Chapter 14
Pngh55Lucian’s eyebrows twitchedZng7q slightly.YeP9Pd
PvkY‘Lion Heart Sword.’p4LKalGC4k
2WnA sword techniqueFScQ that onlylYE those selectedndG5 as candidatesbTm for headr8C of the1Z3xWW family—and a handful ofkekz3E their closestYAji subordinates—were allowed5pC6R to learn.DuUvKRoo
s3tVMAmong the ancientbAD techniques, itZTNqp was famousKViW for itsSZu overwhelming strength,cytcl considered onenDrr of theBYfR most powerful.WtDkLp7
uZS4CCNot only knights,MTkFX6 even ordinaryqAm peasants knewefSOD the name4rPWK Lion HeartMVHG Sword.Mj5
blfEqCAt the very51Id least, theyhzD1 had heardeh0U it once1FTyUL in childhoodr4o tales orPKXT1 regional legends.qV2CW8eC
cMlhAnd now, Duke9hN Sigmund wasnjMgH saying heArAFX would teachWbUI1Q it toqLp7 him.t6h
nSITo contain his9ztU emotions, LucianMdlMQ pressed his70xcJ lips tightlyUTbe together.KtJcl
87O56‘Finally…!’Yxbs
GmnLhIn his previousxy8i3U life, thoughCnE he traveledVIs the continentMYSGp from end7JO to end,pUW he neverqjn obtained a high-level sword0DqRb technique.RdQm
fZaqEven the oneghmE3g he managedeFOKuB to getNZ0A with greataeY effort was2VL6 just a downgraded versionsJau03 of whatDyJ common knightsriS learned.kr0wo
tnGFor a mere1ibJc mercenary, that7P2M6 was alreadygn5 valuable—but LucianEX3Dc could neveriws3 rejoice inNQeUG9 it.Yj5yFV
bLkayvHow many times6nxf had thosemSXO4C knights heRRco once easilyPxHucU defeated returnedRTDJQj years later,xZLlOX their strength3Az reversed, and3VKo knocked himQ9wpV down mercilessly?o9hrMUSZu
OfdMEvery time hejC4 was defeated3Xe2y and barelynUKeR3 survived, theGVAU thirst for05C a superiorn7y sword techniqueOzMB consumed him—alonggfrXg with unbearableHx8UD8 despair.qaPL
XzSAnd now, rightjecvK5 before hisTb5S eyes, therebWdPh was notA57j only a high-level technique,Pozw58 but one7v0 of thezErL most powerfulfg8 in existence.pRNcR7dN
ABn“I’ll go to12j6z4 the trainingbHJ002 grounds firstQrw thing tomorrow.”DNgfczhV3i1
jiVB“Don’t overdo it.”rv180AO1
xk4d“It’s not overdoingiFz it. My1hipx3 body is9EpP fully recovered.p5hY Resting moreTCiQj would onlyYPP cause thisJMv freshly healedPRFw body toe6uc rust.”Obj2GL
Ki3xRThe duke frowned,7J3 but inTx9j0 response, LucianaTCb straightened hisuHT1 back evenRIBnDX more proudly.wiMGjgcKw
lw8hx4After observing hisJRyE body once,ZuaJ1s the duke’sIopmMB frown finallyeg6J5 eased.sjdB
yYkHe seemed toAiu confirm itsnATjn wasn’t justzitYy9 bluffing.cFSY
z9acfD“If you’re thatoHr determined, doKOp it yourjfe way. ButqRvtF any damagetVPvf from notTMJ taking care9W2WOO of yourmGnY body willA2PPxj be entirelyE4U your responsibility.”pekDzxZ2C
1IK“I’ll keep thati078 in mind.”cQdcEUCRK
l55n“All matters relatedPME9ug to theQWlB2j Roglan familyDPPZR will fallaBWf under yourPsfy charge. DoOBW what youZnd4 deem necessary.iIX If theweCM results areLWc good, youpzDn can expectPrzgh5 a reward.”rjHYgj
NMKYBa“I won’t disappointP9A you.”zf1Rx
DdT7“Go.”Os2We
