Chapter 55
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Bran River (4)
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“Th-thank you.”
Lindelmann forced down his surge of emotion and replied.
Blake gave a slight nod and turned his gaze back to Annrose.
“……!”
Even a hardened man would find it hard to meet those cold, merciless eyes straight on.
Overlapping with the image of him turning the Grime swordsmen into bloody pulp just days ago, Annrose felt a chill of fear.
She had survived a brush with death and even killed someone in the heat of the moment, but the sight of Blake beating and crushing people with that face was truly horrifying.
Yet even as she trembled, she didn't look away, locking eyes directly with Blake.
Everything was already ruined beyond repair, but the pride of being the heir to a prestigious count's family held her steady.
'Is he going to hit me? Or maybe really throw me in the water? He's the type who could do it... Oh, looks like he's about to say something. Go ahead, hurl whatever insults you want. I can take them all!'
Seeing Blake's lips move, Annrose clamped her own shut and steeled her gaze.
“Got something to ask you, woman.”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
His unexpected words made her flinch.
Blake pulled a wooden box from his pocket and spoke again.
“Why are you so interested in this letter?”
“What? Are you seriously asking because you don't know?”
Even as she focused on the wooden box stamped with Prince Henrik's seal, Annrose rolled her eyes.
“I'm asking because I don't know. This letter has nothing to do with you. It's going to someone with no connection to you, or Grime, or the Blue Falcon Knights. So why are you and your lot so curious about it and after it?”
From everything he'd been through so far—and especially the conversation with Lindelmann just moments ago—Blake had reached his own conclusion.
The reason Roderick Swent and the Blue Falcon Knights were chasing him wasn't just revenge.
The commander's letter was their real target.
Not only that, but the northern nobles he'd encountered, led by Black Sheep Knight Rockfield, and this shameless woman racking her brains right in front of him—all clearly had a huge interest in the commander's letter.
But Blake couldn't understand why everyone was so fixated on it.
“That's……”
At Blake's question, Annrose vaguely trailed off, her mind spinning once more.
But Blake wasn't one to miss her eyes darting about.
And from her reaction, he gained certainty about a hunch he'd only suspected before.
“Stop wasting brainpower and answer. Why is Roderick Swent using Grime and the Red Wind Knights to get this letter?”
'Damn!'
A chill ran down Annrose's spine.
She should have denied it or played dumb to his last question, but her hesitation had essentially confirmed that the Blue Falcon Knights were after the letter.
'Tch! Rude and cunning to boot. I really can't stand him!'
Having been outmaneuvered by Blake, whom she'd pegged as just a brute knight, Annrose seethed with anger.
But what could she do?
Blake held the knife here.
“Isn't it obvious? Count Darlington is one of the Blue Falcon Knights' biggest backers.”
“Count Darlington? And who's he?”
“He's……”
Old habits die hard—even now, Annrose hesitated, scheming again.
But she failed this time too.
“One of the real powers in the capital. He's also closely tied to Prince Tobias, His Highness Henrik's brother.”
Lindelmann, who had more grudges against Darlington than anyone, stepped in.
“To…bias.”
Blake murmured the eldest prince's name, his eyes twitching faintly.
But it was so subtle no one noticed.
“So Count Darlington wants this letter, which is why the Blue Falcon Knights and their underlings are moving. Then why does Darlington want it?”
“Th-that's……”
Annrose faltered under Blake's piercing conversational style that cut straight to the core.
The answer came from Lindelmann again.
“It's because His Highness Henrik is the only one who can rival Prince Tobias for the throne. And this is the first letter he's sent out stamped with his seal since entering Northernrocks Fortress.”
“Hm.”
Blake listened intently to Lindelmann.
“Especially now, with rumors that His Imperial Majesty is ending his seclusion and the crown prince issue just starting to heat up. For Count Darlington, the right-hand man of Prince Tobias himself, he can't help but be curious about the letter's contents and recipient. And if it involves the throne, the fallout would be massive.”
Lindelmann spoke calmly of thoughts he'd harbored since the day Albert Grime humiliated him.
But it was such a sensitive topic that he couldn't help glancing at Blake.
