The Butler, Self-Directed is Chapter 186 of the Kuroshitsuji manga.
Summary[]
Lau tells Baldroy that he is disappointed by his answer, and Baldroy replies that he believed he would give him a few days to sort everything. He must be impatient to act now. Lau says that he has no reason to wait if waiting compromises his interests.
Baldroy informs Lau that Athena Sanatorium is only collecting blood to get funds; he does not want to destroy the facility and kill everyone because of that. Ciel would not want that either. Then, Lau furiously stabs the wall behind Baldroy with his needle and tells him that he does not care for his opinion and that he is an incompetent servant if he cannot execute his master's commands. Especially considering that Ciel has enough troubles right now; Lau also reminds Baldroy that Ciel is currently not the "Earl" anymore but only a child who has been "pushed to the brink." Lau says he pities Ciel because of his foolish servants before he pulls the needle out of the wall and lunges to stab Baldroy and dispose of him. However, Lau stops right in front of Baldroy's eye, and Baldroy tells him that while he does not know why Lau is working with Ciel, he knows that he is a Phantomhive and Lau is a Qīng Bāng—and he would pity Qīng Bāng for having a top official idiotic enough to kill someone else's pawn.
Lau then pulls back and twirls the needle in his hand. He is impressed by Baldroy; he thought he was only a fool swayed by emotions and the desire not to kill anyone, but he is not stupid after all. Lau adds that this is not enough though and lunges with his needle again. This time he sends it flying—and it stabs Ronald's journal.
This startles Ronald and he asks "Doctor Chang" what he is doing. Lau apologizes and says that he thought a rat sneaked in and he wanted to get rid of the pathogen-carrying beast that has no place in the clean sanatorium. Ronald then asks what Lau and Baldroy are doing in the corridor, and Baldroy lies that he could not sleep and asked Lau to go on a late walk with him. Ronald reminds them that Ada will scold them if she catches them walking around so late at night, and Lau says they will immediately return to their beds before she finds them. Right afterward, Ronald leaves. Lau tells Baldroy that he has warned him before he leaves as well, and Baldroy runs back to his room too.
The next morning, Ada is overseeing the day's supply delivery of medicine and bandages. Layla helps to carry the bags into the sanatorium. Then, a man approaches Ada, asking for today's "payment," and she leads him to several crates filled with bottles of blood. The man notes that she collected the amount she had promised this time and remarks that she made a wise choice. Sweating slightly, Ada watches the man leave with the crates. From within the nearby forest, Baldroy has watched the exchange and looks after the man, a gun ready in his hand.