HTLCCBFT Chapter 92

Has The Lord’s Career Chart Been Filled Today? – Chapter 92

Oliver strongly suspected that if he didn’t agree soon… this tear-streaked pig merchant might escalate to threatening suicide in his next move.

He had no choice but to nod slightly and accept.

Piggs breathed a genuine sigh of relief, then shamelessly proceeded to make two more requests.

Compared to the substantial gift of eighteen fat pigs, his next requests seemed much simpler.

First, he wanted to purchase a suitable pig farm and pork shop in Laina City. Second, after completing these purchases, he intended to temporarily return to his hometown of Gregor City.

His purpose for returning was clear—he planned to bring his family and all movable assets to Laina City.

Previously, Piggs had thought that being exiled to The Cursed Land of Laina—despite having been the old king’s most favored duke—was nothing short of tragic misfortune.

But now he realized this wasn’t the case at all!

Considering the brutal methods employed by the new king Cameron during his ascension and the overnight deaths of several princes, merely surviving under the new king’s rule while maintaining the dignity of a duke—at least superficially—was already a remarkable miracle.

Moreover, after arriving in Laina, the Angel Duke’s powerful charisma proved irresistible even to deities, granting divine power that could easily save the dying and produce magical seeds yielding mature corn in just days…

The more Piggs thought about it, the more he realized how utterly foolish his former self had been!

Fortunately, after struggling at death’s door, he finally understood one crucial thing: wherever Duke Oliver was, that was the safest place.

He was determined to follow Oliver.

“Your Grace,” Piggs said after finishing his explanation, bowing exaggeratedly while humbly begging, “I offer all my wealth, even my life and soul, if only you would grant me the honor of following you!”

Oliver’s eyelid twitched slightly.

Earlier, everything had happened too suddenly, and his mind hadn’t processed it properly. Now, hearing Piggs’ request again, he finally understood.

But since Piggs had already misunderstood and firmly believed in his own judgment… Oliver, who never intended to mislead anyone, saw no need to deliberately correct him.

Besides, his original intention was to create an image of a revered Cat God to perfectly conceal his future plans.

“Even as a messenger, I cannot arrogantly make any decisions on behalf of the great Cat God,” Oliver responded calmly, showing no eagerness toward the cunning merchant’s offer of wealth. “Laina needs merchants. You may discuss land and shop matters with Fosse. But you must remember—the generous and benevolent deity values not the material offerings we present, but noble souls with virtuous character.”

He didn’t want the Cat God, so adorable and pure in his dreams, to develop a reputation of “blessing those who pay more.”

Piggs was taken aback.

Before he could explain further, Oliver had already lost interest in continuing the conversation and said lightly, “Very well, we’ll talk when the weather truly improves.”

“After this, you may return.”

Piggs seemed slightly uneasy: “Y-Your Highness…”

“Guards, escort him out.”

No sooner had the words been spoken than butler Fosse – who hadn’t moved his hand from the whip handle since the moment this despicable pig merchant showed disrespect before the young lord – finally called in the guards.

Two tall, stern-faced guards expressionlessly dragged out the still-protesting Piggs under the butler’s orders.

“When the next clear day comes, have the slaves build a shed large enough to accommodate those pigs.” Noticing Fosse’s tightly pressed lips and obvious displeasure at Piggs’ offense, Oliver deliberately changed the subject with a smile: “I need you to find me some clever and reliable craftsmen. Perhaps those who built the chicken coop last time would do?”

Although unexpectedly receiving eighteen large fat pigs as “medical fees,” Oliver had no intention of changing his plans, still focusing primarily on chicken farming.

Just raising chickens would keep Laina busy enough this year.

But these pigs were all sows that had just given birth earlier this year, still in their prime… It would be such a waste to simply slaughter them just for some extra meat.

“I understand, Your Highness.”

Fosse nodded in acknowledgment, his expression softening slightly.

Just then, a guard who had rushed from the city gates arrived with the message: “Baron Studio requests an audience with Your Highness.”

“Baron Studio…” Oliver thought for a moment before recalling a frequently seen, pale but delicate face: “Is that Arte? In such heavy rain!”

While there were multiple nobles with that surname, only Arte held the title of Baron.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Fosse frowned almost imperceptibly: “Shall I send him away?”

“Send him away?” Oliver expressed mild surprise: “Of course not. Have him come to the castle to see me once he’s prepared.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

After Fosse conveyed this order, Oliver – who had been studying him since earlier – could no longer contain his curiosity and asked with an amused smile: “Fosse, you don’t seem to like Arte much. I’d like to know why.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Fosse spoke frankly: “Your Highness, to be honest, His Majesty wasn’t very fond of Lord Arte getting too close to you either.”

