Expansion

Pernok shouted to those who still hadn’t withdrawn hostility.

“Since we’ve punished the criminal, we’ll impose severe punishment on those who shield or resist this!”

“Attack!”

The knight order ignored Pernok’s shout and initiated resistance.

True to private soldiers raised by Porla, they didn’t lose fighting spirit even though Marquis Bolano had died.

Truly admirable, but he had to spare a few as tribute to hand over to Flemyr.

“You subdue the soldiers and calm the people so they won’t be confused.”

“Yes!”

The guild masters divided up and burrowed into the fortress tower and castle interior.

He split in half the knight order trying to follow with one sword strike.

“You shouldn’t think of smuggling out evidence.”

“Prince Pernok! You will surely regret today!”

“Hahahaha! Your spirit is good, but Flemyr is a much stricter person than you think. Show that attitude after enduring torture. Then who knows? He might exempt your family from labor punishment?”

“Kyahah!”

When the knight commander pressured him while shaking the terrain, Pernok lightly kicked off a stone and condensed wind in midair.

Bang!

The wind that burst before the knight commander’s eyes swept his entire body. Arms and legs fell off one each as the knight commander rolled on the ground.

And after beheading the remaining knight order, Pernok told the investigation team member.

“Take this person too, and send people to collect evidence inside the castle.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll head to the next destination. Several will follow, right?”

“I’ll carefully select one swift person to attach.”

Pernok nodded and summoned two people.

“Sallio, Enri!”

The two who conquered the fortress tower came down quickly.

“Capture the nobles of Porla’s faction before news of this situation spreads.”

“All of them?”

“Yes, without missing a single one.”

“Understood!”

Sallio and Enri received divided maps and left the castle leading guild members.

Porla’s faction has quite many barons who don’t possess domains.

They go here and there handling all of Porla’s miscellaneous affairs.

Though they’re merely errand boys not possessing core evidence to behead Porla, great meaning is assigned to escorting them to the capital itself.

‘Starting from Marquis Bolano, Porla’s faction collapses.’

The uncontrollably swelling chaos will devour the political situation and advance to the next stage of determining new domain owners.

At that time, Flemyr intends to gather retired nobles and entrust those domains to them temporarily.

Therefore, he hinted this fact to Pernok.

If he wants to take all the domains, topple everything related to Porla so absolutely no trouble occurs.

“Zodiac, Jad!”

“Yes!”

“You follow me toward the next castle! Since we must capture all lords of a total of four places and escort them to the capital, carefully select only those who can manage public sentiment to follow!”

“Understood!”

Pernok went one step further and decided to conduct preliminary work for the situation after those domains became vacant.

Already his northern domains were spreading rumors among the people like paradise.

If he raids domains possessed by Porla’s faction including Bolano Marquis territory and plants a gentle impression on the people like the rumors, the situation when taking those domains later becomes very convenient.

“We’ve collected all the medicine!”

“What if they resist like that Marquis Bolano?”

Pernok answered decisively while mounting his horse.

“Kill them.”

Looking down at the investigation team member, he nodded.

“We’re the association’s proxy and are restoring the nation’s order at Duke Flemyr’s request. Don’t worry about other troublesome things. Focus only on the commission. I as royal, you as mercenaries. If we thoroughly divide roles and approach it, the remaining places will naturally become yours.”

“That’s very sweet talk!”

“Let’s go quickly, Your Highness!”

Pernok gripped the reins.

“When Porla arrives at the capital, all situations must be settled! Smash everything blocking the way!”

“Yes!”

Two hundred mages with Pernok at the head headed toward the next castle.

* * *

Count Dodrio was startled by the sudden demonstration.

“Do you acknowledge manufacturing and supplying large quantities of illegal weapons to Marquis Bolano and Prince Porla!”

“What are you saying, Prince Pernok!”

“Soul Ledgers related to illegal private soldiers are now in Duke Flemyr’s hands. Since I’ve been delegated authority to escort criminals as proxy for the association and kingdom, you answer with two choices. Did you do it, or will you make excuses saying you don’t know?”

Illegal private soldier cultivation was one of Porla faction’s core power strengthening elements.

Naturally Count Dodrio had been secretly smuggling out excellent quality weapons using iron mines.

