Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: Purging the Traitors
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Ian and his group, along with Viscount Sozen, arrived in Tulguur but decided to spend the night at a nearby inn in the city streets instead of immediately entering the palace.
There was the matter of decorum, since arriving late at night to seek an audience would be rude. But more importantly, they wanted to make one final check for any unforeseen variables before setting their plan in motion.
Human plans were much like living creatures—they rarely unfolded exactly as anticipated.
And sure enough...
"There's a problem, Young Lord Ian."
Viscount Sozen's face was stiffer than ever when he visited Ian's room.
"Duchess Alvaret... The escort accompanying her is called Karawunas. Apparently, Grand Duke Kaido Ballak himself ordered their deployment."
"......!!"
Ian's expression hardened as well.
Karawunas.
The Khan Empire's notorious plunder brigade, infamous even in the Pang Kingdom.
To bring such a force—not just anywhere, but to the esteemed ducal house—as an escort into the capital Tulguur...
It was tantamount to a direct insult to the Pang royal family.
In other words, House Alvaret had completely crossed the line beyond which reconciliation with the Pang royals was impossible.
But that wasn't the only reason for Viscount Sozen's grim expression.
The Duchess Alvaret was their top-priority target for elimination anyway.
Her crossing the line a bit further now changed nothing in particular.
There was only one reason for the viscount's tension.
"This is serious trouble. If things proceed like this... our plan to purge the traitors all at once in the palace will face major setbacks."
Indeed.
The intervention of the militant group known as Karawunas introduced a massive variable: they might not be able to eliminate all the traitors bought off by Kaido Ballak in one fell swoop.
War, and the involvement of foreign powers, were fundamentally battles of justification.
Depending on how one framed the rationale, an uprising could become an unavoidable act of defiance to preserve the kingdom's spirit.
Likewise, a simple invasion could be spun as an inevitable advance to rescue beloved nobles and one's own forces.
If they failed to eliminate Duchess Alvaret—the central figure in the traitor purge—and wipe out Karawunas entirely... the Khan Empire's intervention was as good as guaranteed.
Moreover, their alliance with Ye was not yet finalized.
In this situation, if Tumur Shurga—the Khan Empire's northeastern border guards—advanced unchecked without Ye to hold them back... the Pang Kingdom wouldn't even have time to prepare countermeasures.
Yet postponing the operation this time was equally problematic.
Duchess Alvaret was the heart and spiritual pillar of the traitors.
If one witnessed firsthand how the lives of those traitors gathered around her had changed for the better...
And if it was enticement from their own nobles, rather than the Khan Empire... their wariness would naturally melt away far more than before.
In short, the longer time dragged on... the more disadvantageous it became for Ian and Viscount Sozen.
"Looks like we have no choice."
Smooth!
"Do you have some kind of plan?"
As Ian rose from his seat, Viscount Sozen asked.
"With the plan changed, we have no option. We'll just have to switch the order."
'If we can't get Ye to check Tumur Shurga, the very survival of the Pang Kingdom is at risk. That... would be a problem.'
For Ian, who planned to open trade routes with the Pang Kingdom and absorb Ye's forces, this was a massive headache.
'I wanted to finish the purge first and then bring in Ye... but no helping it. Have to win over Ye first.'
Ian turned his head toward the Baekra Mountains visible beyond Tulguur's walls and spoke.
"Buy me just three more days, Viscount. I'll bring reinforcements to deal with Karawunas."
After instructing his group to rest at the Tulguur inn, Ian slowly made his way into the city's back alleys.
Weaving through the narrow lanes, he entered a rundown old inn.
Creeeak, creak!
Rough sounds emanated from the nearly broken hinges.
—The Sun Rises Once More.
Despite its grandiose name, the sign hung at an odd angle, as if it might fall at any moment. Ian pushed open the decrepit door and stepped inside.
The shabby establishment, devoid of customers, had only an old man quietly wiping dishes at the bar.
Thud!
Ian sat on a stool in front of the bar, and the old man spoke up.
"What'll it be?"
"A plate of pasta. And a brandy."
After ordering a simple meal, the old man nodded slightly and accepted.
How much time passed?
Thud!
The old man set down the pasta and brandy in front of Ian.
And Ian didn't miss the faint, unnatural sound coming from beneath the pasta plate the old man had brought.
...Smooth.
Naturally brushing under the plate and slipping his hand into his pocket and back out, Ian then ate his pasta and drank his brandy as if nothing had happened before leaving the shop.
Step, step.
Leaving the shop, Ian headed deeper into the alley, not back to the inn.
How many times did he circle back to the same spots?
"...I told you to come to Ye's main headquarters if you wanted to meet. Not only do you not show up, you summon me? Sorry, but... I'm not your subordinate yet. If this is some trivial matter... you'll pay the price."
As if he'd been there from the start, the diminutive Balteran from days ago leaned against the wall, glaring coldly at Ian with a warning.
Ian hadn't gone into detail, but... Ye's internal situation was more complicated than expected.
Twenty years was a surprisingly long time.
Those who had been mere rookies in Ye had grown into key figures, gaining influence comparable to the North Continent natives who once dominated the leadership.
Coordinating a meeting with big brother Lien—the promising successor—just because he'd shown potential had already taken too much time. Yet this insolent pup had the gall to leave a summoning mark for him.
"Come on, don't be like that. It's necessary for me too... and not a bad deal for Ye either."
