Although Cardeas's birthday banquet was scheduled for the next day, Creuset had already arrived in a nearby city that evening with Athrun and Gai Murakumo.
"What's the point of coming so early?" Since Creuset and the others had arrived, Yang Hui, who hadn't seen them for a long time, naturally wanted to meet up.
"Of course, I missed you," Creuset joked.
"Ugh—" As expected, the effect was remarkable. Yang Hui covered his mouth with one hand, pretending to retch, while tremblingly pointing at Creuset with the other. "You madman, have you been corrupted by Martha into changing your preferences?"
"Don't mention that vile woman!" True to their reputation as the best of comrades, neither was outdone when it came to throwing jabs. With just one sentence, Yang Hui had successfully broken through Creuset's defenses.
"Heh, it seems that woman has really gotten under your skin," Yang Hui said mockingly.
"If you hadn't told me not to touch her for now, I would have dealt with her long ago."
"She still has her uses."
"...You're right." Though it pained him to admit it, Creuset acknowledged that Yang Hui's decision was correct. Based on his observations, Martha Vist was certainly not the type to remain chaste for any man. Even while extending invitations to Creuset, she hadn't stopped seducing others—and with considerable success. Several council members had already become her conquests, with representatives from all four major factions of the parliament among them.
A few of these individuals had once been targets of Creuset's recruitment efforts. They had disguised themselves so well that even Creuset had been deceived... or perhaps they had simply failed to resist Martha Vist's temptations and lost their original convictions?
It didn't matter anymore. These people were already on Creuset's list for elimination—their fates were sealed.
"By the way, you might want to prepare yourself a bit tomorrow. Martha seems to have something planned to disgust you," Yang Hui reminded him. He knew all too well how petty Martha Vist could be. Creuset's rejection had humiliated her, and she wouldn't be Martha Vist if she didn't seek revenge. However, since she hadn't yet secured any real power, she wouldn't dare go too far at Cardeas's birthday banquet. At most, she could only try to disgust Creuset.
"She disgusts me? Heh." Creuset laughed dismissively. It wasn't that he looked down on Martha Vist, but any method she could conceive would be beneath his notice. When the time came, it remained to be seen who would disgust whom. After all, Yang Hui had only said he couldn't kill her right now.
"As long as she doesn't die, do as you please."
"The honor is mine."
"Enough about that. Let's get down to business. I've brought General Revil back. In a couple of days, I'll secretly meet with Gopp and Revil to finalize our cooperative relationship with the Federation."
"Correction: with the Federal Army, not the Federation," Creuset reminded him.
"It's the same thing. Whoever controls the military controls the Federation. With Revil here, those clowns can jump around all they want—they won't accomplish anything."
"But from what I've heard, General Gopp and General Revil aren't exactly cut from the same cloth."
"That's precisely their brilliance. Everyone says the 'Federal Twin Walls' are Revil and Tianem, but they don't realize that Gopp and Revil, when united, form an insurmountable fortress for the Federation. Just wait and see—not only will Revil be reinstated to his former position, but he might even climb a step higher. That's the significance of Gopp's existence."
"Alright, it seems I still underestimated General Gopp, that old fox. Beneath his smooth and cunning exterior lie such formidable fangs."
"You should have expected this. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to push through the execution of the V Project against all opposition."
"That was my oversight. In the early stages, I focused too much on political circles and indeed neglected the military to avoid spreading myself too thin."
"I won't tell Gopp or Revil that you're my man. You'll need to handle your relationships with them yourself."
"Understood. That's how it should be."
The fact that Creuset was Yang Hui's man must not be revealed to Revil or Gopp, nor should anyone else know. They could maintain a friendly relationship, but nothing more.
Yang Hui was about to establish a cooperative relationship with the Federal Army, and his status would only grow higher over time. If it were discovered that the most outstanding young member of the Federal Parliament was Yang Hui's man...
As the third young master of the Vist Foundation, Yang Hui already wielded considerable influence in both political and military circles. This would inevitably provoke fear, and fear often leads to collective opposition.
"Let's leave it at that then. I should head back now. I still need to make some preparations for tomorrow's birthday banquet."
"Oh? It seems some important figures will be attending tomorrow."
"If I'm not mistaken, yes. But it should just require some basic handling."
...
Early the next morning, after completing his morning exercises, Yang Hui began contributing to Cardeas's birthday banquet preparations.
"What are you doing in the kitchen?" Cardeas had searched everywhere for Yang Hui before finally finding him in the kitchen, looking at him in astonishment as he instructed the manor's chefs on banquet preparations.
"Just making your birthday banquet a bit more perfect." Yang Hui removed his apron, gave a few final instructions to the chefs, then turned to Cardeas.
