Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]
Chapter 179: A Game of Deception

Chapter 179: A Game of Deception

While he was left behind in confusion, Sylas raised what he claimed to be the "evidence"—a small recorder in his hand.

Rocco narrowed his eyes, wondering if this was another fabrication, but then he gasped in shock.

What was playing on the recorder was incredibly familiar.

"—I should have never given birth to you!"

The voice of his mother echoed throughout the hall, and in that instant, the murmuring crowd fell silent.

The silence seemed to hang in the air as his mother’s voice rang out again, two or three more times, each time with a different shade of emotion flickering across the faces of the nobles.

Some looked uncomfortable, others shocked.

The same was true for the king sitting in the high seat.

Upon closer inspection, Rocco realized that the recording wasn’t just of his mother’s words directed at him.

There were also words she had screamed at Sylas.

Many of the lines seemed cut out of context.

It seemed that Sylas had edited the recording to make it appear as if it was directed at Rocco.

The words spoken were beyond mere discipline—filthy insults that seemed impossible to justify.

Eventually, the recording ended, and Sylas lowered the recorder in silence.

Slowly, the tense air began to shift.

"...All of these words were spoken because Duke Wimburg commanded my mother to say them. Who would be able to hand over a helpless child to such a ’devil’?"

The Duke didn’t respond.

Or rather, he couldn’t.

He seemed unable to properly understand Sylas’s words, his eyes darting around as the gaze of the nobles grew more suspicious.

If he didn’t make a counterargument now, his position would only worsen.

The momentum was entirely in Sylas’s hands.

At this point, it seemed as though Sylas had already won.

"—But... law is law. The rights of custody should still belong to the Duke..."

"—Y-Yes, that’s true. No matter the reason, to go against the law..."

The murmurings of the crowd started again, this time with a tone that seemed to be trying to read the Duke’s mood.

Rocco glanced at Sylas, wondering if perhaps the adult politics and compromises had gotten the better of him.

However, when he looked at Sylas, he saw no sign of anxiety.

If anything, Sylas seemed to expect this turn of events, as though it were all part of the plan.

Without hesitation, Sylas presented his next trump card.

"Regarding this matter, information that leaked from somewhere has already been turned into an article that’s been circulating among the citizens. The headline was something like ’A Malicious Law That Disregards Children! Is the King Turning a Blind Eye?!’"

Sylas spoke fluently, his gaze clearly directed at the king.

Rocco could immediately sense where this was headed.

He could also understand the true meaning behind Sylas’s words.

It was clear now—if they could win over the king, they would win, regardless of how difficult the Duke might be.

"Y-Yes, that’s true... A law that disregards children should never exist... Hm..."

"Your Majesty!?"

It seemed the king was frightened by the thought of losing the support of the people.

As expected, he trembled, nervously agreeing with Sylas’s words.

Duke Wimburg quickly raised his voice, but it seemed to go unheard.

Rocco couldn’t help but think how conveniently the king had ears and a mouth that worked in Sylas’s favor.

Rocco sighed in relief, thinking it was all over.

But just then, Sylas dealt a final, unexpected blow to the king.

"Oh, and it seems there’s another article circulating as well. I believe the headline was something like ’The True Murderer of the Noble Young Lady Revealed! And Yet, the Royal Guard’s Refusal to Acknowledge the False Accusation! Is the King Behind the Scenes!?’"

Rocco saw the king visibly shake, his fear escalating to new heights.

The king, shaking even more, suddenly stood up.

The air tensed as Rocco heard him swallow nervously.

Then, with a sudden declaration, the king shouted out.

"My minister! Immediately review all laws regarding parental rights! Royal Guards! Release the hHad of the Di Malvento family from prison at once!"

His voice was filled with an urgency that showed no trace of the weak demeanor he’d had just moments before.

So, it seemed the king was the type to become bold when his own safety was on the line.

Rocco, observing this, stroked his chin thoughtfully as Sylas lifted him once again and held him high.

Rocco quickly covered his eyes with his palm and let out a fake, dramatic cry, "Uwaaaahhh!"

"Your Majesty, regarding my brother’s custody..."

"Of course, his father is the rightful owner of the custody rights!"

The king’s frantic words were recorded clearly by Sylas, who, with a smug smile, turned on his heel and began to leave.

The confident expression on Sylas’s face was unmistakable—it was clear he was reveling in the victory, the kind of victory that made one want to savor the feeling of defeat from the other side.

"Ah, well then... with that, this session of the council is concluded—"

With the elderly noble, who had been overseeing the meeting, suddenly speaking in the background, Sylas carried Rocco and quickly exited the council hall.

They arrived at a guest room on the edge of the palace.

Once inside, Sylas, looking very pleased with himself, sank deeply into a sofa and let out a sigh.

He seemed rather exhausted.

Rocco thought to himself, "If you’re tired, maybe you should let me down from your lap so you can rest."

"...Rocco, you did well. Thanks to you, everything is going exactly as we planned."

"No, no! I didn’t do anything! It’s all my brother’s hard work!"

Rocco wasn’t even joking.

He wasn’t being modest.

He genuinely believed that.

After all, he had just pretended to cry dramatically, nothing more.

Sylas had done the actual work—threatening and stirring up the debate.

Compared to that, Rocco didn’t deserve any praise.

Rocco thought to himself, Sylas is so humble, and was about to sigh when, without a knock, the door to the guest room suddenly opened.

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