“……”
Annrose watched Blake with tense eyes too.
But Blake's expression didn't change at all.
In fact, his response made Annrose's eyes widen.
“Ridiculous. And these people are real idiots.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“The recipient of this letter is a woman. Someone with no relation whatsoever to your situations or the crown prince selection.”
“'Whatsoever'? Anyway, then who is it? Who on earth is receiving a letter from His Highness Henrik……”
“His daughter.”
“D-daughter?”
“That's right. This is a letter from the commander to his daughter, Lady Mylene.”
Flutter!
Luther's sharp eyes scanned the note pulled from the tube tied to the pigeon's leg.
Once finished, he looked up.
“Damian and Rickbear have completely left Northway. As expected, they were ambushed right after exiting Headgates, followed by four more ambushes and two… duels.”
Luther's expression turned subtly odd as he said “duels.”
“Duels?”
“Yes. Probably challengers after their fame from what Blake stirred up in Dumfries, targeting the two of them.”
“Hahaha! Blake started the fire, but those other guys are cleaning it up. It's been about half a month? And they've fought seven times already? The effect is even bigger than expected.”
Northernrocks Fortress Commander Prince Henrik laughed with satisfaction.
“Precisely thirteen days. And they cleared Northway much faster than anticipated, with even hotter attention and reactions than predicted. Blake must have done a stellar job paving the way.”
“That's why the northern lords reached out so quickly.”
Henrik lightly held up the letter on the table.
It bore the clear seal of the northern lord, the Iron Count family.
“By the way, what about the Headgates administrator? Still no decision?”
“With Blake and now those two safely out of Northway, even an idiot would decide. The fact that he spread word to nearby factions the moment they arrived shows he's no fool. The Seven Great Lords' movements confirm it—he'll side with us.”
“Good. It would have nagged at me if we couldn't take Headgates quietly.”
“Yes. Headgates needs to become our de facto headquarters. Better for things to proceed quietly until the real game begins.”
“Hm.”
Henrik nodded lightly.
Gazing alternately at the note from Luther and the Iron Count family's sealed letter with satisfied eyes, he slowly rose and turned to the window.
He stared for a while at the mountains and hills just welcoming the northern spring, which would last about two more months, then spoke softly as if struck by a thought.
“Blake's probably crossing the central region by now, right?”
“Likely. He should be around Elbera or Bricks about now……”
Luther glanced at the wall as he spoke.
It now held not the old map of the north and great mountains, but a detailed map of the entire empire.
“If he's sticking to the imperial road, he'll go through Bricks to Shabei. If by river, Elbera. Given his personality, probably Elbera. He likes things quick and decisive.”
Henrik tapped spots on the map with his golden lion-embossed baton, smiling.
“Elbera to the capital by boat takes about ten days. Then another ten across the strait to Revat Port. He should reach Soria just over a month from now. Assuming nothing happens in the capital.”
“No one would dare act openly there, of all places. And he's bound to have stirred up plenty in the central region too, like in Northway. Even Darlington wouldn't pull stunts under all those watching eyes in the capital.”
“But if Prince Tobias steps in personally……”
“Enough. My brother isn't that foolish.”
As Henrik's voice sank, Luther hurriedly bowed his head.
“My apologies. That was overstepping.”
“No more on my brother. Anyway, Soria in a month? Mylene better not give him the cold shoulder.”
A broad smile crossed Henrik's face at his daughter's name.
“The chances of a warm welcome are slim.”
“Haha! She wouldn't go so far as to kill him, would she?”
“If he arrives after Damian and Rickbear, he might.”
“……!”
The smile vanished from Henrik's face at Luther's words.
“Right. Yeah.”
He muttered bitterly, gazed out the window a moment longer, then turned back.
His eyes were as firm and stern as ever.
Clack!
One chess piece left Henrik's hand and advanced.
“Call the legion commanders and chieftains. To move headquarters to Headgates by summer's end, we need to wrap things up quickly.”
“Yes, sir.”
A sharp glint flashed in Luther's eyes as he bowed deeply.
Now the real game began.
(To be continued)