Chapter 79. The Uplifting Rebellion (1)
In the office of the head of the household, at Azureocean Castle...
Halo sat at his desk, reviewing documents that required his approval, when there suddenly came a knock at the door.
"Come in," he called.
A moment later, the door opened; Fayle, Halo's third son, entered the office. The dark circles under Fayle's eyes showed just how overwhelming his workload had been.
Seeing that, Halo sighed and said, "I should have them fetch you an elixir. You look terrible. I'll tell Heinrich to get it for you. Don't argue and just take it."
"...Thank you for your consideration," Fayle responded quietly.
Elixirs served as potent tonics for those who hadn't yet awakened their mana, providing a form of energy and revitalization.
Bowing slightly in appreciation, Fayle then asked in a low voice, "Did you receive the report?"
Halo placed the document he had been reading aside and nodded, then said, "Yes. I heard you mobilized the forces of the Zion Kingdom at Caron's request?"
"Yes, Father," Fayle replied.
"I'm sure you're aware of the significant risks involved. But I won't hold you accountable unless we see a disastrous outcome," Halo said.
Moving Zion's forces toward the borders of the empire was a risky political maneuver for anyone, even for the Leston household. And yet, Halo felt no desire to chastise Fayle. His third son didn't bear any fault. It was Caron, that troublesome boy, who had put Fayle in this position.
"A rebellion in Reben to liberate the slaves... This doesn't sound like the sort of plan a seventeen-year-old would come up with," Halo mused, tapping his fingers lightly against his temple. "The first thing he does after leaving Azureocean Castle for the first time in four years is start a rebellion. Fayle, what do you think about that?"
"...I have no words, Father," Fayle admitted.
"I thought he might've improved after spending those four years relatively quietly, but apparently not," Halo said.
The mission Caron had been sent on involved hunting down a monster that had been terrorizing the border between the Keath Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom. And at the same time, he was supposed to track down Kerra Acht, a former knight of the fallen emperor's guard. Both tasks alone were enough to keep anyone busy, and yet Caron had somehow found time to instigate a rebellion. Halo simply couldn't fathom what was going through his grandson's head.
"Head of the household," Fayle said cautiously, "May I ask you something?"
Halo nodded and replied, "Go ahead."
"...Caron's actions could bring significant harm to the family. I'm curious as to why you haven't stopped him," Fayle said.
No one valued the household more than Halo. The decision to move Zion's forces had obviously been made with his approval, but Fayle couldn't understand his father's reasoning. The senior members, upon hearing this news, would undoubtedly demand that Caron be severely punished, as this was no small matter. Yet Halo's response was calm and untroubled.
"Caron has never once brought harm to this household. Not four years ago, not even once. Despite the disasters he's been caught up in, every one of them has, in the end, benefited the family," Halo answered.
His youngest grandson's mind was clearly unhinged, bordering on madness, and yet Halo didn't see Caron as a threat to the family. In fact, every move Caron had made thus far only brought countless benefits to their house. This time, however, the situation held deeper significance for Halo.
"And I also can't just stand by and watch while slaves are openly traded," Halo said quietly. It was after reading the report on Reben provided by the Caligo side that he'd made the decision to help Caron.
Until recently, slaves had also been traded in the black market of Thebe. Back then, the Leston household had adhered to its strict policy of non-intervention.
But now, things are different, Halo thought. With the family's strength now committed to being projected outward, he had no intention of letting such injustices continue unchallenged.
"...Is this because of Sir Cain?" Fayle asked, quickly understanding his father's reasoning. After all, Halo's dearest friend, Cain, had been a former slave.
Halo nodded with a bitter smile and said, "That man wished for a world where the institution of slavery didn't exist."
"So, the law you proposed to abolish slavery... Was it also because of him?" Fayle asked.
"It's a coward's atonement. After staining my sword with my friend's blood, all I could do was try to ease his spirit," Halo said.
