Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 97

97.

“There isn’t a particularly special method. I think you need to understand Western culture first,” Ken said.

I tilted my head, considering his words.

“Western culture?”

The continent was a vast landmass, and the Empire occupied the largest part of it. The cultures of the North, South, East, and West were all distinct.
The distances between them were great, and the climates varied, so they naturally developed differently.

I searched my memory to recall if I had written anything specific about the West.

“Hmm.”

Judging by the fact that nothing immediately came to mind, I didn’t think I had written anything substantial about the West.

When I didn’t answer, Ken elaborated.

“The West has been bordered by the Dark Forest for a very long time. Unlike the East or Central regions, it isn’t a transportation hub with abundant resources, nor is it a major food-producing area like the South. The land is barren, there’s the constant threat of the Dark Forest, and the Fairy Forest is a place where you can never let your guard down. Survival naturally becomes the most important value for Westerners from a young age.”

“Survival?”

“Yes. From birth, they face the threat of starvation because resources are scarce. And as young boys, they venture into the Fairy Forest to forage for food.”

I clicked my tongue.

“I’ve been in the West for quite some time, but I wasn’t aware of any of that.”

Riorden chimed in.

“Weren’t you in the Dark Forest for an even longer time? Besides, there was hardly any opportunity to experience the culture of the West because of the war.”

David added his perspective to Ken’s explanation.

“By the time they become young men, they have to defend against monsters emerging from the Dark Forest. The Orcs currently occupy it, but originally, monsters from the Dark Forest periodically invade the West. And that’s… the biggest reason why the West hasn’t developed as much as other regions.”

Ken nodded in agreement.

“David is right. The West has allocated a significant portion of its resources to stopping monsters. Even if the lords of the West are strong and the soldiers are elite, the reason they can’t be fully integrated into the mainstream of the Empire is due to these regional limitations.”

I began to understand the situation in the West more clearly.

Ken continued, “It’s not much different for lords or soldiers. Survival is the top priority for both. So, Westerners admire heroes and consider strength the greatest virtue.”

“Heroes? Strength?”

Ken nodded.

“A powerful hero who can single-handedly defeat the monsters of the Dark Forest, a hero who will save them from poverty. Ironically, this desire for heroism is also inherent in the hearts of Westerners who struggle to survive on their own from a young age.”

“Humans are cunning beings. If they can trust someone, they rely on them, and if they can rely on someone, they entrust everything to them,” Riorden observed.

I listened to their explanations and nodded.

“I see.”

Ken concluded, “Your Highness doesn’t need to exhaust yourself trying to win the hearts of the Western lords. You have already killed the Seed of Evil, so display its corpse in the castle and demonstrate overwhelming skill in the war against the Orcs.”

Ken’s gaze shifted to Gail.

“Gail, you need to assist in the battle, but manage it in such a way that His Highness can shine even brighter.”

Gail agreed without hesitation.

Ken’s strategies and tactics were always designed to benefit me, so Gail had no reason to object.

And Gail’s thoughts aligned with Ken’s.

“Your Highness is a spiritist, so you will naturally excel in battle more than I would.”

I smiled faintly at Gail’s words.

“I’ll do my best.”

Ken reiterated, “Currently, the lords and soldiers are focused on Gail. That’s the reputation of a Sword Master. But as the battle progresses, they will begin to see Your Highness as a hero. The reason Ram and Thomson failed to unite the Western lords is because they only intervened minimally when absolutely necessary in battle.”

I shrugged.

“Are you saying that you deliberately used Ram and Thomson sparingly in battle, considering all of this?”

Ken didn’t bother to deny it.

If I thought that Ken would become Karen’s confidant, as in my novel, and use various schemes against me, I would shudder.

‘He’s becoming increasingly skilled.’

Ken was demonstrating even greater abilities than he had in the Imperial Palace.

Perhaps his potential was blossoming as he became more aware of his position and worked to achieve his goals.

The quality and quantity of information he handled were on a completely different level compared to when he was a pickpocket.

“Okay. Once we return, I’ll capture the hearts of the Western lords with my spiritism. By the way, is Marquis Mike truly likely to swear allegiance to me to that extent?”

Ken smiled.

“You can’t secure an oath of allegiance through strength alone. You must become the hero of the victory and address their needs and concerns.”

“Needs and concerns?”

“Yes. As soon as you return to the West, I will return to the Imperial Palace.”

Everyone looked surprised at Ken’s sudden decision.

“Why to the Imperial Palace?”

“I’m planning to visit the Atran family with Ram.”

My body stiffened involuntarily.

“What… what are you planning?”

“Didn’t I explain Western culture? What threatened the survival of Westerners was not only monsters, but also a more fundamental issue: famine and poverty. And famine and poverty can be overcome with wealth.”

