CHAPTER 196: A BUREAUCRAT’S SURVIVAL INSTINCT

CH196 A Bureaucrat’s Survival Instinct

***

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Lucas asked, settling into his seat with a composed expression.

Alex took a slow sip from his glass before leaning back in his chair.

"I believe you’re aware that the Kellerman family asked the Fury family for assistance with the Wildkin problem?" he asked.

"I am. I drafted the relief request document... as I’m sure you are also aware," Lucas replied evenly.

"Hmm..." Alex gave a non-committal nod.

In truth, he hadn’t been aware.

No one had said anything to him directly—not that they needed to. Everyone understood, without speaking it aloud, that the Kellermans’ request was a farce. Not even the Kellermans themselves took it seriously.

Whatever aid or relief they’d officially requested was going to be ignored. Why? Because they’d also requested the Fury family’s military intervention.

There was no world in which the Fury family would send troops to assist a historically hostile house and as well offer them free supplies. In fact, it would raise eyebrows if the Fury family didn’t take this opportunity to exploit the Kellermans.

"Then I’m sure you also know that my family will not act on what was written in the document... unless there’s profit in it," Alex said calmly.

"But yours is a Guardian Family. You’re obligated to help," Lucas countered.

"Indeed, we are obligated to help. However, ’help’ comes in many forms and sizes. It doesn’t have to be what your liege has requested."

Lucas studied the youth in front of him.

He was no fool. As an experienced bureaucrat, he didn’t need Alex to explain the loopholes noble houses could exploit to sidestep their duties.

"If you’re looking for a better deal from Earl Kellerman, shouldn’t you speak to the Earl himself? Why approach a powerless scribe like me?" Lucas asked, his tone probing.

"Don’t sell yourself short, Mr Lucas." Alex offered a small, polite smile. "I will approach the Earl in due time. However, before that, I need to understand the limits of the Kellerman family. That’s the basic rule of negotiation if I intend to maximise my profit without alienating the other side.

"You understand, right?"

Realisation dawned in Lucas’s eyes.

"You’re asking me to reveal confidential information? You think I’d betray my liege just because of an affair?" he asked, eyes narrowing.

"You’re jumping to conclusions, Mr Lucas. I’m not asking you for anything important. I simply want economic information not available to the public. I couldn’t care less about the Kellermans’ secrets.

"Is your liege more powerful than my Fury family? Why would I care about a weakling’s secrets?"

Alex deliberately played the part of the arrogant noble youth.

Then, slowly, he set down his glass. His expression hardened. Eyes sharp as blades, he leaned forward—meeting Lucas’s stare head-on.

"As for why you should tell me what you know... you’re right. Your affair alone isn’t enough of a reason," Alex began, voice calm and razor-sharp. "But what if I told you we’ve planted evidence that you’ve met with us here multiple times—under the guise of your little trysts with your mistress?

"Sure, you can explain to Earl Kellerman that it’s all fabricated. But tell me, what do you think the head of a ruthless and suspicious noble house like his is more likely to believe? That Warlton’s own champion of Family Values was having an affair? Or that his fief’s deputy logistics officer—who’s been denied honorary nobility several times while others less competent were promoted—is suddenly colluding with outsiders?"

Alex paused for a beat, letting the suggestion take root.

"Need I remind you of your dearly departed subordinate, Paul? Have you already forgotten how he died? The Earl’s niece suspected Paul of revealing her nightly tryst to her husband. It strained their marriage—and with zero evidence, she still had him killed.

"And your dear mistress Anna? She would’ve been beast feed too, if not for your quick thinking—replacing her with a disposable slave."

Leaning back into the chair, Alex interlocked his fingers atop his chest, his eyes cold.

"If even the Earl’s niece would kill over baseless suspicion... what do you think the Earl himself would do? You’d be lucky if he just kills you quickly. If not, he’ll torture you for answers you don’t have—for a crime you didn’t commit—before disposing of you.

"And all for what? Your misplaced loyalty."

Alex let the silence linger. His words hung in the air, heavy and damning.

"You’re a smart man, Lucas. For a bureaucrat, loyalty isn’t what matters most. What matters is survival. And I’m offering you just that... along with a little income on the side."

He tilted his head ever so slightly.

"So... what say you?"

Lucas’s breathing grew laboured. His hands clenched the armrests so tightly that veins bulged across his forearms. His jaw tightened, teeth grinding in quiet fury.

Meanwhile, Alex remained composed—reaching for his glass with elegant calm. He downed the contents, then poured himself another, his hands steady, his expression unreadable.

Thanks to Calm Madness, he was the very image of control.

And he needed to be.

In his past life, Alex had dealt with top-ranking bureaucrats more times than he cared to count. They bullied the weak and cowered before the strong. If he gave Lucas an inch of softness now, the man would tear him apart like the predators they all were beneath their masks of propriety.

Pressure was the only language they respected.

Eventually, Lucas exhaled, long and defeated.

"Fine. I’ll tell you what you want to know. But only economic details. I won’t reveal any military or political secrets, no matter what," he said, clinging to whatever shred of dignity he still had.

Alex had thoroughly boxed him in—mentally and psychologically. The man was convinced that playing along was his only chance to survive.

’Yes, I have no choice,’ Lucas told himself. ’Besides, if the Kellermans suffer economic loss... what’s that got to do with me, a mere scribe? It was their own fault for needing the Fury family’s help in the first place!’

"That’s all I want," Alex said with a small, satisfied smile.

***