Stalim Family Villa.

When Limgir returned here and entered the study, what he was was Bali with a very dark look on his face.

Seeing Bali like that, Limgir couldn't help but mutter in his mind.

(So even you'd have a day like this huh?)

Seeing his father in such a terrible mood, Limgir not only didn't sympathize, but instead he felt rather happy.

His father has only ever been the one to trick and take advantage of others. He's practically never been on the loosing side before. Although he didn't exactly lose today either, he did end up completely failing against a mere adventurer, so he's probably not in a good mood at all.

"Father."

Limgir didn't show his thoughts at all. Instead, he respectfully greeted his father.

Bali only gave Limgir a glance. Just like before, he didn't show the slightest warmth at all and simply went straight to the point.

"I didn't imagine that an adventurer could have no thoughts toward becoming a noble. I was overconfident this time."

He was indeed overconfident.

If he knew that fact ahead of time, there's no way that Bali would have used that kind of method to maneuver Shien.

Therefore, one can only say that Bali failed to properly prepare.

Limgir on the other hand had a different question he wanted to ask.

"Father, just what was your goal today?"

Limgir gave voice to his question.

Previously, Limgir quite wanted to know just what his father was planning that will help him marry the princess. However, Bali didn't explain. Instead, he just told Limgir to cooperate.

How that the plan seems to have failed, it's quite a curiosity on just what Bali was planning.

Actually, Bali's plan was pretty simple.

"I was planning to let you make a major accomplishment and use that as a way to bring up the marriage to his majesty."

This time, Bali revealed his plan.

"Accomplishment?"

Limgir showed a surprised expression.

Bali took a deep breath before he slowly spoke.

"Originally, I was planning to lure that adventurer to our territory and have him destroy the Old Demon Faction there."

Since Shien already destroyed Baydr's branch of the Old Demon Faction, Bali believed that if Shien were to appear in his territory, then those Old Demon Faction in his territory would definitely hear of it and then start targeting Shien.

"That adventurer has made contact with the mastermind Leisha of the assassination incident ten years ago, and he has now even destroyed the branch of the Old Demon Faction led by Baydr and Jillian. After learning that information, those restless Old Demon Faction in our territory will definitely show themselves.

Bali was planning to use Shien as bait to lure out all those Old Demon Faction scum.

However..

"I final objective wasn't to have him really achieve such merits and thus prove himself and gain even greater rewards. Instead, I planned to have you go along in the name of aiding him in the subjugation." Bali coldly declared.

"And when he has drawn out all the Old Demon Faction, he'd no longer be of any use."

Having heard that, Limgir, who knew full well his father's coldblooded nature, near instantly understood his plan.

".. Was father planning to use that opportunity to remove that adventurer?"

Limgir asked in a low tone.

"That adventurer seems to have gained her highness's favor. In that case, it's even more imperative that we cannot allow him to stay by her highness's side." Bali didn't directly answer. He instead just coldly replied so, "Of course, all that he leaves behind is still of use, so it falls to use to properly use it."

For that sake, Bali had actually made quite a lot of preparations.

What kind of preparations?

Preparations to frame Shien!

"If the plan had gone smoothly, then when the Old Demon Faction reared their head, we would have been able to deal with him alongside the Old Demon Faction. Removing both from the board at the same time." Bali spoke viciously, "At that point, using the preparations I left in our territory, all the evidence will point to the fact that he ambushed us from the back when we were about to deal with the Old Demon Faction."

With that, Bali would be able to carry out his frame job and have Shien carry all the blame.

Add to the fact that Bali brought up the many suspicious points previously, the fact that there was issues with Shien would have been set in stone.

"At that point, you will be the hero who had defeated the schemes of the problematic adventurer, saved the Kingdom, and subjugated a great number of the Old Demon Faction. All the merits that would have originally gone to the adventurer, and many more besides, will now fall to you."

Bali revealed his entire plan.

"Under such circumstances, you would have not only personally purged a dangerous rival, you could even use that as an opportunity to forge a relationship with her highness."

If the princess were to find out that the first person of the opposite gender that she was so close to was such scum, then even she would be greatly hurt by it, right?

And as the hero who revealed the "truth" of that scum, Limgir would have a much easier time forging a relationship with Lucy.

"You then only need to create some further developments and use that opportunity to get closer to her highness, then it shouldn't be too hard for you to take that adventurer's spot." Bali tapped the table as he continued, "When things have developed to that point, if I were to then bring up a marriage to his majesty, I believe that the chances of his majesty agreeing would be quite good, given that you've not only achieved major merits, but is also talented and unimpeachable and talented."

That was Bali's full plan.

Of course, there are still a lot of details within that needs to be dealt with before it could yield the result that Bali wanted. But Bali has already carefully prepared his plans for dealing with those, so while the whole thing can't be said to be utterly foolproof, it's still been planned out as much as possible.

Who would have though though that Shien would counter with a direct refusal, turning all of Bali's hard work and preparations completely pointless.

How could Bali not be in a dark mood from that?

Limgir also finally understood his father's thoughts, and he couldn't help but consider it a pity.

He thought back to that figure and the mighty presences he emitted during the audience. Then he thought back to the closeness between Shien and the princess. At such thoughts, Limgir couldn't help but stretch his hand.

That hand was currently bound with bandages, still dyed with blood.

Feeling the stinging pain from his bloody palm, Limgir almost couldn't stop himself from clenching and stabbing his nails into his flesh again.

"But now, the plan has failed. What do we do now?"

Limgir couldn't help but ask that question.

"How huh?" Bali seemed to have been considering the question as well. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, "Since we've already failed this once, we should learn from it and first thoroughly investigate everything about that adventurer."

"What does he care about. What doesn't he care about. What are his goals. What aren't his goals. We have to know all of those first before ewe can set up the next plan."historical

"Also, he did remind me this time, but his true strength all comes form his unique skill, and that unique skill has activation conditions."

"If we can fully understand all the conditions, we'd also know his absolute weaknesses. That's the most advantageous thing for us right now."

Bali's statements all told Limgir what he should do for next steps.

"Does father want me to approach him then?" Limgir whispered his question.

"You should quite care about how he's getting along with her highness as well, right?" Bali didn't deny it and instead calmly stated, "Plus, by getting close to him, you can also use that opportunity to get closer to her highness. One bird with two stones."

In that case, Limgir doesn't need anyone to tell him what do do next.

".. Understood."

Limgir fell silent for a brief moment before nodding emotionlessly.

The hidden waves targeting Shien continues to move.

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