Expansion

Immediately after Ruin ascended to association head, he sent an interesting letter.

[Porla’s secret private army training log.]

It revealed that Wanstein had been raising private soldiers not authorized by the state using the association’s technology.

Ruin had found this in a safe hidden in the association head’s office, and sent along the ledgers proving it.

Transaction records showing much of the goods needed by the association went to Wanstein’s faction.

Talent cultivation methods that purchased slaves with good aptitude, passed them through noble houses, then cycled them back through merchant groups and the association.

Most were matters promoted in secret without the association’s knowledge.

‘It was Marquis Bolano.’

Porla’s left arm.

Bolano Marquis territory, one of the wealthiest domains in Illumina.

All trade was centered there.

It had been conducted so flawlessly that without the ledgers, he wouldn’t have even grasped its reality.

‘If I strike this person, Porla will completely collapse.’

He had to finish it in one surprise attack without being noticed.

The system Porla had built was very conducive to tail-cutting, so without solid justification, he might instead suffer a counterattack.

Therefore, Pernok requested Yuliana hand over one of the cards she possessed.

“There’s a way to completely topple Porla. Will you join me?”

“Is that really true?”

“However, we must stab in all at once. I’m thinking of striking Marquis Bolano to bring Porla down. Now that the mage association head has also been replaced with a new person, if we definitively cut the lifeline remaining to him, our structure will truly be trimmed very cleanly.”

“……”

“Vans, older sister, and me. But until we strike Vans, we agreed to join hands. I’m also continuously sending military provisions to the front lines. I can’t back out now, so what does older sister think? Won’t you lend me strength so I can strike Porla?”

“What do you want?”

“Corrupt materials from Porla’s faction. Organize and hand over everything. If there are witnesses, even better.”

“You… are you thinking of striking them all down?”

Pernok smirked.

“Porla’s financial power is massive, but every nation has the royals they each support. It’s hard to see the new association head supporting Porla. Moreover, I’m gripping the mercenaries tightly. What good is having lots of money when he has no forces to utilize it?”

“…!”

“Listen well. If we just clean up the nobles, Porla is finished now. If you want to make him more pathetic, just block him from conducting trade in every nation. It’ll end with older sister’s cooperation once. Very simple, right?”

Yuliana swallowed dryly.

‘A frightening person.’

The boldness to handle even the nobles supporting Porla by entangling them all together to kill him made even Yuliana feel chilled.

No matter how capable she was, she didn’t have the nerve to process the nation’s nobles in droves.

Because she didn’t know what backlash would follow, it would be difficult to find people to replace those positions, and there was a high possibility of being called a tyrant by other nobles.

“Even if the nobles are rotten to the core, they’re practically no different from this nation’s national power. When you remove them all, haven’t you thought that other factional nobles who got scared might band together?”

“We’re in competition and the one person who survives takes everything, so why should I care about such trivial matters?”

Pernok sneered.

“Don’t think hard, just hand over everything you have. Then I’ll definitely finish Porla. Older sister can also focus only on Rakis, so how good is that? Right?”

At the word Rakis, Yuliana’s heart burned hot.

Recently, when they began constructing positions on the front lines, Rakis’s soldiers began revealing themselves.

When even Jan had been deployed, there was no capacity to pay attention to other places besides position construction.

Dragging out the tomb competition as much as possible was also advantageous for Yuliana.

“However, there’s one condition.”

“What is it?”

“The clue Porla has. Share it with me.”

Pernok grinned.

“As much as you want.”

With that, the two people’s deal was established.

As befitting Illumina’s throne candidate, Yuliana organized the shame of Porla’s faction that she’d been preparing for a long time and handed it to Pernok.

There were fatal things and many trivial matters too.

Among them were witnesses being chased by Porla.

Pernok took the ledgers received from Ruin along with Yuliana’s information and met Flemyr.

“Was there progress in the interrogation of Vans and Porla?”

“Prince Porla’s suspicions are slight. Since he has documents stamped with the imperial seal, we’re investigating a bit more, but it’s difficult to find traces.”

“I have many good things. Shall we make a deal?”

Flemyr’s eyes narrowed thinly.

“Are you pursuing private actions while putting national interests before you?”

“No. I’ll help you rectify unjust things, and you’ll acknowledge my contributions and permit what I should obtain.”

Pernok held out part of the contents related to Marquis Bolano to Flemyr.

