Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Valtre's Spy
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***
‘Who sent him?’
Returning to his office, Arthur stared out the window with a hardened expression.
The most suspicious suspect right now was the emperor.
With Yarve Count defeated, it was likely he’d sent scouts to gauge the Julius family’s strength.
That meant they’d probably assessed not only Skevin and the knight order but also Arthur’s own abilities to some extent.
And since they’d seen Khan, Britannia’s forces were exposed as well.
“It won’t be easy from here on out.”
As Arthur’s gaze deepened, a knock echoed through the room.
He’d told Andrew not to let anyone in before returning.
‘Who is it? Medlin?’
He turned to face the door.
Millerph entered, levitating someone in the air beside him.
The man’s head hung limply downward—he seemed unconscious.
“Who is it?”
“We caught him scouting the castle.”
“Did you spot him from the walls?”
“Were you already aware of his presence, my lord?”
“Of course.”
Arthur narrowed his eyes and approached.
Millerph positioned the man in front of his wife and dispelled the knockout spell with magic.
“Ugh…….”
The man grimaced, clutching his hair with both hands.
Clink.
The cold edge of a dagger pressed against his throat.
“Gasp!”
He jolted in shock and tried to recoil, but his body wouldn’t budge.
Millerph had cast petrification magic the moment he woke him, preventing any escape.
Arthur eyed the panicked man and asked.
“Who are you?”
“If you’re so curious, find out yourself.”
“Is that so?”
Without hesitation, Arthur slashed the man’s right arm with the dagger.
“Argh!”
The man’s eyes bulged as he cried out.
“What the hell are you doing!”
“You told me to find out myself. So I’m doing it my way. Like this.”
This time, he sliced the left arm.
“Argh!”
Screaming, the man ground his teeth as blood poured from both arms.
“You’re insane! If you knew who I serve, you’d regret this!”
“Who else but Emperor Ruan.”
“No way! The one I serve is far greater than the emperor.”
“Not the emperor?”
Arthur tilted his head, a name flashing in his mind.
Millerph, thinking the same, spoke up.
“Probably from Marquis Valtre.”
“Looks like it.”
Arthur gave the man a meaningful smile.
The man’s face drained of color, utterly flustered.
“H-How did you…….”
“What orders did Marquis Valtre give? Answer this time, or I’ll carve your thigh. Choose wisely.”
“You’re a complete thug bastard!”
“Then choose wisely.”
“You little…….”
The man glared murderously and shouted.
“Just kill me!”
“Got it.”
Arthur unhesitatingly plunged the dagger into the man’s side.
“Gah!”
The man’s mouth gaped open.
It felt like air leaking from his body, followed by an overwhelming shock that stole his voice.
“G-G-Guh…….”
He rasped, lips turning blue.
Arthur watched calmly and spoke.
“Heal.”
Millerph promptly cast Heal on him.
The stabbed wound glowed brightly, restoring the man’s color.
“Hah, hah, hah.”
Panting heavily, he stared at Arthur—his eyes stripped of enmity, filled instead with terror.
“D-Devil, you’re a real devil…….”
“Shut up and answer. Next time, you die for real.”
The man shivered at Arthur’s icy words.
Cold sweat trickled from his forehead as a torrent of thoughts flooded his mind in moments.
‘No, I can’t die so pointlessly.’
Resolving himself, he answered firmly.
“I was tasked with gathering intel on the count’s family.”
“Military strength, right?”
“Yes, the knight order’s forces and—”
Arthur smashed the man’s head hard.
Thwack!
“Argh!”
The sudden blow sent him crumpling.
Arthur looked down coldly.
“Act like a prisoner. If you don’t know how, I can teach you.”
“Ugh…….”
Groaning, the man rose and continued.
“To assess the knight commander’s strength…….”
“Well, with forces surpassing the marquis crushed, they’d be curious about the Phoenix Knight Order. So, what have you reported so far?”
“I sent footage of the Phoenix Knight Order subduing Hajan’s mob.”
“What about intel gathered here?”
“I hadn’t sent it yet—planned to report in person.”
“Good.”
Arthur smiled meaningfully at Millerph.
“Take him and extract what we need.”
“Understood.”
Millerph levitated him with magic. After bowing politely to Arthur, he turned to leave.
Creak.
The door opened, and Ingenium entered.
His eyes widened at the subdued man.
He’d come to ask about the commotion outside, never expecting to see Marquis Valtre’s spy.
“Y-You’re here…….”
“C-Crown Prince…….”
The man, equally stunned to encounter Ingenium here, panicked.
Arthur shot a displeased glance at the unexpected visitor.
“Not going home?”
“What happened?”
“Marquis Valtre seems very curious about me.”
“Hmm.”
Ingenium grasped the situation.
“We share a common enemy now, but he’s preparing for what comes after.”
“He’s targeting me next.”
“I doubt it.”
