Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Punishing the Envoys
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“What did you say?”
One of the envoys’ faces twisted in anger.
“Have you forgotten that we’re envoys from Marquis Valtre? Do you think you can handle the marquis’s wrath if you touch us?”
“Really? Do you think he values you more than the Julius Count Family?”
Arthur sneered as he continued.
“You know better than me what kind of man he is.”
“……!”
Their faces stiffened in an instant.
Marquis Valtre would obviously choose the valuable Julius Count Family.
Even if he killed them here, the marquis wouldn’t bat an eye.
He’d probably use it as an excuse to exploit the count family instead.
Realizing this made their current situation feel dangerous.
“Ugh…….”
Groans escaped the envoys’ lips.
As Skevin approached with a murderous aura, they involuntarily stepped back.
Arthur stepped forward in front of Skevin and said one word to them.
“Move.”
They quickly stepped aside.
Medlin looked at Arthur and burst into tears, throwing herself into his arms.
“Arthur…… sob sob sob.”
“Sorry for worrying you.”
Medlin pulled away from him, her voice trembling as she spoke.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but this place can’t be……”
“Nothing like what you’re worried about will ever happen, Mother.”
“Alright, I’ll trust you.”
Medlin gripped Arthur’s hand tightly.
Arthur nodded and signaled to Rusanna.
Rusanna supported her and led her out of there.
Arthur silently waited until she was out of sight.
During that time, the envoys exchanged glances.
‘Let’s back off for now.’
‘Starting trouble will only hurt us.’
‘Yeah.’
As they glanced at Arthur and tried to slip away,
“Where do you think you’re going? I’m not done talking.”
“Urgh.”
They glared at Arthur with dissatisfied expressions.
“We’ll remove this place from the investigation areas as you wish. Satisfied now?”
“You still don’t get it.”
Arthur’s eyes flashed coldly as he continued.
“One thing I hate is seeing people close to me suffer.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
They acted shamelessly, but Arthur ignored their reaction and kept speaking.
“And among them, you made someone I absolutely forbid you from touching suffer. You’ll pay for that.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
One envoy shouted.
“We were just doing our duty. If anything, the countess interfered with our job.”
“You heard it yourselves—that the place you wanted to inspect is the previous family head’s resting place. Only the Julius Count Family bloodline can enter. Isn’t that the same for any noble house?”
“We’re just faithfully carrying out our mission……!”
The man couldn’t finish as he saw the killing intent in Arthur’s eyes.
An ominous premonition hit him that one more word would spell disaster.
The other two swallowed hard, watching Arthur intently.
“This is my house.”
As Arthur approached them, they retreated the same distance.
“No one can defy my will.”
“If you touch us…… you’ll pay dearly!”
Sensing danger, they instinctively reached for their sword hilts.
“Skevin.”
“Yes.”
Skevin immediately bowed his head at Arthur’s call.
“They tried to enter the forbidden zone. Make them regret it for life.”
“Understood.”
The moment Skevin raised his head, they all drew their swords.
But Skevin was far faster.
Swish-.
He swung his sword once, sheathed it, and politely bowed to Arthur.
‘What?’
Unaware of what had happened, they looked at each other’s faces.
Then one let out a scream.
“Arghhh!”
Only then did the other two scream as they saw their sword hands fall to the ground.
They collapsed, rolling on the ground in agony.
“Looking at your severed wrists will remind you of today forever.”
Arthur passed them and spoke to the guards.
“Clean this up.”
***
Arthur left the building and headed to the annex where the Horcamun Tribe resided.
The area around the annex was in an uproar when he arrived.
“You crazy bitch! Do you know who we are? We’re the envoy squad sent by Marquis Valtre!”
A man bellowed, and someone shot back defiantly.
“Did you gather only horny bastards?”
“This bitch really!”
“We should rip that mouth open!”
“You dog bitch! I’ll make sure you never forget today!”
The men spewed curses and flew into a rage.
Arthur couldn’t comprehend the situation.
Where the hell were the knights that no one had shown up?
He looked at Skevin with a puzzled expression.
“What are the knights doing?”
