The Terminally Ill Young Master is the Mad Dog of the Underworld-Chapter 258

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Chapter 258: Already No Different from Wartime

"I had already decided to dispatch either you or Verdzig to the Webern County reclamation war."

Father said.

"In terms of martial prowess, cunning, and the quality of forces that could be mobilized, it's true that Verdzig was more suitable than you."

I replied.

"That's correct."

"However, my heart had already inclined toward you."

"......"

At father's rather explicit words, I could only smile slightly.

"I took into account that you had many more constraints compared to Verdzig, yet you overcame them with remarkable talent."

"It would have been impossible without father's consideration."

This was sincere.

Otherwise, at some point, I would have likely been severely injured or killed by Verdzig's schemes.

The fact that I gained Verdzig's recognition and built at least minimal bonds was largely due to the time that 'father's shadow' had provided.

"I've given you almost nothing. You seized the qualifications of a young king on your own, even under more disadvantageous conditions than your brothers."

Father said firmly.

"Your defeat of Schelde this time was unexpected even for me. I had Venion on standby to prepare for dangerous situations."

"Yes."

"However, you defeated Schelde, and when Ivan suddenly appeared from their side, Venion intervened to wrap up the situation."

At this point, I needed to confirm whether father knew about the conversation between Ivan and me.

"He was tremendously strong. No one I've met in the underworld could compare."

"That man is the Dark King's blade. He's among the top fighters in the Kingdom of Flanders."

Father nodded.

It seemed certain that Ivan had pulled some trick, and even Venion hadn't heard our conversation.

"Even if I personally confronted him, it would be difficult to defeat him easily."

"You're not saying you'd lose though."

To be my father, he'd have to be at least that capable. I grinned.

"If I lost to Ivan, the balance between factions would have already collapsed long ago."

Well, that's true.

"Allen."

Father called me with a different tone.

"You will be the one to take on the Webern County reclamation war. You and your personal guard will stand against Marquis Belorok and become Kailan Webern's sword."

"...!"

However, father continued.

"Both you and your personal guard still need to mature. Belorok has many formidable warriors that cannot be ignored."

I simply replied.

"I will strive harder."

"There isn't much time left. Above all, due to my decision, Verdzig will feel great anger."

Father pointed at me.

"Verdzig will try to take control of Bergens, draw in Agrippa, then seize the underworld to gather enough power to 'oppose my will.' What he'll do with that power is unknown."

"......"

I thought of the confrontations I'd had with Verdzig so far.

Looking back, there were many moments that chilled me to the bone.

'The serpent of the apocalypse finally bares its fangs.'

Even now, Verdzig remained strong, with powerful forces and meticulous schemes.

It was natural for one side of my heart to feel uneasy.

"I will watch your confrontation from this position. If you lose, then I'll have to acknowledge Verdzig."

"......You're sharp as a blade."

"As both father and head of the clan, I merely seek to maintain maximum balance."

Father's voice carried truly majestic dignity as he spoke.

"However, if Verdzig ever joins hands with the Black Society or tries to destroy the clan itself, then I will step in personally."

I could grasp what he meant.

"You're drawing the line based on whether or not it crosses the boundaries of succession struggle."

Father asked.

"Do you find me heartless?"

"No."

"Why?"

I thought for a moment, then spoke my honest feelings.

"I think Brother Verdzig should also be given opportunities matching his abilities. Especially since father's heart has inclined toward me."

"...!"

Father looked at me with a surprised expression.

"Allen."

"Yes."

"Your heart is truly large. You understood my heart, and now you understand your brother's heart too?"

"Isn't that what family is?"

I asked back.

"When I met my maternal relatives recently, it was truly warm and pleasant. Though it's not easy to share such affection being born as nobles, I thought it's not impossible either."

"......I see."

Father nodded with a complex expression.

"Perhaps in 'your era,' Grunewald too might become like that."

......I smiled, thinking of father's heart contained in those words.

"But when exactly do you plan to meet mother?"

"Now that urgent matters are finished, I'm thinking of gathering courage soon."

"Are you really sure you don't want me to come along?"

"If it seems absolutely impossible, I'll quietly send the head butler, so know that."

"Hehehe."

I grinned at father's joke.

"Understood. As long as it's not another mission like retrieving the Ebony Oath, I'd gladly accompany you."

After father received my joke with a smile, he changed his tone to advise.

"And Allen, Lord Leszek is curious about you. He'll visit you someday, so don't be surprised."

"...!"

Leszek, the Elder of Swords, is interested in me?

If so, another tremendous opportunity might be waiting for me.

* * *

"......Is that so? Father finally chose Allen."

It took less than a day for Duke Georg's intention to reach Verdzig.

"Having defeated Young Lady Siena Valkenhain and the 8th Branch Leader of the Black Society, and retrieved the Ebony Oath, his skills can truly be said to have matured."

Verdzig approached the window and drew back the curtain.

The dark room brightened.