Because Porla had been manipulating ledgers using merchant groups, the nation doesn’t know this fact.

“I don’t know at all what you’re talking about! How will you handle this situation where you’ve brought private soldiers to occupy the castle now! Your Higness!”

When Count Dodrio came out confidently, Pernok smirked and drew his sword.

“From now on, we’ll kill all who resist, and bestow mercy on those who obediently lay down weapons and surrender.”

“Your Highness! Prince Porla will never overlook this fact!”

It was the moment Count Dodrio shouted in anger.

When it seemed wind fluttered his eyebrows, Pernok was already standing tall before him.

This was the fortress tower.

No one reacted until he narrowed that distant gap in one breath.

“It seems you don’t know at all why Magi are called the nation’s pillars.”

“Knights……”

A chilling blade swept the fortress tower.

Knights who proudly drew weapons were split in half with one stroke.

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

Before Count Dodrio could even open his mouth, the sword swept over the fortress tower once more.

The grain that started at the fortress tower exploded upon reaching the gates.

BOOOOM!

When soldiers couldn’t collect their wits at the collapsing gates, Zodiac and Jad entered quickly.

And pointing a sword at the collapsed Count Dodrio’s neck, Pernok declared.

“Shall I cut off your limbs?”

Count Dodrio foamed at the mouth and rolled back his eyes.

Guild members bound him who fainted, and Pernok looked around.

Soldiers were sending shocked or dazed gazes at the situation that unfolded in one moment, unable to grasp their bearings.

“I am Prince Pernok! I merely came to escort criminals today, so if anyone worries about collision fearing domain warfare, lay down weapons and return to your families!”

The murmuring didn’t last long before disappearing.

Seeing Count Dodrio roughly thrown into a cart, soldiers laid down weapons and descended the walls.

Pernok didn’t bother chasing them.

Because now they’d become living witnesses to widely spread Pernok’s mercy.

Pernok took a soldier’s spear and turned his head west.

Slice!

He killed a messenger trying to secretly escape by stabbing the spear in his back and commanded Zodiac.

“We’ll head to the next castle. Strictly control so information doesn’t leak out.”

“Yes!”

The investigation team member was amazed at Pernok who moved without rest.

No matter how much he acts on their authority, his actions escaped the investigation team’s common sense.

Decisive and finishing work quickly, all castles his feet reached fell before him.

‘Walls are merely simple fences. Is this the power of a Magus?’

The investigation team member stuck out his tongue at Pernok’s majesty pulverizing walls to powder.

Decades had passed since large and small conflicts disappeared from the world.

Not only was there no opportunity to directly see battles between Magi, but when the reason they’re called the nation’s pillars was fading, Pernok’s military prowess made them clearly realize Magi’s reality.

Even hundreds of forces, knight orders, and solid castles struggled to endure a Magus’s single strike.

A Magus’s majesty that could single-handedly overturn the battlefield’s momentum swept away Porla’s faction in an instant.

‘If Duke Flemyr joins with Prince Pernok, there’d be no need to fear even the royal palace’s Magus.’

Before they knew it, the investigation team was showing more favor than necessary to Pernok.

Because his work handling was very clean and decisive, they felt he differed in character from royals coveting power.

Pernok who struck down the last castle turned around while recovering his sword.

“Take all materials from the inner castle. And until the capital sends people, I’ll manage these places with my private soldiers.”

Originally, it’s work the castle should do on its own.

Especially since they left soldiers and officials to some degree, unless there’s external invasion, there’s no need to place Pernok’s private soldiers.

But the deputy team leader of the investigation team had hinted to definitely respond this way if such a request came.

[Accommodate as much as possible what His Highness Pernok desires. If it’s within the line not violating rules, the duke will also be pleased.]

Flemyr who maintained the only neutrality in the kingdom began grinding his teeth facing other royals’ realities.

Though Pernok also can’t be called clean, he judges him at least a person somewhat suitable for the ‘order’ Flemyr desires.

Flemyr hasn’t revealed definite intentions.

But the investigation team all recognized that subtle atmosphere.

“If it doesn’t burden you, prince, we’ll request management of the castles.”

“Tell the duke I’ll separately convey my thanks.”