The moment he saw the word kidnapping, murderous intent flowed from Flemyr.

It was fury toward Marquis Bolano.

“Kidnapping children to trade with the association and raising illegal private soldiers? Is this true?”

“Amazingly, the new mage association head commissioned me with the previous head’s shame. As both mercenary and prince. Since competition is unfolding, he must’ve thought I’d definitely stab into Porla.”

“I should meet the new association head.”

Pernok waved his finger sideways.

“He handed over all materials to me and entrusted me to expose the association’s shame and rectify it. Speaking to the duke means choosing.”

“Choosing what.”

“Matters after I strike Bolano as the association head’s proxy. For example, traces of illegal trade the duke keeps missing. Or discussing together the punishment of various nobles related to it. That kind of talk.”

Flemyr finally understood Pernok’s intention and burst into hollow laughter.

“Are you saying to give you the domains of nobles as compensation for punishing them?”

“Domains belong to the state, so how could I treat them like private property? I merely wish proper people would be seated in those positions.”

“Your people, you mean.”

Pernok smirked.

“Porla lacks royal dignity. Now even the association has turned its back. Shouldn’t we make him comfortable now?”

“Do you intend to point a blade at your sibling?”

“Hahaha, competition is all like that, so why speak so gravely now as if it carries great meaning.”

Pernok held out the remaining ledgers before Flemyr.

“You discuss fairness as you said when first meeting me. I’ll bear the rest.”

“What will you do?”

“I’ll strike Bolano. You become an observer and block him from escaping through back channels.”

“I cannot leave this place. Since I can release Prince Porla now, Prince Vans’s investigation remains.”

Flemyr gazed at Pernok while taking the ledgers.

“However, your method isn’t bad this time. I’ll send the deputy team leader of the investigation team. If justification is sufficient and righteousness follows, everything will be according to your will, Your Highness.”

“Have you still not decided whom to follow?”

“I am loyal to the nation…”

“There’s no emotion in formal words. Looking at how things are turning, you’re probably roughly guessing. Who has higher odds of winning.”

“……”

“At least I don’t do sloppy things like kidnapping or imprisonment.”

Pernok rose from his seat.

Flemyr only raised his head with his hand on the ledgers.

“One is finished, and two remain. But if you put forth as king two idiots who neglect competition and only borrow other nations’ power, where would the law and order of Illumina that you desire head?”

And Flemyr was watching Pernok’s departing back for quite a while.

* * *

[Prince Porla is heading toward the mage association.]

Hearing the news Ruin’s shadow conveyed, Pernok stretched.

Looking around while loosening his stiff body, he saw each guild master wearing weapons.

Because the deputy team leader of the investigation team was approaching.

“When will you start?”

“Right now.”

As if they’d been waiting for those words, the guild masters rose.

They’d all been hiding here with guild members brought from each castle since a week ago.

To stab into that loosened gap the moment Porla was released from interrogation and headed to the association.

Bolano Marquis territory was visible in the distance.

“Did the duke make his decision?”

“Yes. He said to escort the criminal here.”

“The backlash will be severe. Does he mean not to conduct domain warfare?”

“He said he’d entrust to you, prince, all means necessary for escorting criminals. Since you were designated as the association head’s proxy anyway, to match both sides’ requirements, escort has stronger justification than domain warfare.”

“Not bad. Since we can skip troublesome procedures. By the way, whom did he decide to entrust the domain where Marquis Bolano disappeared?”

Then the deputy team leader of the investigation team bowed his head and answered carefully.

“Usually in such cases, we select those without domains from other factions, but since His Higness Vans and Her Highness Yuliana’s situations are awkward now. Probably they’ll temporarily select from nobles who retired a year ago or among elders.”

The deputy team leader of the investigation team especially emphasized the words “one year.”

Those who stepped down and withdrew from their positions at that time can be counted on one hand.

In other words, Flemyr offered his own compensation for Pernok to place them under his command in advance.

‘If I make several guild masters their adopted children, titles will be inherited at once and it’ll help when devouring other domains too.’

Flemyr was bestowing more favor on Pernok than expected.

Of course, in response, he would thoroughly purge nobles who have domains in Porla’s faction including Marquis Bolano.

Named would seize those positions.

“Tell the duke I understand his will well.”

“Yes.”

The deputy team leader headed toward Bolano Marquis territory.

Pernok looked around at the guild masters and shouted.

