Wolves of Hader

Chapter 126

Viscount Landan died.

The man who annihilated my maternal family and massacred countless households' members went to hell.

All ten of his subordinates were also killed.

The Spirit's sword-dagger pierced through their torsos.

The assassins' daggers failed to penetrate our members' armor.

I went out onto the deck to get some air.

Our members carried out the braziers emitting poisonous vapor and threw them into the sea.

Only after moving the corpses to the deck did everyone take off their helmets and masks and exhale deeply.

For a while, I simply stared at the dead viscount.

He couldn't have guessed we'd know about the poison.

Donnie approached me.

"Should we get rid of them?"

"Yes."

The members tossed the dead viscount and his subordinates into the sea.

There was their ship off in the distance, but we left it alone.

It didn't matter even if some of Viscount Landan's subordinates remained on that ship.

His house would surely have more assassins. This was only the first step in our revenge.

After disposing of the bodies, two members took a landing craft and headed for the island.

Everyone who'd been sleeping off their drunkenness had woken up and was waiting.

All of them had only drunk the real liquor for their first glass; the rest had all been water disguised as booze.

Neither I nor our members had touched any alcohol from the start.

On the island, we deliberately acted as if we were drinking and having fun.

I expected Viscount Landan would send his subordinates to observe us, and I knew he'd do nothing if he just remained suspicious.

I was certain Viscount Landan would use poison. The only question was what kind.

So I lured him into a situation where he'd have no choice but to use that 'tree' poison.

It was hard to poison the food.

Sprinkling a deadly toxin in the cabin wasn't easy, either.

So if no one was on our ship, I expected they'd try to stage a fake fire.

That would force them to use the tree poison.

If they really set fire to the ship, we could simply abandon it.

That's why they used a brazier to burn that wood.

So, when I boarded the ship—

I recognized it by the mere passing scent.

I felt a numbness in my lips.

The yellow clown-striped tree.

This wood contained a powerful neurotoxin.

Over 7,000 times more potent than cyanide.

Breathing in smoke from this burning wood would cause breathing difficulty within ten breaths and quickly result in unconsciousness.

After that, full body paralysis would set in, leading to death.

There was no antidote for this poison.

However, the way to prevent it was very simple.

As long as you didn't inhale the smoke.

So, I wore a triple-layered mask coated with activated charcoal powder.

We had anticipated and prepared for this.

Viscount Landan's scheme had a very high chance of success.

Ordinary people would've just rushed in to put out the fire.

As long as your eyes weren't exposed for too long, it was okay to go in with a mask.

So we went in, doused the brazier with water, and pretended to drop dead.

If they had arrived just a bit later, we would've had to leave.

After all, even activated charcoal has a limit to toxin absorption.

In a way, them opening the windows saved us.

When I ambushed Viscount Landan, I had found that same tree at his mansion.

He had brought a live tree and planted it, pretending it was always there.

With this, the matter was settled.

Some would be dreaming of revenge, others would watch.

Grand Duke Syren would have to be more cautious than ever before.

He can't act so freely now.

Sending Viscount Landan must have been his best move.

If he tries anything with us again, he's declaring war.

The level of force possessed by myself and my members.

And the houses allied with us.

The grand duke can no longer ignore us.

That's why I smashed Geroz.

Because of that, we struck at the Order.

To make it clear to the grand duke for all to see.

/ / /

"Can I give you a hug?"

"Go ahead."

Count Parde approached with a bright face and abruptly said that.

Behind him stood Merchant leader Barako, the admiral, and Count Mals.

They all looked cheerful.

Count Parde hugged me tightly.

As if embracing his own child.

The others looked on with pleased expressions at this awkward scene.

They were people who had been waiting only for my return.

The delegation sent to Tern had arrived five days before us, apparently.

"Did everything go well?"

"Better than well. I heard the king of Tern even held a grand celebration at the royal palace."

"Wish I could have greeted him myself."

The admiral stepped forward.

"I am Admiral Gunder of the Central Fleet."

"It's an honor to meet you, admiral."

"Since the imperial command has been given, our forces will provide an escort from now on, to prevent any further incidents. Thanks to you, His Imperial Majesty now holds me in high regard."

"It was your correct judgment, admiral."

"Merchant leader Barako worked hard to convince me. As a soldier, I had to keep an eye on the higher-ups, so I hope you understand."

I nodded with a smile.

Merchant leader Barako stepped up as well.

"Actually, when the king of Tern met with us, he seemed quite troubled. So I told him to believe—to wait a few days, since the Order would soon collapse."

"So it wasn't resolved right away."

"That's right. We waited anxiously, too. Then we got a message. The Order had fallen. The Geroz Mercenary Corps of Tern was to disband as well."

Merchant leader Barako let out a sigh of relief.

"I was worried we might end up as Tern's hostages, but the king himself came to tell us about the Order's fate. Even the opposing nobles couldn't say a word in the end."

Count Mals offered his hand to me.

I took it.

"You've done a great job."

"Count Mals, most of the credit goes to you."

"Don't even mention it. The pressure from the nobles was enormous. I even considered throwing away my title and everything."

Count Parde spoke up again.

"This is thanks to Count Mals. He's put immense effort into persuading everyone. By the way, truly impressive—you see the situation more clearly than anyone."

"Maybe I just have an eye for money, haha."

"Hahaha!"

Count Mals laughed, and the others followed.

No one knew that Count Mals and I were related by marriage, nor how we had been communicating secretly.

"Well, let's go to the banquet hall. I've prepared a place for you with all my heart."

"In that case, I'll gladly enjoy it."

"That's the spirit."

