The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 148

The Ambush (1)

118. The Ambush (1)

“What happened?”

The group led by Kromen returned to Digon late in the evening, after sunset.

“……I’m sorry.”

Tiren said in a low voice.

His throat was completely hoarse from the heated debate.

“You’re a mess.”

Gordon looked at Tiren, who was clearly exhausted, and spoke quietly, his voice laced with a sigh.

“It’s all my incompetence.”

Kromen lowered his head.

But everyone knew. How much could a child who wasn’t even ten years old do in this situation?

Thump, thump, thump…….

Gordon, with his huge frame, got up from his chair and knelt in front of Kromen. “Your Highness, diplomacy is the same as war. There is always victory and defeat. Don’t be too heartbroken.”

“But…….”

Gordon placed his hand on the small shoulder. It seemed lost in his big hand.

“Even the strong First Prince and the clever Second Prince failed to set foot in the South. Your Highness has already accomplished what your brothers could not.”

“Then……. Lord Gordon, what should I do? I have no face to see His Majesty as it is.”

“…….”

At that moment,

Gordon’s eyes flickered.

He hesitated for a moment, trying to say something, and then opened his mouth. “Rest for now.”

* * *

‘That bastard…….’

Gordon recalled Karil’s face after Kromen returned and gritted his teeth slightly.

“That guy really knew the negotiations would fail. Did he do something?”

Crack-!!

At that moment,

As he put strength into his hand, the armrest of the chair he was sitting on shattered.

-Didn’t you say you were confident, Tiren?

-I’m sorry.

-An apology only further reveals your incompetence. If we return to the Empire as it is, Prince Kromen will only become a target for the two princes.

After sending Kromen back first,

When they were alone, Gordon asked Tiren about what happened in Digon.

-Despite Randol’s testimony, the Queen said she could not provide any help in finding the real culprit this time.

-Hmm…….

-Rather, she said that if we fail to reveal this incident, we will have to pay the price.

Even though Gordon had already heard the story from Karil, he was dumbfounded.

-But she also refused us entry to the Abyss Rock. She said that the sacred site could no longer be defiled. In the end, she meant that she would not give any investigation or any help.

-Does that bitch want a war? I didn’t like her from the beginning. She’s unlucky until the end.

Gordon frowned as he pondered Tiren’s words.

-It doesn’t make sense logically. Discord with the Empire would be a burden for Digon as well. It must have been because Queen Olivian had a secret agreement with Prince Olivian…….

For some reason, Miliana only gave the answer that she would not give any help unconditionally.

-I thought it was a condition that I could never give up…….

Azure Phosphor.

After the Gray Wasteland was captured, the Empire discovered a way to mine Azure Phosphor from the Abyss Rock.

The reason why the Lyeo Knights went there was because of that.

Tiren offered to provide a portion of the Azure Phosphor production as a price for reconciliation.

‘Barbarians can’t even get Azure Phosphor. From Digon’s point of view, there’s no reason to refuse since they haven’t suffered any damage anyway…….’

He couldn’t understand at all.

In his eyes, it was as if she was refusing to negotiate with them unreasonably, regardless of common sense or interests.

In fact, his assessment was correct.

It was natural.

The Empire was confident that only they knew how to extract Azure Phosphor, but Miliana had already completed a deal for Azure Phosphor through Karil.

She had nothing to lose.

‘Hmm…….’

Tiren McGovern, who would be called an unparalleled genius, was now just wandering around in the game created by Karil.

“The queen, who is called the ruler of the South, can’t be as frustrating as the idiots of the Istria Three Kingdoms.”

Gordon muttered, recalling Miliana’s face in the tent.

“There’s a reason.”

He concluded, recalling his conversation with Tiren.

It wasn’t just that she was doing this out of hostility towards the Central people.

“How the hell did that guy get Digon to listen to him, even if it meant forcing things……?”

But unfortunately, even Gordon had no idea.

The reason why Digon was rejecting the Empire to the point of being unreasonable…….