Ingenium shook his head firmly.
“He’ll investigate you first, then decide after meeting. That’s how he operates.”
“Is that right?”
“Definitely. He’s extremely cautious.”
Ingenium nodded, shifting his gaze to the man.
“You’ve learned something you shouldn’t.”
“……!”
The man’s eyes bulged.
He understood the implication.
“Don’t blame me.”
Ingenium said coldly, then turned to Arthur.
“What will you do with him? If you’re disposing, I’ll handle it.”
“I’ll get a few answers, then hand him over.”
Arthur nodded to Millerph, who calmed his surprise and bowed to Ingenium.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Millerph.”
Ingenium recognized him instantly from the imperial procession during his past visit to Oscar Empire’s capital.
“You’re the mage with the Julius Count family.”
“Yes.”
Millerph smiled kindly.
Ingenium beamed back, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
He wasn’t well-known, which made him intriguing.
But reports pegged him as 4th Class—clearly wrong.
He’d subdued one of Valtre’s 5th Class mages effortlessly.
Impossible at the same level.
At least 5th Class.
‘The knights aren’t the only strong ones.’
His smiling face masked racing thoughts.
“I’ll greet you properly next time.”
Millerph took the man and left.
Ingenium walked to the table and asked.
“Who are all those people outside?”
“Nosy about others’ business.”
“I’ll lead Oscar Empire someday. Knowing territories helps.”
Arthur headed for the door.
“Slaves captured from a slave trader. Curious? Check yourself.”
“Slave trader?”
Ingenium followed, puzzled, recalling someone.
‘No way it’s that guy.’
***
“What?”
As Arthur stepped outside, Jackal appeared.
“I’ve been waiting.”
“Lead the way.”
“First, someone to introduce. Follow me.”
Jackal led to where people gathered.
As Arthur followed, knights reported in—Ingenium noted how thoroughly everything was monitored.
‘No gaps.’
The more time with Arthur, the clearer his formidability.
Jackal stopped before a crowd at the wall stairs.
Ventarr Merchant Group Leader Rasety sat on the steps.
Spotting Arthur and Ingenium, she startled to her feet.
Bowing as deferentially as possible.
“An honor to meet you, Your Excellency.”
Ingenium asked, slightly flustered.
“You know me?”
“How could I not, leading the merchant group?”
“Thanks, but pretend not to from now on. Recognition tires me out.”
“Understood.”
Rasety bowed to Arthur.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Rasety.”
“A commoner leading a merchant group.”
“I was granted an opportunity beyond my station.”
“Must be your talent.”
As Arthur showed interest, Jackal scanned sharply.
An alien presence nagged his senses.
An assassin’s aura—like his own!
If he sensed it, Arthur had too.
Ignoring meant no threat.
Given Rasety’s deference to Ingenium, high status confirmed.
Likely his guardian knight.
Like Yarve with his assassin……
Curiosity about Ingenium grew.
“What’re you watching?”
“Ah.”
Jackal refocused.
“One item you wanted is Ventarr’s, so I brought her.”
“What do you mean?”
Arthur tilted his head at Rasety.
She smiled warmly.
“Nibon Territory’s iron ore is all Ventarr’s.”
“All of it?”
“We bought it bit by bit from Yarve Count over years.”
“Hmm…….”
His plan to secure resources without cash derailed.
Face stiffening, Arthur asked Jackal.
“The rest?”
“Brought it.”
“Where?”
“Asked Ventarr to transport—waiting near the border.”
Arthur nodded to Rasety.
“I’ll buy all your iron ore with that money. Possible?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go inside and draft the contract.”
As Arthur turned, Rasety smiled faintly.
“My lord, may I change the deal? No loss to you, I promise.”
“Change how?”
“Will you hear it?”
Arthur nodded silently.
Rasety dropped to one knee, bowing deeply.
“Please accept us.”
“……!”
“All Ventarr holds, we offer to the Julius Count family.”
“What…….”
Arthur blanked.
Jackal knelt beside her, head bowed.
“I’ll serve you too, my lord. In return, let me handle Yarve Count.”
“What?”
Out of nowhere.
Not from the knight-honor spouting Jackal.
Jackal looked up, eyes burning with rage.
“He took everything from me.”
“Hmm.”
Arthur glanced awkwardly between them, struck by their mother-son resemblance.
Tilting his head to speak—
Jackal subtly shook his head, eyes intense—only for Arthur.
‘They’ve cooked up a backstory.’
Their terms profited him hugely—no harm.
They’d secured Yarve’s needs; a merchant group aided territory growth.
But unknown quantity—proceed cautiously.
“Not deciding here. Inside.”
As they rose to follow, Arthur told Jackal.
“You—go.”
“Where to?”
“I won’t share sky with the man who stole everything from my ally.”
“……!”
Jackal’s eyes wavered.
Arthur turned firmly.
“Clean it up thoroughly.”