"...What is your status? How can you be doing this kind of work?" Cardeas scolded him sternly.
"Man is iron, food is steel. Who doesn't need to eat?" Yang Hui rolled his eyes and retorted impatiently.
"Sigh." Knowing Yang Hui wouldn't listen to him, Cardeas could only sigh. Cooking was clearly servants' work - what was the master of the house doing performing such tasks? "If Martha finds out, there will be more unfavorable rumors circulating."
"Let her. It's not like we're short on rumors anyway." Yang Hui shrugged. Martha Vist had spread at least seventy or eighty scandals about him already. How bad could a cooking rumor be compared to being labeled a playboy who sowed wild oats everywhere?
"But you're disgracing the Vist Foundation's reputation."
"Heh, then you should go have a word with Martha about that."
"Sigh." Cardeas felt exhausted. Neither his younger brother nor sister would listen to him as the eldest, nor did they contribute to the family, always occupied with who knows what.
"It's your birthday today. Stop sighing all the time and cheer up." Yang Hui patted Cardeas's shoulder comfortingly.
Cardeas shot Yang Hui an annoyed look - as if he wasn't the one causing all these sighs!
Still, Cardeas felt warmth in his heart. Being born into a powerful family wasn't without its drawbacks. As the eldest son, he had received elite education since childhood, almost completely missing out on his childhood years. And because the family possessed so much, its members were constantly engaged in covert struggles, hardly resembling a real family at all.
Yang Hui was practically the closest thing to family, and Cardeas knew full well that none of the scandals Martha Vist had spread about him were true. He also knew his younger brother had been exceptional since childhood—even surpassing himself—except... he wasn't particularly concerned with formalities.
"If you could take on my mission, I'd be happy..."
"Don't even think about it! Just focus on being the family head. Isn't it wonderful that I get to live freely and unrestrained?"
Yang Hui slapped Cardeas on the back and walked away grumbling.
Cardeas winced and stretched his back—it really hurt.
Feeling the stinging pain and recalling the storage device Yang Hui had once given him, he shook his head with a wry smile. "Are you really living so freely and unrestrained?"
The thought surfaced briefly before he suppressed it. Straightening his clothes, he resumed the stern expression befitting a family head and headed in the same direction as Yang Hui. Considering the time, guests should be arriving soon. It would be highly improper for the family head and guest of honor not to greet them.
Arriving at the main entrance hall, he saw Yang Hui already standing by the door waiting for the guests. At the same time, Martha Vist descended the stairs, dressed to the nines.
"Happy birthday, my brother."
"Martha...Cardeas looked at Martha Vist's seemingly warm smile but felt no joy from her blessing. Her words carried more disdain and sarcasm than genuine goodwill.
Martha Vist then noticed Yang Hui, and her pretty face immediately darkened.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, addressing Yang Hui as if he were a servant.
"As one of the masters of this house, greeting guests is basic etiquette. Teacher Freyja taught us that, have you forgotten?Yang Hui replied calmly to Martha Vist's questioning.
"Hmph, every guest today is highly distinguished. Not just any stray cat or dog is qualified to greet them. Go back to your room and stay there. You must not come out today."
"Heh, my dear sister, should I take that to mean... you're calling our father an old stray cat or dog?" Yang Hui smiled faintly, effortlessly turning the tables.
"How dare you!"
"What a pity, Martha. As nobility, one must always maintain composure and elegance. It seems you didn't pay proper attention during etiquette lessons."
"You bastard..."
"Martha! Hold your tongue!" Cardeas could no longer stand by. On one hand, guests could arrive at any moment, and if they witnessed siblings quarreling at the entrance, it would disgrace the Vist Foundation. On the other hand, he couldn't tolerate Martha Vist's language—she was a member of the Vist family, not some street shrew.
"Cardeas, how can you side with this filthy bastard? His very birth brought shame upon the Vist Foundation!"
"Heh." Yang Hui responded to Martha Vist's curses and accusations with a cold laugh. "Did you have the courage to say that while our father and my mother were still alive?"
"You..."
"So, Martha, calm down and be more elegant." Yang Hui continued speaking to Martha Vist with a smile, as if no argument had occurred between them. "The guests will be here soon. We all want them to see the masters of the Vist Foundation welcoming them, not a shrew."
"You..."
"Enough!" Cardeas cut in promptly, causing Martha Vist to swallow the words that were about to escape her lips. Though she appeared arrogant and disdainful in front of Yang Hui, she remained quite obedient under the authority of Cardeas, the family head.
"Martha, you're not feeling well. Return to your room and rest for a while."
"Cardeas! You..."
(End of Chapter)