"That's for me to decide. Skip the preamble and get to why you called me."
Shrugging lightly at Balteran's sharp attitude, Ian cut straight to the point.
"Fine, if that's what you want. You're already aware that nobles of the Pang Kingdom are gathering in Tulguur, right?"
"......"
Taking Balteran's silence as affirmation, Ian continued.
"Among them, it seems Duchess Alvaret is bringing Karawunas as her escort."
"......!!"
This time, even Balteran's eyes flickered.
How could Balteran not know of Karawunas?
In a way, no one on the East Continent knew Karawunas better than Ye.
The plunderers and the bandits were eternal enemies, constantly stealing each other's turf.
"Once Duchess Alvaret and the rest arrive in Tulguur, Karawunas will protect her and slip out the south gate. At that moment... I want Ye to wipe them all out."
"Ha..."
Balteran let out a incredulous chuckle.
"Not content with dragging me out here, you make an insane demand. I refuse."
Balteran acted as if it wasn't worth considering, but Ian already saw through him.
Balteran's ears—the ones that twitched whenever he was tempted—were twitching wildly.
'There's no way you'd pass up such a golden opportunity.'
"Well... from your position, I don't see much reason to refuse."
"What?"
"Who grits their teeth harder at the Khan Empire than Ye? That hasn't changed from past to present. Especially Karawunas. Are you really going to let this chance to land a big blow on them slip away? I've even set the stage for you—why refuse?"
"That's just sophistry. To annihilate a group like Karawunas, we'd suffer heavy losses too. Do we look that easy to you, getting swayed by empty words?"
Ian remained unfazed by Balteran's persistent wariness.
"It might actually be even better. Balteran, you're still figuring out how to arrange a meeting between Lien and me, right?"
"......!!"
"I'll be there too. Confirm it directly with Lien then. See for yourself what kind of man seeks to inherit Lucas's martial arts and become Ye's new master. It's the perfect opportunity right in front of you."
At the mention of big brother Lien's name, Balteran's expression grew even more cautious.
'...Annoying, but he has a point.'
Dealing with the Khan Empire's Karawunas was tempting enough, but naturally arranging a meeting with Lien at Ye's headquarters wasn't easy.
It would be far smoother to mobilize Ye's strike force under the pretext of handling Karawunas... and guide the brat into encountering big brother.
In that case...
"...Words alone won't cut it. Tell me the plan and rewards in detail. I'll decide after hearing it out."
As Balteran predictably relented, Ian flashed a toothy grin.
Did that smile rub him the wrong way?
"And you say so casually that Karawunas will exit the south gate. That's laughable. What makes you so sure you can force them out that way?"
Balteran sneered, curling one lip.
"Plus, you claim you'll be there against Karawunas... Ridiculous. Do they look that weak to you alone?"
"Oh, that?"
Shrugging at Balteran's jab, Ian replied.
"Nothing much. At this gathering of all Pang nobles in the palace... we're purging every last one colluding with the Khan Empire."
"......?"
"All the royal family's loyalist forces will crush the traitors' private armies from the east, west, and north. Duchess Alvaret and Karawunas will have no choice but to flee through the south gate. With their help... no need to worry about me handling Karawunas alone."
"...Are your ears broken or something?"
Balteran unconsciously scratched at his ear upon hearing Ian's explanation.
The outcome was the same as before, but the process felt off somehow.
He already knew nobles were gathering in Tulguur from various informants.
"What are you doing in the palace?"
"A grand cleaning of the traitors. Or... to put it another way."
Amused by Balteran's reaction, Ian's smile deepened as he delivered the precise term once more.
"Purge."
The palace came into view at Tulguur's heart, its architecture like a sharp spire.
Unlike the blackened Tulguur walls, the palace's pale exterior boasted a simple, clean elegance.
It offered a glimpse of the Pang Kingdom's unyielding will, preserved through relentless resistance to the end.
Clop, clop!
After a night at the inn, Viscount Sozen and the Latent Dragon Squad didn't head straight for the main palace entrance.
Instead, they moved toward a small back door used by servants behind the palace.
As the sun dipped low and the back door grew quiet...
Creeeeeeeeeeak...
The door opened, and a figure approached Viscount Sozen's carriage.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. This way."
"Mm, much obliged."
As if prearranged, Viscount Sozen nodded at the servant's words, and the carriage finally crossed the threshold.
The servant didn't lead Viscount Sozen and the Latent Dragon Squad to the formal audience chamber but to a modest reception room for visitors.
Before opening the reception room door, Viscount Sozen looked at Ian and the squad, emphasizing once more.
"From here on, you must—must—watch your words carefully. Remember, the one you're about to meet bears this kingdom's future..."
Having reiterated the warning countless times, Viscount Sozen took a final deep breath and knocked on the reception room door.
"Your Highness. It is Viscount Sozen."
-Come in.
Unlike Sozen's cautious announcement, the response from inside was refreshingly straightforward.
At the permission, Viscount Sozen carefully opened the door and entered.
"Welcome, Viscount. You must be weary from the long journey."
The one greeting Viscount Sozen and Ian was surprisingly young.
Yet there was nothing ordinary about him, evident in his bearing that bespoke high status.
Tall stature, powerful gaze, and eyes brimming with steadfast resolve and sharp intellect.
This young man was the Pang Kingdom's pride: Crown Prince Raychen Pang.
And... the final arbiter of this "purge."