Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 101

6. The Gathering Storm in the South

1

Having successfully seized the fortresses in the Bariand Mountains, Marquis Myers quickly repaired them before declaring independence.

The new nation was named the Kingdom of Milton, emphasizing its claim as the successor to the fallen Duchy of Milton from the past.

This declaration of independence was a move for stability rather than a reckless adventure.

‘Pushing towards the Imperial Capital would be troublesome, drawing the Imperial Army from the west. Besides, long-distance campaigns waste a lot of war supplies and provisions,’ he thought.

With this in mind, Marquis Myers established a strong defensive line and sent envoys to countries and territories that were on poor terms with the Baroque Imperial Family.

He intended to invite them to his coronation while also using diplomacy to keep Emperor Rudolf in check.

Thus, two weeks after the battle in the Bariand Mountains concluded.

In the city of Brenden, the former center of the Marquisate and now the capital of the Kingdom of Milton, Marquis Myers held his coronation. He ascended to the throne as king, observed by dozens of foreign envoys.

Emperor Rudolf was furious upon hearing this news.

However, he was currently occupied with suppressing the neutral faction rebels, who had declared themselves the Kingdom of Lybia.

Moreover, the Holy Artenian Empire, which had occupied and settled in the eastern region, and the Volga Republic in the north were constantly seeking opportunities, making it difficult to send reinforcements to the central army led by Count Ferrero.

While Emperor Rudolf was seething with anger, Marquis Myers—now King Myers—continued a week-long banquet to celebrate his victory, the founding of his kingdom, and his coronation.

It might seem wasteful during an ongoing civil war, but it was an effective way to announce the establishment of the kingdom to the entire continent and secure the loyalty of the people and nobles.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you. I wish your country prosperity as well.”

Myers offered a blessing to Count Felipe, who came as an envoy from the neutral faction rebels—now the Kingdom of Lybia.

He sincerely hoped the Kingdom of Lybia would endure.

That way, Rudolf would be unable to act while the Kingdom of Milton grew stronger.

‘Huhu. Seeing the continent turning in my favor, it must be that the gods are helping me.’

Even the Holy Empire, which revered the god Elkasel, had sent an envoy.

It was a formal congratulatory envoy, but it was a clear sign that they recognized the Kingdom of Milton.

‘But there’s still a guest who hasn’t arrived.’

As Myers surveyed the guests chatting in the grand banquet hall, wondering if there was someone he was waiting for, Count Bajo approached him.

Count Bajo, who had been promoted two ranks from baron to count for his contributions to the founding of the kingdom, was serving as both the royal chamberlain and the king’s aide.

“Your Majesty, guests from the north are waiting in the secret chamber.”

‘That’s right, they’ve finally come!’

At Count Bajo’s whisper, Myers quickly rose from his seat and moved to the secret chamber on one side of the grand banquet hall.

In the secret chamber, an old mage in a splendid robe was waiting, guarded by war mages.

As Myers entered, he rose from his seat and offered a respectful congratulatory greeting.

“Congratulations on your ascension, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you, Marquis Tyrone.”

Marquis Myers responded with a smile to the congratulations of the old mage, now Marquis Tyrone.

Marquis Tyrone, the master of the magic tower of the Volga Republic, had come to the Kingdom of Milton under the secret orders of President Lecoff.

He was not just a simple congratulatory envoy.

The reason they were meeting in secret was that there was something that had to be kept hidden from the outside world.

It was to finalize a mutual defense alliance treaty between Volga and Milton.

The Volga Republic was an outcast on the Rodisia continent.

Kings and nobles, fearing the spread of republican ideas in their own countries, had diplomatically isolated it.

However, it had been tolerated because it served as a check on the Baroque Empire, and the Volga Republic was an enemy of the Empire.

The same was true for the newly independent Kingdom of Milton.

Most nobles were wary of republican ideas, which advocated for the election of officials by vote, a legislative assembly system, and the abolition of the feudal system.

Therefore, they could not publicly conclude a treaty, so Myers was trying to make a secret agreement with Marquis Tyrone, who had been given full authority by the president.

“With this, our Volga Republic and the Kingdom of Milton have become allies. The President wishes for this relationship to last for a long time.”