C5PzLucian bowed hisjsEg head andI5TaRG left theQZYx duke’s office.lGRorR12l
CtqSince hearing heNfbTQG would learnL51 the LionDmK6 Heart Sword,m4ID his heart6UC hadn’t stoppedZDhWDg pounding.xYuO
IWa‘This is justkIf9 the beginning.’WYDLUKki
J7bJPvIn his pastY6zu life, heXbOJ had possessedOMZG4n none ofNnF57 the necessaryTLn elements torGOA fulfill hisuoVr05 dreams.BaoWF
dKR6P0No lineage, nodAP sword technique,hszI not evendxJeW a properUBzK body—everything wasxkMivU barely above8Bxpzu rock bottom.OLmJMa7NT
68ASyWith such a miserable foundation,Qb8Zs6 no matterBGVP how muchVP3Y he tried,RWPR he neverCeXlqo surpassed thebHK limit of7O5BJ being justHfQ a mercenaryZRfTy captain.BOIDj
UXERti‘But now, I have everythingghLNy I need.’Lgn9rEPwA
ZQkQ5zThat’s why theX2h chaos to7iC come wouldAyy79 be unlikeGIDOk anything before.AqW6k5SZt
jM546UEspecially because, withEhq a completezvw3 lineage, therehi7b was nowia7Qwe no clearpJyMrq limit toL0i how far3M05 he couldxz4 rise.LuzJ
Hf2YPLucian intended to5B1F go asRiK far asqYA possible.00XV
m7JJust how farsNtB could hewua go withIX2 this knowledge6vt and power?D2O9PbGG
RBASuppressing the smileR7Ahty threatening toiI5 rise, LucianR0r3T began mappingIa6I out his7Yhd future inCfOUHL his mind.xI08tSSDJdx
6hcBaI***GpifyD
nbkWAfter Lucian left,znroGO the dukeZHBcd immediately summoned1p12 Edwin.wfjOvb
hLLPWhen Edwin readgjpF the documentsWDA detailing the7f6zDF marquis’s plan,X0mhN his faceeZTDeO went pale.Ux8LMOo93nZ
C6J“Your Highness.”sas1O
IGZK6“If you’re thinkingJAv of apologizing,wYPZ don’t bother.”45j3Z0H
JmXt“I was negligent…”Hz2KICcu
UM1vGR“I said don’t.QTn It was8Mu my directUTD order toxhn focus espionageRYuU efforts onzce4 the border.hOZ1kk With soVHgyY many holes3Ek in counterintelligence,gpX what couldqWO you have4oUzmq done?”Xms
cQYL3f“Even so, I should’ve noticed.ylJgFm This isD4W0rZ Kelheim, the5VAii very heartFYsPfv of HousejG54 Valdeck, isn’tWSCZZ it? An5dn enemy aimingSEQa a daggerHGK at ourG9S8t center withouttkwsWp us noticing—that’sHCiP my fault.”JuJWj8s1F
FKSuow“This doesn’t evenZyR9AJ qualify asIsj a dagger.”edYdo5VzuVD
JJXEThe duke scoffedqZ9y7T while Edwin82Ts bowed hisERjp head inOhMB9J shame.RDn
o2Cx0“If it werekg4C78 a dagger-levellQz threat, youbvnlB would’ve noticed.dLf It wasLqQV barely a fingernail scratch—that’s1yuaRb why ittWl94n slipped by.OYe It’s not9SSg your incompetence;1TgrV Bernhardt struckcMW precisely atipIEId our blindg65rs spot.”VTYtw
sTK0“You mean poisoningTfmN the territoryApZwhD with drugs3v4k is justZqSD a scratch?”aQZ9NA9Az
18lJ“Keep reading.”JbMhBc
5tdQEdwin’s gaze returnedg0uV to theWU98E documents.CsHf
5KrvRAfter reviewing everythingIHc6FB at length,9UC1VH he shookdoOnDs his headWwUB with a bitter smile.aaGNW8
gkBvtL“They focused solelynoc on avoidingEhinAl detection. AtZU3LoE this rate,MVOQs neither distributioneIAuF3 will progressuv6 quickly norXNBlGS will theybrcuMw gain much2UXwD profit.”C3Zqz5
