Beginning

Vans was also watching the conflict between Tyr Kingdom and the Mage Association.

“Did the association attack Tyr?”

[It’s still hard to confirm. But all circumstances are flowing toward the association.]

“Why?”

[The sailors lived and only mages died, similar to the mining site attack incident. Above all, Tyr’s dukes and marquises who should’ve been responsible for the fleet were tied up in the kingdom. Because Wanstein personally visited the kingdom and expressed hostility.]

Fearing Wanstein might cause discord in the kingdom, they called all Magi to the royal castle.

At the same time, the fleet was attacked. All events seemed to flow intentionally to be considered coincidence.

“Didn’t they say there were dozens of high-level mages on the fleet side?”

[We suspect the enemy side possessed Magi or a greater number of mages than that.]

“A clash between mages….”

[Yes. The association that uses mana amplification is advantageous. Survivors also said the sea overturned, and mana of that degree is the association’s specialty.]

“Were there no movements from other royals? For instance, Pernok….”

[We were monitoring. The mercenaries were tied up in territories.]

Vans nodded silently.

‘Did I react too sensitively?’

He thought perhaps a third force existed behind the scenes.

He’d even watched Pernok, judging that a third force capable of causing disputes between nations would be royals who need justification. But it was indeed an overreaction.

Even if an S-rank guild has great reputation, it can’t compare to great powers teeming with Magi. Unless crazy, there’s no way they’d start a fight.

Thinking he was on edge because of the bastard son he failed to kill, Vans shook his head.

“The fleet carried 6 months’ worth of military provisions and supplies?”

[Yes. All sank to the deep sea.]

“Foolish girl.”

Tyr Kingdom tried to establish solid positions even on the land frontier across the sea.

Yuliana had promoted supplies and they’d agreed to cooperate, but everything sank.

At a time when the nation was struggling from drought, no method existed to obtain such supplies.

Porla blocked Illumina, Vans wouldn’t extend his hand to a competitor, and even Rezhen had intensifying confrontation between Zayl and Salavan.

Yuliana’s plans would all fall through.

“She’s falling away on her own.”

[What about surveillance?]

“Just in case, keep it attached. Also maintain the vigilance level toward Pernok.”

[Understood.]

And Vans looked at the clue he’d found.

[Where dawn’s dew forms, the dead’s resentment sleeps….]

Based on Rakis’s vast information network, he’d found the first clue’s whereabouts.

“Cut it off thoroughly so other guys’ eyes don’t stick to me.”

[Yes, Your Highness.]

The messenger erased traces into shadows, and Vans’s trusted subordinates appeared armed.

“There’s no need to be swept up in chaos. We’ll end this tedious competition first in our own way.”

Leading the mage unit Rakis Empire carefully selected and sent, Vans left the royal castle first to find the tomb.

* * *

Yuliana also found a clue.

But she had no leisure to go search for the tomb.

‘If I lead this matter to success, I can even covet Tyr!’

Tyr Kingdom’s inland frontier position construction.

Nominally, it’s a plan Yuliana and her fiance, Tyr’s prince, jointly took charge of and promoted.

When great powers stir due to the competition, they advance to the frontier under the pretext of protecting borders.

Other nations will object, but they’ll follow suit anyway. If everyone makes the same move, Tyr gains the advantage.

Because their front lines are neatly organized, but Tyr’s land front lines were neglected while paying attention to the sea.

She’d been aiming for years for this opportunity to solidly maintain both sea and land.

Tyr’s king gladly responded to Yuliana’s ambition to ultimately harmonize by strengthening even the allied nation’s power along with Illumina’s throne war.

‘If only position construction had succeeded, the prince would’ve been acknowledged for merit and solidified royal authority!’

Yuliana as Illumina’s king and her fiance as Tyr’s king, from equal positions, combine the two nations’ national power into one.

Though they’d run solely for that one purpose, the ambition faced crisis of running aground from the start.

Porla declared Tyr hostile and blocked food distributed to Illumina.

Though Vans had the Rakis Empire, he’s a powerful rival.

She absolutely must not reach out her hand.

Rezhen’s situation was also poor.

As the bloody battle between Zayl and Salavan began in earnest, the merchant groups were all desperate just supplying provisions to royals.

It was also difficult to extend hands to the Holy Kingdom.

Because that place would surely demand temple construction as payment and try to infiltrate the kingdom.

There was no military provisions to immediately feed the army sent to the front lines.

“It’s not easy.”

She discussed this fact with Morfo who shared the same intent, but he also had no sharp solution.

