Chapter 71
qwGHZ“What do we do?”IKm
GnGQ4Hugo stepped forward and asked Lucian on behalf of everyone.WWaEo3h
iNwxGetting involved in other people’s business usually meant shouldering unnecessary problems.vXnVFdA
i5MttHowever, if handled well, it could also become an opportunity to gain allies in the north.eSFZ
hCUy3OS“We’ll go take a look.”inDY
NECvzAfter a brief moment of thought, Lucian headed toward the direction of the clashing weapons.Gdrl
taVwIn any case, they were already approaching. If they stayed still, they would end up getting involved without understanding anything.VpeJJ
hpRIFIt was better to take the initiative and assess the situation.MUE
zOXiClang, clang, crunch.Y6Ta
sRlXsq“It’s over there.”YWwQ4W
pl9Lucian’s group climbed a hill and looked down.XD7
DUwGThere, about thirty people were fighting. More precisely, all of them were attacking a single man.BY2jr
n5j0“You bastards, disgrace of the north! Do you know nothing of a warrior’s honor?”uid
yJVdUbCrunch.uM7mbUX
A43Ut“Gah…!”JW2M542
wmOuThe old man with completely white hair roared as he crushed a charging soldier with his axe.7pm
W3epHxThough he kept growling, his muscular body swept through enemies with absurd strength.JiNy
veL“Damn old man. So much talk about warriors, and he trained like a monster.”VO9M
TCPOUnlike the burly elder, the man commanding the many soldiers had the bearing of a refined noble.TTi
HGVPHe wore an elegant outfit, fit for the capital, and white gloves more suited to a ballroom than a battlefield.uTmm0
uEF“You bastard! Hiding behind your soldiers—what kind of cowardice is that? Is this how I raised you? If you want your father’s head, come get it yourself!”7k2
kKl“Still clinging to those outdated ideals? If it were a ploy to lure me in, I could understand it, but saying it seriously just makes it pathetic.”zjVk
0miRMo“You… ngh!”L3e2u8c
tgj0HSlash.Xx7DDtl
AiURFZgJust as the old man was about to shout again, a soldier’s spear grazed his arm. Seeing blood gush from that steel-like body, the soldier cried out in excitement.nvu51pq
IcS932“I-I pierced him! I…!”ZPMeP
Mt8jt“How dare you interrupt an old man when he’s speaking!”ciliB
9kWiOwNWhoosh.E9TFNw
Nt3The axe came down like lightning and severed the soldier’s head in a single blow.daduKQM
hc68It was so fast that the man didn’t even realize he had died; his face still bore a smile.Rr7L
9ppDSeeing the head roll on the ground, the noble clicked his tongue.wAo
egtEL“What a shame. That’s no way to earn gold coins. He only needed to strike and retreat.”aLut
nfpr6p“How dare you say such—ugh!”RmTHzK2
r8YhVlWThe old man, trying to shout again, staggered in dizziness. Looking closely, his body was covered in multiple small wounds.EcpSR
xcQXpDSeeing him on the verge of collapse, the middle-aged noble laughed.d5KhMtu
oLo3“No matter how much of a warrior he is, age catches up. Still, you’ve held out quite well for your age, father.”EsGmJa
nSu5“Let me ask you something… Do you really believe that bastard, that snake, can restore the north’s former glory?”cvOJ6v
44a0Perhaps sensing death was near, the old man set his anger aside and asked with genuine curiosity.xQH1
KAtThe noble shook his head, laughing even harder.wSWt
C5HZXT“And what does that matter? The glory of the north isn’t my concern.”agpdw2
3ruV5by“What… then…?”MnI4
gnMDo“What matters is that Count Calix’s house is trying to reorganize the north, and there are more people than you think willing to support them. If the north is going to change, isn’t it better to side with them early and gather the scraps?”Qwo8DPB
18h“To the very end…!”4q9T1N
obaA trickle of blood fell from the old man’s mouth as he clenched his teeth.BWj7h
fWJ5xHe looked more devastated by the denial of tradition than by his own son’s betrayal.ztcr
pznIL“I’m tired of sermons. Just go quietly, like the warrior you so admire.”KfrT
312With that mocking remark, the noble gestured.K94
kP8Three knights, who had been conserving their strength until then, stepped forward.SjiVuD
5K7FTheir mounts stomped the ground, ready to charge.5MlmM
KVy4“That won’t be possible.”DnC6ex
HWpMC“…?”z31KFT
6IPLucian’s voice rang out from the top of the hill.NNx9I
ocPSgCnAt the sudden intrusion, the noble frowned.jSy7
JsC8ZK“And who are you to meddle in my family’s affairs?”A7v
