Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Chapter 8: Rift (5)
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Martin contacted Sien after showing Christian Haberz the vast gap between them.
He asked her to gather his key vassals.
Despite the sudden summons, they assembled in the office without delay.
Vincent von Egrid, head of the Egrid family.
Oriana Florence, elder of the Adalbert main house.
Lucas Hoffman, captain of the White Dragon Knight Order.
Philip Alrops, captain of the Golden Dragon Knight Order.
Vincent and Oriana each commanded their own forces.
Lucas and Philip led powerful martial organizations.
To seize power, one needed real military might.
With these four, it was fair to say Martin had easily taken control of the main house.
‘Though it’s hard to call Elder Oriana fully one of my own.’
She followed out of coercion, not true loyalty.
But Martin didn’t put much stock in that.
‘She has no path left but to follow me anyway.’
Elder Oriana had already been branded a traitor by the other elders and branch family heads.
In a family rife with clashing interests, going it alone was impossible.
If even he abandoned her, her downfall was certain, leaving her no real choices.
The issue was her half-hearted approach to any matter.
But not this time.
Her eyes blazed more fiercely than ever, fueled by the chance to become a lord she’d long craved.
Martin took a moment to watch her with interest, then addressed the group one by one.
“Elder Aren, Elder Marius, and the other branch family heads are all summoning their closest aides. They plan to lead their elite forces to hunt the core.”
“We’ll need to decide who goes from our side too. The young lord and Sien are locks, of course.”
“Exactly. But I’d like Vincent to stay with the family.”
“Hmm. You want me holding down the fort at the main house?”
“Yes. Once the reward for destroying the core is officially announced, plenty of lords will be up in arms.”
“Fair enough. Adventurers have already flocked to BAREhain City thanks to the fee waiver, thinning out forces elsewhere.”
“And if word spreads about the chance to claim a territory, even noble-born adventurers won’t sit idle. BAREhain’s strength will grow, but other regions will suffer.”
“That’ll enrage the other lords, who’ll turn their ire on us. They might even press with force.”
“Which is why I need you to stay, Vincent. With the family’s strongest at home, our people won’t waver much.”
“Damn. I was hoping to stretch my legs this time, but no such luck. And I won’t get to expand our turf either.”
“I’m sorry. You’re the only one I can entrust this to.”
Martin rose and bowed his head.
Vincent waved him off with his right hand.
“Stand up, young lord. I was just joking.”
Even then, Martin didn’t straighten.
Vincent sighed shortly, stood, and hauled Martin upright.
“The Egrid territory is among the largest in the Altria Empire. I don’t need the old Rustal lands. If I took them, it’d just sow discord. At my age, scrapping with monsters sounds like a chore. So please, lift your head, young lord.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Consideration, my ass. Anyway, with me out, I’d like to take all three of you. Four 7th Circle powerhouses and one 5th Circle expert should breeze through to the 30th floor.”
“I agree with Vincent. Given the dungeon’s tricky layout, a small elite team beats a large one.”
“Same here.”
Philip Alrops spoke first, and Lucas Hoffman nodded in agreement.
Martin’s gaze turned to Elder Oriana.
“I’m curious about your thoughts, Elder.”
“One question first, young lord.”
“Go ahead.”
“If I destroy the core, will you still hand over the old Rustal territory?”
“Of course.”
“And you mean it about making me an independent lord?”
“Absolutely. No lies here. Though as an independent lord, you’d still support the Adalbert family as the overlord of the North.”
“Naturally.”
Elder Oriana answered readily.
She’d seized the chance to become a lord.
The Rustal lands were even larger and richer than many baronies.
“But what if the side opposing you destroys the core?”
“I’ll honor the promise regardless. Though I doubt any force rivaling us would let that happen.”
Four 7th Circle powerhouses, no less.
Sien was a solid asset too.
Inheriting the Egrid family’s physical prowess, she was the strongest in the mid-5th Circle ranks.
“I’d like to ask you two as well. Don’t you want to become lords?”
At Elder Oriana’s question, Lucas and Philip exchanged glances.
After a beat, Philip spoke.
“It’d be a lie to say otherwise. Every noble in the Altria Empire—or the Krasian continent—dreams of lording over their own land.”
“I agree with Captain Alrops. So let me ask: if you both want it, doesn’t that make us rivals? Can rivals like us cooperate smoothly?”
“Absolutely.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Loyalty to the young lord means we follow his orders... but that’s not the answer you want.”
“Right. I want your honest take, Captain.”
