Chapter 250. Cartel (2)
Following Caron's explosive declaration about raising hell in the Holy Kingdom, the meeting turned to matters of diplomacy and exchange.
Revelio's first concern was trade.
Each of the non-human races faced imbalances in their resources, and Revelio, with practiced ease, steered the conversation toward mutually beneficial agreements. Negotiations proceeded swiftly, thanks to the fact that most of the delegates present either held full authority or had been entrusted with it.
The empire would position itself as the connecting hub between the different races, while the Pajar Sultanate also promised to open trade routes for the beastkin. In return, the Sultanate requested assistance with the vast Eastern Great Forest that was tainted by dark mana.
And all of this was accomplished in just three hours.
"It won't be finalized until the documents are signed," Prince Samir said, sipping tea in the guest palace provided by Revelio, "but it seems His Majesty made quite a few concessions."
In another chamber of the splendidly decorated palace, Caron and Samir sat at a table, exchanging drinks.
"Don't you feel a bit left out?" Caron asked.
"About what?" Samir replied.
"You're the only one not directly included in the trade deals with the non-human races," Caron said.
Revelio had issued an imperial decree for Caron to spend time with Prince Samir and "reconnect," as he had put it. But everyone, including Caron, knew it was essentially a polite way of telling Samir to stay out of the real business.
And frankly, Samir had every right to be offended. He was a rising power within the Pajar Sultanate, backed fully by both the Sultan and the Crown Prince. He wasn't the kind of person who should be brushed aside.
Yet Samir looked more pleased than ever.
"The empire is clearly at the center of this alliance, Caron," he said. "And this is a chance for Emperor Revelio to secure a major achievement right at the beginning of his reign."
"Prince Samir," Caron said.
"Hmm?" Samir responded.
"You'll be handling negotiations separately anyway, won't you? His Majesty probably made you some promises behind the scenes," Caron said.
Samir laughed heartily and nodded, then said, "You're sharp as ever."
"The Pajar Sultanate has been a longtime adversary of the empire. Even if there's a mood of reconciliation, dividing up profits right away would go against imperial interests," he explained.
Caron took a sip of his drink and smiled faintly.
In this area, Fayle's training had really paid off. All the things Caron had seen while serving the Malevolent Emperor in his previous life, combined with everything he had observed from Fayle since his reincarnation, gave him the political intuition he needed. And those instincts had shaped who he was now.
"In situations like this," Caron said, "You give someone what they want—quietly, behind the curtain."
"Exactly," Samir replied.
"So, what did you ask for?" Caron asked.
"We agreed to formalize the spice trade," Samir answered. "And the terms are favorable to us. That alone should boost the Sultanate's economy quite a bit."
"Don't forget my share," Caron reminded him.
He had already made it clear that he wanted a stake in the spice trade as part of the empire's support for the Sultanate. When it came to money, Caron never forgot a thing.
Samir shrugged, amused by the veiled threat, then replied, "Of course. I've already set aside your cut. No need to worry."
"That's wonderful. Let's continue being good friends," Caron said, all smiles.
He was endlessly kind to anyone who handed him money.
Then Caron turned slightly and spoke to someone behind him. "Saintess Seria, it's time for us to talk business, don't you think?"
Behind them, Saintess Seria of the Holy Kingdom had been quietly praying, hands folded in solemn reverence. At Caron's call, she slowly rose and approached him with care.
"Would you like a drink?" Caron asked.
"I must decline," Seria replied.
"Then at least have some tea. Sit down," Caron said.
Ever courteous, he poured her a cup himself. Seria nodded politely and took a small sip, then looked at him with a slightly tense expression.
"Do you know why I called for you?" Caron asked.
Since the conclusion of the incident at the Sultan's palace, Seria had remained in the capital of the Pajar Sultanate. She had successfully purified the dark mana lingering over the royal tombs and had helped restore Ugo—who had nearly become a death knight—to a stable condition.
From what Caron had heard, Ugo's condition had improved considerably. Which meant one thing—that Seria had fulfilled her duties with sincerity.
Seria bit her lip at Caron's unexpected question. She had a rough idea of why he had summoned her. She said quietly, "You're planning to enter the Holy Kingdom."
"Exactly," Caron replied. "But I won't be going alone. I'll need a solid pretext... and one or two trustworthy companions. That should be enough."
"A solid pretext..." Seria trailed off.
"I'll enter the Holy Kingdom carrying a personal letter from His Majesty the Emperor," Caron said, "and I'll be accompanied by the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom herself. What better justification could there be?"
While Caron had been training to develop his signature technique, the Ducal Family of Leston had poured all its resources into gathering intelligence on the Holy Kingdom. Their efforts had led them to a single, undeniable conclusion.
