Reborn as a Useless Noble with my SSS-Class Innate Talent-Chapter 163: Ch : Selling the Stone - Part 3

Chapter 163: Ch 163: Selling the Stone – Part 3

Melissa looked visibly frustrated, her fists clenched and eyes locked in the direction the assassins had fled.

Her whole body was ready to leap into action, to chase them down and reclaim what had been taken.

But then she saw Kyle’s expression—calm, composed, certain. She took a deep breath, biting back her instinct to argue, and slowly lowered her stance.

“…If that’s what you want, Young Master.”

She said, clearly displeased but willing to obey.

Bruce had been watching the exchange silently. He looked between Kyle and Melissa, then raised an eyebrow.

“Do you… have a plan to retrieve the mana stone?”

Kyle gave him a small smile.

“I don’t need one.”

Bruce blinked.

“Why?”

“I never lost the mana stone in the first place.”

Kyle replied, his voice steady.

Melissa’s head snapped toward him.

“You tricked them?”

Kyle nodded.

“What they stole was a replica I had prepared in advance. Just enough residual mana to pass a quick test. They won’t know the difference… until it’s far too late.”

Realization hit Bruce first, followed by a slow chuckle.

“So that’s why you didn’t even flinch. I should’ve known. Still, you scared the hell out of us.”

Melissa’s tension bled out all at once. Her shoulders relaxed, and she let out a breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding.

“Please tell me next time if you’re going to pull something like that. My heart can’t take it.”

Kyle smiled.

“Let’s head back. We still have a delivery to make.”

______

Meanwhile, in a quiet alley behind the auction house, the group of assassins had come to a stop.

They looked pleased with themselves, grinning from ear to ear as they passed the small satchel between each other.

“That was easier than I thought. The idiot didn’t even notice we took it.”

One of them muttered.

“Too easy. Makes me wonder if that brat is actually just all talk.”

Another said with a chuckle.

“Why was the security so lax, though? You’d think he’d guard this with his life.”

One asked.

A shrug followed.

“Who cares? We did our job. Let’s just get paid.”

Their laughter echoed as they approached the auction house.

The leader of the group didn’t bother knocking—he slammed the door open, startling a few servants inside.

“We got the item. Now where’s our reward?”

He announced proudly.

The auction house master appeared from the back room, his expression sharp and calculating. He narrowed his eyes at the group.

“Show me.”

The lead assassin held the pouch up.

“Not until we get paid.”

The master’s jaw twitched.

“You want to haggle with me now? After all the coin we spent hiring you?”

“You want it or not?”

The assassin snapped.

After a moment of consideration, the master clicked his tongue and waved to one of his men. A small chest filled with gold was handed over.

The assassins snatched it greedily and stepped aside.

The auction house master reached out and took the pouch.

His eyes gleamed with excitement as he pulled out the mana stone—shimmering, pulsing faintly, just as described. Holding it gently between his palms, he poured a sliver of mana into it.

The stone responded instantly, accepting the mana and glowing faintly in reaction.

He let out a satisfied sigh.

“Perfect. This will earn us a fortune.”

Behind him, his subordinates began preparing the next steps for their secret auction.

None of them noticed the subtle shift in the stone’s color—just a fraction too pale.

None of them questioned how easy the heist had been, or why Kyle hadn’t fought harder.

And none of them noticed the quiet, dormant energy nestled inside the stone beginning to stir.

Because far away, connected to Kyle through the bond it shared with it, Queen stirred. It reached out faintly, sensing the mana trail, watching silently from a distance.

Kyle’s trap had just begun.

______

As the three of them walked down the quiet path toward the inn, Melissa glanced sideways at Kyle, a look of curiosity and lingering tension on her face.

“Young Master, what was the trick behind the mana stone this time?”

She began.

Kyle didn’t hesitate.