“Commander.”

Jegan’s voice was heard from outside the door.

“Come in.”

Creak…….

As the door opened, a subordinate staggered and knelt urgently in front of him.

“I will report.”

Gordon looked at Jegan’s face once and then let out a low sigh as he looked at the subordinate who was bowing his head.

“That’s enough.”

“……Yes?”

“Judging by your appearance, it seems like you’ve made a fuss.”

He looked at his subordinate and clicked his tongue as if he was pathetic, then waved his hand.

“…….”

“You don’t look successful.”

The subordinate hurriedly slammed his head on the floor and answered.

“I, I’m sorry!!”

“You stupid bastard……. What the hell did you do to fail!! You said you had finished the investigation enough!”

Thud-!!

Jegan, who quickly sensed Gordon’s mood, which was already upset by Tiren’s failure, kicked the subordinate’s side and shouted.

“There can be no failure in the Kyo-do Mercenary Corps!!”

“I, I’m sorry!!”

It wasn’t just a request, but an order from the commander, so he had to be prepared to lose at least one arm to survive.

“Hmm.”

But for some reason, Gordon looked at his subordinate blankly, as if he wasn’t interested in the situation that would have caused a commotion in normal times.

“Commander?”

Jegan looked at him with anxious eyes.

At that moment, an unexpected question came from Gordon.

“Are there any injured?”

-Ah……! Oh, and by the way, you should withdraw the mercenaries you released.

-What?

Before leaving the airship, Karil opened the door to Gordon’s room, stopped, and said.

-The disadvantage of the South is that it is difficult to obtain drinking water and food. But it’s hard to stop the food because they’re hunting, but drinking water is different.

-…….

-So, the only weakness for Digon is the Pandon Oasis, which is the source of drinking water. If you can occupy it, you can proceed with the negotiations favorably…….

Karil smiled strangely.

-It won’t be easy.

-I don’t know what you’re talking about.

-If it’s the skill of the Kyo-do Mercenary Corps, it won’t be difficult to break through the oasis’s defense forces. The Kyo-do Mercenary Corps is rumored to have the power to rival a country.

-You……. Are you up to something?

It sounded like a compliment, but Gordon was suspicious first because the other party was the other party.

But even to his question, Karil said with a face that he didn’t know anything.

-No way. But as you know, the southern oasis is not only used by Digon. I’m telling you because I don’t think the other tribes will stand still if you touch it.

The conversation was over there.

“Fortunately, no one died. Rather than fighting, they were just trying to prevent us from approaching the oasis…….”

The subordinate who was reporting said in a slightly trembling voice, not knowing what to do.

“What about the Digon tribe?”

“They were there too, but there weren’t many of them. It was the same as we investigated, so it was at a level that we could have handled enough if there were no obstacles.”

“But?”

“Suddenly, reinforcements rushed in. The number was over a thousand…….”

“Hmm.”

“But the Digon guys were also surprised when the troops appeared, just like us.”

‘They didn’t even know.’

Gordon raised his eyebrows slightly at his subordinate’s words.

“You found out who the intruders were, right?”

“O, of course.”

“That’s a relief. I would have beaten you up if you missed that too.”

The subordinate sweated profusely at Gordon’s words and answered.

“It was definitely the Bi…… Bigung tribe and the Tu tribe.”

“Ha…….”

Gordon let out a ridiculous laugh at the report. The subordinate swallowed hard, fearing that the laugh might be directed at him.

‘Other tribes? Funny guy. The Bigung tribe and the Tu tribe are on the opposite side of Digon.’

But Gordon was already thinking about Karil’s face, who had said he didn’t know before leaving, as if he didn’t care about his subordinates.

‘They have their own drinking water. Are you leisurely running dozens of kilometers to care about the safety of other people’s drinking water?’

In the first place, the Digon tribe opened the door to the South, which caused this mess, so why would they be for Digon?

Combining the subordinate’s words, it means that when they were about to attack the oasis, the tribes of the opposite prairie of Digon suddenly came here without prior consultation.