5uLEDT“And who are you to meddle in mine?”QcrWvYc
uOXi8V“…?”Qjze
DdLaJThe noble blinked, confused. They were the ones intervening, and now he was being accused?FAu68kc
crSCrWh“What nonsense are you spouting? Think you’re funny?”0k18iR
SLjn3“Not at all. I’m serious. Why are you mentioning the house of Count Calix? They’re using the name Grimaldi without my permission.”nHxhCvX
ek8RG“…!?”SNKqb
cUpGThe noble’s face stiffened. A stranger was speaking of the Grimaldi name as if it were his own.V0Ksbe
c1P3Q7G“Who the hell are you?”mSrg1
5ZNIn response to the confused question, Lucian gave a faint smile.NmT3
vfJ“My name is Lucian Valdeck. Third son of House Valdeck and maternal grandson of the last head of House Grimaldi.”1CQ
qpXc***QfH
rdVaaTa“…”XubnrvV
Rfe6NlK“…”DOi1dU
dj1kX47When Lucian revealed his identity, not only the noble, but even the knights fell silent all at once.Z6Fp
9NgZq9Especially the knights, who looked even more confused than the noble himself, kept glancing at each other again and again.9vn6Ff9
vKx“…Are you really of Grimaldi blood?”MR95mM
My4DH7y“You’ve already heard someone else’s name, so now it seems like it’s your turn to say yours.”ovY
8D7“Ahem, my apologies. I am Torik Osgor, current head of Baron Osgor’s family.”76y0
77aX“What nonsense are you spouting? When did I hand over the position of family head to you?”PQ2
xx0eRAt the old man’s retort, Torik frowned. He threw him a look that clearly meant “shut your mouth,” but the elder snorted with disdain and shouted at Lucian.vDsq
TWyuXE“I’m Harald Osgor, current head of House Osgor! Are you truly the grandson of Duke Klaus?!”JT7v
lVrz0Klaus Grimaldi. Hearing the name of his maternal grandfather come from the old man’s mouth, Lucian nodded.rftMxkU
GiCF“I swear it by the eight gods of the sky. I am his blood grandson.”FHgYZIv
u5rztql“Why have you come to the north now? I’ve never seen you before in my life!”4lf
w1bCovered in wounds, Harald asked with a fierce gaze.bNhdE
WClAtIt seemed like he was blaming him for showing up out of nowhere after never setting foot in the north his whole life.6Fym
Q4icFh6Lucian met his gaze and answered firmly.uTorl4
G5dxerY“I’ve come to reclaim the name of Grimaldi, which was originally mine, and to punish the thief who used it as he pleased.”SldGQ1
hAcNXj“And a man who’s not from the north has the right to meddle in northern affairs?”VRpoQy7
AKt5mr1“Wherever I’m from, I’m still his grandson. What more right do I need to take back what’s mine?”p7b8
TaT“And what if all the northerners don’t recognize your right?”HaRe
pttfHarald’s muscles tensed, as if he might hurl his axe at any moment. But Lucian didn’t even blink and responded with a cold smile.qKr
muIO“Then I’ll just have to ask all the northerners what right they have to interfere in the affairs of someone else’s family.”GC0V9f2
Pbyb4“Hahahah!”DlWTPi
dGvPccDespite how arrogant the response was, Harald burst into laughter.kMmR
fLxXbBlood still flowed from his poorly clotted wounds, but the laughter didn’t stop.GzLDG
a7Lc“Heh… you really are his grandson. This brings back memories of the old days.”dELWy0i
mnC9moh“Are the questions over?”IrRGgD
dsS“Yes. Welcome to the north, heir of the Grimaldis. And…”XHSw
ASdsJEnHarald spun his axe once and fixed his gaze on Torik.7N0t8qJ
cmmKs“Could you lend us a hand? I’m ashamed to say I ended up like this because my own son stabbed me in the back.”QFyM0Mu
k0XQAt Harald’s request for help, Torik shouted urgently.25SIM
Z8sw“You don’t need to get involved! This is a family matter, so just pretend you didn’t see anything and leave!”CpJDqWR
mxrQlPk“And what if I don’t want to?”qOk
uIQ7FH“What?!”g16f5
bhIr5“That conversation earlier was pretty interesting. What was it again? Something about benefiting from the new order in the north being reorganized by House Calix?”JLuIc2
mLtYHDamn it! With his face twisting in fury, Torik quickly scanned Lucian’s group.h14ND7g
4P63UThen, as if nothing had happened, he relaxed his expression and curved his lips into a smirk.DsmG
mnVgR“You really think you can fight me with such a pathetic force? Ridiculous.”VT7al
07tgqW“And what do you think my force is?”1BR
XKnhkW“A washed-up knight, a mercenary pretending to be a knight, and ten nobodies. Ah, should I count the young master who knows nothing of the world too?”2CLDtvF
