Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Framed
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Nibon Territory.
A single letter arrived for Count Yarve.
It was from Jackal, whom he had sent to Hazan.
He had been wondering about Hazan’s whereabouts anyway, so he quickly opened the letter.
The contents were as follows.
Among the men with Hazan, there was a special-grade prisoner, and they wanted to bring him along too.
A special-grade prisoner likely meant someone who had violated imperial law.
Moreover, if Hazan was keeping him around, it had to be connected to some high-ranking noble.
A noble worth his attention would be one of the emperor’s closest allies.
Given that no recent information had come in about them, it seemed the incident had been buried in utmost secrecy.
‘A poisoned chalice.’
But he had lost the territorial war, and his knight order had been annihilated.
He needed to reinforce his forces somehow to prepare for their attack.
Special-grade prisoners were at least on par with Sword Experts.
They would be very useful cards to play.
For now, bolstering his troops took priority, so he decided to use them to the fullest and dispose of them later.
As long as he paid Hazan, dealing with them would be a piece of cake.
Yarve instructed in his reply to bring everyone along and summoned Waraman, who handled imperial intelligence.
A short while later.
Waraman entered the office, clad in a blue robe.
“You called for me.”
“The empire’s been too quiet lately, don’t you think? A place where incidents popped up every other day.”
“I agree, it’s strange. It shouldn’t be this calm.”
“Dig deeper.”
“Understood.”
As Waraman bowed his head, Yarve rose from his chair and walked over to the window.
Gazing out, he asked,
“What’s their situation?”
“They’ve started reorganizing the territory. And they’ve posted notices recruiting for the knight order and militia.”
“Looks like they’re expanding their forces.”
“They’ll probably fill the knight order to capacity.”
“Anything else? Like reaching out to mercenary groups?”
“None.”
“You’re not missing anything, are you?”
Yarve’s voice turned icy.
Waraman’s face stiffened as he replied firmly.
“We’re checking the mercenary groups hourly. No chance of that.”
“If they hire mercenaries, it’ll be a headache. We can’t let that happen.”
“Yes, sir!”
It was then, as Waraman bowed deeply.
Knock knock.
“……?”
Yarve tilted his head.
They surely knew he was in a meeting with Waraman.
Curious, he wondered what it was about.
The guard entered and bowed deeply.
“His Majesty the Emperor has sent an envoy.”
“What?”
Yarve’s eyes widened.
An envoy, out of nowhere?
Fear surged that it might be related to the defeat.
He decided to meet the envoy first and hear what it was about.
“Bring him in.”
“Yes, sir.”
The guard left, and soon after, a middle-aged man with haughty eyes entered.
Yarve frowned briefly before smoothing his expression.
‘That bastard’s here…….’
It was Count Hoiron, one of Emperor Ruan’s closest confidants—the man Yarve distrusted most.
Count Hoiron approached with a sly smile.
“Long time no see.”
Since Hoiron was there as the emperor’s envoy, Yarve dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
“You must have had a hard journey.”
“Hard? I was furious having to come to this backwater.”
Hoiron sneered and sat in Yarve’s chair.
He then propped his legs up on the desk, reclining as he eyed Yarve.
“But I heard some satisfying news, so it’s not all bad.”
‘That son of a bitch…….’
Swallowing his boiling rage, Yarve asked calmly,
“What message does His Imperial Majesty send?”
“First, I’ll relay His Majesty’s words.”
Hoiron stood straight from the chair and fixed Yarve with a cold stare.
“By order of His Imperial Majesty: Kill every last black-haired person without exception.”
“……!”
Yarve’s eyes nearly bulged out.
Hoiron continued, his face devoid of any playfulness.
“The empire is currently rooting out devil worshippers. Evidence has emerged that those with black hair are their followers.”
“Since when…….”
“You look completely clueless. Well, it was handled so secretly even your spies wouldn’t know.”
“Understood. Starting today, we’ll round up everyone with black hair.”
“Nobles included.”
“……!”
Yarve’s face hardened.
At the same time, the most prominent noble family with black hair came to mind.
The Julius Count Family!
He understood why the emperor had sent Hoiron to him.
To bolster him in the fight against the Julius Count Family.
Now he could rally support from the territories around Grada.
He could reinforce his forces in one fell swoop.
Hazan and his beasts would arrive in Nibon Territory in a few days, and while waiting, he could seek aid from other territories—striking before they could attack.
A sly smile crept across Yarve’s lips.
“Tell His Majesty I’ll burn out every root of those black-haired scum.”
“Remember, if you lose to them again…….”
Hoiron’s eyes flashed coldly.
“You won’t be forgiven.”
***
“How many applicants?”
At Arthur’s question, Skevin smiled and replied.
“Knight order: seven hundred. Militia: fifteen hundred. And that’s just what we’ve processed so far—if we kept going, it’d easily double.”
“The knight order’s max is three hundred, right?”
“Yes. Counts are capped at three hundred. With seven hundred applicants, we can fill it easily.”
“Five hundred.”
“……?”
“Set the quota at five hundred.”
“Young Master!”
Skevin’s eyes widened.
A marquis’s knight order quota was five hundred.
Violating imperial law would summon the emperor’s wrath—and punishment.
In the worst case, he could lose his title.
“May I ask why?”
“I plan to expand our influence.”
“……!”
Skevin’s eyes bulged.
Arthur took his reaction in stride and continued.
“I discussed it with Millerph a few days ago and got his approval. What do you think?”