“Hahaha. I hope so too.”

Myers and Tyrone, having exchanged the signed treaty, shook hands firmly.

Although the Baroque Empire’s power had been greatly diminished by the civil war, they could not ignore the empire’s strength accumulated over hundreds of years.

It was clear that once the current chaos was resolved, they would fiercely regain their power.

Therefore, the Kingdom of Milton joined hands for survival, and the Volga Republic joined hands to seize the northern territories, taking advantage of the chaos in the Empire.

“And this is a small gift from the President to commemorate the alliance between our two countries.”

As the treaty was successfully concluded, Marquis Tyrone clapped his hands.

Then, a war mage who had been waiting behind him handed over a thick parchment scroll.

As the guard received it and handed it over, Myers unfolded it out of curiosity.

After examining the contents, he showed great surprise.

“Th, this is…!”

“Yes, it is the blueprint for a hero-class Gigant [a large, humanoid war machine].”

Long before founding the kingdom, Myers had organized and sponsored a magic tower in his territory.

This place, now called the Milton Royal Magic Tower, had grown considerably in size by forcibly merging the branches of the Ten Great Magic Towers that had collapsed in the last Magic Tower War and small and medium-sized magic towers.

Nevertheless, compared to the Artenian Imperial Magic Tower or the Terra Magic Tower, which were still existing members of the former Ten Great Magic Towers, its magical engineering level was inferior, and it could not produce hero-class Gigants on its own.

But the Volga Republic had handed over the blueprint.

“It is an old model that was developed 40 years ago, but if you modify it and produce it, it will still be useful.”

“Hahaha. Is that so? But how did you get this blueprint?”

“Huhu. We put in a little effort.”

More than half of the Ten Great Magic Towers had collapsed in the last Magic Tower War.

Among them were magic towers that produced hero-class Gigants.

Just before the magic towers completely collapsed, Volga Republic agents had extracted the blueprints.

Myers did not know this background, but he was impressed by the president’s generosity.

He knew that the Volga Republic had also repeatedly failed to produce and secure hero-class Gigants.

“The President has also said that he will send 50 knight-class Gigants in addition to this.”

“R, really?”

“Yes, the Republic’s official merchant guild is currently shipping those Gigants in disassembled form. They will arrive in Brenden soon.”

Of course, it was not free.

They were receiving the full price for the machines, but for the Kingdom of Milton, which had to prevent the invasion of the Baroque Empire, it was necessary to secure a large number of knight-class Gigants, even if they had to pay two or three times the price.

Myers, well aware of this fact, nodded with a happy expression.

“I say again, the Volga Republic and our Kingdom of Milton will be together forever.”

“Yes, Your Majesty’s decision will be widely praised by posterity.”

After exchanging words of friendship between the two countries for a while, the envoys of the Volga Republic withdrew.

As soon as they left, Count Bajo, who had been on one side, approached and asked.

“Your Majesty, do you really trust those republican bastards?”

“Huhu. What does it matter whether I trust them or not? It’s enough if I can use them even a little.”

Myers had no intention of forming an eternal alliance with the Volga Republic either.

It was just an alliance to get through the immediate crisis, and he intended to betray them at any time when the situation improved.

“I’m glad you think so. By the way, what are you planning to do with the Rakan Marquisate?”

Although he had sent invitations to the coronation, no one had come as an envoy.

Instead, they had sent a congratulatory letter, but even that was just a lower-ranking noble, whose name he had never heard of, who had thrown it down, saying it was Luke’s letter, and left.

In other words, the Rakan Marquisate did not seem to have any intention of joining hands with the Kingdom of Milton.

In fact, Myers felt the same way.

He thought that in order for the Kingdom of Milton to completely escape the pressure of the Baroque Empire, it first had to completely dominate the southern part of the Empire.

The vast territory and population of the Rakan Marquisate, and the trading port represented by Lamer City, were essential for the future of the Kingdom of Milton.

“We can’t just leave them alone.”

“Then, will you punish them?”

“Yes, with a suitable excuse. While Rudolf is fighting the Kingdom of Lybia, we must completely take over the Rakan Marquisate!”

At Myers’ words, Bajo looked slightly worried.

