âMm.â
Simon gulped the silence.
His happy face had now become dark.
âThat more monsters that appeared until now will pour out?â
âYes. Based on what was analyzed by the information squad, it seems like there will be at least 5 times more monsters.â
Roan replied calmly.
He knew that the final exodus happened in the last 3 days thanks to the memories of his past life.
Thanks to that, making up the information and convincing Simon wasnât a difficult thing.
âWill you be able to stop it?â
Coming straight to the point.
Roan nodded.
âThere are no problems.â
It was true.
You wouldnât know if you got done by while not knowing, but in a situation where you knew it would happen, the preparations for it had already been finished.
Only, what had Roan worried wasnât the region of Tale.
âWe have to notify the other regions.â
âRight. We should.â
Simon smiled faintly and nodded.
Right now, he wasnât only in charge of the region of Tale that was located at the north of the lake.
At least for the other nobles supporting him, there was a need to notify of this a bit quicker.
But what Roan wanted didnât amount to only that.
He took in a breath for a moment and then carefully spoke.
âWe also have to notify the sides of the 2nd and 3rd princes.â
âMm?â
Simon frowned one brow.
Roan quickly added.
âThe two princes will also think that the stir of the monsters has ended. And naturally, the defenses will also be sloppy. In this situation, if 5 times the number of monsters appear, the region around the lake will become a mess. And the citizens that were relieved will also suffer great damages.â
âMm.â
Simon gulped the silence.
âThose things are important even when the competition for the throne is happening?â
He knew that Roan had great interest in the lives and livings of the citizens, as a commoner troop commander.
But he hadnât expected that he would worry about their safety in this situation.
âIf Tommy and Kallum canât react properly to it, they suffer a big blow and I become more advantageous.â
It was true that Simon was more open minded about ranks than other nobles.
But for this, he was an ambitious person.
To climb on the throne, he would do even the cruelest and terrible choices.
âEven so, thereâs no need to make Roan feel bad here.â
Roan was really outstanding.
He was someone he had to bring with him until he climbed to the throne.
Simon erased the displeased look and put a faint smile.
âI understand. I will send a message to my two brothers.â
âThank you.â
Roan was still bowing, so he didnât realize the change of expression in Simon.
âThen, I will be going now.â
There were many things he had to do with the final exodus in front of him.
Roan saluted and then got out of the room.
âWhew.â
Simon let out a long sigh.
The escorting knight, Ralph Tains that was behind him, asked in a low voice.
âWill you really send the message?â
At those words, Simon snorted.
âHmph. I canât do that. For me, itâs the perfect opportunity. As we have to trick Roanâs eyes, just pretend to send it.â
âYes. I understand.â
Ralph bowed and got out of the room after replying.
Simon, that got left alone, fell in his thoughts.
âRoan. Your insight and ability is outstanding, and you treat your underlings really well. On top of that, you have a good heart and even love the citizens. Butâ¦â¦â
That kind of temperament was only suitable in times of peace.
âYou will have to get dirty a bit.â
If that wasnât the case, he may stand up against him in the final point.
Simon closed his eyes.
âRoan. At least until I become the king, stay next to me.â
After that?
That was something only Simon knew.
*****
âThen. They are trusting you without any doubts?â
âYes. They are.â
A handsome youth and a middle aged man were sharing a conversation in a low voice.
The youth was the 3rd prince of Rinse kingdom, Kallum Rinse, and the man was surprisingly enough one of the spies of Tommy Rinse, viscount Jonathan Chase.
âBrother Tommy acts all intelligent but heâs a really sloppy person. Hahaha.â
âIf it wasnât only for duke Edwin Voisa, he would have already been eliminated from the competition for the throne.â
A fishy smile appeared in Jonathanâs mouth.
His eyes were certainly smiling, but a kind of cold feeling.
Tommy wouldnât be imagining it at all.
That Jonathan that proposed joining hands with Kallum Rinse was actually a spy of Kallum.
âPrince.â
Jonathanâs nose frowned.
Kallumâs eyes shone.
âIt seems like you have thought of something good?â
He knew that every time Jonathan had something good in mind he frowned his nose.
And Jonathan nodded.
âThere are two spies in the camp of the 1st prince that belong to the 2nd prince.â
âI know that.â
âAnd there are also two in our side.â
âRight.â
Kallum thought of the nobles he had won over to his side and nodded.
Jonathanâs voice became more covert.
âSend a letter to them and slightly spill the identity of the spies of the 2nd prince.â
âOh!â
Kallum let out a low exclamation.
Jonathan continued speaking.
âIf rumours enter the eyes of the 1st prince, then he wonât stay still at all.â
âRight. He would make a fuss to cut the heads of those bastards.â
At Kallumâs words, the smile in Jonathanâs mouth became even more fishy.
