The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL] - Chapter 135

Chapter 135: A Not so Equivalent Exchange?

Their fears were founded.

Both the Duke and his heir were found passed out, one by a chair and the other on the floor.

So, who in their right mind wouldn’t panic after seeing this?

Xavier.

That’s who.

The recurring witness and trial subject.

If he had not been repeatedly subjected to the same thing, he would likely have called for an inquisition.

But Xavier saw the mismatched jugs and wares that the little chipmunk often used to store spiritual water and had to stop everyone from randomly approaching.

“Stop!” Xavier was authoritative, and many of the anxious staff were surprised to hear that tone from someone that their Lord was dominating!

Kyle actually had to drag one mop and one brute by the collar to stop them from running over.

Not that he could drag a boulder, but he tried his best.

However, not panicking was not the same as not being anxious. He’d never seen this version of Luca, who was siphoning the last bits of energy from the spiritual water.

The little chipmunk wasn’t drinking it but was pulling on the essence on his own.

Then Luca grimaced, and Xavier’s concern mounted.

Now, that was alarming.

He could already tell that the little chipmunk was running out of energy to absorb and had to shoo everyone out.

Getting the chipmunk into the space was imperative because what would happen once he ran out of essence to suck in?

But this was easier said than done, considering the current atmosphere. He didn’t even have to look back to know how many daggers were pointed at him.

If they hadn’t been seated in front of them while waiting outside, they would’ve been the likeliest culprits.

So, would the good people of the duchy just let him take the little chipmunk away?

No.

Most definitely not.

It wasn’t even a question, given how Xavier could feel the Butler who was preparing to use skills that had likely been shelved after leaving the military. And an experienced officer could likely unshelve a lot.

Given this, Xavier had to find another way.

Maybe some sort of guarantee?

There could have been many ways around this, but explaining his status would have taken a long time and would likely have engendered more distrust.

Which idiot would sound believable after claiming to be the Crown Prince while in the middle of such a disaster?

A fake.

So, the Imperial Crown Prince went for the road less traveled.

Hostages.

It was an attempt at an equal exchange as he pawned off a few ‘assets’ for safekeeping while he ‘borrowed’ their Lord.

“Butler Gary. This may sound completely unhinged to you, but we don’t have enough time. The heir needs help, and right now, I have a way to do just that.” Xavier paused, knowing this would be the hard part.

“However, I would have to borrow him for a while but would have to wait for your Lord to come to his senses before explaining why.” He added with a look that begged for no questions.

The Butler obviously thought this kid had gone nuts. How could they just leave their Young Lord to some hoodlum?!

Then the Butler remembered it was actually the other way around and eventually thought of revenge plots.

He kept getting deceived by this kid’s overbearing nature and would always assume him to be the wolf.

“You also need to look at the Duke. He needs a constant dose of those items your Young Lord sent you.” That was Xavier’s attempt at hinting at his knowledge and involvement in this.

Thankfully, the Butler was operating with an additional brain cell and noted the implication of his words.

But would that be really safe? Or would he regret it as the current decision-maker?

Xavier noted the Butler’s position and the apparent dilemma that he was facing.

“I understand your reservations and wouldn’t have wanted to do this had there been another way. But we don’t have much time.”

Luca was making small stirring movements, a likely reaction to the pull grabbing less and less essence.

“I don’t know how to get your vote of confidence given the urgency, but I’ll leave behind something for leverage.”

“They’re not exactly of the same value, but hopefully, it could help reassure you that nothing terrible would happen to your Young Lord.”

Hopefully.

“?”

Everyone waited for what was good enough to prove his sincerity, only to be greeted by three egg-heads who were thrown next to the Butler in what looked like a pile.

A pile of supposed buddies.

“???”

While these three didn’t look convincing at all, Xavier thought of talking it out.

“That one in particular happens to be your Young Lord’s best brother.” He pointed to the mop, who was blinking rapidly.

“While that one was his current insurance broker—” Xavier said as he pointed at Kyle, whose eyelids were twitching.

“And finally, that guy is his poison taster and hauler,” he added as he pointed toward Jax, who was just happy to be alive.

“!!!”

Ollie was caught off guard to immediately realize that he was being sold off to a pawnshop.

He was about to protest when he realized what Xavier was doing. The little mop thought about it and realized this was a personal sacrifice.

As Luca’s best brother, he must do everything to keep these people from prying!

When Ollie nodded thoughtfully at Xavier—who found the act unusual—the mop was actually preparing ways to hold everyone off.

Meanwhile, Xavier was hoping it was enough and began to approach Luca when the Butler suddenly called him.

“I understand that you’re leaving them behind to reassure us, but I’d like to know why you’d be willing to do this?”

If Butler Gary was being honest, he wanted to ask if he was out here to exact his revenge and got more anxious as the young man approached their Lord.

Xavier realized it was a valid question and answered, “It’s because there are accounts to be settled between us, and there is no way I could let your Young Lord come to harm.”

It was an oath they had made, and if there was anyone most compelled to help Luca here, it would be him who owed Luca several lifetimes of servitude.

A very noble cause.

But to the people of the duchy, it sounded more like he couldn’t let their Young Lord escape his obligations.

It didn’t help that Xavier looked plenty determined in his attempt to save Luca, but to everyone, it surely looked like he would revive him just so he could get his due compensation or, worse, exact revenge.

While it had been challenging to convince Butler Gary of his sincerity, this alone convinced him of the young man’s conviction.

And in his good conscience, the Butler who adored the heir couldn’t prevent this pitiful wolf from his desire to exact justice.

They could only wish for their Young Lord to be heard and treated only based on his crimes.

So, Butler Gary nodded to Xavier, who he expected would haul out the heir, only for them to suddenly vanish into thin air.

It was sudden.

And everybody who saw it found it difficult to react. But when they finally realized that such abduction was possible, they could only look at the three ‘hostages’ that probably needed to be tied for safekeeping.