Chapter 55

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“…Did you just say Vice Commander?”

– Huh?

– Leon Nuna?

– Is this real?

– Starting today, Henry’s enemy is considered my enemy.

Mentioning Vice Commander Leon’s name was shocking to everyone.

Han-bit threw a question on behalf of everyone who was at a loss for words.

“I am aware the Royal Guard Knights are one of the top authorities within the Raven Kingdom. You received a promise from their Vice Commander?”

“When William’s execution was carried out, the Royal Guard Knights also came to Edlen. And Leon, who was a low-ranking knight at the time, was the only one to express her doubts.”

The Mayor of a city being an inside collaborator for the Holy State is a problem related to national security.

It was a matter of course for the Royal Guard Knights to partake in the investigation following a royal command.

“Leon suspected the situation, testimonies, and evidence that fit far too perfectly. Even though she wasn’t in a position to give weight to her remarks, she raised objections to her superiors until she was punished for insubordination.”

– It’s Leon as expected.

– Sense of Justice GOAT

– Info) She’s f*cking strong.

– She clashes against her superiors, but became Vice Commander purely through skill. Lol.

The personality of the person named Leon is expressed in one word.

Justice.

She does not bend her will under any circumstances.

Even if her opponent is the King.

For example, even at the moment she was executed for defending falsely accused rebels, Leon’s eyes were shining uprightly.

That was why she was also one of the most trustworthy individuals in this world.

“What do you mean you received a promise?”

“A month after William was executed, Leon, disguised as an adventurer, came to find me. She told me to definitely contact her if any suspicious circumstances arose at any time.”

“…Did she rise to the position of Vice Commander in that period?”

Cowen, listening to the conversation, let out a voice mixed with admiration.

The position of Vice Commander that one could only reach after building up at least 20 years of experience.

If she achieved that in less than 7 years, she was no ordinary individual.

“It will become a very great strength for us. Together with this evidence, reports will be presented before the throne as well.”

Henry was in a state completely different from the atmosphere he showed at first.

Clearing William’s false charges, and returning the surviving Reventia to her rightful place.

In that process, the punishment of Vares and Brooke would also naturally occur.

“Reventia, what is your wish?”

Henry, lowering his posture, met eyes with Ria.

It is true that he wants to achieve his own desires, as well as William’s dying wish.

However, the most important thing is the will of the one who had survived until now.

“I…”

Ria looked down at her ring.

A moment later, lifting her head, she spoke with an expression full of resolve.

“I want to prove that my Dad committed no crime.”

“…I see.”

No further words were needed.

Nodding his head, Henry turned his gaze to everyone else.

“I will go to the Royal Capital. As I happen to have matters to move for business, I won’t be suspected immediately.”

“Will you be alright?”

“Whether I’m alright or not isn’t important. It’s a situation where we need to place the right people in the right places. The rest of you, write down petitions regarding William’s incident right now.”

At Henry’s instruction, the former retainers grabbed parchments and quill pens placed on one side and began writing down their texts.

Since washing away the sins of their falsely accused lord was a lifelong cherished desire for them as well, their sincerity was fully incorporated into the petitions.

“Understood. Since I possess a teleportation magic tool, I will try to reduce the travel time to the Royal Capital as much as possible. We shall acquire the remaining evidence here.”

“Remaining evidence? Are you saying there’s still more?”

“Alongside the blueprints in the workshop, there was this note.”

Cowen handed over the rest of the materials that were inside the workshop.

Henry, receiving it, immediately looked at the contents of the note first.

“…To think Camon even exerted his efforts like this.”

In the handwriting pressed down with force, countless emotions could be felt.

Henry, paying his respects, shifted his gaze to the blueprints.

“For Vares’s mansion side, nothing comes to mind. Considering that bastard’s personality, he probably wouldn’t keep even slightly dangerous items around.”

The colors marked only on a few passageways held an unclear meaning.

Because he wasn’t a human to bring up stories related to his own safety to the outside, the possibility that even his close aides didn’t know was high.

“What’s marked in Northon is… Brooke’s safe, I see.”

The rumors regarding the Northon mansion were something Henry also knew about.

The fact that the location of Brooke’s safe changed every day.

Even if they didn’t know what was inside, there’s no way Camon would have left behind a blueprint without any meaning.

“The likelihood is that it’s a seed prepared for betrayal. Considering Brooke must also be feeling a sense of unease, he would have prepared his opponent’s weakness.”

“Yes. Therefore, we plan to infiltrate using the secret passage connected to Northon’s mansion. We plan to seize the safe entirely if possible, but depending on the situation, we are also considering its destruction.”

“Hmm.”

Henry, listening to the plan, fell into deep thought for a moment.

Then, looking at the blueprint of the mansion, he said.

“There’s no way Vares does not know the rumors about this safe. A deeply suspicious bastard would have confirmed the items inside by whatever means.”

There must be neither mistakes nor failures.

Therefore, they had to consider every single move they could think of.

“Considering the time this blueprint was drawn up, the possibility that changes occurred is ample. He wouldn’t have let rumors about important evidence circulate around.”

Even if Brooke is an incompetent scarecrow Mayor, he’s a bastard who would rack his brains to protect his own body.

Clearly, he must have hidden the evidence in a different place only he knows.

“Then let’s kidnap Brooke.”

Listening to the conversation, Han-bit carelessly threw out an opinion.

Compared to his calm voice, the contents were far too radical.

– ??

– Kidnapping the Mayor. Lololol.

– He’s a crazy person.

– But it’s fun, isn’t it?

