Fierce Battle

The young man smiled at Lügen.

“I’m Quasi-Baron Knox of the Rakis Empire. It’s an honor to meet the renowned 3rd Prince.”

“Quasi-Baron? Someone of your caliber?”

“What caliber am I?”

Knox looked at Lügen’s reaction as if cute.

Even at the insulting attitude, Lügen couldn’t explode in anger.

Because the momentum flowing from Knox was that overwhelming.

“A Magus?”

“My master says I’m insufficient, so I haven’t been officially recognized yet.”

The Rakis Empire’s master.

A Magus who rose to S3 alongside the Holy Kingdom’s high priest.

“Don’t tell me, you have Duke Chris as your teacher?”

“I received teachings though lacking.”

Lügen got excited and unknowingly tapped the table.

He looked back at Barsadan with eyes demanding explanation for how he knew such a person.

“Sensing the succession structure of Rezhen recently wasn’t ordinary, Sir Knox visited. Though a Magus, he gladly volunteered as cleaner, saying he’d organize this chaotic succession structure.”

“Is that true?”

Though Knox nodded, he couldn’t completely trust.

“Why help me? Elder Brother Zayl would be a more promising throne candidate?”

“But he’s showing signs of joining forces with Illumina’s 1st Prince to exclude us.”

“Doesn’t Illumina’s 1st Prince also have Rakis? Wouldn’t it be needless worry?”

“The duke wants to prepare for any possible situation. So he dispatched me here. My status will be restored after everything is accomplished. Isn’t there no better person as a cleaner?”

“Someone of your caliber doing such menial errands?”

“Does Your Highness see Magi as great existences?”

“Of course. Without Magi, those arrogant elder brothers wouldn’t reach my toes!”

When Lügen ground his teeth, Knox chuckled.

“The Rakis Empire, only the skilled seize titles and territories. Also, territory size changes according to ability.”

Rakis Empire’s nobles are all Magi.

Only 13 possess territories, and they cannot pass titles to children through inheritance.

Therefore, dueling over titles occurs frequently.

They revere the strong, and the 13 Magi still firmly maintain those positions even now.

“High-level mages considered such here are merely those people’s errand runners. To seize such great positions, one must obtain qualifications needed for duels.”

“Qualifications?”

“For instance, achievements.”

Lügen’s eyes twitched.

“Like this situation of intervening in other nations to make things flow favorably for one’s own country?”

“You’re sharper than I heard.”

“However urgent I am, do I look like trash who’d offer up the nation?”

“Not at all. I’m merely saying let’s briefly join hands to each take what we want.”

“What do you gain by joining hands with me?”

“If I help Your Highness here to create a favorable structure for the throne, I also gain recognition for ability in my homeland and get qualifications to challenge the 13 titles.”

“Not a relationship between nations?”

“I came having set down my status. What would those words mean?”

“Meaning nothing good from being openly revealed. But no matter how I look, your side seems like a losing business?”

“Then lend me strength going forward.”

Lügen stared piercingly at Knox.

“Don’t want to be associated with Rakis. But if there’s a price you personally desire, I’ll secure it even spending tens of thousands.”

“That suffices. I perform the duke’s assignment, and Your Highness neutralizes enemies to confidently seize the throne.”

“Can you face Zermoph and Ludmila?”

“Clashes between Magi create variables. Even accounting for that, they’re burdensome existences to me. But anyway, those two absolutely can’t move, can they?”

Lügen nodded.

“You prepared more than I thought.”

Knox grinned.

“Ravage enemies’ core facilities exactly as Your Highness received, and meanwhile Your Highness seize many nobles’ trust. That’s how you use cleaners.”

Isolun building momentum from below.

The 1st and 2nd Princes who looked down on him.

Lügen who gulped down alcohol in his frustrating chest huffed air through his nose and said.

“Kill the cleaner who extracted Tunnel Folk first.”

“Do you know who?”

“Don’t know. Finding that is your ability.”

“I like your honesty. Since I obtained the merchant group’s information network from Sir Barsadan, I’ll finish organizing within days.”

“After killing the cleaner, organize Isolun too.”

“May I kill your younger brother?”

Lügen spoke as if spitting while grinding his teeth.

“Not a single one who looked down on me can be left alive! Sweep them all away, stand above, then show mercy. You remember too. Don’t show openings to enemies by displaying useless leisure.”

“I’ll definitely handle assigned missions. Don’t worry.”

Then the two began sharing drinks together.

Barsadan quietly exited the room.

He’d given his grandson a Magus as cleaner beyond imagination.

Now just need to support with financial power so that work walks a smooth path.

Barsadan’s eyes turned venomous.

Now when each force runs wild was precisely the crucial moment.

* * *

Salavan also recognized when to stake everything.

In the situation where Isolun’s forces rapidly expand, even the 3rd Prince begins showing strange signs.

He judged if not organized now, would be swept by the flow.

Salavan persistently dug into the 3rd Prince’s merchant group.

“It’s the cleaner!”

“Block the east!”

One of Lamostal merchant group’s main businesses, a granary region. But another secret hides here.

‘So it’s here.’

He entered a small house hidden inside the granary.

Sweeping away guards with one strike, he looked around.

Flowers blooming fully without emitting any scent.

‘Kedrak Flowers.’

Commonly, flowers used as drug ingredients.

Lamostal often used drugs to deal with other nations’ nobles.

