What Witch? This Alchemist is Breaking Bad!

At noon, after hearing his subordinate’s report, Leon returned to the Viscount’s Estate and received the banquet invitation from Adele.

“An invitation to Marquis Veronia’s banquet?” Leon carefully examined the invitation. “Your family actually has connections with Marquis Veronia?”

Like Earl Foyle, Marquis Veronia was a grand noble of the East. Furthermore, according to the information previously obtained from Bishop Beckett during interrogation, he also had a deep relationship with Earl Foyle. Together with Marquis Lorraine, who was Earl Foyle’s father-in-law, they formed the core of the eastern noble faction.

Marquis Veronia’s territory was located farther upstream along the rivers westward, somewhat distant from River Valley County.

Regardless of territory location or family scale, the Viscount Arend family did not seem like they could have formed a relationship with someone of such status. Even the most glorious previous generation of Viscount Arend, in plain terms, was merely a successful merchant who had once seized an opportunity and obtained a title. Within noble circles, he could still only be considered a minor figure.

“I am not very sure either. Perhaps Marquis Veronia intends to invest in this region, or perhaps he is seeking a marriage alliance. But regardless, I estimate that the person he mainly wants to invite is someone else, and he merely included the other minor nobles of this region as well.” Adele answered, then carefully chose her words. “Um, I think... I think we should formally decline this invitation.”

“Hmm? Why?” Leon asked.

“You may not understand our family’s situation within the circle... Actually, our family’s reputation was already ruined by my father long ago. We have long become a joke among the nobles. Marquis Veronia came from outside the region and may not know our family’s situation. He probably only happened to send the invitation here. This is actually not an occasion we should attend.” Adele said.

“I do not think so.” Leon suddenly interrupted Adele. “This invitation probably was not sent to your father. Precisely because Marquis Veronia does not understand the circles here, when sending invitations, he would definitely need to at least confirm the specific identity of the invited person. After all, the identity and family situation of a title heir can change.

Look at this invitation. It is addressed to the viscount and the viscountess. Your father has been divorced for so many years. This kind of situation cannot possibly be mistaken in social circles. We only completed the inheritance of the title yesterday, and this invitation arrived immediately. I think this invitation was meant for us.”

There was another reason behind his analysis: Marquis Veronia had a relationship with Earl Foyle.

Earl Foyle had been killed by him. The collapse of one of the pillars of the eastern noble circle would inevitably cause turmoil. At this time, Marquis Veronia inviting many nobles from one region was likely also meant to respond to this change by taking some measures, such as forming an association or some other interest group to unite the middle and lower nobles.

And Leon had openly interacted with Earl Foyle at the cathedral gathering during the Holy Spirit Festival. Many of the Church’s formally appointed personnel present at the time—among them, there were certainly many from noble families—might have formed an impression of him in this regard.

So if Marquis Veronia saw his name while preparing a banquet for nobles at this time, considering that Leon could also become a member of the eastern interest group, it would not be strange for him to send an invitation.

Of course, as the true culprit who killed the Earl, facing an invitation from someone connected to the Earl, he still needed to consider it carefully.

This invitation, viewed positively, was an opportunity for him to enter noble circles and build connections. Viewed negatively, it could also attract suspicious attention.

The possibility of being invited because of suspicion was not very high right now. If someone suspected him of being a dangerous person who had killed the Earl, they would likely first have the Church or other organizations investigate him, rather than invite him into their own social gathering to personally test him. Since this marquis knew Earl Foyle, generally speaking, he would not think his own life was tougher than the Earl’s.

“This is possible too, but... if you take me there, others will only see you as a nouveau riche who bought me.” Adele hesitated.

“Isn’t that exactly the truth?” Leon smiled slightly.

Adele was unhappy with this statement, but she had no way to refute it. She could only continue persuading Leon. “That is why, if we go to the banquet, others will see you as a foolish nouveau riche who bought our family’s debts, and they will see me as a fallen woman bought by someone else. No matter how you look at it, we will only be treated as a joke. You definitely do not like humiliating yourself either, right?”

Adele knew that Leon must have his own considerations and purposes for buying Arend Island, but what outsiders could see was probably only that this nouveau riche coveted the easily obtained noble title and Adele’s beauty, and was willing to take on the debt of the previous viscount like a fool.

As for Adele, she had fallen from a noble daughter into a toy bought by a nouveau riche. She had also sold herself for a good price, which was something worth celebrating.

If the two of them appeared at that kind of banquet, it would merely add new material to the “Viscount Arend Joke Collection” among noble circles. In the eyes of other nobles, the level of ridicule might even surpass that of her father. After all, her father was, in plain terms, merely a spoiled young master, the foolish son of a landlord family. Other noble families actually had no shortage of people like that.