“But Your Majesty, according to our spies, the military power of the Rakan Marquisate is greater than expected. It is good to occupy it, but I am worried that our forces will suffer great damage in the process.”

Even if they occupied the Rakan Marquisate, if the military power of the Kingdom of Milton was greatly reduced, the survival of the nation would be threatened.

Of course, Myers was aware of that fact.

“I know that too. That’s why I’m thinking of bringing in a neighboring country.”

“A neighboring country, you mean…”

“I’ve already talked to some extent with the Kingdom of Grenada.”

‘Ah! Come to think of it…!’

Three days ago, Myers had an unusually long private meeting with the envoy of the Kingdom of Grenada.

It seemed that they had discussed the Rakan Marquisate at that time.

The Kingdom of Grenada was an island nation located in the southeast of the Baroque Empire, famous for its strong navy.

In the past, it had been invaded by the Baroque Empire and the Holy Empire, but it had not only repelled them at sea but had also swept through the coastal areas of the two countries.

“If we use their navy, we will be able to punish the descendants of that despicable hero without suffering great damage. Kaha ha ha!”

Meyers, with a triumphant expression, burst into loud laughter.

His vassals, including Count Bajo, praised the king’s deep schemes, showering him with compliments.

2

Having returned to his territory, Luke waited for an opportunity while training in the latter half of the Gold Sword technique and creating a test machine for his exclusive use.

The test machine he had made before had been destroyed in the fight with Arsen, so he needed to make it again.

Since he was making a new one, he decided to install the synchronization helm and high-output core engine that he had not been able to make due to a lack of materials.

“Lord, why is this part designed so complicatedly?”

At Mute’s question, Luke glanced at the part he was pointing at and answered.

“This part is the most important part of the synchronization helm, the part that distinguishes the brain’s waves and transmits signals to the Gigant. Naturally, the mental magic circles are layered and complex.”

“Then this is…”

As promised earlier, Luke made Mute his assistant in making the synchronization helm and the test machine.

He could have done it alone, but Mute wanted to do it so much, and he also needed to raise his skills to the next level.

Mute was now a 6th Circle mage, but to design and build a Hero-class [a powerful, high-tier magical construct], he needed to be at least a 7th Circle mage.

After several days of making the synchronization helm in the Katarina Magic Tower’s workshop, Luke next began creating the core engine, a key component of the Gigant [a large, powerful magical machine].

A Hero-class required an engine with at least 3,000 phytes [a unit of magical energy], making its development no easy task.

Maintaining a high and stable output required robust materials and meticulous design.

Fortunately, Luke possessed both.

The Red Hammer Tribe had sent him cleanly refined ore, and for the design, he could refer to the Atlas of the destroyed Veritas Magic Tower and the Orion created by the Dark Moon Magic Tower.

However, Luke did not intend to simply replicate them; he aimed to create a core engine with improved performance.

‘First, I need to reduce the weight and eliminate unnecessary magic circles.’

Luke created several core engines, testing their output and stability.

This work involved not only Mute and the Iron Mages of the Katarina Magic Tower but also Erewine and Jegal Soha.

Erewine presented her newly improved artificial mana stone, and Jegal Soha shared her knowledge of Taoist techniques, along with information about the Tae-eul Furnace [a traditional Taoist power source], the power source of the wooden ox [a magical construct powered by the Tae-eul Furnace].

“With this new mana stone, we can achieve much higher output than the ones we’ve been using, and at a lower cost.”

“Lord, the Tae-eul Furnace acts like the lungs and heart of the wooden ox, similar to the core engine. Referencing these similarities will greatly aid in developing a new core engine.”

Both women, secretly wanting to gain Luke’s favor, actively participated.

However, their enthusiasm sometimes led to clashes and arguments.

“Hmph, are the wooden ox and the Gigant similar? As far as I know, the wooden ox is different from the Gigant in terms of materials and structure. Therefore, I don’t think the Tae-eul Furnace will be of any help in improving the core engine.”

Jegal Soha bristled at Erewine’s words.

“Why do you think that? If we apply the structure and Taoist system of the Tae-eul Furnace, we can reduce the number of mana stones and magic circles in the core engine while increasing its output.”

