Chapter 162
w8R5S8q‘Wow…’i0rMG
yaeThe moment Malcolm sensed Vincent’s gaze, he immediately understood that his son had made a mistake.s2ARa
K1s8zUnlike him, who had been through all kinds of situations in life, his son was still young and not accustomed to this kind of conversation.y8K
LcFPgIf he tried to clumsily hide the secret, it was inevitable that it would show on his face.87w0
BS4TJust as he expected, Vincent formed a peculiar smile and spoke.IcoKQ2y
GTRW“So even if you fail at forging, what matters is trying, because that’s what makes a blacksmith? Admirable. And yet it seems you don’t even have money for the return journey, and still you’re willing to spend everything just for a chance.”FHC7a9
ACXipzS“…How many things in this world can one be certain of succeeding at? Sometimes you have to bet everything just to get the chance to try.”y0X
kL3g“Very true. The sad thing is that one almost never succeeds on the first attempt.
And yet, for some reason, I have the feeling that you will manage to forge something.”AkvB
rFH“…!”akaKkCZ
rmHEven Malcolm, who until then had kept the conversation as calm as possible, could not hide his bewilderment.g1tGWW
JRlqWas it possible that, with just a few phrases, Vincent had grasped exactly what his son reacted to?lvhTmF
BQOgwVHe knew he was facing a seasoned knight, but he had not imagined him to be so perceptive.ewDp
icMKh‘This is bad.’YYf
60sMalcolm felt his back soak with cold sweat.EMqi
bueXRIn the past, that knowledge had only been a source of ridicule, but now it concerned a forging technique for ancient metals turned into treasures of incalculable value.xqKT
7rmEIf the knight before him discovered that Malcolm possessed that method, he did not know how he might react.Px8C1HA
jJkmIn the worst case, he might try to kill father and son to seize the secret.b0DAq
Jqwkbf0Just as Malcolm was seriously considering flipping the table and fleeing immediately, Vincent spoke again.TcZCG
eaKjsVO“Forgive me. My tone may have caused a misunderstanding. Even if you have some secret, I have no intention of forcing you to reveal it. So relax a little. You look like you’re about to kill someone.”UpM
0us“…”rj1
MYeqWTGEven so, Malcolm did not lower his guard.JBFHp5
2rV4hT0As long as Vincent kept his hand near the hilt of his sword, everything could end in an instant if he changed his mind.CbY
ggyFinally, Vincent clicked his tongue and decided to speak frankly.dgI3E
tcO“Since I see that you don’t trust me, I’ll tell you the truth. We didn’t come only to pay our respects to Sir Eisen. We also came to request a position in the service of Duke Lucian.”vFy
QAg“…?”YBO9k
ZJbMalcolm blinked, bewildered by the sudden revelation.VleRmv
QjiIt did not seem that the duke was in need of knights, much less that someone could apply so lightly without recommendations or connections.6rZf
r5L2BNoticing Malcolm’s expression, Vincent gave a bitter smile.ciOv3v2
Y5N“The truth is that in the past I had a brief connection with His Excellency the duke. It was short, but at least enough that, if I request an audience, he won’t reject me outright.”eGys
6vCh“…!”TpXm37k
Foyro“The problem is that it’s not a relationship that guarantees favorable treatment. There’s a good chance the duke will reject my request, so I wanted to secure an alternative.”XDrJ
NQU“An alternative…?”jtj
iTYX39“For example, earning his favor by recommending him an exceptional blacksmith.”JiCA
htaThen Malcolm understood.vJHxr
4s5PAt this moment, the duke needed someone capable of refining ancient metals.0pGAO
3LR6D6KIf Vincent found such a blacksmith and presented him to the duke, the merit would be his.sN5z8
rW6A8“I don’t think it’s an unfavorable proposal for you. If you have the skill, wouldn’t it be better to show it directly before the duke rather than competing in a public selection?”ZFo
L0V“Hmm…”q0LZg
w6pIiMalcolm fell into deep thought at such an unexpected proposal.qQY
oYXOIt was true that, if he could demonstrate his talent directly before Lucian, there would be nothing better.z66ur5I
NKv5Unlike a competition, a single failure would not mean the end.VAdLk
YoMQThe duke would probably give him some time to see whether he could produce real results.xxiRoA
FnOCLAnd if he managed to show even a small advance while that patience lasted, the recognition would be immediate.hlUg5jl
voLIK‘The problem is whether I can trust this knight.’2anHF
