Chapter 151: I'll Ask You for Your Sins

Ian, aided by Galon, assembled the bomb.

The creator of the bomb, Sir Walter, said this.

“This is my latest creation, a bomb of such high explosive power that it will blow up any building in one fell swoop.”

He emphasized the utmost caution in handling it, stating that even a single bomb could destroy an average mansion.

However, Ian decided to use a total of ten bombs this time.

‘I will reduce it to rubble, erasing every trace.’

Ian felt a pang of guilt towards Nathan, who had a deep connection to the mansion since childhood.

But upon discovering the Marquis of Adelas’ relation to the Fifth Prince, Cesare, Ian deemed it unacceptable.

And then, the bombs detonated.

Boom! Boom! Boom!n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The grand and historically significant mansion of Marquis Adelas began to collapse in a breathtaking manner, leaving no stone unturned.

But Ian’s preparations didn’t end there.

“Have you arrived yet?”

[We have arrived.]

“This way, Sir Fiosen.”

Fiosen, accompanied by the blue wolf Ian had requested from the Duke of Lavaltor, had finally arrived.

However, acquiring their assistance had not been an easy task.

Ian recalled the conversation he had with the Duke in the secret space.

[You wish to borrow the blue wolf?]

“Yes.”

[Why should I grant you such a favor?]

Duke Lavaltor’s voice was cold.

He seemed to have heard about canceling the marriage with his daughter in the audience hall and Ian marrying the princess of Cantum.

Ian smiled confidently.

“Do you truly care about the nonsense people are babbling?”

[Nonsense?]

“Indeed. Do you genuinely believe I would choose an unknown princess over the beautiful and wise Lady of Lavaltor?”

[…]

“I will become the King of Kaistein, not some insignificant kingdom like Cantum. And I will go down in history as a greater king than anyone else, including the unification of the continent. For that, I need Lavaltor’s help.”

[The greatest king in the unification of the continent? Sounds ridiculous.]

“Well, we shall see. Have you not witnessed my accomplishments thus far?”

[Who exactly is talking nonsense? Watch your words.]

Thus, the troops sent by the Duke of Lavaltor arrived.

Ian concealed his younger sister, the saintess, among the Blue Wolf.

However, Fiosen, who recognized her, was unusually surprised.

It was because he had never heard any talk of the saintess being kidnapped.

“Your Highness, wait a moment. This person is…”

“I’ll explain everything later, Sir Fiosen.”

“For now, let’s make sure no one else sees her. I’ll get a robe to cover her face.”

Fiosen proved to be a perceptive knight beyond Ian’s expectations.

While veiling the saintess’s face with a robe, he enlisted the help of burly knights to keep her hidden.

And now, Ian could confront Marquis Adelas in front of the crumbling mansion.

As soon as the Marquis spotted Ian, he erupted in anger.

“What is the meaning of this? How dare you intrude into my mansion and surround me!”

“Please calm down, Marquis.”

“Could it be that you are responsible for the destruction of my mansion as well? And now, a person who should be in the palace is here,” the Marquis accused.

Even though the butler tried to intervene, the Marquis’s anger did not subside.

Ian’s timing for appearing seemed impeccable, and he couldn’t help but smirk in response.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“What?”

“I have come here under the orders of His Majesty to apprehend the criminals.”

“What is the meaning of this…?”

Contrary to the bewildered Marquis, Ian raised his sword while raiding the Blue Emperor and gave an order.

“Apprehend the criminals.”

“!”

Marquis Adelas was shocked.

It was no jest.

Following Ian’s command, Fiosen and the blue wolf, the direct knights of Lavaltor, began to move.

They were determined to subdue him and take him away immediately.

Naturally, Marquis Adelas had no intentions of meekly surrendering.

“Sir Fiosen! What is the meaning of this? Did the Duke of Lavaltor order you to do this?”

“I am merely following the prince’s orders.”

Adelas started to lose his composure at Fiosen’s words.

“How dare you treat me in this manner, even if you are from the Duke of Lavaltor? Are you attempting to defy me by hiding behind the Seventh Prince?”

“I am merely following orders.”

“Absurd! How dare you commit such an ignoble act against the Marquis himself…”

Though he may not possess the same level of influence as a duke, Adelas belonged to the esteemed noble lineage of Adelas.

He retained certain rights of self-defense, as long as he did not become a grave criminal. Neither the royal family nor the king themselves held the authority to infringe upon his territory. Marquis Adelas raised his hand.

