Surviving As The 5Th Prince Of Hellman Kingdom [EN]: Chapter 196

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Dongmak.

Within the Hamel Empire, only a select few individuals have access to information from Dongmak, their top intelligence organization.

Klaus, the expected successor to Prime Minister after Charles’s coronation, is among them.

After the 19th Prince Charles beheaded the 7th Prince, Klaus had worried that Dongmak might stubbornly refuse to acknowledge anyone other than the Emperor.

Fortunately, Dongmak proved flexible, recognizing Charles as the next Emperor. Since then, agents previously focused on preventing foreign intervention have infiltrated the Lionel Kingdom en masse.

The report on their activities now lay on Klaus’s desk.

Sip- Hooo-

Klaus steeled himself, smoking the cigarette down to the filter. He stubbed it out and opened the report.

Rustle, rustle.

With each page, his expression hardened until he reached the last.

Klaus placed the report on the desk, took out another cigarette, and lit it. The report fell far short of his expectations. The core information he sought was missing.

‘Most of those deployed are missing…’

Most of the agents investigating the Lionel Kingdom’s situation had disappeared without a trace, making the report feel like an ambitious project abruptly abandoned.

Reading it, Klaus felt like a blind man touching the leg of an elephant, trying to understand the whole beast that was the Lionel Kingdom.

Flick, flick.

He lit the cigarette and frowned deeply.

‘I had too high expectations.’

He realized he’d vaguely hoped Dongmak would readily provide any information he needed.

Still, it wasn’t a complete loss.

Everyone knew the Lionel Kingdom’s economy had exploded, driven by the magic superconductor, Stella. And the construction of two large airships in such a short time was common knowledge.

However, there was speculation that the money flowing into the Lionel Kingdom might exceed public estimates.

‘So, where was the disappeared money invested?’

The problem was that the agent tracking it vanished, as if swallowed by the earth or flown into the sky. “Missing” was a euphemism; they’d clearly been exposed as a spy.

Sip- Hooo-

Klaus’s frustration was evident as he smoked.

‘If I were him, where would I have used it?’

He pondered how he would use funds hidden from the world if he were Evan Lionel.

Money had countless uses.

It could be payment for secret alliances with other countries, preparing for invasion. Or perhaps they secretly built not two, but four or five large airships. Or maybe they wasted a fortune developing new weapons.

‘New weapons…’

The Magic Tower Lord’s new weapon came to mind: a steel giant recreating the giants of legend, the Titans.

There was talk of a trial run during the Lionel expedition, promising a shock far greater than the Brissen Alliance’s tanks.

He couldn’t deny the unsettling nature of the unseen knife hidden behind the Lionel Kingdom. But Klaus was confident their new weapon, developed even during the civil war, would be much sharper.

With his mind somewhat relieved, Klaus stubbed out his cigarette and picked up the report again.

Rustle, rustle. He turned to his favorite part, almost the only part he liked.

A grotesque being with four pairs of wings covered in countless eyes was drawn there. It was a portrait of Michael, the Apostle of Danar [a divine messenger or champion], who had appeared in the Lionel Kingdom.

Indeed, an Apostle of God.

Just seeing the portrait evoked primal fear.

‘Was I worrying unnecessarily?’

Apostles of God were often depicted differently from their original appearance, according to the aesthetic standards of the time.

He concluded that his concern about Michael resembling a Titan was due to embellishments by those who witnessed him.

***

No country could match the Lionel Kingdom in espionage.

Because of the existence of the [Library] [a magical archive that records all information within the kingdom].

Anything ‘recorded’ was captured by the [Library], so unless a foreign spy verbally stole secrets, they were bound to be caught.

However, focusing solely on rooting out spies was boring. Taking a small risk allowed for leaking false information to them.

That way, even if real secrets leaked, the false information would create confusion.

Recently, I’d focused on manipulating information towards the Hamel Empire.

‘Hmm…’

I nodded in satisfaction after checking Dongmak’s report on the kingdom.

The content was quite satisfactory.

I particularly liked that Michael’s appearance didn’t resemble a Titan.

What was unsettling was that Dongmak had noticed the kingdom’s strange financial flow. Fortunately, we caught the spy before they discovered the huge amount of money being used to obtain top-grade magic stones.

Knock, knock.

“Your Majesty, it’s time to move.”

At Alfonso’s words, I got up.

I moved to a hideout near the royal capital via a teleportation magic circle in the royal palace’s secret space, then took a small airship east.

The secret location was an uninhabited island.

It was where the knights who had become the owners of the Titans were undergoing adaptation training. Within the island, I moved to the center, accessible only through multiple layers of security.

Kuaaaaaang!! Thump! Thump!

The steel giants were conducting mobility training in the huge training ground. The kingdom’s Titan, code-named Kuber.

গিল루드 길ud [Gilrud], had named it.

He said he designed the appearance based on a beast called Kuber, believed to be extinct. The long mane hanging behind the helmet was quite cool.

I looked around for Fran.

