SSS-Rank Engineer: Only I Can Create Legendary Weapons

The dining hall grew silent as Percy's rant ended. He was suddenly aware of how many people had been listening to them from the sidelines.

An eight-year-old not only interrupted an argument between adults but also taught them how their economy worked in basic terms. It was strange to them at least.

Have you ever thought of taking a peek at the layouts of your towns and checking the records of…

Percy blinked, looking around the table of dignified officials with their jaws dropped. Okay, no, that was actually a lot to ask of busy people.

Hecate's composure was broken by her son's sudden addition to the conversation. She had mostly made him sit with her to project a soft, motherly vibe that would offset the retainers. It was definitely not so she could dote on him and feed him…

She cleared her throat to draw everyone's attention.

"My son does love to read and learn new things. But I do believe he has a point, no? You always paid less levies to Sion in the months that you expected production to be down, then paid more the following months. At least, that's what I learned from our records. I can have Perseus check if I'm wrong later."

Thalos laughed out loud at her last sentence, his long black hair dancing as he threw his head back. The retainers followed, all obviously forcing their laughter, while watching Percy closely.

Percy hadn't meant to draw attention like that, but it seemed so obvious that Nikos was relying on the fact no one at the table understood how his finances worked to make it seem like Hecate was wrong.

Hecate rubbed his belly a little and leaned closer to kiss his forehead.

"Are you still hungry, Perseus? You can go play with the other children, I'll get Sirena to bring you a few snacks."

"I'm okay here." Percy grabbed his mother's stomach and buried his head into it. He definitely wasn't getting chased away when things were about to get interesting.

He personally hoped a fight would break out. He wanted to get a few cheap shots at Nikos.

Hmmm… I might not be able to hurt him with my little baby hands. Eh, I can always kick him where it really hurts.

Percy let out a small evil laugh and turned to face the still flabbergasted retainers.

Nikos, who seemed to have finally found his slimy little tongue, scoffed.

"Are we to take the words of a child seriously? Even if he's a self-proclaimed genius, he can't properly understand things without bringing in his own bias."

The only thing biased about me is my foot, because it only targets places where the sun doesn't shine.

Hecate frowned, eyes narrowing in distaste.

"Aye, that is half true. He is a child, but he is not a self-proclaimed genius. He's actually a genius."

That's a weird place to hyper-fixate on, but Percy decided to answer the baron's question either way.

"Anyone with half a brain could read those reports and come to that conclusion if they knew what you sell in your territory. All the distinguished gentlemen at this table are just too busy with their work to see the… breadth of your bad decisions."

He really struggled with his self-control there. He needed to at least behave in front of Hecate, because of the plan he had with Sirena.

Some retainers had to stuff their fists into their mouths to keep from laughing. Not Thalos though—he just started cackling like he was mad.

Nikos' handsome face turned bright red with fury. He gripped the glass cup in his hand almost too tightly.

"I cannot stand such disrespect, Lady Hecate. I am a guest—"

"First off, it's Viscount Hecate," Percy interrupted, his voice curt and harsh. "You'd do well to remember how courtesy works."

That last sentence took more willpower to say cleanly than a crackhead trying to stay off the powder. Calling an idiot stupid was a feeling that drugs couldn't yet replicate.

The laughter that filled the pale dining hall drew everyone's attention. The retainers that had previously been unnerved by Nikos' incessant need to disrespect Hecate—now all that tension was released in a laugh that lasted so long they couldn't breathe.

It was even better because Nikos was being so thoroughly insulted by an eight-year-old boy who still had a few teeth missing and a head a bit bigger than his body.

It was also raw confirmation to them that the rumors around Percy were in no way exaggerated. The kid was the real deal, and in the future, he would probably be the one helping Hecate run the Demetria region.

Whether to be scared or happy about that, no one quite knew what to feel yet. But they were definitely entertained.

Nikos didn't find Percy's words funny though, for some reason.

"Is this how you treat your servants, La—Viscount Hecate? You let your son insult and accuse them of mismanagement?"

Hecate let the following wave of extra laughter recede before she answered.

"While I will warn my son, the people you invite into your home make me believe that you are planning to default on the levies I will ask you for this month using your lack of taxes as an excuse."

Nikos swallowed, looking between the seated retainers with a confused expression. Like Hecate was just being ridiculous.

