The Prince's Proclamation
A report had just reached me in the conference room.
Various portals and platforms were spreading the situation at lightning speed.
It was likely that a significant portion of the public would become aware of this matter tomorrow.
The aide’s report silenced the vice-commanders and advisors present.
Yet Raven Marquis showed no reaction whatsoever.
“Commoners can shout all they want in the virtual world—what good does that do?”
“But even among the nobles, some might start believing the rumors.”
One advisor tried to caution the optimistic Marquis, but Raven simply sneered.
“So?”
“Excuse me?”
“What kind of blow do you think we’ll suffer because of this video?”
“Worst case… it’s just a protest letter.”
The subordinates began to ponder.
Would the other nobles unite to help Adrian Lawrence?
The answer was no.
The Archmage and Aura Master were powerful, but this was not the age when a couple of superhumans could win a war.
In fact, allying with them meant declaring war on Raven Marquis himself.
Among the nobles, only the Count or higher could possibly pose a threat to him with military might.
If a Count-level noble sided with Adrian, it would complicate matters, but Raven thought such a possibility was almost zero.
The ones who truly hated the rise of a new rival were the monsters of power itself.
“But the royal family might intervene…”
The monarchy of Rondel was similar to Earth’s controlling state, China.
Yet there was one crucial difference.
The royals completely ignored public opinion—especially from the commoners, who formed the vast majority of the population.
A proper leader should fear the people.
But in Rondel, that was unnecessary.
After all, even if the commoners rose up with guns, the knights, mages, Vanguards, and Skyfortresses belonged to the nobles.
The French Revolution could never happen here.
Therefore, if the royal family stepped in, it would be because they pitied Adrian and Arsia, not because of the people’s will.
“It’s truly a young Archmage and Aura Master. Their fame is well-deserved.”
To anyone who didn’t know them, they were geniuses of the highest order.
They had the potential to become 8th Circle pathfinders or even Grand Masters.
Yet Raven didn’t see this as a serious problem.
“So if they weren’t Archmage and Aura Master…”
The subordinates were taken aback.
Then Raven’s next words left them stunned.
“We can simply turn them into scammers.”
“But we have clear evidence!”
“Evidence? Where?”
“The video…”
“Nowadays, what guarantees that this isn’t artificial? We could even release a statement: ‘This video is fabricated.’”
“Ha, but if the other side obtains verification…”
“Then we handle it before they get verification.”
Even though the talents gathered here understood his style, none of the advisors in the war room could grasp it.
Raven shrugged.
“Instead of understanding my subordinates, I’m the one who doesn’t understand.”
He added an explanation for the subordinates who looked troubled.
“What do you think made those idiots upload this video?”
“To justify their actions, of course.”
“Then let me ask: who was the final target in the comments under this video?”
“…?”
The subordinates tilted their heads at the sudden question, then suddenly realized and frowned.
“Ultimately, this is the same as assassinating Marquis Raven.”
“Exactly. They’re exposing that I’m behind Anna and Cedric through this video. The stupid commoners are acting exactly as I planned.”
Only then did they understand why Raven had slammed the desk and stood up abruptly.
“So they’re trying to gain justification…”
What justification could the enemy possibly need?
It was war itself.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Insane. They’re asking for a fight with Marquis Raven?”
This was a clear provocation.
Raven erased his smile and asked again.
“Under these circumstances, do you think I should just sit here?”
“…”
“That’s impossible. If you don’t want to become a laughingstock in noble society…”
Raven’s resolve was absolute.
“How much military force can the Marquis deploy for territorial warfare?”
“Half of our total power. For our fief, we have three Skyfortresses and 150 Vanguards, or two Skyfortresses and 200 Vanguards.”
Half the total power.
It was a restriction for a Marquis guarding the border, yet it was twice the army of a typical Count.
“How much can be mobilized within a single day?”
“Then 200 Vanguards and one Skyfortress.”
“Enough.”
Raven declared without hesitation.
“War it is.”
* * *
[Has Adrian Lawrence become a 7th Circle Archmage?]
