The Third Prince’s eyebrows shot up as he received word that the youngest prince had arrived in the territory.
‘But how did he manage to arrive so swiftly?’
Yet, the speed of the arrival wasn’t the pressing matter at hand.
His focus shifted to Ian, who seemed surprisingly unharmed.
Turning to the knight behind him, the Third Prince whispered,
“Sir Owen, did you detect any signs of activated traps?”
“No, I heard nothing...”
“A knight of your skill should have sensed something.”
The Third Prince had been nesting in this place for over a month.
And he had created countless traps in case of any intruders.
Among them were expensive traps using magical items.
They were at a level that even the best mercenaries couldn’t easily pass through.
So, he had no choice but to ask.
“How on earth did you manage to pass through the forest? My knights and mercenaries were supposed to be on guard!”
“Oh, those?”
As Ian gestured, Nathan pushed some people down.
Dump.
The Third Prince’s forehead wrinkled.
It was clear that the ones falling down tied up were his own knights who were assigned to guard the area.
“I’m ashamed, my lord.”
“Please kill me.”
Seeing this, the Third Prince’s eyes gleamed.
Those two were among his strongest knights.
There was no way they should have been taken down so easily.
“I didn’t even hear a skirmish. How did this happen...?”
“We walked right into a trap.”
“What?”
The Third Prince furrowed his brow, seeming unable to comprehend the situation.
He couldn’t believe that his own knights had fallen into traps he’d set.
Ian smiled.
“You should be more careful when hiring people.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s simple. The commission you offered was well received by my mercenary group.”
“Your mercenary group?”
Ian’s eyes sparkled.
“Well, not all mercenary groups in this country, but those in the north, south, and west are under my control. I’ve made substantial investments.”
Ping!
A badge flew up from his hand.
It was a badge proving him to be the lord of Helgaia, a symbol of ownership over the mercenary groups.
Ian’s investments had not merely been for the town’s development.
‘The mercenary groups, the shops—all built with my funds.’
Even some residents, including slaves, fell under Ian’s ownership.
To exaggerate slightly, one could say the entirety of Helgaia belonged to him.
No one could evade his gaze within his territory.
The Third Prince quickly realized this.
“No way. Did you actually turn the hidden mercenaries against them? Instruct them to betray?”
“Precisely.”
The Third Prince laughed, intrigued.
“That’s quite a feat. Even mercenaries who prioritize trust above all else can be swayed to betray.”
“Because the master’s orders come before trust.”
The Third Prince’s eyes narrowed at Ian’s words.
“Thanks to you, I was able to keep a good eye on your movements. I also dealt with all the spies you had hidden.”
“Spies too?”
“I found out thanks to someone. Be careful who you trust.”
Ian stepped towards the Third Prince.
“So, now tell me. That important information. What’s the information that could completely turn the tide of the succession war?”
“...”
The Third Prince’s gaze briefly shifted between Ian and Nathan before settling on Ian.
“Fine. Since you’ve come this far, there’s no reason not to tell you.”
“You’re really going to tell me?”
“Of course.”
“That’s unexpected.”
“There’s no reason for it to be unexpected. Anyway, your sister is going to Cantum. And the Fourth Prince and the others are far from the throne.”
Now, only Ian and the Third Prince remained.
The outcome of their confrontation would essentially determine the next successor to the throne.
“I’ve heard that both the king and the other ministers intend to support you as the successor.”
At this rate, the Third Prince would inevitably drift away from the throne.
However, he had crucial information—a piece that could fundamentally change the course of the succession war.
The Third Prince dismissed some of his knights and stepped forward. Ian also tried to move, but Nathan quickly blocked his path.
“Are you insane? What if there’s another trap?”
His shadow began to writhe. It was a special power that no one knew he possessed.
With this power, he could quickly defeat Ian’s knights and even launch a joint attack.
“If it ends with just an even match...”
“It’s not over yet.”
“What?”
As two knights appeared, the forest continued to tremble. A horde emerged from within.
Whoosh!
Mercenaries—dozens, even hundreds of them—stepped out.
Their numbers far exceeded those hired by the Third Prince, Louis.
Each one wielded iron nets and bows, forming a perfect setup to target the knights.
Even the remarkable knights of the Third Prince would struggle against such overwhelming odds.
Ian smirked at the Third Prince.
“So, what will it be, brother? Will you continue, or will you tell me who that person is?”
“Hah...”
No matter how skilled the Third Prince and his knights were, defeating an enemy with this level of preparation would be incredibly difficult.
Instead of a stalemate, they were more likely to be outmatched.
Naturally, the Third Prince frowned.
“Fine. I’ll tell you.”
Soon, he began to speak.
***
Clack. Clack.
Someone was going down into the dark underground prison, and he soon arrived.
“Haverion.”
It was the cell of the Fifth Prince, Haverion.
The man, once a cardinal of the Holy Empire, widened in shock.
“How did you find your way here?”
“The mission ended in failure.”
“I... I apologize.”
Haverion, who had once held the most glorious position, bowed his head with a hardened expression.
“I apologize for disappointing you.”
“...”
Silence enveloped the prison. However, the visitor hadn’t come to punish Haverion; instead, he tossed something.
Thud!
A lump-like object landed. Haverion’s complexion paled upon recognizing it.
“T-This is! Cardinal Cesare’s...”
Haverion couldn’t finish his sentence.
It was obvious why.
What lay before him was none other than the arm of Cardinal Cesare.
The rings dangling from the fingertips were the very ones Cesare had always boasted about. But there was no time to be shocked.
“Absorb his power.”
“B-but, merging that power is forbidden.”
“The circumstances have shifted. Your power is required now, Haverion.”
Gulp.
Haverion swallowed hard.
His [Sacrament] and Cesare’s [Baptism] were originally one power
But they had been divided because they were too powerful.
Yet, he hesitated no longer.
He grasped Cesare’s fleshly arm.
At that instant, a transformation began.
Swoosh.
The patterns on Cesare’s arm began to merge into Haverion.
The once-separated patterns united into a singular inscription.
In an instant, a powerful force seeped into his body.
‘I feel like I can do anything.’
He felt as if he could crush anything in front of him.
It felt like the world was beneath his feet.
But with extreme patience, he suppressed his impulses and bowed to the man before him.
“What must I do?”
“Once your power stabilizes, begin to take control of Kaistein from below.”
“I will obey your command.”
He didn’t utter a word of refusal. He didn’t question why he had to do it either.
Haverion accepted the orders as if they were the most natural course of action.
“What shall be done with the other siblings?”
“Eliminate all except the First Princess.”
At the man’s words, Haverion smiled.
Nevertheless, a surge of instinctual loyalty gripped him.
“Everything is as the eldest brother wishes...”
Haverion bowed his head toward the man who was born from the same womb as him.
Author's Thoughts
Nani?!