Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Translator: Penny
Chapter 48
Lawrence left with a parting shot: "Don't be late either. Push your men to catch up, even if you have to whip them!" He vanished with his swift cavalry.
Rumor had it that those vying for the throne were tirelessly attending banquets and gatherings to expand their influence. Lawrence's attachment to Agron stemmed from similar motives.
The King had assigned him to stick close to the only noble he was friendly with, given Lawrence's weak support base and distant position in the succession. Moreover, Agron was a rising star among the nobility, with sporadic but impressive rumors of slaying Troll Warriors and defeating Baron Wolfgang.
Thanks to this association, Lawrence had transformed from an inexperienced nobody with no ties to the throne into a figure with considerable recognition.
King Decker might have secretly orchestrated Agron's invitation to Count Kopellus's banquet, hoping Agron would disrupt the power dynamics of the succession game, even if the outcome remained uncertain.
Just then, the carriage halted, and Jacob knocked on the door from outside.
"Count, Josef has sent word."
"What is it?"
"One of Kobuul's remnants has established a base nearby."
Kobuul was the name of the illegal drug organization run by Theo, the former Lord of Sachsen. Lawrence had mobilized the Royal Army to eliminate most of them, but due to their decentralized structure, Agron had separately ordered the Night Alley to hunt down the remaining members.
"Excellent. We'll stop by and deal with them before continuing."
"Are you sure you're alright...? Prince Lawrence seemed to be in a hurry to have us come..."
"Hmm, it doesn't matter. We can handle this within twenty minutes and be on our way."
"Understood. Shall I turn the carriage around, then?"
"No, moving such a large group at once would be cumbersome. You and Wolf stay here and prepare for any unexpected developments. I'll go with the Elder and Elena."
Jacob handed Baek Woon the Spellbook he had used to communicate with Josef.
Unlike the Crystal Ball, the Spellbook didn't allow for voice communication. Instead, the left and right pages served as the receiver and sender, respectively. When a message was written on one page, it would instantly appear in the corresponding book.
As Baek Woon flipped through the pages, Josef's brief report and a crude map came into view.
"It's not far. Let's go."
They crossed a single mountain ridge, heading toward Kobuul's hideout marked on the map.
The place they arrived at was a secluded house, neither particularly large nor small.
However, a massive carriage stood beside the main gate, its size and opulence completely out of place with the house's modest appearance.
"I didn't realize Kobuul's organization was this big..." Baek Woon murmured, eyeing the extravagantly decorated carriage with suspicion.
The carriage was so dazzlingly ornate that even Lawrence's notoriously ostentatious carriage seemed plain by comparison.
"Perhaps he bought it with the money he made selling drugs?"
"Hmm... I don't know. Let's go inside first."
"I'll go in first."
Agron strode ahead to Kobuul's main gate and kicked it open with brute force, creating a thunderous crash like a cannonball impact.
"W-what's going on?!"
"What's all the commotion?!"
The men scattered throughout the house startled and converged on the source of the noise.
Their ragged appearance and gaunt faces made it clear that their situation had deteriorated since the Royal Army's crackdown.
"Are you Kobuul?"
"H-huh... a woman!"
"And a stunning beauty at that...?"
"Gods, you've sent us a gift in our hunger, heh..."
"Kill the young men and old ones! Capture the woman!"
Even in this situation, Kobuul remained true to his instincts.
Agron wore a look of disdain, while Baek Woon stood at a distance, silently praying for their souls.
"Filthy, disgusting vermin."
Elena's eyes radiated such icy fury that it sent a chill down their spines. She lunged at them like a wild beast.
"Aaaargh!"
"She's a madwoman! A rabid bitch!"
"No choice then. Kill them all!"
"Hmm, calling a frail woman a madwoman..."
Agron grabbed the fleeing man by the scruff of his neck and hurled him into the air.
WHOOSH!
The man slammed into the ceiling, blood gushing from his nose and mouth before he crashed to the floor.
"H-hieeeek!"
"Werewolf! It's a werewolf!"
"These aren't humans! They're a pack of monsters!"
"That old man must be controlling them!"
The men pointed at Baek Woon standing in the back, their voices rising to a frantic pitch.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. They'd have a better chance of surviving if they just surrendered quietly."
Baek Woon shook his head, pulled several talismans from his robes, and tore them in the air.
Instantly, thick tree roots erupted from the ground, coiling tightly around the men's bodies.
"Ugh...!"