vek5dxDAlthough Vincent spoke with apparent frankness, no one could know another person’s true intentions.FbxbSgf
wenS6ejAccepting a good offer without caution could lead them into an even more dangerous situation.iGXV6
JWGClgmBut at the same time, rejecting it did not guarantee that they could leave safely.7pW
bO9coMo“…Then, could we see the duke immediately?”Y5PZ
1PopmAfter thinking it over for a long time, Malcolm proposed what he considered the best possible compromise.OxS
n34bMIf Vincent truly had a connection with the duke, it would be enough to request an audience to verify it.ymECFLT
2XTCrIf he hesitated or dodged the answer, they would flee immediately.mTrnc
JisTVHVincent smiled at the question and nodded.rMI
QYui“As soon as my companions who went outside return, we’ll go request the audience.”Gh9
EtU44S8***DvUAm
JbJviz“What? The Black Lion has come?”5JbCXa
dHGopd“Yes. They say their names are Vincent Daegil, Widro, Jude, and Martin.”Y7521
dHO02Upon hearing those names after so long, Lucian’s eyes opened wide.hQV1MB
Jk10vvWeren’t they the ones he had traveled with to Bornholm by order of Duke Sigmund?KbTKUY
jZke4rHe had thought they would not meet again unless he himself advanced to the gates of the Valdeck house, and yet they had come first.2k0Z
fCP“They say that Your Excellency would only know their names, so they did not mention their surnames. There is a possibility that they are impostors…”lHsa
IUH3hL“No, that matches. When I met them, I only heard their names. In fact, that’s what gives me certainty. Bring them in immediately.”REAY
g2042At Lucian’s order, the administrator bowed his head and moved quickly.Yuz
EUiHLfPSoon after, four familiar faces, with whom he had shared adventures long ago, appeared before Lucian.JSaOFn
GISNZ“It’s been a long time, Your Excellency. Do you remember us?”P8R
Wbiftb“How could I not? It really has been a long time. It feels like yesterday when we set out together for Bornholm.”wVe
n4bDq94“For us as well. Is Raymond, the captain, doing well?”MOGDE
hjq“Too well, for his own good. And you? Have you been well?”O7Y
BNYp“…Unfortunately, no. Since the second young master proclaimed himself head of the family, everything fell apart.”Fxjkr
kgiKsbVincent let out a deep sigh and began to recount the hardships they had endured up to now.isvS
0N8XY8How Jordi showed not the slightest respect for honor or appearances.ENwiHfc
glGHHow the Black Lion had become a private organization serving exclusively his interests.KOXl4wD
5L8And how they, unable to endure the corruption into which Valdeck had fallen, had decided to leave.hGt9e
7Tm2DYZ“We still don’t regret that decision, but the reality is that now we’re suffocating from lack of money. That’s why, though it embarrasses us, we’ve come to rely on an old connection and present ourselves before Your Excellency.”MWejP
UzzN“I see. You’ve come to ask me for a position?”HvSLS
stZwo“Yes. It’s an impudent request, but…”JJFoPie
w7rd7l“Understood. Swear loyalty here and now.”nlu0K
O9vB“Eh?”n6JpfpU
U8R0kThe immediate response, without the slightest hesitation, left Vincent and the others completely dumbfounded.TEYt
giV6BXThey had come prepared for a cold and outright rejection, but this was far too easy.TZ8
LTB“Your Excellency… are you sure?”PWC
z4vV“Sure of what?”KR0t1
iQ1if4“Of accepting us. At this moment, Your Excellency is pursuing a great cause, and if word spreads that you have taken in the Black Lion, it could affect your reputation…”DubEHnD
n1ee“Affect it, you say?”bjp
ipLkCqLucian let out a mocking laugh at Vincent’s concern.rn9RU
7nGhIFrom his point of view, it was practically meaningless.sXz5P
nlYE58‘No matter how much one values pretexts and legitimacy, everything has its limits.’9fck8m
NktIn chaotic times, there are no loyalists without the slightest stain.FaG
en5CTrying to be perfect and rejecting even what could be beneficial only leads to ending up as a faithful servant annihilated by vile intrigues in the history books.gt9
RTFMoreover, the Black Lion were top-tier knights, skilled both in combat and in shadow operations.bSi
uB0Rejecting such talent just to maintain a clean image would be proclaiming to the world that one is an idiot.cwDPcM
kK4f“Stop saying nonsense and swear loyalty right here. Once you’re done, I’ll put you to work immediately.”uKwJvt
8pWGnO“Y-Your Excellency…”vJYxRN
