The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 142

114. The Plan Begins

“How can you handle things so recklessly? Lord Gordon clearly told me he would entrust this task to me.”

“You were too scared of a barbarian woman to say anything. Are you throwing a tantrum like a child now?”

“No… That’s…”

Tiren couldn’t respond to Gordon’s sharp words. He considered himself intelligent, and others thought highly of his intellect.

In fact, such common evaluations underestimated him, a relative newcomer. Given time, he believed he would be regarded as an unparalleled genius.

But the problem was time.

He wasn’t the seasoned Tiren McGovern, hardened by experience, but a novice who had just entered politics and received his first mission from the Emperor.

“She is a woman at the pinnacle of the fierce barbarians. Regardless of her skills or anything else, she seemed to have quite the temper.”

“Has Lord Gordon never met her?”

“I have. But the chieftain of the Digon [a powerful barbarian tribe] I have ties with is not her, but her mother. I saw her when she was a little girl, not even ten years old…”

Gordon said with an indifferent expression.

“I didn’t expect her to grow up so insolent.”

Then, with a soft sigh, he waved his hand towards Tiren.

“Being with you makes even me seem soft.”

Tiren blushed at his words.

“Both the First and Second Princes have halted their journey south. That means we are the only ones left.”

“…”

“There’s no need to rush. But dragging out the time like this is also a problem. You need to obtain something from the South to bring back to the Empire.”

Tiren nodded.

“Understood.”

Click-

After confirming that Tiren had left the office, the vice-commander, Jaegan, asked Gordon.

“Commander, you seem particularly kind to Tiren.”

“Am I not kind to others as well? I’m even keeping a guy who might be plotting something with the Empire by my side without killing him.”

Gordon gestured, running his finger across his neck towards Jaegan.

“No… Well…”

As mentioned before, Jaegan felt a chill down his spine at Gordon’s words, as if Gordon already knew his actions.

Nevertheless, the fact that Gordon hadn’t dismissed him meant that what he said was sincere.

“Once you inherit the mercenary company, you can do whatever you want, but don’t slack off just because the prince you want isn’t the one in power.”

“That will not happen.”

“What about the task I gave you? It’s something that noble sons or members of prestigious orders can’t do.”

“I’ve been investigating for ten days. I should be back by today.”

“Hmm.”

Gordon nodded at Jaegan’s words.

“I won’t be going with you next time we meet. It’s frustrating, but the Queen is right. This is an issue between the Empire and the South, not the 교도 [Gyodo] Mercenary团 [Dan/Company].”

“Of course.”

“But moving at the pace of those insignificant guys doesn’t suit my temperament…”

“I understand that better than anyone.”

Jaegan looked at Gordon and said confidently.

Because mercenaries have their own way of doing things.

* * *

Fifteen days had passed.

Prince Cromen had visited Digon several times since then, but he was turned away by the barbarians to the point where he was ashamed of being an Imperial Prince.

“The First Prince is currently recuperating in Brelado, Lord Aziff’s territory.”

Jaegan, who received the mercenary’s messenger pigeon, reported to Cromen, who looked exhausted as if he had suffered from the heat.

“Has my brother… really passed away?”

“Well, he has 퇴군 [retreated], but nearly half of his forces remain… There is a possibility that he will reorganize his troops in Brelado.”

“Will he come to the South?”

Even Keplan, who had been silently assisting the Prince, sighed, thinking that this could not be resolved as it was.

“The Second Prince has been confirmed to be in the Vestal Marquisate. He doesn’t seem to have returned to the Empire yet… According to reports, there are Sand Serpents on the road to the South.”

“Serpents?”

“Yes. It’s unusual. The Serpents of the South are 마물 [monsters] called the Masters of the Hills… Why would they leave the hills and come to the road?”

Jaegan tilted his head.

“Anyway, both the First and Second Princes have had trouble because of the Serpents. It’s not like someone is controlling them…”

At that moment,

Yurin Hugard, who was listening to Jaegan’s words, hurriedly asked back.

“Serpents? Didn’t Prince Ruon 회군 [retreat] because he was blocked by the Twin Armor’s forces?”

“That’s right, but a 수왕 [Water King] emerged from the Fournine River, which was behind the main camp. Moreover, there was even a 해왕 [Sea King] at that battlefield. It must have been a complete disaster…”

He shook the note lightly and said.

“More than half were taken as prisoners, so it will be difficult for the First Prince to return to the Empire with peace of mind. Oh, this is just between us.”

Jaegan playfully covered his lips with his index finger, as if afraid of being caught.

But the people there did not have such a relaxed expression.

“수왕 [Water King] and 해왕 [Sea King]…?”

In particular, Yurin Hugard muttered with a dazed expression, as if he had been hit hard on the back of the head with a blunt weapon by Jaegan’s report.

‘It’s him. Karil…!! He must have done something. Damn it… It was strange from the moment he came back alive from there.’

There was no use in regretting it.

Who could he blame?

In the first place, he didn’t have the courage to confirm the life or death of the 수왕 [Water King] and 해왕 [Sea King].

‘He didn’t really tame those two 마물 [monsters], did he? No, could it be… even the Sand Serpent?’

Yurin shook his head.

