Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: 80. New Rules (4)
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Genad couldn't accept the sudden change in circumstances and fell into a panic.
The third prince of Brioll, Yuri, who had been reported dead, had reappeared.
With Fiore's disappearance, the friction between the empire and Brioll had effectively ended in the empire's victory, leaving Genad basking in triumph for a while.
He believed he had aligned himself with the right side. Even if something happened to Brioll, his and House Jeteri's wealth would endure.
But then, from the morning onward, a messenger rushed in with unbelievable news.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"The third prince has arrived. He's entering the territory now."
"When did he wake up? This is ridiculous..."
Up until then, he hadn't felt much of a crisis.
He had anticipated they might clash again someday.
"How many did he bring?"
"All told, around thirty men..."
"He's clearly lost his mind."
Genad spoke without hesitation.
Yuri's boldness on the battlefield was well-known. People called him courageous, but Genad dismissed it as simply having lost his fear.
He wasn't the type of person with a broad enough character to acknowledge someone he had fallen out with.
"Just thirty men. Does he think he can take on Genad Jeteri with that?"
"Well, the third prince is said to be formidable..."
"Enough."
He cut him off.
"Assemble the knights and have them stand by. Send some to harass the third prince so he can't pull any stunts. Does he even know where he is?"
"Yes, sir!"
Genad thought that settled it. Even if Yuri Brioll was skilled, he had far more knights under his command. Thirty knights could easily be subdued.
He recalled the humiliation he had suffered at the third prince's hands before.
"This time..."
Genad smirked.
He seemed to think things were the same as when Fiore was still alive, but Genad would show him just how ruthless power could be.
His loyalty to Brioll had been due to Fiore's might.
But now, Fiore was gone.
The empire had seized Bezos.
In this situation, expecting the same treatment just for being a Brioll prince was far too naive.
Genad mulled over that past humiliation as he spoke.
"He'll learn how cruel the world is, that thunderbolt-headed brat."
Now, there was no monstrous father to back him up. Genad would repay that humiliation in kind.
Genad hummed a tune as he waited.
But then another report came in.
Yuri Brioll had subdued the knights blocking his path and was pressing forward.
Genad grew irritated.
"What the hell are those knights doing? Can't they handle one little punk?"
"The third prince is stronger than expected."
"Even so. It's just thirty men."
Genad said.
"He might actually make it here."
"Should we summon more troops, just in case?"
"Hmm..."
Genad fell into thought.
Mobilizing all the forces scattered across Yuges could wage war on a small kingdom, but it would take time to gather them.
To begin with, there was no way the third prince could break through all of Yuges's knights to reach him.
Yet Genad felt an inexplicable unease.
So he said.
"Assemble them for now."
"Yes, sir!"
"Think of it as an inspection of the men after a long while."
And he waited.
He sipped tea and acted relaxed, but his mind kept drifting to the third prince. Genad periodically asked for updates on his position.
Then, the third prince reached his castle.
Genad locked the gates and deployed troops.
"What can thirty men do? Hahaha..."
He muttered, trying to interpret the situation positively. Still uneasy, he went to a spot overlooking the gates to watch.
There stood Brioll's third prince, Yuri Brioll—his arch-nemesis—before the gates, saying something.
The distance made it hard to see clearly, but just glimpsing his figure conjured up the third prince's signature arrogant expression.
Genad twisted his lips.
"Tch, tch..."
Up to that point, Genad trusted his knights.
There were over two hundred knights in the castle alone.
Even roughly counted, they outnumbered Yuri's group by six to one, and if every last one was mustered, maybe ten to one. Add regular soldiers, and the gap widened further.
It wasn't a surmountable difference.
"Hey."
"Yes."
"Don't go too hard on him. He's still a prince."
Genad smirked.
"So..."
As he continued, a sudden upheaval occurred.
The third prince leaped straight up and landed atop the walls. Caught off guard, Genad froze in confusion.
The walls were high.
And the third prince had been at the gates.
Castle walls were built to defy human scaling. Yet this third prince had ascended them effortlessly, as if denying their very purpose.
"What the...?"
He then casually hurled a noble off the wall. Cold sweat trickled down Genad's back at that ruthless hand.
"W-what the hell. That crazy bastard..."
"Your Grace."
"We have to stop him."
"We'll gather more knights and deploy them."
"You saying the gates will fall?"
"Just in case..."
His ominous premonition came true.
The third prince threw open the gates and confronted the knights. Several knights fell in the clash.
Genad, untrained in martial arts, couldn't grasp what was happening. His knights were collapsing every time the third prince swung his hand.
It was like a grown man fighting children.
"Why aren't they fighting properly? Scared because he's the third prince?"
At Genad's words, a nearby knight spoke up.
"Your Grace. The third prince's realm seems higher than anticipated."
"What?"
"The gap is so vast it looks like that."
"He's that strong?"
Of course, Genad knew he was strong for his age. But these were true knights who had trained with the sword their whole lives.
