The Top-Tier Butler of the Marquis Family

Chapter 064

When I first saw the hideout, I was startled. From the outside, it looked little different from an ordinary private house. It was simply a house built of wood and earth.

There was even a small flower bed out front. A few spring blossoms were peeking their heads up.

“Eluna. Are you sure you brought me to the right place? It looks cramped enough even for a family of four to live in.”

It really was that small. And there was no yard or anything like it, so there was no facility where gang members could gather and train.

On top of that, this was a residential district. The security was relatively good, and it was too quiet, which made it the worst possible place for any kind of group activity.

If we started training with weapons here, we would be begging to get caught.

“The real thing is inside.”

“Inside?”

“The essence of a hideout lies in deceiving other people’s eyes.”

The essence? As expected of someone who carried elven blood, she used refined vocabulary. She was right, though. The essence did lie there.

I followed her inside.

It was deep night now, with the sun long since set. Eluna opened the lantern she had brought and lit the candles placed here and there.

Only then did the place grow bright enough for the interior to come clearly into view.

There was no one inside. Household items and various bits of furniture were neatly arranged. Anyone who saw it would think it was an ordinary home.

“You have done a rather fine job with the place. Whose idea was this?”

“Sir Kalmond found the house, and I arranged the inside.”

“As expected, you have good taste. But where is everyone? They cannot exactly have sunk into the ground.”

“You noticed properly.”

Eluna pulled back the carpet. Beneath it, I saw a handle fixed to the floor.

I had not expected them to have literally gone into the ground. So they had made the hideout underground?

Eluna gripped the handle and pulled, and with a CREEEAK, the entrance opened wide. Only then did I hear people’s voices from below.

It seemed they had specially soundproofed the entrance. I had not noticed a thing.

“Please go down first. I will keep watch above. If anything happens, there is a way to send a signal inside, so do not worry too much.”

“All right. Good work.”

As I climbed down the ladder, the entrance above me closed. Then I heard the soft sound of fabric dragging across the floor. She had probably put the carpet back in place.

“The Boss has arrived!”

One of the original four members recognized me and greeted me. What was his name again, Jerome? To his credit, he introduced me properly to the others.

“Everyone, on your feet! This is the Boss who will lead us from now on.”

“Oooh!”

“So that is the rumored Iron Man......?”

The gang members who had been sitting at the tables resting all rose to their feet.

Their reactions varied. Some looked at me with admiration, while others tilted their heads in doubt. I watched my subordinates’ reactions with interest.

“The Boss is here?”

At that moment, the storeroom door opened and Kalmond appeared. Simon was beside him.

Kalmond struck his chest hard with his fist in greeting.

“Boss! My apologies for failing to go out and receive you.”

“Receive me? Do not bother with that. Things are hard enough already when we are forced to live in hiding.”

“You arrived earlier than I expected. I thought it would take several more days.”

“I heard the Face Mask was finished.”

At those words, Simon grinned and bowed his head. Judging by his expression, the finished product must have turned out quite well. As expected, there was almost nothing money could not accomplish if you beat hard enough with it.

Pretending to glance around the place, I patted Kalmond on the shoulder.

“You have gathered a great many subordinates. Well done.”

“We had enough funds, so we were able to gather them quickly. They are all fairly capable men.”

“Really? How many are there?”

“Twenty.”

I nodded and looked over the members one by one. Their feelings toward me could not have built up that much yet, so I would have to inspect their Status Windows slowly over time.

“Which room is mine?”

“This way.”

Kalmond led me to the room farthest in the corner. For an underground place, it was surprisingly spacious. The room was twice as large as the one I used at the mansion.

There were all sorts of tables set up inside, and even a luxurious bed. It was obvious Kalmond had put real thought into it.

Smiling in satisfaction, I took a seat at one of the tables.

“But how did you come up with the idea of making a hideout in a residential district?”

“Eluna said it would be darkest beneath the lamp. It sounded like a good idea, so I found a suitable place. As it happened, there was a property available too.”

“Good. Very well done.”

The first button was being fastened properly. More important than having found a good hideout was the fact that Kalmond and Eluna had worked together in the process.

I had thought he might look down on her because she was a woman, but fortunately Kalmond and the others seemed to be following my orders well enough.

Though once they actually saw Eluna shooting a bow, they probably would not want to treat her carelessly anyway.

“But why did you tell her to learn archery?”

“And why do you ask?”

“Because her skill is unbelievable. She is already much better than Hans, the one who taught her. No, not just much better. It is a completely different level. It is almost a genius’s talent. I have never in my life seen anyone shoot a bow that well.”

You probably will not see it again either. After all, for all appearances, she carries elven blood.

Once time passes and her training accumulates, if Bow Mastery ever reaches Rank S, she might start firing multishot. Ah, then again, perhaps she could already do that now? I ought to test it later.

“So naturally I became curious. Why did you tell her to learn archery in the first place, Boss?”

“I can just tell at a glance. What someone will be good at.”

“You truly are incredible. Then what do you think I would be good at?”

“You?”

I had seen Kalmond’s Status Window from time to time. So I remembered his specialties well.