"Right now, the Pope has effectively lost all power," Caron explained. "He's confined within the papal palace as nothing more than a figurehead. All key positions have been seized by clergy from the Order of Truth."
A coup had taken place within the Holy Kingdom—and unlike in the Pajar Sultanate, theirs had succeeded. Saint Elijah, who had already crossed paths with Caron under bitter circumstances in the Southern Great Forest, was now acting as the ruler of the Holy Kingdom.
The Order of Truth was an extremist faction, zealous and aggressive. They believed their version of truth had to be imposed on the rest of the world, even by force. And their truth was theirs alone.
However, they aimed to export it to other kingdoms, whether those kingdoms wanted it or not.
"Currently, the Holy Kingdom's paladins and military forces are massing along the border with the southern kingdoms," Caron went on. "Large-scale military exercises are underway. They've begun drawing from their stockpiles of supplies."
"...They're preparing for war," Seria murmured.
"The southern kingdoms have been worn down by ongoing conflicts," Caron said. "The Holy Kingdom intends to swallow them whole in one strike."
"Fanatics," he added after a pause. "There's really no better word for them."
All signs pointed to war. And the southern kingdoms stood no chance of stopping the Holy Kingdom's advance.
"Saintess Seria," Caron said, his tone shifting as he leaned in slightly. "Listen carefully to what I'm about to say."
He began revealing to her the truth the Holy Kingdom had been hiding. "To our knowledge, the Holy Kingdom has formed close ties with the demons."
"...That can't be true," Seria said, her voice strained.
"The Perverse Mana," Caron said firmly. "You know how ominous that power feels. We obtained testimony from Archbishop Atrach—he was stationed at the Imperial Palace. He confessed that the materials used in the Magitech Research Lab's dark magic experiments were personally transported there by him. Which means... My decision to enter the Holy Kingdom isn't mine alone."
This incident had struck a heavy blow to the empire's pride. They had come terrifyingly close to repeating the tragedy of fifty years ago.
Caron's stance reflected the will of the empire. And the empire had decided that they would hold the Holy Kingdom accountable for this crisis.
"We could surround them and bring them down from all sides..." Caron admitted. "But that's not the outcome I want. I'd rather give the Holy Kingdom a chance."
He emptied the last of the liquor in the bottle and wiped his mouth with his sleeve before continuing, "Whether to watch the corrupt Holy Kingdom from afar, or to reach down and pull it out of the pit of depravity... That choice is yours, Saintess Seria."
Seria was the linchpin of this operation. Through her, they could turn the Holy Kingdom around from within. She was beloved by countless citizens, so if anyone could shift the tide, it was her. It was a heavy burden to place on her shoulders.
But Caron's expectations were unexpectedly shattered.
"I'll go with you," Seria said, her voice unwavering. "If that is the mission the Light has entrusted to me, I will gladly accept it."
"This isn't a divine mission," Caron said. "This is merely—"
"No," Seria interrupted. "Your will is the will of the Light. That is why I'll follow you. Just tell me what I need to do." Her voice rang with a strange and powerful conviction.
Caron gazed at her in silence for a moment, then let out a soft sigh and shrugged. "Well, if you're willing to help, I won't say no. Then let's get down to business, shall we?"
There were only two possible outcomes for this operation. Either the Holy Kingdom would collapse, or it would come back to its senses and change.
Caron was hoping for the first outcome.
"I'm owed too much by the Holy Kingdom to just let it slide," he said, smirking. "Let's make it count, Saintess."
A wicked grin crept across his lips.
***
Halo, the head of the Ducal Family of Leston, watched Caron in silence for a moment before finally speaking. "So your plan is to use the Saintess as your banner to enter the Holy Kingdom?"
Caron offered a calm smile and answered, "A coup should be answered with another coup, don't you agree?"
Halo raised an eyebrow and said, "I like your confidence."
"Well, if there's one thing our house excels at, it's this sort of work, wouldn't you say, Grandfather?" Caron asked.
Caron's response was smooth and lighthearted, and at that, Third Elder Ulrich—who stood beside Halo—burst into laughter and nodded vigorously.
"Absolutely! Caron, you're spot on. A rebellion? That's the Leston way! Say Leston and people think rebellion, and vice versa. You've clearly studied our family history well!" Ulrich said.
"...Ulrich," Halo muttered, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"My Lord," Ulrich said, turning toward him. "Caron has already proven his worth through this mission. We should send him to the Holy Kingdom."
Halo frowned slightly as he glanced at his younger brother. At some point, Ulrich had begun supporting Caron without any hint of restraint—often with more heart than sense. Halo wondered if Ulrich didn't realize that excessive support could be poisonous.
