Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight.

When news of the baron's bastard son's murder reached the capital, Rune astutely recognized this as an opportunity to exploit.

Not much operation is required.

All it takes is adding a little bit of fabricated rumor to this real event.

Only when lies and truth are intertwined can the most authentic falsehood be woven.

The sound of rain pattering against the windows of the reception room.

Rune sat by the window, the black tea beside him had gone cold.

He gazed at the street scene blurred by the rain outside the window, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he were still immersed in the gloom brought by that news.

"This was done by the 'Death-Spreading Sword Gang'."

Rune's voice wasn't loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear in the small reception room.

Sebastian sat opposite him, hands on his knees, back ramrod straight. Hearing this, he frowned slightly but remained silent.

"What a pity." Rune withdrew his gaze, looked down at the cup of black tea in front of him that had stopped steaming, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips.

"If I had wiped them out sooner, perhaps this tragedy wouldn't have happened."

Rune spoke softly, as if he were talking to himself.

Those light green eyes were now filled with self-reproach.

He was someone accustomed to taking responsibility, and his reaction upon hearing the bad news was natural. His brows furrowed slightly, his lips pressed into a thin line, and even his shoulders slumped a little.

He was silent for a moment, then spoke again. His fingertips gently caressed the glaze of the teacup, as if the lingering warmth there could offer him some comfort.

"I've heard about that young man."

"Although he was born out of wedlock, he managed the village very well. He never hesitated to help those in need in the village."

He paused, looked up, and gazed at the gray, misty rain outside the window.

"Such a righteous and kind person deserved a better ending."

Rune looked out the window; rainwater trickled down the glass, blurring his profile.

Sebastian watched him silently.

The sound of rain outside the window filled the silence.

"No."

Sebastian made his decision.

"This wasn't done by the thieves and mercenaries that Mr. Rune wanted to eliminate."

The timing doesn't match.

Sebastian knew that the mercenary group had been wiped out by Shalltear.

When Shalltear destroyed the "Swords of Death," the Baron's bastard son was still alive and well.

It's impossible for a band of thieves that has been completely wiped out to suddenly reappear a few days later and kill a nobleman's illegitimate son.

"It was definitely the second son who did it."

Sebastian's gaze darkened slightly.

The baron's second son, in order to ensure a smooth inheritance of the title and territory.

He killed his brother.

Human beings.

Sebastian sighed softly to himself.

It's clearly a superior species.

Why would brothers kill each other for a little bit of profit?

Seeing Rune's remorseful expression, Sebas hesitated for a moment.

"perhaps……"

Sebastian spoke.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a unique calmness.

"It's a struggle over a title."

Rune looked up at him.

Sebastian's expression remained unchanged, gentle and calm. But a hint of heaviness appeared in his light gray eyes.

"Mr. Rune need not blame himself too much."

He paused.

"There might be more to this story than meets the eye."

The words were spoken very tactfully, as if carefully comforting a kind young man.

Rune looked at Sebastian's wrinkled face.

He suppressed the urge to speak.

We can't let that curve rise; now is the time for depth.

You absolutely must not laugh.

Rune took a deep breath, a profound, thoughtful expression appearing on his young face.

He picked up the cup of black tea, which had gone cold, but didn't drink it. He held it in his hand, his gaze fixed on the thin layer of condensation on the cup.

"That's true."

Rune's voice was soft, yet it carried a sense of world-weariness that didn't belong to a twenty-year-old.

"The kingdom's nobles are always fighting each other openly and secretly for even the smallest bit of power and profit."

Rune raised his head, his gaze passing over Sebastian and landing on the gray, misty rain outside the window. The raindrops slanted and wove a fine net, enveloping the entire capital city.

"For the ownership of territories and power." His voice was slow and heavy, as if he were savoring the weight of each word, "Even brothers will fight to the death."

Rune paused, then looked away and turned to Sebastian.

"It's the same no matter where you are."

Rune's lips curled into a bitter smile.

"I suppose the empire where Mr. Sebastian resides is the same."

Sebastian did not answer immediately.

"Is it the same everywhere?"

Sebastian repeated the sentence to himself.

Then, a thought naturally came to mind.

"No."

He said to himself.

"At least this kind of thing would never happen in Nazarick."

The moment this thought crossed his mind, Sebastian's thoughts drifted away.

He thought of Lord Ainz.

That great ruler, the absolute sovereign of the Great Tomb of Nazarick.

No.

Sebastian revised his statement in his mind.

Lord Ainz is indeed the supreme ruler of Nazarick, but he has never regarded himself as a being above the other "Supreme Beings".

In Nazarick, these ugly struggles never existed among the "Supreme Lords." Even if there were occasional disputes, they remained merely superficial.

They trusted each other.

They entrusted each other with their own lives.

They regarded each other as true companions.

"Mr. Sebastian?"

Rune's voice brought Sebastian back to reality.

"Mr. Sebastian?"

Sebastian blinked, and a rare, almost imperceptible look of disorientation appeared on his wrinkled face.

"Excuse me."

He bowed slightly, his voice steady, but a beat slower than usual.

"I was thinking about something else just now."

Rune looked at him, a slight smile curving his lips.

"Is that so?" His tone held a hint of curiosity, but he didn't press further. "It's quite rare to see Mr. Sebastian lost in thought."

Sebastian offered no explanation.

He simply sat up straight again, resuming the proper posture befitting an old butler.

Rune didn't seem to mind. He put down the now-cold cup of red tea, leaned back in his chair, and his expression gradually returned to its usual gentleness.

That's enough.

He thought to himself.

Although Sebastian phrased it euphemistically as "a struggle for the title," Rune could tell that Sebastian had already decided that his second son was the real culprit.

Sebastian didn't respond to his own comment about "it's all the same no matter where you are," but he was lost in thought.

The fact that he was distracted means that Sebastian at least remembered that sentence.

Planting this seed for now is enough. No more is needed.

"Well then," he looked at Sebastian, his tone softening slightly, "Mr. Sebastian, is there something you need today?"