‘That means he expected me to take action.’

What could the barbarians far away do to read his thoughts?

It was impossible unless it was someone here.

‘He even knew that the prince would negotiate with Digon…….’

Gordon kept thinking about Karil’s last words before he left.

‘If even this is what you did…….’

His eyes shone.

‘How far have you set the stage?’

There was no evidence, but it was certain.

Gordon’s instinct was telling him.

He wanted to hit Karil if he was in front of him.

With all his heart.

“It fits perfectly to the point of being annoying. It’s not good……. No matter how I look at it, it feels like I’m being played in his palm.”

Gordon made a face as if he was fed up with Karil’s appearance, who had predicted his actions and blocked them in advance.

“Did something happen?”

Jegan asked him with a slightly nervous expression.

He had been watching Gordon for quite a long time.

Gordon was a man who only enforced his will rather than listening to others as much as he had strength.

‘What is his identity……. That guy.’

Jegan thought, recalling Karil.

Gordon taking the suspicious medicine without suspicion, and talking to the person who fought to the death as if he were an old friend, was different from what he knew.

“It’s nothing.”

But Gordon didn’t even tell the vice-captain about his conversation with Karil.

“…….”

He pursed his lips, thinking of Karil’s words that he had seen through his evaluation of Jegan.

‘The oasis thing was prepared as a backup plan, so it doesn’t matter. The problem is that even the result of the negotiation with Digon went as he thought.’

The last way to get Digon’s weakness was thwarted.

“I don’t like the way he’s acting…….”

Gordon leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin, muttering in a low voice.

“It makes me wonder about everything he does.”

At that moment,

As if he had made a decision, Gordon looked at Jegan.

“Heh heh……. If this happens, I have no choice but to listen to him.”

“……?”

Jegan looked at him with anxious eyes at his faint smile.

“Bring the prince here tomorrow. Now that Digon is like this, we’re going back.”

“Yes? Just like this? Shouldn’t we at least punish the barbarians we met at the oasis?”

“For what reason? We were the ones who invaded their territory first, right?”

Jegan frowned.

“You pay back what you received twice as much. Wasn’t that what the commander said? The Kyo-do Mercenary Corps will be looked down upon if we leave it like this.”

“Now is not the time to do unnecessary things. The prince’s work is the top priority.”

“……I understand.”

Jegan bit his lip, but nodded without arguing any further.

“You come with me.”

The subordinate let out a low sigh at his fierce voice and followed him out of the room.

“I’m crazy too.”

You can’t take back what you said.

‘Hey. I’ll do as much as you want. I wonder what impact your actions will have on the situation…….’

Gordon thought, stroking his chin.

“I have to watch together.”

Whoosh—

The wind blew through the window.

He remembered the conditions that Karil McGovern had presented to him.

‘What I want is nothing special. If the deal with Digon fails, send Kromen back to the Vestal Marquisate.’

There were many questions.

Of course,

It is a big deal for a prince who received an imperial order to return without fulfilling the order, but there were many unsatisfactory aspects as a price for saving his life.

‘Why that place? That’s where Ruon’s people are. There is no connection with Kromen. If it’s just sending him back from the South, the most certain thing is to take an airship and go straight to the imperial capital.’

Gordon thought, rolling his eyes.

‘If I had to pick someone who has a connection with Kromen in that place…….’

There was only one person.

Right now.

Another prince who is staying there for reorganization because the road to Gado is blocked.

That is,

Olivian Stefan.

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

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

9클래스 소드 마스터 : 검의 구도자
Status: Completed Author: , Native Language: Korean
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[English Translation] Karyl MacGovern, a Swordmaster haunted by a future he couldn't alter with steel alone, is granted a second chance. He returns to the past, not just to wield his sword, but to seize the power that once escaped his grasp: magic. Witness his journey as he strives to master both sword and sorcery, ascending to a peak of power never before imagined. This time, he will rewrite destiny.

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