"Gurgle... S-save me!"
"Keh-hek, keh-hek!"
The men writhed in agony, foam bubbling from their mouths as the crushing pressure, like a constricting serpent, threatened to shatter their ribs.
"The Elder is using his Talisman Arts after all this time," Agron murmured with a faint smile, surveying the ground floor.
"Elena, check the second floor. I'll head to the basement."
"Understood, Master."
"Elder, please secure the entrance and capture anyone who tries to escape."
"As you wish."
With these words, Agron opened the basement door and descended into the darkness.
The basement wasn't entirely dark, thanks to lamps hanging at intervals.
"This bastard... is he a foreigner?!"
"Speak the Kingdom language, you son of a bitch!"
Angry voices erupted from deeper within the basement.
Agron approached and saw three or four members of the Organization threatening a tightly bound man. The bound man was shouting in a foreign language, his voice filled with indignation.
Agron spoke with a tone of disdain, "Do you really think you can get through to him by intimidating him like this?"
"What the hell?! Who's this guy?!"
"What are those bastards upstairs doing?!"
The men drew their weapons and charged at Agron.
Agron sighed softly and drove his fist into the shoulder of the first man who approached.
With a sound like a snapping log, the man spun around and collapsed. Seizing the moment of surprise, Agron leaped forward, grabbed the backs of two men's heads, and slammed their faces together like clapping hands.
CRACK!
A horrifying sound, one rarely heard from human throats, erupted as the two men's skulls were crushed.
Agron clicked his tongue, flicking away splatters of marrow and blood from his coat.
"H-hic... W-who are you?! What do you want? Money?"
The last remaining member of Kobuul's organization shouted at Agron, his dagger-wielding hand trembling violently.
"Who's the boss controlling Kobuul?"
"How would I know that?!"
Agron nodded, then swiftly extended his arm, shattering the man's wrist and elbow in an instant.
"Aaaagh!"
"Think carefully before answering. A human body has 206 bones, after all."
"A-a young man with blond hair...!"
"His name?"
The man shook his head frantically, tears streaming down his face, clearly not knowing that much.
"Has this 'Boss' ever been here before?"
"Hic... Y-yes, he has... He came to collect the smuggled cigars from our Branch Manager..."
"Any other distinguishing features?"
"I-I really don't know... They said he seemed like a high-ranking noble, but I couldn't tell for sure..."
"I see. Understood."
With those words, he grabbed the man's neck and twisted it sharply to the side.
Crack.
The underground chamber fell silent instantly.
Agron approached the bound man and untied his ropes.
The man, his face drained of color, called out to the gods as if finally realizing he was alive.
"Thank you, thank you. I'll contact my family and ensure you're properly rewarded. Ah... you probably can't understand me."
As the man gestured desperately, trying to explain, Agron replied in fluent Imperial Common Tongue:
"It's alright, I can speak it too. Just explain it clearly."
Lawrence arrived at Kopellus Mansion late.
If I'd known it would be like this, I would have left a day earlier, he thought regretfully.
Having left his personal tailor behind, Lawrence relied on the Kopellus family's tailors and maids to tidy his clothes and appearance.
"Ha, what a mess," he muttered, catching his reflection in the mirror. A handsome, blond nobleman stared back, sweat beading on his brow.
It was Lawrence himself.
I'm probably the most handsome among my brothers, he mused.
This wasn't just Lawrence's opinion; it was a widely held view throughout the royal court and high society.
The prince who most closely resembles the Reigning King.
Perhaps that was why King Decker favored his third son, Prince Lawrence.
However, Lawrence's arrogant personality, low dignity, and fondness for pleasure meant he had few noble supporters.
"His Highness Prince Lawrence Rubel von Crowngard, Third Prince of the Kingdom of Astraria, has arrived!"
As the Chamberlain of House Kopellus announced his arrival to the banquet hall, most of the guests bowed their heads toward the entrance.
Lawrence entered with a forced smile, but his expression froze into a rigid mask the moment his eyes met someone's.
Duran Bant von Crowngard.
The Second Prince of the Kingdom and his half-brother.
"Hey, Lawrence. What brings you to a banquet like this? Suddenly developed an appetite for the throne?" Duran sneered, tossing his wavy blond hair back.
"I came because I received an invitation. Are you here so early because you're afraid of me, Brother?"
"Watch your tongue, Lawrence. If this were the royal court, I'd have you—!" Duran hissed, his voice barely audible.
