Intervention

Ruin couldn’t easily open his mouth.

How should he interpret the intent of someone who suddenly visited and said he’d kill a 13 Lord?

Gram met the tense Ruin with a laugh.

“The 13 Lords are all scattered, and wars will unfold simultaneously. You absolutely can’t flee. If you want to live, ride my flow.”

“Do you think you can survive making all nations into enemies?”

“Kekeke, that’s why I’m saying we’ll take risks.”

Gram raised one finger.

“One castle.”

“What?”

“One castle per nation.”

“……!?”

“Our War God is prepared to lose even half our castles as the price for subjugating all nations. Though I view it as disgraceful, I don’t think it’s impossible. Who in this world now can stop Chris? The Holy Kingdom’s High Priest? An alliance of all nations?”

Gram shook his head with a laugh.

“Not even close. Rakis absolutely won’t retreat. If there’s only one opportunity, it’s now when Chris doesn’t personally enter the war. Only this moment when he still believes in Vans and tries to lend strength.”

“When all 13 Lords are dispatched, there’s no way that leader will stay still, no?”

“Kekeke, if he tried to solve it with force, he would’ve already led troops and come directly. But Chris doesn’t like meaningless wars. He prefers methods of winning overwhelmingly by minimizing sacrifices. If that path is using other nations’ talents, he welcomes it even more.”

“If all the 13 Lords die?”

“Then there’s no justification.”

Gram grinned.

“When you and I join forces to put Pernok on the throne and Vans is dead, if I newly rise to duke in the empire and blow once, can Chris dispatch troops as he pleases?”

“……”

“Oh, you seem to have made a judgment now.”

Gram’s words were interpreted truly clearly.

Clashing with the 13 Lords is an unavoidable sequence.

In the end, if he kills them, Chris will personally enter the war.

But if he attaches Gram to Pernok here to achieve merit, then makes him the empire’s duke, he can check Chris’s dispatch from inside.

“Handle the 13 Lords in an instant and put Pernok on the throne before Chris comes out. Isn’t it really simple?”

But for that imagination to become reality, much more military power is needed.

Though acting like a madman, Gram tries to manipulate at will the direction that becomes best in a dizzying situation.

So meticulous and fascinating that if Ruin were Pernok, he would’ve been immediately tempted.

‘Strategist.’

The existence called military king before Chris, known to wag his tongue seductively like a serpent’s and plot schemes.

“The more you show leisure, the more the 13 Lords will walk around brazenly. Right now Tyr’s monster and those merchant bastards who supported Princess Yuliana. And Prince Pernok and Rezhen’s Salavan……”

“Wait.”

Ruin’s brow twitched.

“Did you just say merchants?”

“The merchant who supplied military provisions to Princess Yuliana. Isn’t he the first contributor to front line base construction? Don’t tell me, you also know that merchant?”

“Who’s there now!”

Then Gram spoke with a peculiar smile.

“What’s important about who’s there? If you and I go together and kill him, that’s enough.”

“You bastard……”

“It’s decided. We’ll take that head and join Prince Pernok. Kwahahaha!”

Ruin couldn’t refuse Gram’s sticky desire.

* * *

Rio was transporting the 4th shipment of supplies to Tyr’s front lines.

The carriage suddenly stopped, and unfamiliar sounds were heard.

“Merchant leader!”

“What’s the matter?”

The carriage door opened and a pale-faced escort said.

“A messenger just came from the front lines, saying to turn around immediately!”

“They won’t receive these supplies?”

“It’s an attack! Rakis dispatched a Magus and collisions at the front lines are spreading uncontrollably now.”

“……!”

If it’s a Rakis Magus to show externally, it’s the 13 Lords.

‘The 13 Lords waged war? With Tyr?’

He was about to ask how many forces and 13 Lords there were.

But.

“Protect the goods!”

The moment shouting echoed from the rear.

BOOM!

Explosive sounds shook all directions.

Rio jumped from the carriage.

The path that had been dense until just now was covered in pitch-black shadows.

The shadows took human form and began sweeping away the merchant group wielding pitch-black swords.

Overwhelming majesty where each entity’s speed and sharpness made even 7th level mages unable to resist and fall.

