Chapter 242
aurr“…….”bBUz
nakvjp“It’s already too late.”tLFVb7
DZaThey had arrived late.ufybq
9ODVkeThe place, which should have been covered with trees, was now a bare hill—clean, as if the mountain forest had been torn out by the roots.cVcbW1
ceLThat was where the royal family’s secret villa should have stood, surrounded by thick trees and shrubs.GXLue
Ar5YBut nothing remained. Just a naked clearing, isolated among still-lush mountains.jMU
PCQfSxIf it hadn’t been for Wooden confirming the villa’s existence, they would’ve thought they were in the wrong place.Nl6ci5d
NfVsT“Is it even possible that, in such a short time, they killed Sir Garrett and erased the villa and all traces of magic?”fhTJ
niRV3The truth was, they had lost some time after rescuing the First Prince. They had relied on the Mercenary King.UUm
RFHvFNo matter who the opponent was, if it was Garrett Schreiner, he would endure.hNz
3zNBut that trust had been misplaced.RI7
qkCYMCount Pirandello not only handled the situation but also cleaned up the remains flawlessly.zWndeW
2FH“In theory, it’s not impossible. Someone like King Colomo could do it.”qcEoF
YtV18But their opponent wasn’t on King Colomo’s level.XWA3k
VS2pmek“There are traces here!”1sEcvdo
wxZ51“They lead this way.”bPyEGae
wqaMLuina and Aint spoke at the same time. They were Garrett’s tracks—remnants left behind in haste.u4YDmI2
CRRIt was clear they had scattered, fleeing in different directions.ser
ilw“Whatever happened, the first priority is to find Sir Garrett.”XfxhKT
H81jmvS“I agree.”xhIEQ
d80sce“Do you sense anyone nearby?”AxgqJd
MsEQc1Maybe the corrupt were hiding, watching them.RnoS2q
cXrx“No, there’s no one around.”um1xfML
OelI“Understood.”AEmO
cJSFyThey followed the tracks. They found signs of battle, but no corpses—the enemies had taken everything.woU2S
lIfsLNo matter how much they searched, they couldn’t find the Mercenary King or the Second Prince.GegY7t
x48News of their whereabouts came from an unexpected source.plrbot
Ccf7X“Sir, Garrett Schreiner has arrived at the refuge—covered in wounds.”18lj1
lmb“…At the refuge?”svQF
FhPA Black Turtle member acting as a messenger informed Fernan. Apparently, they had crossed paths along the way.ifGQ
J64AOkSHearing that Garrett was alive and hadn’t fallen into the hands of the corrupt, Fernan sighed in relief.Fi5rB
TeBNrL“Then, shall we return for now?”CRhQ
FZoCmj“Yes, that would be best.”6Dxv4
aFNWhen they returned, they found the Mercenary King bandaged head to toe, along with what remained of the Red Wolves—fewer than before.lzduFCO
1sFa“Sir Garrett!”HHKJXQB
Qd7“I was wondering why you took so long. I suppose we passed each other on the road.”T4uVUs
feN6tDespite his severe injuries, Garrett was drinking liquor as if nothing had happened, with a bitter smile.7lLIU
cRoApe“What happened?”cr1
CGj“Patrick Pirandello. Just like you said, he was corrupt.”5N8QWc
lGyFo7He bit into a piece of grilled meat.SZTBviU
yBesxe“Not just corrupt—one of those contractors. The Second Prince had gone there because…”mO4Z77
N0UU“I can imagine why.”VBDh
KoVgp3s“Then the rest is simple. That man was strong. So strong that even I couldn’t beat him.”3IAD
exKDJ2mHe paused, then spoke frankly.9Ut
VxQAaO“It pains me to admit, but he was stronger than I am.”KSJkAT
R8f“……!”fOy
3Iud“……!”dzF
b7Y8uEveryone was shocked. They had already suspected the enemy wasn’t ordinary, since Garrett had fled. But hearing it from his own mouth was different.kkkIdw