“The envoy squad’s stay prevented training, so except for the guards, everyone else was assigned to patrol the territory and maintain outposts and watchtowers.”
“Go in and sort it out.”
Arthur frowned and turned away.
Since he was out, he decided to look around.
He’d been cooped up in his office since the envoys arrived, and his body itched for action.
He’d crushed them thoroughly, so they’d probably leave today, and things could return to normal tomorrow.
First, he headed to the warehouse to check the war supplies the envoys had brought.
The massive 3,000-square-foot warehouse was filled with food and war gear.
The Ventarr Merchant Group was currently managing it.
“Keep the food and gear separated. And pull out anything defective.”
Rasety, who was giving orders to the merchants, spotted Arthur and hurried over, bowing deeply.
“You’re here, sir.”
“Everyone’s gathered here, huh.”
“Pardon?”
“The castle’s empty, just joking.”
Arthur grinned and headed toward the gear section.
It was packed with weapons suitable for knights.
But most were rusted, and good ones were hard to find.
“All show.”
Rasety cautiously spoke, understanding.
“Most are captured war spoils.”
“How can you tell?”
She picked up a dagger from a box and showed it to Arthur.
“Look closely at the hilt—each has a family crest stamped on it, and they’re all different.”
“None I recognize.”
“This one’s from a family wiped out 30 years ago. So at minimum, they’re that old.”
“Can we use them?”
“Most are rusted or defective.”
“Hmm.”
Arthur frowned at the mountain of crates.
“Not for show—they’re just dumping trash.”
“In my opinion, why not melt them all down and reuse elsewhere?”
“Good idea. I’ll discuss it with Ban later. How’s the food?”
“Enough for half a year easily.”
“Not to be underestimated.”
He could feel the food had been sent with precise calculation too.
But a few questions arose.
Why six months?
Did they plan to end the war in that time, or use the supplies to tame him? He couldn’t tell yet.
Even more baffling: among those caught by Jackal and the Devil Squad was one sent by Marquis Valtre.
Why send envoys to scour the castle for forces when they’d already infiltrated?
No matter how he thought, it didn’t add up.
‘What are we missing?’
As Arthur pondered Valtre, his eyes deepening,
“Lord Count, over there.”
Rasety looked toward the entrance.
Poshe and Huruma were approaching.
Arthur set aside thoughts of the marquis and greeted them.
They saluted crisply with their swords.
Snap!
“Report on Aslan Territory, right?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s move.”
Arthur left the warehouse and climbed the east wall.
Heavy talk was coming, so a cool breeze would make it better.
“How’d it go?”
“The Lannister Knight Order has taken Aslan Territory.”
“And Count Hattori and the knight commander?”
“The knight commander was chosen.”
“I see.”
Arthur nodded and asked about the Devil Squad’s next target.
“Norshey Territory.”
“Nova Family, huh…….”
A smile tugged at Arthur’s lips as he continued.
“Clash of brute force. Should be a good show if battle breaks out.”
***
At that moment.
Just as Arthur predicted, Norshey Territory’s lord, Count Antar, flew into a rage upon hearing Arthur’s message.
The famously hot-tempered man immediately mobilized his knights.
The Devil Squad countered with the Horcamun Tribe.
Unlike typical knight orders favoring swords, the Sten Knight Order excelled in fisticuffs.
Norshey’s rugged terrain demanded heavy physical labor, leading to robust physiques that preferred fists over blades.
This became the Nova Family’s signature.
Blizan was thrilled to face opponents leading with fists for once.
“That’s right! Real men use fists!”
Bukas, Alteon, and the entire Horcamun Tribe met them bare-handed, without weapons.
The Sten Knights looked visibly flustered.
They were pushed back by the relentless attacks from beast-skinned bandits.
They prided themselves on unmatched strength, but these foes were monsters.
Especially Sten Knight Order’s captain, Goruba, who could lift a massive gate alone with his immense power.
Yet here he was, interlocking hands with Blizan in an arm-wrestle for minutes.
“Ugh…….”
Goruba glared, pouring all his strength.
But instead of bending, it made Blizan smile.
