Chapter 249
Chapter 249
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 249
Chapter Title: The Meeting Devastated by White Lion Knight Commander Leon's Appearance
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The meeting had been utterly devastated by the sudden arrival of Leon, Commander of the White Lion Knight Order.
Because of it, Duke Kaiden and the northern knights were forced to slink away in defeat.
"Duke Imperba, to completely crush Duke Kaiden like that—truly impressive!"
"I'll follow you faithfully for life!"
The eastern noble faction erupted in fervent cheers toward Duke Imperba.
Even amid the adulation, Duke Imperba's expression remained sour.
Truth be told, he never could have imagined things turning out this way.
The eastern nobles all believed it was entirely due to Duke Imperba's machinations.
But what had he actually done?
At best, he'd just played along with Leon's rhythm and taken some credit.
Yet the northern nobles hadn't even mustered a single retort.
They had no more ammunition to corner him using the Abyss as an excuse.
On top of that, Leon had openly proposed an alliance to Duke Kaiden himself.
To join hands against the vile fiend lurking in the imperial court like some hidden ossuary.
Refusing at that point would be tantamount to admitting they supported treason.
Duke Kaiden ultimately departed with a sour face, muttering that he would "cooperate."
Duke Imperba turned to Leon.
He stood there stoically amid the roaring cheers.
How on earth had Leon timed his entrance so perfectly?
Duke Imperba simply couldn't wrap his head around it.
"Ahem, Lord Leon."
"Yes, Duke Imperba."
"Would it be alright to speak privately?"
"Of course."
Leon readily accepted Duke Imperba's request.
Duke Imperba dismissed the eastern nobles and made his way inside.
He intended to ask Leon what exactly was going on.
The moment they entered the private room...
"You've arrived."
A familiar face was seated there.
A man lounging back in the chair as if it were his own bedroom.
His black hair shimmered with subtle purple undertones, exuding a mysterious aura.
The utterly unexpected figure's appearance made Duke Imperba freeze in shock.
"A-Abyss."
"It's been a while."
Leyzon smiled faintly, unmasked.
He had handsome features, but something instinctively unsettling about him.
Looking at him, it was impossible to feel like you were facing another human.
Duke Imperba's gaze flicked briefly to Leon.
Leon stood motionless, expressionless.
"...Abyss, does that mean Lord Leon is..."
"My friend. Right, Leon?"
"Yes, that's correct."
Leon snapped to attention and responded crisply to Leyzon's grin.
Duke Imperba shuddered violently.
He'd suspected as much, but Leyzon truly commanded Leon like a limb.
The Commander of the White Lion Knight Order, a pillar of the empire.
A 20-Ascension platinum-rank hero-level monster as his subordinate.
Duke Imperba knew exactly what that signified.
"...So this whole affair was you helping me out."
Duke Imperba finally realized everything had unfolded according to Leyzon's design.
He'd nearly been cornered by the northern nobles using his ties to the Abyss as leverage.
Leyzon had seen through it and intervened in the meeting.
"It's all thanks to Your Excellency laying the groundwork so masterfully."
"Groundwork? What did I even do?"
"Plenty. I've heard all about your efforts so far.
You took the lead and navigated this situation decisively— that's all on you, Duke Imperba."
I've heard everything.
Those words sent a chill down his spine for no reason.
It felt like all information danced at Leyzon's feet.
How much did he really know?
The more he learned, the more terrifying this man became.
"Even Duke Kaiden gracing us with his presence here is thanks to your prowess.
Including how you handled it calmly despite me not briefing you beforehand—our synergy was perfect."
"I'm grateful you think so highly of me."
Praise makes even whales dance.
Even Duke Imperba felt his tense shoulders relax a bit under the steady compliments.
He pulled out a chair and sat as he entered the room fully.
"So, the imperial enemy you mentioned through Lord Leon—is that real?"
New information even Duke Imperba hadn't known.
Someone inside the imperial court colluding with the Crawling Ossuary.
"One correction: that one isn't colluding with the Crawling Ossuary."
This intel would reach the Puppet Troupe Leader's ears too.
Leyzon had only dangled it to draw him out and tie him in.
The truth was different.
But the bastard couldn't deny it outright himself.
To do so, he'd have to surface and show his face publicly.
Until he did, the lie would stand as truth.
"Still, he's targeting the empire just the same. You've surely sensed how the imperial court has shifted dramatically of late."
"Indeed. Tensions among the noble factions are overheating far too much."
"Yes, that's his aim. He's planning to shake the empire's very foundations."