“…Did you just say kidnap?”

Henry asked back as if he was dumbfounded.

Setting aside the feasibility of the kidnapping, its aftermath was blatantly obvious.

It wouldn’t be strange for Vares, who grasped the situation, to pull out any countermeasures.

“Yes. In order to eliminate variables, obtaining the evidence from the person directly is the best course. Invading the mansion is ultimately a purpose to move ahead of Vares anyway.”

“If it becomes known that Brooke was kidnapped, the city will be locked down. And Vares will mobilize all his troops to turn Edlen upside down.”

“It’s fine. We’ll be the ones inducing the city lockdown first anyway.”

“…?”

Henry’s expression asking what he meant by that nonsense.

Reading his inner thoughts that seemed to be heard in his ears, Han-bit turned his gaze to everyone and said.

“The temple in the underground waterway, let’s reveal it to everyone.”

***

The central street of Edlen.

Among the bustling people, a common story could be heard.

“You heard that something was discovered in the underground waterway, right? Black Dragon? I heard that adventurer found it.”

“A temple of the Holy State? Isn’t it a lie?”

“The guild already confirmed it, see! The Holy State had infiltrated Edlen since early on!”

Early in the morning, the guild officially announced that a temple of the Holy State was discovered in the underground waterway.

As that fact spread through the mouths of adventurers, the streets were still in an uproar up until now in the afternoon.

“So, you’re saying you wanted a situation like this, Hyung?”

Looking at the changes in the NPCs, Yeon-woo asked from the side.

Han-bit walking along the path nodded his head.

“Well, since our objective is kidnapping Brooke. This level of chaos is perfectly right.”

The reason he revealed the contents about the temple to the public was simple.

Inducing chaos within Edlen, and inducing Brooke’s sense of fear to grow strong amidst that atmosphere.

“But what about the quest? Do we just keep watching?”

“Hmm.”

Han-bit brought up the message that popped up in the secret space.

[Main Quest #8 has been completed.]

[You have received 50,000 gold.]

[2 Stat Points are distributed.]

[Experience Points increased by 15,000.]

[Progress Rate drastically increases.]

[Main Quest #9: Executing the Plan]

You met with the former retainers and established a plan to reveal Brooke and Vares’s crimes.

You must move to fulfill your respective assigned roles, but it is still too early to kidnap Brooke.

First, you must change the atmosphere of Edlen by making the information regarding the temple public.

Objective: Let’s observe the situation on the streets of Edlen.

Reward: None

*Current Progress Rate: 70 Percent

Just as stated in the quest, everyone who was together in the secret space began their assigned roles.

And what he was waiting for right now on this street was a certain contact.

Yeon-woo brought up his words again.

“Since it told us to observe the situation, shouldn’t we go somewhere else? There might be some sort of incident happening, right.”

– Loafer-ya, are you bored?

– Recommendations if you’re Loafer being anxious because there’s no content for the broadcast.

– It is a bit boring to be fair.

– Info) It’s been 3 minutes since it transitioned to a cutscene in the middle.

Yeon-woo was looking worried about the static situation.

Certainly, thinking about the broadcast, a scene of progressing something would be good, but they would be moving soon anyway.

Since someone was already approaching towards this side.

“Black Dragon-ssi!”

A familiar woman hurriedly raising her voice and running towards them.

It was Miel, the guild receptionist.

– ?

– Why are you coming out of here.

– Miel could come out of the guild?

– So she wasn’t a bound spirit;

“Pant, pant…”

Stopping right in front of Han-bit, she panted.

“What’s going on? For you to come all the way outside.”

“Hold… on.”

Miel couldn’t continue her words while holding her knees with her hands.

It was after a bit more time passed before a proper voice trickled out.

“Phew. I feel like I’ve ran a year’s worth, genuinely.”

She said while wiping the sweat pouring down her forehead.

To that extent, the frequency of scenarios where she ran with all her might could almost be counted on one hand.

“So what’s going on?”

“First, let’s go to the guild together. Someone is looking for you, Black Dragon-ssi.”

“Someone looking for me?”

“Let’s depart for now!”

As if she didn’t even have time to talk, Miel grabbed his arm and dragged him.

Han-bit, who already knew what the situation was, naturally moved his feet.

“Oh? Why are they out here?”

When the guild building began to come into view, Miel spoke as if she was puzzled.

In front of the entrance, knights and soldiers fully armed in full-body armor were standing.

“There he comes.”

Noticing Miel and Han-bit, they approached towards this side.

Step-

Reaching a few steps away, they stopped in front of Han-bit.

“Are you Adventurer Black Dragon?”

The first to speak was the knight at the very front.

Unlike the others, his exceptionally gleaming armor and weapon caught his eye.

“That’s right. For what reason do you seek me?”

“I am a knight affiliated with the City Hall. I heard you found a temple of the Holy State in the underground waterway, is that true?”

“I was the first discoverer.”

“Hmm.”

When he acknowledged it without hiding anything, the knight slowly observed Han-bit’s appearance from head to toe.

Then he immediately brought up the main point.

“Mayor Brooke wishes to invite you to commend your achievements. Let us move to the City Hall together.”

[Main Quest #9 has been completed.]

[Progress Rate increases.]

[Main Quest #10: Invitation]

You received an invitation from Brooke who is conscious of public opinion.

Although it is likely Vares’s order, wouldn’t this be a good opportunity to observe the situation?

It seems there is ample value in accepting their invitation.

Objective: Let’s move to the City Hall and converse with the enemies.

Reward: None

*Current Progress Rate: 74 Percent