“This is the territory of the Adelas family. What are you doing, letting these insolent dogs roam freely?”

At Adelas’s command, the knights of the family raised their swords.

Despite the sudden collapse of the mansion, they were in a good enough state to fight, with only a few injured or trapped.

Marquis Adelas stood confidently, thinking, ‘Although they are not on par with the blue wolf, they are a knight order made up of renowned knights. Do they think they will be easily defeated?’

As the leader of one of the four major factions, Adelas had invested significant effort in establishing the knight order.

He didn’t make his son a knight for nothing.

The knight order instantly protected Marquis Adelas and confronted the swords.

Clang!

They stood resolute, presenting an imposing and menacing front against the Blue Wolf.

Moreover, Adelas’s defeat was not theirs alone.

“Protect the Marquis!”

“Protect the Cardinal!”

Adelas’s personal guards, the priests of Cardinal Cesare, and even those who seemed to be servants all appeared armed.

The tide quickly turned in terms of numbers.

“How dare you cause a disturbance in my mansion?”

Ian sensed the resolve within him, refusing to stay idle. Yet, Ian couldn’t help but sneer.

“Mansion? Where exactly is this ‘mansion?’”

When Ian made a comment while looking at the rubble, Marquis Adelas’s eyes turned bloodshot.

“Now… are you mocking me?”

Even the King of Eloin shows respect to his long-established mansion.

How could the Seventh Prince act so audaciously?

“I am the Marquis of Kaistein, a noble in this country. Regardless of whether you are the King of Bahara or the ruler of a small province, such reckless behavior is unacceptable.”

“Reckless?”

“My mansion collapsed, and in this chaotic situation, you are trying to forcefully arrest me…”

“Forcefully?” Ian burst into laughter but abruptly stopped, his voice now filled with anger. “I will arrest you, the Marquis, and Cardinal Cesare as assassins of the saintess.”

“What?”

“We received an urgent tip-off. It said that you were destroying the mansion to assassinate the saintess.”

“Who in the world would do such a thing?”

This mansion is the pride of the Adelas family, a loyal and esteemed lineage.

It was never meant to be used for such a heinous act.

“Even more so, it is unheard of to arrest nobles of the country for matters concerning the saintess.”

“Marquis Adelas, in case you hadn’t realized.”

“What…?”

“The saintess mentioned that she had a message to deliver to our kingdom as an envoy of the Holy Empire. That makes her an esteemed guest of our royal family.”

“!”

Marquis Adelas quickly glanced at Cesare.

Cesare, of course, had a bewildered expression and shook his head.

It was a story they were both unaware of.

However, Ian smiled openly.

“Well, then, let me ask. Where is the saintess right now?”

“!”

“I suppose you can’t answer. That’s because the mansion was used to bury her in the ground.”

Marquis Adelas and Cardinal Cesare’s expressions subtly twisted upon hearing Ian’s words.

“That’s a misunderstanding. She… she couldn’t escape…”

“The saintess was trying to evacuate us first…”

A flustered Cesare looked in the direction of the mansion.

“That’s right. This is not the time for discussion. The saintess is blessed by the gods. If we act quickly, we can save her.”

“Blessed by the gods?”

“In moments of crisis, a protective barrier manifests around her. She can sustain it for a considerable amount of time. If we hurry…”

“Is that so?”

Cesare was momentarily startled, noticing the ominous expression in Ian’s eyes as he looked at him.

It was as if Ian held a deep-seated grudge against Cesare, as if he had lost his own family because of him.

‘Why… why does he look at me like that?’

Ian spoke in a cold voice.

“Isn’t it strange? Even if the saintess has such power, why is it that you, as a cardinal, are not by her side and are here alone?”

“!”

All eyes turned to Cesare in an instant, a natural reaction considering the hierarchy in the Holy Empire, where the Pope held the highest position and the saintess came next.

The cardinals were meant to assist and protect them.

For someone of Cesare’s stature to leave the saintess behind and appear alone raised suspicions among both followers and non-followers of the Church of the Sun.

“That… that’s because I was in a state of panic during the chaos…”

“Panic? A person who proclaims himself a candidate for the pope?”

The murmurs spread rapidly throughout the crowd.

“What? Cardinal Cesare is a candidate for the Pope?”

“Someone like that abandoned the saintess and fled alone?”

