A Simple Multiple Choice Question

"You mean, beside that orc, there was an eye similar to it?"

In front of the wide desk, Melard, who maintained a proper posture due to noble etiquette, pointed at the bottled eyeball circling his shoulder, incredulous.

"Impossible! This was personally leased by my father from the [Baroness] through his connections.

It's a rare item that can only operate three at a time.

How could those monsters possess it!?"

Catherine, who remained bowed before them, shook her head.

She was just a farm girl, ignorant of the world of magic, and hadn't even heard of the [Baroness].

She could only vaguely reply:

"I don't know its importance, my lord. I'm merely relaying the information I heard from the [Black Snake]--

According to his dying words, those who attacked you were an entire tribe heading towards Star Plum Town."

"Nonsense! Dragon Gold City is thousands of miles from the Great Wall in the south, with countless well-armed towns in between.

Unless they broke through the defenses and fought their way up from the south, how could an organized orc tribe appear here?

Catherine, I thought you inherited your mother's honesty.

Yet I never expected you'd dare fabricate such absurd lies--deceiving a noble and attempting to incite panic, what is your true intention?"

"My lord, I didn't..."

"Enough! Perhaps the leniency of your master and the young master has spoiled you.

If you are not disciplined, you might lose sight of your place!

Guards, take her away and administer the whip—"

"Wait, Mr. Hus."

Melard quickly stopped him, and under the gaze of the old steward's urgent and helpless eyes, he forced himself to say, "I think she was worried about me, which is why she easily believed that mercenary's nonsense. After all, she's just a farm girl and doesn't understand the world outside town, right?

Since her intentions were good, overly harsh punishment would seem inhumane.

Instead, I'll punish you by having you go home and bring me the sweetest wine from the tavern to help me pass this boring evening."

"Young master..."

Hus clicked his tongue and leaned down, saying softly, "I suggest you leave tonight."

Melard blinked his round eyes and asked blankly:

"What do you mean? You also think those orcs will come to raid this small town?"

Hus stroked his exquisite mustache, worriedly saying:

"Logically speaking, I don't really think so, nor do I want to believe their objective is this small town—that's an entire orc tribe, after all.

But the appearance of orcs is a fact, and that's already extraordinary.

So, considering your personal safety, I should immediately prepare two good horses for you and the mercenary captain.

He will escort you all the way back to Dragon Gold City. If the town isn't raided by then, it will be a joyous occasion.

Even if disaster strikes, you will be completely safe.

This is the most secure method I can think of."

Hus strictly followed the teachings of his teacher, a renowned, outstanding, and kind old butler--

As the most loyal and capable assistants to nobles, they should possess two faces.

The first face is their true inner self, genuine loyalty that truly considers their master's well-being.

The second face is their harshness towards their inferiors, sometimes inevitably mixed with a bit of acting.

Like now.

He didn't disbelieve Catherine.

But he couldn't let Catherine, a farm girl, see his master terrified by orcs and intending to abandon his territory and flee in a panic.

He had to protect his master's safety and image.

If Lord Mel were present, he would surely praise his steward greatly at this moment.

But the still underage young master Melard, being naive, asked, "Why me and that mercenary?"

"He needs you to stay alive to collect his commission. You will be very safe unless it's absolutely unavoidable."

"But if the orcs really plan to raid here, what about you and the remaining townsfolk?"

"I am very grateful for your concern for me. However, as the steward, I have an obligation to guard this territory and protect the lord's property--

The so-called 'orc tribe' is ultimately just hearsay, and they might not even be able to leave the forest in a short time.

Even if they do find a way out, I can try to lead the troops and hold them off until reinforcements from Dragon Gold City arrive."

"As for the villagers... we absolutely cannot let them leave."

"Why?"

Hus answered as a matter of course:

"If this news gets out and causes panic, many will want to flee the town, leading to a population drain.

If the orcs don't come out of the forest to raid the territory, and everyone is delayed from their work, what about the harvest?"

For Hus, this was a very simple choice.

If the orcs raided, he would organize resistance; success would be celebrated, and failure would be at his own expense.

If there were no orc raid, but instead panic and a loss of the already small population, it would be equivalent to a direct loss.

And no matter which choice he made, he could first ensure the young master was protected by the Explosive Wolf.

Considering all these factors, he didn't even need to hesitate.

Melard nodded as if suddenly enlightened.

Then, after hesitating for a long time, he said hesitantly, "Then, can you grant me a small request?"

"Please, go ahead."

"A horse can carry two people, right? I want to take Catherine with me."

"Young Master, this--"

"Mr. Hus!"

Melard pouted, looking a little wronged and a little pleading, "You watched me grow up, and you're the only one in the family who knows my true orientation.

So you must understand that if I go back and marry a Noble lady, they won't tolerate their husband keeping male lovers on the side.

But if I were to marry a commoner, my father would absolutely not agree.

Only Catherine—her beauty is enough to mask her identity as a farmer's daughter. With a little cultivation, she might become a diplomatic figurehead.

This is the only reason my father would allow me to marry Catherine...

I need a woman without status or power to be my shield.

Just for the sake of my future happy life, please allow me to bring her back to Dragon Gold City with me, okay?"

As Melard said, it was difficult for Hus not to feel compassion for the young master he had personally watched grow up, the future master of the family.

After a while, he sighed:

"Alright, but you must promise me. If anything happens, you must abandon this woman first to ensure your own safety."

"Of course, how could I possibly risk my life for a commoner."

Melard's face lit up with joy, and even the fear from the recent attack faded somewhat.

He finally looked at Catherine, who had been silently keeping her head down, and said loudly, "It's settled then. Catherine, bring your wine personally in an hour. You know this is my mercy towards you."

"Of course, Young Master Melard. May the joy of Gullagas be with you."

Catherine let out an almost imperceptible sigh and quickly bowed before retreating.

After leaving the village official's residence, which was surrounded and protected by mercenaries.

She quickly lifted her skirt, revealing a section of her fair and slender calf, and hurried along the dirt road of the countryside.

When she arrived at the tavern, panting, she saw Father Lynn, looking dejected, reporting something to Tang Qi in the courtyard.

So she stepped forward:

"My progress is going smoothly. How is it on your end?"

Father Lynn shook his head, the wrinkles on his face contorted, making him look even older:

"Unfortunately, it's not ideal."