'How did this happen…!'
Crown Prince Zeraitz could hardly believe his eyes.
Sagnard's head.
Even if Elric had used an outstanding strategy to somehow take Ketrain Castle, bringing back Sagnard's head was an almost unbelievable accomplishment.
But then.
"It appears to really be Sagnard."
After carefully examining the head for a while, an agent from the Inspection Bureau confirmed it, and Crown Prince Zeraitz felt as though he had been struck on the back of the head again.
"Hah…!"
"It wasn't a lie?"
"The rumors were true."
"To capture Ketrain Castle in just a few days… what kind of magic did he use?"
"And Sagnard… wasn't he a 4th-chain Master? Has the head of the Melvinger family already reached the 7th Circle? Wasn't he supposed to be a mere magus?"
"They called him a supernova for a reason. It seems they weren't exaggerating."
However, for Crown Prince Zeraitz, the biggest problem wasn't the feat itself.
'Why did this have to happen now!'
Right now, he was in the middle of a grand strategy meeting, with nobles, officers, and key advisors gathered to discuss how to secure victory on the western front, which they considered to be the 'true' opening battle.
Zeraitz had been confident that this battle would result in a major victory.
The Margrave Wynz was not to be underestimated.
The soldiers of the eastern frontier had always served as the Empire's shield, protecting it from the barbarians in the mountain regions. As such, they were strong soldiers, without a doubt.
However, the forces under the Crown Prince's command were far greater in number.
His troops were all highly trained elite soldiers.
Moreover, the prominent figures who had agreed to lend their support were truly formidable.
Two Hexagram members and a Lion.
Papen of Death.
Adenauer of agriculture and commerce.
And the Indigo Lion.
Even if these alone went to war, it was a fight they could never lose.
So, while Elric Melvinger struggled in the north, Zeraitz had anticipated that his own grand victory would make him the center of all the attention.
But now… the position he had sent Elric to, expecting him to fail, had been turned into a victory!
Indeed, Zeraitz could feel the air in the room shift.
Up until now, the evaluation of Elric Melvinger had mostly been that he was an 'arrogant junior' or a 'fool caught up in his fleeting fame.'
But now, the sentiment has changed to 'he's more capable than expected.'
With this, Elric had snatched away the political glory of the first victory.
And the messenger, who introduced himself as Brian, poured fuel on the fire.
"And here… are the census records of Ketrain Castle."
When Brian handed over the thick stack of documents to the attendants, the atmosphere in the room grew even more heated.
"The census records… with this, it's certain."
"Looks like Lord Melvinger doesn't intend to leave us any room to act."
"We'll have to work even harder not to fall behind."
"Indeed. Heh."
The census records contained the details of the residents and lands of a region. In other words, it was essential for governing the area.
By retrieving it and presenting it to Crown Prince Zeraitz, Elric had shown that he hadn't merely occupied Ketrain Castle; he had secured control over it.
Zeraitz had to suppress the urge to grimace.
Now, he had to show the image of a generous commander praising his subordinate's great achievements.
"The head of the Melvinger family must have gone through quite an ordeal."
"Radiant Star Duke repeatedly said he only fulfilled his duty to the Empire and the Imperial family."
Though Brian answered casually, he didn't miss the irritation in Zeraitz's tone.
'It was wise to follow Lady Isabelle's suggestion. She said to visit the main camp once everyone had gathered for the strategic meeting.'
When Brian had volunteered to be the messenger, Isabelle had specifically advised him to take his time reaching the main camp.
She had told him it would be most effective to arrive after the rumors had fully spread.
Otherwise, Crown Prince Zeraitz might try to downplay or bury Elric's accomplishments.
By waiting until the rumors had spread to nobles and soldiers alike, they ensured that everyone at the main camp was already aware of the victory.
At the time, Brian hadn't fully understood the reasoning, but now it was clear.
The dirty political maneuvers that had been hard to see during his time as an administrator were running rampant here.
'Most of them probably dismissed the rumors as nonsense... but by turning those rumors into undeniable truth, Lord Elric's success makes a powerful statement. Even here, Lord Elric is waging a war.'
It was utterly absurd.
Instead of receiving full support in a time of war, the people here were preoccupied with protecting their own interests.
Brian couldn't help but feel a sense of disillusionment with the Imperial family and the vague loyalty he had held for them.
He even began to think that perhaps the Red Lion's rebellion had been fueled by the same reasons.
"Ahem! So, does Lord Melvinger have any requests?"
Brian noted that Crown Prince Zeraitz still referred to Elric as "Lord Melvinger" rather than "Radiant Star Duke."
Zeraitz was clearly refusing to acknowledge the prestigious Imperial title and was treating him as merely the head of a household.
Brian wondered how long Zeraitz could keep that attitude.
"If necessary, we can send additional forces to hold the castle…"
"Radiant Star Duke expressed his desire to continue harrying the northern territories around Ketrain Castle, so Your Highness can focus on leading the war effort. However, he respectfully inquired if additional support would be possible."
Zeraitz's expression tightened slightly. He couldn't refuse Elric's offer to help without it looking suspicious.
But if Elric stayed at Ketrain Castle, he feared that all the attention would continue to be drawn in that direction. And if Elric continued to achieve success, it would become a serious problem.
It would only serve to further elevate Elric's political standing.
Zeraitz had intended to provide minimal assistance, just enough to appease the situation.
But then.
"I would like to assist Radiant Star Duke."
"I, too, will support him."
At that moment, two people who had remained silent throughout the meeting spoke up.
Zeraitz's eyebrow twitched.
One of them he could understand, but the other was completely unexpected.