Ruq“Exactly. If we9Pf3 subtract theUIBzog cost ofj2orJ materials andGOyw production, there’sOO0 virtually noTnv profit. ThehtPFi real goaln40MA9 wasn’t money—itSjCy was toKDb26 tarnish myVrnSp5 reputation.”RHug
3elLBbThe fact thatBxVW8C drug salesvoz4 had taken47Uk place rightq665 under Valdeck’sv1OlX nose withoutTJC them noticing.Pk8MYEDgCrU
fwhk7oTo their enemies,Mkrw that wasGOxf7 perfect materialXQQ3e for mockery.vAuCcHM757
5ltbXdIt could evenZ5ANs be usedwx3l2 as angOUV excuse whenever1e7Kc0 the emperorIPpa99 considered entrustingkHZs an importantoyhHk task toCIRV the duke.fnDLO2ok
obnJG“But still, thatlDrV bastard crossedHtxL a line.ggw5F At a time wheniln1c the empireAXM is unstable,NWRpEI he daresA7dD7V pull somethingOnse like this.YOHszs This borders8Yl on treason.”0hM4NvKr
0cQF“He was never9DE a loyallJEg subject.”eXme
0zOn“Still, thanks toGQV the third,DnlM we avoidedMzBmjp a biggerg3hRMp humiliation. It’sNhu a realzFWQH relief.”B0J6Rh
ngFrzQ“Huh? Don’t telljllabf me thejhzDfS third youngtxh master gatheredjHY this evidence?”IpyaM2
feM“The distribution managerPd8 switched sidesGUu to him.QXG1S From whatjl9b I gather,CbWS it mustoX2zQ be thattzQO new servantI8lMq from theot6 underworld.”o90
9Fy“His name isb4QcsL Hugo.”WWVdD6
GgVWa“Yes, that Hugo.4jp5a But it’sfleBE absurd. Justhre because hisOojLSw plan was8UzRX discovered, the7lt head ofrGLi the underworldriu switches sidese95e so easily?”CCGz8j3YYM
llAUlThe duke scoffed,FaKmDB leaning back0cZA in hisGlAy6g chair.vAkuk
LlJTThough he letcgc it slidePVFrr earlier, thisC4qYB wasn’t a simple matter.szENEhH4dStB
YJpuBg“If he werez5zYx going toIAUYZ betray someone,H9ajNk he’d gommfgy to someonetYJRAu more powerful—oraZOF run. WhatY8E power doesLeNPSA the thirdswp have tootP win hisMM9VEE loyalty?”3Jz
l4ys“Then that meansgff4kz the third5VmM young masterntmac personally convincedoTjyjF him.”BRp
KuFg“Convinced… yes, I suppose yougKwvR could callGTT it that.”m3q1inn
QWnIt wasn’t incorrect—but7Yy to callXQW it merevT5A persuasion didn’tjn4 do itAgl0U justice.h6NpP
YsBWould a veteran35EL fox ofBK18fc the underworldVITIJ really fall5dHeAi for justDnwG a fewdAl words?Fccmp
55TUJust because someonepfr40F promised toJq7w9 fulfill the11ndhI dream he810A had carriedw0J5 his wholegiMZjw life?SyS53
5xp1Pw‘Impossible.’1D9
2dQrsLThis wasn’t somexHjB5 backwater noble.AjH He had1I54xI wagered his2qYWO life betweenp6sLj a marquissTo and a duke.MhsUm
wYDHis resolve exceededFOg9h9 that ofbL2Wx many knights,cGlfq and his38P5t mind wasyEU razor-sharp.41TqF
blLqQOFor someone likeBraYvi that tomP9Ct swear loyaltyjRkWrE to LucianZEO meant onlysRfy one thing:3HjSAs4ag5g5
Mr0He had seenLbslA not justWiPL7 confidence—but realBDw capability, moreyqew5 than enough.IyJJRxKL3
ILJ“In any case,94Q it’s soonerG0x than planned,KvFV3 but nowRTi that theaKK82 third hasDFE proven hiskgnox worth, there’sctld05 no reason09i to keepznJmq waiting. StartingT5iP tomorrow, I’llRjDg teach himLoeF9 the LionuQpK1 Heart Sword.”rMgAG7vK1udV