Mature masters falling like toys to that kid—Genad couldn't comprehend it.
"He seems beyond what we thought. At that level, perhaps..."
"Shut up! Quiet!"
Genad shouted.
"You weaklings!"
He was furious to his core.
The gates had fallen too easily. Shouldn't they have resisted with their lives? How was he supposed to handle this?
He immediately ordered a knight.
"Stop him at all costs. Whatever it takes!"
"Yes, sir."
"He's coming."
"We'll mobilize every knight in the castle."
Genad suppressed his anger and forced a smile.
"Right, that's it. I ordered all Yuges forces assembled. Even the third prince can't do anything against that. What can thirty men do?"
But only defeats kept coming.
"Your Grace. The knights..."
"What!"
"They've been defeated."
The messenger bowed his head.
"One sword swing, and a whirlwind tore their bodies to shreds."
A knight guarding Genad muttered what he hadn't said earlier.
"Already at the Ten Strong..."
"What?"
"No other explanation. He's reached the Ten Strong."
"That possible?"
"He's Fiore Brioll's son. No surprise with that bloodline."
"Suddenly the Ten Strong..."
Genad broke into a cold sweat. He knew what the Ten Strong were.
Monsters who could face armies alone.
He pictured Yuri Brioll's infuriating face—the kid who had tormented and oppressed him.
Now that brat had become a Ten Strong killer invading his territory again.
He ground his teeth and muttered.
"Why won't he just leave me alone...!"
Genad closed his eyes.
"Your Grace. We need a plan now. Force won't stop him."
"Against one man..."
"That one is overwhelmingly strong."
"Useless trash. Taking my money and can't stop one kid?"
"Your Grace..."
"You're no different, you worm."
He spat curses.
"You fucking dogs..."
Venting his rage with profanity, Genad soon came to his senses.
Greedy as he was, he wasn't completely stupid.
"Prepare my armor."
"Pardon?"
"Get my armor, I said!"
Genad slapped his dazed attendant.
"Move!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
Genad panted as he thought.
"Donning armor..."
"I need to look resolute."
"Pardon?"
"Think he'll blink if I beg for my life in these clothes? Humans are like that. If I armor up and earnestly defend myself, there's a chance."
It was armor tailored to his obese frame. Bought for ceremonies but never worn properly.
With help, he barely donned it. It looked comically awkward, but Genad was serious.
"Your Grace. He's almost..."
Genad sat on the bed without responding.
His eyes were fixed on the bedroom door.
Soon, it opened.
Yuri Brioll scanned the interior with a crooked smile and sauntered in.
"What are you doing?"
Genad replied to Yuri's amused question.
"Your Highness."
"Yeah?"
"I apologize. My judgment was poor. As a Brioll noble and lord of Yuges, I feared a crisis for Brioll if all forces concentrated on Bezos."
He continued in a pleading tone dredged from his gut.
All eyes in the room turned to Genad. Even Yuges retainers looked incredulous.
But the knight beside Genad watched Yuri Brioll, not him.
Indeed, no openings whatsoever.
His demeanor was confident.
Storming a duke's heartland with just thirty men, yet unhurried and composed.
The attitude of a conqueror.
Their eyes met briefly.
A smile played on the third prince's face.
The knight involuntarily bowed his head. He couldn't dare meet that gaze.
Meanwhile, Genad rose and knelt.
"Ugh... Your Highness! Strike off this sinner's head!"
At those words, the knight approached Genad.
His steps faltered, but he overcame the pressure desperately.
Because, to him, Genad was deluded.
"Your Grace."
"Let me go! I'm a criminal!"
"If you do this..."
Then Yuri Brioll interjected.
"Sure."
"Pardon?"
"I'll cut your head off."
This third prince wasn't one for political maneuvering.
He didn't calculate.
No acting to elicit reactions would work on him.
If you asked for your head, he'd just take it.
"Kuh..."
The knight blocked the way.
"Your Highness."
But Yuri Brioll advanced without hesitation.
The knight realized.
Stay here, and he'd die.
That prince's sword would cleave him, then Genad Jeteri, Duke of Yuges. The future flashed in his mind.
To live, he had to step aside.
But the knight squeezed his eyes shut.
Genad Jeteri wasn't a great noble.
But he was still a knight.
In the dire moment, instinct took over.
The knight spread his arms, shielding Genad Jeteri. Abandoning his lord to survive wasn't an option.
He steeled himself for death.
But then.
"Gahk..."
A gurgling sound came from behind.
Turning, he saw Genad Jeteri collapsed, blood pouring from his neck.
In shock, he looked forward again.
Yuri Brioll stood with his bloodied sword over his shoulder, grinning.
How had he slipped past?
"Weird, huh?"
Brioll's third prince, Yuri Brioll, grinned as he said.
"Alright, from now on, Genad's death is a secret. Gather all the nobles who followed that bastard here."