“You seem to have talent for running away and for lockpicking. You are better than most at ambushes too. Am I wrong?”

“Hah, astonishing.”

“What is there to be astonished about? I have seen you fight several times.”

Kalmond looked at me with wonder in his eyes. Just wait until I can see the parts still hidden behind question marks as well. Then I will tell you more, so do not be too surprised already.

“Anyway, where is the Face Mask? I nearly got caught in an inspection on the way here, but I escaped by luck. I want to put it on as soon as possible.”

“I will prepare it at once.”

Kalmond signaled to Simon with his eyes, and Simon answered that he understood before leaving the room. Soon only the two of us were left. Kalmond stared at me and said,

“You certainly do stand out, wearing that iron mask.”

“It is fortunate that it is night. I cannot even walk around at ease during the day.”

If I wandered through a residential district at night wearing an iron mask and ran into a patrol unit, I would be dragged off at once.

Of course, I had a trump card.

The necklace Young Lady Sapiela gave me. It bore the House’s insignia. If I showed that and claimed I was carrying out a secret mission on the Young Lady’s behalf, they would not dare treat me carelessly.

Still, the best thing was obviously not to get caught in the first place. If the guards discovered me and my identity became exposed to other people, managing the organization would become difficult.

Now I can say goodbye to all of that worry. After all, I have a Face Mask now!

“What? Are you still curious about my face?”

“I would be lying if I said I was not. It is not only me. The other gang members are curious too. Eluna as well.”

“When the time comes, you will know, so do not rush me. I have my reasons for doing things this way.”

“I understand.”

“If possible, I would like it if this matter were never brought up again.”

I drove the nail in firmly. Kalmond bowed his head to show obedience. Watching him, I felt all the more that he had truly become my man now.

At that moment, the door opened and Simon came inside. On the tray was an exceedingly thin Face Mask. Thin as it was, it was opaque enough that nothing showed through it.

And it was light as a feather. I did not know yet how well it would adhere to my face, but if I wore it, it looked as though it would place no burden on me at all.

“Oh...... This is impressive.”

As I examined the Face Mask, I saw that Simon had added a scar to one cheek exactly as I had requested. It would make me look a little tougher.

“So I can just put it on?”

“Of course. The moment you place it against your face, it will adhere on its own. Unless one uses a special method, it will never come off, so you may set your mind at ease.”

“Good. All of you, step outside.”

Once they had left and I was alone in the room, I stood before the mirror and removed the iron mask. Then I placed the Face Mask Simon had made against my face.

SLAP!

With a smooth sound like skin striking skin, the Face Mask adhered to my face. What a strange feeling. I opened my eyes and looked into the mirror.

The unpleasant sensation vanished at once, and a smile rose to my lips of its own accord.

“This is incredible.”

The Face Mask clung so perfectly to my face that it did not even feel as though I were wearing anything at all. Just as Simon had said, no matter how sharp-eyed someone was, it seemed unlikely they would notice I had something on.

I pinched my cheek and pulled. Gently at first, then harder and harder. But the Face Mask clung to me exactly like real skin and would not come off no matter what. All that happened was that my flesh began to hurt.

And the scar on my cheek suited it well.

“This scar is the true finishing touch.”

Overall, it was a handsome face, but with that long scar added, it looked like the face of a man burdened with a complicated past. I was extremely satisfied.

I was a demanding engineering student, but this time I was perfectly willing to give it a full one hundred out of one hundred.

I called Kalmond and Simon back inside.

“Pay Simon the rest of what is due. Add one extra gold coin on top of it.”

“Understood.”

Kalmond held out the money pouch full of gold to Simon. Simon checked the contents with a glance and smiled.

I asked him a few things I had been curious about. The Face Mask was a product of a sort, so after-sales service might be necessary. I was curious about how long it would last too.

“You need only have the Face Mask inspected once every five years. In truth, since magical materials were used in it, it can be used almost indefinitely. And when you want to remove it, dissolve this in water and use it.”

Simon held out a small glass bottle. I accepted it and slipped it into an inner pocket.

“It seems my work here is finished now. I hope you will make much use of it in the future.”

“This is only me being overly cautious, but do not go around spreading rumors about me for no reason. Understood?”

“Would I ever?”

I was not especially worried about that part. I had looked into him in my own way, and Simon was the sort of man who managed his clients thoroughly. Even if he knew my face, without cameras it would be difficult for him to expose my personal information.

Once Simon had withdrawn, Kalmond stared at me.

“What?”

“Are you no longer going to wear the iron mask?”

“I will if I need to, but for the time being there is no reason.”

“Then it would be better to change the alias Iron Man.”

I sank into thought.

I wanted to use the name Tony, but it felt a little too much like theft, and my conscience stung. Of course, there was not much anyone could do to me, having crossed into another world and all.

Then a good idea came to me. Crossing one leg over the other, I said,

“Suhyeon. From now on, call me Suhyeon.”

“That is an unusual name. Understood, Boss. I will pass it on to the gang members.”

It was a little ironic, but only now could I finally reveal my real name to the world.