Chapter 148

Aphahiel Imperial Palace, atop the White Lion Imperial Throne. Gion Tindal sat in that seat, listening to a subordinate relay a report.

“Every last imperial soldier was killed, yet only the southern troops returned completely unharmed, is that correct?”

“Yes, that is correct. They claim that once the battle began, the two groups were separated, which is why it turned out that way.”

“A paltry excuse. To return unscathed from the Great Jungle, a place that never spits out what it swallows, and then offer such an explanation….”

“There are indeed more than one or two suspicious points. Since Your Grace gave no specific instructions, we put the matter on hold. Shall we proceed with an investigation?”

At the subordinate’s question, Gion slowly nodded and replied.

“Yes. At this point, when even children in the marketplace know that war is approaching, there’s nothing left to hide. Send agents to the south. Go, ferret out the southern spies and bring them before me. I will use this opportunity to punish the guilty without regard to rank, and correct those insidious southern bastards’ habits once and for all.”

“Yes. Then I will prepare immediately.”

“Good. I’ll leave it to you. For now, there is something even more important… everyone has arrived, yes?”

At Gion’s question, the eunuch answered briskly.

“Yes. In fact, I came to report exactly that. You may head to the banquet hall right away.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

Gion rose from the throne and began to walk.

A banquet hall somewhere within the Aphahiel Imperial Palace. At Gion’s summons, high-ranking nobles who held sway across the empire had gathered and taken their seats. Gion swiftly swept his gaze across the room, checking the faces of those present.

‘Marquis Carson and Count Valaris are absent… Fine. Even attempts at appeasement have grown tiresome. Along with the Great Jungle… I’ll erase you.’

Even as such chilling thoughts of erasing Carson, Valaris, and further the entire south crossed his mind, not a single emotion surfaced on Gion’s face.

Gion then naturally moved to the seat of honor, stood there, and addressed the guests.

“Thank you all for making the effort to come. As there are those here whom I am meeting for the first time, allow me to formally introduce myself. As the imperial throne of Aphahiel cannot be left vacant, I have temporarily taken on an undeserved position. I am Gion Tindal, acting head of public order.”

Gion’s impeccable manners, captivating appearance, and honeyed voice remained unchanged.

Clap clap clap—

In response to Gion’s flawless decorum, the seated nobles answered with polite, perfunctory applause.

“Were it up to me, I would like to invite every hero and capable individual working tirelessly for Aphahiel regardless of rank. However, as you all know, the empire is vast, and that was not possible. I ask for your understanding.”

With a faint smile on his handsome face, Gion tossed out a light jest. In response, one of the central faction nobles closely aligned with the Tindal family boisterously steered the atmosphere.

“Hahaha! That’s quite all right! If we summoned even the barons and viscounts from all across the empire, wouldn’t we be buried under hundreds of words the moment everyone opened their mouths? We understand. Completely!”

“Thank you, Count Ferry.”

Having been called by name, Count Ferry beamed with an honored smile.

“…Then, let us end the formal pleasantries here. Since so many distinguished guests have gathered with difficulty, I believe it courteous to move swiftly to the main topic. We can enjoy the meal afterward with lighter hearts.”

Gion cut off idle chatter with a calm yet commanding voice and moved straight to the point. Captivated by the charisma with which he guided the conversation and dominated the room, the nobles listened closely to his words.

“I believe you all can already guess why you have been gathered here today.”

At Gion’s words, several nobles quietly nodded in place of a verbal response. Gion, as if acknowledging them in return, also nodded softly before laying out the main issue.

“Yes, that is correct. There is no point in hiding it any longer. Even children in the marketplace are already singing of the coming war. So I will speak plainly. I, Gion Tindal, having been entrusted with the heavy responsibility of acting head of public order for Aphahiel, am preparing for war in order to fulfill that duty.”

War. As suspected, it truly was war.

“Khmm….”

“Hmmm… war, you say….”

At Gion’s declaration that he was preparing for war, uneasy murmurs erupted throughout the hall. Amid them, a southern lord who had taken Valaris’s place raised his voice.

“While the Great Jungle is indeed dangerous land, has it not been the south that has successfully held back the rampant monsters of the Great Jungle? In these chaotic times, with the imperial throne vacant, is there truly a need to deliberately stir up the Great Jungle?”

Voices echoing agreement soon followed.

“Indeed.”

“I think the same.”

“We would not shy away from a war that comes to us, but I believe there is no need for us to provoke one ourselves.”

The mention of the throne being vacant grated particularly harshly on Gion’s ears. It was true. Though Gion casually sat upon the throne before his own subordinates, he could not display that sight before others. That was the reality of his current position. Yet the resolve standing within Gion at this moment was unshakable.

‘I stood here to change that. Through this war, I will capture and kill the Fifth Prince, exhaust the strength of the opposing and neutral nobles, and then, with the central faction and my own forces that have conserved their power, place the throne beneath my feet.’

Of course, there were voices among them, centered around the central faction, that supported Gion, as well as those who remained silent. However, among those who now raised their voices, opposition was louder.

“To cause such an uproar merely by uttering the word war, perhaps Duke Tindal should reconsider.”

“Indeed. That is so.”

“Haha… is that so….”

Despite the flood of opposition, Gion continued guiding the discussion without changing his expression in the slightest.

“Then… rather than this, let us decide by vote. That would be quicker and cleaner.”

