The Useless Prince Is A Gangster
Chapter 101. Game starts

Chapter 101: 101. Game starts

Leo stood in his chambers, freshly bathed, the midnight-blue coat hugging his frame with tailored precision, it’s elegant yet designed for combat, it’s dark fabric shining faintly in the lamplight. Nimbus leapt from the floor, dissolved into his shadow.

Rolling his shoulders, Leo strode into the manor’s hallway, the coat flowing with his movements, ready for the action ahead.

As he walked, he caught sight of Maria standing in the corridor, her face pale, eyes filled with guilt. He intended to pass by, but her trembling voice stopped him. "Leonhardt... I heard you’re going to bring Vivien back."

Leo paused, turning slightly, his crimson eyes meeting hers. "Yes."

Maria’s hands twisted together, her voice barely above a whisper. "I treated you like you were nothing, not even human. Why are you risking your life for my daughter? You could walk away... leave us to our mistakes."

Leo exhaled, his voice low but steady, carrying a weight of conviction. "Vivien’s my sister. She’s innocent, full of love, love that doesn’t judge, that lights up when she sees me. You want to know why I never struck back, even after everything you did? Because no matter how you treat me, you love your children more than any mother, Vivien adores you, clings to the mother who loves her fiercely. I won’t let her lose that. I won’t let her lose you."

Maria’s breath caught, tears spilling down her cheeks as she choked out, "Thank you, Leonhardt... thank you."

Leo’s gaze softened for a moment, but he turned away. His item box filled with weapons, potions, and supplies, everything he’d need for now.

Outside, the night filled the manor in darkness. Leo approached the stables, Liana at his side, her steps quiet but heavy with worry. He mounted a sleek black horse, its eyes glinting like polished obsidian.

Liana’s voice was soft, trembling with emotion. "Young Master Leo, please... be careful. Bring Lady Vivien home safe."

Leo’s lips curved into a rare, gentle smile, his voice warm. "I will, Liana. I promise." With a nod, he urged the horse forward, vanishing into the night.

In the Duke’s office, Alric stood by the window, his silhouette rigid against the moonlight, his eyes fixed on the path Leo had taken. Dian waited silently behind, sensing the Duke’s turmoil. Alric’s voice was low, resolute, yet laced with a father’s fear. "Follow him, Dian. Keep your distance, but don’t let him out of sight."

Dian bowed. "Yes, my lord."

The next morning, at House Dranemount, Erin Dranemount sat at her desk in a spacious, elegant room that lacked the warmth of a typical teenager’s space. Her silver hair was disheveled, papers and books were spread across the desk, her quill scratching furiously. She stretched, yawning, when a knock sounded at the door. Sighing, she rose and opened it, revealing Adrian Dranemount, her elder brother with a mischievous grin.

"What do you want, Adrian? It’s early," Erin said, rubbing her eyes.

Adrian raised an eyebrow, taking offense. "No greeting for your dear brother?"

Erin rolled her eyes, her tone dry. "Oh, revered elder brother, what’s the honor of your visit?"

Adrian’s smirk widened as he showed a folded letter. "What’s this? An urgent hawk from Leonhardt Caulem? What’s happening between you two?"

Erin’s eyes widened, and she lunged for the letter. "Did you read it?"

Adrian pulled it back, chuckling. "Not yet. Is it a secret love note? Come on, spill it."

"It’s none of your business, Adrian!" Erin snapped, reaching again, but he dodged, his grin growing.

"Guess I’ll read it for you," he teased, moving to unfold it.

Before he could, Erin’s fist connected with his jaw in a swift uppercut, sending him crumpling to the floor, unconscious. The letter fluttered free, and she snatched it mid-air.

She Summouned a maid with a sharp call, she said, "Clean this up."

The maid, accustomed to the siblings’ antics, sighed. "Yes, Young Lady."

Erin retreated to her room, closing the door firmly. She unfolded the letter, her eyes widening at its contents. Heart pounding, she crossed to a drawer, pulling out a folded map of the continent.

Spreading it on her desk, she studied the six marked locations, each labeled: Main, Chaos, Void, Decay, Technarchy, Strength. Her voice trembled as she muttered, "No... this shouldn’t be happening."

In the morning, Leo entered Grenfall, the town specified in the letter. He dismounted his horse. The Crooked Hen was in front of him, its faded sign written its name in bold, uneven letters. Townsfolk glanced curiously at the noble figure.

Leo’s sharp eyes caught the sight of Caulem soldiers observing from a distance, their presence no surprise, he had expected it already. With a faint, wry smile, he adjusted his coat and pushed through the tavern’s door.

The interior was eerily quiet, not the bustling hub of a typical tavern. Empty tables stretched across the room, the air heavy with the scent of simmering stew, but no people, no clatter of mugs.

Leo’s smirk deepened as he pulled out a chair at a central table, sitting with deliberate ease.

Moments later, a woman approached, her smile polite, setting a glass of water before him. "What can I get you, sir?" she asked, her voice too steady, too rehearsed.

"Red Boar Soup," Leo replied, his crimson eyes looking at her.

Her smile tightened, a flicker of tension in her jaw. "Right away, sir." She retreated to the kitchen, her steps measured, too precise.

Leo’s fingers tapped lightly on the table. Minutes later, the woman returned, setting a steaming bowl of soup before him. "Enjoy," she said, her tone clipped, her gaze darting away before she withdrew.

Leo studied his smirk sharpening. "Let’s see what you’ve got," he murmured under his breath.

A faint shuffle sounded behind him, a cloth mask clamped over his face, blocking his vision.

Hours later, in the Duke’s office at Caulem manor, Alric’s voice thundered. "Disappeared? How does my son vanish without a trace?" His fist slammed the desk, the impact rattling inkwells, his face a storm of fury.

Dian stood before him, his posture stiff, his voice steady despite the Duke’s rage. "Our soldiers followed Young Master Leonhardt to Grenfall, maintaining distance as ordered. He entered The Crooked Hen tavern alone. No one entered or exited after him. When we checked inside, the tavern was deserted, there’s no staff, no patrons, no sign of the Young Master. We searched every room, every cellar. It’s as if the place was abandoned before we arrived."

Alric’s teeth ground together, his knuckles white as he gripped the desk’s edge. "A trap," he snarled, his voice thick with fear for his son. "The cult anticipated us. They planned every step." He struck the desk again, the sound sharp and final. "Find him, Dian. Find Leonhardt and Vivien. Mobilize every man we have."

Dian bowed, his expression grim but resolute. "At once, my lord."

*******************

Sorry and please tell me if there’s any quality drop.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.