When the 13 Lords flashed through his mind, one person’s prestige surfaced.

A small nation now destroyed.

The last Magus of the small nation that was devoured by Rakis but singlehandedly blocked 30,000 imperial troops.

Baron Fryngel, an S1 Magus called the Shadow Warrior.

The Magus Arts of infinitely multiplying shadows is his patent.

Each entity possesses 7th level or higher power and displays master-like martial arts.

“Are you that merchant trash who helped Princess Yuliana?”

Before he could turn around, the escort’s head rolled on the ground.

Not a shadow but the main body.

A man with a longsword wearing pitch-black stealth clothes was occupying Rio’s escape route.

“13 Lord…… why does Baron Fryngel cause such a disaster for someone like me, a mere merchant?”

“Your nerve isn’t bad. However.”

Fryngel shook blood off the longsword and raised it high.

“If you die and meet me then, I’ll inform you of the reason.”

Before he knew it, everyone in the merchant group except Rio was dead.

Facing the cold work handling that wouldn’t give even an inch of gap or short time, Rio couldn’t devise any schemes.

Because it was forces he couldn’t prepare for against an unexpected attack.

Shiiing!

Before hearing wind sounds, reflexively extending both arms was the only resistance Rio could manage.

THUD!

But instead of flesh splitting, a strange sound of something being bounced off echoed before his eyes.

Fryngel had already separated from Rio and climbed a tree.

Rio only turned his head right while arms extended.

“Are you unharmed!”

“Lord Ruin!”

Ruin was flying from afar.

But it was strange.

Because Ruin’s magic wasn’t the type to bounce off slashing attacks.

Rio found the answer in a person floating in the sky.

“What are you doing, marquis?”

“Kekeke, swinging a sword at a civilian who doesn’t even know magic would make the name Magus cry, wouldn’t it, baron?”

Fryngel who glanced at Ruin standing beside Rio frowned.

“Aren’t you in charge of being association head?”

“The dialogue ended well, so there’s no need to perform sword dances.”

“Then will you use that merchant for the empire too?”

“You’re misunderstanding something. The dialogue I’m speaking of is for me, not the empire.”

Fryngel’s face hardened as if realizing something.

To Rio who didn’t know the circumstances, Ruin briefly explained the situation.

Words difficult to understand by common sense that Gram would behead a 13 Lord to become the empire’s duke.

But the scene that unfolded immediately after awakened that absurd words were truth.

“Marquis……!”

All shadows in this area floated in midair and merged into one.

Soon they condensed into a pitch-black sphere and vanished.

“Is this truly the marquis’s will!”

“When my benefit will head toward the empire’s benefit, what are you so worried about?”

“The duke won’t view this situation lightly!”

“Kekeke, when the association head is beside me, how will the duke know?”

And Ruin seized the area’s space.

Magus Arts ‘Loss’ narrowed only on Fryngel.

Squeezing from the outside was Gram’s Magus Arts gravity manipulation.

Before the extensive Magus Arts that governs even magic power’s nature with gravity, Fryngel couldn’t do anything.

Even for the empire’s 13 Lords, handling two S2 Magi was impossible.

“It’s fortunate Breia doesn’t know. If that idiotic bastard hadn’t gone to Rezhen, things would’ve been troublesome, but I’m glad it’s you.”

“Marquiiis!”

“I’ll definitely write on your tombstone that you’re a loyal retainer who devoted yourself to the empire.”

Gram’s eyebrows curved like a crescent moon.

“Talking a lot isn’t your style, is it?”

Shadows were erased by Loss, and gravity crushed Fryngel’s stripped body.

Though the empire’s baron died with a handful of blood, Gram descended to the ground with a calm expression.

And he floated Fryngel’s blood and held it before Rio and Ruin.

“I wanted to give you the head, but I can’t miss the opportunity I barely caught. Fryngel is very skilled at hiding in shadows and fleeing. I unavoidably used excessive force, but you won’t refuse the proposal now just because there’s no head, right?”

If there’s someone pure in desire, it probably means Gram.

Though they first met today, Rio sent a firm gaze at the incarnation of pure greed nauseating enough to vomit.

