We continued to eat in silence, for once the oversized pig before me was just opening his mouth to eat and not to talk nonsense at all.
Meanwhile, I continue to eat steak rice with slight bitrness in my heart.
It wasn't that food was bad, The food was incredible.
It's just I had pay 2570 Credits just for this.
Which was lot in comparison of the earth.
Most commoners get just basic foods, which was free.
Even I could do that but no this body has allergy that anything has to do with word 'commoners'.
Still, that wasn't only problem. Since being noble I just can't anything that wasn't in my standard.
Yeah, I know. It's sounds fucking stupid but since becoming Damian Valtor my thoughts are also becoming of that noble.
But I wasn't ignorant, If times called it I will eat anything to survive.
Even the monster meat.
But only 'If' times called it.
"By the way Damian, you did good thing putting Victor on his place."
Ahh, Finally Jin spoken it. It was new record, he managed to be silenced for whole 2 minutes and 23 seconds.
Congratulations are in order.
I slowly looked up from my expensive steak rice toward Jin.
"...Putting him in his place?"
Jin nodded enthusiastically while chewing loudly enough to qualify as a public disturbance.
"Yeah! Victor's been acting arrogant ever since the Noble Society collapsed. Honestly, most of those idiots only followed you because they were scared of you or wanted benefits."
"...Comforting."
"I'm serious!" Jin said while pointing a fork dramatically toward me. "The moment you disappeared, they immediately started pretending they were never involved with anything."
That sounded exactly like nobles.
Loyalty in aristocratic society lasted only slightly longer than fresh milk left under sunlight.
Jin swallowed another bite before leaning closer conspiratorially.
"And between us..." he lowered his voice slightly, "...Victor's family has been talking badly about House Valtor recently too."
My expression didn't change.
But internally—
That caught my attention immediately.
"Oh?"
Jin nodded again.
"Nothing public obviously. They're not stupid enough for that. But people heard things."
He glanced around before continuing quietly.
"Stuff like your father getting weaker politically after disowning you. Some smaller noble houses think House Valtor's influence might start declining now."
...Ah.
So that's how it was.
Makes sense.
House Valtor had publicly fractured.
And in noble society?
Weakness attracted scavengers instantly.
The moment powerful families showed cracks, ambitious nobles immediately began circling like vultures.
Still—
I stabbed another piece of steak calmly.
"They're overestimating things."
Jin blinked.
"Huh?"
"My father could lose half his political power and still erase Viscount Hale's entire bloodline before breakfast."
That guy was monster, he would do anything to protect his reputation.
Not to mention he was [A-] rank awakner. Whoever decided to fight him head on would be fool.
"..."
"..."
Jin slowly nodded as soon as he reminded what kind person my father is.
"Actually yeah, that's true."
People really forgot too quickly.
Even weakened—
House Valtor remained one of the strongest military noble families in the empire.
A family known for turning battlefields into artillery demonstrations.
Nobody sane genuinely wanted war with them.
Victor's family probably only dared gossip because they assumed the Valtors were too busy handling internal damage to care.
Risky assumption.
Very risky.
Still—
That wasn't my problem anymore.
Officially, Damian Valtor no longer belonged to House Valtor.
Which honestly felt strange no matter how often I reminded myself.
"...But Daiman you should really take care of yourself from now on."
I frowned slightly.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Jin was silent for a moment then looked around us and then slightly lean towards me .
"It's about Young Elite."
"About what?"
"Young Elite, after your Noble Society was dissolved Josef Goldberg, Youngest son of one of four great duke family created Young Elite as club where children of noble gatherd together with Josef as it's leader."
Ahh! Now that he mentioned it. I remembered about Young Elite and indeed this was created after Damian expelled from acadmy.
Unlike the name, it's nothing grand really but unlike my Noble Society where everyone followed did whatever they wanted in open, Young Elite did in shadow.
They didn't publicly harass commoners like Damian's Noble Society used to.
Young Elite operated far more carefully.
I slowly placed my fork down.
"...Josef Goldberg, huh."
Jin nodded immediately.
"Yeah. That guy's seriously bad news."
That was true.
Unlike Damian, Josef wasn't emotionally unstable.
And most importantly—He wasn't stupid.
Josef Goldberg was the kind of person who smiled politely while ruining someone's entire future behind closed doors.
Youngest son of Duke Goldberg.
One of the Four Great Ducal Houses of the Solhaven Empire.
A family specializing heavily in political influence, intelligence networks, and economic control and their speciality was Spying and Assassination.
While House Valtor represented military might—
House Goldberg represented power hidden behind paperwork, contracts, and smiling diplomacy.
And Josef inherited that nature perfectly.