bUHHU“You must be tired, so for the next month, rest well. I’ll prepare lodging for you in the White Castle. Ah, and as compensation, I’ll advance you two months of salary. Use it for whatever you need.”MTDg
7ju2KFaced with such generous treatment, far beyond what they had expected, Vincent and the other members of the Black Lion looked at Lucian with reddened eyes.hajN
nEpIHhAFor an instant, the face of Duke Sigmund seemed to overlap with Lucian’s.4eqwL7B
gWyDRgQVincent was about to kneel right then and there and swear loyalty, but there was still something he had to convey.rjJlsL
3OmdVW“We are deeply grateful for such undeserved treatment, but before swearing loyalty there is information we must pass on to you.”29uZwV
gqFOaZ“Information?”onI0F
Lq1l0p“At an inn in the outer city, we met a blacksmith who claims to be able to work fairy metal. More precisely, he says he has inherited, generation after generation, a book with forging techniques. Isn’t that the kind of talent Your Excellency is looking for?”Beqs3CI
MlLxww6“…!”pQonh
ZJqWhK***eVMdV1
m5r“So you can’t help me with anything? Not even to avenge our father?”KrD3
XyYk“Elder brother, please calm down. What do you want me to do if I have no way to help you?”bRv
Dpd2Xf9Joshua, who had once been the fourth young master of Valdeck, was on the verge of madness.QZcJmhs
4gIHe had thought he barely escaped Jordi, only for Tristan to burst in now demanding money.0YLJKmB
rhu4zYw‘Damn it… if it were up to me, I’d tell him to get lost.’kxuRp
kMDz2QlBut Joshua’s eyes cautiously shifted toward the outside.0EXK
PeZ5NKNBeyond the window, the spears and swords of the army Tristan had brought gleamed under the sunlight.qULQDT2
CPPWMIf he gave in to anger, those weapons would turn against him.3UPH
cWIRAs repugnant as the situation was, if he didn’t want to die, he had to choose his words carefully.DEKbgW
ThtleCo“I can hear the gears turning in your head. Are you looking for an excuse to throw me out?”8BeZ2NY
SC2aVv7“Please, have mercy. There really is nothing I can do for you. What do you expect from such a small baronial house?”eRR19y
RqXs“You exaggerate too much. From where I stand, you seem quite comfortable.”Cl78K1
uNo3With a sharp smile, Tristan ran his hand across the ebony table.hqrJqo
sPswnIt was silent pressure—there was money for luxurious furniture, but not to help him.FIi68
ol0kUnable to bear that pressure any longer, Joshua exploded.7uwFxDT
reA“I didn’t buy that! It was my maternal grandfather, the former head of the family! Now you’re going to use furniture bought decades ago as an excuse to ask me for money too?”VhU4OnV
6ABDaKO“The former head of the family…”cRM
b39HdDUpon hearing those words, Tristan closed his eyes.QRBSpHB
1PR7SgThe difference between Joshua’s situation and his own was far too cruel.E2I
GhnMck“So now you’re a baron. Impressive. Despite being expelled by Jordi, you managed to recover and inherit your maternal family.”W24
i1gH“…I was just lucky. If my maternal uncle hadn’t died of illness a few years ago, none of this would have happened.”SK3
FRp“Exactly. Your luck is extraordinary. Unlike mine.”otX
OQslJoshua could not respond to Tristan’s bitterness-laden voice.a2WA3h
qq5KLAnd it was no wonder.sr7
xVnTristan had witnessed with his own eyes the death of Duke Sigmund, had been stripped of the position of head of the family, and even his mother, Veronica, had been captured.ee8Qm
XI7To make matters worse, recently his maternal grandfather had died, and an uncle with whom he had a poor relationship had taken control, cutting off any support from the maternal family.RMaGR
OXg9The difference with Joshua, who had escaped together with his mother and even inherited the title, was abysmal.s2HE4D
zMl‘I’ve even heard rumors that Lady Veronica died long ago and that Jordi is just hiding the truth…’UNYb
bYeopGThey were only rumors, but Joshua felt they carried more credibility than they seemed.C3KVWJ
expIf Veronica were still alive, Tristan would not be throwing himself so fiercely against Valdeck.fhRuSzP
7imAt the very least, he would have restrained his fangs for fear of endangering his mother.ewUOO
ee1EAThat he still attacked head-on could only mean that the rumor was true, and that Tristan knew it as well.r1e2N7
tBhDjBQSeeing the fall of the one who had once been considered the principal heir alongside Lucian, Joshua could not help but feel deep pity.A0a8mgJ
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