Indeed.
Rey already knew that Leon was involved in this scheme. He was one of the few who had full access to his room, which meant he must have planted the book there.
"Your point?" Augustus asked in annoyance.
He still didn't understand.
That was when Rey decided to break it down to the most rudimentary level.
'Although this was your plan, Leon, I know you didn't work alone. You had help, and although I can simply implicate you alone, that wouldn't suffice. So…'
"I deeply suspect one of the maids in charge of cleaning the library is responsible. You must have records of the maids who were on shift the night before the book disappeared from the shelves. If you investigate the one who cleaned the general area, you'll find the pollen traces on her attire."
"Ohh…" Augustus' eyes lit up the moment he realized what Rey was driving at.
As for Leon, his face grew paler.
Rey noticed this and snickered, not feeling the slightest bit of pity for the man. In fact, he felt deep satisfaction.
After all—
'I already know the maid who did it. It's your sweetheart, isn't it? The one you've been having an affair with…'
Rey was truly too observant.
He already knew Leon would plot against him, so he took special care in watching this man and uncovering his habits.
It didn't take him very long to notice his constant frolicking with a certain maid.
He had also seen this same maid a few times in the library. By gathering all of this information, it wasn't difficult to deduce their involvement in this scheme.
Actually… all of this was his design.
'Instead of waiting for a random scheme from Leon, I decided to hand over a weakness of mine. I made sure to make the blunder of taking a book on Curse Art and returning it suspiciously early to give him this window of opportunity.' Rey smiled.
Even if Leon didn't take this chance, Rey already intended to present even more opportunities for Leon to exploit.
'Turns out I didn't even have to bother. He was so desperate that he sank his teeth into the very first bait I dangled in front of him. What an idiot…'
Rey knew he held the status of a mere slave, which would naturally cause everyone to look down on him.
But it felt hilarious that Leon thought such a crude plan would do him in.
No… Rey was better than that.
'Now, the very scheme you set up for me will be your downfall. Not only will they find that maid, but you will be implicated as well since she isn't someone who has access to my room.' Rey's sinister thoughts continued to roll as he cast his gaze on Leon. 'It will be determined that she handed the book over to someone, who then kept the book in my room. A simple search through the clothes of everyone who had access to my room will prove who the culprit is.'
This was the end—game over.
'The one who will be receiving punishment isn't me, but you… Leon.'
Well, his mistress was also included.
Rey had no doubt in his mind that the punishment would be harsh—especially on the poor girl.
She held nothing against Rey but only did what Leon told her.
She must have acted in the name of love.
'A shame…' Rey's unfeeling mind stirred a little.
He wasn't foreign to such a concept.
After all, he too had fallen in love and had those he cared about.
But they were all slaughtered without mercy.
'Now it's your turn… Leon!'
"Please, Master… seek justice for me!" Rey screamed in the room, even crying until snot fell down his face.
Inside, however, he was laughing.
'I'd like to say this was fun, Leon… but it truly wasn't.' He felt almost nothing from this simple venture.
To him, Leon was nothing.
If the boy hadn't chosen to become an obstacle, he would have been ignored.
But since Leon decided to get in his way… he had to be destroyed! He couldn't just foil his scheme, since Leon could simply make another one after licking his wounds.
No…
… He had to destroy him!
And that was exactly what had just happened.
"Fair enough." Augustus sighed, quickly gesturing for Rey to stop his annoying crying.
"Logan, take care of this matter. Thoroughly investigate and make sure the culprit is found. If a maid truly is responsible, she will be executed for daring to not only steal from the Desgarron Family, but also for attempting to deceive me!"
Leon's eyes widened upon hearing those words.
He must have expected this result, but hearing it sent a different kind of shock through his body. He wanted to speak up, but his words were caught in his throat.
He couldn't speak.
He dared not!
Unable to do anything about the situation, he could only stare at Rey with pure hatred.
But Rey remained absolutely calm.
He merely smiled.
'Don't look at me like that, Leon. You brought this upon yourself.'
*******
Just as Rey planned, the maid was found in no time. She didn't even try to struggle, instead pleading for mercy once she appeared before Augustus.
Also, since Logan was the one involved in this investigation, he was very thorough.
He found out that the maid wasn't part of the few who had access to Rey's room, which meant the one who planted it there was someone else.
This led them to further investigations.
Until…
"P-please, Young Master… have mercy!"
… It became Leon who was kneeling in front of Augustus, begging with tears in his eyes.
Rey was already standing, his back resting against the wall as he watched his malefactor's humiliation.
Leon desperately pleaded for mercy while Augustus showed a look of disappointment.
And then rage!
"You ingrate! Even after everything I did for you! You, who was once a slave, dare to do this to me? Even though I gave you freedom and offered you a prestigious position for your years of loyalty… you dare deceive me like this?"
It was during this period that Rey learned so many interesting things about Leon.
It turned out Leon was actually a slave in the past as well, and he was chosen to be Augustus' attendant during his Academy days.
His loyalty really moved Augustus, so he made Leon a free man and kept him at his side as a steward.
'No wonder he felt threatened by me. He must have feared that I would replace him since Augustus has begun to show me favor.' Rey thought to himself.
This wasn't anything shocking.
They served a person who loved competence.
Although Leon was very loyal, he wasn't particularly talented. Now that Rey had begun to learn Ancient MajiK, he could tell that Leon was just about average in talent.
Rey was also average, or even worse, but he had experience and a brutal instinct that made him a more effective tool compared to Leon.
His ruthlessness and deep subservience had made a deep impression on Augustus.
Leon recognized that and felt threatened.
'I wouldn't even be surprised if this Leon has conceived similar schemes against other promising slaves in the past. Although his actions would be detrimental to his Master's interests, this allowed him to secure his own position. Would you really call that loyalty?'
After experiencing all of this, Rey was certain about one thing when it came to his Master.
'He is a bad judge of character.'