Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Chapter 15: Sorting the Hierarchy (6)
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Matteus von Gustin's initial strategy was simple.
The three branch families, excluding House Igrit, would launch a surprise maneuver to encircle the city of Barehain.
At the same time, they would decisively crush the other northern noble forces coming as reinforcements.
Meanwhile, the elders would respond from within, stirring up chaos.
In the best-case scenario, House Adalbert would crumble. But even if they held out, it didn't matter.
They just had to wait, and Marquis Royce's forces would arrive.
Yet the strategy he had devised with such confidence fell apart before it even began.
"Hah."
Matteus stared at those passing through the gates, his face a mask of utter disbelief.
There stood Elder Aren and Elder Marius, along with their followers, all panting heavily as if exhausted.
Even so, both elders avoided meeting Matteus's gaze, their expressions full of shame.
". . . What the hell happened?"
"The young lord uncovered our secret alliance. Our plans leaked, so we had no choice but to flee the city of Barehain."
"That's right, as Elder Marius says. Luckily, one of our men planted in House Bittenfeld tipped us off at the last moment, allowing us to escape. A little later, and we would have fallen to the young lord as well."
Grit.
Matteus ground his teeth at the elders' explanation.
"How did that bastard Martin find out?"
"One of our men reported that Adel Bittenfeld confessed everything to the young lord. The two of them joined hands right then, and during the afternoon meeting, they attacked the head of House Bittenfeld."
"The meeting? That would have had all the key retainers present. If the Azure Dragon Knights were there, the White Dragon Knights or Golden Dragon Knights should have mobilized. But I've heard nothing about them leaving the city. You're not saying Martin took them on alone, are you?"
"Hoo. Well . . ."
"Urgent report!"
A knight came rushing in, cutting off Elder Marius.
"House Bittenfeld just made an official announcement! Oliver von Bittenfeld was caught plotting rebellion and subjugated by Martin Adalbert. He's been transported back to the city of Barehain along with the other traitors, and Adel Bittenfeld, formerly the young lord, has officially ascended as head of the house!"
"What about the Azure Dragon Knights?! What the hell were the others doing!"
"The Azure Dragon Knights declared their support for Adel Bittenfeld, stating they would show no mercy to anyone betraying the main house!"
"Oliver, you goddamn idiot!"
Unable to contain his rage, Matteus finally let loose a string of curses.
He had long known Oliver von Bittenfeld was nothing more than an outstanding knight with no talent as a lord.
But there was a limit to incompetence.
How could a man who called himself head of the house fail to control even his own son and the house's core knight order? Did that make any sense?
Part of him wanted to cut off Oliver's head with his own hands.
Only then might this fury subside a little.
"It's foolish to dwell on the past . . . but this is unforgivable. At least you're with us now, Elder Aren."
"I finally realized too late just how ruthless the young lord is. Having fallen from his grace, I can never be forgiven."
"There's no point picking it apart. All that matters is we're walking the same path."
Combining the personal forces of the two elders could somewhat fill the gap left by House Bittenfeld.
It was a shame they couldn't sow chaos from within anymore.
"Our focus now should be the head of House Phezeks. We need to bring him in as soon as possible, or we'll have to face the Adalbert main house and the northern nobles with just our own strength. If things go that way, we'll all . . ."
". . . meet our end."
Hum.
After finishing Elder Aren's sentence, Matteus opened his subspace.
A communication orb appeared in his right hand.
He infused it with mana and sent a transmission to Wilhelm von Phezeks.
Flash!
Moments later, light bloomed, forming the image of a person.
The problem was who that person was.
"Why the hell are you there, Simon Phezeks!"
-My father ordered me to handle communications while he stepped away for a bit . . .-
"Where is he?! Where did that bastard Wilhelm go!"
-He didn't tell anyone. He just said he needed to clear his head and left.-
Simon Phezeks answered with a pitiful expression, his voice strained.
If there was any silver lining, it was that Matteus no longer needed to deal with him.
Crash!
The other side had smashed the communication orb on the ground.
"You greedy coward!"
He could picture it without looking.
What Wilhelm was up to.
No doubt, he had gone crawling to Martin, begging forgiveness and pleading for his life.
Elder Marius calmed the enraged Matteus.
"I understand your anger, Matteus. But now is the time for countermeasures. With House Phezeks siding with them, the young lord can attack us without hesitation."
"Elder Marius is right. Considering the young lord's temperament, he'll come charging in. We need to focus on fortifying our defenses."
". . . I'll follow your advice."
It was absurd enough that his initial strategy had unraveled before it started.