This rebellion was just another step in that ongoing act of redemption. So for that reason, Halo couldn't refuse Caron's request.
Looking steadily at Fayle, Halo added, "Caron seems to be testing my will again. It seems that he, too, can't stand to simply watch slaves suffer. He's quite the odd one, always testing my will in the strangest ways..."
Trailing off, Halo then shifted topics and continued, "We'll need to strengthen our information network. It's absurd that Caligo knew about the Reben slave market while we didn't. After holding those responsible to account, ensure our intelligence capabilities are enhanced."
"Yes, head of the household," Fayle responded.
"And well done on the plan you devised. The moment the Sixth Prince becomes involved, what happens there can no longer be called a rebellion," Halo said.
"The rumor of the prince and the Duke's youngest grandson liberating slaves will benefit us in many ways," Fayle said.
"The Sixth Prince's influence will only grow, and Caron's reputation will soar. Your judgment was great," Halo replied.
He gazed at his son in silence for a moment. Fayle was quick-witted, a son well-versed in adaptability. If only he had a stronger talent for mana, Halo wouldn't hesitate for a moment to hand the reins of the family over to his third son. That lingering regret hung on the tip of his tongue.
He let out a small sigh and said, "With the empire in chaos, no one will notice that we've moved Zion's forces. And even if they do, they won't be in a position to speak up."
Everything had been set up for Caron. All that remained was to see how his greedy grandson would handle the table that had been prepared for him. Whether Halo would punish him severely or reward him once more depended entirely on Caron's actions.
The outcome will speak for itself, Caron, Halo thought, knowing that everything would be judged when this endeavor was over.
He gazed out the window, thinking of the bomb his grandson was about to set off. The weather was perfectly clear, without a single cloud in sight. Although... No one knew if the southern part of the empire, where Caron was heading, shared the same clear skies.
***
Whoosh!
A vehicle equipped with a mana engine raced swiftly down the road toward Reben. The blood-soaked night had passed, and it was now just past nine in the morning. Even though the sun had risen, the dark clouds hanging in the sky made the world feel dim. At this pace, they would arrive in Reben in about thirty minutes.
As Caron watched the fleeting landscape outside the window, he turned to Revelio and said, "It's a good idea. Becoming the hero who freed the slaves, rather than the leader of a rebellion."
"Of course, it wasn't my plan. That was your father's idea. You know, your father's quite impressive in that regard. I've benefited a lot from him," Revelio replied.
"He's on a different level compared to my uncles," Caron said with a smirk.
He liked the plan. Initially, all he had wanted was to overthrow Reben, but Fayle had taken that ambition and wrapped it in a respectable cause. Freeing slaves instead of leading a rebellion. That made all the difference. Add a prince to the mix, and the justification for their actions became undeniable.
Caron recalled the report he had just received from Cobler through the communication orb.
"Marquis Leandro led his elite troops stationed in the city and set out for an urgent mission. Only a token force remains right now to maintain order within the city."
It seemed that, as requested, Zion's forces had moved to the border they shared with the empire. Now, all that remained was for Caron and Revelio to enter the city, secure evidence and witnesses, and take control.
"But Caron," Revelio said, a note of concern in his voice. "Do you think the two of us can really take over an entire city? The civilians might get caught up in the crossfire..."
"The civilians in Reben can't even leave the city without the marquis' permission. It's practically a little kingdom ruled by Marquis Leandro. Once we arrive, the first thing we'll do is free all the slaves," Caron explained.
"Finding the slave traders hiding in the city won't be easy," Revelio said.
"I've got an informant. One of the traders himself. He makes a living by undermining the other traders. He kidnaps their slaves, feeds them, takes care of them, and then finds them jobs," Caron replied.
"Now that's a twisted lunatic. How do you always manage to meet these kinds of people, Caron?" Revelio asked, his tone filled with disbelief.
