I, the Villain, Want to Save Myself, But the Yandere Heroines Disagree
Chapter 85 - Conversation

“Father, it’s been many days since we last met.” Arthas looked at Odysseus before him and bowed respectfully.

“Mm, you still know I am your father,” Odysseus snorted coldly. “Then do you know what I’ve been busy with these past few days?”

“Your son knows,” Arthas nodded. He had heard the rumors about the outside world in the Imperial Palace these past few days. When he heard that the Toulouse family crest had been found in a property he had recently acquired, and that it was genuine.

Arthas naturally knew he had been framed, because he had never intended to act against any noble from beginning to end. But the evidence was irrefutable. The other party had managed to throw dirt on him through some means.

The only thing that could make Arthas feel a little relieved was that this matter was also related to the Imperial Family. Even to clear the Imperial Family’s suspicion, Odysseus had to help him.

However, there had been many rumors outside these past few days. Even the dukes had jointly issued a statement, and the Imperial Family had to make concessions.

Whoever started the matter would be responsible for it. Arthas understood what Odysseus meant by coming to see him today.

**”But Father, please believe your son. Your son is definitely being wronged and has absolutely not done anything to harm the Duke.”**

“Of course I believe you. I also know that you would absolutely not do something like this, but, Arthas, things are not resolved by just saying ‘I believe.’ The dukes are now demanding an explanation. If the deceased were a count, we might still be able to downplay the matter. But this time, the assassinated person is a Duke, after all. This kind of thing has never happened in the Empire for hundreds of years.”

“So... Father’s meaning is?” Arthas looked at Odysseus in confusion.

“If we cannot cover it up and can only open up the information to them, then they will also know that Francois’s death is related to you.”

“And you are the only suspected person in the open. Their anger will undoubtedly be vented upon you. At that time, it will also affect the Imperial Family.”

Hearing Odysseus’s words, Arthas’s heart turned cold.

“Father... your son does not understand. Why can’t we push a scapegoat forward?”

“Heh, a scapegoat?” Odysseus heard this and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Arthas, do you know how strong Francois’s guards were? Can a scapegoat be found just like that?”

“Looking at the entire Saint Roland City, how many factions do you think have the military strength of a Tier 8 or higher expert? If we were to just randomly pull out a scapegoat, would they believe it?”

“And if we were to find someone with that kind of strength to be a scapegoat, do you think that person would be willing to be our scapegoat?”

“...” Arthas was silent.

After a moment, he spoke again, trying to seize the last opportunity for himself.

“Father, then what should I do? Do I have to take this blame?”

“Again, this matter started with you. If you had not acted against those properties before, the ones being suspected now should be the original owners of those properties, shouldn’t they?”

Odysseus said this, sighing helplessly.

“...” Arthas heard this and nodded. “Father, you are right. I should not have made such a mistake. However, as you said, there is indeed a faction in Saint Roland City that can mobilize experts of Tier 8 or higher, and we don’t need to worry about infringing upon their interests. On the contrary, we can, through this action, completely sweep away all the dark forces in Saint Roland City in one go.”

“Oh?” Odysseus heard this and looked at Arthas with curiosity.

“Tell me about it.”

Making Arthas sacrifice himself was also a reluctant measure, but if Arthas had a better plan, Odysseus did not mind adopting his suggestion.

...

Let’s go back in time to the night before Francois’s assassination.

After the banquet ended, Francois did not return directly to his residence as usual with his guards. Instead, he took a detour and went to a secret location, and only then returned to his residence.

And this information was unknown to others.

“You just said that Mary left behind an inheritance?” Francois sat at one side of the table, looking at the person sitting opposite him.

This was a members-only coffee shop. Powerful and influential people often came in to discuss matters, so when registering customers, to protect their privacy, they deliberately used pseudonyms or anonymity.

There were many such places in Saint Roland City, because nobles always had some private matters, big or small, that were inconvenient to do under their real names.

“Of course. You don’t want to know how much private wealth Madam Mary left for herself during her time governing Antica, do you?”

“That private wealth has already been confiscated, hasn’t it?”

“You are Mary’s older brother. You should know how intelligent Mary is. Do you think she would be so foolish as to keep all her private wealth in one place and not transfer it?”

“So, you mean?”

“Madam Mary has quite a bit of property in the Imperial directly administered territory. This property is either cash stored in vaults, or it has been converted into various businesses, all registered under one person’s name. Do you want to know the location of that person?”

“...Tell me. As Mary’s older brother, I have the right to inherit her assets after her death.”

“Of course, that is why I am here,” the other party said this, handing Francois a business card. After reading it, Francois returned it to the other party.

“I’ve noted it down. I will go and look. If I don’t find it, I can assume you don’t wish to have any further contact with me.”

“And if you find it?”

“What do you want me to give you? Half of the assets?”

“No need. I only need you to be my friend. As for the assets, just give me a portion that will allow me to live comfortably in my later years in the Orleans Duchy.”

“Friend? Heh, alright,” Francois nodded, then stood up and walked out.

“Mary, Mary. I didn’t expect that even after your death, you would still be betrayed by the person closest to you,” Returning to the carriage, thinking about what had just happened, Francois smiled and shook his head.

“But it doesn’t matter, Mary. I will inherit your inheritance. In that way, you will not have been completely useless to the Toulouse family.”

On the way back, he was still contemplating how to use that sum of money. But just then, a sudden change occurred.

The carriage suddenly stopped. Subsequently, the sound of swords clashing came from beside him.

The captain of the guard who was handling the horses in front of his carriage poked his head in half a minute later.

“Your Grace, a group of reckless ruffians came outside just now, trying to rob us. They have been chased away now.”

“Mm. If there’s nothing else, let’s continue on our way,” Seeing the guard captain’s report, Francois nodded calmly.

“Hmph, the security of Saint Roland City, if it continues like this, will decline sooner or later,” Sitting in the carriage, he snorted coldly.

However, the end of his destiny was waiting for him not far ahead.

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