Chapter 194: Go On Ahead and Wait (2)


    Count Cabaldi could not hide his confusion as he met Ghiin’s gaze.


    It was not the look of a victor. Instead, his eyes brimmed with unexinable hatred and fury.


    That made it even harder to understand.


    He had no prior enmity with this brat. At most, it was something to be cultivated in the future.


    Count Cabaldi blinked his eyes wildly and asked,


    “You… you didn’t attack this ce out of mere greed, did you? Then tell me—what’s your purpose in targeting me?”


    “There are plenty of purposes. One of them is to kill you here.”


    “Ha! Ha-ha-ha! Kill me? And then what? Do you think you and your father will get away unscathed? Your family and estate will be obliterated, not a de of grass left behind!”


    “You seem quite confident.”


    “Of course, I am. So retreat now, while you can. You know who’s behind me. The Royal Faction won’t be able to protect you.”


    Count Cabaldi sneered as he continued, his words dripping with mockery.


    “I acknowledge your skills and wit. But you’re still young; you seem tock a proper understanding of politics. The ducal families won’t just sit by. If you kill me, things will spiral out of control.”


    “…….”


    “This is yourst chance. Spare me, and I’ll promise to cede half of the region’s iron ore production over the next twenty years during the surrender negotiations.”


    Ghiin listened silently to the count’s desperate plea.


    Count Cabaldi was certain Ghiin would ept his proposal.


    Though he had lost this war, he remained a member of the Ducal Faction and a highly respected noble of the North.


    If Baron Fenris were to seize this territory, he would inevitably face indigestion. The other nobles, especially the ducal families, would never let it pass quietly.


    Even a fool could deduce that much.


    “Sparing me would be far more beneficial to you than killing me. No matter how divided the factions may be, there’s nothing to gain from executing a surrendering noble. And it’s half, mind you! Half of the iron ore production!”


    If Ghiin had been an ordinary noble, and if this war had been a mere dispute, he might have epted these terms.


    It would alleviate the political burden while granting immense profits. The prestige of defeating a northern powerhouse would be an added bonus.


    However, Ghiin had note here with such calctions in mind.


    “What’s wrong? Do you think it doesn’t matter because a civil war is inevitable?”


    “What, what?”


    Count Cabaldi was flustered. The fact that the Ducal Faction was preparing for rebellion was a secret that could not be openly acknowledged.


    The ongoing conflict with the Royal Faction had been intensifying, and while they likely had some inkling of this, there was no way they could outright admit it.


    “What… What kind of dangerous nonsense are you spouting? Factional disputes are nothing more than petty power struggles…”


    “Don’t y dumb with me, Count Cabaldi. Did you really think I wouldn’t know?”


    “W-what are you saying…?”


    “That the so-called neutral Count Desmond is devouring northern territories one by one under the orders of the Duke’s family.”


    “W-what…?”


    Count Cabaldi’s face turned pale with shock. How could this man be so certain of something that even the Royal Faction hadn’t confirmed?


    But Ghiin wasn’t done yet.


    “Do you think I’m merely guessing? Shall I go on? How about the fact that the Scarlet Tower is the Duke’s hidden weapon? Raised specifically to stab the Royal Faction in the back when the time is right.”


    “You… you…”


    “And the n to incite rebellion within Raypold and take control of it? Not to mention supplying Amelia with iron ore and arming her forces.”


    “W-what…”


    “Over half of the northern lords have already fallen under Count Desmond’s control without even realizing it. Their retainers have been bribed, and their weaknesses exploited.”


    “Y-you… Who are you? How do you…?”


    Count Cabaldi shivered, his entire body covered in goosebumps.


    This wasn’t conjecture. This man knew every scheme Count Desmond had orchestrated over the years.


    Ghiin fixed Count Cabaldi with a piercing re and continued.


    “Surrender negotiations? Twenty years? Did you think I wouldn’t see through your n to strike Ferdium after cutting off the supply of iron ore, crushing us, and enving everyone?”


    Count Cabaldi felt his head go nk under Ghiin’s prating gaze.


    He now understood why his opponent was looking at him with such murderous intent.


    Anyone would feel the same toward someone plotting to annihte them.


    ‘But how does he know? Do we have a traitor on our side? No matter what, this man is dangerous. He must die. I have to kill him, no matter what.’


    Baron Fenris had information on ns even the Royal Faction hadn’t fully grasped. Their schemes werepletely exposed.


    This revtion needed to reach the Duke’s family at all costs. Otherwise, there was a risk they would end up dancing to the other side’s tune.


    ‘Wait? If I y this right, I might be able to…’


    After briefly reeling in confusion, Count Cabaldi’s eyes glinted with newfound resolve.


    The ns were exposed. So what?


    Their faction was the strongest in the kingdom. Such underhanded schemes could easily be crushed with sheer power.


    He, possessing a keen sense of political acumen, quickly adopted a servile smile and spoke.


    “Well, you are indeed a clever one. You’re right. I don’t know how you figured all this out, but given the circumstances, I’ll give you onest chance.”


    “A chance?”


    “I’ll take it as a show of force to demonstrate your abilities. If you’re as smart as you seem, then you must understand the power of the Duke’s family… No, there’s no need to go that far. You’re surely aware of Count Desmond’s strength.”


    Ghiin smiled silently. In the North, was there anyone who didn’t know the might of Count Desmond?


    Seeing that smile, Count Cabaldi grew even more confident and continued.


    “I will personally inform His Grace, the Duke, of your exceptional abilities. Join the Duke’s family. If you do, both you and your father will be spared, and you’ll enjoy evesting wealth and glory. What do you think? Will you join us?”


    Count Cabaldi was convinced Ghiin wouldn’t refuse this proposal.


