Chapter 234
Chapter 234
Lately, incidents tied to Abyss had been hot topics among the nobles. His past actions were finally drawing attention. And now, he had aligned himself with the Eastern Noble Faction. The other factions couldn't just sit idly by. "Sahaon, you say?" Among them, one noble received word about Abyss. Before him stood an elderly man with pristine white-blue beard and hair. "Indeed. Reports say Abyss is operating out of the city of Sahaon as his base. Duke Imperba suddenly ramped up support for Sahaon. It's too perfectly timed to call it coincidence." The head of the Northern Noble Faction
Duke Kaiden. His instincts were said to border on precognition. If even he was this convinced, something was definitely afoot in Sahaon. Sahaon's growth had already caught the eye of other nobles. If Abyss was truly involved, it all made sense. In this world, power led straight to authority. "I see. If your hunch is right, Sahaon could become a real thorn in our side—a key strategic hub." Viscount Siden, responding to Duke Kaiden, wore a troubled expression. Sahaon sat squarely between the North and the East
It was close to the capital, with favorable terrain to boot. It might look like open fields at a glance, but that was only because Sahaon occupied the world's largest basin. Save for a few key trade routes bustling with merchants, it was ringed by mountains. A prime spot for strategic use. The imperial court's dynamics were shaky right now. With the Emperor's faction and Crown Prince's faction sharply divided. The Northern Noble Faction was deeply entrenched as well. None of them hid their ambitions
Everyone schemed to devour the empire whole. As consensus eluded them, unrest simmered beneath the surface. That was why every noble was bulking up private armies and scouting for talent. Signs of war breaking out among the nobles grew ever clearer. The Northern Noble Faction, naturally, wasn't slacking on preparations. But now, the Eastern Noble Faction—which they'd long dismissed—was bringing Abyss into the fold. For Duke Kaiden, it was hardly welcome news. In war, charging ahead blindly left you vulnerable to strikes from behind
Duke Kaiden gazed out the window at the snow blanketing the world in white. Abyss was dangerous. Of that, he was certain. "Viscount Siden, I'd like you to handle scouting Sahaon." If he was the enemy, then know the enemy. Understand what mattered most to them, what they wanted, what they craved above all—and victory was assured. Viscount Siden grasped Duke Kaiden's intent. He was no slouch himself, having served as a knight in his youth. Plus, he was a voice of influence within the Northern Noble Faction
If authority or power was needed, he could wield it on the spot. That made him invaluable for negotiations in a pinch. "I'll complete the mission and return safely." Viscount Siden bowed and swiftly left Duke Kaiden's office. A direct order from the duke himself. It had to be fulfilled without fail. Moreover, Duke Kaiden subtly wished for Abyss to be swayed to their side. 'If I could pull Abyss to the Northern Noble Faction from here...' And if it led to victory for the North. House Siden could claim not just merit, but a massive leap in status
Viscount Siden's lips curled upward as he descended, the smile lingering. He hurried to his carriage and set off for Sahaon. A viscount traveling in person. It would surely cause a stir in Sahaon. But Viscount Siden had no intention of announcing his arrival. He knew Abyss wouldn't just grant an audience on demand. So, he planned to thoroughly investigate Sahaon and gather intel first. 'Never thought I'd dust off this old identity after so long.' In his younger days, Viscount Siden had wandered as a freelance knight
The rigid rules and laws of noble life had once chafed at him. So he'd roamed the world freely as a knight-errant. That broadened his horizons immensely. The world was vast, but knighthood alone couldn't reshape it. Thus, he'd returned to House Siden to pursue his ambitions. And eventually became Viscount Siden, the duke's right-hand man. A far cry from his wandering days. Was that past idleness wasted? Now, he donned the guise of a freelance knight once more to approach Sahaon. Worn robe and battered armor