Sunlight reflected off the water illuminated Verdzig's golden hair, but this man's eyes were coldly sunken, incompatible with such brightness.

"With Allen as he is now, even Ulbhild couldn't guarantee victory. I too would find it difficult to subdue him easily."

Though Schelde was at the early 7th tier, if it were Ulbhild with tremendous talent and intelligence at the late 6th tier, she could sufficiently bridge that gap.

Of course, the power Verdzig had accumulated was already in a vastly different dimension from his brothers.

The problem was...

"Father was waiting for Allen to 'come this far.'"

This made Verdzig feel anger and humiliation.

"All to avoid giving me the family by any means."

He had abandoned the thought of playing the obedient son long ago, or rather, from the beginning.

Verdzig intended to carry out his own way to the end.

"......I understand father's intention. Under my banner, he's waiting for his opponents to gather together."

Unity requires conflict and collision.

"What is united will surely divide, and what is divided will surely unite, this is the natural order."

Now was the time for Grunewald, which had been united under Georg's shadow, to bring out the conflicts that had been sleeping beneath the surface and clash.

'The ashes remaining where the flames of calamity passed will become fertilizer to open a new era once again.'

Then what forces are there to kindle the flames?

'Father, Allen, the Black Society, the underworld and maternal relatives.'

Verdzig visualized a power map in his mind, then arranged and combined them in various ways.

"Bergen has fallen into my hands, and Agrippa will soon make their decision too."

While Allenvert was defeating Siena and retrieving the Ebony Oath, Verdzig had also been spending busy times.

"Harald."

Verdzig turned to Harald, his aide.

"Has there been no reply from the Red Mist Alliance Godfather yet?"

"Regrettably, no."

During this time, Verdzig had bound the new leader of the Pawelmoon with contracts and sent an ultimatum to Bazalo.

"Hahahaha! My name isn't quite that fearsome yet, it seems."

Verdzig, who laughed with slightly shaking shoulders, looked down at his palm.

"The King of Night who couldn't properly stop the Black Society, being slowly devoured while focusing only on desperately protecting his shabby throne."

That was Verdzig's assessment of Bazalo's reality.

"The petty king of the dark world who received 'investiture' through father's mercy has worked hard maintaining precarious balance like walking on a tightrope."

However.

"Now it's time to come down."

That said, he had no intention of joining hands with the Black Society's Schelde.

"I can't hand over Grunewald's night to the Dark King's lackey who only spreads garbage-like drugs."

That was the line Verdzig drew. Because...

"I don't want a destroyed Grunewald."

To have a hollow Grunewald by becoming the Black Society's puppet?

Rather than that, laying down his sword himself was the pride of the man called Verdzig.

"......Skella."

Verdzig called Skella, who was keeping silent as always.

"Speak."

"How are Brother Karl and Visquera's movements?"

Skella, who had been tasked with monitoring that side recently, replied matter-of-factly.

"They are now..."

Karl and Visquera's actions would be a major variable in the future succession structure.

* * *

The next day, I led my personal guard to the castle gates to see off Siena's party.

"Young Master, thank you. We're leaving after receiving much help in various ways."

I held up the brooch pinned to my cloak and replied.

"It's fine. It wasn't free, after all."

Siena, who laughed lightly at my joke, offered a handshake.

"The next place we meet will probably be the middle reaches of the Lindela River."

Of course, that's where the former Webern County, currently Marquis Belorok's territory, is located.

"I'll strive until then."

"When we meet again, we'll each hold the 3rd and 4th seats of Ete Nistyrnur."

Of course, the 3rd seat is mine.

"But be careful. There's no telling what tricks the Black Society might pull on your way back."

If the Ebony Oath was such an important item to them, they wouldn't retreat quietly like this.

"Of course."

Siena answered.

"That's why I made some arrangements beforehand."

"What arrangements?"

Siena came close and whispered in my ear.

"Actually, the Ebony Oath was already sent through a separate courier last night."

"!"

I immediately understood the intention.

"A decoy."

It's the method of making a conspicuous departure with the main force while the item has already been sent or is transported separately later.

'I've often used this method when moving important items too.'

"To increase the operation's success rate, the noisier the return journey, the better."

"Yes."

Father had ordered an escort force of three battalion-scale guards led directly by the Knighthood Grand Commander to escort Siena's return.

Even more...

"Don't worry, Allenvert."

"Brother, please be careful."

Karl was also included among the escort forces.

'Actually, this is quite unexpected.'

Karl's aura had clearly changed since I last saw him. He seemed to have continued intense training.

'This man also has his own pride.'

Therefore, while I was most wary of Verdzig, I respected Karl.

'With this level of force, it won't be easy for the Black Society to attack either.'

Including the Knight Grand Commander, it's a force with two 7th-tier fighters and two direct descendants who have deeply learned the martial arts of noble clans.

It wouldn't be easy for them to suddenly mobilize forces equivalent to more than one branch.

"This already feels like war has begun."

Siena replied to my jest.

"I think it's already no different from wartime."

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