Those addicted formed favorable deals with Lamostal, and by now drugs ran rampant in black markets.

Kedrak Flowers require delicate handling.

Setting fire here to dry out seeds once takes years for flowers to bloom again.

‘Would’ve been nice if ledgers of business partners existed, but those are probably at merchant group headquarters.’

Pernok burst flames to instantly turn the house into pitch-black ashes.

Pernok raised cloth up to his nose while leaving the house.

“Shoot!”

Arrows rained from everywhere.

Easily leaping over firmly prepared guards, Pernok looked around.

Crops with not much time until harvest catch his eye.

‘Going like this, won’t gain anything…’

Just then, words about Rio forming a merchant group came to mind.

Isolun now has 3 princes below and obtained fertile land.

Rio began creating a merchant group there to sweep up food.

Lamostal would also have stockpiled food.

But those foods are all already contracted with someone.

What if he damages newly harvestable food here?

‘…Rio can easily dig into the food business.’

Couldn’t return empty-handed.

If attacking the merchant group, should exert strength so it becomes favorable direction for Rio.

Whoosh!

While opening his retreat route, Pernok scattered fire everywhere.

“Bring water!”

“Cut out everything that caught fire!”

“That one’s there! Pursue!”

Shouts and screams tangled together as the granary became pandemonium.

Even when several mages belatedly stuck, they couldn’t grab Pernok’s ankles.

Lightly sweeping them away while absorbing mana and spiritual power, he left the granary.

Number 12 who’d been hiding in shadows appeared.

“You worked hard.”

“Next task?”

“Rest for now, and he said to give you this.”

Pernok unfolded the note.

[Ten Assembly convened. Named’s guild leader must attend.]

Pernok tilted his head.

Ten Assembly convened at this timing.

Moreover, the issuer was gold-rank mercenary Roland.

‘He singled me out?’

Feeling strong will not to send a proxy, Pernok pondered.

But Named had convened the Ten Assembly once at the mountain range.

All A-rank guilds gathered with strong authority, and the time came when Pernok must also shoulder that responsibility.

Why did Roland suddenly activate the Ten Assembly convening authority usable once in a lifetime?

Already each royal’s vigilance was intensifying.

Pernok burned the note and said.

“Tell His Highness I’ll briefly visit the Ten Assembly.”

“Understood.”

Number 12 melted into shadows, and Pernok headed to the capital.

* * *

Pernok entered the mercenary association headquarters.

“I came receiving the Ten Assembly convening.”

“Please go to the 2nd floor conference room.”

The reception desk pointed to stairs ascending to the 2nd floor.

When Pernok opened the 2nd floor conference room door, one A-rank guild leader showed.

‘The A-rank guild that made exclusive contract with the 8th Prince?’

When he sat opposite, that one asked with anxious eyes.

“You’re Named’s guild leader Pernok?”

“…?”

“By any chance, by any chance I say. Any thought of joining hands with us?”

Pernok chuckled.

“Who? The 8th Prince’s instructions?”

“Y-yeah. You guys would also find the 4th Prince’s forces an eyesore. No need to pour out all the 2nd Prince’s strength either. If only Named briefly joins hands, crushing the 4th Prince becomes possible!”

“Hehehe, you convened the Ten Assembly to say such nonsense?”

Following familiar presence, Pernok turned his head.

Disguised Ruin leisurely entered and sat between the two.

“Seems the 8th Prince is quite urgent?”

“N-Naia! Why are you here?”

“All other A-rank guilds entered under the 4th Prince’s command. So I who received full authority came all the way here.”

“This place only guild leaders can enter!”

“So I founded a guild.”

“What?”

“In the form of me integrating all A-rank guilds gathered until now.”

His complexion turned deathly pale.

“You’re next.”

He trembled all over, and Pernok chuckled.

Ruin leisurely turned her gaze.

“What’s funny?”

“No, I thought you did the work very well.”

Pernok clapped for him.

He’d only thought to fatten and eat, not thought to package prettily.

But as expected, Rio and Ruin know well how to merge forces without aftereffects.

Even if Ruin who received full authority collapses clashing with the 3rd Prince going forward, ultimately guild command authority remains with him.

Even if the 2nd Prince can’t persuade the 3rd Prince, Pernok can request a guild war to extract all guilds Ruin holds.

“Thought through even worst of worst?”

“Who knows.”

When a strange smile circulated between the two, another presence opened the door.

“Only this many?”

The Ten Assembly’s host, Roland.

‘Level 7 mage.’

‘That one will also rise to Magus before long.’

Pernok and Ruin sent interested gazes seeing Roland for the first time today.

The only skilled one who hasn’t made exclusive contracts with royals while future growth is anticipated always becomes recruitment target number one.

Roland felt sticky gazes and looked back at Ruin.

“Who are you?”

“Naia.”

“Ah, that mage who swept up A-rank guilds under the 4th Prince?”

“Pleased to meet you.”

Roland swept over Ruin while spitting admiration.

“Truly extraordinary as rumored.”

“I sometimes hear such words.”

“I heard you’re a free mercenary. How about, if things go sour with the 4th Prince, working with me?”

Trying to grab the momentum of a new A-rank guild?

At the provocative words, Ruin answered while suppressing laughter about to burst.

“With that skill, seems too pathetic to put anyone beneath you. Rather, how about polishing your skills under me? Can teach you at least how to walk properly.”

At half-sincere words, Roland’s lips twisted.