The assassination attempt stuck in Logo's craw. Letting a grudge go unanswered wasn't his style.
But the Russell Family was a bit too strong for him to take on.
So he had to start with Suke.
After killing Suke, Logo told Wellington and Lavier who was really behind the assassination attempt and how it had happened.
The two were somewhat bewildered. How had the Russell Family gotten involved?
Even so, Suke's death finally had an explanation. He had brought it on himself, and the resistance that had just begun to rise in their hearts vanished.
But how were they supposed to explain it to the clan's upper ranks? And to the Royal Court?
High-rank transcendent lifeforms were the backbone of their people. The Royal Court kept detailed records on every one of them, and when one died, the cause had to be reported.
Although Suke had taken part in the assassination attempt, he couldn't be convicted without evidence.
Executing a high-rank transcendent lifeform for crimes like embezzlement and dereliction of duty alone would be an unlawful judgment, and the Royal Court would certainly hold them accountable.
"Suke fled because he feared punishment for his crimes and even tried to take me hostage, but Melier reacted in time and killed him. How does that charge sound?" Logo said casually as he walked through the pool of blood.
"This..."
Wellington and Lavier exchanged a glance, the same thought occurring to both of them. Is this really your first time doing something like this? You made up a charge just like that. Do you have to be so practiced at it, boss?
Still, an excuse was better than none.
The Red Maple Clan belonged to the faction stationed far from the center of power. With the emperor far away and the Royal Court's judicial reach limited, they would most likely get nothing more than a mild reprimand.
Besides, Logo had just rendered a great service. There might not even be a reprimand; it was very likely the Royal Court would turn a blind eye.
At that thought, the two relaxed, while their awe of Logo grew by leaps and bounds.
His decisive nature and insistence on paying back every slight made them feel as if they had returned to the years when Augustus had been in power, stirring ripples in their hearts.
With Suke dealt with, the Campbell Family was entirely under Logo's command.
He temporarily put Lunbate in charge of the family's finances and had him draw out ninety percent of its liquid funds and hand them over to Wellington and Lavier.
Delivering the benefits he had promised his subordinates promptly was one of Logo's guiding principles.
Only by keeping his subordinates well fed could he sit securely in the boss's seat.
Sure enough, after receiving the money, the two treated Logo with even greater respect. Wellington in particular became a fanatical flatterer, with none of his former reserve and arrogance to be seen.
This neatly illustrated a principle: as long as the money was right, there was no such thing as an aloof goddess. Couldn't she still be pushed down at will?
"Young master, only ten percent of the liquid funds remain. Is this..." Lunbate said, looking troubled.
"Don't worry. Spend freely, and if it isn't enough, borrow from the other families. They'll definitely lend it to us. Once the Royal Court starts producing Strong Vibration Steel and Red Crystal Gunpowder and we get our share of the profits, we can just pay them back!"
Logo waved a hand, full of bold confidence.
He had always believed that when the wind blows away the eggshell, people are happier without money weighing them down. Money was meant to be spent; sitting in an account, it was just a pile of useless numbers. Only by spending it could it have an effect.
In this cruel world, strength alone was an enduring foundation for survival. A miser would only become someone else's oversized piggy bank.
"All right!" Lunbate said helplessly. He was just about to leave when Logo stopped him again. "Get me three tickets to the Gonis City-State!"
"Yes, young master!" Lunbate didn't ask why Logo was going to the Xiya Archipelago. He simply withdrew in silence to make the arrangements.
Being put in charge of the family's finances hadn't gone to his head. He remained as he had been before, his original intentions unchanged, diligent and conscientious. That was what Logo admired most about Lunbate.
"What? Suke is dead?"
Duoliya's expression changed drastically. "Could Logo already know he took part in the assassination attempt?"
Ron shook his head slightly, his brow deeply furrowed. "Probably not!"
"The Campbell Family's public statement says that Suke feared punishment for his crimes and tried to take Logo hostage, so Melier and the other two killed him on the spot."
Duoliya retorted, "That's just what the Campbell Family put out. Can't they say whatever they want? Besides, how could Suke do something as stupid as taking Logo hostage over embezzlement and dereliction of duty? That doesn't fit his character."
Ron reasoned, "Perhaps Suke mistakenly thought Logo had found out he took part in the assassination attempt. If he panicked, it wouldn't be strange for him to do something stupid."
Even Ron himself didn't quite believe that explanation, though.
Suke's death was shrouded in mystery, and the Russell Family, who had relaxed after Catherine's death, found their hearts in their throats again.
They couldn't make out what Logo was thinking.
How much did he actually know?
Did he know the Russell Family had also been involved?
What should they do next?
Try to assassinate him again?
The moment the thought appeared, Ron hurriedly dismissed it.
Logo's standing in the clan had risen considerably, and he had even come to the attention of the Royal Court's upper ranks. Assassinating him was out of the question; the risk was too great.
No matter how meticulous an assassination attempt was, it would leave traces. Besides, after one attempt on his life, Logo would certainly protect himself even more closely, and there was also Melier, who never left his side.
Troublesome!
The Russell Family was in a bind, and being caught between a rock and a hard place greatly troubled Ron and Duoliya.
Duoliya had begun to regret trying to assassinate Logo, but the arrow had already left the bow.
She had started the game, but she couldn't decide when it would end.
At that moment, Duoliya was like a fawn trapped in a bog. The more she struggled, the deeper she sank, until the mud covered her chest, and its oppressive weight made her feel suffocated.
And that was exactly what Logo had deliberately brought about.
He could have left Suke alone for the time being and lulled the Russell Family into complacency.
But Logo refused to do that!
If I can't kill you, can't I at least make you miserable?
If you've got the guts, keep sending people to assassinate me!
But a friendly reminder: the crime of assassinating a count will implicate your entire family!
Want to try a game of wiping out the whole family?
It's very exciting!
Lunbate worked as quickly as ever, and the tickets were soon ready.
With Crassus shrunk to the size of a fist atop his head and the four-meter-tall Melier following behind him, Logo left the family estate in a carriage.
Melier was too big to fit in a car, and a truck was beneath their status. A carriage was just right.
The Two-Winged Pegasus pulling it had a rough time, though. It was panting from exhaustion, and by the time they reached the airport, both its wings were drooping. It lay on the ground, gasping for breath.
The airport, built of cement and concrete, was vast and level. Aircraft of varying sizes were parked across the ground in an orderly arrangement.
Aircraft took off or landed from time to time. Amid the apparent bustle, everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.
Lunbate had booked a Heavenly Cloud series aircraft produced by the Gonis City-State. It was enormous, a full 120 meters long, with a streamlined shape that made it look much like an airship from Blue Star. Numerous technological weapons were mounted on its surface to deal with sudden attacks by airborne monsters or sky pirates.
They boarded the aircraft and, guided by the crew, made their way to the special-class cabin. Logo lay back in a leather seat and closed his eyes for a short rest, while Melier took out his tools to maintain his battle-axe and Crassus wandered around in boredom.
Before long, a sweet announcement reached their ears.
"Welcome aboard the Cloud Whale. Our next stop is the Pure White Tower in the Xiya Archipelago. All passengers, please take the necessary safety precautions..."
When the announcement ended, the Cloud Whale's antigravity engines started up with a slight vibration.
Dark blue plasma flames burst out, forming a string of Mach diamonds. The powerful thrust slowly lifted the enormous Cloud Whale into the air, while waves of wind pressure swept across the ground, forming air currents visible to the naked eye.
Before long, the massive craft had vanished over the Sunset Jungle.