Fierce Battle

“Quite leisurely? Despite boarding a ship not knowing when it’ll sink.”

Ruin laughed loudly.

“Think the 4th Prince can’t climb higher?”

“The 4th Prince without a single Magus will eventually collapse.”

Roland turned his head to Pernok.

“Don’t you think so too?”

“Did we gather just to chat? Since we’re both busy, wouldn’t it be nice to just briefly state business?”

“Impatient personality.”

“We don’t have familiarity enough to leisurely face each other? Let’s just see to business and end it.”

Roland who chuckled rested his chin on the table while sweeping the assembly.

“Fine, let’s get to the point. Recently at the royal palace, words circulate that you guys fan royals to disturb state affairs. To correct this immoral situation, the royal palace delegated S-rank guild creation authority.”

“Who did what?”

“They asked a renowned mercenary to take responsibility and lead an S-rank guild.”

Ruin burst into hollow laughter.

“You, the most insignificant among us?”

“Because I didn’t get involved in the throne succession battle like you.”

“Most fair?”

“At least the royal palace sees it that way.”

Pernok sneered.

“This side is already bound by exclusive contract. What makes you think you can integrate?”

“That contract cancellation notice will soon fall to each royal.”

“By whose authority?”

“His Majesty’s royal command.”

At words the king intervened, Pernok and Ruin couldn’t hide surprised expressions.

‘Suddenly in this situation?’

‘Wasn’t the king a non-interventionist?’

The situation spins strangely.

“Even if His Majesty, he can’t forcibly sever contracts.”

“Right. So I said he’d issue a notice, didn’t I? Choice is free.”

“Leaving it to royals’ and mercenaries’ judgment?”

“Actually, there should be quite a few anxious mercenaries who chose the wrong prince?”

Roland glanced at the 8th Prince’s A-rank guild leader smiling brightly.

“Same for your guild members. How can we tolerate this reality where wrong sacrifices are occurring, forcibly dragged into unwanted wars?”

“That’s not your concern.”

“No, this exclusive contract cancellation notice will also reflect the free will of guild members belonging to you.”

“You’re saying to disband guilds?”

“Giving guild members a chance to choose masters again.”

“Not the nation forcibly oppressing?”

Roland laughed.

“His Majesty is giving choice to guilds. Saying to be born as new guilds and be faithful to original duties without needing to get entangled with princes.”

“You hold that authority?”

“Or should greenhorns just gaining fame have it?”

Roland looked back and forth between Pernok and Ruin.

“Judgment is your share. But no one can guarantee what happens after.”

“W-wait!”

The A-rank guild leader stood up sharply.

“Roland! Is contract cancellation possible even now?”

“Possible once the notice arrives.”

“Then I’ll join you!”

“Hahaha, Sevans, don’t act too hastily. The door’s wide open. You just obediently wait for the royal command.”

“Understood! Thank you! Thank you!”

Sevans left the conference room.

Roland also stood from his seat.

“Would’ve received loads of good proposals if you’d stayed obedient. Since it’s come to this, won’t you end all exclusive contracts and join forces with me? I guarantee your authority.”

Pernok snorted.

“Just prepare for a guild war.”

“Hahahaha! You’ll understand later that joining forces is good. Then I’ll be waiting.”

When Roland left, Pernok also brushed past Ruin.

“Control well.”

Dropping light words, Pernok exited the association.

Entering the inn, a guild member was waiting in the room.

“Tell them not to waver.”

“Yes, guild leader.”

The guild member transformed into Pernok’s appearance, changed clothes, and left the inn.

Pernok watched people moving suspiciously beyond the window.

‘Tailed the moment I left the association.’

The exclusive contract cancellation notice can be handled by talking well with Salavan.

Ruin’s side should also have mercenaries rallied by now with the thought it’s doable.

Even so, why is Roland issuing a notice and trying to seize S-rank?

‘Something moved the king. That’s using Roland to restrain me.’

Confirming the tail stuck to the guild member, Pernok quietly slipped out of the inn.

‘Don’t know which side, but everyone’s trying to settle things now.’

With 6 months nearly over, the exclusive contract expiration date approaches.

Those surviving at this massive branching point will establish a two-faction structure.

* * *

Roland entered a secluded house in the capital’s outskirts.

A man wearing a robe sat leisurely.

“How did it go?”

“Not certain, but either Pernok or Naia, one of the two is the cleaner who shook the 3rd Prince.”

“Is that so?”

The man removed his robe.

Blonde-haired 1st Prince Zayl looked at Roland sitting opposite.

“I saw your will well. Since you used the Ten Assembly convening authority usable only once in a lifetime, I must also repay that.”

Roland closed his mouth calmly.

Meeting Zayl was a week ago.

Saying he wanted to see him quietly, he had people call him here and made one proposal.

[Just once, become my cleaner. Then I’ll give you the power you most desire.]

Zayl wanted covert power other princes don’t know, and Roland was the suitable person.

‘The cleaner who stirred each camp is at minimum a level 7 or higher mage.’

Suddenly, the fact Salavan contracted with Named came to mind, and Isolun was also in a state of expanding forces centered on a mage named Naia.

Suspecting rapidly rising forces might be the cleaner, he incited Roland.

He convenes the Ten Assembly to draw out Pernok and Naia, then throws the bait called S-rank guild to observe reactions.

Afterward, attach tails to each to confirm those showing suspicious signs.

Fortunately, Roland successfully performed this commission.

Though he hasn’t obtained something from Pernok and Naia yet, he judged that also a matter of time.

“I promise. In return for identifying and killing the cleaner’s existence, I’ll give you other princes’ guilds. And the created S-rank guild won’t receive national interference.”