Over the years since she returned, she had run around for this family and suffered plenty of ridicule, both openly and secretly. Now she had fallen to the point where she had no choice but to trade with Leon to maintain the family. She was truly a little tired.

“We still do not know the purpose of Marquis Veronia’s invitation. The banquet is two weeks from now, so there is no need to hurry. Let me investigate first.” Leon temporarily put away the invitation.

He would first inquire about the banquet situation, weigh the advantages and disadvantages, and then consider whether to attend or decline.

“You are still considering going?” Adele’s face fell. Just imagining the scene of attending the banquet with Leon made her stomach ache.

“If you are so unwilling, you do not have to go. If necessary, just say you are feeling unwell. I can go myself.” Leon casually said.

After he finished speaking, Adele frowned and began looking at him with a very strange expression.

“What? Did I say something strange?” Leon asked.

“You do not really understand etiquette in this area, do you?” Adele sighed and began explaining to Leon. “In this situation, the invitation is for a husband and wife pair, so the people attending should naturally also be the husband and wife. If there is a ball, the first dance should also be performed by the husband and wife.

So normally, if one person cannot attend, the other person usually will not go alone. That would be somewhat disrespectful to the host, unless there is a reason you absolutely must attend the banquet, such as needing to give a speech there.”

“Is that so?” Leon had heard of this kind of rule for the first time.

“If you do not even understand this, then when you go to the banquet, you probably will not even know how to address people or how to perform greetings. Making a fool of yourself would be a minor matter, but offending people would be serious. So I think you should simply decide not to go.” Adele tried persuading him.

“You make a good point. In that case, if I go, I need to bring you along.” Leon looked Adele up and down.

Thinking about it this way, this viscount’s daughter was indeed quite useful to him in this regard. Leon knew almost nothing about the complicated etiquette and rules between nobles. However, Adele had been born as the daughter of a viscount. Probably because of the previous example set by her father, her grandfather seemed to have placed great importance on Adele’s education.

Although Leon often felt that Adele, who had grown up in such an environment, had a deeply rooted spoiled nature, on the other hand, regarding her speech, behavior, and concepts, she could naturally blend into noble circles.

If a nouveau riche like him wanted to enter that circle, he probably truly needed Adele’s assistance.

“Sigh, I still suggest that you prioritize not going...” Adele said helplessly.

She ultimately could not make the decision on this matter and could only let Leon decide.

There had been a time when she had also dreamed the kind of dreams common among noble daughters. At some ball, she would shine brightly like a princess in a story, receive everyone’s attention, and become the protagonist. But now, she only wished that one day she would no longer have her fate manipulated by others.

……

The next day, after basically handling the various matters on Arend Island, Leon left Arend Island by ship and arrived at the port of Caster Town.

Aside from the territory and Labyrinth on Arend Island, he still needed to handle the work of the Inquisition and various matters within his sphere of influence. He now needed to move around frequently, making him much busier than before.

Just after disembarking at the port, Leon saw one of his subordinates assigned to a port position waiting below.

“What happened?” Leon noticed that the other party had something to report.

“Sir, a foreign ship docked here this morning. Someone from it told the people of the ship workers’ guild that they wanted to wait here for you. They also said that if they told you Mr. Johnny was waiting, you would understand.” The subordinate reported.

“Which ship?” Leon’s expression became serious.

“It is over here. The brothers have been keeping watch the entire time.” The subordinate immediately led the way, bringing Leon to the other side of the port and pointing toward a merchant ship that did not look particularly conspicuous.

Leon immediately saw a sharp-eyed sailor standing on the deck, looking around. The moment he saw Leon, his gaze locked onto him. That crisp, military-like bearing indeed matched the characteristics of Johnny’s subordinates.

Leon nodded toward the person, and the other party immediately nodded in response, then turned and entered the cabin to report.

Leon brought two of his subordinates aboard the ship. A sailor came out to receive them and led them to the captain’s cabin, then opened the door and gestured for Leon to enter alone.

Leon stepped into the room and saw Johnny sitting sideways beside the navigation chart table, with a bottle of wine and a cup beside him.

“Congratulations on becoming a noble.” Johnny opened their meeting with a congratulation, but his tone was as casual as always.

“Thank you. Your information is quite well-informed.” Leon sat down.

“So, when can the foundation be established?” Johnny asked while pouring himself wine.

“It has not even been half a month. If you urge me like this, it makes things difficult for me.” Leon said.

“I was just asking casually. If even this gives you pressure, it seems things are not going as smoothly as you thought.” Johnny mocked.

“It is just proceeding step by step. My lack of smooth progress would not benefit you either. You said you were just asking casually, so you came to find me for something else?” Leon knew that Johnny personally coming to find him was definitely not only to confirm the progress.

“The invitation from Marquis Veronia. You should have received it, right?” Johnny suddenly said.