Because it wasn’t only Illumina suffering from extreme drought.

“We’re also securing military provisions to the maximum, but the merchant groups have finished transactions with each lord and have no remaining goods. We’ll have to subsist on reserves until harvest, and if we forcibly pull out military provisions, public sentiment will rise up.”

“Marquis, we must absolutely succeed in this matter! Don’t you know why I promoted it simultaneously with the competition?”

“I know. How could I not know Your Highness’s desperation gathering military provisions for years? But there’s no method.”

“…Those damned association bastards.”

A cold smile formed on Yuliana.

“It’s them, right?”

“All situations are coincidental, making it hard to conclude.”

“But aren’t the only mages who can cover the sea are either from Rakis or the association?”

She erased thoughts about Pernok from her head from the start.

The fleet’s survivors all said they encountered a natural disaster where the sea overturned.

That’s a method possible for those who reached Magus level or organizations possessing innumerably many high-level mages.

Pernok is here, and his force, the mercenaries, guards his territories.

There’s no room to fit these conditions.

“I know Vans well. If he has power, he’s a guy who pushes in from the front. It’s the association. Definitely the association!”

Morfo didn’t deny it.

At the time the fleet was attacked, the marquis and duke were in the kingdom.

When Time Magus Wanstein came to pick a fight about his disciple’s death, they feared harsh matters might occur and prepared for the worst-case scenario.

The fleet broke while the nation’s Magi were tied to the kingdom.

If it’s power that couldn’t be blocked despite carrying many level 7 mages, he judged it could only be the association that uses mana amplification.

“You must suppress your resentful heart. If we face the association with emotions, Rakis will stab into this gap.”

If both forces fight and are consumed, Rakis won’t miss that gap.

A biting and bitten relationship.

When the plan created to prepare for that situation from the very start was about to crumble, Yuliana’s headache surged.

“It’s regrettable, but settle the incident and devote yourself to the competition. Vans has departed.”

“…!”

Yuliana’s heart pounded roughly.

Is there truly no breakthrough in this situation where she’s delayed even in the competition and plans are crumbling?

‘Wait….”

Come to think of it, words came to mind that there are no starving people in Pernok’s territories.

‘How can those mercenaries feed that many subjects?’

The massive borderline in the north called Illumina’s paradise.

And Pernok is a single force that gained no kingdom’s support.

“Marquis.”

“Yes?”

“If done well, we might get ahead in the competition and execute the plan.”

“What do you….”

Yuliana chose a move that enters the devil’s mouth.

“Please confirm how Pernok obtains food from Rezhen.”

* * *

[Can you just sit like this?]

Bamont, who woke after a long time, puffed up his cheeks and began whining.

[You need to quickly find my treasure and go find Uncle’s tomb too!]

Pernok wore a faint smile and leisurely turned a page.

[Aw man! At this rate, you’ll lose it all to those stupid guys!]

After Pernok read for a long while, he closed the book.

Standing at the railing and turning his head toward the castle gate, he saw Porla’s flag.

It seemed he was finally leaving to find clues leading the Mage Association.

“Now we can talk quietly.”

[Those guys are all leaving and you’re still thinking of staying here?]

“I’m not interested in the first king’s tomb. I’ll bring it anyway when I take over Illumina. But I’m curious about your treasure. I’m going through procedures to find it, so don’t make noise and stay in the scale.”

When Pernok pushed with spiritual power, Bamont entered the scale grumbling lightly.

And.

Knock knock.

“Your Highness, Princess Yuliana has come to see you.”

She who bit the bait hard appeared.

“Let her in.”

When Pernok sat at the table, the door opened and prettily dressed Yuliana entered.

“Your older sister came and you’re not welcoming me?”

“It’s not like I don’t know why you came when everyone else left, and I don’t like pointless verbal sparring.”

Pernok offered the opposite seat.

“Sit. I’ll review it positively.”

Yuliana’s lips’ corners trembled.

The attitude looking down as if standing above her stimulated her nerves, but she suppressed emotions and sat opposite.

“You knew about the kingdom and association’s matter.”

“If I didn’t even know that degree of trends, there’d be no reason I seized an S-rank guild.”

“But why are you staying quiet?”

“All I have are supplies.”

Yuliana smiled brightly.

‘You’ve grasped everything.’

She thought he was somewhat indifferent to the competition because he was quieter than Vans or Porla, but Pernok already knew Yuliana would come.

Because he held in his hands the decisive card that made her have no choice but to rely on him.

“What I proposed before….”