In the original story, Young Elite eventually became one of the academy's largest underground influence groups.
Bribery.
Blackmail.
Illegal betting.
Information trading.
Social manipulation.
Nothing too extreme publicly.
That was the genius part.
They always stayed just beneath the academy's disciplinary threshold.
Enough to gain influence.
Never enough to justify complete suppression.
But then when Kevin discovered the hidden darkness Young Elite, he crushed them forced Josef to publically spill the truth and after he was behind the bars.
Anyways, that was far in future.
"...That annoying bastard," I muttered quietly.
Jin blinked.
"You know him personally?"
"Unfortunately."
Damian definitely knew him.
And judging from the leftover emotional reactions in my body—
The relationship between those two had been complicated.
Not friendship.
Not rivalry.
Something worse.
Mutual understanding between terrible people.
Josef had originally joined Damian's Noble Society temporarily in the early academy days.
Not because he respected Damian—
But because Damian's recklessness created useful distractions.
While Damian openly bullied people and attracted attention, Josef quietly expanded influence behind the scenes unnoticed.
Then once Damian self-destructed publicly—
Josef immediately replaced him.
It was a textbook political takeover.
"...And care enough to tell me why should I careful?"
"It's because Young Elite will attack anyone regardless of their status if someone attacked their members first and Victor is..."
"Member of Young Elite," I finished calmly.
Jin immediately pointed at me with his fork again.
"Exactly!"
A piece of sauce nearly flew off the fork and onto my uniform.
I leaned backward instinctively.
"Careful. This outfit costs more than your monthly allowance."
"...That's because my allowance is emotionally abusive."
Fair enough.
I took another bite quietly while thinking things through.
Honestly, Victor joining Young Elite wasn't surprising at all.
People like him naturally gravitated toward organized groups once their previous source of protection disappeared.
Especially groups promising status, influence, and revenge fantasies.
Still—
This situation was annoying.
Because unlike Damian's old Noble Society, Young Elite actually possessed structure.
Meaning today's little "desk incident" might not end with Victor simply crying himself to sleep.
No—
Josef would probably respond.
Not emotionally.
Strategically.
That was worse.
Way worse.
Jin swallowed loudly before speaking again.
"You should seriously be careful, Damian. Josef doesn't like losing face."
I almost laughed at that.
"...Neither did I."
"Yeah but your version of revenge usually involved punching people publicly."
"..."
"..."
"...Fair."
Meanwhile, Josef preferred indirect methods.
Academy rumors.
Social isolation.
Framing scandals.
Destroying reputations quietly.
And considering House Goldberg specialized in intelligence and espionage—
The guy was genuinely dangerous even at this age.
I leaned slightly back into my chair.
"...Did Victor join recently?"
Jin nodded immediately.
"Pretty much right after your expulsion."
Makes sense.
Young Elite probably absorbed most of the scattered remains of Noble Society afterward.
Former bullies adapting to a new ecosystem.
Nature was beautiful.
"...How large is the group now?" I asked.
Jin frowned thoughtfully.
"Hard to say exactly. Officially it's just a student networking club."
Of course it was.
Every shady organization always called itself a networking club.
"But unofficially..." Jin lowered his voice slightly again, "...probably over eighty members already."
I paused mid-bite.
"...Eighty?"
That growth speed was ridiculous.
Though honestly—
Not impossible.
Imperial Academy nobles loved influence games.
And Josef Goldberg knew exactly how to exploit insecure rich teenagers desperate for status.
Especially after Damian's public downfall created a temporary power vacuum.
Damn.
Josef moved fast.
"Most of them are lower nobles," Jin continued. "Barons. Viscounts. Some Count families too. But the important part is—"
He hesitated briefly.
Then sighed.
"Josef's has connection with almost anyone here and far beyond the walls of acadmy."
Of course he would have connection, he's the son Duke after all.
"But don't you worry Damian! Remembered my earlier plan? Let's shot this basterd brain out it's head before he could do anything. Your family snipers are best there is."
I was tempted, that would honestly saved me lots of trouble in the future.
If only I wasn't kicked out of the family.
"You already know I don't have any connections."
"Oh, Ah! Yeah... right. Sorry. Haha..."
He laughed awkwardly as he realised his mistake.
"Don't worry, it's nothing. As for Young Elite. I'll take care of them."
"Hahaha....I know you would. After all you are Damian Valtor!"
Was that supposed to be compliment? I'll take that it was.
But before that, it's time take some money from my piggy bank.
"Hey, Jin. Give me 100,000 C!" I said with genuine sweetest smile.
"Huh?"
What are you looking at, I'm going to drain you dry oh dear friend of mine.
Wait minute, that doesn't sound right?
Whatever, money matters me to most!