doPdMd“Of course, the gap was small. Very small.”nuf
6QWCjNot all Royal Knights were equal—there were ranks among them.lJ53r
9aV2EppGarrett explained that his opponent was among the most powerful.qbu
qpAhE9“And he wasn’t alone. Suddenly, monsters appeared everywhere.”7dWzAV
Tfv75iIn that situation, the prince or politics didn’t matter: to avoid death and prevent further loss of mercenaries, the only option was to flee.18N1
s0t“And here I am. At first, they followed me, but once I gained some distance, I stopped seeing them. That’s when I calmly erased my tracks and made it here.”3OULyC
8ebB5ohThat meant the Second Prince was likely now in Patrick Pirandello’s hands.Ega9
D4BE“From what I understood, the Second Prince made the first wrong move. He used me, manipulated me, and in the end, betrayed me.”k0RnOZB
XhPzV“So, in conclusion, not even the Second Prince knew Pirandello’s true nature.”8CMP0
OKl“They were cut from the same cloth. The Second Prince turned out to be even more trash than I thought.”Kfnpfw
4lk“From the moment he allied with corrupts, calling him trash is being kind.”MXQH
Wcu4EjYes. And feeling betrayed, Pirandello had chosen to act openly.3Dwr
5nl0Fernan had calculated that the worst case would be a threat or an attempt at negotiation.k9S6f
4ottTAfter all, no matter how betrayed he felt, the Second Prince was still royalty and the strongest heir to the throne.3YE5CmH
EboBut deep down, Fernan had known there was a possibility—however slim—that Pirandello would go to the extreme.HQ6n
EqmflmRBecause corrupts couldn’t be measured by human standards.hXUp0C
ap92V“In the end, it looks like your foresight was right, sir. Everything is moving toward the worst-case scenario.”CdvC98c
4GQNcEThat’s why Fernan had used Wooden to collect magic stones and elixirs beforehand.CWg
AAMnKpiWhy?hcW3u
9dU4fKBecause if they acted without restraint, it meant they had nothing left to lose.8ytig
WWp3And the true goal of the corrupt in Linelt had always been to summon demons.AdOJUu
p1r6CIf things went completely awry, they wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice themselves and summon them as a last resort.pzqwnT0
vRyz6id“But now that possibility has been blocked, so…”To1
JA1rM7At that moment, another Black Turtle member entered.uyD
gjClo“Sir, urgent news.”WFBcpb
Yws“Urgent?”Ls5c
cuzCF7“Yes. It’s a freshly printed newspaper.”Ng083h
ZEheitlFernan unfolded the paper.g4c
smAD“What happened?”cgHZ
v2QK“Don’t tell me the villa incident already made it to the press.”UphJ
X7lc5hR“Do they mention the corrupt?”Nhll
hDR5“They can’t possibly be manipulating the press too…”Hk3R
P7cJaYEveryone gathered around and read the headlines:JbahAWr
pPwIR【Regent Attacked by Mercenary King! Gravely Wounded, Brought Down.】wwSD
YjflhVB【While Resting at the Villa, the Regent Was Ambushed by the Mercenary King. Fortunately, He Survived…】CdJEC
Sibeb【Garrett Schreiner, Traitor to the Kingdom, Wanted! Huge Reward for His Head!】bORS
8pl【Why Did the Mercenary King Attack the Regent?】ofIf
pbAp“…What the hell is this?”q7dJ4e4
3VXNjGismond’s prediction had been right.BQu7oUA
U2l20MNThe enemy’s response was even more polished than Fernan had imagined.R6eNe
VTykN***f0h
D3DThe situation progressed rapidly.JH7r9o
TignM0News of the Mercenary King’s attack on the Second Prince spread throughout the Kingdom of Linelt, and wanted posters appeared in every city and village.d2JLz2