I found her carrying a chart and scribbling with a pen, and approached.

“You’re working hard.”

Fran looked up.

“Is it already this time? I’m glad you recognize my hard work.”

“How are the newly appointed knights doing?”

“So-so. They’re used to using their bodies, so they’ve adapted without much difficulty.”

Piloting a Titan was similar to moving one’s own body. Adapting to the foreign sensation was difficult at first, but most people adapted within a month.

And today was a month and two days since I revealed the Titans at the State Council.

“Except for one person.”

Fran frowned.

I knew who she meant.

One unit moved particularly slowly during mobility training.

It was Bert’s unit.

I understood.

He was the oldest of those selected, and had focused on mastering his own body for over 70 years. Piloting a Titan, a second body, would be most difficult for him.

‘Should I have had him adapt in advance?’

No.

Security concerns prevented it.

Knights like Bert, who were 7-star [a high rank], were closely watched by spies. Even with the [Library], it was unsettling.

Dongmak had noticed the kingdom’s strange financial flow.

With war imminent, it was normal for the kingdom’s 7-star knights to show unusual movements.

“But don’t worry too much. He’s been improving rapidly. He’ll complete his adaptation before the time comes.”

“That’s a relief.”

Even if he didn’t improve, I wouldn’t pass Bert’s unit to another knight.

Titans amplified the pilot’s magic power and used it as energy. Even if his Titan was slow, its firepower would surpass that of 6-star knights.

Just firing the Titan’s exclusive magic cannon, Thunder, without moving, was enough to justify its existence.

“It would be difficult to apply the highest-grade Stella, right?”

“That’s obvious. We haven’t even finished stabilizing it. Making a Titan engine with that and operating it normally… it would take at least three years.”

Recently, the highest-grade Stella was completed.

But it was too unstable.

It was prone to sudden discharges, and a large explosion almost caused casualties. If Fran hadn’t been there, someone would have died.

“That’s a shame.”

“Well, it can’t be helped. We have to do our best with what we have. That’s why I’m putting Stella aside and staring at charts, isn’t it?”

“I appreciate it.”

“Hmph, sure.”

Fran snorted and turned back to the kingdom’s Titan.

“I checked the Hamel Empire’s Titan data you sent me.”

“How was it?”

“How was it? What do you mean? What was the name, Juggernaut? Even if 10 of those things stuck to old man Bert’s unit, they wouldn’t be able to handle it. You know that well, so why did you send it?”

Fran’s expression seemed to say, ‘How dare you compare the kingdom’s Kuber to such a low-grade Titan?’

“I just wanted you to be aware. It’s probably the most advanced Titan in the world, except for Kuber.”

***

A letter arrived from the Hamel Empire.

The letter was addressed to Evan Lionel, inviting him to visit the Hamel Empire to celebrate Charles Han Hamel’s ascension to the throne.

It was more of a challenge than an invitation. Still, I replied, acknowledging their sincerity.

I told them not to talk nonsense, and enclosed the treatment costs for the eye injury I had inflicted.

Soon after, the Hamel Empire’s army moved towards the northwestern border that the kingdom had recaptured. They were blatantly saying they would start the invasion after the coronation.

In response, the royal army redeployed to the border, leaving only a minimum force in the rear.

I also left the royal palace and came to the north.

The Hamel Empire was most likely to target Ironforge, the largest Greysteel deposit in the northwest.

That’s why I was with the soldiers in the fortress, the core stronghold for Ironforge’s defense.

“Whew~ I wouldn’t be surprised if they attacked right away, would I?”

Alfonso shook his head, looking at the Hamel Empire beyond the castle walls.

The enemy had gathered a force three times the size of the kingdom’s.

Even worse, the royal army had the most troops here, and the enemy had gathered that many troops across the entire border.

That’s why I had to show myself on the battlefield.

I had to be bait.

I had to advertise that the king of the Lionel Kingdom was here so the main force of the Hamel Empire would attack this place.

Even if that wasn’t the case, the enemies would likely target this place first due to its strategic location, but there was always a chance.

I glanced up at the sky.

It was close to noon.

It was about time for Charles’s coronation to begin.

Pwee yooo yooo woong—!!

Suddenly, fireworks soared from the Hamel Empire’s camp.

Bang! Bang!

-Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

-Long live the Emperor!

The sound of fireworks and the imperial army celebrating Charles’s coronation echoed loudly.

‘He’ll show up on the battlefield tomorrow, right?’

For some reason, my heart fluttered.

I was looking forward to tomorrow.

I had done all the preparations I could.

Even if I went back to when I was 13 and the 4th Prince Akard broke my head, it would be hard to do more than the preparations I have now.

-Long live the Emperor!

-Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

“Your Majesty, those guys are too noisy. Shall I tell them to fire a few magic cannons?”

I nodded at Alfonso’s suggestion, which I hadn’t heard in a while.

And the next day.

Seven large airships, including the one carrying Charles, arrived at the enemy’s camp.

It was the beginning of the Li-Hamel War.