And Ruin brushed off the blood and said.

“Should I spread that I’m the one who killed a 13 Lord?”

“Oh, yes! And I’ll also report that you were stronger than imagination! If we match our mouths, even Chris will be helplessly deceived.”

“What about Tyr’s border?”

“I can’t handle there. That clown bastard is…… a troublesome type. Besides, other 13 Lords’ forces will now push toward the border together. How about hiding my appearance as much as possible while cleaning up one by one?”

Ruin turned his gaze to Rio.

Though many thoughts flashed in an instant, he thought all judgments were Pernok’s work to do.

The two people looked at each other and nodded.

“It seems the agreement went well. Then it’s better to hurry a bit. The bastards attached to Prince Pernok are quite bothersome.”

“Bastards?”

“Didn’t I say he’s a prince Chris pays attention to? Everyone’s in an uproar wanting to behead him. I don’t know how many attached. However.”

Gram’s wicked eyes flashed.

“They’ll all try to settle it tonight. The bastards attached to Prince Pernok are faster and sharper than Fryngel.”

* * *

Pernok was holding a banquet gathering even the castle lords who joined this time.

Before he knew it, his faction had grown comparable to Vans, and the number of people flocking to the domain increased day by day.

If even the domain to receive from Yuliana is added here, he truly becomes a vast grand lord devouring half of Illumina.

For those who’d only conducted wars and strife, an event showing the faction leader’s dignity can be called a necessary force management method.

“We’re from Anemos Merchant Group! Here’s the invitation!”

“I’m managing the mining site. I urgently have matters to meet His Highness and discuss……”

“Ahem, I’m called Baron Pabal. I have matters to explain about the ranch I manage to His Highness.”

As if boasting the faction’s prestige, merchant groups, guilds, and low-titled nobles who’d only watched began arriving from various places.

Pernok examined them with Soul Discernment.

He took in those with good talents and immediately expelled those with impious conduct, solidly refining his forces.

When even various landowners who’d cooperated with Porla joined, the banquet hall bustled without even space to step.

Sallio awkwardly touched the tails of his tailcoat and approached Pernok.

“Will you receive all these many people?”

“I’m thinking of further sifting jade from stone among them. Do you have people you’ve separately observed?”

“I do see people necessary for several guild masters.”

“This time, you select first.”

“Is that really acceptable?”

“I’ll examine those you selected again, but I hope it becomes practice to maximize your eye.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Deal with them appropriately and send them back.”

“Yes, prince.”

Entrusting the remaining guests to Sallio, Pernok walked out to the terrace.

It was when he was looking at the mansion’s brilliant lights not yet extinguished.

Sharp blue light appeared at Pernok’s nape.

CLANG!

Pernok who reflexively changed the artifact to glove form struck away the blade coming at his nape.

As soon as he stepped aside, the mansion began melting flabbily.

Though sudden magic power embraced the mansion, Pernok didn’t panic.

Immediately, he deployed Deep Night, Pedson’s Magus Arts, devouring all space reaching the mansion and yard.

When mages inside the mansion noticed the abnormality and tried to burst out, Pernok blocked the entrance and shouted decisively.

“Absolutely don’t step outside the mansion!”

Pernok’s Observation Eye captured the two men and women standing tall in Deep Night.

One was the man who owned the sickle that dug into his nape, and the other was a woman who placed her hand on the mansion roof.

‘The sickle is a peculiar-type Magus leaping beyond space, the woman is a natural-type Magus who melts places magic power touches.’

Both were Silver priest-level Magi.

But one more person was still holding their breath and hiding.

Like a hawk observing prey, Observation Eye precisely grasped the bastard trying to hide identity in Deep Night.

“I thought you merely a young talent who just became a Magus.”

The remaining one revealed their appearance stepping into Deep Night.

“Indeed, it wasn’t by luck that you obtained the S-rank guild even Marquis Breia couldn’t gain.”

A man with diagonal scars crossing half his face.

“It’s regrettable.”

The capable person facing the S2 Magus wall’s magic power seeped into Deep Night.

“If it hadn’t been Vans, I would’ve supported you.”

It was in an instant.

When Pernok noticed the attack, three Magi were surrounding the domain.