Chapter 23
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Dumfries (6)
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A moment later, Craig's eyes sparkled.
"Brother—no, Acting Captain, since things have come to this, how about I join as a knight for the Lancaster honor duel?"
"What?"
Jonathan let out a disbelieving chuckle, while Roderick squinted one eye.
Fearing Jonathan's rebuke, Craig quickly pressed on.
"It'd be good for you to just observe, Acting Captain, but wouldn't it be better if I experienced it firsthand? If he's the kind of guy who might try something, as Sir Morrison said, then seeing it myself would let me judge more accurately..."
"Rejected."
Jonathan cut him off sternly, raising his hand like a blade aimed at the back of Craig's head.
"Eek!"
Craig shrank his neck like a turtle.
But this time, his head remained unscathed.
"Hold on."
As the three looked at him puzzled, Roderick stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment before his eyes lit up.
"That's a good idea. Like Craig said, it lets us accurately judge the Northernrocks garrison soldier. And if something happens, we get a chance to handle it ourselves."
"Hm."
"Besides, it seems the Lancasters—who are on the fence about breaking from the Northern Lord—are asking for solid insurance from us. A reserve knight soon to become a Blue Falcon lieutenant joining their family honor duel? They'd be thrilled. Right?"
"True enough, but the problem is this guy..."
Jonathan shot Craig a displeased glance.
"What? You don't trust me now? Me, who's wielded a real sword for over ten years! Me, Craig Cadwell, who'll have the Blue Falcon emblem on my chest and cloak come this fall!"
Craig thumped his left chest proudly.
Jonathan's hand blade came flying.
Thwack!
"Ow!"
"That's exactly why I don't trust you—your antics."
"Urk! But you know my swordsmanship is solid, Sir Morrison."
"Hm."
Jonathan paused at Craig's indignant protest.
It was true, after all.
Craig might be flighty and rowdy, but his swordsmanship was among the sharpest and most vigorous of the over a hundred Blue Falcon squires.
"He's already won four official duels and excels in squire spars. He can handle himself. Why not give him a shot, Jonathan?"
"If Sir Swent says so, I'll follow."
Roderick's words left Jonathan no choice but to bow his head.
"Good. Then it's decided: Blue Falcon reserve knight Craig Cadwell will participate as a proxy knight for the Lancaster baron's honor duel."
Reserve knights were how they referred to Blue Falcon squires over sixteen and qualified as lieutenant candidates.
Having trained with real swords for ten years, endured fierce internal spars, and survived multiple life-or-death duels, reserve knights were both lieutenant prospects and the core fighting force of each knight order alongside full knights.
And among the Blue Falcon reserves, Craig and Elliot were the standout young talents.
Craig especially, with his innate gifts and bold nature, was seen as the next lieutenant candidate after Roderick.
He'd more than hold his own in the Lancaster honor duel.
"Then what about me?"
Elliot, whose swordsmanship and lance skills lagged behind Craig's but excelled elsewhere, asked cautiously.
"Hmm. Well... Ah, right!"
Roderick snapped his fingers after a brief ponder.
"Yes!"
Elliot's sullen face flushed with eager anticipation.
Roderick adopted a solemn tone.
"Keep seducing those widows. Use that famed sword you've honed but never drawn, if the situation calls for it. I permit it as Acting Captain."
"Pardon?"
Elliot blinked in confusion before following Roderick's gaze downward.
It stopped at the symbol of his manhood below his belly.
"S-Sir Swent!"
Elliot's face turned beet red in an instant.
"Damn it! Those White bastards have gone too far."
Lancaster Baron's eyes twisted savagely as he downed harsh liquor.
"What will you do, my lord? Just say the word, and tomorrow..."
One nearby knight offered slyly.
"Hmph! With Brick Carlson posting that declaration, the whole Northway will know in two days. What do you expect me to do? Who do you want smeared?"
"Ahem!"
The knight flushed at the baron's rebuke.
"Damn."
Lancaster Baron shot up and paced the room hurriedly.
"No, wait!"
A moment later, his fleshy eyes gleamed as something dawned on him.
"On second thought, this could be an opportunity."
"An opportunity?"
"Brick Carlson spread the word. Crowds from all over Northway will flock to watch the duel—nobles, commoners, everyone. Right?"
"Yes."
The knights tilted their heads.
"The Whites are the last major Northway house opposing me. If I crush them before all those onlookers, what happens? For anyone quietly hoping through the Whites, it'd be a death sentence."
"Oh! Indeed."
"Plus, Roderick Swent's observing. The Blue Falcon lieutenant extending to the midlands and south, next captain, soon-to-be son-in-law of Darlington's jewel! Imagine: such a figure as witness. What massive prestige for us Northway hicks, eh?"
"Ooh!"
"Brilliant, my lord."