Now the house itself was on the brink of annihilation?
Where exactly had it all gone wrong?
No matter how much Matteus pondered, no answer came.
* * *
Upon returning to the main house, Martin received word from Elder Oriana that Elders Marius and Aren had defected.
And it wasn't just them.
Their followers had left with them, plunging the Adalbert main house into momentary chaos.
Thankfully, Vincent had held things together, preventing it from escalating into a major uproar.
Even so, the turmoil needed to be addressed, so Martin summoned his key retainers.
'Just looking at them makes me feel secure.'
Vincent von Igrit.
Oriana Flores.
Lucas Hoffman.
Philip Allofs.
Christian Haberz.
Four 7th Circle powerhouses and one 8th Circle.
In terms of raw might, Marquis Royce's house posed no threat.
The only concern was Nicholas von Royce himself, but even he couldn't win against Martin and this group combined.
Of course, they knew that too, so it wouldn't come to that.
"I've lived long enough to see everything. Elders, no less—ones who even heard the previous head's dying words—turning against the main house."
"You have to wonder how people can be that stupid. There aren't many vacant lordships in the North, are there? If they'd shown loyalty to the end, they could have claimed one soon enough."
Vincent opened the discussion, and Lucas chimed in right away.
Martin nodded at their words before speaking.
"For all the back and forth, those two elders' betrayal was somewhat predictable. Unlike Elder Oriana here, we gave them chances to prove their loyalty, and they rejected us to the end."
"That doesn't mean we can let our guard down. With them joining up, attacking House Gustin just got harder."
"I agree, Captain Philip. Even with our strengthened forces, all they can do is hunker down in their territory and play defense. Until Marquis Royce's troops arrive, that is."
"It'll take Marquis Royce's forces at least a fortnight to reach the North. But with the lords under Her Highness the First Princess stirring trouble, it'll be about three weeks."
Everyone, including Martin, nodded at Christian's assessment.
Marquis Royce's territory was at the far edge of the West.
As the faction leader whom the western lords followed, interference was easy enough.
They wouldn't engage in open battle, though.
"Regardless of when Marquis Royce's forces arrive, we should crush House Gustin as quickly as possible."
"That's why House Phezeks's allegiance is crucial. If they side with Gustin, things get messier."
"Exactly as Sir Vincent says. That's why I've been preparing for the possibility of House Phezeks betraying us."
"I won't stop you, but . . . I'd like to talk to Wilhelm at least once, young lord."
"I'd like to know why."
Martin looked at Vincent as he replied calmly.
Truth be told, Wilhelm von Phezeks had a weak presence compared to the other branch heads.
'Whenever important matters arose, he usually tagged along with the other branch heads or elders.'
The one time he had openly shown ambition was just once.
Before his regression, when he had underestimated the newly reinstated noble Martin and declared war.
As a result, Wilhelm was the first to be crushed.
"Wilhelm's a coward, plain and simple. Hearing Oliver got ousted must have scared him straight."
"So a simple conversation might bring him over to our side."
"Exactly. To face off against Marquis Royce, we need to preserve our strength as much as possible, right?"
"I agree with Vincent. If anyone can threaten—er, persuade—Wilhelm, it's you, young lord."
Elder Oriana backed Vincent's opinion.
Martin glanced around at the others, as if soliciting their views.
Most nodded in agreement with Vincent and Elder Oriana.
"Understood. I'll try persuading Lord Wilhelm for now."
"Good call."
"Anyway, tomorrow we'll make the official announcement: House Gustin has rebelled, and we're entering a state of wartime readiness. Make sure everything's in order . . ."
Knock knock.
A knock echoed in the office.
Martin turned his head immediately.
He had told Cyan in advance.
Unless it was critically important, no need to report.
For her to come now meant something required his personal attention.
"Come in, Cyan."
The door opened, and Cyan entered. Martin was puzzled.
Her face was etched with clear bewilderment.
"What is it?"
"W-Well . . . Lord Wilhelm von Phezeks of House Phezeks is here at the main house right now."
"What?!"
Martin was genuinely taken aback.
The others showed the same shock.
They had been open to talks, but no one had imagined he'd come knocking first.
"Talk about timing. Did he come alone? Or with escorts?"
"He came alone."
"Where is he now?"
"We've seated him in the reception room. But he insists on seeing only you, young lord."
"We can accommodate that much. He came to us on his own. I'll be right back."
Martin informed his retainers and left the office.
'Looks like he wants to join us.'
But what was Wilhelm's true intention?
Martin was truly curious.