"Ehehe, with both Your Highnesses the Princes present, the banquet hall truly shines!"
A deep, booming voice interrupted their conversation.
It was Count Kopellus, a man of imposing stature and a fierce expression.
Lawrence greeted him with proper courtesy. "It's been a while, Count Kopellus."
"It's been too long, Your Highness Prince Lawrence."
"Thank you for inviting me to the banquet."
"The honor is mine, Your Highnesses, to have you grace my humble gathering."
"Hmph, still hiding in the South, are you? How pathetic," Duran sneered openly from the side.
"Ehehe, with Count Agron, the talk of the town, residing in the South under the Third Prince's patronage, it's no wonder," Kopellus chuckled.
"Hey, Count Kopellus. What's so special about some backwater provincial noble anyway?"
Duran twisted his lips into a sneer and began to openly criticize Agron.
Truth be told, he despised Lawrence as well, but the name Agron, which he'd been hearing so frequently lately, grated on him even more.
If only he'd become friendly with me instead...
Every time he saw his damned younger brother inching closer to the throne, his stomach churned with resentment, and Agron became increasingly loathsome.
Why did he have to show up at this exact moment?!
"Do you understand, Count Kopellus? You can't even compare to him. That bastard is nothing more than a barbarian in noble's clothing! He's the type to get into brawls with other nobles at banquets."
"Ahahaha, I heard his opponent was Sir Wolfgang. That wasn't a brawl, but a sacred duel among nobles."
"Enough with the barbarian's boasts. By the way, when will today's 'Master' arrive?"
Duran surveyed the room and asked, "Are you referring to Duke Klaisen?"
"Yes, His Majesty the Duke of the Empire. The one who will be my greatest patron."
Duke Praman Bernold de Klaisen of the Kazandor Empire was a close relative of the Emperor. Though the Kingdom of Astraria and the Kazandor Empire were separate nations, the Empire's immense influence meant their wishes couldn't be ignored. Thus, a prince backed by the Empire had the highest chance of becoming the next King.
Moreover, this invitation was unofficial and discreet, known only to Count Kopellus and Second Prince Duran.
"Heh heh, the First Prince and First Princess would be furious if they knew about this."
"Unfortunately, I couldn't invite him since we're not acquainted."
Just then, a commotion erupted at the entrance as the Chamberlain reappeared and announced loudly:
"His Excellency, Count Agron von Veilain, Head of House Veilain, is entering!"
At the announcement, every eye in the banquet hall turned toward the entrance.
"Is that him...?"
"The Count who's been nothing but a rumor is actually attending the banquet?"
"Let's get a look at what he looks like."
About a third of the gazes were driven by curiosity, while the rest flocked to the entrance, eager to make an impression on the rising star of the nobility.
Perhaps disgusted by the spectacle, Duran shouted at the assembled nobles:
"Isn't that Barbaroi, the New Count of Veilain, who vanquished the Troll Warrior?!"
"H-hyung! Are you crazy?!"
"Heh heh heh. What's wrong, you idiot? Isn't it true?"
Duran pushed through the crowd, striding purposefully toward the entrance.
His intention was clear: to intimidate everyone from the start, preventing anyone from approaching Agron.
The nobles frowned at his behavior but dared not voice their disapproval.
At this moment, Duran was the closest contender to the throne after the First Prince and First Princess.
Though the recent betrayal by the Gold Lions had distanced him from the succession, securing the support of an even more powerful figure could still make his ascension to the throne a distinct possibility.
The nobles cleared their throats and stepped aside to let Duran pass.
"Ah, welcome! You must be that Barbaroi... Count, is it?" Duran sneered, extending his hand toward Agron.
Unable to bear this absurd display any longer, Lawrence stepped between them and spoke.
"Introduce yourself, Agron. This is Duran Bant von Crowngard, the Second Prince."
"Hey, Lawrence. The Count only understands Barbaroi. Right?"
Duran smirked triumphantly.
After all, even if he committed such acts, the nobles who supported him wouldn't withdraw their backing.
Once he had suppressed this damned Count, Lawrence would be next...
"The Prince of the Kingdom of Astraria lacks refinement."
"What? Who's talking to me like that?!" Duran glared in the direction of the voice, his eyes narrowed into slits.
There stood a young man dressed in attire slightly different from the Kingdom's formal wear, watching him.
"Me? I'm Belmond Ulman de Klaisen of the Kazandor Empire."
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny