Chapter 267
TJgWheThe sound of hooves echoed loudly.yMnGC
p26iThe horses galloped as Ludger rode alongside the First Prince, facing the wind head-on.NQQqcMx
NyOBV“…”3i7
7JoSlUI“From that face, it seems something doesn’t sit well with you.”hXN0a
E834wS“No, not at all.”hDwz
DNZwRm“Since we were kids, you’ve never been good at hiding your expressions.”GITbvK
ei1bYes, little brother.yYK
xjOmCJs“What’s bothering you so much?”iP8EuK
CvWqAt the slightly colder tone of the prince, Ludger flinched and muttered as if making an excuse.5UalVP2
PZPN“It’s nothing. I’m just worried about having left the academy so suddenly.”GBd6Ns
JF13vW“The youth of the academy is only lived once. I’m sorry, but think of this as a good opportunity too.”0pe5qhL
hMNR7puThe kind princes of Schwaben, hunters of the corrupted.zUzn
XR7“Doesn’t that sound like a powerful image?”abAzO5T
nJnJbArmian, with the support of the Pellenberg, was working hard to build his reputation.TZHO
LzohnlJ“We can’t fall behind. We’re just getting started.”ouzYE
8Wy12YT“Have you already mastered the sword art of Armian?”wsOOf
Z3JrhFi“What nonsense are you saying? I have no idea what that technique even is.”Gss3fqt
obTdZ“Then have you mastered the new sword style developed by Schwaben?”ImM
R8nEAo3“Yes. If not, I wouldn’t be leading this mission.”YGFh
Rl5oHThe First Prince smiled with full confidence.UqsGkh
dJAQvHE“Have you located the corrupted?”TWkU
5AI1Di“In a world where new demons and corrupted beings appear every day, do you really think His Majesty would sit idly by?”SrX
d8FOf course not.OmyDA
fapDWGWhile Aint Armian traveled the continent making a name for himself, Schwaben wasn’t idle.FCVk
WIESThey had been sharpening their blades, waiting for the First Prince’s sword technique to reach its peak.XcaW
a7XM“So you already know all their locations?”sLB
sQYG7y“As you know, our information network within the Empire is nothing to envy compared to the Pellenberg’s. Aint Armian and Fernan Pellenberg left for Frazia, right? We’ll take advantage of that absence to eliminate all the nests of corruption within the Empire.”xNORP
sK16cIt was coincidence, but Aint’s departure was the perfect opportunity.FH9h
jWMi“Aint Armian, striving to protect foreign kingdoms. The princes of Schwaben, striving to protect the Empire. See the difference?”sd0S
am4qv5GIn the end, we don’t need to worry about the safety of other lands.RK4tDT5
D0hgNG“Then shouldn’t we have brought that person?”JmKXx
myZ9rWfLudger cast a discreet glance at the old knight escorting them from behind.UIMnDy
2QZjK“And what’s wrong with a knight accompanying the princes?”Tnv41Wo
D8mH0The First Prince let out a light laugh.DBT0r
Ep4r“Alright, this is it. This is where it all begins.”8yN
HXX8pDyIn the distance, a city could be seen—the capital of the County of Ashioph, located between Schwaben and Bercheff.QINvy
D43zIq“From here, we will liberate eighteen territories of the Empire dominated or influenced by the corrupted.”b4H
AdQWE“Eighteen…?”wBhk2Xa
Y6HEven after Aint and Fernan had exterminated so many, were there still that many within the Empire?zCKa
rA9T2Ludger couldn’t believe it.zAy
ECk“Yes. I didn’t believe it either when His Majesty first told me.”l8du
xe3But just because it was hard to believe didn’t mean it wasn’t true.Aza
DXs“Let’s go.”IrOV4Hj
tsNIXThe First Prince gently pressed his legs.RyF
3HaEs9fThe horse neighed and charged forward.TJmY
jZ8v1X“Follow the prince!”w5nvp
ZrG94aLudger and dozens of knights dashed after him.MbTACmU
iYD***NLP7Xn
ubAQThe ship that had departed from the Imperial Academy of Armian didn’t head directly to Frazia.MtwFxVo
PQRInstead of going straight south, it turned slightly north and stopped in Pellenberg.08NA
mvr“What do we need to do in Pellenberg?”1fI
XIyv“Preparation is never enough. If Dantalion has truly set a trap, we must anticipate every possible scenario.”p1lO
