Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Audience with the Crown Prince
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“Your Highness, allow me to formally introduce him. This young man is the Second Young Lord of the Lichtenauer Martial Clan, Ian Lichtenauer. He's also the one who taught me how to evade Ye's offensive.”
“Oh, so this is him...!!”
Raychen gazed at Ian, who was not much older than himself, with eyes full of curiosity.
Those eyes held nothing but delight—no trace of wariness toward Ian at all.
“I'm Ian Lichtenauer, Your Highness. It's an honor to meet you in person.”
“Hahaha! You're far too modest, Young Lord Ian. I've heard plenty about you from the viscount here. If anything, I've been the one looking forward to this meeting.”
Raychen waved off Ian's courtesy with a gentle smile.
“Thanks to the secret you shared with him, Young Lord Ian, not only have we thwarted Ye's offensive, but we've also seized the chance to root out the traitors sprouting like poisonous mushrooms within our kingdom... I can't express my gratitude enough.”
Sozen Viscount chimed in after Raychen spoke.
“My apologies, Young Lord Ian. It was something that had been handled quietly within my own territory, but I had no choice but to tell His Highness that you were the one who informed me. In truth, I should have consulted you first... but there simply wasn't any opportunity.”
'As expected... So he was the one behind the plan?'
There was no doubt that Viscount Sozen was a loyal subject brimming with devotion to the kingdom.
But in the end, he was still just a viscount.
No matter how much he'd learned to evade Ye's offensive, drawing the attention of the royal family and other nobles...
He wasn't the sort with the foresight to sketch out such an elaborate groundwork on his own.
Raychen must have given him a hint before Ian's return.
And the fact that Viscount Sozen had proactively shared his encounter with Ian suggested even more.
It meant their trust was deep enough for the viscount to speak freely about something that might sound far-fetched.
Besides, to scheme a 'purge' at such a young age required profound cunning and ruthlessness... far beyond an ordinary person.
'They say if Pang Kingdom's prince had been born as Khan Empire's crown prince, he could have unified the Eastern Continent with ease. Looks like the rumors weren't empty talk.'
“But, Young Lord Ian.”
As Ian finished assessing Crown Prince Raychen, the prince spoke up.
“I'm genuinely curious, so I'll ask... How exactly did you come to know the method for blocking Ye's offensive?”
“Ah, that?”
It was a question Ian had anticipated, so he blended truth with just enough vagueness in his reply.
“It's hard to go into detail, but... During a mission I undertook in the past, I chanced upon a line of communication with Ye's leadership. They simply passed along a way to mark allies at the time.”
How could he explain it?
That Ye was a secret force of the Northern Alexandr Empire and had only reached out because they suspected Ian as the Hegemon's successor.
Raychen nodded in understanding at Ian's roundabout answer.
“I see... So that's why you suggested a blood alliance with Ye to Viscount Sozen. You had solid confidence they'd be allies.”
It wasn't unreasonable for the Lichtenauer Martial Clan—which handled commissions across the continent—to know how to contact Ye.
Watching Raychen's expression clear up as if all doubts had vanished, Ian added calmly,
“So, with that settled, how about withdrawing those surrounding us? It's unpleasant to discuss important matters with blades at our throats.”
“Young Lord Ian, what do you mean by that?!”
Surrounded?
They had everything planned and were on the verge of execution—such insolence!
Viscount Sozen, stunned by Ian's provocative words, moved to scold him, but Crown Prince Raychen merely looked mildly surprised.
“...You knew, then? Well, as a direct descendant of the Lichtenauer Martial Clan... It'd be stranger if you hadn't noticed an ambush of this scale.”
“Your Highness?!”
“Sorry, Viscount. It's a crude way to put it, but... I'm a pretty important figure in Pang Kingdom, aren't I? I can't meet foreigners without precautions. And...”
Smooth!
“Until I heard your explanation today, Young Lord Ian, I couldn't fully accept how you'd gained contact with Ye's leadership. It's still a bit suspicious, mind you. Who knows?”
Raychen turned and locked eyes with Ian.
“You might be colluding with Ye to betray not just Khan Empire, but our kingdom too.”
“......!!”
The atmosphere turned ice-cold in an instant.
Ian met Raychen's gaze steadily and shrugged lightly.
“Well, sure. It's not unreasonable to suspect us...”
Ian shot back with a challenging glint in his eye.
“But if we were plotting with Ye against Pang Kingdom, we wouldn't need such a convoluted approach.”
Everyone in the room looked stunned.
He'd said it indirectly, but Ian's words boiled down to: For a mere Pang Kingdom, there'd be no need for such stealth.
“Captain, that's too harsh...”
“Quiet.”
Silencing Ryu An's protest, Ian continued.
“This is life-or-death for us too. Khan Empire is a superpower intertwined with Agerna's history. Against an enemy we can't guarantee victory over even united... Internal distrust dooms us from the start.”
Ian turned to Raychen and spoke lowly.
