The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 186

146. The Trial (2)

“You’ve done something interesting. But the result isn’t bad.”

The trial was temporarily suspended.

The Emperor summoned Caryl to the main palace.

Once they were alone, the Emperor roughly unbuttoned his uniform as if he felt constricted and sat down on a chair, saying,

“It should take the Green Knights about half a day to reach Piasta through the teleportation magic circle. During that time, the ministers on both sides will be racking their brains.”

He said this as if it were someone else’s problem, taking a sip of the sweet tea in his cup.

“Now I can’t even drink water in peace. Don’t you think?”

With a self-deprecating smile, the Emperor looked at Caryl.

“Nobles don’t drink water anyway. They think drinking water without any fragrance is something only commoners do.”

However, the Emperor chuckled at his calm reply.

“That’s not always the case. I drink water. As you said, nobles try to distinguish themselves from commoners even in unnecessary things, so that’s where that saying came from….”

“Are you saying you don’t care about such things?”

Caryl asked with a surprised expression.

“There are countless tea leaves with poison. My father, the former Emperor, also died from poison in tea.”

“So, you drink water instead of tea?”

“Maybe.”

Caryl gave a bitter smile at his ambiguous answer.

‘Like father, like son. Since his father didn’t drink tea, he was poisoned with something like water, huh.’

“I have one question for you.”

The Emperor called Caryl to ask what he had been most curious about during the trial.

In principle, Caryl should have been in solitary confinement or waiting in prison with Ruon until the retrial.

However, the Emperor summoned him to the main palace where only the two of them were.

Of course, no one could object to the Emperor’s actions.

After all, there was only one person who could deliver the verdict.

In this situation, no one would be foolish enough to provoke the Emperor’s displeasure.

“Was I poisoned by Myeong [a rare and potent poison]?”

The Emperor didn’t ask indirectly.

Since he had already expected it, Caryl instead asked with a surprised expression.

“What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

“Even during the time when we met in Heim, the symptoms you mentioned… I had the same symptoms.”

“Could it be….”

Caryl asked as if he didn’t know anything.

“Are you saying that Prince Ruon tried to poison not only the Third Prince but also Your Majesty?”

“We don’t know that. It hasn’t been confirmed yet whether Ruon really obtained Myeong.”

The Emperor didn’t easily fall for it.

He had cornered Ruon in the Sun Palace, but here, he was defending Ruon instead.

‘Just looking at the fact that the knights sent to Piasta a while ago were the Green Knights, I can tell.’

He was indeed a formidable opponent.

‘Seeing how he doesn’t allow anyone other than himself to be in an advantageous position even in that chaotic situation.’

However, even in front of such an opponent, Caryl was already considering who to set as his next target after Ruon.

Whether to leave the Emperor or Olivon as his opponent.

“I didn’t even know that Your Majesty had been poisoned by Myeong….”

“I’m fine now.”

“It seems the herb you obtained from the Fire Dragon’s lair was helpful. It must be Your Majesty’s good fortune to have regained your health.”

The Emperor smiled faintly at Caryl’s words.

“Heh heh heh, would that have been possible if I hadn’t met you? Besides, you returned 40,000 soldiers to me and took away Ruon’s power, who had the support of the nobles.”

He shrugged slightly.

“You must have noticed. In creating crimes in the Imperial Palace, the evidence doesn’t need to be perfect. It’s enough to just give suspicion.”

The result of the trial was already out.

The moment the Green Knights brought the secret ledger of Baron Rage, it would be over if they found the details of supporting the First Prince.

Of course, there were also questionable parts.

However, now that the Emperor had decided to weaken Ruon’s power, that rebuttal couldn’t work.

Likewise, there was no evidence to prove innocence.

‘Since he is innocent, he cannot prove his innocence.’

It was a contradiction.

But no one would dare to point that out in front of the Emperor.

“However, Your Majesty will not be satisfied with this.”

At Caryl’s words, he nodded.

“Yes. What I want is not perfect evidence but a perfect ending.”

There was more than one prince.

Recalling the moment when he had the first private audience, Caryl said,

“How can you be full on the first try, Your Majesty?”

“If you’ve drawn your sword, you have to see it through to the end.”

The Emperor replied without hesitation to Caryl’s words.

“Even if we consider Cromen, there’s no guarantee that Ruon was the one who poisoned me.”

He was definitely someone who would make you shake your head when it came to desire.

Caryl understood why Olivon had tried to deal with the Emperor before dealing with Ruon.

‘Olivon, in a way, I feel like you’re amazing.’

He almost wanted to ask him if the day ever came when he could talk to him about this.

How did you poison someone like this?

“The reason why the balance of the Imperial Family was broken was due to Your Majesty’s illness. Now that Your Majesty has regained your health, the imperial power will naturally be concentrated back on Your Majesty.”

“Hmm….”

“Moreover, if Prince Ruon loses power due to the suspicion of poisoning the Third Prince… The nobles who dislike the Second Prince will naturally become a force for Your Majesty.”

