Hufu looked out the window. The night was deep, yet inside, Derek still acted all serious.
This young master seemed to enjoy this game of playing house.
Hufu simply didn’t believe Derek could grasp the account books.
Bookkeeping required professional training and an abacus.
Without one, numbers would scramble your brain.
He’d suffered terribly when learning it himself.
“Young Master Derek, how’s it going?” Hufu asked with concern. He saw through Derek’s act but had to play along—Derek was his young master, after all.
“Almost done.”
Derek fell silent again, like the quiet night outside.
But soon, summer crickets broke the calm. Hufu, standing by, grew restless.
“Young Master Derek, it’s late. Shall we stop for tonight? Rest now, continue tomorrow morning?”
“No need. It’s finished.” Derek set down his pen, replying coldly.
“Oh, done? And?” Hufu still smiled broadly, clueless about what awaited him.
“Hufu, you’ve embezzled a lot of my father’s money…”
“Huh?!” Hufu jumped.
Then he remembered something, forcing a flattering grin. “Oh dear, Young Master Derek! My hospitality was lacking—I’ll show my sincerity right away!” He pulled a bulging coin purse from his waist and shoved it at Derek.
Xinzel frowned nearby. Hufu’s bribe was too blatant.
“Are you insulting my intelligence? How can this small bag compare to my father’s losses?” Derek flipped open his scribbled notebook. Years were listed, each followed by a huge sum.
Hufu didn’t get it at first. Then it felt familiar—this was the accurate ledger!
He kept two sets: fake accounts to fool Duke Wudewen, real ones for his records. If auditors came, he’d offer “sincerity.” Non-cooperation? Impossible—he’d just pay more. Duke Wudewen, arrogant, never sent inspectors. So the fakes grew sloppy.
Who’d think this young master knew his stuff? But Derek hadn’t used an abacus—how had he calculated so fast? Hufu didn’t dwell. Not now.
“Young Master Derek, perhaps you miscalculated. Let me fetch an abacus for a proper recalculation.” Hufu kept smiling, buying time to scheme.
“Hufu, you look down on me? Planning to deceive even me?!” Derek roared.
Miscalculated?! Do you think I’m Teresia?!
Feeling Derek’s fury, Hufu panicked. He threw himself down, kowtowing. “I was wrong! Please spare me—I’ll apologize!”
“Apologies? Spit out every coin you stole!”
“All?!”
“What do you think?” Derek glared down coldly.
“I’ll fetch it! Right away!” Hufu scrambled out of the study, utterly disheveled.
After he left, Derek sighed. This was going smoothly~
Teresia and Sophia watched, awed again. They’d never expected Derek to decipher such complex books. Xinzel was surprised too—but this shouldn’t be so easy. He narrowed his eyes slightly.
…
Outside the study, Hufu’s expression shifted. Panic remained, but coldness crept in. Damn—he’d been careless! Handing over the money meant no good days left. Offending Duke Wudewen guaranteed a grim end. Besides, he’d earned that wealth through skill. Why return it?
He descended to the hall, summoning all estate guards. His face turned cruel. If you’re not fair, don’t blame me for being unkind. He’d kill Derek’s entire group. Eliminate all witnesses to keep his fortune. Those two beauties by the young master… a shame to waste. But he had enough wives already. “Kill them all,” he ordered coldly.
…
Xinzel sensed trouble. Hufu wasn’t obedient—he wanted to warn Derek.
Derek reviewed the books, pleased. The more Hufu stole, the richer he’d be. With Duke Wudewen’s power, Hufu would obey to survive. Imagining coin chests loading onto his carriage, Derek figured Hufu might need help. He turned to Xinzel. “Xinzel, go assist.”
Xinzel froze—he’d planned to warn Derek. Of course. Young Master Derek was peerlessly intelligent, far-sighted. He’d let Hufu leave to toy with prey. Xinzel mustn’t disappoint him. “Understood. I’ll handle it cleanly,” he murmured.
Handle it cleanly?! Derek didn’t get it. Wasn’t it just moving money? Before he could ask, Xinzel whooshed away.
Instantly, the mansion erupted. Footsteps pounded, metal clashed, then women screamed—Hufu’s wives.
What’s happening?! Derek’s fear spiked. Something was very wrong!
He stood to check, but the study door burst open.
Xinzel walked in, his black suit elegant. Yet he held the fat Hufu like a sack—terrifying.
Hufu’s forehead dripped sweat, face ghostly pale. Xinzel dropped him. Hufu hit the floor hard but ignored the pain, wailing and kowtowing. “I’m sorry! Spare me! I won’t dare again! All the money—I’ll give it all! Just spare my life!”
Derek understood. But Xinzel was too fast! This Gold Rank Assassin was terrifying. Derek swallowed hard. Facing Xinzel scared him—but what choice did he have? He “calmly” met Xinzel’s gaze. “You did well.”
