Chapter 199: New Rules (4)

Genard couldn’t accept the sudden turn of events and panicked.

Yuri Briol, whom he believed to be defeated, had reappeared.

With Fiore’s disappearance, the conflict between the Empire and Briol had practically tipped in the Empire’s favor, and Genard had allowed himself to bask in a sense of victory for a while.

He believed he had bet on the right side. Even if Briol suffered losses, he thought that he and the wealth of the Zaetheri family would endure.

However, early that morning, a messenger came running with unbelievable news.

“What are you saying?”

“The third prince has arrived. He’s currently entering the territory.”

“When did he wake up? This is absurd…”

At that moment, he didn’t feel particularly threatened. He had considered they might clash again eventually.

“How many men did he bring?”

“About thirty in total…”

“He’s clearly lost his fear.”

Genard spoke without restraint.

The boldness Yuri had shown on the battlefield was well known. People said he was brave, but Genard dismissed him as someone who had simply lost his sense of fear.

He wasn’t noble enough to acknowledge anyone who didn’t align with him.

“Only thirty men? Did he really think he could do anything against me, Genard Zaetheri, with just that?”

“Well, they say the third prince is very skilled…”

“Enough.”

He ordered.

“Gather the knights and put them in position. Send some out to stall him constantly, to make sure he doesn’t try anything strange. Doesn’t he know where he is?”

“Yes, sir.”

Genard believed that would be enough. Even if Yuri Briol was talented, he had far more knights under his command. He was convinced he could easily crush a force of only thirty men.

He recalled the humiliation he had suffered at the hands of the third prince some time ago.

“This time…”

He smiled arrogantly. He still believed things were the same as when Fiore was alive, but now he would show how cruel power could be.

The reason he had once been loyal to Briol was Fiore’s strength. But Fiore was gone.

The Empire had taken Bezos.

If Yuri thought he still deserved respect just for being a Briol prince, he was being naïve.

Remembering his past humiliation, Genard muttered,

“That insolent brat will learn how ruthless the world truly is.”

He no longer had a monstrous father backing him. Now was the time to return the humiliation tenfold.

Genard hummed carelessly as he waited. But soon, more news arrived.

Yuri Briol had defeated every knight who confronted him and was continuing his advance.

Genard frowned.

“What the hell are those fools doing? Can’t they handle that brat?”

“Apparently, the third prince is stronger than we expected.”

“Still… it’s just thirty people.”

“Do you think he’ll make it here?”

“Should we gather more troops, just in case?”

“Hmm…”

Genard thought it over. He could mobilize enough troops in Yuzes to face even minor kingdoms, but gathering them would take time.

Besides, he didn’t think it was possible for Yuri to break through all the knights of Yuzes.

Still, he had an uneasy feeling.

So he said,

“Gather them, just in case.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Let’s consider this a good opportunity to evaluate the boys.”

And he waited.

He drank tea and pretended to be calm, but his mind kept racing over the third prince. He kept asking where he was.

Until finally, Yuri arrived at his fortress. Genard shut the castle gates and positioned his troops.

“What can thirty people do? Hahaha…”

He tried to convince himself that everything was under control. Even so, he went to a place where he could see the castle gate.

There stood Yuri Briol, his old enemy, saying something. He couldn’t make out the words from that distance, but just by seeing his silhouette, he could already imagine his usual arrogant expression.

Genard clicked his tongue.

Up to that point, he still had faith in his knights. There were more than two hundred just in that fortress.

Even with a conservative estimate, they outnumbered Yuri’s men by more than six to one. Including the foot soldiers, the gap widened even further.

It was not a gap that could be overcome.

“Hey.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Don’t be too rough. After all, he is a prince.”

Genard sneered.

“So then…”

But just as he was about to continue, something unexpected happened. The third prince jumped and landed on top of the castle wall.

Genard was stunned.

The walls were high.

And Yuri was standing right in front of the gate. They had been built so that no human could scale them, yet that young man had climbed them with astonishing ease, as if denying the very reason for their existence.

“What the hell…?”

Then he threw a noble from the top of the wall. That ruthless act made cold sweat run down Genard’s back.

“What kind of madman…?”

“My lord.”

“Stop him!”

“I’ll send more knights.”

“Are you saying the gate is in danger?”

“Just in case…”

And he was right. The third prince opened the gate and began a confrontation with the knights.

Some died instantly.

Genard, who had never trained in combat, couldn’t understand what was happening. Every time Yuri moved his hand, his knights fell like dolls.

It was like watching an adult fight children.

“Why aren’t they fighting properly? Are they scared just because he’s a prince?”

One of his knights replied.

“My lord, I believe the third prince’s level is higher than expected.”

“What did you say?”