“Is there any guarantee that magic and Taoist techniques will work together? Besides, when I tested it with Lord Hwangbo’s wooden ox, the Tae-eul Furnace’s output fluctuated wildly. I don’t understand how it can go from 500 phytes to 2,500 phytes.”

The wooden ox clearly had such a weakness.

Jegal Soha, slightly blushing at the pointed criticism, retorted.

“E-Even if it fluctuates, it’s safer than the core engine. The Tae-eul Furnace doesn’t explode spectacularly when damaged. It’s a shame you can’t see this advantage; I doubt your qualifications as a mage.”

“Are you done?”

“Yes, I’m done. What are you going to do about it?”

Fzzzt—!

The reason they were arguing and glaring at each other as if they were about to fight was to show Luke that ‘I’m better than you.’

However, what Luke felt was different.

“It’s noisy. Should I kick you both out?”

At his words, both women were momentarily speechless. If they were kicked out now, all their efforts would be in vain.

In fact, Luke wasn’t so oblivious that he didn’t know why they were bickering.

However, he had his beloved Reina.

Even though she was far away, their hearts were not distant.

“Please calm down, Lord. Both of them are trying to help, aren’t they?”

At Mute’s plea, Luke decided to tolerate it for now.

In reality, the new materials and knowledge the two women had provided were greatly aiding in the development of the core engine.

“This is your only warning, so behave yourselves.”

“Okay. We’ll be careful.”

“I understand, Lord.”

Having silenced the two women, Luke resumed testing the core engine.

Several days later, Luke succeeded in developing a new core engine.

“A prototype was created much faster than I expected.”

“It’s thanks to the information in the blueprints and the cooperation of Erewine and Jegal Soha. Moreover, your ability to quickly identify and resolve the strengths and weaknesses is astonishing, Lord. You truly deserve to be called a god of magic.”

“Hahaha. Even Sir Mute knows how to say flattering things.”

With the core engine prototype completed, he began manufacturing the frame and armor of the new Gigant, based on the previous test machine.

Since he planned to install the newly developed 4,000-phyte core engine, the frame and armor had to be made to match its size and strength.

“The frame’s strength and elasticity seem much better than Orion’s. Have you decided on a name for the new Gigant?”

At Mute’s question, Luke nodded.

“I’m going to call it Avenger.”

“In ancient language, it means ‘one who seeks revenge’… Considering the upcoming battle with the Baroque Empire, it’s a fitting name.”

‘And I need to repay Arsen for what he did to me.’

Luke clenched his fist, recalling his fight with Arsen at the Jegal Clan’s estate.

Arsen had become a truly unbelievable monster.

Even after being hit by gold aura amplified by demonic power, he quickly revived.

‘He regenerates even after being reduced to ashes… No, there must be a weakness!’

Since he was a lich, he must have a life vessel [a container holding a lich’s soul].

If he could find and destroy that life vessel, he could easily eliminate him.

‘The problem is where he hid it. I can’t ask Nanda either…’

Nanda, who had awakened the divine power of Yuksin Tong [a powerful divine technique], would likely know where Arsen had hidden his life vessel.

However, he had left the Rakan territory shortly after arriving, disappearing without a trace.

He had left a letter saying he would return when the time was right, but Luke couldn’t help but feel frustrated that he was absent when he was needed most.

While Luke was silently assembling the Gigant, a mage approached him to report.

“Lord, Sir Hans is looking for you.”

“Sir Hans? What for?”

“A messenger has arrived from the Marquisate of Myers… no, from the Kingdom of Milton.”

“A messenger…”

Luke had not responded to Myers’ coronation invitation.

He had simply sent a congratulatory message, so he couldn’t help but be puzzled by the arrival of a messenger.

‘There’s no reason to send a messenger for a formal congratulatory message… What are these guys up to?’

Luke decided to meet them and figure out their intentions, so he headed to the reception room of the lord’s manor.

3

The person who came as a messenger from the Kingdom of Milton was Count Bazzo.

When Luke appeared, he rose from his seat and bowed politely.

“Greetings, Marquis. I hope you have been well.”

“I have been well. More importantly, you look radiant. I heard you established a country; it seems you’ve made quite a name for yourself.”