Minimal gear, just a single sword. He reeked of the classic wandering knight. 'Hmm, the regular line's a beast.' Sahaon bustled with more people than expected. Probably all the merchant carriages. Entry into the city was a slog. 'Are they rebuilding the city core?' Far off, construction was in full swing. Makes sense—with crowds pouring in daily, urban redevelopment was a smart move. 'Pushing redevelopment this hard means serious cash flow into the city.' He'd heard rumors, but seeing it stirred envy
The North's rugged mountains cramped their finances. Farming and trade were both tough. Poverty bred greed. Sahaon looked priceless in his eyes. 'If we swallow the Eastern Noble Faction, this kind of funding flows our way too?' The thought excited him. The Northern Noble Faction was already nibbling at the East. Without Abyss's joining, they'd have devoured them whole by now. 'Then flip it—if we lure Abyss to our side...' It'd mean crumbling the East completely. Viscount Siden's face lit with confidence
Soon, he reached Sahaon's gates. A gruff guard stood there. "Papers, please." Viscount Siden presented his Pioneer ID. One he'd made during his freelance knight days. It bore only his name—no house crest. Nothing suspicious. The gruff guard eyed the ID. Then squinted slightly at Viscount Siden. "This Pioneer's up for renewal way past due. Care to explain?" Viscount Siden blinked in disbelief. He hadn't expected them to nitpick the expiration. Sahaon's security was tight, alright—even at the gates
'No wonder the line's so long.' This guard was checking every single person thoroughly. "Ahem. Retired to farming, you see. But hard times hit, so back at it. Sahaon's crawling with merchants. Figure someone'll hire me." But he was still a noble managing a domain. He knew exactly what sob stories guards ate up. The guard raised a brow after hearing him out. "So, you're a sellsword?" "Hey now, not some lowly merc—freelance knight." "Got knight papers, then?" Knights received official writs from nobles
Legit ones always had them. Viscount Siden did too. But flashing his house's knight writ would've been suicide. No traces linking back to House Siden. "Er, well... no." "Merc it is, then." Viscount Siden tried to play it cool, and just like that, he was demoted to mercenary. It stung, but no helping it. At least the guard waved him through without more hassle. Viscount Siden trudged into Sahaon. Immediately, he couldn't help but marvel. 'No way—paved roads everywhere?' Pedestrian paths separated from carriageways, all expertly paved
Designed for smooth traffic of wagons and mounts. The street layouts were refined and spotless. For a moment, he thought he'd wandered into the capital. Buildings and homes fit seamlessly into the urban fabric. It screamed old money. "Never imagined it'd be this upscale." Even affluent cities rarely pulled this off. Viscount Siden was lost in admiration for the city's beauty. He wandered Sahaon's streets in a daze. Squares offered rest spots with city maps for guidance. Thanks to them, Viscount Siden toured without much trouble
Finally, he reached his verdict. 'At least a few years ahead of our domain.' Years? Try decades. Sahaon was impeccably maintained. Security and defenses were airtight. Citizens enjoyed high living standards. The city provided tons of conveniences. Life quality soared as a result. Plus, visiting merchants pumped money in, fueling the markets. Markets kept flowing without pause. Market flow equaled city growth. Viscount Siden marveled repeatedly. 'This is like another world.' How had Sahaon skyrocketed in so short a time? Could one man, Abyss, really orchestrate this? Whatever else, he got why Sahaon was the talk of late
'Smooth markets make it a land of opportunity for commoners.' New residents kept flooding in, boosting city value. They took loans to settle, accelerating currency circulation. Strict security ensured stability. The Bloodless Sovereign, underworld boss, had a hand in city affairs. No two-bit gang dared set foot. "Hah, is Sahaon the second capital or what?" The city's worth felt that immense. 'Steel Wolf Guild runs the show here, right?' Viscount Siden's gaze settled on the guild's headquarters
Sahaon's largest building. Yet it exuded refined luxury over gaudy opulence. 'Top-tier among major guilds, easy.' City's cash flow benefiting them massively. Viscount Siden let out an excited breath. Greed flickered in his eyes. Sahaon. He started truly craving it for himself. He had no idea just how massive that ambition was.