A Mastermind? No, I'm just the Live-In Son-in-Law-Chapter 106: Who’s the Hunter?

“Oh my, who would’ve thought such a distinguished guest would come to a shabby place like this....”

“......”

“Welcome, Lady... no, guest.”

The moment she stepped through the front door of the shop Whitney had introduced, Lady Meredia received not resistance but hospitality.

“Surprisingly lenient reactions. I thought places like this were usually obsessed with rules.”

“That’s correct. Normally, only married patrons are allowed through the door, due to strict policy....”

The masked woman in charge of Meredia, clearly of high rank, smiled slyly and lowered her voice.

“But there are times when rules don’t apply. Like, say, someone who holds sway over about a third of the back alley’s power.”

Even though she worded it mildly, it was obvious that she was referring directly to Lady Meredia, who was wearing the mask Whitney had given her before they parted.

“...That’s a bit of a leap.”

“Fufu, with the ‘Godfather’s’ influence declining recently, it’s pretty clear where that power’s heading.”

As the masked woman laid on her flattery more openly, Meredia quietly sighed and began walking forward.

“So, what brings you here today...?”

“...Huh. Is this the kind of place that asks about such things?”

“Ah, my apologies.”

The masked staff member who had poked her head out to ask the question instantly bowed and pressed her hands together at Meredia’s frosty reaction.

“Well, there aren’t many reasons someone would visit here, after all.”

“......”

“But generally speaking, there are two types of guests. If you’d just give us a small hint as to which....”

She made a slightly awkward gesture, clearly gauging Meredia’s mood.

“...Exhibition.”

“Aha. Got it. So that’s the type you are.”

Meredia finally muttered her reason in a voice laced with annoyance. The masked woman immediately rubbed her palms together and stepped forward to lead the way.

“Most guests like yourself prefer a private room. Hehe....”

“Most guests like yourself prefer a private room. Hehe....”

“Oh? Is that so? Guests like me, huh.”

Meredia’s quiet voice sharpened, catching the woman’s passing remark mid-air.

“Yet, there can’t be that many noblewomen of my level walking in here.”

“O-of course. We value individual privacy above all, so I really couldn’t say.”

Caught off guard, the masked woman stammered slightly as she explained.

“If you were thinking of trying to find out, we hope you’ll let it go. Instead, may we offer you our diamond-tier membership for today—”

“...I hate it when tiers are named after jewels. Makes everything sound cheap.”

“Y-you do? Well, in any case, we’ll give you the finest service. So....”

But as Meredia’s tone showed no sign of easing, the masked woman broke into a nervous sweat, stammering.

“No need. Just don’t get in the way.”

“Aha, so you’d prefer to enjoy things quietly! Understood.”

Perking up at Meredia’s detached reply, the woman pointed with both hands to the destination they'd finally reached.

“Today, we just received a new exhibit! I hope you’ll enjoy it.”

Meredia’s tired eyes, already fatigued before even entering, darkened further at the phrase “new exhibit.”

“Fufu. No need to give me that look. The exhibits eligible for masks are under the strictest security, you know.” fгeewebnovёl.com

“...Is that so?”

“And they’re verified as well. Honestly, I don’t even know who’s who. Exhibit assignments are done by the sales team on a rotating basis.”

With no way to know the real reason behind any of this, Meredia listened to the masked woman’s cheerful explanation, then finally moved forward.

“Please, enjoy yourself~!”

“...Haa.”

Meredia let out yet another sigh as she stepped into the “exhibition hall,” the masked woman having held the door open for her.

“This path feels too murky for enjoyment.”

Muttering quietly, she began scanning her surroundings, looking for Whitney, who had entered ahead of her.

“Alright, I just need a decoy for now....”

Though her expression showed clear reluctance.

“...!?”

Within seconds, her face froze into a look utterly out of character.

“E-everyone, please calm down for just a moment... Whoa.”

“Hey, what’s your name?”

“...Excuse me, but I believe I spoke to him first?”

“Ahaha....”

That was because Whitney, the one she had come looking for—had already become the exhibition’s star attraction.

***

Alright, I’ll be honest.

Even when I infiltrated the shop known to host imperial scandals using the mask I obtained from Bergen through a shady channel, I didn’t expect things to end up like this.

“Ladies! Please step back a bit!”

“Move. Do you even know who I am?”

“Just one touch, come on?”

“You can’t miss an item like this....”

I never imagined that the majority of noblewomen in the exhibition hall would swarm me the moment I was displayed.

‘Is this some kind of prank show? Or a trap?’

At first, I genuinely thought it was some revenge plot by Lady Meredia or a trap set by an enemy faction.

“...Oh?”

But judging by the dumbfounded expression on Meredia’s face just now, it’s clearly not her doing. And thinking about it, what would an enemy gain from such a hollow stunt?

Which leads me to one inescapable conclusion.

‘Don’t tell me... I’m the type older women like?’

It might be nonsense. But it might also be true. Just look at those noblewomen crowding in front of me—they’re proof enough.

