Chapter 141: Changing the Guard

Chapter 141: Changing the Guard

Whoooosh...

As a strong wind swept down, the white sand scattered in all directions.

“Have we finally arrived?” Gordon Fabian asked, his voice tinged with irritation, as the airship landed.

“Jaygun.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“How long have we been up in the sky since arriving in the south?”

Noticing Gordon’s indignation, Jaygun, the vice captain of the Guidance Mercenary Gang, answered cautiously, “It has been ten days.”

“Hmm....” Gordon muttered nonchalantly. “Should I break that bitch’s neck?” He spoke as if it were a trivial matter, but his words were anything but trivial.

“Are you planning to go to war with the south? And what about your promise to the emperor?” Jaygun argued, shaking his head. He was a seasoned vice captain, and he was used to dealing with Gordon.

“It’s not impossible. After all, we came here to resolve the conflict. If one of them dies, there won't be a conflict, will there?”

What would sound like nonsense coming from others could very well become reality when spoken by Gordon Fabian.

“Well, that’s one way to do it, but only if Prince Kromen agrees.”

“Thank you for your efforts, Sir Gordon. If it were either one of my brothers, this wouldn’t have taken so long...”

Gordon looked at the small boy who didn’t even reach his waist and smiled lightly. However, even that smile was reminiscent of a growling beast, sending chills down the spine of those who saw it.

“I apologize, Prince. It seems the southern barbarians are so secluded that they haven’t heard of the Guidance Mercenary Gang of Gordon Fabian. I’ll tear a few of them limb from limb as an example.”

“No, no, that’s not necessary...”

Kromen quickly waved his hands, startled by Gordon’s words.

“Hmm.”

“There’s no need for you to stain your hands with blood, Sir Gordon,” Kromen murmured as he looked at Gordon, who seemed disappointed.

“Prince, shall we go?”

The old knight Kaplan, who had been serving as Kromen’s escort on this journey, was also his caretaker since birth. He was likely Kromen’s only supporter within the empire.

The fact that Kromen had survived the countles palace conflicts and schemes thus far was likely thanks to Kaplan. One would probably wonder just how much influence an old knight could have, but it wasn’t his skills that mattered—it was his background.

“The south is indeed hot.” Yurin Huygar, the 1st Class priest participating in this expedition at the emperor’s orders, spoke respectfully to Kaplan. Known as the Madman of the Battlefield, Yurin was surprisingly cautious around the old knight, even more so than around Kromen.

This was the power of Kaplan’s background, which was the Church.

“There’s no need for that, Sir Yurin. I’m just a servant here to attend to the prince on this expedition.”

“I know, but it might be because you are here that His Majesty sent me as well,” Yurin said with unusual levity.

“No way. I don’t think so.”

After all, Kaplan had once been touted as the next bishop. But for some reason, he had suddenly left the Church and decided to quietly live out the rest of his life as the guardian of the Third Prince.

Well... It makes things easier for us.

Yurin didn’t know what had happened between him and the emperor, but he thought it was fortunate that Kaplan, who was conservative and rigid, unlike the current bishop, had left the Church.

I’ve heard that he was quite the powerhouse in his days as a 1st Class priest... But at this age, he’s probably just a paper tiger now.

Given that someone as extraordinary as Gordon was in the Guidance Mercenary Gang, people like Yurin and Kaplan felt like ordinary men.

“Prince, shall we proceed?”

Kaplan stood by Kromen, holding a large umbrella to shield him from the scorching sun. Following behind was Tiren MacGovern.

“Brother, what are you thinking about?” Elliot asked in a low voice.

“What do you think this combination means?”

“Huh?”

Elliot tilted his head at Tiren’s question.

Mercenaries, the Church, and the royal authority.

Although the Third Prince was the weakest and least influential, this combination of forces gave him more potential and versatility than his two brothers, as the First Prince only had his troops, and the Second Prince only had himself.

Did the emperor hire the Guidance Mercenary Gang just to protect the prince?