“It’s been ages since I met someone resisting me with raw power.”
“That’s…… what I’d say! Hup!”
Goruba bit his lip and squeezed out his last reserves.
“Perfect!”
As Blizan’s face twisted and his knees began to bend,
Lightning crackled in his hand, unleashing tremendous power.
It surged through his fingertips into Goruba.
“This is!”
“First time using mana in an arm-wrestle.”
“You’ve been using mana all this time…….”
“I acknowledge you. But your opponent is me.”
Blizan twisted Goruba’s wrist, forcing him to his knees with sheer force.
The watching knights gasped in shock, and the Sten Knight Order’s morale shattered.
Blizan kicked Goruba hard and shouted.
“Sweep them!”
Waaaaah-!
The Horcamun Tribe’s momentum was ferocious.
They crashed like a tidal wave, smashing the knight order.
Having seized the Nova Family, Blizan forced Count Antar and Goruba to their knees and demanded,
“One of you dies. Then your men live.”
No sooner had he spoken than both bellowed simultaneously,
“Kill me!”
“I’ll die!”
“Huh?”
Blizan blinked in confusion at the unexpected response and glanced at Dark.
Dark approached and stood before them.
“I’ll kill both.”
He drew a dagger from his waist, prompting Goruba to grimace and shout at Count Antar.
“Who’ll protect the territory if you die, Count?!”
“You idiot! At the end, who cares about the territory?! Take care of your family!”
“Argh! Stubborn old fool!”
“What?! Is that how you talk to your lord?!”
“Nothing I can’t say when we’re about to die! I followed your lead my whole life—yield this once!”
“You bastard! I raised you from a snot-nosed kid, and this is how you screw me?!”
Antar suddenly grabbed Goruba’s collar.
Goruba clutched Antar’s shoulders with his pot-lid hands.
“W-what?”
Antar paused, seeing Goruba’s eyes well up.
“I’ll go first—live long.”
“You bastard…….”
“It was an honor serving you.”
Goruba headbutted Antar.
Thud!
Antar toppled over unconscious.
“That’s payback for all your nagging.”
Goruba wiped his eyes with his hand and looked at Dark.
“Kill me and spare the rest.”
“No choice.”
Dark turned to Blizan.
Blizan grinned in agreement and eyed Goruba.
“Don’t whine later, or you die. Bring the old man.”
As Blizan entered the castle, he shouted for all to hear.
“Drink till your noses bend today!”
“Sounds good!”
“Our captain always knows our hearts!”
The Horcamun Tribe cheered excitedly.
The Sten Knights, meanwhile, were baffled at how to react.
“Sheesh.”
Dark shook his head at Blizan’s eccentricity and addressed the Devil Squad.
“Lamni and Bakun return to the count family. The rest head straight to Shangrni Territory.”
As the Devil Squad prepared to move,
Someone came running desperately from afar.
Perry spotted the armor and recognized him.
“Alpha Family knight!”
“Damn!”
Dark spurred Britannicar and charged.
This guy was supposed to wait at Shangrni Territory—reason for being here was obvious.
Either spotted or ambushed en route.
‘What happened?’
Dark’s eyes sharpened.
The man spotted Dark and the Devil Squad approaching and yelled with all his might.
“Run!”
“……?”
Dark tilted his head.
A dagger flew from nowhere, embedding in the man’s head.
Killing intent bloomed above.
Britannicar sensed it too, roaring and veering sharply.
“Damn!”
Boom!
As Dark fell from the horse, a black-clad man appeared like a ghost, stabbing down with a dagger.
“Not so fast!”
Dark whipped out his dagger to block.
Clang!
Locking eyes, Dark’s widened.
Bloodshot red eyes, black attire!
Harsh breathing, veins bulging around his uncovered eyes.
It clicked—the guy caught by Jackal scouting the office.
‘Shit!’
No one—not him, not the Devil Squad—could handle this foe.
He had to warn the others.
“Get lost!”
Dark kicked the man’s gut, jumped up, and spun around.
Black-clad assailants were ambushing his approaching comrades from above.
“No!”