When I Cleared the Death Game World, I Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble Even if They Talk About Doom Flags, I'm Actually Immortal. - Chapter 19

“So, Snake Palace. How’s the progress?”

The rhythmic ticking of the clock was interrupted by Mason’s voice.

This was Mason’s office. Seated on the guest sofa, he tilted his cup, holding the saucer in one hand.

Behind him stood two knight guards—both personally loyal to Mason. They wouldn’t dare leak any secrets.

Across the desk from Mason, with their knees nearly touching, sat Snake Palace.

Leaning against the armrest, he took a sip of tea, slurping it noisily. The overwhelming sweetness of the sugar made him frown. He still wasn’t used to such sweet tea.

“As per your orders, I’ve been trying to make it look like an accident during training.”

“But he’s still alive, isn’t he?”

“…When direct assassination isn’t an option, luck becomes a factor. Seems like your young master has the goddess’s favor. If you change the request now and allow me to kill him outright, I can finish the job immediately.”

“No, absolutely not. I want to minimize any suspicion toward me. It has to look like an accident.”

“…I see.”

What a troublesome client. Snake Palace cursed inwardly.

He wants someone dead but doesn’t want to be the villain. Yet, he keeps pressuring me to hurry up and kill Lior. Mason’s demands are utterly self-serving.

If only he had requested a direct assassination. The job would have been over by now.

In fact, I wish he had. No one wants to be done with this more than I do.

“Just so you know, all the training methods I’m using are effective. I’m not great at staging accidents. So, young master Lior is getting stronger.”

“That’s fine. The stronger he gets, the more convincing it is that he’s actually training. And when he dies, it’ll seem less suspicious.”

Mason responded indifferently.

He had no real interest in Lior’s training. Whether the boy became stronger or not didn’t matter to him.

To Mason, the training was merely a means to an end—a tool for murder.

But for Snake Palace, who was directly instructing Lior, it was a different story.

(Mason doesn’t get it, but that kid is growing at an insane rate. What do you mean, ‘I can feel magic and see the world differently now’? That’s something only masters who’ve trained for decades can achieve!)

Since starting Lior’s training, unease had been growing inside Snake Palace.

If this continues, it won’t be long before Lior surpasses him in strength.

And when that happens, everything changes.

The hunter and the hunted will switch places.

If the assassination plot is exposed, Snake Palace will become Lior’s next target.

That’s why he needs to kill the kid soon—before he grows any stronger.

“…By the way, I’d like additional funding for the assassination.”

“Additional funding? What for?”

“I need to acquire a certain drug.”

“A poison?”

“Well… in a sense. It’s a secret elixir passed down in the organization I trained under. If used correctly, it can be an extremely potent toxin. It will ensure the young master’s death.”

“I see… Alright, I’ll arrange additional funds.”

“However, since it’s a secret elixir, it won’t be easy to obtain. It’ll take about a month.”

“What?”

The drug Snake Palace intended to procure was a secret elixir of the Seven Flash Crescent Moon Style.

As its name suggests, it was meant to be kept within the organization—never to be shared with outsiders.

Securing it wouldn’t be quick.

When Snake Palace explained the delay, Mason frowned in displeasure.

“…Is there no way to get it sooner? I want Lior gone as soon as possible.”

“You seem awfully desperate.”

“I—I just have a bit of a complex when it comes to Lior… Just having him in the same house makes my stomach hurt.”

Mason was clearly terrified of Lior.

It seemed like the boy had something on him—some kind of leverage.

Not that Snake Palace cared.

Mason and Lior’s personal issues were none of his business. He had no interest in digging deeper.

“…Then why not just send Lior away from the estate?”

“I can’t just kick the heir out of the house! If I tried, I’d be the one getting thrown out!”

“Just temporarily. Until the elixir arrives. Say it’s part of his training—send him to some distant town and make him work as an adventurer. If he dies fighting monsters, all the better.”

“Oh! That’s brilliant! That would ease my stress!”

Mason nodded enthusiastically.

As his head bobbed, strands of his hair fell loose.

(Wait… is his hair thinning?)

It seemed like Mason’s hair had gotten sparser compared to when they first met.

Just how scared is he of Lior?