Chapter 180

Chapter 180
Chapter 180: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“……”

Jack fixed his gaze on Lion without a word.

‘This individual possesses far greater awareness than anticipated.’

The subtle shift in his tone when addressing him directly served as a prime illustration.

In public assemblies, he casually projected an attitude of superiority, yet the moment they engaged in private, he adopted formal language with absolute ease.

And the transition felt entirely effortless.

‘At the very least, he recognizes my identity as Jack.’

Furthermore, his deductions clearly extended much further.

He grasped the precise nature of the private dynamic linking him and Kyle.

He understood the potential complications inherent in such a connection.

The sole saving grace lay in the fact that the young master could only speculate rather than confirm anything with certainty.

After all, no living soul remained who understood the true bond shared between Jack and Kyle.

If he insisted upon presenting himself merely as a supporter, that facade would solidify into reality.

‘This development proves quite fascinating. I had previously misjudged him as a typical, defenseless young master.’

He realized the opponent was formidable the instant he effortlessly sidestepped the initial trap.

On top of that, he possessed an uncanny sense of timing for offensive maneuvers.

‘It now makes sense why Freya chose to remain there.’

That decision clearly stemmed from more than his mere brilliance in the field of alchemy.

The man was far from an eccentric idler or a simple bystander.

He functioned as a deeply perceptive strategist endowed with exceptional insight.

Securing his allegiance to Kyle’s faction would undoubtedly yield tremendous advantages.

It might even grant him a higher degree of security than he currently enjoyed.

However…

‘The associated hazards proved even greater.’

Jack’s expression tightened momentarily before settling back into a practiced smile.

“Goodness, why the sudden shift to such formal address?”

“This style suits my comfort better. You are entirely free to speak casually as well.”

Lion glanced around their immediate surroundings, implying the absolute absence of any onlookers.

“Hahaha.”

Jack emitted a brief laugh and lightly brushed a hand across his face.

“Ah…”

Then, his eyes turned icy, stripped of any trace of amusement as he stared straight at Lion.

The chill did not stem from his persona as Jack, but served purely to establish a strict boundary.

He wished to avoid any private entanglements with the other man, regardless of what social conventions dictated in public view.

‘Honestly, this circumstance holds zero consequence for me.’

Enduring hostility was a sensation far more familiar to him than his daily meals, and he lacked the fragile disposition to take offense at such minor gestures.

He remained fully prepared to accept being despised if it meant ensuring that Kyle received top priority and adequate protection.

Nevertheless, that assumption proved incorrect.

‘His primary focus centers entirely upon…’

His younger brother, Rikschel, designated as the rightful successor of the Asteri household.

Indeed, evaluating every single action he had taken from the conference room up to the present moment made it abundantly clear that everything served the interests of Rikschel Asteri.

The evidence was glaringly obvious in the way he redirected inquiries and blocked his younger sibling from forming closer ties with the Second Prince.

Evidently, Kyle persisted in wanting this individual close at hand, fully cognizant of these underlying realities.

‘That reality displeases me.’

Such tendencies would only cause Kyle to grow increasingly lenient, and that softness would inevitably foster recklessness.

The ultimate destination of the Second Prince’s carelessness required no guessing.

It pointed straight toward an untimely demise.

It would amount to a worthless death, utterly devoid of any meaningful mourning.

‘Naturally, Lion Asteri would not be the direct executioner.’

Even so, the introduction of another figure or two of this caliber would merely widen the chasm in Kyle’s defenses.

What if someone masking a gentle demeanor approached solely to drive a blade directly into that vulnerable spot?

The sole victim of such a scenario would be Kyle.

He firmly believed that avoiding unnecessary mental turmoil was paramount when the prince’s physical condition already hung by a thread.

Viewed through that lens, the person standing before him represented a tempting yet dangerous poison.

Consequently… well, what alternative remained? He simply had to embrace the role of the antagonist.

“How could I ever presume to do otherwise? Hahaha, I shall simply ease my posture a trifle. Now then, addressing your initial inquiry, we function strictly as business associates.”

“Is that your assessment?”