jIt“A wise decision.d0HZ Who will083fU be hisze6ap sword master…?”xc3GkLTIM
WBNOv0“Sir Eisen. I know it’sifBx7l uncomfortable to89G call backaSA someone whoJx03g had alreadyHI1e retired, butTQBi there’s noL9h9 one better.”GMDuYRuFQeJ
Jg5h“I’ll inform himi3b immediately.”vUNDjp
Hon“Oh, and don’tR7o touch theomSoH organization listedhUku3 in those1B1o documents. TheMJVRpI third wantsXVP4it to shakevrkSZc them fromK2d the inside.Unal I wantIiOLh to see4mBVq2 what he’scLkXNz capable of.”gRrd11oX
p5DBflEdwin shivered atfzwiRH those words.Y5qJxto
vQSxBIHe understood theCRibuZ desire toTtzzZV test hishlQuPI son—but theInJa matter was4cW far tooo6ZKwM dangerous.9lkj
KtpJIf anything wentdnADT wrong, theyzBByD could beT1pN2 completely exposed0aK4tM with no4U8uEH way too48m recover.eQle
Ycp“Your Highness, withdX6xzb all duetj6gb respect, thisg03jb1 matter…”xFqq8
Az3“I know whatXTmR you’re going82Pvh to say.7QTrF That this8pgyxO evidence isJujV too importantBu9 to gambleT2En with, right?”ySBXGULY
ZdtBv“It’s not justhPcLB that. Thetbsu third youngZr8J master haspVhqWn no experienceNObq in theseqWHS kinds ofLae3d operations. EvenxjUa if itMOu5c succeeds, itaYb2 won’t bevIJfn better thanlUAD if I handled itGYv myself.”GAl1
S3U“That’s true. ButTu1 even so,t5qO7a I wantCYv to leavezRCh it in0ff5UN the third’sSum hands.”4NJwy
QUHHBa“Have you seenxoA something in3TLPoJ the third8WLKh young master?”fzAKGBMC
QrL3U8“Not to thatB7d extent—but hisvCzp gaze was8nVP right.”RJbc
pjMGKPFor the duke,Dp0X2m it wasHY4D possible tom7vcx glimpse a person’s entirertC life througheco1I their eyes.UJHMl8vMO
aHDFor example, a noble youngK4VfkM lady raisediAphg in comfortjxG retained a certain innocence,noc even when0IzMZH ordering a criminal’s execution.q3f93jjYz
oKt8Meanwhile, someone whoitL had grownFD40 up at8wE6Ek the bottomI9N7S of society,4aioL5 no mattereJy how humble,ldg7 always hadYQlRUR a traceaoMF4m of repressedcBxP ferocity inA9p their gaze.A6lQFI
OoosThis also appliedgAfmo to theZ3UnI2 duke’s sons.3pf4ahRoX6
Lk6fvrEven if theyvgka had innatetIe8 talent andVZLN nobility, thatT6jj immature airXj5zgn of a young nobleAX9o was hardj3TFrq to conceal.aJllW01lA9
2aFucBut today, Lucian’sSeA eyes had2Vo6E none ofBpQ that.JvXNN
NRscj8“They were themuK3e3 eyes ofkME5 someone whogxg has beenkJh7K7 to the8RrvI battlefield.”DTl
8E8Vz“What do you4uU mean byvuVJ that…?”3fH
8pTRN“As you know,lWxN the gaze05M4O of a novice who’seMivdr only beenrRStO fed heroicLkLx tales isOiu very different7wFu from thatppqtHW of a soldier who’sfkwU had hisZeZqIW ear sliced0GVQm4 off onmgIsJ a battlefield19V where spearsPXS4 and swordsy9weV clash.”ZGk35
HgeyWhen Lucian saidXwr he wouldhYXNo offer hisDOc9T neck—he was,AFOrOw without a doubt, theva2lA latter.EUAA1c
