Edgar Frommware is an arrogant man who treats his lordship like a toy.
　He does not feel any guilt for this, but rather, he acts as if it is the norm.
　To him, they are nothing more than a tool for his own pleasure.

　Such is Edgar's character, but he is not a fool.
　He is quick-witted and is able to see things from a broad perspective.

　Hence, he understood that his actions would cause the antipathy of the lords.
　Hence, he embraced the Knights and tried to escape the hands of the audit.

　However, Edgar is not such an optimistic man that he can be relieved just by making one move.
　Unexpected trouble can strike at any time of the day.
　In preparation for that time, Edgar had prepared his own personal pieces.

　He would let the lords hold the money, let them explore the movements of his friends, and report back to him.
　He would have the knights prepare an insider to keep a constant watch on the knights to see if any traitors appeared.
　I have ensured my own safety in various ways.

　This was one of those times.
　The report came to Edgar that the knights who were dabbling in injustice had been caught together.

''d*mn it!

　Upon receiving the report, Edgar slammed the glass in his hand to the floor.
　The glass broke and the wine soaked into the carpet.

'A knight has been arrested, you say?　And all of them!　It can't be, what are they doing!
Huh.

　A girl in the same room looked at the raging Edgar, her shoulders trembling and frightened.
　In response to the gesture, Edgar's gaze catches the girl.

''........What are you looking at?''
Eh....
'What are you asking me to look at!
Wow, I don't have any... oh!

　Edgar hit the girl in the cheek.
　Unable to cope with the suddenness of the situation, the girl collapsed on the floor.

''I....was....''

　The broken glass hurt the girl's skin.
　But without giving a d*mn, Edgar kicked the girl.
　He kicks her again and again to drown his frustration.
　The girl can't do anything about it.
　She can only curl up and endure it, as if waiting for the storm to pass.

　It's painful.
　Painful.
　It hurts.

　The girl repeated in a small voice, "I'm sorry..." with tears in her eyes.
　Edgar was pleased to see the girl like that.
　He desperately apologized to himself, who was equal to a god.
　That was the attitude that the lords should normally take.

　Seeing the girl's condition, Edgar felt a slight pause.
　So, as if he had lost interest in the girl, he sat down on a chair.

''Well, what's going on...''

　I'd like to play with the girl a little longer, but I have to think about the future.
　Edgar looks out the window and thinks about the future.

'All the knights who were connected to us are going to be captured... is that really possible?

　First of all, Edgar doubts the interlocutor's report.
　It's no wonder.
　The knights who are connected behind the scenes amount to 90%.
　The remaining 10% overthrew the 90%?

　It's not normal.
　I haven't heard of those foolish people who hold up justice delusionally having that much power.
　Gilley, the Knight Commander, is a man without much of a head on his shoulders, but he has a certain amount of ability.
　How is it possible to lose to an opponent of the overwhelming few?

　That's how Edgar organized the information in his head...
　I conclude shortly afterwards.

''........I can't be optimistic here. After all, it would be better to see the report as correct. Just because I think it's impossible, on the contrary, it's becoming more and more true.

　Edgar thought back to Stella.
　He had spoken to her lightly before when he had visited the Knights' branch.
　She was inflexible, believed that knights should be right, and was a foolish woman in Edgar's eyes.

　What if this Stella was the real power of the Knights?
　They will no doubt embark on their own audit first.
　There's a lot of stuff in this museum that people can't see.
　It's not just my own interests.
　My father's embezzlement, proof of illicit use of funds, etc.
　In the eyes of the Order, it would be impossible for him to maintain his current position.

　After thinking that far, Edgar refused to believe that it was impossible.

　He was the chosen one.
　We are not like the people who have nothing.
　I don't care how you treat people.
　Because they are yours.
　And yet, it's not right that they should be declared evil and have everything taken away from them.
　It shouldn't happen.

　Edgar was seriously and sincerely thinking about that.

'The easy part would be to destroy the evidence...'

　Edgar thought back to his collection.
　These were the treasures he had collected over the years.
　It would be a shame to throw them away.

　And besides.....

Ugh.....

　He glanced at the girl who was still lying on the ground.