“Indeed. We have simply joined forces for a greater objective and are proceeding in tandem. There is no question of me seeking refuge within the Second Prince’s shadow, so set your mind at ease.”

Ah.

‘He harbors a deep aversion toward me.’

Lion suppressed a smirk internally at Jack’s sharp retort.

Though well aware of Jack’s unfavorable impression, he had not anticipated such an unmasked display of hostility.

Presumably, the realization that missing this opportunity meant lacking another chance to speak prompted such directness.

In truth, provoking that exact reaction was precisely why Lion had initiated the exchange.

‘How best to proceed…’

Despite posing the rhetorical question, he had already formulated a rough strategy regarding Jack during his approach.

‘To begin with, I shall abandon any pursuit of a close personal rapport.’

Here was an individual who had claimed leadership of the underworld at a tender age and carried the crushing weight of that domain.

Such a background guaranteed absolute proficiency in reading the hidden emotions of others.

While perhaps falling slightly short of Lion’s own expertise, he remained an adversary who warranted absolute caution.

‘A careless response would yield…’

Only an escalation of obsession and hostility.

‘Come to think of it, his disposition bears a striking resemblance to the Second Prince.’

Alternatively, perhaps the Second Prince’s temperament mirrored that of Jack.

Regardless, dealing with him required treating him as an exceptional opponent, calling for a specific approach.

With his mind made up, Lion voiced his thoughts aloud.

“Are you certain you aren’t harboring the Second Prince within your shadow?”

“Goodness me, what possible capability would I possess for such a feat?”

“Is that so?”

Lion let out an unvarnished laugh, clasping his hands behind his back as he resumed a leisurely stroll.

Jack fell in behind him, immediately posing a counter-question.

“Rather, I find myself rather intrigued as to what led Lord Lion to arrive at such a conclusion.”

“Ha. Even if my stature appears negligible compared to my brother’s, discerning this much remains well within my capacity.”

“My word, your intelligence-gathering network is genuinely fascinating, young master! It would be marvelous if you chose to apply that prowess for the benefit of the Second Prince!”

“Hmm…”

“If this stems from an underlying anxiety concerning Rikschel, I ask only that you offer a modest hint. I would be more than willing to intercede with the Second Prince on your behalf.”

Despite the explicit reference to Rikschel, Lion’s steady gait remained uninterrupted.

His hands stayed locked behind his back in a relaxed posture, and his unhurried pace never faltered.

Jack’s brow furrowed.

Any ordinary individual would have exhibited at least some discernible reaction.

Whether through outright denial, confirmation, or visible irritation.

Instead, he displayed absolute indifference.

Given that he comprehended the words spoken, he was clearly no fool incapable of grasping the implications.

The reality was quite the polar opposite.

‘My initial intent was merely to gauge his character…’

Coupled, of course, with delivering an implicit caution by way of bonus.

The objective was to compel him to steer clear of the Second Prince unless he harbored foolish ambitions.

He hoped to deter him from orchestrating grand schemes as he had previously, encouraging him instead to return to a quiet, independent existence.

The goal was to guide him toward realizing that such a path represented the most rational course of action.

Simultaneously, backstage maneuvers were already underway to investigate every facet of his background.

Uncovering secrets of that nature had always been his forte.

Yet, as the dialogue progressed…

‘This adversary proves remarkably difficult.’

In practice, Jack felt most at ease when dealing with traditional nobility.

Their lineage, backgrounds, and permanent residences were already cataloged and verified.

Under such conditions, what information could possibly elude the grasp of the underworld’s supreme leader?

Minor eccentricities, hidden vulnerabilities, and even concealed acts of corruption could be dragged into the light and leveraged at will.

And what of Lion Asteri?

Unlike standard aristocrats, no glaring traces of corrupt enterprises were visible on the surface.

Yet, he appeared to be concealing something of a vastly greater magnitude.

It strongly resembled preparations for an undertaking that even his own family remained entirely unaware of.

Jack had calculated that securing possession of that single secret would grant him absolute control, like holding someone in the palm of his hand… but.

“Have you concluded your remarks?”

“……”

“Then the turn passes to me.”

Lion halted his steps and pivoted around.

As their gazes locked, an instinctive surge of wariness flared up within.

