Roderick, Wesley, and the previously impassive Charmion all paled at the revelation.
Is this the cursed man, the greatest traitor in Marquez Kingdom's history, appearing in Jade Mountain City within the Marquez territory?
Charmion was the first to regain his composure. He studied the elder carefully and asked, "Why are you here, and how do you know my lineage?"
Raman did not respond immediately, instead gazing deeply at Charmion. After a pause, he said, "My child, won't you invite me to sit?"
Charmion's brow furrowed, clearly uncomfortable with the term "child," but he nonetheless motioned for the two to take a seat.
Once seated, Raman faced Charmion and spoke slowly, "You do not resemble Yousu, nor do you look like your mother. When I entered, had it not been for your distinctly noticeable attire, I might not have recognized you."
Charmion looked at him, asking, "Were you close to my father?"
Raman smiled faintly, "Indeed, we could say we were as close as brothers."
Charmion pondered this for a moment before replying, "But my father never spoke of you."
Raman sighed sadly, "That's not surprising. Your father was proud and ambitious, seeking to carve out an extraordinary legacy through his own talents. Prior to this, while our friendship was strong, he was embarrassed by his humble position and refrained from mentioning us to others, fearing they would say he was benefiting from our support."
Charmion remained silent, intimately aware of his father's temperament. Nonetheless, a thought stirred in him, and recalling Raman's earlier words, he pressed on, "You mentioned 'we.' Are there others who were close to my father?"
"Yes," Raman said, a strange glint in his eyes. "This individual is named Toran."
The trio exchanged astonished looks, and Roderick exclaimed, "Is he the Toran from Kerton City?"
Raman nodded, "Correct. He is one of the four great dukes of the Marquez Kingdom, the commander of the border army, General Toran."
Charmion felt an unprecedented astonishment. Yousu Charmion had lived his life as a minor official; he never imagined that two such renowned generals could be so closely connected, while he, as their son, remained completely unaware.
Raman glanced at Charmion and continued, "In my youth, I studied in Chisu City, where I met your father and Toran, and we quickly became friends. After completing my studies, the three of us went to the front lines of the Cangyun Corridor to serve our country." At this point, Raman sighed and added, "Yet, fate can be cruel. Both Toran and I, being of noble birth and military leaders, swiftly rose through the ranks on the front lines, while Yousu, hailing from a common background as a civil official, labored for ten years in Cangyun City, steadfastly refusing the assistance of Toran and me, ultimately relegated to the position of a mere clerk."
Charmion remained silent, and Raman continued, "Yousu has always been proud, viewing this outcome as a grave humiliation, wallowing in discontent day after day. Later, due to our military success against Nasda, I was promoted to the Grand General of the Magos Frontier Army and appointed as the lord of Cangyun City, while Toran ascended to the rank of Deputy Grand General and lord of Kedun City. At this point, the entire military and political power of the border lay in our hands. We repeatedly sought to entrust Yousu with significant responsibilities, yet he consistently declined, leaving us powerless."
"Six years ago, I faced a setback while leading an assault against Nasda. Though I ultimately defended Cangyun City, it marked one of the rare defeats in decades. The court summoned me back to Chisu City to face inquiry. Aware of the perilous nature of this summons, I felt utterly helpless. Unexpectedly, Yousu approached me at this critical moment, analyzing the situation and ultimately stating that my only path to survival lay in surrendering to Nasda. It was then that I realized he had secretly allied himself with Nasda to establish his own reputation and showcase his knowledge."
At that moment, I was filled with astonishment, rendered utterly speechless.
A silence enveloped the hall. Wesley looked at Charmion and suddenly addressed Raman coldly, "You fear for your life; why must you lay blame on others?"
The young man behind Raman flushed with anger, preparing to retort, but Raman waved him off, calmly stating, "Indeed, I am afraid of death; thus, I bear the title of traitor with no excuse. However, I have never regretted my choices. His Majesty Baz, the resplendent Emperor of the Nasda Empire, possesses remarkable wisdom and a generous spirit. He has treated me as a valued guest, entrusted me with significant responsibilities, allowing me to apply my lifelong knowledge without the constant dread I experienced at Magos, where every campaign instilled fear in me, knowing that any misstep could lead to machinations by courtiers, leaving me anxiously concerned for my life."
Wesley fell silent, and all three recognized the intense political struggles within the court of Magos; even the border generals faced such turbulence, making it evident they were no match for Nasda.
