085 - Reclaiming Overdue Debts (6)

Gerard Millers led Calix and Krout into a small reception room within the palace.

Silence hung in the air while a maid served tea.

But the atmosphere wasn't relaxed.

A fierce battle of wits unfolded—Gerard trying to decipher Calix's proposal, and Calix organizing his thoughts on how to manipulate Gerard into giving him what he wanted.

Calix set down his teacup and spoke.

"If you've worked with the executioners, you've probably heard. There was a bit of a clash between them and me recently."

"……I know the rough outline."

"Good. If you didn't, I'd have to explain until my mouth went dry. Anyway, I can't just take it lying down. I want them to pay the price."

"The price……?"

"Do you know who's at the top of the executioners?"

"Tabar, you mean?"

"Right. I'm planning to send him a very expensive bill. To make an example for anyone else who thinks about targeting my life."

"Hmm……."

Gerard rubbed his chin for a moment before asking.

"What do I get out of it?"

"Information that will earn you the prince's trust."

Calix didn't miss the subtle twitch at the corner of Gerard's eye as he spoke.

Proof that the hook was set.

"Gail Prince is a real pain for his subordinates. He's so talented himself that anyone mediocre looks like a lazy, stupid pig to him."

"Ugh!"

He couldn't even chime in agreement, managing only a groan.

Gail Prince's pissy personality was infamous even in the game, where he constantly drove his men hard, tested them, and pitted them against each other for his amusement.

That was why Calix had gone to such lengths to avoid him.

"Let's see…… With your skills, he probably rates you as qualified for a schemer but not enough for a prime minister position in the light."

"Who can know the prince's mind without peering into it?"

"Simple. Did the prince give you a mana breathing method?"

"That's……."

"He didn't, right? He doesn't think you need it. Whatever he assigns you doesn't require high status. A bit of coin and some praise is reward enough."

Gerard ground his molars.

Hearing such a brutally honest assessment from someone else's mouth stirred fresh shame and anger.

Calix spoke to him in a soft voice.

"Calm down. I'm someone who wants to help you."

"Rottae?"

"What does that mean?"

"Why are you helping me? To be honest, I don't get why you're being so nice. Our first impression wasn't great."

Calix answered Gerard's question with a cold smile.

"I know you well. I've looked into your past and present, and we've clashed a few times. If someone like you gains the prince's trust, it's convenient for me. I can predict exactly how you'll act."

"You mean I'd be a liability at the prince's side?"

"Not to others. But against me…… yeah. Easy."

"Ha! You're brutally honest."

"Heh, so. Will you refuse?"

Gerard lifted his bowed head and grinned.

"As if. No matter the humiliation or insults I endure, if I claw my way to a position under one man and above ten thousand, I'll have won. You won't regret it then, will you?"

"Hahaha! That sounds fun too. Anyway, enough of that…… Shall we get to the main point?"

Their conversation stretched on for quite some time.

"Does that satisfy you?"

"Good. My payment for your favor is this."

Calix handed over a small scroll.

Gerard unrolled it and muttered.

"A map."

"Come spring, pirates will raid there. About a thousand strong."

"You sure you didn't mix up the numbers? A thousand men aren't pirates—they're a proper army."

"Heh, you know how the island rats from the Jaipur Union go feral when they're starving, don't you?"

"Ugh!"

Gerard groaned and tucked the map into his bosom.

Calix asked him.

"Oh, by the way, you're not thinking of handling it yourself, are you?"

"Of course. That's how I'll earn the prince's trust……."

"Idiot. That's why you're rated as schemer material, not prime minister."

"Hmm, I don't follow."

Calix let out a short sigh.

"What's the difference between a schemer and a prime minister?"

"Umm, their duties…… probably not."

Gerard blinked stupidly before averting his gaze under Calix's fierce stare. Calix continued.

"A schemer works alone. A prime minister is the pinnacle of countless ministers. You have to wrangle them."

"Ah……."

"No 'ah'. Pass that info to some loyal-looking guy. Build favors to grow your own people. Then you'll naturally gain real power—not borrowed from the prince, but truly yours."

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Gerard looked enlightened.

"I see. I understand perfectly."

Calix nodded and extended his hand.

"So? Satisfied with the deal?"

Gerard cautiously clasped it.

"Yes. But a deal's a deal. We might not part so amicably next time. Don't hate me then."

"Heh, like I said, you're easier to deal with than Gail Prince. So climb as high as you can without pointless worries."

'If you can settle for second-in-command, that is.' After parting with Gerard, Calix pulled out a notepad in the carriage back to the salon.

1. Servio Viscount's faction

2. First Prince Gail Krakuf

3. Lander central army commander

4. Rublin (X)

He drew an X through the second line.