“Rather, we’re the ones who should be grateful. The duke will cheer that courage pursuing justice while taking the lead even though it’s work making royals into enemies.”

“Haha, other investigation team members are taciturn, but you’re a bit different.”

“My name is Isabel.”

“I’ll remember. Then I’ll look forward to good news.”

Investigation team member Isabel bowed her head and loaded the counts Pernok captured onto carts.

After attaching high-level mages together and sending them off to the capital, Pernok immediately began seizing public sentiment in castles where castle lords disappeared.

“I merely escorted criminals eating away at this nation! You can rest assured and engage in livelihoods, and if there’s anything lacking, return to the castle and tell me! I’ll gladly spare no support!”

Though the people were doubtful at first, when soldiers returned safely, they began believing Pernok and recalled paradise-like rumors of the northern domains, accepting his commands.

Though walls collapsed, the people’s smiles deepened.

When impoverished livelihoods improved thanks to supplies Pernok brought, they even tried to grab and not release him as he departed.

“What shall we do if you leave like this!”

“Your Highness! We’ll be waiting!”

Waiting for the day to seize these castles again, Pernok executed all who seemed corrupt.

He secured public sentiment of the people who are the castles’ foundation, and left clean officials, preparing to arrange castles at fast speed in the future.

Now what remains is only persuading those who will seize these castles.

* * *

Porla who returned to the kingdom after one month had to face Flemyr again.

“Your Highness, illegal private soldiers and embezzlement of funds, together with kidnapping and confining war orphans to sell them as human experiment sacrifices to the mage association. And besides that……”

Flemyr barely swallowed words difficult to even put in his mouth.

“……You’ve truly committed many base acts betraying royal pride.”

“Duke!”

“Porla Al Illumina!”

When Flemyr widened his eyes, Porla’s body trembled.

“Even if blinded by the throne, beyond simply providing funds, you sold even the people through cooperation with Wanstein’s experiments!”

When Flemyr struck down his scabbard, Porla and soldiers lost balance and fell.

Flemyr’s pressure handling Magus Arts vibration was heavily pressing down on Porla.

“Even your father, though he might join hands with other nations, didn’t do such dirty and vile things!”

“D-duke! N-no, uncle! There’s some mistake……”

“Shut up! I’ve already escorted all your faction to the capital! Until all crimes are clearly revealed, you’re merely a criminal, and I’ll strip all royal privileges!”

“……You’ve exceeded the observer’s path!”

“I already received the queen’s permission.”

“Mother…… me……?”

To the flustered Porla, Flemyr cast a cold gaze.

“It’s also a matter related to the association. If Her Majesty who claimed neutrality shields you calling you her child, I told her I also won’t endure it.”

“……!”

“The new association head fully cooperated. The evidence is so clear it’s nauseating enough to be difficult to even put in my mouth!”

Investigation team members surrounded Porla and soldiers.

“There’ve been several cases of royals being executed during competition. Whether you’ll follow that precedent, or cut your tail and escape again to continue that splendid royal privilege, let’s try it with me.”

“This can’t happen! I’m a legitimate throne candidate conducting competition! Uncle, don’t you know your actions now are acts disturbing throne succession!”

“Only restoring this nation’s order is the mission your father assigned to me. Do you truly not know why I remain as duke?”

Flemyr, called the pillar of Illumina along with the royal palace’s Magus.

The reason he remains as duke through generations was in the judgment authority the previous king guaranteed.

Illumina has had the duke take the role of supervising corrupt acts whenever conducting competitions, and now that the king is dead, Flemyr’s authority rose even higher.

“If I’d made up my mind and thrown my weight to one side, I would’ve killed you directly before even coming here.”

Porla’s complexion paled.

He knows because he’s played the role of good nephew since childhood to look good to Flemyr.

Once he becomes resolute, he absolutely doesn’t bend his will even if any external pressure enters.

“N-no. I was just finding clues……”

“Escort him!”

Investigation team members dragged Porla and private soldiers into the royal palace.

“Let go! I’m this nation’s prince! A throne candidate I saaay!”

Porla’s scream shook the inner castle.

From when the bird that soared backed by the mage association fell to ruin, competition had begun and less than half a year had passed.

And Pernok’s forces began rapidly gnawing at that place where Porla’s faction disappeared.