Chapter 241
sxaPTHAint and the Black Turtle men returned safely to the refuge.yM2Yf
tmSWith them also came the First Prince, who was still not in stable condition, neither physically nor mentally. He was unconscious and was immediately placed in a special room.LjqgS
HhcXtrCAint and one of the Black Turtle men entered to report to Fernan.79z9
r7oO“Senior, we’re back.”4kx1Bwy
dyRUY“Come in.”hl0lQDx
JB1NyFernan was going over a pile of documents on the table.a39I
jQQM“And the First Prince?”Icg
Aw08I“We rescued him.”gQ7d5
cuLb“Good. Anything unusual?”NcIgEF
shVq“In fact, we have much to report about that.”zpB3
yIORFernan’s expression hardened upon hearing the report.x3a9
nKKTwqC“…You’re saying another demon contractor appeared?”ItD
zzz68“Yes, young master.”r6dJ
btBFA contractor. Not just a pawn manipulated by demons, but someone who forged a contract with them on equal terms.x5J68wk
noeS0vGardner Alfenparsen, the first Royal Knight, had already said that only the Colomo bloodline could seal such contracts.8pN5jwQ
jSWbYddThat’s why they were considered extremely dangerous enemies, and it was believed they’d be few.lZVc
5mlBut to encounter a second contractor so soon—this wasn’t something that could be overlooked.cb3sD
PQQ“What was he like?”MercV
LSJ“In terms of power…”jeE
nE4uAfter finishing his report, the Black Turtle man withdrew. Fernan was left deep in thought.GmIS
D5ikHjAn adversary of that level… What could he be compared to? A Royal Knight?uIV
tNjX“And what do you think, Aint?”5fTUut
z1SSBThere was no need to speculate alone when he had the fighter who faced him directly.rI0NyRf
iTtO9“He was strong. The strongest I’ve fought alone.”eKn2
vvPy“…That much?”o8A
dYDT0f“Yes. In fact, if it weren’t for the help you gave me, I would’ve definitely lost.”QnB
38k5Fernan felt satisfied with that response.S2cpsV
rz3iInvestment was always more satisfying when it yielded returns. And Aint was a product worth investing in.hqeRrM
NU2qa4‘The strongest he’s faced so far…’kMY7uzj
hNXrSince he said “alone,” the demons were excluded from comparison. Fernan reviewed in his mind the enemies Aint had faced solo before.I2Sfel
tVN“What do you think would happen if Luina fought him?”yMubViJ
VxuxNvpAt that question, Luina flinched slightly.FIGi
l5Gz9“I’m not sure. He said Armian’s light worked weaker against him than against other corrupt and demons, but it wasn’t entirely ineffective.”J6Fg
joB3Also, Luina didn’t have Armian’s power. That difference would be crucial.WIj
KwzvxG“But I can’t imagine him defeating you, senior.”7jEci2Z
XK12tiThat was unexpected. Fernan had thought there would only be guards from the Second Prince—but to find such a monster hidden away.IE6
72SleAnd now that he was dead, how would Pirandello react?xoIcmCN
1n3Whether or not he was truly of Colomo’s lineage, a contractor was a being of another category, vastly different from the corrupt that Garrett Schreiner was eliminating with the Red Wolves at the Second Prince’s request.KPmvPn
uXgCjThat man was dead, and the First Prince had been freed.9mozMz
MHLaQcGiven previous experience, it wouldn’t be strange for Pirandello to make a drastic decision immediately.ImDH
RzwAnd so it happened.1fJ
dpvThanks to the information Wooden was constantly sending, Fernan knew that Pirandello was trying to meet with the Second Prince.d8pVg00
oVKhyAnd with Garrett at his side, the outcome was obvious a disaster.vOwqq8p
HUYN9H“Wooden.”9n2SiBZ
6l8f0Fernan decided to act according to the changed situation.mSHHW
cKNWk“Take them all down. Leave not a single one.”lEoTdp
vCZ— Kyuung.2ImI
AcBGc“And the shield?”lEJuBO
N41Ed“It’ll be ready soon.”PSV1i6
TUc— Kyu!oockof
LpQlWooden left surveillance and headed toward the six mansions.WEu
BqJ3JFernan stood up.nup
KsGzl4“Hyde, how’s the First Prince?”4Bzu
Z05hF“I just finished a preliminary check, but after years of being under drugs and corrupt magic, his condition is not good.”tP1
5DnThe drugs, corruption, and malnutrition had wreaked havoc on his body.Lhz
JFN“For now, we’re feeding him well and have a healing mage working on him.”W73yZW
fh6EaFl“And the corrupt magic?”ZQ8mFEf
8p8vaPq“Same, young master.”cPf
E7B“Then let’s go see him. We’ll check his condition, and then I need to head to the meeting with the Mercenary King.”3WTi
