Chapter 9.5

He then heard something from his father that almost made him faint. “... Could you please say that one more time.” “Yes. Cale.” Basen was standing next to Cale as well. The story of the Henituse family that was not mentioned in the novel was happening in front of Cale’s eyes. “You shall go to the capital as our family’s representative.” Cale could feel a headache coming. “Originally, Basen was supposed to go. However, you are the first born of our family.” Cale just opened and closed his mouth repeatedly as he watched Count Deruth sitting there with a gentle smile. Going to visit the crown at such a time. Cale was quickly thinking about the contents of ‘The Birth of a Hero’ as Deruth continued to speak. “The crown is hosting a big event, and the noble families of each territory have been invited to gather. It will be your first time to go visit the crown, but Basen has been going to similar functions for the last two years. However, I am hoping for you to go this time.” Big event hosted by the crown. That made Cale think about a single incident. The Plaza Terror Incident. A secret organization commits a terrorist act when many of the citizens of the capital are gathered in one place. Our hero Choi Han is the one who manages to block about half of their plot. That would be the fourth time that Choi Han and the secret organization would come into contact with each other. As a result, Choi Han is able to save a lot of the citizens at the plaza and becomes connected with the crown prince. They then quickly develop a friendship with each other. Cale suddenly got the chills. Since the novel described the event from Choi Han’s point of view, it did not talk much about the gathering of the nobles. All it mentioned was that Choi Han gains some party members before and after the incident, as well as the strong backing of the crown prince. But he had to go to the scene of that terrorist attack? Of course, he did not know whether the nobles would gather in the plaza as well. Cale started to recall the information in ‘The Birth of a Hero. [Tons of people were gathered in the plaza. The platform was still empty. It was for the royal family that would soon arrive. Choi Han could see some other people who looked like they held important positions. However, more important to Choi Han, was the fact that a lot of citizens, young, old, male, female, were gathered here. Choi Han’s heart started to beat faster. He did not want to see a group of innocent people dying ever again.] Would people who looked like they held important positions include the nobles? Cale turned to look at Basen even as his father was continuing to speak. Basen stood there stoically, looking at his father without giving Cale a single glance. ‘Deruth said Basen normally goes to events like this. Should I tell him to go?’ Cale’s mouth continued to repeatedly open and close. He did not want to go to a dangerous area. However, he could not bring himself to say Basen’s name. A relationship that was neither good nor bad. That was the relationship between the original Cale and Basen. Basen found Cale to be difficult, but that was it. Cale’s mind started to get complicated. Would Cale have gone in the story? There was no way Deruth would send the trash to the capital. Just why was he trying to send him then? Cale was wondering if he had done something wrong to have caused this to happen. “You will leave in five days.” Five days later. Hearing Deruth say that, Cale knew that the Cale in the novel had not gone to the capital. In the novel, he was beaten to a pulp by Choi Han four days later and carried into the Count’s estate. There was no way he could go to the capital in that condition. “Cale. Before Basen started to do it, you had participated in all of these ceremonies. Think back on those times and have a relaxed journey.” “Father.” Deruth looked toward Cale at his calling. Basen slowly turned to look at his older brother as well. “I am a bit anxious because of this sudden development. I have not gone to any of these since two years ago. I don’t understand why I would suddenly have to go. Please let me think about it.” Deruth agreed and told his two sons that they could leave. The siblings quickly left the study. Cale was busy thinking about all sorts of things. If Cale threw a fit and caused a scene, Deruth would probably send Basen, but that would leave a bitter taste in his mouth. It was at that moment. “Hyung-nim.” Cale could hear his young brother, Basen’s voice. Cale turned his head. He could see Basen still stoically walking without looking at him. The 15 year old Basen always talked like this without ever making eye contact. “Hyung-nim, there is no reason you cannot go.” Sigh. Cale let out a sigh. Basen did not even look at Cale as he left the study and headed to his own room. Cale stared at Basen for a long time. “...It’s not supposed to go like this.” Cale had been pushed out of the successor spot. Cale could not stop acting like trash even when his younger brother flat out acted like he was the family’s successor since two years ago. He was the joke of the family. That was why there were a lot of reasons he should not go as the family representative to the crown’s summon. However, Basen was saying that there were no reasons not to go to the event. Basen was saying that there were enough reasons for Cale to go as the family representative. ‘Things will become complicated like this.’ Cale stated to frown. He did not like how things were going. But the other problem was... ‘It’s worth a shot.’ He thought it was worth going through the events that were about to come up. The reason was that the chances of Cale coming back without dying or getting hurt were pretty high. ‘It will also make it difficult for me if Basen dies without being able to take the Count position.’ In order for Cale to live a peaceful life, Basen needed to survive. There was still their youngest sister, Lily, but she was too young. Furthermore, Cale needed to head out of Western City after taking the ancient power located at the man-eating tree in order to take some other ancient powers located outside the Henituse territory. The scale inside Cale’s mind started to tilt. He started to stare at deputy butler Hans who was heading his way. Hans’s expression was intense, but not dark. He seemed to be a bit bitter, but his eyes were clear. “Young master, the request that your guest has asked for-” “Hans.” Cale cut him off as he said something else. “Bring that guest here.” “Excuse me?” Cale was not going to be pushed around. If he was going to have to move, he might as well do it in a way that was most comfortable for him and in a way that was most beneficial for him. “Ah, if he doesn’t want to come, just tell him this.” Based on Hans’s expression, Cale was certain that Choi Han’s issue was settled properly. In the novel, Count Deruth gave a proper funeral for the villagers and took care of everything even after Choi Han beat Cale to a pulp. That shouldn’t have changed at all. “Payment.” “Pardon?” “Tell him to come because a way for him to pay me back has come up.”