“Yes, I have. You too, Marquis, will rise in the world, just like me.”

“What do you mean by that?”

As Luke tilted his head, Bazzo gestured to the escort knight accompanying him.

The escort knight then handed Luke an elegant-looking box.

The box, made of ebony wood with gold trim, which was only found in the Southern Continent, looked like it contained something very precious.

‘What on earth did they bring?’

Luke immediately opened the lid.

Inside the box were a ring made of meteoric iron and two parchment scrolls.

Seeing the ring with the Rakan family crest engraved on it by magic, Luke had a hunch, and then he frowned as he unfolded the parchment scrolls.

“They’re giving me the title of Grand Duke and the position of Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Milton?”

“His Majesty is seeking talented individuals. Your Excellency, no, Grand Duke, His Majesty believes that you will place our Kingdom of Milton on a firm foundation.”

“Hahahaha…”

Not only Luke but also Hans, who had accompanied him into the reception room, burst out laughing.

Of course, it wasn’t out of joy but out of disbelief.

“So, you want me to become a noble of the Kingdom of Milton? A subject of Marquis Myers… no, the King.”

“S-Subject? It may seem that way, but it’s absolutely not. Your Excellency knows very well what the title of Grand Duke entails, doesn’t he?”

A Grand Duke was one rank above a Duke, usually bestowed upon the king’s siblings or great nobles who had made significant contributions to the country.

It was also given to the queen’s husband, and it was considered the second-highest rank after the king.

“His Majesty intends to treat you as a sworn brother. That’s why he bestowed upon you the position of Prime Minister and the title of Grand Duke, despite everyone’s opposition.”

‘These bastards are trying to take my land for free.’

If Myers had given him land befitting the title of Grand Duke, he might have believed their sincerity.

However, Myers had only given him a ring along with the title.

Moreover, the position of Prime Minister was also problematic.

It was a position of being ‘one below the king and above all others,’ but depending on the circumstances, it could become a nominal position with no real power.

Unless Myers was going to give up his royal authority, the chances of that happening were even higher.

In other words, Myers was trying to swallow the entire Rakan Marquisate by giving him a hollow title and position.

“And Your Excellency, I know it’s rude to say this, but if you act on youthful passion, you will fail to see the big picture. Isn’t this a chaotic time when practicality is more important than pride?”

“What! How dare you speak like that in front of me…”

Hans, who had raised his voice in anger, stepped back, restraining himself as Luke raised his hand as if to stop him.

Bazzo, who had flinched for a moment, continued to speak.

“Your Excellency, His Majesty considers you a community of fate to fight against the Baroque Empire together. Please make a magnanimous decision, considering the humiliation suffered by our ancestors!”

“A magnanimous decision…”

Luke, pretending to be lost in thought for a moment, making Bazzo anxious, continued in a cold voice.

“Tell the King. If he wants others to make magnanimous decisions, he should act magnanimously himself.”

“Your Excellency!”

“The messenger is leaving. See him out.”

At Luke’s firm order to leave, the knights standing on one side surrounded Bazzo’s party as if they had been waiting for it.

Luke and Hans were not the only ones who understood the Kingdom of Milton’s dark intentions.

Therefore, the knights were secretly disappointed that the order to slaughter them had not been given.

“Your Excellency, you will regret this.”

“You should refrain from doing things you will regret. It would be better for the future of the Kingdom of Milton to stop worrying about the south and focus on guarding the northern border.”

After chasing Bazzo’s party away, Luke gave instructions to Hans.

“Immediately summon Commander Rogers and the other territory army commanders. It seems those fools are about to do something that Rudolf will like.”

“Understood, Lord.”

After Hans left, Luke gazed out the window.

He watched Bazzo’s party, flustered and scrambling into their carriages and onto their horses, being pushed back by the Rakan Knights.

Luke understood why Myers had sent Count Bazzo to him.

It was to create a pretext for invasion.

“The Kingdom of Milton… They’re as blinded by immediate greed as their ancestors were.”

Over 500 years ago, the Duchy of Milton was lured by Duke Baroque’s promise of territory if they joined the attack on Seymon’s dark legion, which led to their downfall.