“Our forces are too weak to start a war.”
“Millerph said that just our knight order puts us in the empire’s top five.”
“That’s true, but declaring war would brand us rebels. Every territory would attack us. No matter how strong, we can’t overcome numbers.”
“I’m not planning to start a war.”
“Then how…….”
“I’ll make them bow their heads and come to me willingly.”
“The emperor won’t stand for it.”
“I’ll go to the capital and convince him myself. I have plenty of reasons to make it work.”
“Could you tell me beforehand?”
“Not now. You’ll learn in time—just trust me and follow.”
“That’s too big a decision…….”
Worry filled Skevin’s face.
He couldn’t decide lightly when Grada Territory’s fate hung in the balance.
“I need time to think.”
“Decide by week’s end.”
Arthur turned to gaze at the training grounds.
Knight order and militia applicants trained with grim determination.
“How are the new recruits?”
“Their attitude is different—progress is fast, and results should be impressive.”
“Of course. They’re fighting to protect their homes.”
As Skevin nodded in agreement.
A soldier came running.
“Captain!”
He handed Skevin something.
A gold-banded envelope.
From a spy in Nibon Territory.
Skevin swiftly opened it and read the note.
“Hmm…….”
A low groan escaped him.
Arthur glanced at the paper.
Coded—definitely from a spy.
He waited until Skevin finished.
A moment later.
Skevin looked at Arthur gravely.
“Emperor Ruan sent an envoy to the Yarve Count Family.”
“An envoy?”
“Count Hoiron.”
“Who’s he?”
“One of Emperor Ruan’s inner circle—the man Count Yarve fears most.”
“He sent someone Yarve distrusts as envoy?”
“With our decisive victory reported to the emperor, it makes sense.”
“Doesn’t add up.”
Arthur tilted his head and asked,
“Does the emperor distrust us?”
“There’s something you don’t know, Young Master. The emperor and Julius Count Family aren’t on good terms.”
“Why?”
“Because of Lord Tehren Julius. He wielded more influence than the emperor, earning his enmity—and it persists to this day.”
“Didn’t know that.”
It was something he hadn’t considered.
From the emperor’s view, the Julius Count Family was a thorn in his side.
Unlike their heyday, they barely clung to existence now—but Tehren’s blood still flowed in the family.
To him, they were a sleeping dragon.
One that could awaken, shake the world, and threaten his throne anytime.
When Count Yarve declared territorial war, the emperor must have had mixed thoughts.
A chance to gauge their strength—and perhaps hoping they’d lose.
But Yarve lost.
Annihilated, even.
That would’ve deepened his wariness.
Sending an envoy to Yarve……
Arthur’s eyes sharpened.
“Any mention of troop support?”
“No.”
“Why send an envoy then?”
“Hmm.”
As Skevin stroked his chin, his gaze deepening.
“Young Master!”
Andrew came rushing over.
“What’s wrong?”
“Huff! Huff! Huff!”
Breathing heavily, Andrew handed Arthur what he held.
“They posted this in Aslan Territory.”
“What is it?”
Arthur unfolded the paper.
[The Grand Archmage Altros, after long research, has discovered a way to identify devil worshippers.
Thus, as of recently……
……[excerpted]……
All those with black hair in the empire are to be executed.
-Emperor Ruan Barotas.]
“……!”
Skevin, reading alongside Arthur, grimaced.
“Young Master, what do we do? The territory folk are terrified!”
Arthur looked at Skevin with a hardened expression.
“What do you think?”
“This gives Count Yarve grounds to rally other territories.”
“Any others with black hair besides us?”
“Kandara Count and Hexa Baron.”
“Inform them. I’ll meet Millerph and plan countermeasures.”
As Arthur turned toward the castle.
“Arthur!”
Medlin appeared with Millerph.
Arthur glanced at Andrew.
“Did you tell Mother?”
“W-Well…….”
“No more alarming news to Mother without my say-so.”
Arthur approached Medlin.
“I was just heading to you.”
“Us, devil worshippers? What bolt from the blue is this?”
Medlin’s face was stricken with shock.
“For now, to the office—no, let’s get some air. I’ll show you a nice spot.”
Arthur took Medlin’s hand firmly and led her away.
“Uh, o-okay…….”
Surprised by the unexpected gesture, Medlin followed.
They arrived at the castle wall Arthur often climbed.
“How is it?”
“The wind’s strong.”
Medlin shrank against the blowing gusts.
Arthur stepped close and embraced her tightly.
“……!”
Bewildered by his uncharacteristic behavior, Medlin stared.
Arthur pointed far off to children playing and asked,
“The kids look happy, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll fight every force threatening us and protect this territory.”
“Arthur…….”
Gazing at the children, Arthur continued.
“Now every territory in the Oscar Empire will come for us.”
“Someone framed us! We’re no devil worshippers—that’s absurd.”
“Water’s spilled. Fighting’s our only option. Anyone who touches the Julius Count Family, me…….”
He added inwardly.
‘Even if it’s the emperor, I won’t forgive them.’
As Arthur’s eyes blazed with resolve, the tyrant’s disposition surged within him.
Medlin sensed the intense aura emanating from him instinctively.
The tyrant’s disposition was stirring.
‘Is this part of Arthur’s fate too…….’
Her face darkened, eyes moistening.
Then, dust clouds rose in the distance.
“……?”
Arthur’s eyes flashed.
At the same moment, the emergency horn blared.
Bwoooong-!