Chapter 137:  Ideal Type (1)

“Tuberculosis won’t relapse as long as the medication is taken consistently.”

Nord Central Hospital.

In front of a deluxe room, the imperial physician and the inspector were having a conversation in the hallway.

“There were many who thought they were cured and let their guard down, only to die from complications.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, doctor.”

I watched the two of them from a distance, feeling pleased.

“The anti-tuberculosis drugs commonly used in Nord are effective for temporary relief, but in the long run, they strain the body.”

Mikhail didn’t hold back his advice, wearing a very serious expression.

After I found out that he felt the greatest sense of fulfillment when saving others, just like I did…

It seemed I started to feel an even deeper sense of kinship with him.

“The ones we use at the Imperial Hospital may seem mild at first, but they’re better suited for long-term treatment.”

“Thank you…!!”

Once the conversation ended, Mikhail stepped aside to speak briefly with the hospital director.

As expected of a renowned physician, even the leading figure of Nord medicine bowed before him.

“Representative Roger…”

“It seems the surgery went well.”

I smiled gently at the inspector approaching me.

In return, despite not getting a wink of sleep during the entire surgery, he answered with a bright expression.

“Yes, thankfully, the prognosis is very good.”

“This is just the beginning. For the next six months, consistent medication and monitoring will be crucial.”

Ten years later, tuberculosis treatment would advance to the point of rapid recovery.

But right now, we were still in an era where medicine was developing.

Even with a renowned doctor and anti-tuberculosis drugs, which were still in their early stages, caution was necessary regardless of who performed the treatment.

“……”

At my serious advice, he let out a short sigh.

As if he had more or less decided on his next steps.

“Representative, would you be willing to share a cup of tea with me?”

“Of course. I saw a café near the hospital, actually.”

I went with him to a nearby café and took a seat inside.

Sitting indoors was safer—someone from the Grand Duke’s side might be lurking around and spot us.

“It really does feel like my life is changing rapidly, just as you said.”

“I never make promises I can’t keep. I also never offer exaggerated rewards to those close to me.”

That’s one of the essential traits of a trustworthy leader.

Even if you can’t offer great rewards, you must fulfill the conditions you promised.

There’s nothing more effective for gaining the trust of your subordinates.

“Then… does this mean I’m now one of your close aides?”

Tabor cautiously asked me.

But when I looked into his eyes, I realized this wasn’t a hopeful question.

It came from a lingering sense of conscience—as an inspector.

Right now, Tabor was feeling guilty for serving someone other than justice.

“No. A close aide? Not at all.”

At that, I waved my hand with a modest smile.

Then, I gently pushed the teacup toward him and added,

“It must’ve sounded like I was trying to make you my subordinate, Inspector—but I assure you, that’s not the case.”

I took a sip of my bitter coffee.

Enjoying its deep aroma, I spoke in a relaxed tone.

“An inspector should serve only the ‘law’, shouldn’t they?”

“That’s right. At least, formally speaking.”

Tabor answered with a conflicted look.

Though he said that, the truth was that all the chief inspectors above him were aligned with some faction.

“There are many seniors who abuse their position to help certain noble families.”

Among them, more than half of the ten inspectors with close ties to the Northern Grand Duke.

In other words, the majority of Nord’s court was on the side of House Luton.

“So most of them are backing the Grand Duke’s side.”

“Anyone from the North could easily guess as much.”

I nodded calmly.

Then, like I used to when I was the Chief Secretary, I asked, eyes flashing dark as obsidian:

“But all of them support the Duke of Luton. Not his eldest son, right?”

“……!”

The Grand Duke disapproved of his son’s actions.

Which was precisely why he never shared his personal network or influence with him.

As a result, the son had no choice but to approach those left behind—like Tabor.

“I’m not fighting against the Northern Grand Duke.”

I recalled those wretched days from the past.

“What I’m aiming at are those who rely on the Grand Duke’s name to oppress the weak.”

The moments I spent serving the shadow of a man who committed vile acts without hesitation.

“Those who exploit others, simply because they have that name to lean on.”

I looked at the inspector before me—someone who stood closest to justice.

Facing Tabor Tade, I said,

“I’m talking about those who violate the justice that the law speaks of.”

The very people I intended to punish.

“So your opponents are the Grand Duke’s children.”