　The most (...) strongest (...) species that he could get his hands on by accident.
　Edgar, who is a human, treats the species that is said to be the strongest species as if it were a toy.
　It was an irresistible pleasure.
　Can I let go of this?

　I can't, Edgar decided.
　This toy is something I can't change for anything else.
　If we lose it now, we'll never get it again.

Besides it would be impossible to destroy all the evidence, realistically speaking. Even if we were to erase the toys, it would be difficult to get rid of everything as if it were nothing. Even more so with the problems my dad is involved in.

　We can't dispose of the evidence.
　Then you'll be caught meekly?

　Impossible!
　Edgar strongly refused in his mind.

'This me going down to an ordinary man........I cannot approve of such a thing. Then ... do I have to do it?

　Edgar was ready to set things up with the Order.

　It wasn't out of desperation.
　It was a conclusion after careful consideration.

　The current Order is led by Stella.
　Then he could eliminate Stella and carry Gilley again.
　Or, if you are obedient to yourself, you can use another person.
　Even if you set things up with the Knights, if you can embrace them, it doesn't matter later.
　In short, all you have to do is win.

　Fortunately, or perhaps I should say, I have a private army for such occasions.
　There are 100 of them.
　Furthermore, there were mercenaries that were comparable to B-ranked adventurers.

　Edgar arranged those elements in his head, arranging them in order................................laughing.

''Kukuk... yeah. That's what you do. Anyone who is foolish enough to defy me should be condemned. Well, that's just the way it is. We don't need to be confused. If you say you're going to be my enemy, whether it's the Order or not, I'll crush you!
...Will it really work?
What?

　Suddenly, a man's voice rang out.
　It wasn't Edgar's, and of course it wasn't the girl's.

　I noticed that there was a figure by the window.
　He wore a deep robe and his face was invisible.
　However, from the shape and height, I expected it to be a man.

''Who is it...?''

　Edgar asked quietly, surprised, but not showing his agitation.

'A bona fide collaborator,'
What did you say?
'I hear you've set up things with the Order but do you think it will work out the way you think it will?　No, it won't work. Your plan will fail.

　Edgar raised an eyebrow, but kept it to himself.
　Strangely, there was such a power in his voice that the man's words seemed to convince him.

　For now, let's just listen to it.
　Deciding that, Edgar listened to the man's story.

''The reason for my assurances is that I know of a certain man who is cooperating with the Order.
A man?
The Lane Shroud. Don't you remember?　I'm the man who challenged you in the square the other day.
Oh, that's him.

　Edgar clicked his tongue as he recalled the d*mning memory.

'You mean this fool who defies me, don't you?　Looks like we didn't catch that guy from Gilley after all but is he cooperating with the Order?　Abominable to all intents and purposes ... but so what?　The addition of one mere fool won't change anything.
Rain is a Beast Tamer, and he's using the strongest species available.
What did you say?

　It was information I couldn't afford to hear.
　Edgar was bitten by the man's story.

'Is that true?'
I'm pretty sure.
"Not good ... that's not good. That's not good......................There's no way I can take on the strongest species. d*mn it, how could this happen!
There's no need to panic. I told you I could help.
What do you have in mind?
Here.

　Edgar receives a ring from the man.
　It has a gemstone of an evil color on it.

It is an item of magic that contains a deadly spell. I suggest you use it to take care of Rayne.
A man?　Isn't it the strongest species to take out?
There's not just one of the strongest species, there are two. The ring can only be used once. So go after the Lord, Rain. When he is defeated, the contract will be terminated and the strongest species will have no reason to oppose you and will leave.
Well okay, let's do it that way.
That's a wise decision.
'But why are you doing this...'

　I was about to continue, and when I looked away for a moment, the man was gone.
　Was it a dream?
　Suddenly, Edgar thought about that, but the ring was still with him.

''Well that's fine. If this is how you can get rid of anyone who gets in your way, even if it's the Grim Reaper, I'll use it.''

　Edgar clutched the ring with a dark smile on his face.

　That's why he couldn't notice it.
　That a black blur was leaking slightly from the ring.
　That the blur had taken on the form of a beast and was trying to bite into Edgar, the Lord.