“Simple. The young lord promised to properly reward vassals for their merits. When your lord says that, isn’t it a vassal’s duty to trust him?”
“Trust...”
Elder Oriana turned to Lucas.
He answered without hesitation.
“I want to be a lord too. But I won’t be shackled by it.”
“Because of the young lord’s promise?”
“That’s part of it, but there’s more.”
“What?”
“Awkward to say with him here, but after the previous head took over, self-serving lords multiplied in the North.”
“Yeah... figures.”
“I don’t think the young lord will stand for it. What happens then?”
“...The North’s current power structure crumbles.”
“Exactly, Elder Oriana. A power vacuum will form, and I have no doubt we loyal vassals will fill it. No need to clash with you over it.”
Elder Oriana’s face went slack at the unexpected reply.
Vincent burst out laughing.
And why not? Lucas had all but hinted at a purge.
Not just within the Adalbert family, but across the entire North.
‘Good grief.’
Martin shook his head with a wry smile.
Lucas’s boldness, saying that right in front of him, was absurd.
But he had no urge to reprimand him.
It wasn’t wrong, and it served as a neat warning to Elder Oriana.
“You’ve got some scary vassals, young lord.”
“Didn’t expect that answer myself. Anyway, your thoughts now, Elder Oriana?”
“With purges stated outright, how could I back out? I’ll go down with you.”
“Thank you. But gathering this much power from the start would be inefficient. How about linking up at the 20th floor?”
“Inefficient? The core’s location shows up once you reach its floor, so concentrating force for max speed is...”
Elder Oriana trailed off.
Then she shook her head in disbelief.
She’d caught Martin’s true intent.
“You want us clearing monsters from 1 to 20 as much as possible on the way down, young lord. Your drive to squeeze us dry to the end is giving me chills.”
“It’s for the citizens, so try not to take it badly, Elder. We’ll set out in three days... meet at the 20th floor in half a month. Stock up on guardian stones and potions, and don’t forget.”
“It’s been ages since I’ve dungeon dived, but I haven’t forgotten that much.”
“Good. Then everyone meet in the White Dragon’s chamber tomorrow. The grand assembly isn’t over yet.”
At Martin’s words, Vincent stood first.
“One bait, but hordes drooling over it. Looking forward to the rest of the assembly. Should be plenty of entertaining drama.”
Vincent left the office grinning, the others following.
Sien, silent till now, finally spoke.
“Surprising. Thought you’d announce the Fire Dragon Sword as your vassal right away.”
“Come on. Can’t play my ace that soon.”
“Then when?”
“When it’ll shock them most. Gotta have impact for taking a 7th Circle powerhouse as a vassal, right?”
Sien clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“Always such a bad guy.”
“But it’ll be more fun that way.”
“You’re not just chasing fun, though. There’s more you’re after, isn’t there?”
“Sien, you know me too well.”
“Don’t dodge with flattery.”
“You’ll find out naturally later.”
As Sien predicted, he’d prepped with Christian.
‘They’ll freak.’
He genuinely looked forward to their reactions.
* * *
The three-day grand assembly finally concluded.
Branch family heads, elders, and martial group leaders all decided to hunt the core.
Right after it wrapped, Martin headed to BAREhain City’s town hall.
His ascension to family head was all but certain.
Plus, word had spread of his dungeon vigil against monsters and his foresight in rallying adventurers, boosting his support sky-high.
His public appearance drew crowds inevitably.
“As the Adalbert heir, I had a duty to protect this city’s peace and safety, yet I failed you. I sincerely apologize to all citizens.”
Martin bowed deeply, with utmost courtesy.
Murmurs rippled through.
The unexpected sight genuinely flustered the citizens.
But silence fell as he spoke again.
“Over the past three days, my family and I explored ways to resolve this crisis swiftly. I stand here to share that solution with you.”
Martin steadied his breath.
Then he bellowed.
“To end the monster wave, we must destroy the dungeon core! Thus, I declare: whoever finds and shatters it will claim the old Rustal territory and independent lordship!”
“But don’t despair if you lack unique abilities! If you destroy the core, I’ll grant rewards matching a territory’s worth!”
“If we overcome this crisis, I—the Adalbert family—will spare no expense! That is my resolve!”
As Martin’s shout ended,
“Woooaaah!”
Thunderous cheers erupted.
But it wasn’t just BAREhain’s citizens moved.
Those harboring desires or ambitions cheered too, then rushed toward the city.
Thus, Martin shook the Altria Empire once more.