Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Grasping the Tail (5)
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“The Rustal family...? You’re not joking, are you?”
“Of course not, Captain Lucas. Even if he’s our lord now, I have no intention of dragging the captain of the White Dragon Knights and the captain of the Golden Dragon Knights here to spout nonsense.”
“Well, I’d listen seriously even if the young master said something odd, but this is just...”
“The Rustal family is a branch house. To move against them, we need justification. The kind no one can refute.”
Philip Alrops cut off Lucas Hoffman’s words and stared straight at Martin.
He had been genuinely shocked when the Rustal name first came out of Martin’s mouth, but he had already regained his composure.
Martin grinned at the eyes filled with firm resolve.
“You don’t need to worry about justification, Sir Vincent.”
“Understood.”
Vincent slid the stack of papers in front of him—the Blood Sword Unit’s ledger—toward them.
“...Impossible.”
His arms trembled wildly the moment he read the first page. The calm he had regained twisted from his face once more.
“What? What’s it say?”
Curious, Lucas approached immediately, and Philip flipped through the pages he’d already read.
Lucas checked the contents right away.
“W-What the hell?!”
He let out a scream-like shout.
The contents were that shocking.
It detailed how the Rustal family had founded the Blood Sword Unit about a hundred years ago and used them to eliminate their rivals.
There had been countless other clients over the century it operated, but the Rustals had provided the most funding by far.
That alone was enough to warrant their extermination.
But the last page was even more damning.
It explicitly targeted Martin.
“How in the world... where did you get this?”
“Two days ago, the young master and my daughter subjugated the Blood Sword Unit. We seized that ledger from their hideout, and the young master deciphered it himself.”
“We found their headquarters’ location while smashing the members there.”
Martin supplemented Vincent’s explanation.
Lucas, now understanding the situation, kept scanning the contents.
A sharp aura began to emanate slowly around him.
“Baldemar von Rustal, you’ve truly lost your mind.”
Lucas no longer showed his playful or relaxed demeanor.
His cold fury evoked the image of a single drawn blade.
In contrast, Philip’s rage was outright explosive.
A storm-like pressure swept through the room as proof.
“This is clear treason. Per the young master’s will, I’ll assemble the Golden Dragon Knights immediately.”
“The White Dragon Knights will move too. Once the knights are gathered, shall we march straight into Talonia City, young master?”
Philip and Lucas stared at Martin, suppressing their fury.
Both had steeled their resolve.
The moment Martin gave the order, they would turn Talonia City—the Rustals’ stronghold—and all their territories into seas of fire.
“We’ll head to Talonia City, but the real target isn’t there.”
“Then where do we go?”
“Chelloti Mountain on the outskirts of Talonia City. But we must arrive before the Rustal family does. That alone will end this war in our victory.”
“Something special there, I take it?”
“Yeah. You’ll know as soon as we arrive.”
“By when?”
“At latest, by noon the day after tomorrow. Can you make it?”
“Please. From BAREhain City to Talonia? Barely 100 km. We’ll get there by tomorrow night, not just the day after. But are you sure you’re up for it, young master? Long trips aren’t good for your health.”
“If it were before, maybe. But now I’m fine.”
“Understood. I’ll assemble the knights as fast as possible and depart early tomorrow.”
Martin nodded lightly at Lucas’s words.
Then Vincent, who had been listening silently, spoke up.
“The White Dragon and Golden Dragon Knights are the main house’s strongest forces. The moment the knights assemble, the elders and branch lords will be watching their movements. They’ll figure out the destination is Chelloti Mountain in no time. How do you plan to catch them off guard, young master?”
“No need to worry. The elders and branch lords will have no choice but to focus on me.”
“Saying that means you have a plan... I see.”
Vincent was genuinely impressed.
He finally understood the grand scheme Martin had drawn up.
“So that’s how the audit ties in. Once it explodes, all eyes from the elders and branch lords will be on you, young master.”
“Exactly. While they’re fixated on me, the White and Golden Dragon Knights can head to the target. Sien and I can use spatial teleportation, so even if we leave later, we’ll catch up quick.”
“Truly, you lack nothing to become family head. To prepare this meticulously...”
Vincent shook his head in disbelief.
Martin just grinned, accustomed to such reactions.
Meanwhile, Lucas and Philip looked at Martin with renewed shock.
The word “audit” hit them hard.
It was that improbable an event.
“To hold an audit, you need at least two elders or branch lords to approve, right? Sir Vincent is here, but...”
“Don’t be surprised, Captain Lucas. The young master has already won over Elder Oriana. I don’t know how, but.”
“Gasp!”
Lucas was floored by Vincent’s explanation.
Philip, equally stunned, questioned Martin.