Charmion spoke again, "If that is the case, my father must have rebelled alongside you. Why did he instead flee to Chisu City, ultimately perishing there?"
Raman's face appeared even more wrinkled, and after a long pause, he replied, "When I wavered, your father told me that Toran's bond with us was extraordinary and that, should we rebel, he would undoubtedly be implicated, likely facing extermination. It would be better for him to join in our uprising. I earnestly advised against it, arguing that Toran was steadfast and upright, favored by Edward IV, and such actions would surely lead to disaster. Yet Yousu would not listen, insisting that Toran valued loyalty highly and would never betray him. Consequently, Toran ventured forth and was never heard from again. It was only after a time that I learned he had reported Yousu, yet for reasons unknown, Yousu evaded capture, though he ultimately could not escape and was captured and executed in the royal capital."
"At that moment, I was consumed by grief and fury, caught in a state of despair. Unexpectedly, I received a letter from Toran explaining the situation with Yousu. Upon reading it, I realized that although Yousu had insisted on proceeding, he had, under my urging, kept a part of his intentions hidden and had not revealed to Toran my plans for rebellion. I was enraged by Toran's betrayal, saddened by Yousu's demise, and recalling the actions of the Magos royal family, in my fury, I ultimately surrendered Cangyun City to the Nasda Empire."
Charmion's complexion seemed to pale even further. After a long pause, he finally rose and deeply bowed to Raman, saying, "Thank you, Uncle, for sharing these matters from years past with me."
Raman stepped forward to assist him, giving a soft sigh, "It's nothing; I owe your father a great deal, and today, I merely repay a fraction of that debt."
Once they resumed their seats, Charmion collected his thoughts and surveyed the situation thoroughly. He remarked, "Uncle, your visit today must be for more than simply recounting these events to your nephew, right?"
"Indeed, my primary purpose for being here is to understand your current circumstances better."
Charmion hesitated slightly before briefly recounting the uprising he had led among the villagers. After listening, Raman expressed his appreciation, saying, "You fought remarkably well in both the battles at Moon Valley and Jade Mountain City; you are indeed a formidable young man."
Charmion humbly thanked him in response.
Raman then asked, "I wonder what your thoughts are regarding future developments?"
With a smile, Charmion countered, "Uncle, you are well-read and worldly; I would appreciate any insights you might offer, and I am all ears."
After observing him for a moment, Raman replied, "In my view, although you have won two consecutive battles, your strength remains quite weak. The forces at Toran's command vastly surpass yours."
Charmion nodded, acknowledging the truth in that statement.
Raman continued, "Currently, the reason Toran has yet to attack Jade Mountain City is, I believe, twofold: he has not fully grasped your true capabilities, and the presence of our Nasda army on the borders fills him with caution. Nonetheless, internal troubles must be addressed; he will surely advance to besiege the city within days. The Magos Frontier Army is exceptionally elite; for six years, his hundred thousand troops have matched Nasda's three hundred thousand, and while there are the fortifications of Kedun City to consider, the prowess of the border troops is undeniable. Your forces largely consist of farmers newly thrust into battle; their morale may be high, but their combat effectiveness is undoubtedly lacking."
After a moment of silence, Charmion nodded again, saying, "That is true."
Raman proceeded, "That said, even if you manage to hold Jade Mountain City, you find yourself situated between the two formidable nations of Magos and Nasda with limited strength. Without a powerful backing, your downfall is merely a matter of time."
Charmion raised an eyebrow and inquired, "Are you suggesting, Uncle, that I should align myself with Nasda?"
"Exactly," Raman affirmed. "In today's world, chaos is increasingly evident. Without substantial power, one exists in precarious circumstances. The Nasda Empire is robust, and His Majesty Baz is both wise and formidable. More importantly, he is eager for talent and values skilled individuals, treating them generously without doubt. However…"
"However?"
Raman smiled slightly, adding, "However, His Majesty Baz has an abundance of capable individuals at his disposal and is himself well-versed in strategy and warfare. Ordinary people do not pique his interest. He often states that true talents achieve remarkable feats, while those who merely recite grand theories of strategy are just engaging in empty rhetoric. In other words, His Majesty values tangible results. The reason I garnered his favor was partly due to my history of battles with Nasda, demonstrating my abilities. Another vital reason was my offering of Cangyun City. Therefore, you too must present him with a significant gift to secure your position in his eyes."
Charmion paused, deep in thought, and for the third time expressed surprise, "Are you implying that…"
Raman interjected firmly, "Yes, Kedun City."