After descending from the tower, I returned straight to Strange Castle.
I had to verify the artifact obtained from the tower, but unexpected news also reached me.
"Pierre has started making moves."
Kangradra had brought significant news from Marquis Pierre's castle.
They were finally planning an event that could serve as the 'pretext' for war.
'So far, so good.'
But something unforeseen happened.
Kangradra, one of the top assassins of this era, returned in a near-death state.
This meant there was a formidable opponent among the enemies.
"Who did this to you?"
Kangradra hesitated before whispering in my ear. I was shocked when I heard the name of the enemy.
"Baron Moncle."
"?!"
Why is he moving with Marquis Pierre? Associating with Bourbone under the name of Strange.
"He has taken command of Pierre's mercenary corps."
This means he has not joined the Bourbone knights but leads a mercenary group with Pierre, signifying betrayal of the family.
The reasons are secondary; he must have judged that there was a reasonable chance of success to initiate rebellion.
'Do they think they can topple Strange with mere tampering of potions?'
No.
He is known as a genius strategist. He wouldn't engage in a losing battle.
This means he has a card up his sleeve that we are unaware of.
'No way.'
That's it.
By capturing Legion Castle now, they aim for a chance to strike my father eventually.
They must be planning to kill him when he emerges from the tower.
'Just like Hysteria did in my past life.'
Clever move.
They aim to end the war in one stroke by dealing with both me and my father simultaneously.
"Good job. Let's get you treated first."
I assigned the butler, Devery, to Kangradra's treatment. Then, I promptly ordered Cynthia's party to retreat from Legion.
"Leave the castle as soon as possible. This place will soon become a battlefield."
In her past life, she would have left immediately without explanation.
"I will help you."
She responded unexpectedly.
"You could die."
"Isn't that the same with the tower? You said yourself that we must be prepared for death before climbing it."
Her memory serves her well.
"This battle has nothing to do with you. Unless you're climbing the tower, you don't need to stay."
"No, we are one party. If you die, it will affect our tower climb."
Cynthia fiddled with the ring on her finger as she spoke.
"Besides, I still have something to get from you."
"You can have all the tower rewards except for one artifact I just obtained."
"No! I don't need money."
"Then?"
"I told you, we're tower-climbing comrades."
Alfredo, listening to the conversation, interjected.
"Exactly! We're not climbing the tower to make a few bucks, are we? I want honor, not money."
Alfredo's gold tooth glinted.
"Right, Judah, you idiot?"
Judah glanced at me, reluctantly agreeing.
"Uh, yeah, right."
He must want to return to the Papal Palace with Cynthia as soon as possible.
After scanning their faces, I shrugged.
"Even if you help, you won't get much in return or even a thank you."
Cynthia leaned in close to my face and replied.
"We're not helping for that. We just don't want you to die."
"Unmotivated kindness makes me uncomfortable."
"Unmotivated? I keep saying we need you for the tower climb."
"You can find other party members besides me."
"True, but finding someone as strong as you is difficult. You bear the name 'Strange' after all."
"...Alright. Then let's do this."
I gestured to Rox to bring the map from the library. Understanding my intention, Rox laid the map on the table.
Whoosh.
A flat map showing all of Legion. Pointing at it, I explained to Judah, not Cynthia.
"When the enemy moves, the inside and outside will be cut off. The imperial army within Legion will remain neutral, so it will be a full-scale war between Strange and Bourbone."
"...Even if the imperial army stays neutral, will they stand by with Bourbone holding royal blood?"
"They have no choice."
"Why?"
"Because Strange also has someone with royal blood."
"?! Who is that?"
I shook the bundle of master keys and replied.
"Katarina."
"Katarina?"
"Yes, my brother's mother."
Katarina de Strange.
She also holds royal blood.
In the past, to secure his throne, the emperor sent his sisters to Strange and Glazier.
"Ah!"
"If Bourbone and Strange clash, the imperial army cannot take sides."
"So, it will be Strange and Bourbone fighting within Legion."
"Right. But with the soldiers here, it's numerically disadvantageous against Pierre."
"Can't you ask your father for support?"
I firmly shook my head.
"The battle hasn't started yet. My father will move when there is a clear justification."
"Justification... Isn't tampering with the potions enough?"
"There's no definitive proof they did it. Of course, we could interrogate a few captured enemies, but the battle will likely start before that."
It's certain.
Now that the potions are in the market, it's only a matter of time before they make their move.
