The Fall of Viscount Rebion (1)

Jeron stood on the terrace, letting the cool breeze wash over him as he waited for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠news from the dungeon.

He had tried to get some work done, but he couldn't focus.

Within a few hours, the Count would depart for the capital. Jeron had to extract a confession from Baronet Bankers before then.

Count Renkai had done him a massive favor by framing Viscount Rebion's scheme as a direct challenge to the royal decree.

Given how seriously the nobility of this era took contracts, a breach of agreement was treated as a severe crime. When the King's name was attached to it, it could easily be branded as treason.

But for this plan to work, Baronet Bankers' written confession was absolutely vital.

They already had more than enough witnesses.

If testimonies were needed, the royal knights would gladly provide them.

The only issue was time.

Using authority has a strict time limit.

Count Renkai possessed such immense power right now only because the King had appointed him as the Royal Inspector.

As the King's envoy, the Royal Inspector carried out his duties with several special privileges.

Not only did he deliver royal edicts to their destinations, but he was also granted a degree of autonomy in matters related to the King's commands.

However, this authority would only last until Count Renkai returned to the capital. Once he left, Jeron would lose his chance to swallow Viscount Rebion's main territory.

Success depended entirely on how quickly Sharlen could extract the confession.

I don't think I've ever felt this anxious since my reincarnation.

Clack!

As Jeron stood there, consumed by tension, the office door swung open and a woman with striking platinum-blonde hair stepped inside.

It was Sharlen, the operative from Dark Moon.

"My Lord! I have the confession!"

"Did he sign it with his seal?"

"Yes! Right here!"

"Oh?"

The document was pristine, without a single drop of blood on it.

Jeron felt a thrill of pleasure shiver down his spine.

Perhaps this was the kind of dopamine rush that kept gambling addicts hooked.

It was a truly intoxicating sensation.

Jeron immediately read through the confession.

"Excellent! This is incredibly detailed! There's no way Viscount Rebion can wriggle out of this."

"Is it a success?"

"Absolutely. You did an outstanding job!"

Overjoyed, Jeron grabbed Sharlen's hands and shook them.

Her face flushed red, looking deeply honored by the gesture.

Jeron immediately summoned Sir Leila.

"You wished to see me, my Lord?"

"Sir Leila, give Sharlen a choice. Ask her if she wants to become an executive of Dark Moon, or an officer in our territory's intelligence department."

"...!"

Sharlen's shoulders trembled.

While a Dark Moon executive would operate in the shadows, becoming an officer in the territory's intelligence department meant being officially appointed as a vassal.

Leaving her to process her overwhelming excitement, Jeron took the document and headed straight to the guest parlor.

It was about an hour before noon.

Jeron approached Count Renkai, who had just finished drafting the arrest warrant for Rebion.

"Brother! I have the confession!"

"Already? That was incredibly fast."

Count Renkai, who had been resting, looked genuinely startled.

He had assumed it would take at least a day of torture to break the man, and had not expected success so quickly.

Count Renkai reviewed the contents of the confession.

The level of detail was highly convincing. It was more than sufficient to serve as evidence.

"Impeccable. It clearly outlines why Baronet Bankers had no choice but to commit the crime, and explicitly states that Viscount Rebion violated the contract mediated by His Majesty. This is more than enough to brand him a traitor."

"This is all thanks to you, brother."

"How is this my doing? It is a testament to your own capability."

Strictly speaking, it was Sharlen's capability, but employing the right people was also a crucial skill ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for a lord.

Since they still had some time, Count Renkai offered Jeron a few pieces of advice.

"You must treat the main territory as a temporary regency for now. When you march on his castle, bring the royal knights with you. They won't dare act rashly in their presence. If they still resist, execute them on the spot. Then, govern the land as an acting ruler until orders arrive from the capital. I will do everything in my power to have the Rebion territory officially annexed to yours as soon as I return. But just in case that fails, make sure to seize all the wealth in his castle."

"I will do exactly as you say!"

Jeron's heart pounded.

To think the bribes I threw around would return as such a massive force.

This was the power of connections.

He had always heard that connections were everything in the aristocratic world, but seeing it work out so perfectly made every single investment feel entirely worth it.

Once this matter reached the capital, the Crown Prince's faction and the Fourth Prince's faction would undoubtedly support Jeron.

Given the bribes they had accepted so far, they had no reason to object.

How would the Second Prince's faction react?

They might raise some objections, but if the King sided with Jeron, they would quickly cut ties with Viscount Rebion. Defying a royal decree was simply too grave a sin.

The outcome might vary slightly depending on the King's reaction, but it was highly unlikely the King would turn a blind eye after accepting two masterpieces of art.

Count Renkai, who had been worried they might not get the confession in time, now looked relieved.

"Now I can depart without any worries!"

"Brother! Thank you for all your hard work. I will escort you out!"

In front of the lord's castle, the royal guards and the Count's private soldiers stood ready, waiting for departure.

The carriage had not yet arrived.

For a more dramatic effect, the coachman had been instructed to bring the carriage around just before the Count's departure.