— Kugugugugu...!

As I scratched my head at the thought, the floor beneath me suddenly glowed, and a sturdy barrier wrapped around me.

“...This is for the protection of the exhibit. We ask for your understanding!”

The masked man who had been trying to restrain the noblewomen raised his voice, drenched in cold sweat. Finally, the women backed off with reluctant frowns.

“Rare items like that don’t come up often....”

“He’s definitely a recently fallen noble. At least baron-class or higher.”

“...Seems freshly ruined. Was there a house like that?”

“Better this verified lunchbox than some unknown stray mutt....”

Though the pressure lessened a bit, their lewd whispers as they stared at me like I was some rare zoo animal made me uncomfortable.

“If you’re bidding just for curiosity’s sake, you’d better back out now. I’m in this till the end.”

“Oh my, seems most of us are thinking the same.”

“Indeed, the more you use an item like that, the less valuable it becomes.”

“With that level of quality, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone buys instead of rents today.”

I couldn’t identify them through the masks, but based on their flashy outfits and jewelry, they were clearly high-ranking noblewomen.

Frankly, I couldn’t understand why they were doing this in such a seedy place. Has the Empire’s nobility fallen this far?

— Kkadeudeuk...

But more pressing than those societal issues was the sound of someone grinding their teeth from a distance.

Specifically, the sound of her grinding her teeth.

This time, I really hadn’t done anything intentional... and honestly, I felt incredibly wronged.

Once this mission is over, I’ll probably have to go through hell just to get back on her good side. I could already feel the sigh bubbling up inside me.

“Well then... Normally, we don’t start this early. But since the room’s already heating up, shall we begin the bidding...?”

As I avoided her gaze with a sheepish expression, the “bidding” finally began.

Anyone with even a hint of sense would already know what this “bidding” meant in a place like this.

It was just dressed up in more refined language since the bidders were all noblewomen.

“I’ll bid everything I currently own. If that’s too much for some of you, perhaps wait for another day.”

“Fufu. Only a back-alley stray dog would want a candy someone else has already licked.”

“...My, how disgraceful. What’s gotten into everyone today?”

Regardless of ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) status or power, the filth in this place couldn’t be erased just by changing the vocabulary or tone.

“Ten billion.”

But as I grimaced at the nasty atmosphere, a lazy voice from behind the noblewomen made me stop in my tracks.

“I’ll buy him for ten billion gold.”

In this filthy den, a woman wearing a golden mask entered, radiating charisma so chilling it gave me goosebumps.

“Gasp.”

“Guh....”

“...Damn it.”

The noblewomen, eyes wide as they prepared their bids, froze on the spot.

Partly due to the terrifying pressure the golden mask woman exuded, but mostly because of the sheer weight of that number: ten billion.

‘In the original game’s economy... Even if I’m off, that’s enough to retire for life, right?’

And if my memory’s right, there’s only one person in the Empire who could throw around that kind of cash in the underworld without blinking.

The current Emperor of the Empire—Lilith Winter Clouds.

“...Eleven billion.”

Just as I began to smirk, thinking the Emperor had taken the bait, a cold voice cut in from the other side.

“I’ll buy him for eleven billion gold.”

There was another person here who could match that number.

‘Wait, why!?’

The problem was—it came from none other than Lady Meredia, who was supposed to subtly stir the crowd into letting the Emperor win.

***

“Thirteen billion.”

“Seventeen billion.”

“Twenty-five billion.”

“Thirty billion.”

As the numbers skyrocketed from both women’s mouths, the noblewomen in the room began to pale.

“T-they’re insane....”

“E-even with our guild’s backing, we couldn’t match that....”

Even for those infamous for their wealth and arrogance, the numbers being thrown around now were beyond any ordinary noble’s fortune.

“Sixty billion.”

That alone shut everyone up, the figure coming from the mysterious woman challenging the one in the golden mask.

“I... suddenly need the restroom.”

“H-haha. Me too.”

At that point, everyone realized something was very wrong with what was happening.

“One hundred and twenty billion.”

“...Hik.”

Hiccup.

And once the golden-masked woman called out that number without a care in the world, the certainty hit even harder.

— Kkadeudeuk...

Then, as the mysterious woman ground her teeth again and opened her mouth, all eyes snapped to her.

“Two hundr—”

Unfortunately, the auction ended there.

“...Tch.”

She exchanged a glance with the man inside the barrier, then twisted her face bitterly and shut her mouth.

“Good, then that child belongs to me?”

“...T-that is....”

“Is there anyone else who wishes to bid?”

The woman in the golden mask turned toward the private rooms with a satisfied expression. No one dared respond.

“Then I’ll make good use of him.”

She finally let out a soft smile, stealing a sideways glance at Meredia, who was biting her lip beside her.

— I’ll use him well and return him clean. Lady Embergreen.

That last message wasn’t spoken aloud.

It was a thought, read directly from her mind by Meredia’s jewel eye.