Estafan stood in front of them, the group of Barbarians. There were more than 50 of them which made things quite suspicious since such a large number of people travelling across Ikarus unnoticed into an active war zone and then hiding till they get to capture some merchants or so thought Estafan.
One of the Barbarians walked towards the bush to take a leak but when he stood in front of the Bush he saw it.
A figure standing in front of him has silver hair, a demonic mask which was terrifying while two blue eyes shining so bright similar to the Northern star which was also blue while everything else was covered in dark fabrics.
Before the Barbarian could speak, their throat was penetrated by a dagger but not the dagger belonging to the figure in front.
The Barbarian's eyes turned left because the dagger penetrated the throat from the left and it was a similar figure but this one had red eyes which indicated that it was a Bloodhound.
Estafan moved forward after the body fell down creating a loud noise enough to alert the Barbarians so there was no point in hiding menacingly.
His presence in itself was terrifying because he wasn't alone, his eyes and silhouette were filling their minds with fear alongside with the red eyes appearing around them inside the forest as if a group of predators were stalking them from the side and could pounce at any moment.
Maybe it was just him "Where are the merchants?" His voice was heard by the Barbarians who took a step back but one of them shouted "No!" Although while being terrified because their voice couldn't hide it.
He laughed while listening to it and then said "Okay." Suddenly the hounds ran in but they were so fast all the Barbarians could see was a glimpse of red line before blood came out from their body from wounds caused by a perfect slash or stab from a short sword.
They were being butchered so fast that the Barbarians didn't have enough time to even see their past memories and regret their life choices.
It worked as one of them fell to his legs and begged "STOP!" But Estafan responded "Why should I?" The Barbarian continued to beg "Please, I'll let the merchants out."
Suddenly the Bloodhounds stopped allowing the Barbarian to stand back up and walk into the cave. Some minutes later the Merchants walked out, there were nearly 10 of them but some of them were injured with bruises which had punch marks.
Estafan paused for a moment before the Barbarian saw a blade through their solar plexus and suddenly spoke while blood was dripping out of their mouth "But you said you'll let us go if we let go the merchants." Estafan responded while walking towards the Merchants "Your death is my mercy I show to your pitiful existence."
The Merchants said with a gleeful and hopeful expression "The Fourth Prince came to save us." But suddenly Estafan beheaded one of them which spooked the rest while one of them asked "What are you doing?" Their voices trembled.
Estafan said in response "Who said anything about saving you guys?" The Merchants were totally confused but Estafan continued to say "You see, these barbarians are from the North and you guys from the South... A perfect situation to create an infighting between two Ducal houses."
By that what he meant was to create internal conflicts inside the Kingdom between two of the 4 Ducal Houses. House Copera of the North and House Humadre of the South since the Barbarians can be branded as paid mercenaries from the North who were sent by the House Copera to deny or slow any progress of House Humadre in the newly conquered territories.
House Copera who were into the Mining industry produced a lot of minerals, gems etc which saw them wealthy.
But House Humadre who amassed wealth through banking and trade saw this as a competition in terms of who can be more rich than the other. This means they could probably have territorial battles if a perfect reason kick started it and what Estafan wanted was that.
He wanted the 4 Ducal Houses who made his life a nightmare before to suffer and the perfect way was to make them fight each other.
Weakening them in the process enough for him to strike them all down with ease. Estafan did have a powerful army but he lacked the necessary manpower and resources to commit a large scale war especially against a combined forces of 4 Ducal Houses alongside with the King who could use the main army against Estafan since he is a mistake for them all.
So weakening them through cunning methods was the best way and striking them when they are at their weakest could make things better.
The area was covered in corpses as Estafan spoke "Send a report to the Capital, that we did discover the Merchants but the Barbarians killed them all before we can save them. Also send a report to House Humadre that the Barbarians were mercenaries from the North who disguised themselves as barbarians." He then ordered his men to burn the corpses after grabbing one of their beheaded heads so it can be sent to the Capital as a proof of evidence.
Estafan also had an advantage and it was "it's a pleasure to meet you my Prince." A journalist said. He befriended some journalists and used them to spread his 'truth' inside and across Ikarus.
In fact many of his victories were not revealed to the public so he won't be hailed as a war hero, so to avoid such an issue Estafan began to use journalists who were facing death threats from the nobility. He promised their safety in return for publishing and spreading his name across the minds of the Citizens of the country.
This made things hard for the Aristocratic society who now had to face Estafan who had immense support from the people who saw him as a Hero of the Kingdom especially since they saw him as one of their own due to his mother being a maid.