âAnd the spies of the 2nd prince wouldnât just stay still.â
âMake the two sides fight each other?â
âYes. We are just watching how the fight proceeds.â
A weird laugh was heard.
Kallum hit his knees with his hands.
âGood. Operate it right away.â
âYes! Just leave it to me.â
Jonathan bowed deeply.
An ambitious fire appeared in his cold eyes.
âThe one to become the next king is the 3rd prince.â
Abilities or quality wasnât important at all.
The only one among the 3 princes that could do as they pleased was Kallum.
And among the nobles of Rinse, the one with the most ambitions could be Jonathan.
No, perhaps, his ambition would be the same as Simonâs.
*****
A night which had a blue moon.
The final exodus started.
The first day really resembled hell.
The monsters that pour out of the lake with cries.
They overflowed out of the lake as if the were really excited, no, perhaps stricken in fear.
But the northern region of Poskein lake had solid preparations thanks to Roan.
Arrows poured over the heads of the monsters that appeared from the lake.
At the same time, fire surged up from their feet.
But this wasnât the end.
Tens, hundreds of oil barrels floated over the lake.
The monsters that tried to get out of the water couldnât move freely and had their legs tied up.
And above them, long spears that were set on fire flew.
Babang!
Poskein lake became a sea of fire with a loud explosion.
A really perfect defense.
Even so, the monsters pouring out of the lake started to push the defensive lines little by little and charged to the ground.
The number of monsters was that overwhelming.
But Roan didnât confront them head on.
They repeated hitting and backing away, and lead the really excited monsters to traps and the troopâs bases.
Thanks to that, the monsters couldnât resist properly and started to get exterminated little by little by the surprise attacks and traps.
âItâs Amaranth troop!â
âOpen the gates!â
The guards that were left on Mediasis village yelled with all their strength.
They had discovered Amaranth troop approaching from the end of the south plains.
And Roan was at the front of them.
âAmaranth! Amaranth!â
âRoan! Roan!â
Amaranth troop put behind the pouring cheers and went to the HQ located at the center of the village.
Roan and Amaranth troop, that should be facing the monsters at the front lines had appeared.
That was because of Simonâs call.
âWhat happened so suddenly?â
Roan looked at the building in the center and tilted his head.
Although he was blocking the monsters well, it wasnât a situation that he could have some leisure.
Thanks to that, he had left his main force in the front and came with only two companies.
âHave some rest and reorganize your stuff.â
âYes. Understoodâ
Roan laid the order to the troop members and went to Simonâs office.
It was the first visit since he came to report about the final exodus some days ago.
âMm. You finally came.â
Simon raised his head with a stiff expression.
âIt seems like itâs a really serious thingâ¦â¦â
Roan looked at Simonâs expression and took in a deep breath.
Originally Simon was roughless and magnanimous.
He had never seen an expression like this before.
âI came after receiving your call.â
Roan stood in front of Simon and saluted.
Simon gave him some papers instead.
âRead it.â
Roan slowly read down the contents in the paper.
âMm.â
âJust whatâ¦â¦â
The paper was a kind of letter.
It was sent by baron Elton Coat that was in charge of the northern boundary.
âThat baron Luke Aip and baron Mito Posis are spies for the 2nd princeâ¦â¦â
Surprisingly enough, Elton revealed the identities of the spies Tommy Rinse planted through the letter.
On top of that, he even added proof that they were working for the 2nd prince.
âWhat do you think?â
Simon was locking his fingers while lowering his head a bit.
He couldnât see his expression but it felt rough and heavy, as if his voice would explode at any time.
âI wonderâ¦â¦â
Roan paused the last words.
It wasnât because he couldnât be certain or not about Eltonâs words being true.
âRight 2 days ago, we could grasp the identity of the spies of the 2nd prince through the agency.â
The names of the spies Chris confirmed were Luke Aip and Mito Posis.
It coincided with the contents of Eltonâs letter.
But the problem.
âIs that baron Elton Coat is a spy working for the 3rd prince.â
The side of the 3rd prince had revealed the identity of the 2nd prince.
Roan thought that this would have some kind of meaning.
âOn top of that, we still couldnât find the spy hiding in the side of the 3rd prince.â
According to the analysis of the agency, there should be one more.
Because of several reasons like this he couldnât make any decision.
âIn my eyes, they seem true.â
Simonâs voice.
It was still rough and heavy.
Roan placed down the paper and replied.
âEven so, I will have to investigate myself to know.â
He showed a careful reaction for now.
One brow of Simon twisted.
âReally? Then, will you go talk to him yourself?â
And then, he shook his right hand.
Ralph Tains, that was at standing at the back, fell back and then appeared with another middle aged man that had a familiar face.
âBaron Elton Coat.â
The man with a nervous expression was the one that sent the letter and the one defending the northern villages because of Roanâs orders, Elton.