Tabor seemed to have already known that they were problematic.

Even so, the reason he still tried to join hands with them must’ve been because of the Northern Grand Duke—his father.

“But will the Duke of Luton really stay quiet? When something happens to his children, any father would step in.”

But that wasn’t something to worry about.

The Northern Grand Duke was the kind of man who prioritized his house over his children.

If the sons’ misdeeds were exposed one by one, he wouldn’t shield them—he’d rebuke them.

“If they lose in a fair competition, he’ll have nothing to say.”

Besides, I had a reliable partner: Echina.

In the end, my goal was to prevent Eric from becoming the head of the house.

If all the rights and influence were handed over to the Grand Duke’s daughter, even the Duke of Luton would be powerless to stop it.

He’d simply view the entire situation as part of the battle over the headship.

“You sound confident about winning that competition, Representative.”

I gave a calm nod.

Then, I spoke to him—who had yet to make up his mind—with a cold glint in my eyes.

“Yes, that’s right. All you need to do, Inspector, is punish them once I bring them in.”

“……”

Tabor didn’t respond for a while.

There wasn’t anything particularly difficult about it—it was the kind of work he’d always done.

If someone had committed a crime, all he had to do was throw them in a detention center.

The only problem was… the ones in question were the young lions of the Grand Duke’s household.

No matter how notorious he had been for mercilessly punishing anyone—no matter who they were—even a man once called a Mad Dog would naturally hesitate now that he had a child of his own.

“It’s only natural you’re torn. Still, there’s one thing you should keep in mind.”

But that inner conflict of his was resolved rather easily.

Because a single line from me cemented his resolve completely.

“The one who threatened you while offering no more than a single personal doctor.”

I placed the coffee cup down with a chilling sound.

My expressionless face was reflected in the pitch-black surface of the drink.

“And the one who introduced you to the imperial physician without asking for anything in return.”

My empty gaze, hollow from being betrayed by those I had served for ten years.

“Which of them do you think holds more power?”

A simple answer that cleared up the tangled thoughts in his head.

At that, Tabor’s lips parted slightly.

“…I understand, Representative. It seems I was quite rude.”

A Nord inspector bowed his head to me.

He promised that he would handle any enemies I brought before him without hesitation.

“I’ll do my job without concern for anyone else’s opinion. If there’s anything you need, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

“That’s all the answer I need.”

I nodded with a pleased expression, as if a contract had just been finalized.

Then, I handed him a basket.

“What’s this…?”

“Fruit. Your daughter won’t recover quickly unless she gets proper nutrition.”

Tabor let out a faint chuckle.

Carefully taking the basket I offered him, he answered.

“Thank you very much for your thoughtfulness.”

“Let’s meet again soon.”

I left the hospital.

As soon as I climbed into the carriage, I quietly looked back at Tabor’s silhouette.

The man once known as the Mad Dog of Nord.

Ten years later, he had also ended up dismissed while trying to support Eric.

I’d even heard that he lost his daughter and nearly went mad.

But in this life, I wasn’t the only one whose fate was changing.

The lives of many people around me were shifting too.

Of course, whether that change would lead to a happy ending, I couldn’t say.

Still, I believed it would be better than the last life.

「―――――――」

After leaving the hospital, I headed for New Luton, where Gold Morning’s headquarters was located.

The reason I came straight here after parting ways with Tabor was simple.

Two weeks ago, at the foundation’s dinner gathering—

I hadn’t gotten the chance to speak with Mansax since we weren’t seated at the same table, and now he had asked to meet with me separately.

‘If he’s the one calling me, that must mean he’s got some juicy information.’

As I recalled what had happened around this time, I stepped out of the carriage in front of Gold Morning’s headquarters.

Then, when I entered the reception room on the first floor—

I saw the guy who had been waiting for me, along with a few reporters.

“Roger, over here!!”

A blond man waved enthusiastically.

I greeted him with a reluctant expression and shook his hand.

“What’s this about, calling me to headquarters all of a sudden?”

“It’s nothing big. But hey, you’re really not busy today, right?”

At Mansax’s question, I nodded for now.

I had indeed cleared most of my schedule today to meet with Tabor.

“That’s right.”

“Perfect. You folks, come over here.”

He called over the reporters using a stiff and awkward tone.

“You all know who I brought, right?”