XI5Zq8LThe final blow came two days later.x9J
yoqwV— “I received reports that monster numbers had recently increased in the Herobin mountain range. So I hired the Mercenary King to exterminate them—and he accepted! I promised a fair reward.”W6jTX
I4iMThe Second Prince, wrapped in bandages, appeared before the people.8hQNxBF
Vzm— “But when I tried to fulfill the contract, he threatened me, saying it wasn’t enough. When I refused, he tried to take me hostage.”LWcd7w
4STlbRLHe raised his voice until his neck flushed red.fZDWTNj
imD— “A battle broke out. Loyal knights and soldiers of the kingdom gave their lives. But thanks to their sacrifice, I escaped the Mercenary King’s clutches!”UpI
vESZ0A perfectly timed tear slid down his cheek, stirring the people’s hearts.o1lAnk
BAA— “Some ask, ‘What did you do to make the Mercenary King attack you?’”O8Q4m3
43zFg4T— “I can say with my head held high—I did nothing! That mercenary, blinded by money, tried to extort me and the Kingdom of Linelt!”zNLFeL
tPpN— “The Mercenary King is an enemy of the kingdom! He’s not a hero, but a disguised killer, responsible for the death of our people!”BtXuM
jRoWXg— “I implore the Empire to strip that infamous mercenary of his Royal Knight title!”ITE
aJcR4p3The speech was broadcast in every corner of the kingdom, and public opinion turned completely against the Mercenary King and the Red Wolves.9zYt
Qo6H“He’s a clever guy.”NX6Vyrp
LfA78SyThey had erased all mention of the corrupt, manipulating the facts so that the Second Prince could appear as a victim.PK6OE
6fqThe injuries were real, and the stage was manipulated at a kingdom-wide scale. It was impossible for the public not to believe it.uo1OGA0
S4TyGY“Looks like they even used hypnosis.”U5WLbs5
WsWSvs“Is this really the time to admire them?”JDmf4
8WKCFirThe Mercenary King frowned as he spread butter on a baguette.FymQoQB
fi3q4“My reputation sinks deeper every day. I bet the mercenary guild’s in chaos already.”l5uh
9ueJ“It is. They say an official investigation will be launched to clarify the events.”g2PCUEA
yPheAttacking the regent of a foreign kingdom out of greed was a stain even the Mercenary King couldn’t shake.eWGQG57
9RQStill, he was the Mercenary King, and the guild couldn’t discard him that easily.hb6wrX
yXOq4DQFor now, they could only buy time and look for a way out.72hs1
l2E557u“So what will you do?”kpPmKxn
buhGW8M“There’s nothing I can do right now.”GsDyG
YgSen“…Is that all you’ve got to say?”S6H
BC3zGa“But soon, there will be. Be patient.”gLDBrU
FY8sPRQ“They say spilled water can’t be gathered again.”lJxstj
09sj“That’s nonsense. With magic, of course you can.”jQk0p
AabC“Exactly. That’s what I meant.”qgx93Ss
zWwhMIFFernan smiled calmly.mttN
K0f3K“They say turning a lie into truth takes a hundred times the effort.”UP79z1R
He4“Then we’re in trouble.”uEe
rcFYE“But I have something more valuable than a hundred times the effort—money.”zp0C
LGK9cDwSo be patient.EszY2
r1i6“It won’t take long. In a few months, Lord Garrett’s reputation will be as clean as before—maybe even better.”w2tHx8
MSM7i“…I’ll trust you.”A17J
GWLGrDPThe Mercenary King nodded reluctantly, though Fernan’s firm words reassured him.sSQ
MXQ1qiK“And I dare say Patrick Pirandello will end up looking far worse than you.”3dN
PKnE“Why’s that?”9et
kjeX2GZ“It’s a secret. Just let me handle it.”mmhr
