Duke 123

CHAPTER 123

***

Translator: Rae

The sword was swung—no, scattered might have been the more accurate word.

Its speed was so extreme that a single blade seemed to multiply into several.

Michael kicked the Veramus operative charging at him with an axe squarely in the abdomen, and as he caught sight of Har’s sword in motion, an involuntary breath of admiration escaped him.

The Veramus operatives, reputed to be formidable fighters, couldn’t even manage to swing their blades properly before collapsing helplessly before Har.

‘I knew he was strong, but this much? He might not even be at a disadvantage against His Excellency the Duke.’

In the past, when his former master had taken an interest in the Marquess of Camellia, Michael had been ordered to secretly investigate Har and Lulien.

That was how he had come to know Har well.

Who his master had been, and what he had given up to return to Marquess Camellia’s side.

‘Marquess Camellia really is something else. To have talents like these as close friends—and on top of that, to capture His Excellency the Duke’s heart.’

Michael drove his sword into the shoulder of an operative who charged again despite having been knocked back, then turned to his right. There, he saw Joseph silently cutting down enemies with fluid, soundless movements.

‘That man was the leader of the assassination guild, wasn’t he? His movements really are on another level. Is this why His Highness trusted only those two and decided to move?’

Honestly, with just the two of them, it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that half of this battle had already been won.

Otherwise, the fight would never have reached its conclusion this quickly.

As the number of Veramus operatives dwindled visibly, the tide of victory tilted completely toward Helios and the Investigation Bureau.

Michael cut down another enemy and had just begun to think he could finally afford a moment of breathing room—

When Har’s voice suddenly sounded right beside him.

“From here on, I’ll leave things to the Investigation Bureau.”

“Pardon? Leave what to the Bureau—”

“Please take care of the cleanup.”

“I mean, what exactly…”

Startled, Michael turned his head, but Har was already gone. All he could see was Har and Joseph sprinting away at high speed.

“Heading to the temple, then? I suppose that makes sense—he said the First Division was there…… Well, nothing I can do about it.”

Letting out a sigh, Michael swung his sword once more at the operatives rushing him. Now that victory was assured, his blade carried far more force than before.

***

In front of the main gate of the Duke of Russet’s estate.

More than fifty knights stood in perfect formation, fully armed.

As if to proclaim themselves the Russet Knight Order, the armor they wore bore the image of a red hawk—the symbol of the Russet ducal house.

Dane Arno, commander of the House of Russet’s knights, stood with his sword drawn. After sweeping his sharp gaze across the assembled knights, he spoke.

“Soon, we depart for the Westein Temple. And there, we will witness the opening of a new sky. Remember this—His Excellency the Duke will stand at the center of it, and we will stand with him. Pledge your loyalty to House of Russet!”

"Loyalty to the House of Russet!”

As Dane raised his sword high and shouted, the knights followed suit, drawing their blades and roaring in unison.

Satisfied by their fierce spirit, Dane sheathed his sword and turned away.

But once his back was to the knights, worry clouded his face. His adjutant, who had approached him, wore the same expression.

"Shouldn't we have heard from them by now?”

At the adjutant’s quiet question, Dane’s brow furrowed.

According to the plan the Duke of Russet had shared with him, word should have arrived by now that Veramus’s First and Third Divisions had departed.

That signal was meant to mark the start, after which the House of Russet’s Knight Order and other noble houses would mobilize as well.

They were then to gather at the open grounds directly in front of the Westein Temple and advance together.

‘Is the departure delayed?’

The deep crease in his brow smoothed out as the sound of approaching hoofbeats reached his ears.

It seemed someone from Veramus was finally arriving.

“We can prepare to move.”

Just as Dane relaxed and began to turn, he froze.

Not only was the horse galloping wildly, but the expression on the man riding it was unmistakably abnormal.

He looked frantic—like someone racing in with disastrous news.

“...”

Dane's face slowly stiffened when the man looked like he wasn’t here to announce the word for them to depart.

In the meantime, the horse skidded to a stop directly in front of the knight order.

The man practically tumbled from the saddle and ran toward Dane, shouting rather than speaking.

“Something terrible has happened!”

"What is it? Speak, quickly.”

“Veramus—Veramus has been attacked!”

“Attacked? What do you mean?”

Startled by the unexpected news, Dane demanded an explanation. The man licked his dry lips with his tongue before answering, his voice trembling violently.

“He—Helios and the Investigation Bureau…… They attacked simultaneously.”

