The Art of the Sycophant 

Ard knew when to quit while he was ahead. He took a step back, putting a respectable distance between himself and Yexi. One must exercise restraint to secure the future. There will be plenty of time for that later.

Fortunately, the old steward did not keep them waiting long.

The room they entered, once elegantly designed, was now a disaster zone, littered with the wreckage of shattered furniture and ornaments. Two large men, exuding a faint killing intent, sat casually on a surviving bench, their faces etched with mocking smiles. The aged steward stood by with his head bowed, not daring to speak.

And then there was the Baron. A man so corpulent he couldn’t see his own legs, slumped in a large, soft armchair, panting heavily. The shelves and cabinets around him were bare; their former contents, Ard presumed, were now the glittering debris on the floor. This walking sphere of a man had to be the infamous Baron.

Ard immediately put on a show, bowing deeply to the Baron, his posture the very picture of humility.

“Greetings, my Lord Baron! I am but a humble messenger sent by the Sixth Master. You may call me Pett. While in the Sixth Master’s service, I have heard endless tales of your great renown. To see you now in person… you are truly as magnificent and imposing as the legends say! Even in your righteous anger, you are as majestic as a lion, inspiring awe and respect in all who behold you! It is the blessing of a lifetime to be in your presence, an honor my master has pursued his entire life!”

Before the Baron could even speak, Ard unleashed a torrent of honeyed words, his delivery so full of passion and sincerity it was a masterpiece of deception.

Everyone else in the room stared at him with strange expressions. This kid has some nerve… and a complete lack of conscience! Not a single one of his flattering adjectives could be applied to the Baron. If the man being praised had even a shred of shame, he would never accept such a tribute.

But Baron Paunch was clearly a man entirely devoid of shame. His face, which had been contorted in a mask of fury, visibly softened, and he preened under the praise. He had been about to vent his remaining anger on this newcomer, but Ard’s preemptive strike of flattery had completely disarmed him. What an insightful young man! He was no stranger to sycophants, but he had never encountered one with such professional-grade skill.

“Well, well. It seems you have a keen eye, boy. Few who meet me for the first time can perceive my true potential.”

Ard continued to lay it on thick. “That is because my lord is humble and modest, his brilliance hidden from the common eye! It is only because I have long admired you from afar that I was able to see at a glance your inner greatness, a quality that ordinary men cannot hope to match! It is truly something to aspire to!”

“Hahaha! Good! You’re a good man. From now on, you’ll work for me.”

Ard feigned an ecstatic disbelief. “Thank you, my lord, for your generosity! I will go through fire and storm for you, without a moment’s hesitation!”

The steward, seeing the two of them getting further and further off-topic, looking for all the world like long-lost friends, couldn’t help but interrupt. “Ahem, Pett. Should you not report your news to the Baron?”

Ard slapped his knee as if suddenly remembering. “Ah! I was so overwhelmed by the Baron’s divine presence that I almost forgot my duty!”

The Baron, now thoroughly placated, looked a little confused. “Oh, right. There was something else?”

The steward felt a wave of despair for his lord. Do you really think he came all this way just to flatter you?!

“The Baron is a busy man, managing a thousand affairs a day. It is only natural to forget a small matter or two,” Ard said, smoothly giving the Baron an out. “It’s about the Sixth Master. He has noticed some unusual movements from that Ogre on Sunstone Peak. There was some activity at the stronghold yesterday, but the Sixth Master and his men were excluded and couldn’t get any details. He sent me here to remind you, my lord, to be on your guard against that Ogre.”

“???” The moment he heard “yesterday,” the Baron exploded. “What?! That Ogre is rebelling?! I knew that half-beast mongrel couldn’t be trusted! How dare he rob my treasury!”

“Ah? The Ogre attacked my lord’s treasury?” Ard asked, feigning ignorance as he looked at the steward.

The steward said awkwardly, “We have no proof for now. But to gather so many men… in this area, it could only be the Sunstone Gang.”

The Baron roared, “Proof? My treasury being robbed in his territory is all the proof I need! Send a message to him right now! Tell him to give me an explanation, and he must repay me threefold!”

Everyone: “…”

Has he completely lost his mind to greed? We just told you the man is planning a rebellion, and all you can think about is getting your money back? He must have gone mad with rage.

Ard was also taken aback by the fat pig’s “wisdom.” He quickly added, “The Baron’s insight is truly like a torch in the darkness, seeing at a glance that the robbery was the work of the Ogre. However, my lord, I have an idea. Perhaps it could help you recover more than just threefold. My lord, what do you think of the entire treasury of Sunstone Peak as compensation?”

“Oh?!” The Baron’s eyes turned green with greed. “Really?”

