothing broken or anything. Good.'

"Choi Han, since you saved him, you might as well bring him home safely as well."

Instead of responding, Choi Han was looking at Cale's back.

"I-I'm okay, sir. About the bar that you were talking about...."

"No need. Im not in a mood to drink right now." Cale stopped the old man from trying to lead him to the bar. 'The mood was ruined by meeting the narcissist Venion.'

Cale waved his hand in front of Choi Han's face because he didn't get his reply. "What's wrong with you? Is it because your shoulder hurt?"

Choi Han was thinking about what Cale said to him earlier. His mouth was opening and closing without a word coming out.

"My place sells alcohol." The old man seemed to finally gather all his courage to say this.

"Hmm? Your place is a bar?" Cale asked at the surprised coincidence.

The old man smiled awkwardly, but continued in a slightly more relaxed expression after seeing Cale's behavior. "Yes, sir. It is this village's only inn. It has a bar and a restaurant as well."

"Great. Since it's the only inn, it must be the best place here. Hans!"

Even before Cale said anything, Hans, who had the medicine Cale ordered and passed it to Choi Han, had already proceeded to help the old man up and asked about details of the inn.

Ron finally approached when he saw that Cale had finished his business. He helped Cale brush off the dust on his clothes, before turned to follow the rest of the group towards the village entrance.

Choi Han and Cale was left there alone.

"Cale-nim"

"What is it?"

"Are you not angry?" Choi Han asked curiously. 'Or is it that he could control his expression that well? But he must be angry too.'

"About what?"

Choi Han hesitated for a moment. 'Does he really not know?'

Cale shrugged his shoulders and continued Choi Han's line of questions for him. "Angry at the fact that he made such an unbelievable statement toward you and the old man? Or angry about how he almost killed a person but never intended to apologize and even consider that person as obstacle?"

Cale's voice was calm and firm, he continued nonchalantly. "Maybe you talked about why I didn't get angry that he looked down on me? Then, should I argue with him and demand him to apologize to the old man that he nearly killed?"

Choi Han paid attention to Cale who was looking at the faraway mountain range. At the same time, he listened attentively to Cale's words that sound very indifferent.

"I'm not the kind of guy who could speak like that nor do I want to. I am not that angry, anyway what he said about me are all true." Cale shrugged.

'I'm too used to hiding my real emotions and intentions. Especially if the fact that my own emotions would bring harm to my family. The old man wasn't hurt, and the fact that I looked bad will be beneficial for Basen as the successor.'

Cale turned to look at Choi Han with a bright smile. "The main point is I don't like direct confrontations. I much preferred hitting my enemy from the back after they let their guard down. Isn't that much more interesting?"

Cale was a type of guy who never forget, be it gratitude or grudge. Maybe that was the reason his ability was Record.

"Uh?" Choi Han somehow felt a chill going down his spine; he felt that he should never offend Cale. He was shocked at this unexpected side of Cale, but he didn't hate it.

"Please tell me if you need help hitting the enemy." Choi Han told Cale sincerely.

Cale laughed so hard when he saw such an innocent face saying such vicious words so sincerely. He was glad he wasn't Choi Han's enemy this lifetime.

Choi Han didn't understand why Cale laughed at his words, but he could let it go just this once. The kittens who was about to approach the two halted their movement, enjoying Cale's happy laughter.

"Ah, no worries. Venion might got kicked out of his house very soon." Cale showed a mischievous smile. 'I am going to snatch his dragon~'

Once the dragon was gone, Venion would have to face the wrath of the Marquis. In addition to that, Cale had planned to help Taylor Stan to recover his legs. Taylor would act as a big obstacle for Venion becoming the family patriarch.

Since Venion is someone who doesn't know how to stop when an obstacle appear on the road, let's wait and see how he overcome the big obstacle Cale placed in his way.

Of course, this was a matter that needed to be done in secret. He casually informed Choi Han, who now looked at him excitedly. "I will need your help then."

"Yes. I will help with whatever you ask." Choi Han had a happy smile on his face. However, to Cale, it was a very evil smile.

Meow~

Meow~

"I didn't exclude you. You are definitely essential to this plan."

Choi Han was sure now that the two kittens weren't just normal cats. He chose to wait, since Cale didn't introduce them to everyone, it meant that this matter should be kept as secret.

***********************************

Tsuki: Raon nearly ready to make his appearance. Enjoy the chapter everyone!