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Translator: CinderTL
"Whether Duke Arno's true aim is to ignite a war or pursue some other scheme, our only course of action now..."
Roland picked up a dry twig and sketched a simple route on the ground.
"...is to leave the Golden Valley Kingdom's territory as quickly as possible and return to the River Domain Nations."
"Only under Lord Graham's protection can we truly be safe."
"But..."
Reggie shook his groggy head and struggled to lean against the cave wall, forcing himself to speak.
"Didn't you say... Leonard already knows the truth and is returning to the royal capital to expose Duke Arno's conspiracy?"
The mention of Leonard's name, coupled with Roland's casual remark about defeating him earlier, made Reggie's eyes flicker.
Though he knew Roland never exaggerated, the thought of the formidable knight being defeated still sent a tremor through his heart.
He took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing his chaotic thoughts, and continued.
"Roland, you might not realize... Leonard's family has served the Golden Valley Kingdom for generations. Since his grandfather's time, they've been loyal retainers of King Monen, serving him faithfully, even though..."
Reggie coughed heavily, spitting out a mouthful of clotted blood before continuing.
"By his generation, the family's influence had waned from its former glory, but his and his family's power within the Golden Valley Kingdom remained formidable."
"If he can return safely, Arno will undoubtedly..."
"Instructor Reggie, you're right. If he truly manages to return unscathed, he could indeed cause significant trouble for Duke Arno. That's precisely why I was willing to let him go. However..."
Recalling the terrifying abyssal creature that had swept across the battlefield, prioritizing the slaughter of Golden Valley soldiers, Roland slowly shook his head.
"I doubt he'll make it back to the royal capital alive. Even if he does, I fear he'll never see Prince Lucius again..."
Up to this point, Roland had only met Duke Arno a few times.
But the duke's ruthless decision to deploy an abyssal creature to silence everyone present revealed a man of meticulous calculation and ruthless methods.
Such a man would never hesitate to sacrifice Leonard's status to achieve his goals.
In fact...
"You mean..."
Reggie understood Roland's unspoken implication, his eyes widening in shock.
"How could that be possible? Arno is just a duke. How dare he openly massacre..."
"Instructor Reggie, we can't know exactly what Duke Arno will do, but we must prepare for the worst-case scenario," Roland said calmly but gravely.
"If he sends assassins to intercept Leonard on his return journey and then frames us for the deaths of Earl Auston and Leonard... we'll face endless pursuit and extermination by the Golden Valley Kingdom."
"This..."
Reggie fell silent, speechless for a long moment before sighing softly.
"Perhaps... we should have accompanied Leonard..."
He cut himself off, shaking his head with self-deprecating amusement.
"Forgive me, Roland. I'm not thinking clearly."
"It's alright, Instructor Reggie."
Though Reggie hadn't finished his thought, Roland understood perfectly.
But as Reggie himself admitted, his mind wasn't clear at the moment.
Accompany Leonard back to the royal capital and expose Duke Arno's conspiracy?
Although Roland's strength far surpassed that of an ordinary knight, if Duke Arno were to ambush them along the way, he would never send just one transcendent.
Even if they managed to repel all the assassins and reach Golden Grain City, what could they possibly change?
It was Duke Arno's territory, and they were merely outsiders.
As for Prince Lucius...
He didn't seem like the kind of wise monarch who would readily accept advice.
If any part of their plan went wrong, they would be walking straight into a trap.
Roland had no intention of taking such a risk.
"There's still some time before dawn..."
Roland glanced at the sky outside the cave and gently patted Instructor Reggie's shoulder.
"Get some rest, Instructor Reggie. We'll set off as soon as it's light."
"Thank you, Roland."
Reggie nodded, his gaze sweeping over the dozen or so surviving students. A flicker of pain crossed his eyes.
"I've failed Dean Graham's expectations... I truly don't know how I'll face him when we return..."
His voice grew increasingly hoarse, even tinged with a sob, sounding particularly desolate in the dimly lit cave.
"What?"
In the spacious, brightly lit room, Arno stood by the window, gazing into the distance.
Upon hearing Erwin's report, he abruptly turned, an expression of disbelief crossing his usually composed face for the first time.
"You're saying... those fishermen not only repelled Leonard, but they even... slew the abyssal creature I painstakingly crafted?"
"Yes, Your Grace," Erwin replied, his eyes lowered. "At least, judging by the battlefield traces, I found no evidence of your creature's existence."
"A construct specially forged with abyssal power... is this all it amounted to?" Arno slowly sank back into his massive chair, his thick fingers drumming silently on the table. "Or... could it be that someone among the fishermen was concealing their true strength?"
As the rhythmic tapping continued, the duke frowned slightly, recalling the faces of the trainees from the River Domain Nations. He ultimately shook his head.
"Then, Your Grace," Erwin stepped forward, his voice low and deferential. "What are our next steps?"