Judging by the current mood of the room, it was obvious without even seeing the result that the anti-war side would win. The nobles opposing the war readily agreed to the vote.

“Very well. If that is what you wish, then let us do so.”

Whether he knew or did not know that he was entering a contest he could not win, Gion calmly initiated the vote himself.

“Then we will first count the votes in favor. Those who support the subjugation of the Great Jungle, please raise your hands.”

Following Gion’s lead, the votes were tallied. Out of roughly fifty nobles, eighteen, including the central faction, raised their hands in favor. At that sight, the opposing nobles, feigning surprise, fell silent.

‘Were there really this many who would blindly support whatever Gion proposes…? This war included, it bodes ill. We must stop this man.’

“With eighteen in favor, this vote is essentially decided. Then, we shall conclude here….”

Gion cut him off mid-sentence.

“No. There will be abstentions as well, so let us see it through to the end. Those who oppose the war, please raise your hands.”

Shhk— splat!

There was no way many nobles would welcome a foul-smelling war. Nearly half raised their hands as they cast their opposing votes. And at that moment, when his numbers had collapsed, Gion smiled an inscrutable smile.

“Colbus.”

“…?”

In a low voice, Gion called for his sword, Colbus. Aside from a few in the central faction, it was a name most were hearing for the first time, and question marks appeared on the nobles’ faces. Their confusion was swiftly resolved.

Not even two seconds after Gion called Colbus’s name, a shadow rippled behind him, and Colbus revealed himself.

“Yes, my lord. Please command.”

“…!”

At Colbus’s appearance, the nobles widened their eyes as if doubting their own sight.

Among those seated were no small number of high-ranking magicians and knights. Yet not a single one had sensed Colbus’s presence before he revealed himself.

“You know what must be done, don’t you?”

“Yes. I do.”

“Good. Then go and do what you must.”

At the incomprehensible exchange between the two, several quick-witted nobles sensed something ominous. Some, who had raised their hands in opposition, quietly began lowering them. As if finding the sight amusing, Gion’s lips curved into a knowing smile.

“You’re quite perceptive. There’s a reason you’ve managed to survive until now despite your meager abilities. Indeed.”

“Wh-what… what does that…?”

Thud—!

Before anyone could react to Gion’s arrogant words, the figure of Colbus standing beside him vanished.

“Ah…!”

Moments later, the chilling sound of blades slicing into flesh echoed through the hall. From the chests of over a dozen nobles who had stood with hands raised in opposition, blood burst forth simultaneously. The hall instantly transformed into a scene of carnage, drenched in gore.

“Kgh—! Kghhk…!”

“Gion… y-you bastard…! So this is when you finally bare your fangs…!”

“Ugh… ngh… khhk…!”

The sight of multiple high-ranking nobles, each capable of commanding thousands of troops and tens of thousands of territorial subjects with a single word, simultaneously spraying fountains of blood was grotesque beyond measure. Even the nobles who had escaped Gion’s violence could not hide their shock at his brutal aberration.

“No! What is the meaning of this…!”

“Hh—!”

Among them were those who could not suppress their fury at Gion’s actions. Most notably, Marquis Ostain of the north.

“Duke Tindal, what in the world are you doing!”

At the piercing shout that grated on his ears, Gion’s brow twitched in irritation. He sharply turned his head and glared at the marquis who had called out to him.

“…Marquis. I do not wish to see any more blood today.”

It was a warning to mind his tongue, that he would be spared this once. Faced with Gion’s razor-edged threat, Marquis Ostain swallowed hard and quietly sat back down.

Click—

At the very moment the marquis took his seat, Colbus’s sword, which no one had seen drawn, returned to its place with an eerie sound. A cold killing intent, as though freezing the entire body, lingered around the marquis’s nape.

‘Th-this… what is this…! The central faction’s power is not all there is… that man Colbus. Just what in the world is the blade Gion wields….’

With eyes wide in shock, the marquis examined Colbus standing beside Gion. Having grown amid the northern gales and counted among the north’s proudest knights, Marquis Ostain felt fear toward a man named Colbus, of whom he knew nothing beyond his name.

With Marquis Ostain, reputed for his strength, lowering his tail in an instant, only a frigid silence filled the hall. Seemingly quite satisfied by the sight, Gion broke into a gentle smile.

“Shall we try again? Those who oppose the war, please raise your hands.”

In this situation, no one who valued their life would dare raise a hand. The vote passed, as expected, by unanimous decision.

Nobles who cherished their lives folded both hands neatly atop their laps, sitting primly so as not to be mistaken for raising a hand. The count of favorable votes followed. This too was unanimous, just as Gion intended.

“Now it’s a clear majority, isn’t it? Excellent.”

Having obtained the result he desired through ruthless slaughter, Gion stood upon the blood splattered across the floor and smiled brightly.

“Then, in accordance with your profound will and great courage shown in seeking to protect Aphahiel from the black beasts of the Great Jungle, I will prepare for the subjugation of the Great Jungle. I ask for your continued, generous support, just as you have shown today.”

The one who swallowed the empire, blinded by the princes’ power struggles, in a single, insidious maneuver—Gion Tindal. He had begun to move once more. His dark scheme now aimed at the heart of the Great Jungle.

The empire’s sword, serving the wrong master, was turned toward its true lord—the Emperor of Aphahiel, Yurion Aphahiel.

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