“If you can't trust us, this partnership ends here. We're staking our lives on this mission too. We won't entrust our backs without mutual trust.”
“......”
“......”
As they stared unyieldingly, Raychen broke first, lowering his guard with a laugh.
“...Pfft! Fair enough. The Lichtenauer Martial Clan has no reason to go to such lengths against our kingdom. Aslan Kingdom's a powerhouse too, after all.”
With a wave of Raychen's hand, the oppressive presence beyond the walls vanished instantly.
The encircling forces had withdrawn all at once.
Confirming the area had quieted, Raychen addressed Ian again.
“Alright, Young Lord Ian. Enough posturing between us... Shall we get down to business?”
In Tulguhr, capital of Pang Kingdom.
Nobles from across the realm gradually converged on the city, its black walls steeped in fierce history.
Three days after the royal family summoned them on the pretext of Viscount Sozen's report, most had already arrived.
Clop, clop!
As the sun dipped westward, eyes turned to a lavish procession of carriages approaching the walls.
It was unavoidable.
For nobles of modest Pang Kingdom, such ostentatious displays were a rare sight.
Even for the ducal House of Alvaret—one of the realm's foremost houses—the fact remained.
The gem-encrusted carriages were treasures that would make Ye's bandits drool amid the Baekra Mountains... yet even they dared not strike.
Orders from leadership forbade touching House Alvaret, but even without that, the outcome would've been the same.
The warriors trailing the Alvaret carriages.
Shamshirs at their waists, twin short spears crossed on their backs—they exuded razor-sharp auras.
They guarded the carriages like an iron fortress, deterring any common Ye bandit from entertaining notions.
Karaunas.
Khan Empire's prized hounds, symbols of plunder.
As long as those eyes glared, even Ye bandits couldn't easily target them.
“My lady, the walls are in sight. We're nearly there.”
“Mm... Already?”
Smooth!
The duchess, roused from a light doze by her husband's words, peered out the window.
“Indeed... How can a capital be so shabby? It's embarrassing before guests.”
The duchess clicked her tongue softly at Tulguhr's discolored black walls.
Why hadn't she noticed before?
Too murky and crude for walls encircling a nation's heart.
The thought of having lived in something even worse filled her with shame.
“This won't do. Truly... The responsibility lies with me.”
The duchess clenched her dainty fist.
Yes. She would enlighten them.
Share this overflowing abundance, freeing the kingdom's nobles from their shabby pride and poverty.
No more clinging to useless illusions of honor.
End the grueling conflicts that brought happiness to none, and embrace the path of peace.
“......”
Reading his wife's thoughts, Duke Alvaret's eyes swirled with profound turmoil.
As their subtly clashing auras lingered, the carriage pressed onward.
Soon, the ducal procession reached Tulguhr's gates.
Knock, knock!
“We've arrived, Your Grace. Shall we head straight to the palace?”
A stern-faced man knocked on the carriage window and addressed the duke.
“Ah, yes. Please do.”
Duke Alvaret replied awkwardly, his expression strained.
How could he not be?
Until just a few years ago, this man was no mere escort—he was someone they'd have drawn swords on sight.
Tariq, captain of the Karaunas.
Top of Khan Empire's hit list in Pang Kingdom.
'Escorted by the kingdom's archenemy into the capital... Is this truly the right course?'
Tulguhr prided itself on never falling to invaders.
Yet here he was, willingly leading foes—himself and his wife included—onto sacred ground.
Duke Alvaret still questioned the decision's validity... but he couldn't reject the Karaunas or Khan Empire.
Not when his wife and children beamed with joy after lifetimes of hardship.
'...Just this once. After this journey, we'll sever ties with Khan Empire.'
If he could find a way free of Ye's plundering, he could develop his lands without their aid.
Just this once.
Repeating his umpteenth empty vow, Duke Alvaret's carriage slowly approached the palace.
In Pang Kingdom's banquet hall.
Simple yet elegant dishes filled the tables, and with most nobles and their escorts arrived, the space brimmed with people—no room to spare.
“My word, isn't that Baron Barenka! Long time no see. How have you been?”
“Hahaha! Baron Ramoel, isn't it!”
The two nobles, recognizing each other, exchanged hearty greetings.
“Thanks to your concern, Viscount, I've been thriving. And you, no troubles I hope?”
Amid the easy chatter of inquiring after well-being, something felt off upon closer inspection.
A few nobles, lavishly attired like the greeting pair.
Others in similar garb, but faces clouded with guilt, unable to meet eyes.
And masses glaring murderously at the finely dressed ones holding court.
The nobles divided into three clear factions, none approaching the others.
“Look at them, strutting like gods—fat pigs without a shred of pride...”
“Ignore them. What's the point mingling with traitors? Don't mind it; it'll only dirty our mouths.”
Despite hostile stares aimed at Viscount Ramoel and Baron Barenka, the viscount carried on unfazed, accustomed to it.
“Nothing worth mentioning. Oh, but a few days ago, something amusing happened. A wrecked ship washed up at dawn harbor, of all things.”