“Hand over the clue you found to me.”

When Pernok sharply cut off her words, Yuliana slightly narrowed her brows.

“…What?”

“Temporary alliance. Not bad. But if I hand over what you want first, how do I know I won’t be abandoned? If you hand over your clue as a token of friendship, I’ll judge you’re ready to start the deal.”

“No, wait….”

“Now, shall we weigh the military provisions’ value? If Tyr must build positions on land too, considerable manpower will be deployed. Then supplies must flow smoothly for at least 1 year. I can solve everything.”

Yuliana was wrapped in shock enough to forget Pernok’s rudeness.

She’d thought to request only 6 months’ worth of military provisions, but he’s going further saying he’ll prepare 1 year’s worth.

“If you can’t believe it, I’ll send 6 months’ worth of military provisions first. But only if you accept my conditions.”

“…What are they?”

“First, I’ll receive land as payment for military provisions.”

“Land?”

“If you go up dozens of kilometers from our territory, there’s a territory possessing farmland, no?”

“You don’t mean Graes Barony?”

“Package that land nicely and hand it over to me.”

Strike down with your own hands the faction that follows you.

Yuliana received the radical words with a calm expression.

“You don’t need money?”

“Wealth is already piled up. I want things money can’t easily obtain.”

“Wasn’t the north enough?”

“Anyway, if older sister becomes king, the entire nation will fall into those hands, so are these trivial things important?”

Don’t look at trees, look at the forest.

Yuliana calmly accepted what Pernok said mockingly.

“Graes and the clue will be enough?”

“Until we strike down Vans and Porla, don’t raise a blade to me.”

“So temporary alliance. That’s what I want too.”

“And I’ll directly transport military provisions to Tyr’s royal palace.”

“Why? You have your merchant group.”

“You searched in detail. But you don’t know something. That merchant group is what I utilize for slush fund purposes. From receiving goods to management, I directly handle it all. I absolutely don’t entrust it to other people’s hands. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Entry to the royal castle…. You want to connect with Tyr?”

“I won’t refuse if you introduce me.”

At Pernok’s provocative eyes, Yuliana smirked.

“You want Tyr’s commercial rights too?”

“It would be good if you exert influence in the royal castle. Don’t collect taxes for a few years either.”

Pernok smiled and offered Yuliana the refreshments the maid brought out.

“The clue, land, and merchant group expansion. Everything must proceed without Vans and Porla knowing. If you accept, I’ll immediately prepare 6 months’ worth of military provisions.”

Does Yuliana know?

The fact that all this military provisions right now is supplies stolen from her fleet?

Pernok was using her supplies to cut and eat her flesh.

He just needs to sit still and neatly receive the payment she offers.

Whatever form, Pernok leisurely savored tea at the conclusion leading to profit.

And Yuliana, who’d been pondering deeply, said.

“Next month, I’ll hand over Graes Barony. I’ll package it cleanly so you can plant your people without issue.”

“Payment is upfront.”

“I’ll give the clue first as collateral.”

“You found it?”

“I found it before Vans. I just couldn’t go because matters erupted and I was settling them.”

Yuliana stared at Pernok.

“I’ll hide all paths leading to Tyr’s royal castle. Come secretly with military provisions. Without Vans and Porla knowing.”

“Just set the time. I’ll match it on my own.”

Yuliana said while suppressing emotions.

“I’m glad. To have a younger sibling I communicate so well with.”

When Pernok shrugged his shoulders, Yuliana left the room.

And Bamont jumped out from the scale.

[You highway robber! Your skill at swindling is no ordinary thing!]

“Thanks to that, I can easily enter the royal castle.”

[Were you that greedy for my treasure?]

“It’s not just because of that.”

There was one thing to search for in the royal castle.

Tyr’s royal castle that even Time Magus Wanstein couldn’t enter.

The mage who devours Magi is hiding there.

Pernok wanted to confirm that substance transmitted only through rumors.

Because he needs to know how much it will affect the board he created to comfortably establish future plans.

Bamont’s treasure and the monster’s existence.

And even causing cracks in Yuliana and Tyr’s relationship.

He intended to aim for various things at once and shake them thoroughly for certain.

“Cracks appeared between forces, but everyone’s still only watching and staying on guard. I need to thoroughly remove that overflowing leisure.”

[How?]

“Just slightly touch the treasure they cherish.”

Pernok wore a meaningful smile and leisurely enjoyed refreshments.

And the next day, Yuliana visited and brought out the promised token of trust.

It was the 4th King’s clue leading to the first king’s tomb.