Occupation War

“You missed the chance to see a good spectacle.”

The moment Pernok smiled and spoke, Duke Flemyr’s spine turned cold.

The closer the distance, the more his flesh trembled at mana as if pressing down his entire body.

‘He’s already a Magus.’

Unlike common rumors, Pernok had reached the realm of Magus.

‘An S-rank guild with a Magus—it wouldn’t be strange to soon become a black-rank mercenary.’

Why would someone who’d be treated going to any nation bother calling himself prince and wage territory war?

“Team leader, what should we do?”

“If we move rashly, we’ll be in danger.”

“What?”

“He’s a Magus.”

“…!”

“I need to carefully check how big a wildfire this will spread into.”

When team members nodded with tense expressions, Pernok smirked.

“Don’t find it too difficult. Would I really harm this nation’s fair and just investigation team?”

As if waiting for those words, the castle gate opened.

“Come in and prove my innocence.”

The leisure of Pernok still smiling from the castle tower was ominous.

Duke Flemyr sensed the restrained mana flowing from inside the castle and entered with team members.

“Attention!”

The orderly appearance unthinkable for mercenaries entered his eyes first.

As if to welcome the truth investigation team, guild members wearing uniforms were lined up on both sides.

‘All mages?’

There were hundreds at levels 4 and 5.

Moreover, several level 6 mages also existed at their head.

If the royal palace formed knight orders, it would be enough to easily make five.

Truly forces comparable to a duke’s household.

‘A count’s territory can’t handle it.’

Yet the count’s territories said to have recently fallen had no dangerous signs at all.

Far in the distance on the streets, people were naturally walking around.

When a guild member waved, even a child smiled in welcome.

If he hadn’t heard territory war had unfolded, he’d think it was Named’s castle from the beginning.

‘Who’s the invader, really…’

It was when Duke Flemyr was watching the unfamiliar situation.

“I’ll guide you up. The remaining people, please stay briefly in the lodging we prepared over there.”

When Sallio stepped forward courteously, investigation team members grew wary.

“We have an obligation to report every detail of the situation here.”

“We have nothing to hide. Please rest assured.”

“Who trusts invaders’ words?”

“Since I thought you’d say that, we organized clearly why we waged territory war.”

When Sallio gestured, a guild member brought a wooden box.

Inside it contained ledgers and records organizing events until now.

“Please rest briefly while examining our claims. And if anything’s unclear, you can search this place as soon as the conversation between the team leader and His Highness finishes.”

“That…”

At Sallio’s attitude cooperating obediently, members looked around cautiously.

Duke Flemyr nodded.

“Confirm without a single mistake.”

“Yes.”

Team members followed guild members into the reception room.

Duke Flemyr climbed to the castle tower with Sallio.

In that place with open front view, Pernok had brought a table and was pouring tea.

“Sit.”

Duke Flemyr sat across and examined Pernok.

As expected, ominous mana.

Pernok handed tea to Duke Flemyr and spoke readily.

“Territory residents gave it saying it’s a specialty product. The scent isn’t bad.”

Where does this confidence come from?

Duke Flemyr pushed away the tea and stared at Pernok.

“I’m Duke Flemyr, appointed as Illumina royal palace’s truth investigation team leader.”

“I know. Flemyr who catches ghosts. I heard until my ears hurt. Seeing one of the kingdom’s few Magi personally came all the way here, as expected, the First Prince’s faction?”

When he struck right in, Duke Flemyr answered indifferently.

“I serve the King. Therefore, I try to handle even unseemly matters among royals without a speck of suspicion.”

“Was there a neutral faction in this kingdom now? Was there another force I don’t know? Or did you just blindly follow that scoundrel?”

For the first time, Duke Flemyr frowned.

“How dare you, His Majesty…”

“He’s already a dead person. Moreover, he’s also a scoundrel who played with my mother. I have no memories of the bastard called father. So is there courtesy I should keep?”

“Are you truly calling yourself a bastard son?”

“If not that, unless I went crazy, why would I have come all the way here when I’m well-established in Rezhen?”

“Confess in detail where you were born, what you’ve done until now to cause chaos in the kingdom.”

When Duke Flemyr entered interrogation as if gathering petty words, Pernok sipped tea and answered calmly.

“I was born in a small village near Marquis Falkion’s territory. A peaceful place became ashes thanks to the First Prince.”

“Why would Prince Vans?”

“Knowing I was a bastard son, he massacred residents and burned the village. I fortunately saved my life, but was dragged to the Fighting Pit.”

“Fighting Pit?”

“A filthy place Marquis Falkion managed. After crossing life and death, I awakened magic, luckily escaped, crossed to Rezhen, and reached now.”

“Therefore, you killed the marquis holding a grudge?”

