Chapter 203 - Chasing Tails (4)

Chapter 203 - Chasing Tails (4)

The maids guided Usa into the room where the emperor was. Upon entering with a cane in his hand, Usa got down on one knee with his wobbly legs and showed his respect to Arthus.

“I am Usa of the Sore Empire.”

Arthus replied, “Usa... The two civil servants who oversee everything along with the Taejae in the Sore Empire... They call them ‘ministers,’ am I right?”

“That’s right, Your Majesty.”

"I see. Well, your visit here surprises me. The messenger I sent to the Sore Empire has yet to return... Did you come here yourself to tell me what the Sore Empire thinks about my proposition?”

Arthus got straight to the point because he was curious why Usa had come here. He had sent a messenger to the Sore Empire as well, but nobody except Terion had made it back yet. The fact that Usa came to him before his messenger even returned made Arthus wonder as to what exactly was going on.

At the emperor’s question, Usa replied calmly, “No, Your Majesty. I am here on my own, not on behalf of the Sore Empire, but for Your Majesty, the emperor of the new empire.”

“And the Taejae doesn’t know about this?”

"Indeed, Your Majesty.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Usa claimed that he had come here unbeknownst to the Taejae, the most powerful person in the Sore Empire. Arthus sensed that something was fishy.

Usa’s coming all the way here without his ruler knowing during these times definitely suggested that he wasn’t here with pure intentions. Therefore, Arthus was curious about what Usa had to say.

Arthus’ eyes glinted with curiosity as he said, “Alright, I’ll listen to what you have to say. What brings you all the way here at the cost of deceiving your master?”

At Arthus’ question, Usa took a couple of deep breaths. His hands were still shaky, still not sure whether he should actually go through with this.

After a brief moment, Usa made up his mind. He rethought about the reason he had come all the way here unbeknownst to the Taejae. He knew he was past the point of no return, so he couldn’t dare backtrack. He knew there was no point in crying over spilled milk, so he finally spoke up.

“Your Majesty, before I speak, may I dare to ask you one presumptuous favor?”

"A favor?"

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Asking me a favor after coming here in secrecy... Although your actions seem contradictory, I’m curious about what you have to say. Go ahead.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Usa took another deep breath before continuing.

“I have information that could shake the existence of the current Aenia Empire.”

“Information that’ll shake the existence of the empire?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Interesting. In that case, I assume your favor is that I protect you in the future, correct?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. That is precisely what I ask of you.”

“Right. If you truly possess such information, I will definitely appoint you as one of my people, keeping you by my side for the rest of your life while promising all the wealth and fame you could possibly have. However...”

That moment, Arthus suddenly threw Usa off balance as he stopped listing everything he could have if he really possessed such valuable information. Arthus continued in the same calm tone, but the words coming out of his mouth were completely different.

“If you tell me lies or a bunch of nonsense, you’ll most certainly pay the price for it. I can tell you now that the punishment won’t be light.”

Once Arthus warned him, Usa replied nervously, “O-of course, Your Majesty. Not long ago, a wizard came to the Sore Empire, Your Majesty.”

"A wizard?"

"Yes, Your Majesty.”

Usa’s first words were enough to grab Arthus’ attention as he had already ordered that all wizards within the empire be executed. Despite that, ever since ascending to the throne, Arthus hadn’t executed any wizards yet. In fact, he hadn’t even managed to trace any of them. Therefore, by mentioning a wizard, Usa piqued Arthus’ interest.

“You mean Lore Gillian went to the Sore Empire?” asked Arthus curiously.

“No, Your Majesty.”

"Then who?”

After pondering on what to do, Arthus said, “Did you say your name is Usa?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I will grant you the rank of marquis in the Aenia Empire and grant you territory befitting to that rank.”

“...!”

A marquis!

He would become one of the most powerful people in the empire, just behind a duke. In some ways, he would be in a higher position than the kings of the nations allied with the Aenia Empire. Hearing what he had achieved by giving Arthus information, Usa gulped as he thought about what else he could get.

“But...”

“Yes. Yes...?”

“I shall offer you everything I have mentioned after we wipe out all the insects that are disturbing the continent.”

“Wait, wait...!”

“Don’t you worry, I always keep my word no matter what.”

For a moment, Usa looked back and realized how naive he had been to think that everything would just smoothly align for him. He couldn’t help being disappointed at Arthus’ condition that he would get all those rewards only after everything was settled. After all, the one who was desperate was always on the receiving side, not on the giving side.

Noticing how Usa had visibly lost his enthusiasm, Arthus smiled and said, “Usa.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Even though I said that I would make you a marquis after everything is over, I will treat you as a marquis starting now.”

“Your Majesty, I am most grateful for your kindness.”

“Good, of course you should feel that way. So now that you are a proud marquis of the Aenia Empire, are you ready to serve the empire for the rest of your life?”

“Of course, Your Majesty! I will dedicate my whole life to the empire and contribute to its development. Just give me orders, Your Majesty.”

“That’s what I like to hear. I like that attitude of yours. I really need great people like you right now. With that being said, I want you to go back to your homeland, the Sore Empire, right now.”

“Yes! Yes...? What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?”

“As I said. Since you left the Sore Empire without letting the Taejae know, it’s not officially a crime, is it? All you did was sneak out, am I wrong?”

“Well, yes, Your Majesty... That is true...”

“Then you don’t have any reason not to go back. I’ll specifically give you my imperial teleportation scroll so that you can return to the Sore Empire right now. And after that... You know what to do, right? Or do I have to tell you word for word?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

Arthus thought it would be crazy not to use someone as clever and as useful as Usa in the war. He planned to use Usa as a spy. He would be a very efficient spy indeed.

“This is a secret mission, one that nobody else can know about. Your responsibility will be huge. As you said, the fate of our empire will depend on your loyalty and patriotism.”

Listening to Arthus, Usa realized that he was promised not only wealth and fame, but also the weight he had to carry on his shoulders until everything was over. Moreover, since he had already leaked valuable information to Arthus, he was basically on the edge of a cliff at this point.

‘So this is what I get...?’

Although Usa didn’t reveal how he was feeling, his face turned dark. Of course, he wasn’t stupid enough to think that Arthus would just protect him for free. It was just that in the current circumstances, Usa knew that he would be Arthus’ most efficient pawn.

Despite all that, the reason Usa had cast away his loyalty for the Sore Empire and sided with Arthus was simple. He knew that even if the continent's sole 7th-Circle Archmage and his five allies came together, opposing Arthus, who had already taken over more than half of the continent, would be impossible.

‘I don’t need to be a dead lion. I’ll survive until the end, even as a dog.’

Usa knew that those who survived to write history were the ones truly victorious, and that was why he would do his best to somehow survive all of this, even if that meant being a pitiful dog.

‘Sigh... If only Chungang was still alive right now...’

The death of the previous Taejae, Chungang, had also played a part in Usa’s betrayal. He had used to look up to Chungang, considering him his spiritual support. However, given that both of his sons had died, Hongwol, who was clueless about politics and power, had become the Taejae because of her lineage.

Thus, even if the 7th-Circle Archmage proposed an alliance, Usa could only see a bleak future for the Sore Empire.

After calming down, Usa bowed with his forehead on the floor and said, “Thank you for taking care of a low-class individual like me. I will dedicate the rest of my life to repaying Your Majesty’s favor.”

"Good. Then let’s talk in more detail from now on.”

Arthus’ face lit up with a satisfied smile. At this moment, the cornerstone that Henry had been meticulously building started to crack.