“Come to think of it, there are priests who haven’t been seen among those who came with us… Could it be that he left them all behind as well?”

Cesare was greatly taken aback by the gazes directed at him.

‘This crazy guy. Why bring that up here?’

The fact that he was a candidate for Pope should have been a secret known only to the nobles. It was meant to be used as a means to manipulate the nobles.

But to reveal it in such a crowded place… especially with the citizens who had gathered here due to the mansion collapsing.

‘If I’m not careful, the Pope might take action first.’

Knowing it through Marquis Adelas was one thing, but being exposed to the world was another.

The Pope might move against him to silence him.

That’s why Cesare had a livid expression.

‘I need to bury this secret, even if it means killing everyone here.’

Of course, to achieve that, he had to save the saintess first.

‘Act as if I’m trying to save her and seize the opportunity.’

In the end, Cesare, who had no other choice, bit his lip and spoke.

“I will accept the guilt of failing to protect the saintess. However, if we don’t hurry, the saintess’s life will be in danger.”

“Right.”

“We must mobilize the soldiers… the people. Without their help, even with the gods’ blessing, the lack of air will suffocate the saintess.”

“You’re right. We need to rescue her urgently.”

“!”

The chilling gazes from Ian gave Cesare and Marquis Adelas a momentary pause.

‘Why the hell is he acting like this?’

Ian seemed far too relaxed in a situation that demanded swift action to save the saintess. However, they soon understood his motive.

Thud!

A single object landed in front of them.

“What’s this?”

“Why a shovel?”

At first, neither of them comprehended its purpose.

Ian let out a wry smile.

“Now, hurry and save the saintess.”

“!”

Is he asking them to dig up the ground?

Marquis Adelas and Cesare exclaimed in surprise, raising their voices.

“What a lowly…”

“W-what are you doing, why would we?”

“What is the meaning of this? Why us?”

Ian said with a menacing tone.

“I have given you an opportunity to prove that you did not kill the saintess with your own hands. Otherwise… will you confess to the crime of murdering the saintess?”

If you want, I can slit your throats right now.

Ian’s gaze clearly conveyed that message.

But Ian’s words didn’t end there.

“If you wish, I will carry out my original order. Otherwise, you will have to prove that you did not kill the saintess with your own hands.”

“What the…!”

“I said it clearly. No one should assist these two. They have to prove on their own that they are innocent of the saintess’s murder.”

“!!”

Ian’s words made the two individuals turn their heads.

They were standing amidst the wreckage of a collapsed five-story mansion.

Surely he doesn’t expect them to dig through all of that by themselves?

The faces of the two froze.

***

‘Brother…’

The saintess hid among the knights and observed everything that was happening.

Her gaze was one of disbelief.

It was inevitable.

‘To… to handle such a despicable man like that.’

It was because Ian effortlessly dealt with Cesare, whom she thought was a demon.

And at this moment, she was finally free.

Thanks to Ian, she was able to escape the constant surveillance of Cesare and the Holy Empire.

But it wasn’t all over.

‘Our mother is being held captive by them.’

Just then.

“Are you okay?”

Ian approached her.

The blue wolf kept a watchful eye on the people clearing the mansion’s wreckage.

In a separate building, the two of them could have a conversation without interference.

“I must return to the Holy Empire as soon as possible. If it becomes known that I am absent… our mother’s life…”

The saintess appeared anxious.

She had glimpsed her own fate and feared that her captors might dispose of her mother, who was now deemed useless to them.

It would be a natural course of action for them.

But Ian smiled and reassured her.

“Don’t worry. That’s why my people are taking action.”

“But…”

“It will take time for them to find you, who is believed to be buried under the mansion. Before that happens, I promise I will locate our mother. That’s why they’re digging.”

“Then…”

Ian chuckled at her expression.

In truth, he had arranged for Fiosen to conduct a blood test on the saintess to determine if they were truly siblings and if she was the princess of Kaistein.

‘Well, it appears highly likely that we are siblings.’

Fiosen, who had attempted the blood test, was greatly shocked by the results and promised to return with official documents after a retest in a larger facility.

Ian stated firmly, “I will make those who have tormented you and harmed our mother pay for their sins.”

The destruction of the mansion was only the beginning.

Adelas and everyone in the Holy Empire would face Ian’s wrath.

But before that, Ian had one more question to ask.

“But what is your name?”

“I am…”

She answered shyly.