The Extra Wants To Live-Chapter 305: The Devil Returns to Hilfin

As I entered the inner castle, many people were already waiting for me and Carl in front of the lord’s residence.

While the knight was slowing down to guide Carl, a soldier ran over and relayed the message.

"Your Excellency the Grand Duke."

"Lord Hilfin, it’s been a while."

As Pardin, who had come out in such a hurry that he couldn’t even put on his outer clothes properly, bowed his head to Carl and greeted him politely, Carl also got off his horse and extended his hand to him.

Pardin looked into Carl’s eyes and took his hand, seeing how much he had grown in just two years.

At that time, he was a small boy who barely reached my chest, but now he had returned as a man big enough to meet my eyes straight on.

Now, Carl was the great Archduke—the protagonist of the victory in the invasion of Tumari, revered by all of the Empire.

"It’s cold. Come inside."

"Thank you for your hospitality."

Pardin politely guided Carl, and Carl followed him into the mansion.

There was no trace of Pardin’s past reluctance toward Carl.

Even though Carl had made his father, Maldin, kill himself and had placed Hilfin and the people of the estate on the scales, he had them in his grasp.

Eventually, Pardin also found out.

That he and Hilfin had to stick close to Carl to survive.

... ... It was honestly nerve-wracking to have to persuade so many people and get Carl’s permission to decide on matters big and small for his own territory.

"...."

And in this Hilfin territory, the most persistent and thorough man who made Pardin tremble—the head of the young administrators installed by Carl—Howell Makini, was bowing his head to Carl with an indifferent face among the crowd.

As the two passed by, their eyes exchanged a fleeting glance.

That’s terrible.

Pardin gritted his teeth at the exchange of glances between the devilish Archduke Carl and the devil’s minion, Administrator Howell.

What kind of wicked scheme are you planning to make you visit Hilfin so suddenly!

Was there something wrong? It couldn’t be. Could it be that someone committed a crime without my knowledge and covered it up?

Pardin’s head became complicated.

I’ve been working so thoroughly to avoid any trouble, so I don’t know why Carl came to visit me so suddenly.

Makini must have snitched on something. Surely it wasn’t Aric. He’s focused solely on managing the silver mine.

Leaving behind the silent cries of Pardin, who had been tormented by Howell, Carl entered Hilfin Castle after two years.

There was no such thing as a banquet.

It was a sudden visit to begin with, and Carl had no intention of spending long there.

Pardin’s worries only deepened.

--- 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"It’s going well. Excellent."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Howell, who had finished his report, spoke with a look of obviousness on his face.

This young but capable administrator wielded enormous influence within Hilfin by uniting other young administrators under his leadership.

Rather than using it for his own selfish gain, he was investing in making Hilfin into Carl’s secret base and fortress, following Carl’s orders.

Pardin, who feared Carl, and Aric, who obeyed Carl, and the power vacuum left by the great wealth and nobles who died in large numbers from the silver mines—

Young administrators, eager to escape from formality and aristocracy, became engrossed in the idealized management of their fiefdoms.

However, many problems occurred, knowingly or unknowingly.

Some of the administrators who followed Howell were blinded by wealth and power and even engaged in trickery.

"What administrative agencies must be most wary of is corruption and depravity."

Howell, believing so, secretly contacted Aric.

And by giving the corrupt administrators a chance to contact Aric, who was in charge of the silver mines, he created concrete evidence of their crimes, and by revealing their crimes one by one, he executed them all through Pardin.

Since the administrator was also Howell’s real power, this unconventional move came as a great shock to everyone.

From Pardin’s perspective, Howell’s actions were truly frightening.

This was because it showed that Howell was thorough, but at the same time, it seemed like he was desperate to leave no room for even the slightest nitpick.

That is, Pardin believed that Howell’s actions were deeply rooted in his fear of Carl.

Even Aric was completely obedient to Carl and did his best in the assigned tasks!

What kind of crazy people manage a silver mine and never steal a single piece of silver!

Because the Aric family mass-produced sophisticated scales and meticulously recorded the specific gravity of the silver they mined, those who knew about silver mining called the Aric family the "Family of Scales."

From Pardin’s perspective, it was inevitable that the Aric family also feared Carl.

The very thought was proof that Pardin was deeply afraid of Carl.

Because he feared Carl, he believed that others feared Carl too.

"I couldn’t include everything in the document. Your Majesty, please review it and let me know if there are any shortcomings, and I will correct them."

Howell was so confident in what he had accomplished that he was anxious to show Carl the Hilfin himself while he remained silent.

"It’s okay. I’ve already checked it in my own way."

"...Oh. Yes."

So when Carl said that, Howell became a little sullen.

In the original, Howell—who had been glaring at Emperor Nero, holding his head high, and shouting for him to be killed, and who had been ignoring the pressure from the nobles of Hilfin, including Pardin—sighed deeply in disappointment.

Howell had accomplished more than originally planned.

So he thought Carl would be surprised and very pleased.

But what kind of dry reaction was this...

... As expected, you were watching.

On the one hand, Howell felt relieved, as he had confirmation that Carl was monitoring Hilfin in other ways.

That’s right. It had to be like this.

No matter what, I can’t trust and leave everything to you.

He is such a thorough person that you can trust and follow him.

Howell thought about it and opened his mouth carefully.

"The Marquis Gasto’s movements are unusual."

But a problem arose.

That was also quite a... big problem.