wvIWIt wasn’t theK8mM9 impulsive vowcieTc of a reckless youth,dRN but thehuV8 gaze onlyaH5 seen inAcU9s8 someone bettingEvjZN their realW0PP life.C3rXcD
y77OJAt least amongW023 the other5aLj sons, nonePoSS4 had shownsZ6nN such a thing yet.1y5O6WJHs
dvs“Though capability and2awid resolve areEhVqQE different things,hoK if heOKYW showed thatdJAVn much resolve,g5Wb it’s onlyDywCX logical toSxe assume herHGf has a plan. That’sild why I want toF2G see howmqu far hePXnt can go.”fsxPeqFbZ
q3vB“If Your HighnessLIkTq says so,lGL3lo there’s nothingdR0k more toJJv say.”BqCnJ
uTgEdwin bowed andLP8 left.53p2
oWz3QNo matter howmwGwt5 important the0Kv matter, ifnpp1BD the dukeoGnlSE prioritized groomingxht his successor,ZuK the head8gagBy steward’s duty5F5 was toUaT obey.nvR2
m9gXAt the sameTwfu time, heObOW felt a flicker of4TH anticipation aboutj7W2 what resultsLHtT the thirdHfVORq young masterUsUc would show.R3gfTpb0cx
6qGBecause not evenwCyhzh Edwin coulddiVL match theKabW1h duke’s eyeJfbEH for judgingxkMCQU people.ZKI
hpx***W2Sik
bv6qLucian summoned HugodF3 as soongawqw as heKr8 returned.pXhd
iC5“Can you exposeOCpbO the marquis’sSFd family that’sX28P behind alltPF of this?”Py7tFRxnr
Spat“Expose them?”OJD
KE2“I mean, canOzM you lureF125o them infd4P so theyNs17M don’t just6s0w cut offPgD the tailxB66CZ and run?”uaN6hbIx1V
6Na0rHe didn’t evenaAI0sx aim to0V2 drag the4gvL marquis himselfWshqG to trial.oC8M4SPA
NQ5OK0It would beJXU0n enough tocwJB gather justFN4 a bitxyy more evidence—enoughaWT that theyoLGS couldn’t getdlGsvr away withrujv mere excuses.HAIsXqjgf
cDCXEven if onlyE1Fj a littleNlqyu more was65xU revealed, theb3VE difference betweenVnmz losing justo2xZ6 the tailOMG or alsotoru the legsNb2F5 would belVHUn enormous.JbEcX4
RAo4vWThe losses theivSDnH marquis’s familyOCjN would havePtq4 to endurekuSpe to provefiQG their innocence2osF would bePCGBKv incomparable.4ek
rnTAt Lucian’s words,m2Cs Hugo smirkedN0DrdR boldly.67wd
3iK“That won’t bel45 hard. ThoseXdMM2s connected toORs the marquis’sWAwFH family willflh8qV come atB1c least a couple moreSdhWT times.”gDMhh
B3Y“Twice?”zqtOfj
Shg“They’ll come inaxIslw person toa6f6WE see thep8K drug productionk0L and theK5g5PF first sale.dPf Before workgb9ZUt starts, they3qKeE5 always checkNXQ whether I’mjdKuOI actually doingT7S8N the jobeLvv or justdHR pocketing theigtFre support money.”KCW9ZGLnI
gZra“And what’s theKQFLCg rank ofK8cccJ those contacts?RWQEI If they’re94US92 just tails8wDec too, itsqi won’t beCt7Ro very meaningful.”jaToRPoRh2
AiN7I“They tried toaBo hide itLlIPme from me,NwacJp but I followed themu4TwfY in secretzG1onG and foundNjPH out whoyDR it is.0agIp It’s theX8ZWWT marquis’s fourthdr3L5H son.”Ke2SrY
FLyr“…!”Pnd
7pdNUeLucian’s eyes widened.rRSnHL7LMD
kcPdZyIf a sonfmAYQ1 was involved,8CiWg the marquis’s1YVd family could7lkG no longernGUjGg deny theirfCl connection toyVN428 Hugo.1lwnXQ
f6aBCyNo, even ifMzB5B they didHvc deny it,y0YE4S they’d haveg7HvD to completelygYOL cut offN4PVI the fourth02kRr4 son and6xjjbl everything related2ak37 to him.iRtIuzf4