YTvuUpon arriving at the Pellenberg estate, Fernan gathered the supplies he deemed necessary and re-embarked.OcD
OUErgSA new porter joined the group, but no one paid him much attention.jheOX
FxBThe ship once again set sail toward Frazia.oRVZP
XpTi92Instead of docking at the Main Port of Lamons, like most would, the ship anchored at a completely different location—the County of Franz.q9Sc
PJUS7FhIn the past, the County of Franz wasn’t particularly prosperous.T9sJp2
Pp2SKTlIts port was small and rarely used—until Fernan intervened.sRfYhB
Xr16gOr rather, the Golden Turtle Guild.eqNeEF
8RwdThey discovered a blackstone mine and acquired the mining rights.oCsq
pqzIn exchange, a portion of the profits flowed into the territory, creating jobs and prosperity.HN8
JXUgxTo export the mineral smoothly, the port was expanded.baMcH7
C5646“Glad to see you again, your excellency.”KaVDn
TzZN“Hahaha! It’s been far too long, young master Fernan!”96EPxdB
qhuBCount Lodos, bulkier than before, welcomed him with a hearty laugh.ZQwbwFT
9VF“You have no idea how much I’m enjoying life lately, thanks to you.”HJnxU
lnKZu4The blackstone mine, a golden goose.cmKz
QVGg9UOf course, the count had considered keeping it all for himself—but he knew his limits.6PbsL9k
knWThe business was profitable because Pellenberg maintained troops guarding the mine and provided an extensive trade network.YLMkBr
ZYNoux4None of that could be sustained alone.auLZF
2eVK0So the count settled for the Pellenberg’s leftovers—leftovers that were enough to triple his territory’s wealth.nDTKJN
saeb7“I could make your life even more pleasant.”iUOsH
JeHGDcq“Even more?”tJv6
rEF“A copper vein has been discovered not far from the blackstone mine.”rP17q
jl1ziT“Oh, excellent news! Then let’s sign the contract under the same terms as before.”89C
32Du“I’d prefer to reduce the percentage to twenty. The area is more dangerous and reinforcing security will be costly.”F1XOPY
Ejt“Mmm alright. After all, I couldn’t exploit it alone even in a thousand years. Sharing the profits is already a blessing. My county is a gold mine!”i3T3f7x
EYsdWell, a gold mine only for those who know how to make use of it.Nv9
vyynF5“So this is the famous Aint Armian, huh? The one who killed two demons in Linelt.”i6C
53QX“I didn’t do it alone.”3Hmn
kzq6g1L“Alone or not, facing demons at your age? It’s admirable. And this beautiful young lady must be Miss Luina Bercheff. A pleasure to meet you. And an elf? Then you must be Miss Aria Fridian.”QlRN8
peeCCount Lodos offered Fernan and his group the finest guesthouse in the region.kkjJ
HstpeEAfter ordering the others to rest, Fernan met with the count alone.cWGh5y
uTm9gNG“But to come here like this, so suddenly and with such a group… Has something happened in Frazia?”vOx
dlcKbgd“Yes.”nrKar
RdKjoThe serious reply made the count spit out his tea.AqA
GXJz11M“Ah, pardon me.”BSNVd
BaEP“Don’t worry.”JqjijP
ELgleThe droplets remained suspended in the air, not even touching Fernan.Fhe3q
0XS8“Is there a problem in Frazia? Don’t tell me it’s in my lands…”ng1mour
XHa1Ej3“No, not in yours.”wAc
eHXMqThe count sighed in relief.pM0Fyb
cGVWhI“Then, where?”Xk7tAwV
BBmpdHv“I’d prefer you to see this first.”ESEK
W8pY2Fernan handed him a list of names—seven nobles.EBfMzl
c7T“Are these Frazian nobles?”DlrH
jf2EKRg“That’s right.”DEOa
2dIpVNDThey were all patriarchs of families into which the Golden Pillar’s informants had infiltrated before disappearing.vdk3
oU6ly9q“Harbert Licatus, Imbrus Galante, Kret Helan, Are you saying they’re corrupted?”a5MQ
4cM1th“I believe that, one way or another, they’re connected to the corrupted.”pdTE1w
0nX“That can’t be. The Grand Duke Harbert Licatus, connected to them…?”6fKwM
CKJLVHe was a powerful noble in the northern part of the kingdom, the one who drew Fernan’s attention the most.gVJ2tI
RwmLFlp“What kind of person is Duke Harbert?”B5hPu
kDZg“A prudent man. When a dispute over the throne was about to erupt, he was the one who gave up his right of succession to maintain peace in the kingdom.”o2t7UJz
