Chapter 615

Chapter 615

“Oh? It’s here of all places?” Siegfried grumbled with a grimace. Who could have known that the soul energy emitted by the soul fragment would be detected within the Espadrille Province of all places?

“What? Do you know something?” Cheon Woo-Jin asked.

“Who knows?” Siegfried replied with a grin.

Cheon Woo-Jin grimaced and asked, “What’s with that face? Hey, you know something, don’t you?”

“Nope. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Then what’s with that face?”

“Ah, that is...” Siegfried proceeded to tell him everything that happened with the local nobles of the Espadrille Province. He also shared how he planned to use diplomatic means to quell them rather than brute force.

“We were having problems from over there.”

“Oh?”

“I’m sure they feel wronged, too, so I plan to resolve things diplomatically with them.”

“You will?”

“Do you want to die?”

“N-No...”

Cheon Woo-Jin hurriedly cowered down after Siegfried gave him a death glare.

“They say people are nearing the end of their lives if they start doing things they don’t usually do...”

“Do you have more than one life?”

“...”

“Are you sure you want to risk it?”

“Haha...”

“Anyway, I was about to go there, so I guess it works out.”

Cheon Woo-Jin nodded and said, “Yeah, you can go take a look for any signs of the soul fragment while you’re there.”

“Exactly,” Siegfried replied. Then, he grinned and laughed, “Hehe!”

“W-What’s with that stupid grin?” Cheon Woo-Jin asked with a disgusted look.

Siegfried suddenly composed himself. Then, he tried to look as intellectual as possible and replied, “I guess... You really don’t know what life can throw at you.”

“...?”

“Justification is a powerful thing.”

“What nonsense is this...?”

“You can do anything you want as long as you have the right justification.”

“What the hell are you talking about...?” Cheon Woo-Jin muttered, looking very confused. Then, he asked, “Are you into philosophy these days? Why are you speaking as if you’re writing a manifesto?”

“Because I’m into moneyfesto.”

“Y-You’re a monster created by capitalism...”

“That’s a good thing, right?”

“It can be good or bad. That depends.”

“Let’s just say it’s a good thing then,” Siegfried said with a shrug. Then, he got up and said, “Alright, I’m going now.”

“You’re going already?”

“They say you gotta strike while the iron is hot. I figured I’d go take a look since you mentioned it.”

“I guess that’s not a bad idea.”

“Alright, I’m going to look for the soul fragment and the justification I need,” Siegfried said before walking away.

“What the hell is he talking about?" Cheon Woo-Jin grumbled.

"What justification is he—” Cheon Woo-Jin stopped mid-sentence when a thought suddenly popped up in his mind, causing him to gasp in horror. “Heok?”

He looked at Siegfried’s back, and his eyes went up above Siegfried's head.

Shiver!

A chill traveled down his spine after seeing what was on top of Siegfried’s head. Upstodatee from n(0)/ve/lbIn/.(co/m

Flash! Flash!

The title "I Am Backstabbing" was shining brightly above Siegfried's head.

“Just what the hell are you planning...?” Cheon Woo-Jin muttered under his breath.

***

Siegfried did not waste time and headed straight for the Espadrille Province with Hamchi.

The reason they were reluctant to pay respect to him was that they were knighted in the Marchioni Empire. They had sworn an oath under Emperor Stuttgart’s name to serve their feudal lord faithfully, so there was no way they would feel comfortable paying respects to someone like Siegfried.

‘Haha...’ Siegfried smiled bitterly at the attitude of the knights, but he suppressed his emotions and decided to be patient with them.

Ten minutes later...

“Welcome, Your Majesty.”

The feudal lord of the Marmont Territory, Viscount Roberto, came out to receive Siegfried.

“I apologize for coming abruptly without any notice,” Siegfried said.

“N-Not at all; it is an honor that Your Majesty has visited our home,” Viscount Robert said, looking obviously flustered by the sudden visit.

This didn't seem like a big deal, but a king visiting without sending any notice was very rare on the continent.

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Siegfried van Proa, and I am the king of the Proatine Kingdom,” Siegfried introduced himself.

The two proceeded to exchange pleasantries and chat about trivial things, lightening the atmosphere.

It was then.

“You must have been utterly confused by what happened.”

“P-Pardon me, sire?”

“Your nationality suddenly changed overnight, and your territory is now under the weakest and poorest nation on the continent. If that did not catch you by surprise, then I have no idea what will.

“T-That is...”

“I completely understand how you feel.”

“...!”

“I would have been disgruntled, too, so I can only imagine how you feel.”

“A-Ah!”

Viscount Roberto was shocked by what he heard. Siegfried not only understood his feelings but understood the feelings of every noble in the province.

‘Hmm... I heard he was just a greenhorn Adventurer, but it seems the rumors were not true. He’s truly someone worthy of His Imperial Majesty’s favor,’ Viscount Roberto saw Siegfried in a new light.

“I sincerely thank Your Majesty for your understanding and benevolence.”

Was this what spitting on one’s own face looked like? Viscount Roberto had no other choice but to show respect by bowing his head.

On the other hand, Siegfried’s strategy of using a diplomatic approach seemed to have worked, but he had no plans on ending it here.

“Unfortunately, we cannot cry over what has already happened, right?”

This single statement from Siegfried caught Viscount Roberto off guard.

“Yes, but...”

“I believe we will have to work hard to get along from now on since what happened has already happened.”

“Your Majesty is correct, but—”

“I will acknowledge your right to rule.”

“...!”

“I will guarantee your autonomy as long as you reduce your army to the minimum required for defending your territory and swear to cooperate with the kingdom’s requests.”

“T-That is—”

“I know having your own army is important for security reasons, which is precisely why I have not requested you to disperse them. And...” Siegfried trailed off. Then, he looked the viscount straight in his eyes and said, “Let me ask you something, viscount.”

“Please ask me whatever Your Majesty wishes.”

“In your opinion, viscount. We're working on quite a few national projects, and for whose sake do you think we're doing that? What do you think is the purpose of these projects?”

It was then.

‘Oh my god...!’ Viscount Roberto realized he had been swept up in Siegfried’s pace, causing him to feel as if he was struck by a hammer on the back of his head. Then, he shrieked in horror inwardly and trembled in fear, ‘J-Justification! He’s looking for justification!’

For whose purpose were the projects? What was the kingdom trying to achieve?

‘P-People! This king is telling us to cooperate because this is for the people!’

In other words, Siegfried held the trump card that could not and would not lose to any logical argument, and this card was called a justification.

“Viscount Roberto.”

“Y-Yes, Your Majesty...?”

“Please help me.”

“...!”

“Once the kingdom’s great undertakings are finished, our economy will flourish. Our people will live prosperously as well. I will need your help to achieve this, so please lend us your strength,” Siegfried said and was even about to bow to the viscount.

It was then.

‘...Ah.’

Viscount Roberto realized that he couldn't beat the king, whom he initially thought was a lowly greenhorn Adventurer.