kO5Count Pirandello and the Second Prince had agreed to meet at a villa near the capital.Y2gUYA9
QTYqmIt was best to observe directly to decide what to do.vWDc3
9pJbKa7In the worst case, maybe he’d have to flee with Garrett. It might be a blow to his pride, but if Pirandello proved as dangerous as the contractor Aint had defeated, they couldn’t underestimate him.3PflPqR
tOFp“Let’s go.”FYRV9fo
v4N“Yes.”1Jwx9
33mi8And what they found upon going to see the First Prince was—YLpJz
evJ7lrD“…Is it really necessary to do it this way?”5Je
Bek2“There’s no other way to purge the corrupt magic.”LJQv0aA
SZWHzZS“If Aria or Verian saw this, they’d insist on doing it themselves.”6eA
rbNd6K“There’s no safer method. It’s been proven many times.”yuNWp
NGvqQI“How awful.”ps1J3N0
HcMnyM“Ggghhhruuuuhhh…!”oY0Vtt
PpzFThe First Prince was being forcibly submerged in holy water, with his head held beneath the sacred liquid.A5UN
rtUh***Tn6t
RAnflpcAt the royal villa near the capital.2Q5
UtO7p“Your Highness Regent, Count Pirandello has arrived.”ZXE3
vJr2Gerlan Linelt, Second Prince and regent of the Kingdom of Linelt, fiddled with an empty cup.VZqs
1sjRkuThough he had already drunk two, his lips still felt dry.ndjc1Y1
0P4z3“Let him in.”61vgBv
UKpjkvHe took a deep breath and nodded. Moments later, the door opened.QR2u
ZdLA man with dark blue hair and black eyes entered. His muscular build resembled that of a seasoned warrior.Uru
oSfGi“Your Highness Regent.”Xo6
Azo8E“Count Pirandello, take a seat.”2sbqR
WRrb“Yes.”hJ5bnC2
mau7i“What would you like to drink? Coffee? Black tea? Green tea?”9IyM7Zx
O84u5S“Black tea with milk, please.”2X5e2
fLjA cup with milk already mixed in was promptly served. Count Pirandello sipped it calmly.Es5Uyg
vAtVAAP“Was everything well in your domain?”wtpg
L9dQ9lT“Not quite. But thanks to Your Highness’s consideration, at least I returned.”pEMf
Obj8HRvThere were thorns in those words, but Gerlan pretended not to notice. After another sip, the Count spoke.We0AoLF
mi9P“Do you remember the first time we met, Your Highness?”pu76rOz
Qlo1“I do. About six years ago, right?”i6j
BWuqEI5“Yes, exactly. It was six years ago, in summer. An unbearably hot summer.”kdCX
MjJPT0cThat day, the sun was blazing. The royal banquet was being held at the palace, and that was when the Second Prince met Patrick Pirandello, who was not yet a count.JiUP2v
MrDBJ5W“I remember Your Highness did not look pleased at the time. You had many complaints against His Majesty the King and your brother, the First Prince.”9ZkU
j6R3zWhy should a less capable heir get the throne just because he was the eldest?wH32tvK
4g9qNAThe Second Prince could not accept it, but the King would not yield to his complaints.2S4oM
dFdl3It was in that context that he met Patrick Pirandello.sznq
djLR6LY“Your Highness said you wanted to become king, and I responded that I would follow you. That I would make you king no matter what. Do you remember what you said to me then?”vyL1
wrT“I don’t remember.”jHMNZi
1iBQj“No, that’s not true.”nE0
ka6GjCbCount Pirandello shook his head.d2vV
bEJ5f“You remember it well. Come on, answer me.”idds
ycD“I told you, I don’t know.”IQet
wmWI“Then I’ll say it. Your words were, ‘If you make me king, I’ll do whatever you want.’”V2HA
bCPX1P“……”xfb
JcvNGerlan fell silent, lips pressed tightly. His eyes locked onto Pirandello’s, filled with unease.GFtB5
bGHW“But tell me something.”1JEBR
bZvxYuThe Count placed the empty cup on the table with a sharp clink. His aura turned ominous.9hK
Gzdlmz8“Why are you lying?”ai3Ol0a
cin9y“What do you mean?”E475
sKB8Z“You said the method didn’t matter. That if I could make you king, you trusted me and would be grateful. That I could do anything to help you get the throne.”yrlpueT
dO2“I never said that.”5ntG
DalYDj9“Then why?”ztV
ZWeB2jmCrack—. His pale fingers pierced the thick wooden table.8rC
QQgA3M“Did you change your mind?”zny
AO1FHis fingers went completely through the surface.nBxfM
csBMh“Is it because His Majesty shows no signs of recovery, and the First Prince is already finished? Am I in your way now?”WLtGq
H9fH67As much as people change their minds, this was too much.i4GcK3
tGA4lf“Are you threatening me? I don’t know what you’re talking about…”3Ode