Despite Caryl’s words, the Emperor still had an uneasy expression.

“But….”

And as Caryl continued, he finally raised his head as if expecting the answer he wanted.

“The foundations of the two princes are completely different. Unlike the First Prince, who has the support of the nobles, those who follow the Second Prince are mostly knights.”

The Emperor nodded.

“Moreover, except for the Scarlet Knights, all the knight orders are in charge of defending the borders.”

“You know it well.”

The Emperor pursed his lips at Caryl’s words.

Caryl recalled that Jarvant was next to Olivon when Suan Hajar was imprisoned in Piasta before.

Count Jarvant Redak.

The commander of the Scarlet Knights and the fencing instructor of the three princes was the only knight among the Imperial Guards who followed Olivon.

Along with Belin Valention of the Gold Knights, Jarvant was the oldest knight who had served the Empire for the longest time.

However, the Emperor couldn’t help but be displeased that the two of them supported different princes.

It wasn’t that he was displeased that his loyal subjects had split.

Their disloyalty in choosing a prince even though he was still alive was what angered him.

“If the knights are kept in check, Prince Olivon’s power will naturally weaken.”

“How? Even if the Azure Knights can’t do their part for the time being, your father’s Blue Knights are powerful. Also, the Rampart Knights support Ruon, but in reality, they are Olivon’s forces thanks to their moronic commander.”

The Emperor spoke without hesitation.

Why was that?

He spoke so freely about things he couldn’t even say to the dukes.

“It’s simple. Just create an enemy to worry about outside. The duty of a knight is to protect the country. The reason why the Blue Knights can move so easily is because the monsters in the area have all been subjugated, making it safe.”

“Are you saying that the safety of the country is actually poison to me?”

Caryl smiled faintly at the Emperor’s words.

“The Rampart Knights have barbarians in the south on their border, so they won’t be able to move easily. If Your Majesty restricts the movements of the Blue Knights, you will achieve what you desire.”

“Didn’t you tell me to keep Kwell by my side before?”

“That was to keep the First Prince’s power in check, but now that his power is exhausted, it should be concentrated on Your Majesty.”

The Emperor nodded in satisfaction.

The only reason he liked Caryl was that.

Caryl was ruthless and didn’t show mercy to anyone when it came to his goals.

“Even if I keep the Blue Knights on the border as you say, how? Are you saying I should issue another extermination order?”

The Emperor said mockingly.

“Well, it’s supposed to be a period of mourning for Cromen, but it’s not impossible. The dirty heretics brought corrupted artifacts into the Empire and caused the Third Prince to die.”

“….”

Caryl said quietly.

“Your Majesty, among the northern tribes, there are those who believe in Yula [a deity].”

His voice was filled with many emotions.

“Yula’s grace is magic. The northerners and southerners are races abandoned even by the gods. You should know that if you’re in Tatur. Especially the southern barbarians do strange things called sorcery.”

But the Emperor scoffed at Caryl’s words.

Unlike the southern barbarians, the northern tribes did not worship spirits or sorcery.

Rather, there were more who believed in the monotheistic god, Yula.

Nevertheless, the Emperor called the northerners heretics because they were born without magic.

Whoosh…!!

It was then.

Caryl clenched his fist.

Then, the Ain Trigger [a magical artifact] embedded in the back of his hand turned red and emitted hot flames.

“Then… Am I also a heretic, Your Majesty?”

As if spitting out a question he had been holding back, Caryl said to Tyran Shutean.

He had declared that his power was not Yula’s magic but the power of the Spirit King.

“It’s different.”

The Emperor chuckled at Caryl’s words as if he were watching a child’s tantrum.

“Your spirit’s power is not heresy but God’s grace. You also have magic, don’t you? So, you’re different from those northern trash.”

“….”

Caryl bit his lip.

He wanted to cut off the Emperor’s head in this place.

[Why don’t you fight?]

At that moment,

It felt like he was hearing the last question Aln Zavius had asked.

“Hoo….”

Caryl let out a low breath that couldn’t be heard.

He couldn’t ruin the plan he had prepared so far because of his surging emotions.

“What’s the way to keep the Blue Knights in check? You must have something in mind.”

“Your Majesty.”

With a cold face, Caryl said calmly.

“I will take Piasta.”

At that moment,

“Kuh… Keu keu keu…!!”

The Emperor laughed as if he would fall backward at Caryl’s words.

“I finally know why you twisted Baron Rage’s neck. You coveted that city.”

“….”

“But it’s impossible. Your merits are great, but if I entrust that big city to you, the ministers will complain.”

“I also have no intention of receiving Piasta for free in the name of the Empire. Just leave it as it is.”

The Emperor’s cheeks twitched at Caryl’s tone.

“Then?”

He took out a piece of parchment from his chest.

The Oath of Language [a magical contract].

The Emperor looked at it.

“What I want is the independence of Tatur.”

