Chapter 350.1

The carriage left the castle quietly at night, taking a different path this time. Since many of the safe houses disguised themselves as regular homes, they didn’t want to raise suspicions among those who frequently saw soldiers in the area. Aldrit had been switching his hideout for a while.

Aldrit, trained in stealth, remained in the safe house without drawing attention to himself. Initially, soldiers guarded the surroundings, but following Kasser’s orders, they withdrew, and people disguised as everyday homeowners started coming and going. Their main task wasn’t surveillance but making sure essential supplies were delivered.

Before entering, Eugene and Kasser talked about letting Aldrit listen to their conversation. The Mara and the wanderers had a close connection, so when Aldrit expressed his willingness to join, Eugene proposed, “Aldrit, let’s stick together today.”

She then said to Mara, “Let Aldrit also be part of our conversation.”

Mara nodded in agreement. “That shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Aldrit, we hope you can act as a bridge between the wanderers and us. Among the wanderers, we only know of you and Lima, and Lima won’t be able to move for some time,” Eugene mentioned.

“There’s no one better suited for that role than him. He’s the leader.”

Eugene and Kasser stared at Aldrit in surprise. Aldrit modestly lowered his gaze and said, “I’m still learning from the experienced elders.”

“You’re the leader, so you have the authority,” Mara pointed out.

Aldrit turned to the rat perched on his shoulder and grumbled softly, “Our rule is consensus; I can’t make decisions on my own as the chief.”

Eugene exclaimed, “Impressive, Aldrit. If you’re the chief… you’re basically the king of the tribe, right? I’ve been mistaken all this time.”

Aldrit raised his hands in surprise, saying, “No, Your Majesty, please don’t exaggerate. Take back your kind words.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“This guy could be my replacement,” Mara boasted.

Aldrit looked down at his shoulder with an irritated expression. Even with his limited range of emotions, it was clear how annoyed he felt.

Eugene gazed at Mara with a strange feeling. Why was Mara acting defiant when Aldrit was the chief? Seems like Mara really likes Aldrit, she thought, finding Mara’s personality similar to that of a willful child.

Before delving into their main conversation, Kasser shared news about the captured inmates.

“Most of them will face mild punishment, but a few, like Rodrigo, won’t escape severe penalties,” he disclosed.

These individuals were arrested on charges of espionage, a serious offense. They had constructed an underground passage near the castle and hidden gathering spots disguised as fake warehouses. Their intentions raised doubts.

The Chancellor’s argument for harsh punishment held merit, so Kasser entrusted the judgment of those with clear charges to the Chancellor. Verus had a stern side, and escaping severe penalties might prove difficult.

“I see,” Mara responded casually, which surprised Eugene, as he had been somewhat resistant when discussing this matter last time. Eugene found Mara’s attitude peculiar and asked, “Aren’t you concerned about Rodrigo? I thought you’d negotiate on his behalf.”

Mara replied, “He was somewhat useful. But when it comes to negotiation, what are you willing to risk?”

“Anything that would lead to a loss for Rodrigo.”

“It’s not worth it.” The response was quite cold.

“Seems like you and Aldrit get along, but you don’t seem to care much about the inmates who do as you command. Are you using them and then discarding them?” Eugene asked, growing cautious.

She reminded herself, I shouldn’t judge Mara and Sang-je based on universal morals.

“I have a question,” Eugene began. “Can I ask?”

Mara met her gaze with a sigh, saying, “This time, you’re not even suggesting that we exchange questions. You’re quite audacious.”

Aldrit shot a glare at the impertinent rat. In contrast, Eugene smiled warmly and said, “I won’t ask any awkward questions. I’m just curious about you.”

Mara responded with a snort, which Eugene took as a sign to proceed with her question.

“You mentioned that you learned everything from Sang-je. However, if you dislike Sang-je to the extent that you want to eliminate them, why are you still doing what you learned from Sang-je?”

Mara dismissed the query as incomprehensible. “What does that have to do with it?” he retorted. “I simply use the most effective means. There’s no chance of defeating that guy head-on.”

“I see,” Eugene acknowledged. It struck her that notions of right and wrong were fluid, bereft of fixed standards in Mara’s perspective. Mara was ready to employ any method to achieve his objectives, seemingly devoid of a sense of guilt. There was no apparent aversion to the concept of humanity itself. Just as Mara held affection for Aldrit, Sang-je had someone he cherished.

What piqued Eugene’s curiosity was that the yardstick for liking or disliking someone was not tied to the benefit or sacrifice they offered. From her observations, the individuals Sang-je held dear were those possessing good character and maturity. Her initial suspicion, ‘Is Sang-je merely feigning virtue as a divine proxy?’ gradually transformed into a realization that it was a matter of genuine preference.

Pure evil? No, the concept of good and evil is something humans created, Eugene pondered.

Eugene’s mind conjured an image of a mythical creature from another world, a goblin. These creatures were known to play malicious tricks on humans, sometimes causing harm, yet occasionally offering unintended assistance. Framing it as a tangible entity from an external world helped her grasp a vague understanding of the situation.

“Mara, the uncertainty of when we might meet again underscores the need for a productive discussion today. At present, our shared objective is to defeat Sang-je. Let’s explore the strategies to achieve that,” Eugene proposed.

“Fine.”

“Once this campaign concludes, all the kings will convene here.”

The rat’s twitching nose froze. “Kings?”

Mara cast an inquisitive glance at Kasser and asked, “You’re not suggesting that you’ll parade other kings before me, are you?”

Kasser replied, “At the moment, you’re just a rat. Does it truly matter?”

Mara retorted, “It does matter! Am I expected to welcome an entire retinue of kings? If that’s the plan, consider me gone from this kingdom forever.”

Kasser probed, “During the season, a few kings visit the Holy City, and they meet Sang-je. Is that why you’re so averse to it?”

“I’ve told you. That individual is a unique and truly loathsome creature. They allow kings to approach when their true self is nearby. I’ll say it plainly: kings are strictly forbidden from coming anywhere near me!”