[Even his lover, the woman who has been living with him in the lord’s estate, is an Aura Master.]
[How is this possible? Could Adrian Lawrence have obtained the Chronicle of Manuel Lucas, the Archduke?]
[Some claim that the video was updated only thirty minutes after the incident and is therefore fabricated. Editing takes time, so it must have been prepared in advance.]
The news media of the Lheinhatz Kingdom went into chaos because of the video I released.
Naturally, most reports focused on suspicion and verification, never stating with certainty whether it was true or false.
-It was fun, but it seems suspicious in many ways. Honestly, the story is way too out of the blue.
-Yeah, rumor has it that Adrian lived under constant surveillance, so how could he master magic and reach 7th Circle in that environment?
-It would be difficult without the Archmage’s support from behind. They’d also have to deceive the knights and mages within the family.
-Raven Marquis has issued a statement claiming the video is fabricated misinformation.
-How can we believe Raven Marquis?
-What reason do we have not to believe him?
-Many reasons. Where would you find a crazy person who would assassinate Raven Marquis with a fake sniper?
-Exactly. While it hasn’t been confirmed that Adrian Lawrence is an Archmage, the pattern of assassination attempts and this attack gives enough circumstantial evidence.
-Our brother would lie? Ugly people are just jealous!
-That’s right, our brother is supported by our sister. I’ll believe in him to the end.
-You two are probably already dating, right?
-……
-No way!!!
-Dumbasses finally realized it? They’re already living together. lol lol
Still, the majority of the public reactions were friendly toward me.
Of course, many showed more interest in the drama than the facts, but quite a few netizens didn’t fall for Raven Marquis’s misdirection.
They were living the bottom of society behind the wall of class, yet they proved that commoners weren’t stupid.
As someone who was born a noble but had lived in a democratic society in my previous life, this scene was truly heart-wrenching.
If I gained power in the future, I would strive for the rights of the commoners.
Incidentally, online public opinion favoring me wouldn’t help immediately.
The users’ reactions would only give me a justification.
That the damage to Raven Marquis would be justified.
‘Anna, Cedric, and Raven Marquis can’t be separated anyway.’
Therefore, my revenge would only be complete when it reached Raven Marquis.
But before that…
To solidify my position, there was one condition I had to achieve beforehand.
“I am honored to meet you. I am Olivia Riberdale, daughter of Duke Kain Riberdale.”
“I am honored to meet you too. I am Adrian Lawrence of the Lheinhatz Kingdom, former disciple of Duke Riberdale.”
That was it.
It was to clearly establish my position as an Archmage.
Raven Marquis’s subsequent moves were obvious.
He would surely try to kill me before the royal family or anyone else intervened.
Then, after crushing me and Arsia with overwhelming military force, he would say, “Those two were scammers.”
No one needed to see it to know.
Just the statement Raven Marquis had already released was enough to tell.
If Raven Marquis immediately launched a large-scale invasion, serious damage would be done to our fief.
To prevent unnecessary casualties, I needed a little preparation time.
To gain that little preparation time, I had to move faster than Raven Marquis expected.
The moment I imprisoned Cedric and Anna in their cells, I visited the birthplace of my fake master, the Duke of Riberdale.
I hadn’t even explained the situation to my father and mother, but I trusted William to handle it properly.
* * *
“Master… this is…”
Duke Olivia Riberdale.
The Archmage of the Lucias Kingdom and the daughter of the renowned Duke Kain Riberdale.
She was known as the Archmage closest to the 8th Circle among the Lucias Kingdom’s mages and the leader of the Riberdale School, which consisted of six Archmages.
Unlike me, who had gained power through the game, she was a true genius who reached the 7th Circle at just twenty-two years old.
Although I had heard she was thirty-six, she still looked like she was in her early twenties, as if time had stopped for her.
I handed her the platinum badge I had received from my master.
“This is the platinum badge I received from my master.”
“Hmm…”
She examined the badge with her sharp yellow eyes, then frowned.
I, who had many things to hide, tensed at every change in her expression.
Fortunately, she soon relaxed and nodded.