It was a defensive reflex born from total inability to read the opponent.

The sensation mirrored stepping back into the raw, unpolished days preceding his ascension as Jack.

Should he simply resort to raw power and crush him?

That impulse threatened to overwhelm his judgment.

“That goes far beyond reason.”

A single phrase from Lion instantly shattered that mounting tension.

Curiosity regarding his counter-argument vanished as those exact words—”goes far beyond reason”—hung in the air.

“Hmm, the intent behind that assertion escapes me.”

“Precisely as the words imply.”

Lion dropped his clasped hands and offered a casual shrug.

Encountering Jack with zero prior knowledge might have complicated matters, but as it happened, circumstances had inadvertently exposed him to elements of Jack’s past.

Furthermore, he possessed a general grasp of Jack’s ultimate objectives.

The evidence confirmed that Jack’s actions were driven entirely by a singular desire to safeguard Kyle.

That conclusion went beyond mere speculation tied to their parallel placement like brothers in a scripted narrative.

Throughout the day’s assembly, Jack had systematically engineered scenarios where Lion earned commendation, closely studying the reactions of all present.

Notably, the subject of his closest observation was not Lion himself, but Kyle.

More precisely, he focused on evaluating how the Second Prince appraised the individual known as ‘Lion Asteri.’

‘The Second Prince harbors no aversion toward me.’

If anything, the dynamic leaned closer to genuine favor than indifference.

That favorable disposition likely stemmed from his status as the brother of his companion, Rikschel.

Even so, Jack clearly resented the prospect of Kyle taking a liking to him.

Added to that was the likelihood that he had mentally dismissed him as an asset of zero utility.

Well, private judgments remained an individual right, so commentary would be withheld, but shadowing him through the halls with continuous commentary…

Frankly, it felt indistinguishable from an excessive, overprotective fixation directed at the Second Prince.

Furthermore, the vector of that protective impulse possessed a distinct distortion.

Correction.

‘…The distortion proved quite severe.’

It had crossed into excess.

Up to this point, he appeared to have systematically isolated Kyle from any individual deemed unhelpful.

A category that evidently included the eldest heir of the Asteri lineage.

He functioned precisely like a defensive hedgehog bristling with quills.

“Rather than walking side by side as partners, you are shielding the Prince with your entire physical being. You behave more like an overzealous guardian.”

“…What message are you attempting to convey?”

At the specific label of guardian, a microscopic twitch rippled across Jack’s features.

Lion registered the reaction without drawing explicit attention to it.

“Haha, nothing of great consequence… The thought merely crossed my mind that the Prince might struggle to look ahead if your presence blocks every possible angle.”

“……”

“It appears the implication has landed.”

By restricting his role purely to defense, he risked transforming into the single greatest barrier blocking the Second Prince’s path.

In plain terms, the message was to cease meddling with the individuals who caught Kyle’s attention.

To put it bluntly: step aside.

However, that perspective…

‘Does that exact principle not apply equally to you, Lion Asteri?’

An impulse to hurl that exact retort flared up, yet the words remained unsaid.

At present, Jack occupied the dual role of underworld supreme leader and business associate to the Second Prince.

“Ah, and one additional point. A slight misapprehension appears to exist.”

“Please, state your piece.”

“My brother is not being subjected to confinement.”

“……”

Having delivered his final remark, Lion casually tapped Jack’s—or rather, Jade’s—shoulder before striding forward.

“The exchange proved quite agreeable. However, my brother awaits my presence, so I must take my leave.”

Jack parted his lips as if intending to challenge the final statement, then froze entirely.

…He possesses awareness of the private relationship linking Kyle and myself.

By what means?

That information remained tightly guarded, unknown not only to Rikschel Asteri or Freya, but even within the depths of the underworld.

After all, any potential witnesses had either been eliminated or subjected to complete information control.

Yet… how on earth did this information reach him?

For the first time in a considerable duration, a chill crept up his spine, raising goosebumps on his skin.

Just how far did the tentacles of Lion Asteri’s intelligence network stretch?

“…Ah, truly.”

He had misjudged him as a mere novice young master, only to discover a striking viper.