I Maxed Out My Luck Stat

Richard made up his mind on the spot.

He would choose Neia!

"I have—"

"Since this is a special occasion, and it has a direct invitation, we must honor the Rouge Family to the best of our ability. I’ll make the necessary arrangements for someone in the Branch Family to come over and serve as your plus one."

’E-eh?’

Richard was interrupted by the most unexpected response from his parents.

"We have a branch family?" He accidentally blurted out his thoughts, much to the shock of his parents. For a moment, the two adults stared at their child and wondered if he was mentally impaired in some way.

However, they suddenly broke into a smile.

Karl even chuckled for a moment.

"Your attempt at humor is rather unique. Indeed, we, the Main Family, treat the Branch Families as though they don’t exist. However, this is simply due to succession matters. Do not make such crude jokes in public, is that understood?"

"Y-yes..."

Richard was still confused by this revelation, but his parents didn’t understand it.

In their eyes, there was no way someone could be this stupid.

Any Noble Household would naturally consist of the Main Family—one that contained the Head and the Heir of that Household. The branch family consisted of relatives who made up the auxiliary strata of the Household.

Thus, if anything happened to the Main Family, the Branch Family closest in authority to the Main Family would be next in line for succession.

It was common sense.

Where were Richard’s uncles and cousins? Did they simply not exist in this world?

Of course, they did!

They were all a part of the Branch Family.

Even Karl, a member of the Main Family, ended up marrying his cousin from the branch family.

This was yet another use that they had.

Members of the Branch Families could marry into the Main Family to preserve the bloodline. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

It was a commonplace practice.

However, in order to minimize political warfare and reduce the schemes that the Branch Families usually employed, it was also the standard practice to ensure they lived as far away from the Main Family and their authority.

Hence, Branch Families usually lived in the two other cities jointly controlled by the Nobles.

Some even lived in the Holy City.

Since the Holy City was a neutral territory, the Nobles who lived there had no authority at all.

Being sent to live there was considered a punishment by most.

A punishment... or a mission.

In the two jointly controlled cities, Branch Families managed the interests of the Noble Household. They governed estates, supervised businesses, and handled affairs that the Main Family couldn’t be bothered with.

Meanwhile, the Main Family had an entire city to themselves.

This would naturally elicit envy among Branch Family members, and many of them desired to become the Main Family one day. However, even if they eliminated the Main Family, only the ones highest in authority would be eligible for succession.

Also, since Branch Families were in separate cities from the Main Family, but most of them occupied the same city, their conflict usually featured fighting amongst one another.

The goal of every Branch Family was to become the next in line for succession.

Only then would they be able to scheme against the Main Family.

But was the Main Family full of idiots?

No way!

Of course, they recognized this.

So they often instigated lower Branch Families against the ones closest in line for succession, ensuring that this family had to fight a battle on two sides.

This was why Branch Families almost never won political warfare with the Main Family.

Unless their members married into the Main Family, they were doomed to remain the Branch Family forever.

"I heard one of your cousins awakened a High Rank Principal Disposition. That’s an excellent choice for this expedition."

"But... I already have someone in mind..."

"Oh? You do? Someone who is a Noble and has a High Rank Principal Disposition?"

"Well... erm..."

Richard wanted to say "yes, absolutely!"

It was the truth.

However, doing so would expose Neia, and that would only lead to a terrible outcome.

And so, he had to shut his mouth.

"Look, this Expedition is a serious matter. You’ll be exploring dangerous, untouched territories."

Karl made a stern expression as he addressed his son.

"Most importantly, you’ll be in neutral territory, so we can’t protect you. Even if we hire someone skilled for you, the chance of betrayal is high. In the end, you can’t trust outsiders. That’s why, in times like this, you trust your family."

"...."

"A Blanc Family member with sufficient strength to protect you... That’s what you need."

Richard couldn’t argue with his parents this time.

Their logic was solid.

"Besides, it’s possible that other Nobles or enemies of our family will try to make moves against you. Having someone reliable by your side when that time comes is essential."

There was also an additional reason—something Karl chose not to reveal to his child.

’This expedition is a goldmine of opportunities. We need to have someone strong to secure our benefits. Since the Rouge Family specifically requested Richard, we have no choice but to grant that request. But Richard is too weak to fend off those other vultures. He is also too naive to do the dirty work we will require of our representative. That’s why using someone from the Branch Family is optimal for this mission. They exist to serve the Main Family anyway, so this works best.’ Karl smiled internally. ’That child... although he awakened a High Rank Principal Disposition, his family is at the very bottom of the Branch Families. To think they would be so fortunate and we ended up with someone of such abysmal potential.’

It was no problem for Karl, though.

He had already established close contact with this Branch Family and had every intention to use their child to the best of his ability.

’Hehehe... By promising them a high position in the Branch Family, carving their way to the top, they easily sold their son to me. They think they are using me, but they don’t know that once they reach the top position among the Branch Families, I will simply instigate the other members to fight against them, forcing them to keep relying on me.’

Karl was a natural schemer.

How else would he be fit to be the Head of this Noble Family?

It was just that he was unlucky.

Richard’s abysmal status made it extremely difficult for him to see a bright future for the Main Family. In the end, he had to rely on the Branch Family like this.

’Regardless! With that boy on our team, we will be able to overtake most of the competition. I also intend to give him a secret mission, so he will eliminate all our competition for us. He will be our little helper, doing all the dirty work for the Blanc Family so we can reign supreme!’

The problem was whether the Rouge Family would pick up on this or not.

Even though they were in charge of this Expedition, the Main Family wouldn’t be participating.

Instead, only one Branch Family representative would be present.

This person, alongside the Head of the Explorer Association and the Head of the Adventurers Guild, would be in charge of the Expedition.

’From my sources, I know they sent an invitation to the Bleu Household as well as the Noir Household. So those two families will also have one representative each. As for the Jaune and Vert Households, they didn’t receive any invitation. Is it because they were the ones mostly humiliated by Richard during the Friendly Games? No, the Bleu Family’s representative also lost terribly, so why is the Rouge Family giving that Household so much consideration? I will have that boy find out the reason during this upcoming expedition!’

Apart from these people, the only people of note who would also be participating were the Special Investigators.

Two of them, to be specific.

Although the Mountain Range had been open up for exploration and exploitation, there was still a possibility of dangers lurking around. That was why the two Special Unit officials who had been in charge of the investigation insisted that they attend.

’They promised not to interfere with the expedition unless they noticed any anomaly with the Mountain Range. They are also not interested in Noble affairs, so I don’t imagine that they will get in my way...’ Karl smiled to himself. ’In that case, I’ll just have to be extra careful and instruct my pawn not to make any sloppy moves.’

Everything was all planned out in Karl Ernix Von Blanc’s mind.

For the sake of his family... for the sake of his lovely wife and useless son... he had to make all of these moves and ensure their Blanc Household’s supremacy.

’Still... I find this very surprising.’

Karl glanced at his son for a moment, a hint of warmth reflecting in his golden eyes.

’This opportunity wouldn’t have come if not for this boy. Does that mean we were wrong about him from the very beginning?’