Zayl presented a contract.

All the contents just mentioned were contained inside.

“But you must also promise. After this work ends, absolutely don’t attach to other royals, and mustn’t be associated with nobles. Also, if you obstruct my work or become politically entangled, I’ll return all these contracts to blank.”

“His Majesty’s words are more valuable than this one sheet of paper. If that person changes words, I’ll hit empty air.”

“If you can’t trust, is there a sharp method?”

“…”

“Hahaha, you’re also overlooking. The fact I’m the eldest son. Father will absolutely not refuse proposals I make. That you becoming S-rank guild’s master doesn’t change.”

“However, wasn’t there His Majesty’s warning not to interfere in throne succession?”

Zayl laughed derisively.

“That’s words Father said to weaken nobles’ power. This nation still has nobles’ influence mighty. To tear that apart, the throne succession battle was used. He wished for nobles each backing supported royals to fight each other between factions and mutually wound each other.”

Roland quietly listened to Zayl’s words.

“But thanks to Salavan presenting the S-rank guild creation bill, the story changed. Even though Ludmila suppresses, nobles feel anxiety. Then what if that Ludmila is broken?”

“Prince Salavan will collapse.”

“Right! That’s the key. Making Ludmila collapse unable to do anything so His Majesty and nobles all support me, that situation is important.”

“Then this structure will continue being maintained.”

“Think I can’t do it?”

“Balance will maintain taut.”

“No. The story changes when you kill the cleaner.”

Zayl’s eyes narrowed thinly.

“The reason power that leaned toward me dispersed is because of the cleaner. Whenever I try to do something, that one keeps interfering so nobles are going over to other royals. So we must kill the cleaner to make this chaotic board favorable to me.”

“Will the cleaner reveal themselves?”

“Those ones also feel it. From the moment entrusting S-rank guild creation to you, they’re bound to make moves fearing their forces will waver. In a desperate state, I’m thinking of throwing one good bait. You just obediently receive it in that board.”

“If I fail…”

“You die and the guild disintegrates. The S-rank guild will ultimately pass to other mercenaries’ hands.”

Roland bit his lips hard.

“But don’t worry. Didn’t I say I’ll repay?”

When Zayl snapped his fingers, five men appeared from darkness.

“Level 7 mages called the Dark Squad’s Five Stars. I’ll attach all these ones specialized in assassination to you.”

“…!”

“When the cleaner appears, kill them and bring that head to me. I’ll clearly reveal who the force manipulating this board is with that and put a period on throne succession.”

Seize the S-rank guild and become an independent existence not receiving the nation’s interference.

At such a sweet price, Roland didn’t ponder.

From the moment he convened the Ten Assembly, the decision already finished.

“I’ll definitely accomplish His Majesty’s will.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Zayl handed Roland a map marked with special regions.

“Stake everything and settle things.”

* * *

Salavan was looking at the notice that came down from the royal palace.

As if absurd, he immediately tore up the notice.

“How can these ones play such tricks when the duke is glaring with wide eyes, unless they’re crazy!”

Ludmila also seemed displeased.

But since His Majesty’s royal command was embedded, they couldn’t easily speak.

“Someone’s playing tricks.”

“It’s elder brother. Using His Majesty to warn everyone. Absolutely don’t climb up.”

“Perhaps the 3rd Prince. Though we sabotaged them, we can’t instantly dry up the merchant group’s financial power.”

“Don’t worry. The situation guild leader worries about will absolutely not occur.”

Ludmila spoke decisively as if empowering Salavan.

“Roland? I’ll firmly block that unheard-of nobody from snatching your guild.”

“But the royal palace intervening isn’t a matter to easily pass over.”

“I know. There is one method though…”

To hesitant Ludmila, Pernok asked.

“Is there some useful card?”

“…What we’d been searching for was discovered while you were in the capital.”

“What do you mean?”

“The 1st Prince’s slush fund we’ve been investigating for 2 years. But the problem is the place hiding that slush fund is a certain mage’s body.”

“Body? Inside the body?”

“Right. That one’s magic is a unique type that can insert a certain amount of substances into tattoos embedded in the body. In other words, a walking slush fund document.”

“You found it?”

Ludmila and Salavan looked at each other and simultaneously nodded.

“Correct. Recently that tail revealed itself. But since the situation became like this, approaching is difficult.”

A coincidental situation appearing intertwined with the royal palace’s royal command.

Ludmila hesitated.

Salavan likewise.

Pernok also felt suspicious signs.

But the three intuitively knew.

The fact that only by eating this will the future structure become comfortable.

“Bio-mage Johan. Even a body part is fine. If we cut off only the tattooed area and bring it, we can hold all slush fund documents in our hands.”

“It’s work that must be done. Because it’s a chance to weaken the connection between the 1st Prince and royal palace.”

“But we don’t know who leaked this information. Since we only grasped after hearing recently, surely a trap exists.”

“Still, we must do it.”

At Pernok’s decisive words, Ludmila nodded.

“Your Highness, may we proceed?”

Salavan who’d been pondering spoke carefully.

“Very well. But since we don’t know what wasps might swarm, attach at minimum level 5 or higher mages to the guild leader.”

“Take 3 level 6 mages and 10 level 5 mages. And if the situation is unfavorable, just retreat. Understand?”

Pernok received the two’s gazes and answered silently.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

From the sequence until now, he guesses who wants what.

‘Pointless to sprinkle ashes on cooked rice.’

The time to leave Salavan approaches.

Now he must gradually reap planted seeds.

Interference cannot be tolerated.

He will make them pay the price for provocation thoroughly.