"It is common practice to not pay levies when you haven't taken anything from the common class."

Hecate nodded.

"Very true, Baron Nikos. But we are in exceptional times. House Eurides took a majority of the city guard and knight orders with them, even though they were not meant to. In times like this levies are mandatory. We must protect our territory, I even have my own husband going out there to hunt beasts."

The retainers at the table all nodded, glancing at Thalos, who they had heard stories about. He spent almost a month moving from place to place hunting monsters that they didn't have enough manpower to deal with.

Thalos scratched his face, smiling sheepishly. He wasn't really a man that was starved for praise, but hearing Hecate acknowledge his work in front of everyone was nice, to say the least.

Nikos saw the growing support for Hecate. He wiped the sweat from his brow uncomfortably.

"I of course had no intention of putting you in a hard spot. But you have to understand that taxing my people in this period will be hard on them."

Hecate's gaze grew cold and unforgiving, the purple glow of her eyes intensifying.

"Then you can sell the horses you bought from Sir Rickard, or the fancy rugs you bought from those Nemean traders. Or even sell the expensive wine you purchased for those guests in your manor."

Nikos flinched back. Everyone simultaneously guessed that these guests were from House Eurides. They were suddenly hyper-aware of every action they had taken in the last month. How much did Hecate know?

Lucen was more shocked by the execution of her goals. From chatting casually about horses with Sir Rickard to trapping Baron Nikos in what seemed like treason.

Did she purposely send Thalos out to hunt monsters to use as an argument in her favor? Did she let Nikos disrespect her so much to seem like the underdog?

It was all rather terrifying to consider. Especially since she might not have planned on Percy speaking, but still perfectly guided the conversation towards her goal.

Nikos seemed to finally find his slimy tongue under Hecate's terrifying gaze.

"Dismiss me from my territory if you will. My people will find your lordship more illegitimate than they already do. I am not obliged to serve someone not rightfully appointed."

Now that the quiet part had been said aloud, all the retainers lowered their heads.

Nikos, seeing this, was emboldened to keep speaking.

"As Rickard said, we must draw our lines in the sand. Standing with House Amphene will draw the wrath of Viscount Sion. So we must stand aside and let them have their squabble. The King has obviously selected an Amphene, a woman, to shame House Eurides. That, or she has gained his favor in other ways."

Thalos rose from his chair. Surprisingly, Sir Rickard, who was close to Nikos, rose too. They looked ready to rip the baron's slimy tongue from his mouth.

Violence! Finally! Come on, Nikos. I see you holding that cup, give Rickard a good whack on the head. Don't be a bitch now!

His leg was itching to kick. Hecate raised her hand and Rickard sat with a bitter look on his face. Looks like he's already drawn his line and picked his side.

Thalos lingered for a moment. The murderous intent flowing from those grey eyes was enough to bring the room to silence and still every beating heart.

Hecate reached forward and pulled his hand, dragging him to his seat slowly. She smiled like the dead quiet was amusing.

"It would be smart for you to stay neutral in this conflict between me and Sion."

The entire room let out confused gasps. They glanced between each other, a bit unsure what Hecate's angle was.

Hecate smiled even wider.

"Anyone helping me would have to watch what they touch and fear every passing shadow. But these actions remind me of an animal. A timid mouse that is smart to run from the cat, but not wise to tie a bell around its neck."

That was an old parable, one Percy was sure they even had on Earth. But Hecate making a distinction between being smart and being wise wasn't lost on him.

"Sion will come in the night, poison your fields, kill your cattle, and slit your throats. And that is the man you want as a leader?"

She looked not only between the faces at her table but at those at the other tables. The smaller people caught in the conflict, only thinking of short-term survival.

"It would be wise for you to draw your line in the sand and decide you will not bow before such evil. It would be wise to stand with me and build Demetria into something great."

Hecate raised her hands, smiling brightly.

"But let's not sully the mood anymore with these hard questions. Eat, drink, and make merry. Work waits for us when the week starts once again, and I will hold no grudges against those of you smart enough to stay neutral."

She raised her cup and the entire hall mimicked her instinctively. Then she drank and they followed like charmed snakes. She spared Nikos one last look.

"But do be warned. I will show no mercy to those that work with House Eurides."