    The fact that Ghiin knew their secret ns meant he was also well aware of their power.


    If he truly wanted to live, he had no choice but to ept their offer. There was no other way.


    Ghiin released Count Cabaldi’s hair and straightened his posture, making the count naturally look up at him.


    Though this situation didn’t sit well with Count Cabaldi, now was the time to pacify this insolent brat.


    Ghiin nodded and spoke.


    “Of course, I know well how powerful and extraordinary Count Desmond is here in the North. There’s no need to go all the way to the Duke’s family.”


    “Haha, as expected, you’re a smart one. I’ll overlook your rudeness today. From now on, we’ll join forces and rule the North together. Now, undo these restraints and help me stand.”


    Count Cabaldi smiled. No matter how capable, a brat was still a brat.


    This young man would be exploited until he was discarded. But for now, he was alive. He just needed to bide his time and find a chance to repay today’s humiliation.


    As Ghiin looked down at Count Cabaldi, his voice turned icy.


    “But I have no intention of joining hands with you.”


    “What?”


    “Why bother with something soplicated when I can just kill you all?”


    “What nonsense are you saying…?”


    Whoosh!


    Count Cabaldi’s sentence hadn’t even ended before Ghiin’s sword moved like lightning.


    Even as his head flew through the air, Count Cabaldi’s face remained frozen in shock and confusion.


    Before his consciousnesspletely faded, Ghiin’s final words reached his ears.


    “Go ahead and wait in hell. I’ll send Count Desmond to join you soon enough.”


    * * *


    Bang!


    The armrest of the chair shattered under the fist of Harold, Count Desmond.


    His expression was cold, as though he was desperately suppressing his rage.


    The suffocatingly heavy atmosphere bore down on the gathered retainers in the hall, silencing all of them.


    After a moment of silence, Harold directed his gaze at the lieutenant standing before him.


    “Say it again.”


    “Baron Fenris has…unched a surprise attack on Count Cabaldi and surrounded him. Currently, Baron Fenris has deployed three thousand troops…”


    The lieutenant repeated the detailed report on the current situation.


    Harold, who listened with a terrifyingly stern expression, soon closed his eyes.


    For once, he didn’t ridicule or dismiss Ghiin as he usually would. He simply suppressed his seething anger and silently reflected on everything that had led to this point.


    Although he was furious enough to want to destroy everything, he had no choice but to conserve even that strength for now.


    ‘Was my judgment wrong?’


    He had considered Ghiin a lesser priority, someone annoying but easily crushed when the time came.


    But looking back now, was it merely Harold’s refusal to admit his own failure, writing it off as Ghiin having good luck?


    In truth, nothing Ghiin had aplished could be considered ordinary.


    He had pioneered the Forest of Beasts, triumphed in the Battle of Ferdium’s Workshop, developed cosmetics, secured the support of the Royal Faction, and even purchased food in massive quantities as if he had foreseen the drought.


    While Harold had been focused elsewhere, Ghiin had steadily advanced, growing at a terrifying pace.


    ‘This was my mistake. There’s no one else to me.’


    When Raul’s assessment came to him, he should have taken it more seriously. He should have eliminated Ghiin, even if it came with great risk.


    Even now, Harold maintained that Ghiin’s sess was more due to luck than skill. Predicting weather was impossible for anyone.


    It was merely coincidence that Ghiin’s actions aligned with the migrant n, leading to his massive sess.


    ‘But he’s not a man of luck alone.’


    It was time to admit it. Luck only favors those with the capability to seize it.


    Ghiin didn’t let that luck slip away. Instead, he struck Count Cabaldi at a perfect moment. That level of judgment and decisiveness was no product of mere fortune.


    Harold’s mind turned cold.


    ‘A wolf that bites into its opponent’s weakness.’


    Count Cabaldi certainly possessed a formidable force of armored soldiers.


    However, in a state of starvation, he wouldn’t dare to take the fight outside. One defeat would spell his end.


    Instead, he would likely barricade himself in his castle, waiting for reinforcements.


    ‘Count Cabaldi cannot withstand a siege.’


    The Cabaldi estate had always struggled with food supply issues. There was no way they had reserves sufficient to endure a prolonged war.


    Normally, Harold would have sentrge quantities of provisions to support them. However, all the stored supplies had already been sold off to Ghiin, leaving them too preupied with stabilizing their own situation.


    They needed to resolve their own internal issues before they could consider aiding others.


    And in that brief gap, Ghiin had struck.


    ‘Yes, it’s all because of him.’


    Because of one brat, everything had started to unravel. What began as a small disruption had spiraled into an uncontroble mess.


    It meant Harold had misjudged the situation’s importance.


    ‘I wascent. Both I and the ducal family.’


    Raul had warned him about Ghiin, but Harold had dismissed it as less critical than Amelia’s matter.


    Everyone had underestimated him, and now the consequences of that disdain had snowballed into a significant burden.


    ‘He even has the Royal Faction backing him. I need topletely crush him before he grows any further.’


    The northern region, which had fallen into chaos, had to be reorganized. With that in mind, Harold decided to prioritize matters ording to his judgment.


    Regardless of the ducal family’s orders.


    There was no need to report his decision. Submitting a report and waiting for a new discussion would take far too much time.


    Looking at the lieutenant before him, Harold asked again.


    “Amelia said before… if given permission, she would take care of preparing and executing the rebellion on her own, correct?”


    “Yes, that is correct.”


    “Tell her to proceed. I will grant her decision-making authority. Tell her to request anything she needs.”


    “Pardon? My lord, wasn’t that the matter the ducal family had designated as the highest priority? Delegating such authority…”


    Harold cut him off with an emotionless tone.


    “From now on, our highest priority will be the destruction of Fenris and Ferdium.”