Chapter 79
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: A Pleasant Rebellion 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1.
This was the Lords office in Azure Fortress.
Halo sat at his desk, reading through documents that required his approval.
Knock, knock, knock.
Come in.
A moment later, the door opened, and his third son entered the office.
His third son, Peil.
Dark shadows hung under Peil's eyes, a testament to his grueling workload.
Seeing this, Halo sighed and spoke.
Ill have to get you some elixirs. You look absolutely dreadful. Ill speak to Heinrich, so be sure to take them without complaint.
Thank you for your consideration.
For those who had not awakened their mana, elixirs could also be used as restorative medicine.
A kind of vitality tonic.
Peil bowed his head in gratitude for his fathers concern and spoke in a low voice.
Have you received the report?
At his words, Halo put down the document he was reading and nodded.
Yes. You moved the troops of the Sion Kingdom at Karrons request, I hear?
Yes.
You must know the considerable risk involved. However, I will not reprimand you until we see the results.
Luring the Sion Kingdoms army to the Empires border.
Even for the Leston Ducal Family, this was an act that carried immense political risk.
But Halo had no desire to scold Peil.
What fault does my third son have?
Its that boy, Karron, whos the real problem, making a request like that of his uncle.
Starting a rebellion in Leben to free the slaves This is not a plan one would expect from a seventeen-year-old.
Halo tapped his head lightly with his finger.
The first thing he does after leaving Azure Fortress in four years is start a rebellion, Peil. What are your thoughts on this?
I have nothing to say.
Hes been relatively quiet for the past four years, so I thought he might have improved.
The original mission given to Karron was to subjugate the monsters appearing on the border of the Keas Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom. At the same time, he was to search for Kerua Akte, one of the members of the death squad that had protected the Evil Emperor.
He should have been busy enough with those two tasks, so why on earth was he suddenly starting a rebellion?
He simply could not comprehend what went on inside his grandsons head.
My Lord, may I ask you something?
Peil asked Halo cautiously, and Halo readily nodded.
Speak.
Karrons actions could ultimately cause great harm to the family. I am curious as to why you did not stop him.
The person who prioritized the family above all else was Halo.
The movement of the Sion Kingdoms troops had, of course, proceeded only because Halo had given his permission.
Peil was curious about what his father was thinking.
It was a matter significant enough that if the elders heard of it, they would immediately insist on severe punishment for Karron.
But Halo answered as if it were nothing.
Karron has never once brought harm to the family. The same was true four years ago. He was caught up in incidents, but in the end, all of them resulted in a benefit to the family.
His youngest grandsons mind was utterly and truly insane.
However, Halo did not believe Karron was a being who would bring ruin upon the family.
In fact, hadnt all of Karrons actions brought various benefits to the family?
Besides, this case was a little more special for Halo.
I, too, have no intention of standing by while slaves are openly traded.
After reading the report on Leben provided by Kalligo, Halo had solidified his decision to help Karron.
Slaves had been traded in the black market of Thebes in the not-so-distant past, but at that time, the Leston Ducal Family had adhered to a strict principle of not intervening in external affairs.
Its different now.
Now that he had decided to actively project the familys power, Halo had no intention of letting things that displeased him slide.
Is it because of Lord Kain?
Peil quickly understood his fathers intentions.
His fathers closest friend, Kain, had been a slave.
At Peil's words, Halo gave a bitter smile and nodded.
He wished for the status of slave to disappear.
Then the bill you proposed to ban slavery was also
A cowards atonement. For a hypocrite who stained his sword with his friends blood, I merely wanted to soothe his spirit a little.
In the end, this incident was an extension of that atonement.
That was why Halo could not bring himself to refuse Karrons request.
Halo looked steadily at Peil and said.
Karron, that boy it seems hes testing my will again. It appears he cant stand by and watch the slaves either. Hes a strange one. How is it that he seems to test my intentions every single time
Halo trailed off, then looked at Peil and spoke.
We need to expand the familys information network. It makes no sense that we didnt know about the slave market in Leben when even Kalligo did. Reprimand those responsible and ensure our intelligence capabilities are improved.
Yes, my Lord.
And the plan you devised was good. The moment the 6th Prince intervenes, what happens there will no longer be a rebellion.
The rumor that the 6th Prince and the ducal familys youngest son freed the slaves together will be beneficial in many ways.
The 6th Princes standing will be further strengthened, and Karrons reputation will grow even greater. It was a very appropriate judgment.
Halo quietly watched Peil.
A son adept at improvisation.
If only his talent for mana had been exceptional, he would have handed over the succession to his third son without a moments hesitation.
A sense of regret lingered in his mouth.
Halo let out a small sigh.
The Empire will be in an uproar, so no one will know that we moved the Sion Kingdoms troops. And even if someone were to notice, they would have no choice but to keep their mouth shut.
The stage was all set for Karron.
All that remained was to see how that greedy boy would devour what had been prepared.
Whether to punish Karron severely or to reward him once again.
The result will speak for itself, Karron.
Everything could only be judged after this affair was over.
Thinking of the storm his grandson was about to unleash, Halo quietly gazed out the window.
