Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain

Chapter 409: Visiting Harendale - a trip

"Master, young master Finn's shadow just contacted me, saying we are free to enter Eisjer domain by tomorrow morning." Esme reported as she drove out the compound of Shade's branch office.

"By tomorrow? I think I told them to hurry it up." Rio replied with a frown.

"Yeah, but with the mining accident that happened a few days ago, and all the public outrage happening around those trapped miners and their families, clearing everyone out forcefully is taking longer than usual." Esme said, passing him a device which played several footages from the dungeon entrances holographically.

Rio took a look at the roaring mob and how people were all riled up and angry, and just closed it.

"Fine. Contact Finn and tell him if he's taking extra time, make sure there are no disturbances when I'm in. No pesky reporters, no funny little sneaking guy who wants to be a hero, or a random nobody with a camera - I want a blockade around the whole dungeon." He ordered, while passing her the 'phone' back.

"As you wish, master." Esme answered and then looked at her screen which lit up with another message, "..."

"Is he asking about that dinner plan again?" Rio said after noticing her helpless gaze and the hesitation to speak.

"Yes master." Esme nodded her head and explained, "He's saying I should drive through the shortcuts and bring you to the teleportation place without telling you anything. His words, 'Just drive the car through the tele-circle, and he can handle the rest.'

"...." It took Rio 3 seconds to process what kind of stupidly weird deadass plan it was, even in the matter of texting, before he just shook his head and gave up trying to understand what Finn might have thought Esme's response to it would be.

"Just ignore him." He said, something which Esme happily obliged, as she really couldn't think how to respond.

"Where are we going next?" She asked, looking in the mirror at the following cars behind them. One from the guild and another from Ravens, both tasked with his security and safe stay in this city.

"Let's go and say hi to the Heartwell's. It's been a while since I've visited them." Rio said and looked out the window, his eyes staring at the signboards of the increasing number of casinos and small gambling shops around every corner.

The scene of drunkards fallen into dumps and ditches, while small brawls and drug deals happening in hushed whispers of the dark alleys_ somehow brought a smile to his face.

'I wonder what the poor protagonist's father has to say for himself seeing the increase in crime and criminals in his city.' Rio thought in his mind, remembering the proposition the Barons proposed to his family years ago.

Where the righteous foolish father of hero supported the idea of allowing casinos and gambling into the city to increase the revenue and tourist attraction for the rich and powerful, hoping it'll attract more elite families to invest in this city to help maintain peace and reforms everywhere.

He was half right as more elite families did join Harendale and opened their business branches here to promote their products, but none of them cared about maintaining peace as a whole.

As they say the kind of garden it is, the kind of birds and bees it'll attract.

And by opening their garden gates for more powerful people/animals to settle in, the Barons only shot themselves in the foot.

No one who came here came with nicer intentions. And with the powers behind them, the barons now couldn't even force them out or do something extreme to keep them in check.

'Truly a fool who couldn't see far from the nearest profits.' Rio sneered to himself, blaming the Barons for their own downfall, before the thought that maybe it was all fate's work to muddy the waters, so Leon can finally become the one to clean up the dirt and shine some more, _ came to his mind.

'Hmm that sounds about the same too.

'If only young master Leon could also learn something from him.' He thought in his mind, remembering all the trouble their young master causes everywhere he goes. The people he offends and the norms he drops every day saying while acting generous and saying 'he doesn't like them.'

Saying everyone in the family should sit together for dinner and enjoy the sweets is good, but then jumping up, and saying everyone in this city is his family, even when people out there are dying of hunger, is just hypocrite.

"Forgive me asking, but our young master Leon is also in the same class as you. He often praised your talent and skills, so I was wondering if you two are friends?" The butler spoke, as rumors of bad relations between Leon and Rio were circulating everywhere some time ago.

With people often commenting that the Heartwell family has lived for too long, and would soon perish after Rio takes over his house.

Though exaggerated, but with what happened between their young miss and Rio two years ago, it's normal if he holds a grudge.

Rio looked at him for some time, before replying with a slight smile, "He's too nice to be my friend. His ideals are _ well how do I put it nicely, idiotic in my eyes."

"Well, the young master is still young and naive yet. He'll grow with time and experience." The butler responded with passion, but Rio cut him off.

"He's a lot stubborn too, so I think it'll take something extreme to change his views and personality." Rio said with an all knowing smile, before adding with a chuckle, "But then again, we can only pray for a miracle, hoping the God would listen."

"....." The butler watched as Rio left him behind and entered the grand hall, his eyes staring at their backs lost in thoughts, until the guards closed the door, blocking his sight.

'Pray for a miracle... .. Ravens, do they know something?' The butler thought in suspicion over Rio's mysterious words, before shifting the blame onto Ravens, who are known for digging into other people's secrets for their living.

(Everyone has a pair of two eyes, and one of them is working for the Ravens.) The saying entangled with the Raven family, came to his mind, and he couldn't help but frown.

"I'll have to contact the organisation and tell them to be wary of these crows' poking eyes." The butler said and disappeared from his place.

_

While on the inside, seeing the grand stature of the long hall leading to a garden in the back, and the sentries stationed in the shadows of pillars and the ceiling, Tanya held Esme's hand and stepped closer to her.

"Baron Heartwell, it's been a while." Rio said as he walked through the inner corridors and reached the courtyard. Only to have his courteous smile stiffen at the sight in front of him.

There at the table were sitting two people whom he never expected to be here _ Baron Misha Winston, the ambitious father of a past prophet, and his daughter, Katherine. Rio's classmate and somewhat of a pupil/friend.

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Author note - As the cliches go, there's always a traitor in the hero's house. The one who's too done with their righteousness and sees the world with cruel eyes. Always planning something behind everyone's back. The butler here is just that.

..

By the way I know you lot forgot everything, so do read chapter 123 again, to help jog your memory about the origin of gambling and the barons' previous conversation. I'm serious about it.

Also once you're done with re-reading that, do tell me if I've improved my writing style from back then, I feel like I'm doing quite better these days, don't you too??