Chapter 47
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Elberra (8)
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"N-No way... rebellion...?"
Albert muttered without realizing it.
"Who knows. But didn't you yourself feel a thrill when you heard what Prince Henrik's old nickname was?"
At Samuel Luther's words, Albert let out an exclamation as if bursting forth.
"The Knight of Heavenly Strategies!"
How could he not know?
Though it had faded somewhat now that he was older, back when the Empire had just opened its new era, to boys Albert's age, the Knight of Heavenly Strategies was an idol incarnate.
They learned his name and the ingenious tactics he employed in knight training classes, and even in war games, they fought over who would play the Knight of Heavenly Strategies.
"If Prince Henrik truly has designs on the throne, this is no ordinary matter. Aside from His Majesty the Emperor, he's the most famous member of the imperial family among the Empire's subjects."
That was certainly true.
His fame as the Knight of Heavenly Strategies was one thing, but Prince Henrik was both of the Emperor's blood and one of the Empire's greatest founding heroes.
Though he was the eldest, Prince Tobias lacked martial talent and had mainly handled logistics from the rear.
So it wasn't hard to imagine that the Emperor might have had his second son, Prince Henrik, in mind as the reason for not yet naming a crown prince.
"I thought we were just looking for one person, but this is no small affair."
"Indeed. And it's even more critical for us. Both our Grime family and the Crimson Gale Knights are under the Blue Falcon Knights. Lord Darlington, their greatest patron, supports Prince Tobias. In other words, the letter from Prince Henrik that Blake possesses could greatly impact all our futures, depending on its contents."
"Ugh!"
"You're right. That's why we must find this Blake. Sir Roderick Swent instructed us to capture him alive if possible, but in my view, if necessary, we should kill him and secure the letter at all costs."
"We must. Secure that letter by any means. If we handle this successfully, both your Crimson Gale Knights and our Grime family will earn great favor from Lord Darlington."
It wasn't just about gaining the trust of Roderick Swent, the next captain.
This could catch the eye of the Emperor's closest confidant—the Empire's ruler—and one of the top power brokers even in the capital.
"We must find Blake and secure that letter."
"Understood. Tomorrow, I'll head into the city right away and reinforce the orders at every gate. I'll also put out wanted notices not just at the docks but at all the rundown inns where drifters hang out."
"Good thinking."
"By the way, when the Imperial Knight Exam was postponed, I never imagined there'd be such circumstances behind it... Ah, that's right!"
Something occurred to Albert, and a sly smile curled on his lips as he continued.
"Speaking of the Imperial Knight Exam jogged my memory, Father. Do you know who I saw near the docks today?"
"Hm? Who did you see?"
"The Zaroph bastard showed up in Elberra."
"Zaroph? That Zaroph family your aunt Merlin married into?"
"Yes. That illegitimate child of theirs."
"Ah, the kid from the maid that Gotrin fellow couldn't keep his hands off because he couldn't control his urges when your aunt was pregnant. What a disgrace. Tsk!"
For all his words, Gotrin Zaroph—Merlin's husband and Albert's uncle by marriage—was a fairly useful figure.
As an official in the Imperial Ministry of Resources, he didn't hold a high rank, but he had some decision-making authority.
Thus, the Grime family, a prominent house in Elberra handling all sorts of resources flowing to the capital, had received no small help from him.
"But is that fool taking the Imperial Knight Exam? No, the exam's in two days—he should be in the capital. Why is he in Elberra?"
"Heh! Seems he didn't know the exam date changed."
"Ha! What an idiot. I remember him looking flashy enough on the outside, but he must've been distracted sightseeing somewhere."
Gilmore Grime said with a look of disdain.
At that moment, Samuel Luther, who had been listening to the father-son conversation, interjected with a puzzled expression.
"Zaroph? His name isn't Lindelmann Zaroph, by any chance?"
"Who knows? I don't remember the bastard's name..."
"No, Sir Luther, how do you know that guy's name?"
Gilmore shook his head, but Albert's eyes widened in surprise as he shot back.
"...!"
Samuel Luther abruptly stood from his seat.
"Lindelmann Zaroph! Are you sure the man you saw today is Lindelmann Zaroph?"
"Y-Yes, but..."
"What's wrong?"
Gilmore Grime asked at the ominous reaction, and Samuel Luther whipped his head around.
"Sir Roderick Swent's letter didn't mention it, but I've heard rumors."
"Rumors?"
"Yes! This Blake isn't alone. He was traveling with a young knight from the capital, and his name was definitely Lindelmann Zaroph."
"What?!"
Albert gasped in shock and muttered.
"Lindelmann Zaroph... that bastard... Ah! Then maybe!"
His eyes suddenly widened, and he clapped his hands.
"What is it?"
The two men watching him asked simultaneously.
Albert replied rapidly, unable to hide his excitement.