“Hmm….”

Contrary to what he had expected, the Emperor had a calm expression at Caryl’s words.

Then, he examined the oath Caryl had handed him.

“Isn’t it already an independent city? As a free city in the center of the three continental powers, the forces of the three powers cannot attack it to maintain the balance.”

The Emperor said, shaking Caryl’s oath lightly.

“Not a city but a country….”

He said with an expression as if it were a trivial matter.

“Do you want to be a king or something?”

Free City Tatur.

From the Empire’s point of view, it was a small city, but its location was always a stumbling block.

Located in the center of the Pona River, which runs through the continent, it is a bridgehead to the Empire to the north, the Duchy to the west along the river, and the Istria Three Kingdoms to the south. If this city were to fall into anyone’s hands, the three powers would inevitably wage war to reclaim Tatur.

‘Caryl McGovern.’

Moreover, he was already the owner of Tatur despite his young age.

‘Not only that, but he is Kwell’s adopted son.’

Although he supports Olivon, Kwell, a loyal subject of the Empire, will never betray it while he is alive.

“The desire to become a king is something every young man dreams of.”

He said to Caryl.

“However, whether you can execute it or not is determined by your innate talent for troubled times.”

Then, he nodded.

‘If Tatur becomes an independent country, it will be even more difficult for the Duchy and the Three Kingdoms to strike at the center. Moreover, it’s not bad to have a proper ruler instead of leaving it as a free city. Furthermore, if that person is Kwell’s son, it will be easier for the Empire to handle Tatur.’

The Emperor smiled faintly.

He didn’t think it was a losing business.

‘Perhaps it could be an opportunity for the Empire to absorb even the troublesome city.’

Would he ever rebel against the Empire where his father is?

‘What can you do with just one free city? It would be beneficial to throw a small carrot and be able to handle a guy who could become a bigger threat.’

The Emperor said with a satisfied expression.

“It’s not difficult to recognize Tatur as an independent country. After all, nothing much changes from now. But how does that become a way to keep the Blue Knights in check in Piasta?”

“Because the Lavat Guild is there. As you know, the Lavat Guild, run by Kamma, one of Tatur’s managers, is mixed with various tribes.”

“So?”

“Through this incident, Piasta will further intensify surveillance on illegal trade. Your Majesty, you can entrust the crackdown on smuggling in Piasta to the Blue Knights, who are in charge of the northern border.”

“Why don’t I just get rid of your guild? Isn’t the Lavat Guild the problem after all?”

Caryl smiled faintly at the Emperor’s words.

“The greed of the nobles is endless. Even the weak Istria Three Kingdoms are busy filling their own bellies, so if there is no Lavat, their illegal trade will continue in even worse ways.”

“….”

“Just as you use poison to block more dangerous poison, the Empire’s harm will worsen if the Lavat Guild disappears. I think it would be beneficial for Your Majesty to keep them and distract the Blue Knights appropriately.”

“Because you can handle that guild?”

“Of course.”

“There must be a reason for everything. Otherwise, no matter how much power you have, history will only remember you as a mere thug.”

The Emperor nodded in satisfaction at Caryl’s words.

“If you want to leave your name in history, you must become the king of a country, not a lawless city.”

Thud-

The sound of the Emperor’s seal being stamped echoed in the palace.

“Despite your young age, you have an eye for seeing the world. You have shown me a convincing reason.”

Tyran Shutean looked at Caryl.

‘After all, we don’t have to care much about the Duchy, which is in the middle of a civil war. Also, Fran and Tuli, the first and second in the Duke’s family, can trade no matter who becomes the king of the Duchy. And the Istria Three Kingdoms are already in my pocket.’

But Caryl, as if he wasn’t interested in such praise, was just looking at the oath the Emperor was holding.

He might be wondering if he had to put on such an act to get that piece of paper, but as the Emperor said, justification was important.

‘If I ignore the Empire and make Tatur independent, the arrows of the south that the Empire was aiming at will be directed at Tatur.’

I didn’t want to admit it, but I couldn’t wage a full-scale war with the Empire yet.

If I fight, even if I suffer damage, I can win.

But if that happens, there will be no one left to fight in the upcoming Holy War.

‘One by one. Slowly but surely, I will save the talents of the Empire and make them mine.’

That was Caryl’s big picture.

“…Therefore, the Empire recognizes Tatur as an independent country.”

As the Emperor read all the long oath written on the parchment, the magic of the covenant was activated, and a faint golden light flowed over the parchment.

“With this, my deal with you is over.”

“It’s just the beginning.”

“Heh heh… You.”

The Emperor chuckled as if he was satisfied with this deal.

Caryl looked at such an Emperor and recalled the plan he had thought of in the Sun Palace.

‘Justification. Yes, it’s important. Tyran Shutean, as you said, now I can legitimately behead the Emperor as the king of Tatur, not under the stigma of heresy.’

Squeeze-

The hand holding the oath tightened.