Foolishly, Myers was following in his ancestors’ footsteps.

4

Count Bazzo, having been chased away by Luke, immediately reported his failure to recruit Luke via magical communication.

Myers had ordered him to report as quickly as possible, regardless of the outcome.

Myers scoffed when he received the magical communication from Bazzo.

“Hmph, he tells me to make a bold decision first? I expected him to refuse, but he’s still an arrogant fellow.”

“Your Majesty, if you knew he would refuse, why did you even consider recruiting him?” Renold, the commander of the Iron Fist Knights, tilted his head, looking puzzled.

After the last victory banquet, the king had secretly gathered military personnel and expressed his intention to invade the Rakan March.

Since then, the military had been preparing for war, and they had also been increasing military exchanges with the Kingdom of Grenada, with whom they had recently formed an alliance.

But then, suddenly, he announced in front of his ministers that he would recruit Luke and sent Count Bazzo as an envoy.

“Why did I make a recruitment offer? If he accepted our offer, we could absorb the Rakan territory without any significant losses.”

“But didn’t you think there was a high probability he would refuse?”

“I did. It’s not bad even if it fails. We can establish a pretext for invasion.”

“Would a refusal be enough to justify it?”

“Of course, it’s difficult. But if we add a suitable performance, it will be more than enough.”

‘Could it be…’

Renold, who was by no means dull-witted, could guess what Myers meant by ‘performance’.

“Your Majesty, could it be…”

“Shhh! You might get hurt if you know too much. So, Commander, please step back. The war is not far off, so please take good care of the knights’ training.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

Renold gave a formal military salute and left the throne room.

But when he reached a place where no one was around, he spat towards the throne room.

“Tch! Humans, always…”

Deceitful, vile, and greedy beings.

Renold knew this well, but he couldn’t completely turn his back on them.

No matter what humans were, he and his younger brother, Renard, had half of their blood flowing through them.

A few days after Count Bazzo left,

Luke was receiving a series of reports from Sebastian and Belfar.

“Rudolf lost in the battle against the Kingdom of Lybia?”

“Yes, Master. It seems he lost more easily than expected.”

The Imperial Intelligence Department was still controlled by the servant demons of the two demonkin [demons with human-like appearances].

They pretended to follow the Emperor but sent important information promptly.

“Hmm, he lost easily… Is it because of Shaikhan?”

Shaikhan, who had become the king of the Kingdom of Lybia.

Luke knew that he was a Dragonian [a human with dragon-like powers].

But when he heard that he was once the third prince of the Baroque Empire, Reykart, he couldn’t help but be surprised.

‘So, is that why he said he had a debt to repay to the Baroque Empire back then?’

He had also said that they could become comrades walking the same path.

In any case, Shaikhan’s actions were helping Luke.

“The Dragonian King did not participate in that battle.”

“Shaikhan didn’t participate? And yet Rudolf lost?”

Luke looked disbelieving.

Although he had been injured by a high-ranking demonkin, Rudolf was a powerful figure who had reached the Sword Emperor level [a very high rank for a swordsman].

Who could have stopped such a strong person?

“That’s… it seems the supply lines were cut off.”

According to Belfar’s explanation, the monster legion led by Shaikhan attacked the Imperial army’s transport units whenever they had the chance, and they burned down warehouses where military supplies and provisions were stored.

Rudolf had declared that he would lead the Gigant Legion [a legion of giant soldiers] and blow the heads off all the rebels, but without supplies, he couldn’t fight properly.

No matter how valiant the knights were, they needed to eat and drink to fight, and even the powerful Gigants could not operate if their parts were not properly supplied.

“The battle between the two armies occurred once in the border area, and both sides suffered minimal damage. However, in a situation where they were suffering from a lack of supplies, it was obvious that a forced march would cause great damage, so Rudolf retreated,” he said.

“So, the battle itself was a draw.”

“But as a result, they failed to subdue the Kingdom of Lybia, so everyone considers it a defeat. Because of that, the Baroque Empire is in turmoil.”

Emperor Rudolf had never lost a war in which he had directly participated.

He had even defeated the demonkin that had appeared in the imperial capital, Nemesis.