2hPp5K3“Just as Your Highness knows I’m a contractor, I also know perfectly well what you’ve been doing.”ez7
CthH“So it’s true. You really are corrupt.”GTBcmr
1ujR1szThe corrupt called themselves “demon contractors.” That was practically a confession.eMZhR
Knbr“You knew already, didn’t you?”ugw7
TJ9“I didn’t! If I had known you were corrupt, I would’ve never worked with you.”2UV
7hKNMT“Sure, believe whatever you want. You’re the one who made your father sick and drove your brother insane.”cX57O5
CXNwBut it was Your Highness who chose it.C1O7
wgu“You accepted when I told you I could drive the First Prince mad. You also accepted when I proposed making the King sick.”7v2ZPvF
8H2vTq“That’s slander. So you’re saying you did all of it yourself?”7BpxA
af4DA8KThe Second Prince growled in anger, but Pirandello let out a short laugh.IlwSfm
XDb“Who is it?”4lr6
Fl8“What?”QYJZdQX
YVd“Who’s the one who planted those ideas in your head?”QjE4p
lnkwwl“Nonsense…”UEWps2
yTIYOjj“I told you already. Just as you know me, I know you.”NJUXp
3mT8Gerlan Linelt was someone who never moved without being sure there was a chance.qBp
XnbQruUThat’s why he had waited patiently until a real opportunity to aim for the throne appeared.OT3N
DW3DAnd in his current state, the Second Prince didn’t have enough power to eliminate Pirandello and his followers.6x0u
YN6vThe fact that he was acting anyway meant someone had convinced him.YxZ
yHNzSomeone had whispered in his ear and pushed him to move.KOf
SMb“So stop beating around the bush and tell me who it was.”er0mP
5erHis voice changed, his tone too.Unmw
dXppt“I can’t keep putting up with this.”cAdbCr
C2MAt that low and sharp warning, the Second Prince’s face turned pale.gzw7k
qoph“A corrupt dares to threaten me? I won’t yield!”nt07C
hnvEvRHe shouted at the top of his lungs.hS2
ZER4“You’ve crossed the line. Way too far. Galberts may have been clumsy, but at least he was loyal.”aF46T
VIM1Fob“What nonsense is that? You’re the one who crossed the line. I gave you too much freedom, and now you’ve lost all sense. I’m a prince of the realm—regent, no less—and you’re nothing but a pest wearing the face of the real Patrick Pirandello.”J9sfZUi
chghu“Oh? So you figured it out? Impressive. And yet you didn’t hesitate to poison your father and drive your brother mad. I’m not the corrupt one. You are.”gIJfdD
kb2“Guards!”0jeK5G
wTycbRThe Prince shouted. The door burst open and knights and soldiers stormed in.1001
nIaABPirandello crossed his arms, watching calmly, as if curious to see how far this would go.LRdk
gM7a“A corrupt has infiltrated the kingdom! Kill that man!”Ef5A
nAwLfg“Is it you?”BAzm
cwrEven with dozens of spears and swords pointed at him, Pirandello’s eyes locked onto a single man.Lnc7xc9
M4Lx2Among them was one whose face was covered by a helmet and whose weapon was different—a spear.3EYMg
erdN4“Are you the one who planted those ideas in the Prince’s head?”sfr5L9
gZF“Not exactly. Honestly, this complicates things a lot. I only came because someone asked for help for a moment, but I wasn’t expecting this kind of mess.”H5doFmV
YMD“Who are you? Someone like you must have a known name.”hGIPCk
gWXduw“When you ask someone else’s name, it’s only right to give yours first, disgusting corrupt.”nur
rJUd“That tone, that spear… I know who you are.”Zy20
2IJcThe Mercenary King.hWd2
TKC9Q“So you came after killing Kimaris.”UHp4
pUqdpJ2The Mercenary King removed his helmet.P6S
4i2k3“That’s right. And I find it curious how someone like you isn’t more well-known.”O5KUb
pSrQA“Because I’m not interested in titles or glory fabricated by that filthy empire.”0hO0Rr
Pge“Your Highness Regent.”dsGXos
9F61To“W-What?”gCdlkdC
GPhIThe Second Prince, now hiding behind Garrett, responded, trembling.d6V
zIYKqT“This will cost more.”3rXlmg
6Xqs4FMThe numbers didn’t add up.SJz
vg6mzB“I didn’t expect to have to face someone with Royal Knight strength who’s not a demon.”ztRbSGU
2mNQzr1Garrett tightened his grip on his spear.hcIG4wU
Chkw1O“Everyone, get out if you want to live.”EOpMM
d4FlZOf──!eW6C
dQEbGarrett’s spear shot toward Patrick Pirandello’s head.Hiogm
vqOAnd from the Count’s back, a surge of black magic erupted.SXt
sFEE4KW──!isV
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