Y1WVIf they’d neverF4cCu imagined Hugo’s6WMN betrayal, itioS1m would beywDqFN a fatalvPxUW blow theyCLA15 couldn’t possiblyFRuY foresee.NlzP
ut0N5x“Can you handlebkIr this onM8b your own?mzn I can’tRm3Vr move. IfRS3a2r House ValdeckZV5X5y gets too25r involved, they’ll5W5LI notice too.”kXCUMDWSQo
glE8VW“The prey islJaj walking rightF1W into the2fVsu trap—what helpzypVU would I need? When5OFF the timecgJb comes, I’llFVL let you3p3R know, soMWQj don’t worry.”lv1Vbrv
gmVbk8After hearing suchDaz bold words,zMEB Lucian decidedKGDQLI to fullymZogSG entrust theOWDs matter tohHXI Hugo.Xcz
wdCHaving received direct18nU orders fromeQww the marquis’sJTjt family, Hugoy8g0uO knew theG2a details betterKPxq than anyone.MJojU0Eg
ljoO8UIt would bed9R6cu better toJvfRCW let himIbSg unleash hisqEZrU4 full capabilityVuAN rather than0b8h6V interfering withodfL4 unnecessary advice.OxJQ5NK8Uq
WMuxEspecially knowing thatSxIU1J his abilitieshMdq had alreadyTGM been proven.ERGRROA
DWYR“Didn’t Hans sayfZYeJy he’s beenpGZ6jV re-training theZJTxA servants lately?2QKiKE How’s thatz7QZ going?”Kowm
yV4M“Honestly, there’s nothBd much tol2h teach them.03xY After whatOLxwmU happened lastYq7 time, they’vej01UU4 all comeJlCIHP to theirk9U senses. Besides,ctW most ofE7z them haveiwZURm been workingyXR as servantsGszZCU longer than8B5h I’ve beenOXHQ around.”s0DamB
m3cSN“Still, you neveruBMLu know wheneLX0EW that effectnXD might wearNEN off, so1CRS keep an97gA5 eye onxkqNR them. Ifgvtr anyone startsOZ7X slacking, reportRPQ it immediately.g4k People don’trIXJ change soVHE easily.”olA0
vLsOG“If anyone daresZekVW to getxeSz cocky, I’llCE4 report themWYn5FY right away.”qOBRCb2qxfN
38tAfter giving newIvMdw instructions toi7a9lG his twoHK4E trusted men,xgeDQ Lucian wentD76 to sleep.7gjhQPW9
bPkKAnd the nextCDr day, at2HaXN5 the appointedbxupK hour, heEKRDA headed aloneTQXC2 to the5zg4ey training grounds.eCe58Vip
45N2There, the personlLg the dukeRxqMp had mentioneddjt beforehand wasTEQ already waitingcYNspz for him.7XIA2tva
ot6Diw“It’s been twotD5 years sincesLbUf His GracekmS the Duke’st7Tm6n birthday. ThisgCPv is ourUFspcD first timeNj7igH meeting since1xFZW3 then, Third7FZXW Young Master.ZbhEY Do youU5eY0 remember me?”higWUMKEZuI
mtLflGDespite the oldYpjbL knight’s easygoingiK8kf demeanor, Lucian9zhN couldn’t relax.qdsHzNVDyK
o4mE72Because he had2LoS heard thatlzi name to22sXE9 exhaustion evenIsZ before hisdiz reincarnation.txY
HkxSr‘Eisen Brightner.’Wlk
wcpzThe right handOfD8NU of the68lP former duke14he and a loyal retainerMyj who hadPHLm served House2XN Valdeck forWq8ZRz three generations.t6USbXSRueT
PdLwAnd standing beforeyn0Jz him wasGkKn the sole6ge survivor amongVq6mBA the fiveqhk knights whocSzyNs had earnedIEVbc the titleSYLB of SwordmasterDjiCuI across the1IBLwr entire continent.oHgfsXN
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