Herman Weyl, the Blue Lion, and together with him, Grey Lion, had volunteered.
"Sir Holmes… why?"
Sailor Holmes.
Among the Eight Lions, he was known as the most 'cunning politician.'
At nearly eighty years old, he typically kept to himself, living in seclusion and giving the impression of a simple old man from a remote village.
Yet, his influence was immense.
Many figures across the Empire, in various fields—whether martial arts, academia, politics, commerce, or media—referred to him as 'father.'
Because of this, some had given him another nickname:
The Godfather.
His unseen influence was so vast that even the Imperial family and the Inspection Bureau kept a close eye on his movements.
And now, Sailor Holmes had joined the subjugation army at the summons of the Crown Prince.
He hadn't come alone either.
The Black Skull Mercenaries, a force making waves in the mercenary world, had aligned themselves with him.
Zeraitz had been aware of the connection between Sailor and Black Skull, which is why he had called upon him, but it seemed Sailor wasn't bothering to hide their relationship.
He simply referred to them as his "beloved children."
Now, barely three days after joining the army, Sailor had suddenly stepped forward.
Zeraitz's mind raced, trying to figure out Sailor's connection to the Melvinger family. Sailor smiled and spoke.
"Ah, did I forget to mention it?"
With a warm smile, Sailor continued.
"This old man's last disciple happens to be a daughter of the Melvinger family."
"…!"
"…!"
"…!"
"It seemed like she was trying her best to keep it a secret, saying that it would be a burden on the family's reputation, as they are known as a magic royal family."
Sailor's face remained kind and gentle.
"But I see no reason for this old man to keep such things hidden."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
The leaders busily calculated the political implications of this revelation.
Now that both the Blue Lion and the Grey Lion were revealed to have ties with the Melvinger family, the political landscape would inevitably shift.
Crown Prince Zeraitz's eyebrow twitched again. He quickly shot a glance at his aide, Patran, who hurriedly began issuing orders to the subordinates. The Inspection Bureau had clearly missed this detail.
Whether Sailor was aware of this or not, he continued to speak warmly.
"Since the Melvinger family is connected to this old man, I can't just sit back and do nothing. I've been slow to lend my help, so it's about time I pitched in. Hahaha!"
***
After the grand strategy meeting ended, while the nobles busily moved about, their heads spinning with new calculations, Herman and Sailor walked out of the main camp together.
"You've really grown more cunning like a fox over the years."
"That's harsh. Even if I'm old, calling a lion a fox is a clear insult."
Sailor pretended to be offended, but Herman simply scoffed in disbelief.
"Take it however you want."
For a moment, a glint of amusement flashed in Sailor's eyes. His lips curled into a small, intrigued smile.
"You've grown more ruthless, haven't you?"
"After living too softly, people started trying to tear me apart. I had to toughen up if I wanted to protect what I have."
"I've heard you've been through a lot. I told you back then, didn't I? That running a family didn't suit your nature. I said to stop with the headaches and come travel the world with me."
When Sailor had roamed the land in his youth, helping countless people and earning the title of "The Godfather," one of the people he had helped was Herman, the Blue Lion.
As a result, they were the two among the Eight Lions who shared the longest and closest bond.
"Why say that now? I'm content with my life. I have a daughter. I have a successor."
"True. You've always preferred to confine yourself. Maybe that's what suits you best."
The wrinkles on Sailor's face deepened as his smile grew.
"Well, now that it's come to this, let's have some fun together. I think it'll be quite entertaining."
"You're certainly good at justifying yourself. Don't think I don't know this is all about Red Phantom."
Sailor didn't respond to that.
He just smiled in silence.
At that moment.
"So this is where you both are."
A voice came from behind, causing both Herman and Sailor's expressions to harden.
They turned, as if not wanting to believe it, but found the man approaching them with a sneer.
It was Vant Hook, the Indigo Lion.
"Hah. If you both look so openly disgusted by me, I might even take it personally."
A deep frown creased Herman's brow.
Just because they were all "Lions" didn't mean they got along.
In fact, most of them didn't get along well at all.
While the Golden Lion didn't particularly approve of the unity among the Eight Lions, most of them had such strong personalities that they didn't work well together either.
This was especially true for Herman and Vant.
Herman, known for his justice and sense of righteousness, was vastly different from Vant, who had risen from the bottom ranks of the military to his current position through sheer self-made success.
Naturally, his journey to the top hadn't been entirely honorable.
These days, the prevailing view of Vant was that he was opportunistic. Even now, when he had no higher to climb, he remained a loyal hound to the Crown Prince, proving the point.
Herman had always looked down on Vant for his dishonorable ways, and Vant had always mocked Herman for his self-righteousness.
Even now, it seemed Vant was in the mood for more of the same.
"Do you have something to say?"
"Not much. Just thought I'd offer some advice, given our past connection."
Herman looked at him with disdain, wondering what nonsense he would spout this time.
Vant's sneering grin didn't waver.
"You might want to think carefully about staying close to Elric Melvinger. The Crown Prince's next target is him."
Herman's face flushed with anger.
Everyone knew that the Red Lion, Andre, had been branded a traitor by Crown Prince Zeraitz.
Now, to suggest that Elric Melvinger would be the Crown Prince's next target was practically a threat.
Naturally, Herman, who had already chosen Elric as his successor, couldn't help but be furious.
"I know what you want to say. You'll call it nonsense, right? But I'm not joking. Think carefully about where you stand."
Vant chuckled and patted Herman on the shoulder before walking off.
The encounter left Herman feeling uneasy.
Something was going on.
Something he didn't yet know about.
[T/L: You can read ahead chapters and support me here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]