The weather was clear, without a single cloud in the sky.
Though he wasn't sure if it would be so clear in the southern part of the Empire where Karron was headed.
2.
Vroooooom!
On the highway heading back to Leben, the mana-engine-powered vehicle sped along.
The blood-soaked night had passed, and it was now just after nine in the morning.
Though the sun had risen, dark clouds veiled the sky, making the world seem dim.
At this speed, they would reach Leben in thirty minutes.
Karron watched the scenery flash by the window and spoke to Rebellio.
Dont become the leader of a rebellion; become a hero who freed the slaves. That was a good idea.
Of course, it wasnt my plan. It was your uncles idea. Looking at things like that, your uncle is quite amazing, isnt he? I get a lot of help from him, too.
Hes on a level my other uncles cant even compare to.
He liked it.
He had simply wanted to turn Leben upside down, but Peil had packaged Karrons desire into something plausible.
Liberating slaves and inciting a rebellion were worlds apart.
And with the addition of a princea being whose very existence provided justificationthe plan had a high probability of success.
Karron recalled the report he had just received from Kobler through the communication device.
The Margrave has led the elite troops stationed in the city and has urgently departed for an unknown location. Only a minimum force for maintaining public order remains in the city.
It seemed the Sion Kingdoms army had moved to the border with the Empire as requested.
All that was left was to enter the city, secure evidence and witnesses, and then occupy it.
But Karron. Can the two of us really occupy a city that large? Civilians could get hurt
The civilians residing in Leben need the lords permission even to leave the city. That place is no different from Margrave Leandros little kingdom. The first thing well do when we get there is free all the slaves.
It wont be easy to find the slave traders hiding inside the city.
Dont worry, we have an inside informant. That guy made a living by raiding other slave traders. Hed kidnap their slaves, feed them well, raise them well, and then find them jobs.
What a refreshingly crazy bastard. Karron, how do you manage to meet such psychos wherever you go?
At those words, Karron scowled and replied.
Dont worry. Youre the craziest one Ive ever met, brother.
Same here. Of all the people I know, youre the craziest.
Im pretty normal, if you ask me.
You dont call someone who starts a rebellion just because something annoyed them normal.
Rebellio was being needlessly logical.
Having shut Karron down with just a few words, Rebellio leaned back against the plush seat and said.
Free the slaves, then use them as witnesses to incite the citizens Hey, anyone would think this was sabotage by an enemy power. Dont you think you belong in the Imperial Intelligence Bureau, not Azure Fortress?
Ill need your help persuading the citizens, wont I, brother?
Youll compensate me generously, I trust?
Im the one making you look good here, so why are you demanding compensation? Just shut up and do it. Got it?
You really are a troublesome little brother.
The basic structure of the plan hadnt changed much.
Only the packaging had changed, from a rebellion to a slave liberation.
Either way, the outcome for Margrave Leandro and those who traded slaves with him would be a miserable end.
Karron glanced at Rebellio and said casually.
If we catch Margrave Leandro on charges of slave trading, what would his sentence be?
Rebellio thought for a moment, then shrugged and answered.
Honestly, they probably couldnt give him that harsh of a sentence. Margrave Leandro is connected to the Salmon Ducal Family, right? The Salmons have a grip on the judiciary Theyll try to protect their own.
Then lets do this.
Go on.
Lets frame him for treason.
You psycho.
Thats the only way we can strip him of his title as Margrave and have him executed. I want him to disappear completely from that city.
Rebellio saw a fierce hostility in Karrons face.
The killing intent mixed with that hostility made the hair on his arms stand on end.
You really hate slave trading, dont you? To be honest, its not legally a capital offense.
To me, it is. If youve sent countless lives to hell, you should go to hell yourself.
Planning to maintain that stance in the future?
Of course.
Ill have to tell my father, His Majesty, as soon as I return to the palace. It would be troublesome if any stray sparks flew toward the Imperial Palace.
Rebellio had no intention of opposing Karrons will.
The question is how to establish the charge of treason. Any good ideas?
You dont find evidence, brother.
Then?
You create it.
Wow
Rebellio was momentarily at a loss for words.
Amassing a massive slush fund through slave trading. Controlling the citizens. A military force excessive compared to other border cities Add a whistleblower from his inner circle, and that should be enough evidence of treason.
Inner circle?
Yeah, theres a puppet president who sold the slaves on his behalf.
Karron thought of the man named Nur, who managed the slave auction house.
He raised the corners of his mouth and said.
You dont always have to find a crack. You can just force one open.
Such incredible creativity, my dear brother. From what I see, youre destined to be a traitor.
Karron replied as if he had been waiting for it.
Have you forgotten who my grandfather is? A successful rebel.
Gasp.
My grandfather was the one who dragged your grandfather off the throne. So you could say that treason and rebellion are a time-honored tradition in my family.
Succeed, and youre a hero; fail, and youre a traitor.
Having silenced Rebellio with just a few words, Karron smiled in satisfaction and looked out the window.
A sign came into view.
From this point on, you are in the territory of Margrave Leandro.
Leben was just ahead.
It wouldnt be long before the border city was turned upside down.