The timing is perfect; now that I have descended from the tower, it's their opportunity.
"So, what are you going to do?"
"Turn a crisis into an opportunity."
"Turn a crisis into an opportunity?"
"Yes, they will definitely try to finish the battle within the castle. We will exploit that gap."
"How?"
I slowly ran my finger along the wall depicted on the map.
"When they target us, what if the wall protecting Legion collapses?"
---
In the dark hours of the early morning, a hunchbacked man with a turtle shell on his back ran carrying a torch.
Thud, thud, thud.
"Everything is ready."
Baron Moncle responded with a pleased smile.
"Are you sure the boy entered the mansion?"
"Yes, with his companions. He seemed quite exhausted, so it looks like it will be easy to handle them now."
"...How many guards are there?"
"There are five guarding the entrance and twenty patrolling inside. The rest seem to be asleep."
"How did you confirm the inside of the mansion?"
The hunchbacked man rubbed his hands together with a sly smile.
"I went in through the underground sewer. They might have sensed my presence and glanced in my direction, but I hid in an unseen spot and wasn't discovered."
"Oh, you are better than the assassin sent to find me. Strange's vigilance is the best on the continent."
"Haha! This is nothing. I was once involved in an assassination mission at Strange Castle."
Baron Moncle raised an eyebrow.
"At Strange Castle?"
"Yes, I used to be with the assassin guild Redworm. I was tasked with killing the youngest member of that family."
"So it was you. The assassin who penetrated Strange Castle's guard and reached Verdin's room."
"Ah... that wasn't me. I only created a path into the castle."
"Created a path?"
"Yes, I have the ability to create paths underground. When I dig with these hands, even rocks turn into sand."
Thud!
Baron Moncle's sword pierced the hunchback's chest.
"So it was you. Because of your actions, I—no, our family in the east—suffered greatly under Gunther. They said it was a punishment for not managing you people properly."
The hunchback closed his eyes without uttering a scream. Still fuming, Moncle beheaded him and threw the body to the ground.
Thud!
Red blood spread across the ground. Moncle took a deep breath and surveyed his surroundings before raising his voice to the other mercenaries.
"Tonight, we change the master of Strange."
He drew his sword and pointed towards Strange Castle within Legion.
"Not only that, if tonight's plan succeeds, everyone will gain wealth beyond their needs and land at the village level."
Then, turning to where Marquis Pierre stood, he saluted with his sword.
"You will become official knights of Bourbone and bring glory to your descendants."
Marquis Pierre raised his hand slightly, accepting the salute.
Thousands of knights and mercenaries gathered in front of Bourbone Castle, readying their weapons with solemn expressions, awaiting orders.
Ahem—
Bourbone's knight commander asked Baron Moncle.
"Do we just guard the castle gate?"
"Yes. Leave the rest to us. Prevent anyone else from entering the castle until morning."
"What about Lois? I heard he's still in the tower."
"We will head to the tower as soon as the castle is cleared. I have already assembled a team to hunt him down, so do not worry."
"Will it be possible?"
"Yes, not alone, but—"
Moncle glanced at the two men standing behind him.
"With them, it will be."
The black-haired old man in a black suit and a tall man wrapped in bandages standing behind him waved.
The knight commander of Bourbone swallowed hard and asked Moncle.
"If we fail, we all die. This mission must succeed."
"I know. If we fail, I will die too. No, unlike you, I won't just die."
Moncle chuckled.
"I would probably undergo endless torture, never allowed to die."
His words were grim, but they instilled confidence. His resolve for this war was extraordinary.
"I entrust this to you."
"Don't entrust it; command it. This mission is Marquis Pierre's masterpiece."
"Fine. Then I command it."
The knight commander of Bourbone raised his sword over his head and shouted.
"From this moment, Baron Montlestier's mercenaries will attack Strange's mansion within Legion. After securing the castle, bring me the head of Lois de Strange, who is stationed in the tower!"
---
Legion Castle fell silent.
At this hour, merchants should be noisily transporting goods, the sound of cartwheels clattering through every alley.
"Why is it so quiet today?"
Even the imperial guards on patrol sensed something amiss in the unusual quiet.
"Indeed, not a single rat in sight."
"Well, it's good for us. No need to check for security breaches."
"Right! Oh... but what's that?"
"What?"
Both guards patrolling the wall simultaneously looked up at the sky. A massive shadow suddenly covered the area.
The two guards, losing their will to fight, trembled as they stared at the wall.
"...What is this?"
Boom!