“The difference is so great that it feels like an uneven fight.”

“You’re saying he’s that strong?”

Genard knew Yuri was strong for his age, but his knights were veterans who had trained all their lives.

Seeing them fall like toys was incomprehensible to him.

“I believe… he’s already reached the level of the Ten Greats.”

“What did you say?”

“Otherwise, there’s no way to explain it. He’s already at that level.”

“Does that even make sense? Huh?”

“He’s the son of Fiore Briol. With that blood, it’s not that surprising.”

“Ten Greats, all of a sudden!?”

Genard began to sweat coldly. He knew full well what the Ten Greats meant.

They were monsters capable of facing entire armies on their own.

He recalled Yuri Briol’s annoyed face—the brat who had humiliated and hounded him.

And now, that brat had returned as an invincible killer among the Ten Greats and was invading his territory.

Clenching his teeth, he muttered,

“Why the hell can’t you leave me alone!?”

Genard closed his eyes.

“My lord, you must find a solution. It no longer makes sense to resist by force.”

“Just for one person…?”

“That one person is overwhelmingly strong.”

“Damn useless fools! How much money have I given you, and you can’t even stop one brat?”

“My lord…”

“You too! Worthless scum.”

He spat an insult.

“Damn bastards…”

While cursing to contain his rage, Genard regained his composure. He was greedy, yes, but not foolish enough to lose his head.

“Prepare my armor.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said prepare my armor!”

Genard slapped the servant who had frozen in place.

“Move!”

“Y-Yes!”

Panting heavily, Genard began to think quickly.

“Are you really going to put on your armor…?”

“I need to look dignified.”

“Pardon?”

“You think if I beg for my life dressed like this, he’ll even blink? Humans don’t work like that. But if I put on my armor and defend myself seriously, at least I have a chance.”

It was armor custom-made for his enormous body. Though it had been made for ceremonial purposes, he had never actually worn it.

With the help of his servants, he managed to put it on as best as he could. The result looked rather ridiculous, but Genard took it seriously.

“My lord, at any moment…”

Genard, sitting on the edge of the bed, didn’t respond. His eyes were fixed on the door.

And finally, the door opened.

Yuri Briol entered with a slight crooked smile, calmly scanning the room as he walked forward.

“What are you doing?”

He asked with a chuckle in his voice, and Genard replied.

“Prince.”

“Hmm?”

“My apologies. It was a lapse in judgment on my part. As a noble of Briol and lord of Yuzes, I thought that if all the troops were concentrated in Bezos, Briol could be left vulnerable.”

He spoke with a tone full of emotion, as if drawing his voice from deep within his gut.

All eyes in the room turned to him. Even the members of Yuzes present looked incredulous.

But the knight guarding Genard wasn’t looking at him—he was watching Yuri Briol.

Indeed, there wasn’t a single crack visible. His bearing was also imposing.

He had stormed the duke’s mansion with only thirty men, yet he showed no urgency or tension.

It was, literally, the posture of a conqueror. Suddenly, their eyes met.

The third prince’s face held a smile. The knight, unable to help himself, lowered his head. He didn’t dare meet his gaze.

Meanwhile, Genard rose from his seat and knelt down.

“Kuhuhuk… Prince! Please, cut off my head!”

As soon as he said those words, the knight stepped forward.

Though it was difficult, he pushed through the pressure. Because from his perspective, Genard was completely wrong.

“My lord.”

“Leave me! I am a criminal!”

“If this continues…”

That was when Yuri Briol’s voice interrupted.

“I will.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll cut off your head.”

This third prince was no politician. He didn’t calculate.

There was no point in putting on an act to provoke a specific response. If someone asked him to cut off their head, he simply did it.

“Urgh…”

The knight stepped in.

“Prince…”

But Yuri Briol didn’t hesitate and continued forward.

The knight understood. If he stayed there, he would die.

That prince would slash him with his sword and then behead Genard Zaetheri.

That image formed clearly in his mind. If he wanted to survive, he had to step aside.

But the knight clenched his eyes shut. Genard Zaetheri was not a model noble.

Even so, he was his lord. The situation was critical, but his instinct acted first.

He extended both arms to shield the body of Genard Zaetheri. Surviving by abandoning his lord wasn’t an option.

He was ready to die. But then…

“Guuh…”

A sound of agony was heard behind him.

Turning around, he saw Genard Zaetheri collapsed, bleeding from the neck.

Horrified, he looked back to the front.

Yuri Briol was watching him with a smile, his bloodied sword resting on his shoulder.

How had he managed to pass by and slit his throat?

“Surprised?”

The third prince of Briol, Yuri Briol, smiled and said:

“Alright. From now on, Genard’s death is a secret. So gather here all the nobles who followed that bastard.”