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Translator: CinderTL
Theresa's words struck the dilapidated room like a shard of ice, plunging it into sudden, deathly silence.
The young trainees' faces drained of color, their eyes filled with bewilderment and terror. Some shook their heads instinctively, their lips trembling but unable to utter a sound.
Panic spread like a silent vine, coiling around their hearts.
"No... this can't be true!"
Reggie jerked his head up, his voice hoarse with agitation, trembling with disbelief.
"Dean Graham... he would never allow Derek to do this! He would never abandon us!"
Theresa met his pleading gaze with a calm, helpless resignation in her eyes.
"The information is reliable, Mr. Reggie."
Her low, clear voice shattered the last vestiges of hope.
"The truth... is as I've stated."
Reggie opened his mouth as if to argue, but the words caught in his throat. His shoulders slumped slightly, as if all the strength had been drained from him. He sank into a wordless silence, only his tightly clenched fists betraying the turmoil within.
Unlike the surrounding atmosphere of terror and despair, Roland's face remained devoid of panic or anger.
In truth, Roland had already sensed this outcome during the long month of waiting, when no word arrived from the River Domain Nations.
Through his frequent conversations with Dean Graham, he had learned fragments of Derek's past.
This influential merchant, who had single-handedly forged the alliance of the River Domain Nations, always maintained a courteous demeanor. Yet when it came to matters of profit, he never allowed sentiment to cloud his judgment.
Roland suppressed his thoughts, his steady voice breaking the oppressive silence in the room.
"Are there any other news?"
Theresa was about to speak when a flamboyant voice suddenly cut in.
"Of course, Roland! And I bet you'll never guess..."
Before the words could finish, Galvis had pushed open the door and appeared before them.
The bard showed no signs of fatigue from his long escape, his expression still radiating his characteristic ease and nonchalance.
After a loud, boozy burp, he continued leisurely, "Rumors... chilling rumors... have been spreading from the central regions of the Golden Valley Kingdom."
Leaning against the doorframe, he idly strummed the strings of his lute.
"The blessed children of King Monen have recently suffered a series of misfortunes, each more bizarre than the last, like tragedies penned by a clumsy poet."
He paused, a flicker of mockery in his eyes.
"Sixth Prince Bailey was found in his locked chamber... having taken his own life with a dagger. They say his eyes were wild, inhuman."
"Princess Vera fell gravely ill after a brief excursion into the countryside. The court physicians were helpless, and she withered away within three days."
"And Prince Adams, renowned for his martial prowess, vanished completely during a routine border patrol, along with his entire personal guard... swallowed by the wilderness, leaving no trace of life or death."
Galvis shook his head, his voice gradually deepening as if narrating a tale.
"Rumors are spreading through Golden Grain City like wildfire."
"Some whisper of an ancient curse fulfilled. Whatever the truth, the Monen family bloodline is thinning at an alarming rate."
Roland listened quietly, his brow furrowing deeper with each word.
In an instant, he realized this was likely Duke Arno's doing.
Yet Roland's suspicions didn't stop there.
As the ancient proverb goes:
When a conspiracy surfaces, simply identify who stands to gain, and you'll glimpse the shadow of the mastermind behind it.
"Prince Lucius..."
Connecting the dotsāthe frail, white-haired prince who seemed increasingly senileāRoland gradually pieced together a shocking deduction.
"Could Arno and Lucius... be plotting to usurp the throne, seizing supreme power over the Golden Valley Kingdom?"
But as soon as this thought took root, a barrage of new questions followed.
After all, King Monen still reigned.
This legendary figure, who had ruled the kingdom for over a century, would never stand idly by while anyone destabilized the nation's order through such bloody means.
Moreover...
"If their sole aim was the throne, why launch wars against the River Domain Nations, needlessly complicating matters?"
Roland fell into deep contemplation.
"Could they be using the war to divert Monen's attention?"
After meticulous deliberation, though still uncertain of Arno and Lucius's true motives, Roland managed to catch a faint glimmer of light through the mist.
"Galvis."
He looked up, his gaze sharp as he turned to the bard.
"Among King Monen's descendants, who holds the highest reputation?"
Hearing Roland's question, Galvis instinctively plucked a string on his lute, as if tuning his memory to recall the proper notes.
"Ah, King Monen's descendants... there were indeed many with remarkable reputations in the past." His voice carried a hint of melancholy.
"I won't dwell on Prince Lucius, the eldest son. Prince Adrian, the second son, was a military genius deeply admired by his generals. But years ago, frustrated by King Monen's refusal to name an heir, he allied with frontier nobles to launch a rebellion... He was ultimately defeated and executed in Iron Rock City."
"Princess Ilan, the third daughter, possessed extraordinary intelligence and once enjoyed considerable support within the court. Sadly, she was frail and sickly, like a rose that withered too soon. She passed away over a decade ago."
He sighed and continued, "As for recent events... several young princes and princesses, who had previously remained discreet but showed great potential, have met with misfortune."
Galvis spread his hands, a trace of helplessness on his face.
"By this calculation, Princess Gloria is likely the only surviving member of the royal family with widespread public support."
"Although King Monen disapproves of her devout faith and membership in the Blazing Sun Church, and has long excluded her from the core of power..."
"Her Highness has dedicated herself to selflessly aiding the poor and providing medicine and supplies to frontline soldiers at her own expense. These acts of kindness have earned her immense respect among the common people and ordinary soldiers."
"Gloria?"
Upon hearing this unexpected name, Roland immediately pictured a golden-haired girl in his mind.
After a moment, he exhaled deeply, all hesitation vanishing like smoke.
Reflecting on his experiences since entering the Golden Valley Kingdom, Roland knew he had reached a dead end.
The Golden Valley Kingdom's pursuit was relentless, while the River Domain Nations had coldly shut their gates.
He and the surviving trainees were now abandoned outcasts with nowhere to turn.
For years, relying on his secret Job Panel, he had cultivated a habit of avoiding risks, concealing his talents, and firmly believing that by buying enough time, he could steadily accumulate strength and quietly surpass everyone else.
Evade, endure, maneuver.
These had once been the tenets Roland firmly believed in.
But now, the massive net woven by Duke Arno and Prince Lucius was slowly tightening, inadvertently driving them into a corner.
Roland didn't know what roles these two chess players were playing in this conspiracy, nor was he certain he possessed the resources to counter their moves.
He lacked information, allies, and even the confidence to escape unscathed.
But since he couldn't enter the game as a player...
He would choose another path.
A more radical, more desperate path.
A sharp glint flashed in Roland's eyes, the resolve forged in the crucible of adversity.
He was tired of passively reacting, tired of scrambling to hide within the rules set by others.
If this game sought to devour him as a mere pawn, then he might as well...
Flip the chessboard.
"We're not going to the border anymore," Roland announced, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable force that shattered the room's oppressive silence.
He raised his head, his gaze sweeping across every anxious and bewildered face.
"We're turning back, returning to the heart of the Golden Valley Kingdom."
(End of the Chapter)
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