The knights finally got it, nodding to each other.
"Heh! Crushing the thorn in my side Whites, solidifying my Northway influence, and getting a Blue Falcon stamp of approval? Opportunities like this don't come often."
His eyes gleaming slyly, he turned solemnly to the knights.
"So we must win. No—overwhelmingly. Crush them thoroughly."
"Absolutely!"
"Don't worry, my lord. Any of us can take them."
The knights thumped their chests.
"Of course. But that's not quite enough. We need more preparation..."
The baron's eyes flickered cunningly.
"Right. Include Steven first off."
"That mad axe?"
"Yeah. One of the Whites' proxies is a Northernrocks garrison soldier. Perfect matchup for Steven. And he claimed himself the worst scum there? Who knows—maybe the garrison punk scares easy!"
"Hmm."
The knights exchanged uneasy glances.
Using a murderer nicknamed Mad Axe as a champion in a honor duel felt off, family prestige on the line.
But the baron's follow-up left them nodding.
"Even if Steven kills a couple and drops, no loss. Useful skills kept him around, but with us leaving the North soon, trash like him lingering under me isn't ideal. And if he wins all? Zero downside."
"Exactly!"
The knights' faces brightened.
"Hahaha! Now just charge straight to the midlands, my lord."
"Indeed. This duel brings more than one gain."
The knights vied to praise him.
Flattered yet ever the merchant, Lancaster didn't forget his roots.
"Kek! You knights know one but not two. Win this, and my path's paved— that's why we need one surefire scheme more."
"Pardon?"
"What scheme?"
The knights eyed him puzzled.
"That Northernrocks garrisoner, Blake or whatever—he's tough, right? You'd win, sure, but better to keep him from dueling altogether."
"Huh? Sideline the garrison punk?"
"Exactly. Like this..."
His plump face twisted into a devious grin as he whispered with thick lips.
"...What do you think?"
Finished, Lancaster Baron surveyed them with satisfaction.
"As expected of your cunning—er, wisdom, my lord."
"Yes. That'll keep the garrison rat out for good."
Vile and forced as it was, they flattered him.
Suppressing gripes against your employer was the path to promotion and wisdom.
"Right? Can't wait to see the Whites' faces! Heh!"
"Haha! Indeed!"
"Hahaha!"
Their perfect victory plan filled the room with laughter.
Then a knock. The butler entered.
"Yes? What is it?"
Grinning broadly, Lancaster turned.
"A message from Sir Swent, my lord."
The butler bowed, offering a tray with a sealed, folded note.
"Message?"
Tilting his head, Lancaster read it. His face lit up blindingly.
"Uhahaha! Heaven aids me, Mamong Lancaster! Hahaha!"
He threw back his head in laughter.
A baffled knight ventured,
"What news makes you so joyful?"
"Kuhahat! Roderick Swent asks if we'll accept one of his retinue as honor duel proxy knight. Craig Cadwell! His cousin, Blue Falcon reserve soon lieutenant. Way better than him just observing. Uhahat!"
"Hmm."
Lancaster Baron nearly leaped with glee, but the knights weren't thrilled.
"But my lord, that strains ties with Earl Iron's house..."
One trailed off.
Ambitious to flee North for midlands or not, openly allying with midlands powers over the North's sole lord felt risky.
"Hmph! Bought title or not, after all the gold I poured, Iron still snubs me! Huddled in the North unmoving—what can I expect? Barely strutting shoulders here in this backwater."
That was his grudge.
Northway's top merchant, untouchable by nobles, bought his barony to latch onto Earl Iron for routes beyond the North.
But Iron hadn't budged in over ten years.
For Lancaster, eager to ride Iron out of the North and unfold ambitions, it chafed.
Then, just as frustration peaked, the famed midlands-top Blue Falcon Knights—tied to capital Alteria heavyweight Earl Darlington—reached out first.
No reason to refuse.
"To advance to Alteria, grasp Blue Falcon and Darlington. They gain a North foothold through me; I bloom new trades midlands via them. Heh! Business is just so. All I have stems from such daring. Huhahat!"
Decades-honed Northway trader Mamong Lancaster bellowed laughter.
His knights, uneasy, laughed to humor him.
"Now go prepare thoroughly for the duel."
"Yes, my lord."
"No worries."
They departed confidently.
"Kek! Too quiet these ten-plus years. Time for change. Power stirs now, right? Even a North-edge merchant like me spots signs—Darlington or Iron atop couldn't miss."
Satisfaction beaming, Lancaster downed the last wine.
"Iron lacks ambition; Darlington overflows. Heh! Fool to miss this. Starting with utterly crushing Whites, my new stride, Mamong Lancaster's, begins at Clearbright Festival Dumfries. Uhuhuhu!"
Greed-smeared fat face shadowed deeper with ambition.
(To be continued)