"Proceed according to the original plan." Arno ceased his drumming, picked up the cup of red tea beside him, and took a delicate sip of the scalding liquid.
"Those fishermen have already served their purpose. Now that the pursuit order has been issued, there's no need to waste further resources on them. I've already ordered the territory's armies to mobilize and exert pressure along the River Domain Nations' borders. The rest..."
Arno's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Leave it to you."
"Rest assured, Duke Arno," Erwin said with a slight bow. "I will persuade Prince Lucius to declare war on the River Domain Nations. However, King Monen..."
"Hmph!" Arno scoffed coldly at the mention of Monen's name. "That old fool is already overwhelmed. By the time he returns from the frontier, everything will be settled... He'll be powerless to change anything."
"Mere orcs shouldn't have pushed him into such a dire situation, even with inside intelligence. It seems he's truly grown old." Arno sighed softly, a hint of regret in his voice.
"I understand," Erwin nodded slightly, preparing to take his leave. But Arno spoke again.
"Oh, Erwin, remember to remind that boy..." Arno set down his teacup, a flicker of mockery crossing his face. "If he wants to win the nobles' approval and secure the throne, military achievements alone won't suffice. He must also..."
The duke's voice remained steady and icy.
"...eliminate all his siblings."
"Monen may be old, but he's not senile. Our plan isn't flawless. When he returns and senses something amiss... that old fox will strip the boy of his authority and install someone else."
"I understand," Erwin said, bowing deeply as he backed out of the room. The heavy oak door closed silently behind him.
Arno remained seated, his gaze fixed on the spot where Erwin had vanished.
After a long moment, a cold, slow smile curled at the corners of his lips.
"All the pieces are in place..." he murmured, his voice so soft it seemed to dissolve into the air.
"Lucius, oh Lucius... You think you control the chessboard, but you're merely the fattest lamb on the table. Once you've eliminated all your siblings for me, drawn everyone's attention... then it will be time to deal with that most troublesome problem."
He lifted his teacup, staring into the dark red liquid as if scrutinizing an impending sacrifice.
"Even a king of great power, after enduring the pain of losing his sons and being 'exposed' by his most trusted dukeārevealing his heir to be a demon who slaughtered his own kināhis mind will inevitably crack."
"And even the greatest strength requires will to wield it."
Arno tapped his fingers lightly on the table, calculating the deeper layers of his plan.
"When the time comes, I will prepare for him... a 'final act' worthy of his transcendent status."
He chuckled softly, the sound chillingly hollow in the empty room.
Meanwhile, Erwin strode down the long corridor with steady, unhurried steps, his face utterly expressionless.
After confirming he wasn't being followed, he turned into a hidden side corridor and gently knocked on an inconspicuous wooden door.
"Come in," a slightly languid voice called from within.
The scene inside was a stark contrast to Arno's study.
The room was thick with smoke, wine bottles lay scattered across the floor, and Prince Lucius reclined on a chaise lounge, his white hair disheveled, his robes askew, and an empty wine glass dangling from his hand.
Yet as Erwin bowed respectfully, Lucius lifted his eyelids, and for a fleeting moment, a flicker of startling clarity flashed in his usually clouded blue eyes.
"What did he say?" Lucius asked, his voice still raspy but with less of a drunken slur.
Erwin precisely recounted Arno's plan, including the suggestion to eliminate all members of the Royal Family.
Surprisingly, Lucius showed no anger or shock. Instead, he slowly sat upright, setting the empty wine glass aside.
As he straightened, his usually hunched shoulders straightened, and his perpetually half-closed eyes widened, revealing a sharp, piercing gaze utterly unlike his usual demeanor.
"He wants me to bear the blame for patricide..."
Lucius murmured, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips.
"Just as I intended."
He rose and walked to the window, gazing out at the pitch-black night sky.
At that moment, his posture was upright, his gaze sharp and piercingāa stark contrast to the feeble, decadent prince he usually portrayed.
"Carry out the duke's plan," Lucius said slowly, his voice calm yet resolute.
"But ensure that every 'accident,' every 'misfortune,' can be traced back to Arno."
He turned, his eyes gleaming with calculation.
"Let Arno believe he's manipulating me... let him think I'm a blade in his hand."
Lucius's tone dripped with mockery.
"And when the time is right, when all obstacles have been cleared..."
He paused, a cruel smile spreading across his face.
Erwin bowed deeply, concealing the flicker of calculation in his eyes.
"As you wish, Your Highness."
Lucius waved his hand, effortlessly resuming his usual languid, decadent posture. He sank back into his lounge chair, as if the shrewd, ruthless prince who had just discussed patricide had never existed.
But Erwin knew he had witnessed the truth.
In this palace, the most dangerous predators were often the most skilled at disguising themselves as prey.
(End of the Chapter)
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