Just as light and darkness always coexist, even in the capital, there were streets shrouded in darkness.

That place was Curtis Street.

It was where countless illegal activities took place, such as gambling, drugs, and black market deals that were not permitted in the empire.

“Wouldn’t it be better if you turned back even now?”

“Didn’t I say that handling these matters personally prevents problems?”

“However, there’s no need for you to personally handle matters in such streets.”

The two moved with their faces completely concealed by masks.

Oberon continued speaking, deliberately omitting the title of “Your Highness.”

If anyone were to notice Admund’s presence here, there was no telling what might happen.

The most concerning thing was the possibility of his visits here being reported in the newspapers.

Mere association with Curtis Street was enough to tarnish a person’s reputation.

“Since the other party moved personally to hurt my precious person, I think it’s best that I move personally as well.”

At the word “personally,” Oberon fell silent.

He had never imagined that Lloyd would go so far as to visit the temple.

When she had already coughed up blood once in front of Lloyd, she had coldly refused him. The words she spoke then were so frigid that Oberon thought he would never seek out Clea again.

But defying Oberon’s expectations, Lloyd finally appeared before Clea.

Previously, she had remained conscious even while coughing blood, but this time she even collapsed.

‘Has her body weakened that much?’

Oberon frowned as he learned that Clea was terminally ill.

She had become as weak as she could be.

It was natural for her to weaken, as she neither ate nor slept properly.

“And isn’t it good to see with your own eyes once in a while? To what extent a person of the rank of Young Duke has been misbehaving until now.”

It was a fact he had wanted to confirm for a long time. Admund thought now was the perfect opportunity.

Though concealed by Clea, Lloyd had been committing considerable misdeeds since his academy days.

The fact that he frequently visited Curtis Street was something they had long since ascertained.

Knowing about his visits to Curtis Street but not stopping him was a way to create a sort of weakness.

‘I had intended to leave it as a means to tame the Duke’s family later, but I didn’t expect it to turn out like this.’

The current Duke was very courteous to Admund.

He knew how to navigate social situations and was also well aware of his position.

In contrast, Lloyd failed to realize his own place.

Lloyd had always lived like an unbridled colt, occasionally irritating Admund’s patience.

At such times, Admund had thought.

That he needed to firmly grasp Lloyd’s weaknesses before he succeeded to the title of Duke.

That’s why he had been quietly observing everything Lloyd did without interfering, but everything changed because of Clea’s situation.

“What is the objective?”

Previously, he wouldn’t have cared even if Lloyd inherited the title of Duke.

After all, he too was the sole heir of the Percy family, just like the imperial family.

But now, Admund had changed his objective.

That objective was.

“The complete downfall of Lloyd.”

The goal was to make him suffer as much as Clea had been in pain.

Oberon showed no particular reaction to Admund’s words.

Thinking that if he had already made up his mind, all that was left was to follow it, Oberon’s expression was different from earlier.

“Then I think it would be best to find the ledger first.”

“Indeed. We already know the gambling house he frequented.”

Admund stopped in front of a gambling house.

Befitting a person consumed by vanity, the most lavish place caught his eye.

It matched the name of the establishment he was said to frequent.

The two quietly sighed.

Thinking that no matter how abundant the Duke’s family wealth was, it couldn’t sustain someone addicted to gambling, Admund smiled as if intrigued.

“I wonder how much he has squandered.”

Expecting it to be a considerable amount, he entered the building.

The interior was quite clean. Even the patrons were all dressed luxuriously, as if it were a place exclusively for premium customers.

A waiter approaching seemed to want to verify their identity.

Oberon whispered to him in a low voice.

“Valhalla.”

“Confirmed. Please wait a moment.”

What Oberon said wasn’t some kind of VIP free pass code.

It was something prepared for when they would come looking for the ledger related to Lloyd.

There were also people he had planted inside the establishment. Their startled and flustered appearance at their arrival caught his eye.

“They’re still not fully trained.”

“I apologize.”

“I didn’t say that to reprimand you.”

It wasn’t incomprehensible.

After all, they must have been unsettled because they never expected Admund to appear in person in such a place.