“That’s what I learned in the mercenary world. Repay favor with favor, grudge with revenge. I just acted according to the environment I lived in.”

“However, why did you invade other territories?”

“Because they exploited my people.”

Duke Flemyr’s eyes turned cold.

“Are you saying you wielded proxy authority by arbitrarily acting as lord in an unofficially recognized territory?”

“I have that qualification. The language is slightly refined to call it royal contempt, but when examined, wasn’t the marquis plotting rebellion?”

“Rebellion?”

“The marquis knew I was a bastard son. Nevertheless, he sent me to the Fighting Pit and was enjoying watching me slowly die. If actions trying to conceal everything and bury royalty aren’t raising a flag against this nation, what are they?”

From an extremely gentle tone, piercing sharpness transmitted through to the heart.

“The territory seized after striking traitors. Naturally, as royalty, I tried to protect our nation’s people. However, those wicked and immoral Bolte, Charles, and Pukis were cooperating with Falkion to commit wrongful deeds without hesitation.”

“Wait, you went even to Count Pukis’s territory?”

“Ah, he’s here now. All three.”

He couldn’t help being surprised that the words swept away three count’s territories in the short time the truth investigation team didn’t receive information were unbelievable.

“I immediately disposed of Falkion who insulted royalty, but I preciously kept the remaining three in prison since they’re territory war’s losers.”

“The others?”

“Ah… I wondered whether to kill them, but I have strong patriotism. I confined them the same according to national law.”

“Are they all here?”

“I can confirm for you right away even now, but I should also receive compensation.”

Duke Flemyr’s eyes sharpened.

“You’ll receive reparations from territory war conducted without observers?”

“My basis is all written in the documents members confirmed. I also recovered this place’s wealth without omission. If you want, take it to the national treasury. In exchange, you must also acknowledge that I take the marquisate.”

“You speak absurd words too easily, so I’m troubled where to start questioning.”

“Think simply. Anyway, you also came to confirm just one thing.”

Pernok grinned widely.

“If I prove I’m truly royalty, won’t you have no choice but to accept all current talks as fact?”

“…”

“Team leader, if you’d planned to antagonize me, you would’ve dragged your duke household together or brought the royal knight order. Even if you’re a Magus, knowing I’m an S-rank guild owner, you’d need troops to certainly eliminate me.”

Duke Flemyr said nothing.

“But you came leading only 4 members. Will you wage war with me with this?”

The truth investigation team’s work is confirming facts and making them pay the price.

Price doesn’t only mean punishment, but also includes the obligation to give rewards.

“If you truly had such dull brains, the Queen wouldn’t have appointed you as truth investigation team leader. At least it means the Queen trusts what you saw, so didn’t you bring means to prove me just in case?”

The method of waging territory war is boldly like mercenaries, but the appearance testing Duke Flemyr rather brings to mind a seasoned politician.

Rather, the investigating side was grasped before even bringing out the hand they held.

Duke Flemyr placed a small bottle on the table without long words.

Red blood was beaded roundly.

It’s the blood of Pernok’s father and the previous king.

“It’s the first verification.”

He poured the blood preserved by magic into an empty bowl.

“Drop your blood here.”

If Pernok is royalty, the previous king’s blood and his blood will mix together.

‘It could be similar blood.’

Long ago, someone calling himself prince appeared in the kingdom.

He also went through blood verification and passed.

But he failed the verification after that.

Turned out it was a case of just similar blood.

The reason for conducting blood verification even knowing such situations is to prepare for any possibility.

For those confirmed by blood, receive the sword’s proof.

In Illumina, there was a king’s sword cherished for a long time.

If truly the king’s bloodline, they grasp that sword and prove themselves.

Blood verification was a procedure to go there.

“My blood’s value is somewhat expensive.”

Pernok who smirked bit his thumb and dropped blood into the bowl.

At that moment, the previous king’s and Pernok’s blood mixed as one.

Duke Flemyr’s eyes deepened.

“Even a bastard son like me seems to be born with noble blood.”

The Queen didn’t wish for such a situation to occur.

Therefore, she sent Duke Flemyr.

The moment blood verification went wrong, lead all nearby territories’ soldiers and strike Pernok.

Pernok’s thinking that war wasn’t considered was wrong.

Duke Flemyr was even planning to mobilize all border garrisons.

But the situation he didn’t wish for occurred.

“Will you acknowledge me now?”

“Still, one verification remains.”

“Haha, what more is needed when bound by blood?”

“Long ago, there was a similar case. That person very rarely had blood similar to Illumina’s noble blood. But not acknowledged by the ‘sword,’ we charged him with the crime of insulting royalty.”

“I think I’ve heard such talk too.”