“It looks quite authentic.”
She brushed her luxurious golden hair aside and handed the badge to the two men behind her.
‘Lord Lake, Earl Preston.’
Those two were Olivia’s followers and 7th Circle Archmages like her, former disciples of Duke Riberdale.
There were now four Archmages in the Riberdale family’s reception room.
I checked the constantly changing information on Mankyung like a child waiting for grades.
Fortunately, those two showed no emotional fluctuations, just like Olivia.
It was a fake identity created with the power of Archduke Manuel Lucas.
Despite knowing it was suspicious, my heart still raced.
“It does look genuine.”
“Mine too.”
Though our ages and titles differed, the easy conversation between us showed me how tight-knit the Riberdale School’s bonds were.
I smiled in relief.
“So, does that mean you’ve recognized me?”
“But it only looks genuine. It’s not actually genuine. Anyone can forge a platinum badge, after all.”
Yet the warm atmosphere changed dramatically in just a few seconds.
The Archmages of the Riberdale School began to pressure me with a harmonious circle.
* * *
“Ziiing!”
“What is this?”
Taken aback by the unexpected situation, I countered.
“Impressive.”
Surprisingly, the three of them quickly withdrew their aura.
I expressed my confusion.
“We’re simply confirming your skill.”
I should have been warned beforehand, but I had tensed up for nothing.
Olivia smiled and returned the badge to me.
“You could have confirmed it without all this fuss.”
“7th Circle mages aren’t all the same. I wanted to gauge your exact level.”
At my protest, Olivia shrugged and acted cheerfully.
She was slender yet had the fiercest demeanor.
I sighed, placed the badge in my robe pocket, and asked the most important question.
“So, are you acknowledging me as a fellow school?”
“There are many reasons to be suspicious, but no reason to reject it. A genius Archmage like you helping our school expand is exactly what we need.”
It seemed she didn’t care whether I was real or fake.
She simply welcomed the Archmage.
It was truly a reasonable mindset.
“If I cause many damages as a bad guy, what then?”
“Turning our school into enemies would mean you want to die, right? Who could handle that?”
Olivia showed me a smile full of killing intent.
I apologized immediately for speaking unnecessarily.
“Also, your identity isn’t confirmed, is it? We didn’t accept just anyone.”
Since they had already recognized me, there was no need to quibble further.
Thus, I had become an Archmage of the Riberdale School.
“I have one request.”
“As fellow schoolmates, I will do whatever I can.”
“Please hold a press conference where you officially announce that you have recognized me as an Archmage and former disciple of Duke Riberdale.”
If she officially announced that, many things would be resolved.
The suspicions about my identity in the Lheinhatz Kingdom would disappear, and even the name of Archduke Lucas, which sensationalist journalists kept bringing up, would be replaced by Duke Riberdale.
It was a win-win.
“It’s not difficult. In fact, it’s something I’ve been hoping for.”
“Thank you.”
The appearance of a new genius Archmage would elevate the Riberdale family’s prestige, so Olivia did not refuse my request.
Once things were settled as I wished, I let out a small sigh of relief.
“But is that all?”
“Excuse me?”
“I have already analyzed your current situation. If you wish, as fellow schoolmates, I can provide you with more support.”
The person standing before me was the most powerful figure in the Lucias Kingdom, a strong nation comparable to our Lheinhatz Kingdom.
With her, she could probably immobilize Raven Marquis.
“I knew you came here hoping for that…”
If I received their help, the situation would become much easier.
But my answer was a firm refusal.
“No. All I need is for you to publicly confirm that I am a former disciple of Duke Riberdale and an Archmage. No other help is necessary.”
“Why is that?”
“They are my prey. I don’t want to share the joy of the hunt.”
I want to complete my revenge without borrowing anyone else’s hand.
After all, revenge is self-satisfaction.
Everything must proceed according to my plan, under my control.
“Still, since it’s the suggestion you offered, I’ll keep it in mind.”
Olivia’s gaze toward me was quite intense.
It seemed the top power of the Lucias Kingdom had taken notice of me.