Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: The Heir's Final Trial
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Thud!
Paon tossed the necktie of his ceremonial robes onto the floor and sank into his chair.
"Hoo... I'm beat."
"You've worked hard, Patriarch."
After the envoy delegations from all corners of the continent had departed and the clan's strike teams had fully cleared out of the banquet hall.
Now back in the Patriarch's chambers alone with Nedyr, Paon could finally let his guard down.
No matter how capable Paon was, concealing his injuries from the packs of vultures lurking everywhere had taken a serious toll on his mental energy.
"Worked hard? It was just the necessary procedure to shake off those bloodsuckers waiting for me to collapse."
As Ian and the other Little Stars had anticipated, the reason for summoning envoys from every nation to the Lichtenauer Clan under the pretext of trading Earth Dragon byproducts was clear.
It was a simple formality to proclaim to the entire world that Paon Lichtenauer, lord of the Lichtenauer Clan, was still very much alive and kicking.
"They say you reap what you sow. Even without knowing their origins, I could pinpoint which of the Four Heroes they hailed from. Their temperaments are so damn similar..."
Paon shook his head.
The Saintess was insidious, two-faced. The Sword Saint was arrogant and straightforward.
Whether he'd inherited it or not, Archbishop Yohan had approached with a friendly facade, preaching reconciliation.
But beneath that, it was obvious he planned to infiltrate the Southern Continent over time and stab it in the back at the crucial moment.
And the fool called Zidanta hadn't even bothered hiding his intentions—he'd provoked Paon openly from the start, without restraint.
If Paon had shown even the slightest weakness, they would've bared their fangs without hesitation.
"Well, thanks to that overbearing attitude from the Khan Empire, everyone made their judgments quickly in a short time. In the end, it wrapped up faster than expected. Lucky us."
Because of their arrogant, no-nonsense directness, Paon had been able to boldly demonstrate his undiminished prowess right in front of all the envoys without holding back.
Thanks to Kaidu and the Khan Empire skipping the tedious formalities, he could at least be grateful for that.
"Yes, most envoys won't dare underestimate your prowess, Patriarch. But... the Northern Continent's Prime Minister, Adrian. I couldn't read that man's thoughts at all."
"Mm..."
Nedyr's concern drew a groan from Paon as well.
The Dufel Empire.
Ruled by Siegfried Dufel, the only one among the Four Heroes whose depths Paon couldn't fully fathom, it was bound to differ from the other two nations.
But he'd never imagined they'd dispatch their Prime Minister, Adrian, for what was essentially just a trade deal.
No matter how valuable the Earth Dragon byproducts, it was still merely a transaction.
Not something warranting a Prime Minister's personal involvement.
For example, even the formidable Khan Empire had only sent a viscount as their envoy.
Much less expect Adrian, a high official of the Dufel Empire, to come with such brazen provocation—Paon hadn't seen that coming either.
"I had to improvise on the spot, so my response was hasty... I'm reflecting on whether it was a bit reckless."
Just as Adrian had pierced Paon's true state, Paon could infer the conclusion Adrian had reached.
Adrian Martinel.
Prime Minister of the Northern Continent, a snake of a man said to harbor thousands—no, tens of thousands—of vipers in his bosom.
Unlike the other envoys, that one had undoubtedly seen through Paon's hidden wounds.
"You mean..."
"Exactly."
Grip!
Paon clenched his fist and glared northward.
"The moment Siegfried Dufel is certain his realm surpasses mine... those snakes will show their true colors."
Given Siegfried's cunning patience, he wouldn't march south just because he'd reached the level of forcing a top strike team to its knees with sheer presence, as Paon had.
He'd probably wait until he'd climbed one, no, two realms higher before making his move with confidence.
But flipping that around... it meant Paon would have to face a monstrously elevated Siegfried.
"Shortest case, ten years... no, with Siegfried's talent, he might reach my current level in five."
Paon closed his eyes, lost in thought.
If the Dufel Empire moved, the Holy Kingdom and Khan Empire would launch their invasions too.
The Lichtenauer Martial Clan, fractured into invisible factions as it was now, overcoming this unprecedented crisis would be a pipe dream.
"...Nedyr."
Finally, Paon opened his eyes and called to him. There was no hesitation left in his gaze.
"Yes, Patriarch."
"Tomorrow, as soon as the envoys head out for the Earth Dragon byproduct trade, gather the Little Stars for me."
"Understood."
"It's time for the final trial... to choose my successor."
"The one with the power to alter the fate of this nation—no, the entire Southern Continent of Vestrica. I will name that person as my successor to the Lichtenauer Clan."
While all the envoys headed to the Lichtenauer treasury housing the Earth Dragon byproducts.
Paon suddenly declared this to Ian and the other successor candidates who'd answered his summons.
"......!!"
Words carrying the long-cherished wish of the Little Stars, awaited for ages.
"I'll give you one year. Do whatever you want. Missions are fine too... but where's the fun in that?"
Paon leaned forward, propping his chin.
"Use the connections you've built to expand your influence. Draw on your experience so far to judge and act on your own. Methods don't matter. Elevate the Lichtenauer's prestige through force, or expand our influence outward via diplomacy. Anything goes—as long as you achieve something worthy of the Lichtenauer's lord."
That's your final trial.
Swoosh!
Paon turned his gaze to the window overlooking the clan's plaza and added,
"One year from now, publicly announce your achievements there in the plaza for all to see. The one with the greatest results, drawing the most support and cheers—that one will be the next lord of this house."