"This is a rare opportunity," Caron pressed on. "Now that the Holy Kingdom is preparing to invade the southern kingdoms, their rear is exposed. We can strike at it from within."
The internal affairs of the Holy Kingdom had shifted dramatically. Although the Order of Truth had seized control through their clergy, any abrupt change always left cracks—cracks that could be exploited.
"I'll rally those who still support the Pope," Caron continued, "with Saintess Seria at the center."
That was the heart of Caron's plan. He was planning to use Seria, who still held the love and trust of the people, as a rallying point. If anything could unite the fragmented forces, it would be her presence.
Halo folded his hands behind his back and looked Caron in the eye.
"So you're planning to stir up the people again," he said. "Using the Saintess this time."
"Ah, Grandfather," Caron replied with mock innocence. "I've never incited anything in my life."
"And the last time?" Halo asked.
"Well, since the Imperial Palace really had fallen into demonic hands, the rumors I spread turned out to be true after all. In most cases, that would be called... being a whistleblower, wouldn't it?" Caron answered.
Thanks to the public sentiment Caron had stirred up in advance, the Ducal Family of Leston had been able to seize control of public opinion in record time.
Halo knew his role clearly. He said quietly, "This isn't much different from last time."
The head of a house had to prepare for the worst. No matter what came, he would have to guide the family through it.
"Go," Halo said at last.
Caron, he had learned, was best left to his own devices. That was the lesson Halo had taken from watching the boy grow.
In the end, Caron would bring glory to the Ducal Family of Leston. Perhaps his unpredictability was maddening, but he had a knack for elevating the family name when it counted most. This time would be no different.
As always, Halo's job was to prepare for the worst.
"Prioritize your life above all else," Halo said firmly. "If you ever judge the mission to be impossible, retreat without hesitation. I'll handle the aftermath."
Halo's words were heavy, but steadying—like a pillar standing behind Caron.
Caron smiled and nodded. In his previous life, he had no one to rely on. But in this one, he had the strongest backing imaginable. He wondered if he would have been able to come this far without Halo.
...Not a chance, Caron thought.
Then, bowing deeply toward his grandfather, he said, "Thank you, Grandfather."
"I've heard Beatrice, one of the old Imperial Guards, is in the Holy Kingdom," Halo said slowly. "If she's still alive, she'll likely have become a formidable force. So if possible, try to gather information about her whereabouts as well."
"Yes, Lord," Caron replied with a nod.
"...She was once Sabina's rival," Halo added thoughtfully. "Now the Queen has taken the place Beatrice might have occupied."
With that, he turned and walked slowly toward Caron before asking, "Have you chosen your companions for the mission?"
"I'm thinking of taking Leo, Leon, and Saintess Seria. Just the three of them," Caron answered.
It was a solid team. The three cousins had already proven their coordination during their time in the Southern Great Forest. For an expedition into unknown territory, trust and teamwork mattered more than sheer strength.
Halo let out a quiet breath and gave a small nod, then asked, "Very well. And what about your signature technique? Have you completed it?"
"Yes," Caron answered. "Would you like me to demonstrate it here?"
"That won't be necessary," Halo said, shaking his head. "Bringing down the palace would be troublesome. A signature technique is only truly complete after it's been tested in real combat. Hone it during this mission. When you return, I'll be the one to evaluate it."
With that, Halo had said all he needed to say. The old man sat down in his chair, then gestured lightly to Caron. "The mission begins in one week. Make sure you're fully prepared by then."
"Understood, Grandfather," Caron said with a respectful bow before turning and leaving the room.
Once the door had clicked shut behind him, Ulrich stared after it and said with a hint of excitement, "Honestly, Halo... Aren't you a little curious too?"
"Hmm, perhaps," Halo replied noncommittally.
"According to the knights stationed at Azureocean Castle, Caron tested his signature technique there. The result was..." Ulrich trailed off.
"...Half of Oceanwolf Island was obliterated," Halo finished grimly.
Oceanwolf Island, the headquarters of the Oceanwolf Knight Order, was a veritable fortress, bolstered with layer upon layer of reinforcement magic. Yet half of it had been destroyed in a single blow.
There was no doubt that Caron had created a devastatingly powerful signature technique.
"It's like the mad dog's grown wings," Halo muttered, dragging a hand across his face. "We'll just have to wait and see."
Caron was about to bring a storm unlike anything the continent had seen before. Where that storm would lead—whether toward salvation or ruin—no one could yet know.
***
And so, time passed.
"I'll be back soon!" Caron called cheerfully.
Caron and his group had completed their preparations, and were now setting out from the capital.
Thus began the delivery of the Ducal Family of Leston's special gift, a bomb in human form. Its destination was the Holy Kingdom.
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