There are sometimes people like Goblin Shamans who tame 마물 [monsters] with special magic, but that is limited to lower-level 마물 [monsters].

To be able to control three monsters, not just one, that are rated as S-class monsters?

‘Impossible. It must be a coincidence…’

He thought so, but he couldn’t shake off the vague anxiety about Karil while coming from the Empire.

“Do you have something in mind?”

Tiren asked, noticing his expression.

“Hmm? No. Nothing.”

Yurin shook his head with a stiff expression.

‘Damn it… I’m getting scared for no reason because of someone who isn’t even here. That man is probably in Tatur right now. It’s unnecessary worry.’

As soon as he thought that, he finally let out a soft sigh and calmed his mind.

“Ahem, it’s not easy.”

Keplan muttered, shaking his head slightly.

“…I’m sorry.”

After being notified of the fourth rejection to his request to meet Miliana since that day, Tiren said in a dejected voice.

“Haha, it’s not Tiren’s fault. No matter how brilliant your plan is, it’s impossible unless you meet the person first.”

However, Tiren bit his lip as if he was even more ashamed at Keplan’s words.

He couldn’t forgive himself for not being able to do anything or come up with any plans.

He was a disciple of the court magician Cardin Luer and even took the top spot in the academy.

But in the face of the power of barbarism, everything he learned inside was useless.

‘What am I even doing?’

Clench-.

He bit his lip.

‘I have to meet Miliana. No, at least I have to be able to enter Digon’s territory.’

Tiren could fully grasp the reason why she was refusing to meet Cromen.

‘It happened while His Majesty was away from the 교단 [Gyodan/Church]. That means there was a problem with one of the three princes. In other words, the reason she is refusing to meet us in this way is because Prince Cromen is not the prince she is waiting for.’

Then how can he meet her?

‘If Miliana is refusing to meet Prince Cromen… can I meet her if I’m not a prince?’

In an instant,

A thought flashed through his mind.

“…”

Elliot looked at his hardened expression with concern and tried to say something to him, but Tiren raised his hand to stop him.

‘There is.’

Tiren licked his dry lips and unconsciously let out a soft breath.

‘And it might be the only card that can turn the tide in the current situation.’

“Your Highness.”

He carefully called Cromen. All eyes were on him.

“I will go to Digon alone.”

Tiren said with strength in his voice, as if he had made up his mind.

The plan he came up with.

‘Randall.’

* * *

“You were right.”

“I know. I’m just a little puzzled that it took longer than I expected. I guess he’s still unrefined. After all, there must have been many things that happened before he became 재상 [Prime Minister]. Compared to then, he must be like a flower in a greenhouse now. I’m a little curious about his worried face.”

Karil said to Miliana, looking at Tiren standing in front of the barracks.

‘Is it because he lacks experience? Well… there must have been many things that happened before he became 재상 [Prime Minister]. Compared to then, he must be like a flower in a greenhouse now. I’m a little curious about his worried face.’

But even so, Karil thought that Tiren’s audacity to come alone without anyone else was as expected.

“Now I just need to meet him and do as you said. What will you be doing in the meantime?”

Karil said quietly.

“If Tiren comes and goes today, Cromen will probably look for you tomorrow. I have something else to do in the meantime.”

“What is it?”

“As I said before, preparing to catch a big fish. I’m going to meet Gordon. Our plan hasn’t even started yet. I’ll tell you when I get back.”

Miliana made a lazy expression, as if she was a little annoyed at his words.

“Haa, fighting with brains doesn’t suit my personality.”

“This isn’t a fight.”

“Hmm?”

Karil’s eyes lit up.

“It’s a 몰이 사냥 [driven hunt].”

“…”

For a moment, looking at him like that, Miliana thought that perhaps Karil was more frightening than the Empire.

“By the way… what are you going to do about those 교도 [Gyodo] Mercenary团 [Dan/Company] guys running around here and there?”

“You can leave them alone. I’ve already put eyes on them all anyway. There’s no need for Digon to move.”

She chuckled at his words.

“Seriously, how many people have you released in someone else’s territory? It’s getting worse and worse.”

“It’s good without lifting a finger, right? I can roughly guess where the mercenary团 [Dan/Company] will go anyway.”

Karil chuckled at Miliana’s words.

Was it because he had spent a long time with her in his past life? Even though it was their first meeting, he treated her without hesitation, and Miliana gradually felt more comfortable with Karil’s appearance.

“But will it be okay? Are you really going to let that guy meet Randall? Randall will tell him everything about you.”

“It doesn’t matter. Randall doesn’t know exactly about me. And neither do you, right?”

“…Are you hiding something else from me?”

“A lot.”

Karil chuckled at her question.

“Anyway, it’s what I want for Randall to tell Tiren about me. And the fact that he came alone means that he knew Randall was here.”

“Don’t tell me you told him that too?”

“Of course.”

Miliana laughed with a dumbfounded expression at his answer.

It was top secret that Randall was staying here.

Even the people of the Empire wouldn’t know.

‘When did he start planning this?’

She tried to guess, but soon shook her head.

“…I can’t read your mind at all.”

Miliana stretched out on the large cushion and stood up.

“Well, fine.”

For some reason, she seemed to have been bored of being still until now and walked out of the barracks with a strange smile.

“Let’s see what happens.”