"What?!”

Dane stood frozen, as if turned to stone. The Investigation Bureau might have been within the range of their expectations—but Helios? Why would they appear here?

“His Excellency the Duke clearly said that Helios was on our side, but... Don’t tell me they betrayed us?”

At Dane’s question, the man shook his head, his face deathly pale.

“I don’t know the details. As soon as the fighting broke out, the captain ordered me to report to you immediately, so I rushed here. He says they’ll finish things as quickly as possible and follow after us—he wants you to depart first.”

A sinister premonition crept up from Dane’s feet, crawling slowly along his spine.

From his long experience, he knew that nothing which began by going awry ever ended wel

After standing stiffly for a brief moment, he turned and issued orders to his deputy.

“Inform all the houses to mobilize at once. And report this situation to His Excellency as well.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the vice-captain nodded and moved swiftly, Dane immediately approached the knights.

As though nothing has happened, he drew his sword and shouted in a thunderous voice.

"The Knights of Russet, advance! May victory be with us!”

Even if the situation had changed, there was no other choice for those sworn to House of Russet. They only had to move forward..

As Dane and the House of Russet’s Knights Order set off toward the Westein Temple, their eyes shone with unshakable resolve.

***

Lieutenant Blanc’s expression changed as he entered through the open gate with imposing confidence. The soldiers surrounding them at a measured distance felt unfamiliar.

‘...Something’s wrong.’

When he failed to spot not only the adjutant he had sent ahead as the advance forces but any familiar faces at all, a chill of dread slid down his spine. If the castle had truly been secured, the adjutant should have come out to greet them with troops in tow.

The moment that realization struck, the thought that he had been deceived slammed into Blanc’s mind.

‘Is this a trap?!’

Lieutenant Blanc’s face stiffened as he turned around in an attempt to shout an order to retreat, but before he could manage, an authoritative voice boomed over his head.

“Close the gates!”

As if they had been waiting for that command, the gate slammed shut before Lieutenant Blanc’s eyes. It happened in an instant, without leaving him any room to react.

Naturally, the line of soldiers was severed. Only a little over a hundred men, including Blanc himself, had made it inside the walls.

As Blanck and his soldiers stood frozen in confusion, troops clad in guard uniforms swiftly completed their encirclement.

They were the Western Imperial Guard.

“So you walked right into this.”

The gaze of Rolland, captain of the Western Guard, was cold as he looked down at the surrounded Blanc and his men.

"It seems he truly believed you had betrayed him.”

At Kane’s words, Rolland raised a hand and gripped his shoulder, his eyes filled with trust.

“You’ve done well all this time. For someone who dislikes fighting, drinking, and gambling, pretending must have been exhausting.”

“Not at all. I’m simply glad I could be of help in such an important matter. For the sake of the Empire, I can endure that much without complaint.”

“Thank you for saying that. In any case, it’s a relief. Things outside the walls will be settled soon as well.”

Rolland’s gaze shifted to the soldiers who had failed to make it inside the gate.

Behind those troops—leaderless and thrown into confusion—a force at least twice their number was rapidly approaching.

“They’re coming. The soldiers His Excellency the Duke had mentioned.”

“With that many troops, it doesn’t seem necessary for the Guard to join in.”

Rolland nodded at Kane's remark..

“His Excellency the Duke said the same. That the Guard should focus on the Guard’s duty. He said he would handle the rest himself. I knew it already, but he truly is an extraordinary man.”

Rolland recalled a night when the moon had shone especially bright. He remembered the words spoken by the young duke who had come to him without advance notice.

[“For the sake of the Empire, I will need the captain of the Guard to lend me his power.”]

Judging by the duke’s relaxed expression and unhurried tone, it had seemed like a joke at the time.

So Rolland had laughed heartily and answered him in kind.

[“What help could an old man like me possibly be? All I can do is guard this castle.”]

[“That's exactly why I need your strength, Captain.”]

[“…?”]

What the duke said next left Rolland no choice but to be stunned.

Although he had vaguely suspected that the Duke of Russet was plotting treason, he had never imagined that he was using criminal organizations like Veramus and Helios to win over the Captain of the Guard.

[“For a man so old to harbor such vile ambitions…!”]

Rolland had been furious at Duke Lasset for trying to shake the Empire to its core by even exploiting the underworld.

As he ground his teeth, almost losing his anger right then and there, the Duke of Deimos finally spoke.