Like a smug golden retriever, he tilted his chin proudly.

The reporters looked at one another nervously, seemingly unsure what to do.

“S-So it really was true…”

“To think the Chief really is friends with Representative Roger.”

I looked at the damned first business partner of mine with a sulky expression, like a mountain fox staring down its prey.

“What is this? Don’t tell me you called me here just to brag?”

Mansax responded to my question with a shady grin.

Then, leaning in close, he began to whisper in my ear.

“Come on, man—this isn’t bragging, it’s about putting the fear of God into my subordinates.”

He continued in his usual sly voice.

“You gotta show this kind of stuff, or these sneaky reporter punks won’t line up behind me. Just help me out, will you?”

“Sigh.”

Well, he wasn’t wrong.

In any newspaper company, nothing puts subordinates in their place like flaunting connections to famous figures.

‘But am I really worth that kind of publicity?’

Even if I had started working with His Majesty the Emperor, I was still just a businessman.

Did he really need to introduce me like some kind of celebrity?

“Fine. So what, are we doing an interview?”

“Yeah, yeah—. I’ll buy lunch today, so just keep it simple for me, okay?”

Eventually, I realized what he was really after.

“Hello, Representative Roger. Would it be alright to ask you a few questions we’ve been curious about?”

“Sure, go right ahead.”

Because the answer was in the reporters’ blatantly leading questions.

“There’s been quite a buzz lately about your appearance at the festival with the Saint, who was recently seen at the Imperial Academy.”

“……?”

I had expected questions about my collaboration with His Majesty the Emperor, or why I had broken ties with the Northern Grand Duke’s house.

But what they brought up was closer to some kind of entertainment industry gossip.

“Despite your youthful appearance, you showed remarkable stamina at the event. What’s your secret?”

“Ah… That’s because I was actually a former knight cadet.”

Upon hearing my answer, the reporters all started nodding at one another.

They looked just like ducklings seeing a fox for the first time—fascinated and curious.

“What kind of relationship do you have with the Saint? Rumors are flying in the capital that you’re currently dating.”

The female reporters, in particular, had a noticeable sparkle in their eyes.

But their expressions soon fell into complete disappointment.

“Not at all.”

I denied it with a firm expression, just like I used to as Chief Secretary.

“Then, may we ask about your relationship with the Northern Grand Duke’s daughter? There have been frequent sightings of you two leaving hotels together!!”

A man and a woman leaving a hotel together.

Who knew what was going on in their heads—one of the reporters asked the question with a lecherous smile.

“Lady Echina of the Grand Duke’s house currently holds managerial rights to the hotel. We simply left together on business.”

“Then how about the Western—”

Just as another reporter tried to ask something else,

I cut the nonsense off with an equally firm tone.

“The Western Grand Duke’s daughter is also just a business associate.”

The reporters all let out deep, heavy sighs at my completely unamused responses.

Seeing that, Mansax clicked his tongue and crossed his arms with a shake of his head.

“You think celebrities would fall for it if you ask that bluntly?”

The young blond guy pointed at himself with his thumb, as if saying, watch and learn.

Then, casting a glance my way…

“Representative Roger.”

“What.”

Like a tennis match, he lobbed a question my way.

But I simply returned it with a short swing.

“Do you happen to know the average age when Nord men and women get married?”

“No idea.”

“It’s 19—believe it or not.”

He began building up to something, voice dripping with mischief.

“And Representative, you’ve already passed the average. You’re twenty now, right—?”

“What exactly are you trying to say.”

Mansax chuckled and shook his head side to side.

“So… why haven’t you gotten married yet?”

At his ridiculous question, I couldn’t help but let out a short laugh.

Every time I saw this guy, I couldn’t help but think—unlike Eric, he was a different kind of impressive.

“I just haven’t met the right person yet.”

I gave a convenient excuse to dodge the question.

But of course, he doggedly followed up.

“Then what’s your ideal type, if I may ask?”

At that, I let out a short sigh.

And quietly tried to picture what kind of woman I might’ve liked, if I ever did get married.

“Well… If I had to say… I’d like someone who greets me with a warm meal when I get home.”

But I had no idea—

Just how terrifying the consequences of that answer would be.

“Someone family-oriented, I suppose.”

When this quote made it into the papers…

I had no idea who would end up reading it.

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