Count Mals led the group. He didn't act overly familiar with me. It would appear everything was his own decision, not based on my advice.

We headed to the inn at Tris Plaza.

At first, I thought it was just a dinner arranged by Count Mals, but it turned out to be a sizeable celebration.

A fair number of nobles from neutral factions attended.

Several houses close to Grand Duke Syren's camp were present as well—hoping to get a foot in the new trade enterprise.

But to my surprise—

Count Watts was there as well.

Count Watts was the commander of the capital defense forces.

He is the center of the neutral camp.

He was not the type to show up at such an event.

Yet there he was, seated at a round table with several young, handsome men.

They all looked to be direct subordinates or officers, likely sons from prestigious houses.

I couldn't even sit down but wandered about greeting various nobles.

Count Mals was clearly introducing me to the noble circles.

"This is Viscount Drop, who owns a large ranch in the northwest of the capital."

"Pleased to meet you."

"I'm Roger, third son of House Hader."

"And here, Viscount Vera, who runs a major clothing business in the capital region."

"Nice to meet you, Young Master Roger."

"It's an honor, Viscount."

"Now, let's head over here."

And so the introductions to the nobles continued.

Of course, there were barely any nobles with large territories—most were those who owned city fiefs.

In the empire, city lords serve as mayors, mostly viscounts.

Since their lands are small, their house revenues usually come from business.

Some obviously belonged to Grand Duke Syren's faction, but smiled and greeted me anyway.

House interests always come first. Count Mals planned to draw them in.

He was showing both honey and poison.

If they worked with us: honey.

Otherwise: poison.

A mix of persuasion and warning.

This was Count Mals's intention.

Such political skills were how his house survived so many bloody purges, while increasing high noble fortunes.

"And this here is Count Watts."

"I am Roger."

Count Watts replied with a silent nod.

Count Mals whispered subtly.

"Look, there are empty seats at this table. Count Watts, would you mind if Young Master Roger and I sit here?"

"Not at all."

Count Mals grinned slyly and sat down first.

He'd planned this all along—Count Watts was at the center of the banquet hall.

As soon as Mals and I sat, the food was served. We began eating right away.

No need to be shy, nor to be intimidated by Count Watts.

Count Watts ate quietly as well. The handsome men with him were just as silent. I couldn't deny there was a sense of wariness towards me.

Count Watts, being a Sword of Light, needed no further mention.

The others seemed to have high potential too. Though their progress was slow, they possessed advanced sword techniques.

This was how Count Watts and the neutral faction continued to survive.

Even the grand duke couldn't treat Count Watts lightly—after all, he is commander of the empire's largest army.

But why did Count Mals invite him? Why did Count Watts accept?

Could it be that reason?

While we ate, Count Watts finally looked at me.

Since I had acted as if I had no interest in him, perhaps it irked him a little.

"You are the spitting image of your father when he was young."

"Am I?"

Count Watts's tone was calm.

My father and my maternal uncle, Viscount Roeb, were friends.

He spoke again.

"I never imagined that solid Order would fall."

"Do you think I did something wrong?"

At that, the handsome men paused their eating.

Maybe they thought I'd just been rude, but Count Watts merely chuckled lightly.

"It's true the Order had to be reborn, whoever brought about its fall."

He seemed to suggest it would not be officially acknowledged.

About the reason for the Order's collapse.

There would have been His Imperial Majesty's will too.

"Then are you interested in trade as well, sir?"

"Do you think that's why I'm here?"

"I don't think so."

Count Watts gazed at me.

"I was curious after hearing your family would attend the palace banquet. Even with your family restored, reaching the palace wouldn't have been easy. But—"

There was a smile on Count Watts's lips.

"Seeing you and your siblings put me at ease. Not only had you grown up well, but you had unusual martial skills and a remarkable look in your eyes."

"I didn't realize you'd seen us."

"You think I wouldn't recognize your grown siblings? My adjutant informed me of your position, so I observed you from then. But you only looked at the grand duke."

At the time, Count Watts hadn't spared us a glance on entering the hall.

I'd assumed he was uninterested in us—but in fact, he just hadn't recognized us.

"You had a sharp eye for the nobles at the banquet. Unless I'm mistaken, you understood the power structure of all the noble factions present."

"I just took a quick look."

"What did you see?"

"I realized there were more neutral houses than expected. And that there was more of the grand duke's faction in the military than I thought."

Count Watts nodded.

I thought I understood why he came.

Count Watts spoke again.

"Ever considered joining the military?"

I didn't answer.

For imperial nobles, joining the army is a duty, a responsibility. But it's not compulsory.

Obviously, I have no intention of joining the military.

Who would protect my house if something happened while I'm away?

Someone might be trying to tie me to the army.

Count Watts clearly meant for me to build ties with the younger nobles in the military.

That was surely why he brought these young officers.

But why make such connections with young nobles?

Probably when Count Mals went to the capital, he met Count Watts.

Or perhaps Count Watts had something to say.

There was only one reason.

"Is something happening in the capital?"

A bigger smile grew on Count Watts's lips.

"Just as they say. There's nothing happening right now—but there are things to prepare, starting now."

I understood.

"For something seven years from now, correct?"

Count Watts's eyes widened slightly.

As if to ask how I knew.

"Everything in the capital will split. The army as well. Many, even now, are debating whose side they'll be on when the time comes. But some have already decided."

He looked at me, then continued.

"So if great upheaval does come—remember I'm in the army. The young officers sitting here, too."

All of the men were officers.

Capital defense, northern army, central army—officers.

Several are future commanders of their respective legions.

That was why Count Watts attended this banquet.

He knew something was coming.

Because of the birth of the false crown prince.