Hearing that, Duke Imperba swallowed hard.
And soon realized one key fact.
"I see. Abyss, you joined hands with me to catch that one, didn't you?"
"Half right."
To Leyzon, the Puppet Troupe Leader was an enemy.
He'd seized the Bluebird Knight Commander's body and infiltrated the empire.
Now he even planned to devour it whole.
The empire was the land where Leyzon lived.
He had no intention of yielding it easily.
"The eastern noble faction was the one least likely for him to approach."
"Being the weaker faction compared to the others."
Duke Imperba gave a wry smile.
Wry though it was, reality was reality.
He had to accept it.
"That's precisely the advantage. It means the entire empire hasn't fallen into his hands yet."
"...Your silver tongue never ceases to amaze me. In an instant, the eastern faction's been recast as the empire's last line of defense."
"Essential for any necromancer."
He didn't get why that was a necromancer essential, but he let it slide.
"Conversely, does that mean the northern faction has already fallen under his sway?"
Duke Imperba was sharper than he looked.
Pudgy uncle exterior or not, a duke was a duke.
He had the instincts honed from years in politics.
"I don't have the full picture either. But at minimum, Duke Kaiden has allied with him."
"Ugh."
Duke Kaiden, leader of the northern faction.
If he was conspiring with a traitor aiming to topple the state, it was a headache.
"But Duke Kaiden isn't the type to just be used."
"From his position, he probably thinks he's the one using them.
But people tend to act based on the information they acquire, don't they?"
"Follow their provided intel long enough, and they become puppets without realizing it."
"Exactly."
The Abyss's intel wasn't fully trusted even among nobles.
Especially the annihilation of the White Lion Knights and the slaying of the Crawling Ossuary.
No one but the Puppet Troupe Leader could know those two facts.
'Same prophet and all.'
It directly linked the prior incidents to the Abyss.
Confirming the Puppet Troupe Leader's involvement.
Indeed, you had to bait the hook for them to bite.
But discovering his roots in the northern faction didn't change much.
They still lacked a way to capture the Puppet Troupe Leader directly.
"He'll avoid contact with the northern faction for a while."
His existence had surfaced once now.
Having hidden this long, he wouldn't expose himself lightly.
He'd move cautiously for the time being.
Avoiding the northern faction unless desperate.
And that was their opening.
"Let's pull the northern noble faction fully to our side this time."
"The northern faction? Is that even possible?"
The rift between eastern and northern factions ran deep.
Even Leyzon, who accomplished the impossible, seemed unlikely to bridge it.
"The northern faction is tightly knit with a clear hierarchy, to put it positively.
But flip it: if one part shakes, the whole thing crumbles."
Such structures creak at the first flaw.
The northern faction, now not just outmaneuvered but morally bested by the east.
Their pride must have taken a massive hit.
Dissatisfaction would erupt internally.
"Let's poke at the northern faction."
"Poke how?"
"Inciting their pent-up grievances to boil over."
Relations between east and north were already at a breaking point.
Poking now would ignite chaos in the north.
"But only target the lower northern nobles."
"I see. Stir their latent resentment to make the upper echelons feel the fault lies with them."
"Spot on. Northerners stick together tightly. Which also makes venting grievances tough."
Everyone watching everyone else.
But corner them, and propriety crumbles.
Unleashing bottled rage.
Would the lower nobles really gripe only at the eastern faction?
"The bottom always harbors grudges. They puff up when superiors shine, but blame and complain when they falter."
They bear no real responsibility.
Just a sliver of belonging props them up.
In truth, mere appendages.
But without those parts, nothing functions fully.
"Once the lower nobles' fury explodes, the upper ones will scramble.
Desperate to keep up with imperial currents, they'll pull every trick to quell the unrest."
Leyzon slammed the table.
A small wooden doll appeared atop it.
"That's when they'll remember the common enemy in the imperial court."
The easiest way to vent frustration: provide a new target.
A tactic countless leaders have used.
Redirect internal ire outward, forging unity against an external foe.
"The justification held by the eastern faction will taste sweeter than anything to them."
Leyzon rolled the wooden doll in his palm.
That justification lay in the hands of the eastern faction and Leyzon.
"The northern faction, steadily pushed to the margins— their options will dwindle."
Duke Imperba mulled over every word.
Finally, he exhaled the breath he'd held and spoke.
"...I'm truly glad today that you're not my enemy."
The eastern faction's weakness was a blessing in disguise.
Duke Imperba breathed relief repeatedly.