"My brother! I shall take my leave now."

"Please wait just a moment! I will have the modified carriage brought to you as promised."

"Oh, you really didn't have to go to such lengths. I would have been perfectly fine."

Despite his polite protests, Count Renkai was practically vibrating with anticipation. He tried his best to maintain his composure, but Jeron could see right through him—he was as giddy as a child.

Jeron gave a signal, and in less than a minute, an eight-horse carriage rolled into the castle courtyard.

Every eye instantly locked onto it.

The carriage's sleek body was crafted from high-grade timber reinforced with thin steel plates, maximizing its defensive capabilities. A silver wolf emblem was plated onto the exterior, showcasing craftsmanship that was clearly extraordinary.

"Oh! It is truly magnificent!"

"Do you like it?"

"Like it? I absolutely adore it!"

As if possessed, the Count walked over and ran his hand along the carriage. Even Jeron, with his modern sensibilities, found it impressive. To the people of this era, it must have been an absolute shock.

The body was not a simple rectangular box, but featured a curved design reminiscent of modern Earth automobiles. While it didn't have rubber tires, the addition of shock absorbers alone would make the ride several times smoother than anything else in this world.

Click.

The Count opened the carriage door smoothly. Inside, there were comfortable seats and even a small cot. A mattress lay atop the cot.

Is that a latex mattress?

It was actually memory foam—a brand-new item salvaged from Earth. It seemed the Kang family had spared no expense in building this carriage.

The ceiling was lined with leather, representing the absolute pinnacle of luxury.

"My word! This is far too lavish a gift!"

"Please, do not say that. Compared to what you have done for me, this is nothing. I only wished for you to travel in comfort, so please do not reject your brother's gesture."

"If that is your wish, then I shall accept it without shame! If you ever need my help, do not hesitate to write! And make sure to visit me when you come to the capital."

"I will, brother!"

After thanking Jeron repeatedly, the Count climbed into the carriage. The coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage glided forward smoothly.

Even to Jeron, the motion looked incredibly fluid, almost out of place in this world.

The Count waved through the window until the very end. For this final moment, Jeron showed him the utmost respect, treating him not just as a brother, but as the Royal Inspector.

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

Now that the Count had departed, it was time for Jeron to move.

"Assemble the troops! We march to subjugate the traitor immediately!"

"Yes, my Lord!"

A silver wolf seemed to sprint across the Farrow Plains.

It wasn't an actual wolf, of course, but from a distance, it certainly looked like one. The silver plating gleamed under the sunlight, and the steel-reinforced plates reflected the light, creating a beautiful, sleek silhouette.

Inside the carriage, Count Renkai marveled at the incredibly smooth ride.

"What a truly magnificent carriage! To think he plans to sell these. The moment they are released, I must order a few for my house."

He couldn't fathom the mechanism behind it. Something was absorbing the vibrations of the road. While there was still some swaying, it didn't rattle his bones ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like a normal carriage.

Applying such technology in this day and age was nothing short of miraculous.

"My Lord."

"Hmm?"

His aide, watching the Count rejoice like a child, asked with a hint of concern, "Did you not grant too many favors to the Viscount of Farrow?"

"Too many favors? I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠believe this is far more than an equal exchange. I am the one who profited here."

"But his territory has grown so rapidly. Compared to that, a mere object..."

"Listen to me. I did not just gain an object; I have brought a brilliant noble to our family's side. If the Viscount of Farrow achieves great deeds in the Great War and becomes a Count, would that be a loss for me?"

"Well, no, I suppose not."

"Exactly. Mark my words, the Viscount of Farrow is not someone whose growth will stop here."

Count Renkai did not believe Jeron Farrow had gotten the better end of the deal. Receiving such relic-grade items was already an incredible bargain. Even without the gifts, Jeron had proven his competence, making this a highly worthwhile investment for the future.

A massive force gathered outside the walls of the Farrow castle.

Excluding the bare minimum required to defend the territory, the entire army had been mobilized, numbering nearly a thousand soldiers. Even the raw recruits who had been in the middle of training were called up, showing just how seriously Jeron took this operation.

This was a golden opportunity to swallow the entire Rebion Viscounty.

He could not afford to waste this hard-won chance. He had to march swiftly and arrest Viscount Rebion before the man could react.

At the front of the arrayed troops stood the royal knights.

They were the shields Count Renkai had left behind. If Viscount Rebion dared to attack them, it would be considered an act of treason, punishable by the execution of his entire lineage.

Jeron didn't actually expect a battle to break out, but he had mobilized his entire force just in case.

Standing atop the platform, Jeron's voice rang out powerfully.

"Viscount Rebion has dared to violate the contract mediated by His Majesty the King! This is an act of clear treason. We hereby declare Viscount Rebion a rebel and march to subjugate him. Forward, for His Majesty the King!"

"For His Majesty the King!"

A thunderous cry, fit for a grand war, erupted from the soldiers. Throughout the territory, banners were raised, declaring the subjugation of the Kingdom's traitor.