"Good luck, Your Highness."

Back at the salon, Calix summoned Laila and handed her a few documents.

"What's this?"

"Read them."

Laila unfolded the papers casually but soon dove in with a grave expression.

A little time passed before she looked up and asked.

"How did you get such sensitive information?"

"Gerard Millers. You know him."

"Phew, do you trust him?"

"No. It's just a temporary alliance sharing gains."

"Good. He's not that trustworthy."

"More importantly, what do you think?"

"I never imagined revenge would come this soon…… Honestly, I'm excited."

"Hm? I was thinking of leaving Tabar to Krout. You just need to ambush this Cave guy and drive a wedge between them."

"You're joking, right? I have no intention of handing my revenge to someone else."

Calix briefly regretted revealing the full plan.

"Decide carefully. Coldly speaking, you can't take Tabar yet."

Laila bristled at Calix's words.

"Aren't you underestimating me?"

"Phew, calm down. Your revenge targets aren't just him. There'll be other chances. But your life is only one. No need to push."

"……Don't take away ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my chance to escape the shadows of my past."

"Ugh!"

Tabar was her trauma.

Blocking her when she wanted it so desperately would leave her with a lifelong grudge.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Then her status window caught his eye.

'Sealed, huh…….'

"Besides, if Sir Krout steps in, he'll leave traces. Don't underestimate the Shadow Unit's keen eyes. The aftermath will be several times harder."

She kept persuading him, fearing he might refuse.

"Promise. I'll win and come back."

"Don't worry. No one knows him better than I do."

There was a very low chance she might not return.

The thought stabbed at Calix's chest.

But stopping her now would deny their lord-knight bond.

He wasn't ready to accept that change just yet.

"Laila, my first knight."

"Yes, my lord."

"Go. Show them what the Blue Lion Knights are. I won't tolerate you dying or getting hurt by some pathetic assassin unit leader."

"As you command, my liege."

Knock knock.

"Come in."

Tabar opened the door and entered Servio Viscount's study.

But the atmosphere was nothing like he'd expected.

A chill ran down his spine.

Servio Viscount and Shadow Unit leader Cave sat at the long table.

His instincts screamed danger.

But he suppressed his impatience and bowed politely.

"You called, Viscount?"

"I've been waiting. Sit."

"Yes."

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Tabar sat across from Cave, the table between them.

He took a quiet breath.

'There's a faint blood scent somewhere. That wet spot on his side means he's injured…… Was there an operation I don't know about?'

The answer came from Servio Viscount's mouth.

"There was an ambush last night. Target: Cave. Pretty serious wound."

"Who……?"

"Still investigating. The problem is distinguishing random attack from targeted hit on Cave. If the former, tighten security. If the latter…… we hunt the rat."

Tabar shook his head.

"Impossible. A traitor?"

"So you think it's external."

"Yes."

"What about this?"

Servio Viscount placed a small metal shard on the table.

An utterly ordinary item, but anyone ranger-trained and pulled into the executioners would recognize it.

It was a part from traps they favored.

"One of the executioners? Anyone can make these shards in any smithy!"

"Playing innocent? I nearly died yesterday!"

Cave, clutching his left side, bellowed in rage.

Servio Viscount raised a hand to silence him, then asked Tabar.

"You know nothing, then."

"Why would I lie?"

"Pity the knight tournament ended like that. Cheonoecheon was a disaster. Cezare Archduke's interference was like a natural calamity. I blame no one. However……."

Only then did Tabar realize.

Servio Viscount suspected him.

Blinded by jealousy, trying to kill Cave.

He felt wronged.

"I……."

But he couldn't continue. Servio Viscount raised a hand to silence him.

"You should rest and clear your head. You've lost composure with the recent operation failures. I don't disbelieve you, so don't take it personally."

"Un……derstood."

Tabar ground his teeth. He didn't miss the faint smirk on Cave's lips.

'You bastard! Just watch!'

"Head to the territory for now and focus on recruit training. I'll call you back soon."

"……Yes, Viscount."

He left the study without another word.

The string of failures against Calix had clearly eroded the viscount's trust.

Cave had just added the final push at the crucial moment.

Just as he'd done to his predecessor.

That was how power struggles in intelligence agencies worked.

He had no one to blame but himself for showing weakness.

But something felt off.

He rubbed his shiny bald head, deep in thought.

'Doesn't feel like Cave's self-staging. He really seemed to believe I did it. But I didn't. Then who……?'

A long while later, Tabar began packing with a hardened face.

He had no intention of backing down quietly.

If his hunch was right, he still had a chance for a reversal.