Tiren recalled what Gordon had said before coming to the south, that Kromen’s future depended on what he accomplished here. Although he was the son of Kuwell MacGovern, the continent’s greatest swordsman, he was still a young, inexperienced fish with no real allies within the palace.

It’s too heavy of a burden....

But Tiren had to bear it.

“We’ve reached the Digon encampment.”

His worries were momentarily interrupted. The mercenary leading the way pointed to the massive barbarian stronghold.

“Phew...” Tiren let out a low sigh, nervous about his first mission. He had no idea what awaited him there.

***

“It’s you, the so-called Queen of Digon who made us wait.”

Inside the tent, one of the continent’s five strongest individuals voiced his long-held thoughts without a care, even though he was surrounded by hundreds of warriors.

Miliana looked at him.

“Hey, Queen. At the very least, you should start with offering the people who have waited for ten days in this nasty southern heat a seat, not with discussions about deals and payment.”

The atmosphere had changed completely.

Gordon Fabian, walking out of the tent, muttered, “It seems we need to negotiate a bit more.”

***

“...Was that enough?”

“Sure.”

Miliana watched as Kromen’s figure receded into the distance. The crimson sunset was a stark contrast to the suffocating tension from moments earlier.

She heaved a sigh.

“This is unbearable. That monster is completely different from you. His gaze alone made me feel like he’d tear my throat out if I let my guard down for even a second.”

“He’ll come back several more times. He won’t give up that easily,” Karyl said.

“Tch... Having to do this over and over again... It’s exhausting.”

She shook her head.

“The Queen of Digon shouldn’t be whining.”

“Do you know how awful it feels to experience defeat twice in one day?”

“Eh, I’d say only the first time was a true, undeniable defeat. ”

“...You’re just as annoying as ever.”

Karyl leaned against the throne and chuckled at her grumbling. Her ability to recognize and accept the situation without unnecessary explanations remained the same as in her previous life.

Perhaps that was why she could accept such an absurd deal.

I entrusted Randol to her for the same reason.

“It’s tiring. If this continues, we’ll need to renegotiate the amount of Clear Distilled Water you promised us.”

Miliana lay sprawled on her large cushion, visibly spent.

“Be grateful I’m even sharing the Clear Distilled Water with you. Without me, you wouldn’t have gotten it in the first place.”

“Well, honestly, I didn’t expect you to prepare so much Clear Distilled Water. I feel like I’ve been tricked... I thought it was over after Olivurn failed. Did you really plan to use that to strike Digon?”

“It was one of the options.”

Miliana frowned at Karyl, exasperated by his nonchalant attitude.

“So, what’s your plan? Digon has to settle this matter with the empire somehow. Just letting them go like this won’t make both sides simply laugh it off.”

“We’ve let them go precisely to settle the matter.”

“What?”

Miliana shook her head, still unable to grasp Karyl’s intentions. Just how far ahead could he see? She wondered if she could even win in a war against him, let alone a duel.

“One has to be thoroughly prepared to catch big fish.”

“Big fish...?”

Karyl’s eyes gleamed.

“Yes. Kromen will serve as excellent bait.”

Miliana didn’t seem surprised by his plan, but her voice held a hint of annoyance.

“Let me ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“Assuming it’s a secret how you obtained dragon mana, if I learn your dragon magic, can I make that giant kneel before me?”

“You mean Gordon?”

It seemed the earlier confrontation had bruised her pride deeply. She seemed genuinely serious, which made Karyl smile.

“I’ve never fought him, so I can’t make a definitive judgment... but you’re at least the seventh strongest among the continent’s elite, in my opinion.”

“Seventh? What’s with that ambiguous ranking?” Miliana asked, looking dissatisfied with Karyl’s response.

But Karyl gave no answer.

Gordon’s strength was unmatched because he died before you met the Platinum Dragon.

Karyl looked at Miliana with interest.

In my past life, you were one of the five strongest Sword Masters on the continent, aside from myself.

With arms crossed, he continued, “The point is...”

Miliana looked up at Karyl.

“... it’s been too long since the top five positions were set in stone.”

Karyl looked down the path Gordon had taken and declared in a low voice, “It’s time the ranks were changed.”