N0VHe had no intention of sharing his goldmine with anyone.O2T33P0
tgQIFernan took a sip of his coffee.cE5i
hTHJ***vWqQbtD
uTPLiAfter calming the Mercenary King, Fernan went to see the First Prince.d3cl
g3lSince the Second Prince had manipulated public opinion with speeches, they too had to respond with politics.cAk
VSlNo3sFortunately, they had stronger cards Princess Yuli and Prince Antenor Linelt.zH2gR
SSlMaNKThough he bore the infamy of having massacred nobles in a fit of madness, if it was revealed that it was all because of the corrupt, his image could be rehabilitated.D9Bc
whzDbIn the end, big scandals bury smaller ones.m4FEW
zSUCompared to a plan to summon demons and destroy the kingdom, what Prince Antenor did seemed almost trivial.LdvQk
tOGAfter all, he had truly been a victim of theirs.tufjy
U4ctN1k“It’s an honor to formally introduce myself, Your Highness. I am Fernan Pellenberg.”UXFs
rrwlOpUntil now, he had only seen him in a weakened state—during the rescue or while submerged in holy water. Now, at last, they met face to face, in proper condition.r3jTX
uHUuhjTo describe Prince Antenor in a few words: “the male version of Yuli.”zMdu
nYvUrwgA little taller, more muscular, sharper features, but the same hair and eye color, the same aura.XS90lD
wgE8Ur“…Pleased to meet you. I am Antenor Linelt. I’ve heard what happened. I owe you a great debt.”YgY6
VaP“I only did what I had to. I couldn’t allow the kingdom to fall to the corrupt.”auSA5sp
WQeM9“But… is it true? That demons have already descended multiple times, and that they will descend in Linelt too?”gYQ
6Ssm“Yes.”Xjd1Jit
2iKOzwn“Really?”k3wUv
Q21V9SThe prince asked several times, unable to believe it—and understandably so. He had been isolated from the world for years.WR87V
trACtJo“Unfortunately, it’s the truth. But don’t worry. Aint will destroy all their conspiracies. That’s why he came.”cgL
6c6G“…So Aint Armian. If demons are real, then the legend of the Armians is real too!”v2dzw
BXsIn the prince’s desperate face, a spark of hope lit up.dxB
zeEhdis“That’s exactly why we want you to reclaim your rightful place.”GDK
R6IfcJn“I want that too, but…”gr376K
PGs7“It’s possible. You were only a victim of the corrupt.”5cj6E
RKJ“…And can you prove that?”Egbj
88tX7S“It won’t be easy.”PxzG
EC11dUThey had no solid evidence. Patrick Pirandello was meticulous and erased every trace.mipHF
KQ5KThey had even tried recording the rescue operation, but the villa’s magic circle destroyed all the footage.GoT5BUw
p7ptf“That’s why we need your help.”YjgEJ0T
sRI2RYf“What do I need to do? Anything.”QcUuouy
K8W“Write a letter to the Second Prince.”iwJ
FwUxAF“To Gerlan?”K5m
GuRUnoj“Yes. I’ve seen many cases of mind control and hypnosis—and they’re never perfect. They can alter memories or loyalty, but not the entire personality or all memories.”Z9wH
V2VmZwW“If he gets a letter from you, he’ll react.”vNx
Wip7NBecause the First Prince was the Second’s most sensitive thorn.yHRiuV
AZn“What if even that was erased from his memory?”Tpodl
RvkUY8K“Mind control isn’t infinite. If he forgets, we’ll just keep sending letters until he can’t forget.”7ewtk7
g37“…And when he receives it, what will happen?”mDteTZJ
im4“Next, the princess will act.”or70hw6
2r3rU“…Yuli?”AY4tZHp
5Bc“Yes.”KtZ
avd8ZFernan nodded.CQFNH5
FVGfm“The princess will awaken the king.”YzWZOK
W8dWUctOr at least, that was the plan.hMdw1M8
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