"The bastard had a companion today! He was a bit away, dressed plainly with a deep hood, so I couldn't see his face, but he looked pretty tall. I was focused on teasing—no, paying attention to—the bastard... Plus, he was so ordinary-looking that I just assumed he was some hired guard mercenary..."
"That's him for sure! Blake!"
"Did you check where the Zaroph bastard went?"
Their expressions turned urgent.
Albert answered awkwardly.
"W-Well... But we can find him quickly. I ran into him on the way to the docks, so the bastard must be coming back from there. Just ask the dock guys to investigate, and we'll know soon enough."
The briefly disappointed looks on their faces brightened again.
"I see. Then why not head out right now?"
"No, that'd be troublesome. Elberra's a big city—they lock the gates at this hour. Getting in isn't hard, but no need to stir up the guards unnecessarily. If it reaches the administrator's ears, it could get complicated, given the sensitivity."
"True enough."
Samuel Luther nodded without argument.
As he said, the letter Blake carried might contain matters that could shake the entire Empire.
No need to arouse the curiosity of Elberra's administrator, who was closely tied to the palace.
"Then we leave before the gates open."
"Agreed. Things are falling into place nicely. Luck seems to be on our side."
"Yes. How many men do you plan to bring?"
"We'll leave the docks to our men there. It shouldn't be hard to find, so forty should suffice."
"Forty... Plus our men, that makes about fifty."
That seemed plenty.
"Catching one bastard and a discharged soldier with forty Grime swordsmen and ten Crimson Gale Knights? Haha! It's like using a cattle knife to kill a chicken."
Albert chuckled lightly to lighten the mood.
But he was met with his father's cold glare.
"Tsk! Didn't you hear what I just said? He took down three in a duel of honor. And one was a Blue Falcon retainer. You think Blue Falcon retainers are on par with average guardsmen?"
As Blue Falcon alumni, Gilmore Grime and Samuel Luther took particular pride in that.
"S-Sorry."
Albert bowed his head hastily at his father's rebuke.
But his eyes held a hint of injustice, not full agreement.
"Your father is right. And there are a couple more troubling rumors about this Blake."
"What else?"
"The Dunfris duel rumor came consistently from northern merchants, so it's credible. But this one's from drunken mercenaries in pubs, so take it with salt... Anyway, they say a guy discharged from Northernrocks single-handedly smashed a decently known swordsmen band from the north. Around twenty men."
"Ha! One against twenty? Even for a Northernrocks fortress vet, that's exaggeration. And it might not even be Blake."
Gilmore Grime squinted.
Even he, in his prime during the Kelkard rebellion, could handle five or six at once, but twenty alone? No way.
A mere soldier stronger than him—a Blue Falcon retainer who survived the last war?
'Ridiculous.'
Samuel Luther thought the same.
"Yes, I don't buy it easily either. But better safe. That's why I brought only my best subordinates—ones systematically trained in the sword."
The gap between those sword-trained from childhood and those not was vast.
The Crimson Gale Knights' greatest strength was that, though fewer in number, most were nobles or near-nobles trained from youth and battle-tested.
"Understood. Then we'll send elites too. Need to handle it quietly. Heh."
A sinister smile crept across Gilmore Grime's face.
Though he'd scolded his son's arrogance, he didn't doubt that his personally trained Grime swordsmen and the Crimson Gale elites couldn't capture two men.
'One sword can't stand against many, after all!'
"Hm? Who's there!"
Suddenly, Samuel Luther's sharp eyes turned to the door.
Albert jumped up and flung it open.
But no one was outside.
"Ugh... I swear I heard footsteps..."
"This is my study. No one in Grime Manor would dare lurk here. Ahem!"
Gilmore Grime, annoyed at being outdone in awareness and at the casual suspicion, cleared his throat awkwardly.
Samuel Luther bowed quickly.
"My apologies. Riding hard all day must have me on edge."
"It happens. Anyway, tomorrow starts at dawn, so let's call it. You look beat—rest well."
"Yes."
"Rest well, Father."
The meeting between the Grime father-son and Samuel Luther ended thus.
Slam!
The door to a room filled with dozens of silver candelabras ablaze shut tight.
The servants had long retired, but the room's master tiptoed cat-like to bed, slipped under the covers quietly, and lay down.
"Prince Henrik's envoy? That man...?"
Annrose twirled her hair around her finger as the hulking figure she'd seen earlier replayed in her mind.
She'd gone thinking to greet the Crimson Gale Knights' captain, only to overhear shocking talk by chance.
The giant with the wooden box stamped with the prince's crest.
She'd suspected, but he truly was connected to Prince Henrik.
And in an enormous position, carrying a letter from the prince that could sway the throne's future.
"To think the second prince, called the Knight of Heavenly Strategies, entrusted a personal letter to him..."
For someone of such stature—a crown prince contender—to entrust a letter at this juncture meant he was a most trusted confidant.
"And he beat a Blue Falcon retainer? No ordinary discharged soldier has that skill."
Annrose's eyes sparkled as she recalled the Blake she'd seen that day.
(To be continued in the next installment)