“Really,” Ard confirmed. “But you will need to wait for six days. For now, you must let the Ogre be. What do you say?”

The Baron’s greed was palpable. “If you can truly do it, I can wait six days. But are you certain you can pull it off?”

“The Sixth Master has been planning this for a long time. He has been waiting for the chance to present you with a great gift.”

Hearing the words “planning this for a long time,” the steward sneered inwardly. He knew what that “Sixth Master” was really after. He saw the riches of the Sunstone Gang and wanted to take the chieftain’s place for himself.

“Excellent! If this plan succeeds, you will be handsomely rewarded!” the Baron boomed.

“It is my duty to serve you, my lord,” Ard said, rubbing his hands together with a fawning smile. “However, the Sixth Master feels that this is still not enough to express his loyalty to you. He has instructed me to convey his sincerest wish. After that trash Ogre is dealt with, he wishes to take over the management of the stronghold. In return, the monthly tribute he sends to you will be doubled!”

The steward’s brow twitched, but he quickly hid his reaction.

“Hahaha!” The Baron laughed, completely unconcerned. “Of course, of course! With such a great contribution, that is only right! From now on, he will be the Boss man, and you will be his second-in-command!”

Ard’s face lit up with feigned joy. “Truly? Thank you, my lord!”

Just as everyone was celebrating, and the Baron was about to ask for more details of the plan, a servant rushed in.

“My lord, that kid is here again.”

The guard’s words were cryptic, but everyone in the room, except for Ard and Yexi, showed a flicker of annoyance. The Baron’s face was a mask of pure disgust. “I know, I know,” he waved a dismissive hand.

Ard looked at the others, confused. The Baron had collapsed back into his soft chair. “That one is meddling again. What do you all think we should do?”

The two bodyguards just shrugged. “My lord, we are good at fighting. Dealing with those from above is beyond us.”

The steward also gave a wry smile. “I went last time, but… it was not effective. I was sent away. That kid insists on seeing you, my lord.”

The Baron scratched his head in frustration. “What’s the use of seeing me? If I could listen to him, I would… sigh. Isn’t there anyone who can go and deal with him?”

The steward glanced at Ard, and a cunning idea came to him. He leaned in and whispered in the Baron’s ear.

The Baron looked doubtful. “Will that work?”

The steward gave a wicked smile. “Even if it doesn’t, we lose nothing. At least we’ll have dealt with him for today.”

“Alright then.” The Baron seemed to agree. He looked up at Ard. “Hey, you. What’s-your-name.”

Ard saw an opportunity. “Pett, my lord. My name is Pett. What are your orders?”

“There’s a little brat who’s been harassing me lately, disturbing my peace. But I am a magnanimous man and don’t want to lower myself to his level, so I’ve been ignoring him. But the little pest is persistent. Go and get rid of him for me. Just say I have a headache. Oh, and that little brat has a high status, so don’t scare him.”

“?” Ard sneered inwardly. This “little brat” was likely not just of “high status,” but so high that this fat pig was completely powerless against him. Now he was sending him, a newcomer, to take the fall. If things went wrong, he could just abandon an insignificant nobody like him.

But a little brat with a high status… could it be…

Though he was cursing him in his heart, Ard’s face was a mask of gratitude. “Rest assured, my lord! I guarantee I will complete the mission!”

The Baron, seeing Ard agree so readily, so different from his own men who always made excuses, was delighted. “Good! If you handle this well, you can ask for anything you want!”

“Thank you, my lord, thank you!” Ard gushed.

“You there, take him! And get him some better clothes. At least don’t embarrass me. By the way, who is this woman with you?” The Baron had only just noticed the plain-looking woman who had been following Ard.

Ard gave a foolish grin. “Her? I saved her on the road. She’s to carry on my family line.”

The current Yexi was so plain that the Baron, who was used to beautiful women, had no interest at all. “I see. Steward, arrange a room for him. Put your woman in the room for now. It’s inconvenient to have a woman around when you’re on business.”

The two mercenary bodyguards also glanced at Yexi, but looked away after a moment, not detecting her true nature at all.

“Yes, of course.” Ard had already passed the most dangerous stage. He no longer needed Yexi to stick to him for protection.

After they were separated, Ard made a point of instructing Yexi, “Wait for me at home, you hear?!”

Yexi replied weakly, “Y-yes, I know~”

After they parted, Ard followed a guard to a residence near the manor. Along the way, he tried to get some information from the guard, but the man’s lips were tighter than his master’s. The short walk was not enough.

But he no longer needed to ask. Seeing the knights standing outside the residence, Ard already knew the identity of the “little brat.”