Caron frowned slightly and said, "Don't worry. You're still the craziest one I've met."
"Same here. Out of everyone I know, you're definitely the most insane," Revelio countered.
"I'm considered normal," Caron said.
"No one calls a man normal when he starts a rebellion just because something irritated him," Revelio explained. His calm, logical retort cut through Caron's self-assuredness.
Leaning back into his cushioned seat, Revelio sighed and said, "Freeing the slaves, using them as witnesses to rally the citizens... You know, this sounds more like sabotage from an enemy force. Maybe your place isn't in Azureocean Castle, but in the empire's intelligence bureau."
"Well, convincing the citizens is something you'll have to help with, right?" Caron replied.
"You'll compensate me well, right?" Revelio asked.
"I'm already making you look like a hero. Why are you asking for more rewards? Just shut up and do your job, okay?" Caron answered.
"You really are a bothersome little brother," Revelio said.
The core of the plan hadn't changed much. It was still about toppling Marquis Leandro and his cronies, the ones profiting from the slave trade. The only difference was that now, it was dressed up as a noble mission of liberation. Either way, those who dealt in slaves were going to meet a miserable end.
Caron cast a sidelong glance at Revelio and asked, "So, if we arrest Marquis Leandro for slave trading, what kind of sentence would he be looking at?"
Revelio paused for a moment, then shrugged before answering. "Honestly, we won't be able to hit him with too harsh a sentence. Marquis Leandro is backed by House Salmon, right? And they've got their claws deep in the judiciary. They'll protect their own."
"Then here's what we'll do," Caron said with a glint in his eye.
"Go on," Revelio said.
"We'll frame him for treason," Caron declared.
"You're insane," Revelio responded.
"That way, we can strip him of his title and execute him. I want him gone, wiped off the map."
Revelio caught the fierce malice in Caron's expression. The sheer intensity of it, mixed with something deadly, sent a chill down his spine. His body instinctively tensed as though he was staring into the face of a wild predator.
"...You really hate the slave trade, don't you? I mean, legally, it's not a crime worthy of death," Revelio said.
"To me, it is. If he's sent countless lives to live a hellish life, he'd better go to hell himself," Caron replied.
"And you plan to keep this attitude going?" Revelio asked.
"Of course," Caron answered.
"When I get back to the capital, I'd better inform Father, His Majesty. We wouldn't want this blowing back on the royal palace," Revelio said, realizing that opposing Caron was pointless.
"So, how do you plan to establish treason? Got any ideas?" he asked.
"We don't find evidence, brother," Caron replied.
"Then what do we do?" Revelio asked again.
"We create it," Caron answered confidently.
"Wow..." Revelio was speechless for a moment, utterly floored by Caron's audacity.
"Massive funds generated from the slave trade, strict control over the citizens, a military presence far stronger than what's typical for a border town... Add a whistleblower from his inner circle, and we've got enough to charge him with treason," Caron explained.
"The inner circle?" Revelio asked.
"Yes, there's a puppet who's been handling the slave trades on Leandro's behalf," Caron answered.
He thought of Noor, the man who ran the slave auctions, and a sinister smirk spread across his face.
"We don't need to find cracks in their system. We can just make them ourselves," Caron said.
" What incredible creativity, little brother," Revelio said, shaking his head. "I swear, you've got the makings of a traitor."
Caron responded, as if waiting for this very moment, "Did you forget who my grandfather was? He was a successful rebel."
"...What?" Revelio asked.
"My grandfather dethroned yours. Treason and rebellion run in our family. It's practically a tradition," Caron replied.
Success made one a hero, while failure branded one a traitor. Caron's quick and sharp words left Revelio with no further retorts. Satisfied, Caron allowed himself a smile as he gazed out the window.
In the distance, a sign came into view:
<You are now entering the domain of Marquis Leandro.>
Reben was just ahead. The time to flip the border city on its head was fast approaching.