“I coated the replica with my own mana. It’ll feel authentic for now. But the effect won’t last—within a day or two, the false core will begin to unravel, and it won’t retain mana anymore.”

He replied.

Melissa let out a long, understanding sigh.

“So, it was a race against time. If they don’t use it quickly, they’ll realize it’s a fake.”

She muttered.

Bruce chuckled dryly from behind them.

“You’re cruel, Young Master. Can’t help but pity the fools who think they’ve won.”

Kyle didn’t respond. His face remained impassive, unreadable. His silence was answer enough.

They arrived at the inn moments later. Without another word, Kyle stepped inside first, the soft chime of the bell above the door signaling their entry.

The interior was warm, scented faintly with fresh tea and pastries.

Seated at a table near the fireplace was Grand Duchess Amanda, elegantly sipping from a porcelain cup.

Her eyes met Kyle’s with practiced poise, though there was a flicker of annoyance behind them.

Across from her sat the royal soldier who had outbid everyone at the auction.

He looked far too relaxed for a man of his station—lounging in his chair, legs crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.

As Kyle entered, the man raised a hand in cheerful greeting.

“Ah, the famed young master arrives. Come in, come in! We were just talking about you.”

He said with exaggerated excitement.

Kyle kept his expression polite and unreadable, but inwardly, something tensed.

The man’s casual tone didn’t match the usual conduct of royal guards, especially not when speaking before a Grand Duchess.

And more importantly, the way Amanda’s expression twitched when the man spoke told Kyle something else—this man wasn’t just a guard.

He was someone far higher in rank.

“Come, have a seat.”

The soldier said again, gesturing to the open chair beside him.

Kyle stepped forward calmly and took the offered seat, glancing at Amanda. Her eyes narrowed at him, then rolled toward the soldier with a long-suffering sigh.

“Can you knock it off already? You’re going to scare him off.”

She muttered.

“Scare him? Don’t be ridiculous, Sister. I’m just trying to get to know my future brother-in-law. It’s important to build family bonds, don’t you think?”

The soldier echoed, grinning.

Kyle blinked, his expression faltering for just a moment before he composed himself again.

‘Sister? Then that would make him…’

A prince.

His suspicion settled into certainty.

The man in front of him wasn’t just some overconfident knight.

The casual attitude, the complete disregard for social protocol, and Amanda’s visible irritation all pointed to one conclusion—he was one of the imperial princes of the empire.

And that meant this was no ordinary delivery.

Amanda sighed again and set her cup down.

“Ignore him. He showed up at the worst possible time and insisted on tagging along. Said something about needing to ‘inspect the delivery.'”

She told Kyle

“Can’t be too careful. After all, if my dear sister’s fiancé is going to be carrying around something as precious as a mana stone, I’d like to make sure he’s the type who knows how to protect it.”

The prince chimed in, his grin unfading.

Kyle smiled slightly, leaning back in his chair.

“I understand, Your Highness. I assure you, the item has been handled with the utmost care.”

The prince raised an eyebrow at the title but said nothing.

Amanda folded her arms.

“And where is it?”

Kyle reached into the satchel he carried and slowly retrieved the real mana stone.

It pulsed faintly in his hand, reacting warmly to the mana around it.

As soon as it left the pouch, Queen stirred in response, its consciousness brushing faintly against Kyle’s mind.

The sensation reassured him—it was still dormant, still connected.

He placed the mana stone gently on the table between them.

The prince leaned forward, peering at it with open curiosity.

“So that’s the real one. I heard the fake was convincing, but this… this is something else.”

He murmured.

Amanda watched the mana stone, but her gaze eventually shifted back to Kyle.

“I hope you know what you’ve stirred up by putting this in circulation.”

“I do.”

Kyle said simply.

The prince chuckled.

“Well, that’s good. You’re going to need that confidence. Especially once the rest of the court hears you outwitted half the power players in the region.”

Kyle only nodded. He already knew this wasn’t the end—it was just another beginning.