Oliver knew well that the “His Majesty” Fosse referred to was the old king who had doted on him most, not Cameron.

He blinked, unable to recall any improper behavior by Baron Arte in his memory, making him even more curious: “Has he done some wicked deed that I’m unaware of?”

“…No.” Fosse paused, struggling to explain as delicately as possible to his angelically pure young master: “It’s just that… he’s too… promiscuous and unrestrained.”

Arte had made his name famous throughout the capital overnight – in a way that would have infuriated his reputation-obsessed father Count Studio – back when he was just sixteen.

At that time, the Count, who still deeply favored this son bearing the closest resemblance to himself, had meticulously laid the groundwork for the boy’s debut before the king. Everything was prepared—all that remained was to dress him up and bring him to the palace banquet on his birthday.

Unexpectedly, the rebellious Arte took advantage of his father’s absence to knock out the guards and fled overnight to the residence of the capital’s most beautiful actress at the time. Using a gem from his belt worth 100 gold coins as payment for three nights’ lodging, he outright abandoned the opportunity to attend the coveted banquet.

When his furious father tracked him down to the actress’s home, he was stunned to find Arte fully dressed and composed—not entangled with the actress, but intently painting her portrait. The strikingly lifelike… no, even more beautiful than the subject herself, the portrait was soon sold in the capital for 400 gold coins, cementing Arte’s reputation as “the artist who despises politics.”

As for Arte himself, after accidentally catching a glimpse of the Angel Duke, he deeply regretted his reckless decision to miss the banquet. Dear God, he could have laid eyes on the world’s most beautiful person months earlier!

The moment he saw Oliver, he was utterly transfixed.

Realizing what he had missed, he nearly beat his chest in frustration right then and there. How foolish he had been! Hopelessly foolish!

Even if such a dramatic reversal would invite ridicule from outsiders, Arte couldn’t have cared less. Willing to sacrifice everything in pursuit of beauty, he was determined to capture with his brush the visage of this muse who had given new meaning to his life.

Faced with Arte’s obsessive infatuation with this seemingly otherworldly beauty, the incomplete “Oliver” remained utterly indifferent, responding with naive confusion. Fosse, unsurprisingly, detested Arte.

He consistently ensured that this dissolute young nobleman could beg for an audience a hundred times without ever gaining entry to see his young master. After numerous rejections, Arte was forced to calm down and eventually realized he was likely being barred due to the stern butler’s disapproval.

He never gave up, of course.

Beyond actively attending court balls where he might properly approach Duke Oliver, he devised peculiar schemes—such as disguising himself as a maid to sneak into Oliver’s residence. It was precisely this relentless and shameless persistence that made “Oliver’s” memories frequently feature his face.

“He dreams of painting His Highness’s portrait!” Fosse frowned deeply. “That shameless rake! How could his brush—which has depicted dancers and actors who’d happily strip and sell their flesh for a single gold coin—ever be worthy of capturing His Highness’s likeness!”

In terms of nobility, Fosse—who had served as a knight commander on battlefields and earned countless military honors—was in fact a baron, equal in rank to Arte. Though he willingly served his young master, this didn’t mean he would kneel or surrender his pride before anyone he deemed unworthy.

“I understand, Fosse.” Oliver gently patted the butler’s shoulder, which was tense with anger, softening his voice soothingly, “Don’t worry.”

Seeing the usually composed and calm butler rarely show a look of disgust, he had thought that ‘Arte’ must be some kind of outrageous rebel. But now, hearing about him, he seemed nothing more than an artist whose behavior wouldn’t even be considered unconventional in modern times.

Moreover, Arte lacked the arrogance typical of nobles in this era. Toward those unfortunate women forced to sell their bodies, he naturally couldn’t hold contempt or harsh attitudes, instead feeling more sympathy and pity.

This was an environment where bloodline and class determined everything, and men completely held the upper hand. For those beautiful and delicate women, there were hardly any viable paths to survival.

But Fosse’s attitude stemmed from the education and era he was raised in, and it came from a place of genuine concern for Oliver. As long as it didn’t interfere with his actions or broader plans, Oliver had no intention of contradicting his loyal butler or hurting his dignity.

However, knowing what Arte wanted actually made it easier to negotiate with him about future matters.

Thinking of the many uses such an artistic talent could serve, Oliver fell into thought.

Just then, two servants, each carrying cages with cats, arrived at the castle in the rain. They set the cages down at the entrance, shivering as they took off their soaked coats and tried to brush off the mud clinging to their clothes. They completely failed to notice that the restless “meowing” of the kittens had suddenly paused strangely for a moment.

Nor did they detect, at the top of the stone steps leading to the second-floor hall…

A glimpse of a fluffy golden tail, swiftly disappearing.

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