a2mbNNv“Oh?”E5wA
Tlhocu6Lucian slightly curled the corner of his mouth at Torik’s mocking tone. So that’s what he saw.giUOAfQ
5CIn0b5“Raymond, Felicia. Clear the path. Hugo, lead the ten and cover the rear to prevent them from surrounding those two.”RIJ
HLBq9s“Yes, my lord.”jMIOTW
GcVAs soon as the command was given, Raymond and Felicia moved to the front, and Hugo with the ten spread out on either side.GWsFe
pgr7Seeing mere soldiers move with such coordination made Torik flinch, though he forced a smile.WSf9h
XhVs9Eu“Looks like you trained them well. But even if they’re elite, with just ten men…”QAzLg
tP3h“Advance.”aE4MuZ
XkHsLucian gave the order quietly, ignoring Torik.PmU3A
Em7LeGrAt the same time, the Black Lion and the future Swordmaster unsheathed their swords and descended the hill.xikcS
qpa***X8t6
Tkmi“…”n1UB
g69HJTorik blinked in a daze. He didn’t understand what had just happened.AEEolLp
TlvflDThe soldiers blocking the charge had fallen like straw dolls, and before he realized it, cold steel was already pressed against his neck.LVn
hnkt“If you move, you’ll die.”s0N
1oaX3sHearing Felicia’s voice, Torik swallowed hard.pwGMn
3hw4AAs his Adam’s apple shifted, the blade seemed to press deeper into his skin.h0UH
hSCg3Rb“Tell your soldiers to drop their weapons.”GQG
JNNRh3“That…”2FWUD
SWoxt“Do you want to die?”iMW
xS2Qp“Drop your weapons! Everyone, drop your weapons!”O1X2kXD
lhiDywFeeling the blade pierce his neck, Torik shouted in terror. The remaining soldiers obeyed immediately and threw their weapons to the ground.KN1o
esb6jIGOnce disarmed, Torik looked at Felicia with trembling eyes.bWC
DeK9in“W-what do you plan to do with me?”Fh9q
HmMAgyn“That depends on my lord’s will.”cFX
yYbEIF6“I can pay ransom, ransom! So please…”O1OdLj
8Jgk0G“Shut up.”XxiBS
MjS0W1PAt Felicia’s voice, laced with killing intent, Torik had no choice but to close his mouth.vGGyX3
JpDs15UAfter nervously scanning his surroundings, his eyes eventually landed on the three knights who were now corpses.P3TY
Nz2zo0c‘When…?’bJJW
MwTvHe had clearly seen one of them fall. The man who looked like a washed-up knight had defeated his own in just three exchanges.hQH
jDA88The problem was the other two.wTFByT
b7tx0pS‘I didn’t even see the movement.’YDT3
zWejzWOIn the instant the swordswoman flicked her sword, the two knights had already fallen from their horses.IKMjLo
sHChSsOnly upon seeing the blood soak the ground did Torik realize their throats had been cut.V07Q
YtHHeQrRealizing who the real monster was, a cold sweat ran down his forehead.K1WR
rkLCc8‘W-what did I just say…?’6s45Jtf
mB0lM“Tsk.”wCJjhhJ
GhsXVaWith a click of the tongue, two shadows loomed over him. Lucian and Harald, who had been watching from behind, now stood before him.LhlCm
yhU“You talk about trends and majorities, but you can’t even smell the blood right in front of you. Is that the politics you were speaking of?”tO0pyC
jfngwgM“….”NVloDR
PqRsUtterly ashamed, Torik trembled and lowered his head, unable to say a word. Seeing that, Harald didn’t add anything else and only sighed.Rv4
FsG“What do you wish to do?”M0vf0
R42This time, Lucian asked Harald in a respectful tone. It was consideration for an elder and respect for a titled noble.YGfBgN
tZbG0TzUnlike during the previous rebellion, he now held no official position; he was simply the third son.ppj
CWZEHarald noticed the deference and softened his tone.X6cSQ
7MSB2“Just in case, do you have rope?”S19
SZS6“Yes. It’s easy to fall in the snow in the north, so we brought plenty.”oRuBQ
88U“Tie them all up. I want to take them as prisoners.”Dtmhb36
gp0“Are you sure?”8riWa
67IfCjYAt Lucian’s question, Harald smiled bitterly.8F6
T3xfM“He’s a wretch who even committed unforgivable treason, but he’s still my son. I don’t want to cut off his head here.”LY1vtad
976Du“As you wish.”NX5drgH
4YJeLucian gave the order to the ten to tie up the disarmed soldiers. Ten men capturing more than double their number was a truly strange sight.9t6ASkh
sCGjT7While silently watching the prisoners being bound, Harald turned to Lucian and said.reqZP
bHiuRH“You said you were Duke Klaus’s grandson. Let’s talk.”0bPmJoS
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