After observing their appearance, Admund looked around the establishment.

Inside, there were games for enjoyment.

There were quite a few people wearing masks like the two of them.

There were those who had lost money on bets, and those who were rejoicing over their winnings.

Oberon clicked his tongue and said,

“The Young Duke certainly frequented such a place.”

“I suppose someone of poor character must have introduced him to it.”

Admund didn’t think much of it.

Someone as indecisive as Lloyd was more likely to fall into things like gambling.

“Oberon, go and check the drug ledger as well. I’ll be fine here alone.”

“I can’t leave my lord alone in such a place.”

“It’s alright. I came here prepared as well.”

When Oberon hesitated at Admund’s order, he showed him the sword at his waist.

In Curtis Street, rules didn’t apply at all.

Even if someone died, no one would care in such a place, and Admund had come prepared for that.

Oberon had much he wanted to say, but he seemed to acquiesce, nodding his head and heading off to another location.

“Everything is prepared. Please follow me.”

Admund wanted to finish as quickly as possible and return.

By now, Clea would have awakened.

He wanted to hurry back and check on her condition.

And he wished to be by Clea’s side to support her.

For that, he needed to swiftly conclude the business here.

Admund followed the waiter to the depths of the establishment.

‘To think such a place exists.’

Before he knew it, they had reached a place permeated with an entirely gloomy atmosphere.

It was a completely different ambiance from the luxurious and splendid area before.

There were even more people present at the destination than earlier.

All of them were individuals planted by the imperial family after careful selection.

“We never expected Your Highness to come in person.”

The highest-ranking among those planted appeared and offered an awkward greeting.

Admund, disregarding this, simultaneously inquired about the prepared items.

At this, the man wore a troubled expression.

“You do have the documents, don’t you?”

“Yes, we do. Everything has been prepared, anticipating even the possibility of someone taking them. However, there is one issue.”

A manager-level individual moved to the side and showed something.

Seeing this, Admund let out a disbelieving laugh for a moment.

“I hope what I’m seeing is real.”

“We’ve already verified everything. What Your Highness is seeing now is all factual.”

Before Admund was an enormous amount of documents.

He realized why they had worn troubled expressions.

It would take a full day and more for one person to carry all this.

Admund briefly scanned the contents inside.

“He’s been embezzling the Duke’s family assets for quite some time.”

“Even the butler who was with him tried to dissuade him from incurring debts, but he hardly listened.”

This amount was almost equivalent to the Duke’s family’s annual budget.

It was headache-inducing to think that such a sum had flowed into Curtis Street, and into a single gambling establishment at that.

The more money flows in, the larger this place’s scale will become, and as the scale grows, more people will frequent it.

As more people visit, the scale grows again – a continuous vicious cycle.

‘Curtis Street needs to be uprooted as soon as possible too.’

He felt disgusted that gambling, drugs, and various crimes were openly occurring within the capital.

Additionally, his aversion towards Lloyd grew.

He was nauseated that the supposed heir to succeed the Duke’s family, instead of thinking about eradicating crime, rather enjoyed it.

On the other hand, he smiled, envisioning how the proud Percy Duke’s family would end up when Lloyd eventually inherited it.

“I don’t need everything for now, just give me the summarized chart. And continue to secure a list of the main clientele using this place.”

“I will obey your command.”

Putting the summarized chart in his chest, Admund imagined the events to come.

What would happen if it became known to the whole world that the son of the Percy Duke’s family had been openly committing such crimes.

There would likely be considerable chaos.

Even within the imperial faction, discord could follow, but Admund had no hesitation.

‘You started this first, Lloyd.’

Even water stagnates when it stands still.

Thinking it necessary to bail out the old water and refill with new, he saw no reason to hesitate.

Quietly exiting the establishment, Admund met with Oberon, who had completed his assigned task.

“How did it go on your end?”

“It shows he used it until recently.”

“I see.”

It wasn’t even surprising anymore.

Admund intended to leave Curtis Street just like this.

As time was tight, he planned to hurry to the next destination.

“Excuse me, but do you have a moment?”

At least until someone addressed them.

“What you’re holding in your hands looks similar to what I’m looking for.”