“You really swayed Elder Oriana? That old viper?”
“Yeah, Captain Philip. It’s not public yet, but Elder Oriana has bowed to me.”
Philip shook his head in disbelief.
He couldn’t even guess how many more shocks awaited.
“The more I learn, the more I admire you, young master.”
“I agree with him. To win over a cunning elder like that in an instant—Baldemar von Rustal really poked the wrong bear.”
“Now we make sure he knows it for certain. As I said, we depart tomorrow morning. I know it’s rushed, but prepare thoroughly.”
“No worries, young master. We’ll be perfect.”
“We’ll rise to the occasion.”
Lucas and Philip showed unwavering determination.
Thus, the Adalbert family’s two wings spread wide.
For their new lord, Martin Adalbert.
* * *
The next morning.
A massive storm swept through the Adalbert family.
Martin had announced a full-scale audit of the Rustal family.
As proof that proper procedures were followed, the official document bore the seals of Vincent and Elder Oriana.
“Elder Oriana says she’s ill and heading to her villa. She won’t take calls from anyone for a while.”
“She must feel the eyes on her. She’s effectively betrayed her allies, after all.”
“True, but it’s nothing for us to worry about.”
“You sure? She’s the young master’s person now, for better or worse.”
“She only bowed because I have her weakness. Can’t trust someone like that. That’s why Sir Vincent needs to keep watching her.”
“You sure know how to use people harshly.”
“It means I trust you that much, Sir Vincent.”
Vincent shook his head at Martin’s sly response.
Martin smiled faintly at him.
‘True loyalty is one thing, but no reason to trust a traitor.’
Use her to the fullest, then discard.
That was Elder Oriana’s value right now.
BAM!
That was when it happened.
The office door burst open violently.
Elders Aren and Marius stormed in, both radiating fury.
Their glares alone could kill Martin on the spot.
“Hey now. What’s this? Forget this is the young master’s office?”
Vincent teased the two elders with a playful expression, digging at them.
Naturally, they grew even angrier but suppressed it and apologized.
“...My apologies, young master. I lost my composure and was rude. But we must address this.”
“What’s with today’s document, young master? How can you push something this major without a word to us elders? This is overreach...”
“Overreach? Watch your words. Elder Oriana and I approved the audit. That makes the procedure valid.”
Vincent replied leisurely.
The two elders tried to argue, but Vincent ignored them and continued.
“You know how vital secrecy is for these things. The more who know the truth, the higher the leak risk. We have no choice but to hide it as best we can.”
The faces of Elders Aren and Marius twisted further.
He had outright said he didn’t trust them.
But they couldn’t back down here.
“We want the real justification for this audit, young master. It can’t just be tax evasion and slush funds to make this big a deal.”
“Just? You’re saying the strangest things, Elder Marius.”
“...Of course those are crimes. But they don’t warrant this spectacle.”
As Martin’s expression cooled, Marius quickly bowed his head.
Only then did Martin’s face relax.
“This isn’t ordinary tax evasion or slush funds. The Rustals diverted dungeon byproducts. We have no choice but to audit to verify properly.”
“You’re suspecting a branch house on unconfirmed info?”
Marius looked incredulous.
Elder Aren chimed in.
“He’s right. We should investigate more before moving big. This looks like persecution of the Rustals.”
“Plus, we got reports that the White and Golden Dragon Knights left the mansion right after the announcement. Planning war with the Rustals, young master?”
“If the Rustals comply with the audit, there’ll be no issue, Elder Marius. And Elder Aren, persecution? They started the problem—I’m just confirming.”
“The crime isn’t confirmed yet...”
“The info’s credible, per Sir Vincent here and Elder Oriana in recovery, Elder Aren.”
Martin casually invoked Vincent and Elder Oriana.
Aren and Marius ground their teeth inwardly at the sight.
With everything by the book, they were powerless.
Elder Oriana defecting to Martin was bad enough; now the situation felt hopeless.
What if Baldemar really was guilty?
The council would collapse.
Meaning they couldn’t block Martin’s ascension.
“I plan to head to the Rustals tomorrow noon with Sien. Elders, please guard the family with Sir Vincent here.”
“Leave it to me, young master.”
“......”
Unlike Vincent’s confident reply, the two elders stayed silent.
They just stared at Martin and Vincent in dismay.
Martin ignored their reactions.
“You seem to grasp the situation, so please leave. I have much to do before heading to the Rustals.”
Grit.
The elders’ faces flushed red, but Martin paid no mind.
They finally stormed out, fuming.
Martin eyed their exit and finally bared his killing intent.
‘Wait your turn. It won’t be long.’
This time too, he’d sever their heads cleanly.
Just like in his past life.