Ken produced an item from his pocket.

“It’s a memory crystal ball.”

Everyone stared at Ken’s expression with a sense of awe.

I felt the same.

“Solve the poverty of the West using the wealth of the Atran and Beregon families. We have the evidence from the memory crystal ball and a witness named Ram. Even if the founding heads of the Atran and Riverhill families were to return, they wouldn’t be able to refuse Your Highness’s demands.”

I stared blankly at the memory crystal ball, which resembled an ordinary glass bead.

It was one of the items I frequently used in my novels.

“A memory crystal ball… did Thomson possess it?”

“Yes. He recorded every meeting with Ram in the memory crystal ball. The highlight was the ambush on Gail.”

I clicked my tongue.

“Did you know about this?”

“The memory crystal ball is an item that His Majesty also designated as a treasure, and it’s an item that only the Riverhill family can create. I suspected that Duke Austin might give it to Thomson, but I was uncertain whether he would use it effectively or whether I could even find it.”

Riorden and David were now looking at Ken with admiration, as if nothing could surprise them anymore.

How far back did this person plan, and how extensive was his planning?

“The reason I instructed you to keep Ram alive was also for this purpose. If the evidence and the witness are irrefutable, no one can escape.”

Riorden asked, “Then, isn’t it possible to destroy the two families by claiming they attempted to assassinate Your Highness? If His Majesty were to find out, they could be punished for treason.”

Ken shook his head.

“Then the two families would simply abandon Thomson and Ram. The knights and wizards are already dead, so abandoning those two wouldn’t matter much. They would blame it on the personal failings of Thomson and Ram.”

Ken continued calmly, “When applying pressure to an opponent, the degree is crucial. The two families wouldn’t want rumors of Thomson and Ram’s treasonous actions to spread among the nobility. If you only demand an amount of wealth that the two families can afford, they would prefer to hand over gold and silver and quietly move on.”

Gail spoke, “Negotiations don’t seem easy.”

I was also concerned.

“The two dukes are formidable individuals.”

“The two dukes are on the front lines with His Majesty. If I go to the Imperial Palace with Ram now, it won’t be the two dukes judging this matter, but rather their children or the elders of the family.”

Ken concluded, “If you force a decision when the head of the family is absent, they will eventually be manipulated by me.”

I leaned back deeply into the chair, feeling exhausted without realizing it.

“Okay. When we return to the West, you go to the Imperial Palace, and I’ll leave everything to you.”

* * *

The gate of the massive fortress slowly rose.

As I entered, all the lords and soldiers greeted me.

“Commander!” Marquis Mike was the first to greet me.

Before acknowledging the greetings, I retrieved Goran’s corpse from my magic pouch.

It wasn’t pleasant to handle Goran’s corpse, but this was the time for a dramatic display.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

Each time a piece of Goran’s fragmented corpse landed, everyone’s attention was riveted.

The tension was palpable, and some soldiers swallowed nervously.

Sylph manipulated the pieces of the corpse I threw, arranging them to reveal Goran’s original form.

As I threw the last piece, Goran’s head, I declared emphatically, “I have beheaded the Seed of Evil who sought to defile this land with the energy of evil.”

Ken immediately used the sound amplification item.

My voice resonated not only with the lords and Marquis Mike nearby but also with all the soldiers within the castle.

I surveyed the soldiers and continued, “Now the Orc King will lead all the remaining Orcs in the Dark Forest and descend upon our territory.”

The atmosphere grew increasingly charged.

“The master they believed in and followed lies here in pieces before me.”

Sylph appeared and sat beside me, while Ignis soared into the sky, spewing flames.

Someone gasped in awe.

“Neither the Orc King nor any of the countless Orcs will be able to breach our walls. The fact that I am the master of this land, and that it belongs to the Westerners, will never change.”

I felt the urge to shout.

Although the sound amplification item made it unnecessary, I deliberately amplified the emotions even further.

“Now, let us show the foolish Orcs who followed the Seed of Evil as their master who the true master of this land is!”

As my speech concluded, Marquis Mike was the first to raise his sword high.

“Waaaaaaaaa!”

It was hard to believe that the shout came from Marquis Mike, whose white hair was abundant and whose wrinkles were prominent.

Then the lords raised their swords high as well.

It seemed to be a unique custom of the West.

“Waaaaaaaaa!”

Following the lords’ shouts, all the soldiers raised their weapons in unison.

At the same time, Marquis Mike and the lords shouted again with the soldiers.

“Waaaaaaaaaaaa!”

I responded in kind.

All the spirits soared into the sky.

“Waaaaaaaaa!”

Today, I imprinted my presence on everyone once more, not as the Crown Prince, but as the Commander-in-Chief of the West.

And I secretly instructed Gail, “Capture all the wizards.”