“From today we again enter preparations to widen our boundary. Among these, some will inherit noble titles, and that starting point will be achieved at Bolano.”

“Yes!”

“Refrain from meaningless killing drunk on emotion. Kill resisting forces, but the top priority targets are Bolano and his confidants.”

“What about family?”

At Enri’s question, Pernok answered decisively.

“Spare them. They’re labor punishment anyway, and we must bestow the mercy of not touching families so our justification becomes more solid.”

Only escort criminals.

That single justification was very sufficient to strike Bolano and other domains.

“Let’s go collect spoils of war.”

Pernok and the guild masters.

And hundreds of elite mages and thousands of soldiers gathered from each domain marched toward Bolano Marquis territory.

* * *

Marquis Bolano discovered soldiers assembling from the fortress tower.

‘Prince Pernok……’

He’d heard his rumors well.

How he devoured domains too.

But this wasn’t domain warfare but judgment conducted by commission from the association and royal palace.

“Marquis Bolano! We shall escort you to the capital!”

Though the deputy team leader of the investigation team enumerated Marquis Bolano’s crimes one by one, the soldiers stood their ground without showing signs of wavering.

They were all elite soldiers raised with Porla’s private funds in preparation for war since long ago.

“I can’t understand what rudeness this is from daytime!”

“Your crimes are all in the duke’s hands!”

“Then why don’t you send someone from the capital, but Prince Pernok personally leads forces here! Do you think I don’t know this is a trick to devour this domain using the incident as pretext!”

Then Pernok personally came forward, changing the artifact to a sword.

“Because the new association head entrusted me with your disposal.”

“Prince……”

“Spout troublesome words to the duke at the capital.”

When Marquis Bolano glared, Pernok smirked.

“I received two commissions. The association head desires to wash away shame with your death, and the duke wishes to escort you to the capital. The association and Illumina’s negotiation is finished. Therefore, the choice is yours. Will you be escorted obediently, or die here?”

“Do you know what you’re doing now is no different from barbarians, Your Highness?”

“Even barbarians have their own rules, yet you broke them.”

Pernok pointed his sword at Marquis Bolano.

“You trained people purchased from merchant groups here and conducted work passing them back to Wanstein to strengthen them, right?”

“……”

“It’s all written in Wanstein’s ledgers. Flemyr knows all the facts. I’ve also received an official document to execute punishment the moment you resist. What will you do? Will you continue devoting full loyalty to Porla or such?”

Marquis Bolano realized there was no place to retreat.

Pernok’s encirclement that came without warning was too solid, so he couldn’t see any way to escape.

‘If I keep my mouth shut and die alone, there’ll be room for the prince’s revival.’

Bolano drew his sword.

Then soldiers pulled bowstrings and prepared tactical weapons.

“Bring Prince Porla. If he permits, I’ll go to the capital then. Until then, I will not comply with unjust demands!”

As expected of one of Illumina’s wealthiest domains, from the walls onward they were well prepared to cope with magic.

But to Pernok, it was merely ripe fruit good to eat.

He intended to burst the fruit here and devour even the spreading seeds all at once.

Crackle.

Pure white lightning began forming on the artifact.

“To think you discuss righteousness hiding behind such stone fragments.”

Pernok raised the sword high.

“You should’ve chosen well the target to wag your tongue at, marquis.”

And as soon as he swung the sword down vertically, flash swept the fortress tower.

BOOM!

One corner of the thick wall collapsed as is.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of soldiers were burnt pitch black.

He had to sweep away all of Porla’s factions before they heard news of the marquis house and fled, taking those domains.

Though demolishing the walls was very regrettable, when every moment was urgent, it wasn’t a situation to conserve strength.

“No time to dawdle with the likes of you.”

“O-open fire!”

Marquis Bolano who came to his senses belatedly used tactical weapons.

Amidst the barrage of explosive sounds, Pernok activated Circulation Link.

BOOOOM!

Brilliant flash devoured everything before his eyes, sweeping away both gates and walls together.

When Marquis Bolano who fell from the fortress tower barely raised his body from the pile of rocks.

“Huk…… haah, w-wait……”

Slice!

Pernok beheaded him as is.

And he grabbed the rolling head by the hair and threw it to the deputy team leader of the investigation team.

“Tell the duke. I’ll handle the remaining domains on my own too.”

To occupy Bolano Marquis territory, just three sword strikes were sufficient.