Simon stood up and made a gesture with his chin.
âRoan. If you have something to ask, do it now. If those results end up getting revealed as truthâ¦â¦â
His eyes got bloodshot.
âI will behead Luke and Mito myself.â
At that moment, a nasty murderous intent was felt.
Roan breathed quickly and slowly blinked.
âAnyways, Elton Coat is also a spy.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
He was planning to reveal the spies of the 3rd prince through this opportunity.
And to do that, there was a need to protect Luke and Mito for now.
âThereâs nothing more ridiculous than a spy with their identity exposed.â
Roan chewed down his lips and looked at Elton.
âSir baron Coat. How did you know that these two people are working for another prince?â
âThatâ¦â¦â
Elton paused for a moment and then started to answer with clear words.
âI realized it after I started to defend the villages in the north with Luke Aip along with you. As we were quite close, I started to see some strange things.â
âSpecifically?â
âHe started to send letters with baron Mito Posis, who he didnât have any relationship with, and people came to find him from outside Tale region.â
Half was true and half was a lie.
Luke and Mito had never sent and received letters.
Only, there were some times that people sent by the 2nd prince Tommy came to find Luke.
The agency and the information squad didnât miss that and it was revealed that Mito Posis was the other noble hidden as a spy after he started to show similar actions.
Roan, that already knew everything, asked back in a calm expression.
âIf you see this, here is every letter sent by the 2nd prince and baron Luke Aip, so how did you get this?â
âWhile I was patrolling I discovered a suspicious person and so, caught him. But this came out of his chest.â
This was a clear truth.
âActually, viscount Jonathan Chase should have sent a separate one.â
Elton put a smile.
Roan kept asking several things in detail after that.
And every time, Elton answered with confidence and not a hint of hesitation.
Just as if he had already prepared and memorized it.
Then.
Bang!
Simon, that was looking this at the side, couldnât hold it anymore and hit down the table.
His face was red.
âRoan. If itâs this much, thereâs no need to listen to it anymore!â
His voice trembled.
A look he was forcefully holding back his rage.
âI will immediately slay down this trash like bastard!â
A storm like intent came rushing in.
âFine. Done. Good.â
Elton yelled out of delight.
But it was lacking with this.
âI will also have to spill this in the side of Aip and Posis.â
If he didnât do so, there was a high possibility for this to get cleaned up easily.
âIt will end when the prince calls them to the HQ and captures them.â
That wasnât what Elton and the 3rd prince Kallum wanted.
âThey have to clash swords and fight. Kukuk.â
It was funny just thinking about it.
Then, Roan that was silent, said in a calm voice.
âThatâs impossible.â
At that moment, the cold atmosphere became even colder.
Simonâs face contorted with rage.
âWhat did you say right now?â
âPrince, think of the order of things. Monsters 5 times the normal amount are pouring out. For now, wait until the subjugation ends.â
Roan looked at Simonâs eyes fixedly.
âIf we get rid of them now, we wonât be able to find the spy of the 3rd prince.â
The moment the neck of the 2nd princeâs spies get cut off, the other spies will all be able to live.
âIf baron Aip and baron Posis resist roughly, our entire force will break up. And in the end, we will take a blow by the monsters.â
âMm.â
Simon gulped the silence with an uncomfortable expression.
He didnât like that he had to wait to get rid of the traitors that served him by his side and not be able to do it immediately.
But Roanâs words were true for several things.
âEven if we do catch Luke and Mito, they can revel themselvesâ¦â¦â
As he saw that Simon was calming down his rage, Roan nailed down a wedge.
âFour days!â
ââ¦â¦â
âI will end up the subjugation in exactly 4 days!â
Roanâs expression was
There was now 2 days remaining in the final exodus.
If he took a day to take care of the remnants and another day to retrieve the battlefield the subjugation would end.
âFine. Roan. I will do as you say. Insteadâ¦â
Ududuk.
Sound of teeth gritting was heard.
âI wonât kill them that easily.â
Elton, that was looking at that, frowned.
âDamn! That damned bastard!â
His sight moved over to Roan.
His plans that were about to succeed became foam.
âBastards that isnât helpful at allâ¦â¦â¦â
When he thought up to that point.
Roan smiled bitterly and looked at Elton.
âBaron Coat, keep checking on the actions of baron Luke Aip.â
Elton hid his thoughts and nodded.
âI understand. I will check on him carefully.â
Elton nodded with a resolute expression.
A damnful act.
âI have to reveal the spy of the 3rd prince the quickest possible.â
He had to urge the agency and the information squad.
There were only 4 days that remained.
âThen iâm taking care of Luke, Mito and Elton and the remaining one at the same time.â
Roanâs eyes shone.
Complicated plans were raised consecutively in his head.
End
Translator: Subak
Proofreader: st8_lupe.