Bab 225: Chapter 362 - Krang's Scheme
Chapter 362 - Krang's Scheme
Five steps away from Krang, a whip-wielding bodyguard remained alert, scanning the surroundings. Beside him stood another warrior—a bald man with a muscular build. He stood behind Krang, facing away like a statue, exuding an aura of strength.
Enkrid noted their well-trained physiques and couldn't help but think of Andrew, who was likely grimacing inside the party venue. Andrew had complained that his presence at such gatherings went entirely unnoticed. While even a ghoul might elicit disdain or grimaces, Andrew was treated with outright indifference.
A mere baron of low rank and poor connections was hardly worth anyone's time. Even the butler at the entrance dismissed him outright.
"Baron Andrew Gardner? Have you come to the right place?" the butler had asked, not even bothering with polite speech.
Andrew had sighed internally but responded with measured calm.
"Why? Am I not allowed here?"
"Your invitation?"
"It must have been misplaced in the rush of preparations."
"...Very well, you may enter," the butler said reluctantly, visibly displeased.
Andrew entered the venue, but Enkrid, attending as his bodyguard, wasn't allowed inside. Not that Enkrid cared much about the party itself—he had other priorities. He'd initially accompanied Andrew hoping for some unexpected confrontation, like another cryptic warning from a would-be assassin, but that hope proved fruitless.
Instead, Enkrid eventually found himself face-to-face with Krang, who responded to his question with a single word: "Knights."
Krang fell silent for a moment, his gaze steady and unperturbed, before continuing.
"Why is it that Count Molsan dares to act like a king on the frontier without being punished? That was the first question I asked myself."
Krang had since found his answer and now shared it with Enkrid.
"You're aware of the southern nation, Lihin-Stetten, correct?"
His tone was conversational, almost as if recommending a popular tavern. The backdrop—a cold evening, an old bench, and the faint glow of insects resembling fireflies—clashed with the gravity of his words.
"For seven years, we've been at war with Lihin-Stetten, yet we've never been easily overwhelmed. Why do you think that is?"
"Because the southern lords are skilled at defense?"
"Then why was the frontier breached so easily during the recent monster uprisings?"
"Then what's the reason?"
"Two knights. Sir Cypress and another knight are holding the line," Krang explained.
The southern nation's military strength is objectively superior to Naurilia's, yet these two knights had achieved near-miraculous feats, holding the invaders at bay. Without them, the frontlines would have already fallen.
"I've seen it with my own eyes," Krang continued. "Those two knights have worked wonders. If they were to abandon their posts, the south would collapse tomorrow."
As Krang nudged a stone embedded in the ground with his foot, Enkrid began to understand.
"The knights are tied down," he said.
"Not just the knights," Krang confirmed.
The kingdom had poured its resources into defending the frontlines. Two knights stood at the southern border, and with them, portions of the knightly order. Without their presence, the war with Lihin-Stetten would have been a disaster.
"And the third knight?" Enkrid asked.
"There's a colony of monsters threatening the eastern regions," Krang revealed, his tone unchanging as he divulged a secret of the highest order. "That knight is dealing with them."
This was news to Enkrid. He hadn't heard even a whisper of it before.
"It's not just the monsters," Krang added. "The mercenary king of the east is also waiting for his chance. Part of the knightly order has been dispatched there to handle the threats."
Even during Naurilia's last conflict with Aspen, one knight had barely managed to join the battlefield. Back then, the kingdom's strategy wasn't to win decisively but to deal a quick blow and retreat. Why?
"Because they couldn't afford to be absent for long," Enkrid realized.
A knight's absence from their primary post could spell disaster elsewhere. The knights weren't just symbols of martial prowess; they were critical to maintaining the kingdom's fragile stability.
Everything seemed plausible.
It all made sense—the absence of knights, and how only some of the knights stayed behind at the palace.
And all of this was an excellent opportunity for those harboring ambitions and dreaming of rebellion.
'Even the Royal Guard has become part of the factions.'
The palace guards and their captain were the same.
Everyone had to choose a side.
Reality and facts intertwined, telling one cohesive story.
Why did everything fall into place so perfectly?
Why had the stage been set so well for those dreaming of rebellion? Why was the stage set for them to act?
Enkrid's instincts were sharpened by his exceptional situational awareness.