“Receive the sword’s acknowledgment. If you do, I’ll acknowledge everything I saw and judged here and serve you as royalty.”

“Then bring the sword.”

“Only the King can hold the sword. Now since His Majesty has passed away, the Queen will determine you with the sword. Go to the capital with me to receive proof.”

“That’ll be difficult.”

“What?”

“Too many bastards target me—what if I enter the royal palace like this and accidentally cause disturbance?”

Duke Flemyr frowned.

“Are you trying to evade verification now with such preposterous words?”

“I’m saying this thinking of the kingdom’s safety. And isn’t the Queen curious about this situation now? Rather, how about you bringing the Queen here?”

Duke Flemyr struck the table.

“There’s such a thing as proper way.”

“This kingdom committed rudeness to me.”

“Are you fleeing now?”

“If you’re that anxious, shall you remain here and I send my confidant to the kingdom instead?”

Unable to understand what on earth he was thinking, Duke Flemyr stared holes into Pernok.

“You need investigation, and I need to prove myself—if both sides have difficulty moving from here, we should bring the Queen. However, if that sounds like I’m making excuses lest I flee, wouldn’t it work to send my loyal confidant to prove my resolve?”

“…”

“Thinking too hard makes words long. I’ve said everything. I proved with blood, and now whether to straighten the chaos or not depends on your choice.”

Pernok rested his chin on the table with a gentle smile.

“Will you move in a direction beneficial to both sides as I said? Or will you not trust and attempt war?”

“Does Illumina look easy to you?”

“I’m already holding back a lot at this level. And there’s one thing you overlooked—didn’t you think I might attach to Rezhen now and invade Illumina in the future?”

“…!”

“I have nothing to lose. Depending on your choice, Named can become a sword protecting Illumina, or devote itself to Rezhen to become a spear smashing the border.”

Pernok’s smile deepened.

“Now I’ll leave how to proceed to your judgment, Duke Flemyr who served the previous king. Hahahaha!”

* * *

Duke Flemyr, who agonized until sunset, entrusted a letter to a team member.

“I’ll have to block this guy from going anywhere.”

“What?”

“He’s a cunning one. He knows well how to utilize military power Illumina needs. If this crosses to Rezhen and becomes a guillotine beheading our necks, I’ll surely regret today.”

Duke Flemyr spoke with a resolute expression.

“I’ll be watching so he can’t cause more chaos, so you go find the Queen with someone named Sallio and deliver the letter.”

“Understood!”

The team member rode horses with Sallio and left the castle.

Guild masters were watching that appearance from the castle tower.

Zodiac asked Pernok anxiously.

“Was there really a need to send Sallio?”

“Since he wants to become a noble, I sent him to at least get his face stamped by the Queen.”

“Wouldn’t it have worked for Your Highness to just go together?”

“Why would I enter the royal palace to be proven?”

Guild masters sent puzzled gazes.

“Even if I enter the royal palace and receive the sword’s proof, only nobles will know that fact.”

“Mm… that’s true?”

“But if the Queen comes all the way here?”

“She’s still a ruler, so she’ll bring troops.”

“Since Duke Flemyr is here, she’ll feel the situation is somewhat more serious and bring large numbers. But whose faction are the territories we’re occupying now?”

“Well, the First Prince’s… Ah!”

When Enri burst into exclamation, guild masters also understood and nodded.

“Same faction’s nobles, bastards trying to check that, informants, forces—all will join the Queen’s army and come. Of course, including soldiers.”

All the kingdom’s people must know of his existence.

“Soldiers will convey facts they directly saw to families, and again people will continue words to people.”

Rumors ride rumors and bite tails, eventually spreading throughout the entire kingdom.

“They’ll also be curious how the territories I occupied now are doing.”

Prioritizing public sentiment was because of this.

“If you guys had paradise before your eyes, could you ignore and pass it?”

Guild masters laughed greatly and realized what results the series of actions led to.

Through the Queen’s army, Pernok would prove himself to both nobles and people, and make them witness matters here to induce them to new reality.

“The nation’s foundation is the people.”

They finally understood those words Pernok said at the beginning.

A massive boundary line connecting Count Bolte’s, Charles’s, and Pukis’s territories centered on Marquis Falkion’s territory.

That meant a new territory to be born in the north, and the great army gathered for sword proof would become witnesses propagating this to make people gather.

“Scrape together the people. To my territory.”

Building another kingdom within the kingdom.

Pernok’s occupation war was groundwork for that.

“Tell Rio to supply more provisions and supplies. Since plans moved up more than expected, we need supplies to fill many people’s bellies.”

“I’ll convey it right away!”

Enri went down, and guild masters moved in unison while reviewing subsequent matters.

Pernok gazed at the vast north connecting territories.

On the day the sword proves, this place will become his sanctuary.