Since such a superhuman emperor had been defeated, the public could not help but be in turmoil.

“Currently, the Emperor is regrouping his forces in the Vanden March. Everyone expects that he will first stabilize the rear to secure the supply lines and then launch another subjugation.”

“So, he won’t be able to pay attention to this side for a while.”

Luke took another look at the monster legion led by Shaikhan.

Even during Seymon’s time, he had used brainwashed monsters as a fighting force using dark magic.

But he had not used them strategically like Shaikhan. That was because brainwashing did not change the intelligence or nature of the monsters.

According to Argos’s informant, Shaikhan’s divine dragon power made monsters strong and intelligent, allowing them to be used like an army.

Moreover, he was rapidly developing the country by mobilizing monsters in large numbers for wasteland and mine development, as well as civil engineering projects.

‘It’s enviable that he can do this openly. If I had done it, I would have been called a demon lord.’

In the early days of his reincarnation, Luke had also mobilized brainwashed monsters using dark magic to develop mines and build waterways.

However, fearing exposure, he had sent the monsters out of the territory and virtually abandoned them.

Still, there were some benefits.

Thanks to the brainwashed monsters, the regular attacks and looting that occurred every year had disappeared.

This had saved the lives and property of the residents, as well as the losses of the territory army.

This was also cited as a factor in the rapid development of the territory.

‘Anyway, even if it’s not to Shaikhan’s level, I need to think about how to use these guys again.’

It was then that Luke was thinking this.

“Lord, something terrible has happened!”

Hans rushed into the office with a startled expression.

Sebastian and Belfar had hidden themselves the moment they heard footsteps outside the door, so they were not discovered.

“What is it?”

Luke looked slightly displeased.

He had ordered the guards outside not to let anyone in for a while.

But upon hearing Hans’s next words, that feeling vanished.

“The Milton Kingdom’s delegation was attacked and annihilated on their way home!”

“What?”

According to Hans’s explanation, the delegation that had visited the territory four days ago was on their way back quickly.

However, they were attacked by masked men at the border between the Rakan March and the Kingdom of Milton.

“The mounted unit patrolling the territory’s border discovered this and rushed over, but the delegation had already been wiped out.”

“What about the masked attackers?”

“They fled when the mounted unit approached, and they disappeared in an instant. They probably used a teleport scroll.”

Luke, who had been listening to Hans’s explanation, chuckled at some point.

“Well, I’ve been had.”

“Yes?”

“This attack is probably a self-inflicted act.”

The Rakan March had no monsters or bandits within its territory due to constant patrols and subjugation.

Nor was there any noble who would disobey Luke’s orders and attack them.

Nevertheless, the fact that the Milton Kingdom’s delegation had been attacked meant only one thing.

It was to create a pretext for war.

“A self-inflicted act? You mean it wasn’t the doing of the Baroque Imperial Family?”

Hans also suspected the attack on the delegation.

However, he thought it was Rudolf’s doing to take advantage of the situation, not a self-inflicted act by the Kingdom of Milton.

There was one reason for this.

“Even Count Bazzo, who led the delegation, was killed. If what you say is true, Lord, doesn’t that mean that King Myers plotted this by killing even a man who was like his right-hand man?”

Hans thought that he wouldn’t go that far.

But this was a case of knowing only one thing and not knowing the other.

“Those who are blinded by ambition and greed have no blood or tears.”

“Even so, to sacrifice a vassal who has served for so long…”

“The fact that such a person died is what creates the justification for the fight. Anyway, the situation has become messy.”

The delegation was annihilated, and the Rakan territory army happened to be present at the scene, and the perpetrators escaped without a trace.

Now that things had turned out this way, it was inevitable that they would be suspected of being the perpetrators.

No, the Kingdom of Milton would be very certain and attack.

“No matter what we say, those guys won’t listen. Hans, tell Commander Rogers to prepare the Gigant unit for deployment. And issue a general alert to all troops.”

“Understood, Lord.”

It would be an unpleasant fight, but Luke had no intention of avoiding it.

After all, if he was going to compete with Rudolf, he had to deal with Myers first.

‘I’ll make them pay dearly for picking a fight with me!’

Luke recalled King Myers’s face and emitted fighting spirit.