Even without a battle, his focus heightened, and his senses sharpened.
In his spinning mind, he reached one conclusion.
What did Krang gain from all of this?
Why did he come to the palace and stir up trouble?
Since his arrival, the noble factions had been acting as if they had fire on their feet.
They immediately started moving toward the side that demanded the successor give up the throne.
He had gained quite a bit of power, too. Everyone knew that Marcus from Center Pole had sided with him.
Haste brought action. That's how the noble factions acted.
If one looked closely, the noble factions were also sending signals about which side they were on.
In a situation where choosing sides was necessary, not choosing would mean being left out.
It was clear that they had to make their stance known.
"Right?"
There was no need to ask further. Enkrid asked, and Krang smiled broadly, replying.
That smile looked so innocent.
It didn't seem like the smile of someone who had such an intricate plan.
To some, it might even be a terrifying smile.
"I was just about to tell you."
He had no intention of hiding his plans.
In fact, he seemed to have wanted Enkrid to notice.
Krang stood up, brushing off his knees.
As he stood, he kicked a stone, which flew off and rolled into a shadowed area.
"We're gathering unnecessary things to clear them out. That's why. We need a civil war."
If you've gathered trash, you either burn it or bury it. A civil war would serve that purpose. That's what was being set up.
Of course, the premise was that the noble factions needed to be quietly expelled from the palace.
Krang hadn't come to prevent a civil war; he'd come to accelerate it.
No, he intended to achieve his own goals perfectly through this process.
That meant setting the stage and subtly dividing the sides.
He was planning to distinguish between what could and couldn't be used.
The foundation for all this would naturally be force.
'He purposely left the army from the palace to filter out those who would betray or defect.'
That was the conclusion.
Enkrid stood up, too. It was time to go. He noticed Andrew leaving the mansion, looking thoroughly exhausted.
Seeing this, Enkrid asked about one of the two reasons he had come here.
"Do you know who leads the Black Blades?"
The leader of the bandits, who had settled in the palace, was a member of the Black Lily.
This was as much as Jaxen had found out.
However, it seemed that the leader was very good at hiding himself, making him difficult to track.
Meanwhile, there had been an assassination contract, possibly linked to an assassination alliance.
"…It might be a coincidence, but our goals align. Right now, the biggest problem for me is that person. I'll send you the necessary information, so think about it. I'm also trying to find him."
Enkrid nodded. The purpose of chasing after Crang and meeting him had been achieved.
His curiosity had been satisfied, and he had secured a promise of help.
At that moment, Enkrid had made his choice.
"Oh, Enki. Are you thinking of becoming my knight?"
Krang suddenly asked as he turned to leave.
"What?"
"You don't seem like the type to be satisfied being someone's knight. Well, that's just my opinion."
That innocent smile from earlier was back as Krang turned to walk away. He did so with an attitude that implied the answer didn't matter.
Enkrid didn't think much of it.
He was focused on the weight of becoming a knight.
Becoming someone's knight hadn't even crossed his mind.
It wasn't important right now.
What was important was that Krang was in the process of distinguishing between allies and enemies.
That's why he had set the stage. He had communicated his intentions to all the nobles through action.
Of course, only a few nobles would realize his hidden intentions.
But even if they noticed, they wouldn't be able to ignore them.
Krang had spoken to all the nobles.
With no knights and no knightly order, they could run wild within the palace.
The effect was clear.
Everyone raised private soldiers, dreaming of overthrowing the royal family or scheming.
Count Molsan even dared to claim the title of a distant king.
Within the palace, more and more ambitious individuals were emerging without hesitation.
'Will they survive all of this?'
For a moment, Enkrid was concerned.
In a situation like this, the most dangerous person was Krang.
Suddenly, the emergence of someone with a claim to the throne was like a thorn in everyone's side.
To view the future as if becoming king was a given, in such circumstances, showed the difference in character.
Enkrid briefly dismissed the worry that had crossed his mind.
Anyone with a mind sharp enough to devise such a plan would have considered their own survival as well.
After all, the whole situation was based on the premise of force.
He couldn't help but wonder about the strength Krang had concealed.
He felt a sudden curiosity to see it. Though, it seemed unlikely Krang would reveal it right away.
"Can't the party invites stop coming? I'm really getting tired of this," Andrew grumbled, having approached unnoticed.