"...So methods and achievements truly don't matter?"
Alex posed the question to Paon's declaration.
"They don't."
Paon nodded affirmatively.
"That's too vague..."
The Little Stars grumbled, struggling to grasp it, but Paon offered no further explanation.
"Specific, clear tasks are for underlings. Anyone aspiring to lead this house must learn to shift the currents of grand destiny themselves. If you can't even grasp that in a year, you're unqualified from the start."
"......!!"
Judging he'd said enough, Paon dismissed them without allowing more questions.
"I wish you all good fortune. I'll be watching your growth."
"Ambiguous as hell. Would've been easier if he'd just ordered us to smash one of the great calamities' forces."
Manus Kalia grumbled, his belligerence flaring at Paon's vague trial.
"Is that all you can think of? Well... for someone unfit to stand above, that's probably the limit. The Patriarch gave a perfectly apt test."
A man radiating the sharp edge of a honed blade shot back coldly at Manus's words.
"...You sword-obsessed bastard. Think everything spilling from that hole you call a mouth is just hot air?"
The Crimson Lion—or Crimson Night Rakshasa, as many called him—Manus surged with feral killing intent at the provocation, true to his name.
It was murderous aura enough to make others shrink back, but it didn't faze the man.
He too was a descendant of one of the Three Great Vassal Houses, after all.
"Wanna fight? Not a bad idea. Better to thin the herd before the real competition kicks off."
Kiric!
Andy Pallkion thumbed his sword hilt, unleashing a bone-chilling sword intent.
His aura matched Manus's savagery without yielding an inch, thickening Manus's own in response.
"This punk really..."
"Enough, both of you."
As the clash between Manus and Andy intensified, Alex—leading the Little Stars emerging from the audience chamber—spoke lowly.
"This is right in front of the Patriarch's chambers. You aren't planning to make fools of yourselves here, are you?"
"......"
Clang!
"...Hmph."
Andy Pallkion sheathed his sword, and Manus snorted but dispersed his aura obediently.
"Brawling here's pointless anyway. Why don't you all scatter and handle your business? We're not exactly the type to chat and laugh about our plans, right?"
Sophia finished speaking and turned toward the Clonen Shadow House without waiting for replies.
All the Little Stars had longed endlessly for these words from Paon.
Sophia intended to claim the successor position, mobilizing the full might of the house if needed.
It galled her, but she was indeed one step behind Alex, lord of the Tiger Cloud Unit and Eldest Young Lord.
To reverse this gap, I can't afford to sit still for a second.
"Hmph... Insolent wench. But she's not wrong."
Snorting, Manus glanced around.
"Guess I'll head out too. At least... I've already passed two."
Bam!
"......"
Swoosh!
Manus grinned smugly toward the right, while Andy strode away silently.
Thus, the heirs of the Three Great Vassal Houses departed.
"Ian."
Alex, who'd been walking ahead, finally turned and spoke.
"I've been underestimating you all this time, brother. I should've remembered you're a lion's son too. My apologies."
"...No big deal. I hid it pretty well."
"Kuk! Manus that idiot still hasn't caught on... but I know. No—better to say I acknowledge it. You're the biggest obstacle in my path."
Alex remembered it vividly.
Ian dispatching the Death Knight and charging the Earth Dragon ahead of everyone.
That scene should've been his—his alone.
And in the final moments.
He'd clearly seen Ian dancing some enigmatic sword dance behind Earth Dragon Karaktus.
Instinct told him.
His father, Hegemon Paon Lichtenauer, had received some aid from Ian's sword dance in that last battle with the Earth Dragon.
And that act... had likely swayed his father's heart toward Ian.
"From now on... I'll move to crush you with true sincerity."
Thus, he steeled his resolve.
Not through shadowy politics or borrowed hands.
But directly, honorably, with his own.
"So bring everything you've got against me."
Or you'll die.
Alex walked off toward the Tiger Cloud Unit without voicing his final thought.
'With true sincerity,' huh...
Ian didn't take lightly the word Alex had emphasized.
Until now, Alex had tried sidelining him without getting his own hands dirty.
But that failed, and now Alex acknowledged it.
He'd step forward and bloody his hands personally.
Guess it's time for me to prepare too.
The 'rat' lurking quietly in the Latent Dragon Squad might strike at a decisive moment.
Can't let my guard down.
No matter how much he regained his true power, he was helpless against a blade hidden in an ally's bosom.
Ian knew that better than anyone.
"Alright, time for me to get moving too."
Stretching, just as Ian moved to review his plans.
Tap, tap!
Someone behind him tapped his shoulder.
"......?"
Turning, Ian saw a man whose face was wrapped tight in bandages.
A man who'd kept his presence faint, uttering not a word amid the Little Stars' snarls.
Among them, the Lichtenauer Martial Clan's collateral genius.
Commonly called the 'Thunder Baldy.'
"Hm..."
Ian scratched his cheek.
Since returning to the past, this enigmatic figure was someone he'd never even heard speak to—let alone seen up close—until today.
No wonder he had nothing to say.
"You got business with me?"
-Ian Lichtenauer.
As Ian spoke first, the Thunder Baldy promptly held out a paper with his name on it, as if waiting.
Whoosh!
He then pulled out another sheet, scrawled a message, and thrust it forward.
Swoosh!
A single line was written on it.
-Put me in the Latent Dragon Squad.
An unexpected proposal utterly out of left field.