MXqsgRgHarbert Licatus was the brother of the current king and had earned everyone’s respect by voluntarily stepping down from the royal line.P8wOZ
OzrSl“It doesn’t make sense. A man who gave up the throne to avoid war wouldn’t join the corrupted.”wBC
q8rpjc6Fernan thought so too. No one in his position would ignore the cost of dealing with them.wWeW
E65“I see. And the others?”ODfoVM
nRD6F“Well…”mnhZmm
bEQ4nyThe conversation dragged on for two hours.wOb
r4hmzVWhen Fernan returned to the guesthouse, he called for Hyde.L2Oss
HPNkdCR“How was the talk?”RXKHD2R
w853Ak“The count insists Duke Harbert has no ties to the corrupted.”JgAb
BFuw“He could be mistaken. There’s a chance our agents were identified as spies and eliminated.”UiPgw1
lchFernan nodded. He couldn’t rule it out.Qs39
WEL“Send all Golden Pillar agents to keep watch on Duke Harbert. They must be extremely careful—security there must be on maximum alert.”uq2N
NdRgl“Yes, young master.”RpZLj
x9lA week passed. During that time, Fernan and his group remained hidden.aM2855
twHSN97Since leaving the academy, they had concealed their seals and changed routes multiple times to maintain secrecy.eTYvZ
YlylDantalion would know they’d arrived, but not when or where.zi57
MXuIt was a way to secure any possible advantage.sHBq
3GPFlXgUntil—owA
gbwX5“Young master, an envoy has arrived.”JCz
ZCGi“An envoy?”IQt
Vdkq5“Yes, actually…”mAE2kis
FMcG9JbCount Lodos hesitated.ZgSIym3
Vv6“Duke Harbert has sent a letter for you.”jqo13
Pk1u“Count.”zSk
9HZRcg“No, no! I swear I didn’t say anything! If I break my contract with the Golden Turtle Guild, I’ll be ruined again—do you think I’d take that risk?”JKpfjSp
QDK1Xo“I understand.”KHBx
B9ke5zFernan nodded with an unsatisfied expression.vPD6
s6nuVs“Where is the envoy?”ORtS0
YIkyVIA“He’s already gone.”DRd
3lgNlp“Gone?”H5o9PR
QaD“Yes. He left only the letter and vanished like the wind.”l1xXlfC
D8iThe envelope, of elegant design, bore Duke Harbert’s seal.P2se
r4PFernan broke it open and read its contents.yx6rmg
RLfm[I imagine you’re surprised to receive this letter. I was also surprised to learn you’d entered Frazia.nTHnyq
a44x9orBut, no matter that you are a Pellenberg, within my domain, nothing escapes my sight.kDJ
zSAN[…] I’ve heard you’ve been stirring the kingdom lately. Even in my lands, some of yours have been found.uFV9dVJ
vECpIf you’re curious, why not come and ask me directly?]cpwE
63F6J9A courteous invitation—too courteous.xlWNVGE
NlzAF51“Will you go?”Yaods
heV“Of course. I can’t ignore an invitation from the Grand Duke after infiltrating my agents into his territory.”Kav9
aVG3HNHe likely had no proof, but that didn’t matter. The letter’s contents confirmed Fernan’s suspicions.FBVFfj
6q7aH0f“That no one can move within the kingdom without him knowing?”fhebU
wldNeither Alprosen nor Esrin had detected his presence when he infiltrated.WAHmQs
MipjtBut Frazia—a smaller, less organized kingdom—had?Njq
O6F6oIt could only mean one thing: someone had informed Harbert of Fernan’s arrival.d8kMVe
LOz“Dantalion…”AGnECn
uggGMDirectly or indirectly, Duke Harbert was connected to the demon and the corrupted.YCW
LYsr3“The question is what kind of trap he’s setting by insisting I come.”ypgCz
ooEl4It was so obvious it was suspicious.M48Fl
E1XsBuHDid he want to lure him and Aint away to do something at the Academy while they were gone?T4589NW
T0CBut Fernan wasn’t too worried. Director Rosalia Vienderk, now an archmage, was there, and the academy was protected.qtyvU
TpO8“In any case, nothing will go as Dantalion wants.”uvFq
9b6KYAnd even if there wasn’t a trap in Frazia, it didn’t matter.VoPA
zv3Since they were already there, they would root out every trace of corruption to the core.G4zt
zh1rX“We depart immediately.”9ZAI
HoZA caravan of carriages left the County of Franz, heading north.PwSn
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