"Wouldn't training be better?" Enkrid asked.
Andrew immediately fell silent. When given the choice between a party and training, what else could he say?
"I'll go with training," Andrew muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"Alright, let's do that."
The party chase was finally over. With Jaxen in tow, Enkrid had already gauged the situation, and no one else seemed to be pressing forward.
Until Krang's spark of conflict exploded, the tension would remain quiet.
In the meantime, he would focus on capturing the leader of the Black Blade, observing the chaos Krang was sowing, and possibly adding his own contribution.
That would be the plan.
Soon, they might find themselves fighting an unexpected opponent.
Would those power-hungry factions really act without considering the consequences?
Words alone, without the weight of force, lost their power in the current royal palace.
The situation had turned into one where strength was law.
Wasn't the city guard said to be quite intimidating?
"Let's go. Time for training."
With determination, Andrew bit down on his teeth and spoke, and Enkrid followed suit.
They returned to the manor, and by the next morning, Enkrid was expecting a guest.
"Word has spread, and you really are here in the capital," the woman said.
Kin Baisar, the most beautiful woman in the capital, according to rumors.
Enkrid was currently wielding a halberd, sweat dripping as he swung the weapon.
Learning to handle different types of weapons was as important as facing an actual opponent, as Rem had taught him.
Indeed, it was proving to be useful.
He swung the halberd, gripping the shaft with one hand, and sweat poured down his face.
And now, he greeted the guest.
"Your manner of greeting hasn't changed, I see."
"It doesn't seem like you're alone," Enkrid said. He briefly lowered the halberd and turned his body, the sweat-soaked training clothes clinging to his skin.
The sight of his muscles was apparent, and Kin thought about gently touching them as she spoke.
"Yes, someone came to see you. Wouldn't you want to clean up and greet them properly?"
There was an undeniable air outside the manor.
It was clear that someone formidable was present.
Though they didn't exude dangerous energy, their presence was undeniable. The fact that they could make their presence felt like this suggested something: at the very least, they were a knight.
"Is it necessary to dress up just to meet an old man?"
A voice interrupted as a nobleman entered the manor. His white hair marked him as an elderly man, but his steps carried a quiet strength.
His stride was powerful.
Upon entering, the mood shifted, and even Andrew stepped forward.
"To what do we owe the honor?" he asked, looking perplexed.
Among the nobility of the kingdom, Baisar was closest to the queen.
And in terms of military might, aside from the knight orders, Count Molsan was the strongest.
But if you asked the citizens and other nobles who embodied the essence of nobility, the answer would be different.
A man who commanded respect both in his domain, through kindness and clear leadership, and outside, by staying neutral and avoiding factionalism, he garnered admiration from all.
He was one of the five great houses, the man with the largest landholdings in the kingdom, and the queen's mentor.
The Marquis of Okto.
He was the fourth finger of the kingdom's power.
At first glance, he seemed like a grandfather who was deeply immersed in chess.
The Marquis spoke as he entered.
"I came as a guest, but if I've come at the wrong time, do let me know. I don't wish to cause any inconvenience."
Andrew shook his head.
"Not at all. Though it may be humble, if you wish, you are welcome to stay."
From the fact that even Andrew was showing respect, it was clear the Marquis had a reputation for good conduct.
Enkrid had the same impression. He was unlike other nobles.
A man who had achieved much based on his own merit.
Among the nobles Enkrid had met, he was the one who gave off the clearest, purest feeling.
But that didn't mean he was weak.
The guards behind him exuded a certain presence.
Enkrid noted that even the stone table at the training ground couldn't escape their gaze.
"Continue with what you were doing. Since I've come unexpectedly, I'll wait," the Marquis said.
"Marquis," Kin said, nodding. She gestured for him to sit in front.
Enkrid nodded.
It wasn't a formal obligation to wait, but respecting his wish seemed the right thing to do.
It wasn't a battle of wills.
However, the pressure from the guards behind the Marquis intensified slightly.
Enkrid found that fascinating.
The two guards behind him looked like they could attack at any moment.
"Who's here?"
Naturally, there was a response from behind Enkrid.
Rem spoke, stepping forward, while Ragna glanced over from where he sat.
Jaxen had already taken a position against the wall near the entrance, and Dunbakel and Esther had moved to stand next to Enkrid.
All of them were formidable in their own right.
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