Chapter 263

Words : 2394 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

“Logan McLean... Logan McLean... How odd... He’s defied all expectations.” Muttering to himself, the second prince’s voice echoed in the room, causing Leos, who stood by his side, to stiffen his initially expressionless face. Having confidently given advice related to the McLean Kingdom that all proved wrong, he took the prince’s murmurings as subtle criticism directed at himself. “My apologies, Your Highness. It was my lack. I am sorry.” Officially, archivists assigned to each prince for the imperial succession were neutral. Their purpose was to assess the capabilities of their respective princes and to provide objective indicators of those results to the emperor. However, tradition had somehow solidified that the newly ascended emperor would not only obliterate his competing brothers but also their archivists, either through assassination or exile. Consequently, archivists were compelled to support the prince they served with all their might, their survival dependent on his victory. Naturally, Leos had no choice but to do his utmost to ensure the second prince’s triumph. The prince knew this all too well. The accumulated score for the imperial succession still favored the second prince. Moreover, the recent completion of an operation against a coalition of minor kingdoms had been successful thanks to Leos’s stratagem. “No, no. If you were lacking, who wouldn’t be? It’s just that man... He’s the one who’s strange...” The second prince spoke shortly, clicking his tongue. “Setting aside the past events, what do you think is the main reason we couldn’t predict this incident?” Leos promptly answered the question. “Logan McLean. His behavior defies all common sense.” “Be specific.” “It is clear that the McLean Kingdom has an undisclosed source of substantial funds. However, its usage was peculiar.” “Peculiar how?” “If they had such a source of funds, they needn’t have risked the side effects of rapidly growing their military. Given the estimated size of their funds, they would have easily built their army in five years.” “But they chose to do it in a year, accepting all those side effects, is that right? Wasn’t it a ploy to reorganize their own nobility?” “They could have easily suppressed the nobles after the army was created. Even before that, the king had considerable royal power and could’ve dealt with any rebellious noble by just exercising his rights.” “So why did he rush?” “There are two possibilities. One is that his nature couldn’t bear the wait...” “That’s not it.” Leos nodded in agreement with the second prince’s assertive response. Given the man’s behavior and speech before the emperor, it was an obvious conclusion. “Then there’s only one other possibility left.” Leos paused before cautiously continuing. “He knows about our empire’s ‘grand plan.’” At those words, both Leos and the second prince could not help but harden their expressions. “Yes. That would make sense. And yet, it also doesn’t.” The second prince smirked bitterly. A minor kingdom’s king knew of plans that only the emperor, his archivists, and the participating princes of the imperial succession were aware of? Plans developed and refined over the last 20 years by the reclusive emperor? Anyone with even a slight knowledge of the imperial security policies would find such a claim unbelievable. Leos, too, chuckled bitterly, rubbing the small magic tattoo etched on his temples. “Are we just speculating?” “Speculating alone doesn’t drive a nation’s policies to the brink of disaster.” “Right. That’s true. But then how did he find out?” “That, I do not know. I apologize.” “Don’t you have even a guess?” “No.” “Well, then. We’re in quite the predicament, aren’t we...” Finger-drumming on the armrest, the second prince asked again. “What can be confirmed right now?” “We should be able to conclude the tracing of their funds in a month or two.” “Do you have any expectations?” “Discovery of a rare mineral mine or an ancient ruin. One of those.” “Either way, it means they hit a jackpot. Not good for us... But whether it’s ore or artifacts, shouldn’t we have noticed if they were in circulation?” “The only item traded between the McLean Kingdom and our empire was grain.” “Then?” “While dealing with the minor kingdoms coalition, we discovered a vast sum of money flowing into McLean. It wasn’t grain, and we are currently investigating the transaction details.” “Just from the minor kingdoms coalition? And ours was just grain?” “Yes.” “It really seems like they know about the grand plan. Otherwise...” Leos agreed with the second prince’s murmuring but refrained from commenting. He could give advice but the final decision was entirely up to the prince. With such thoughts, he waited for the decision when suddenly, the prince uttered an unexpected proposition. “It seems I must go take a look myself.” “Pardon?” “With the invitation having already arrived, I shall go. Prepare the ‘ghosts’.” “Your Highness!! Is that really necessary...?!” Surprised by the prince’s rare expression of emotion, Leos was met with a chilling smile from the second prince. Perhaps His Majesty the Emperor would not be interested in such minor details. After all, even if that small kingdom knew of the grand plan, it certainly could never thwart the empire. ‘But I am not so sure. I have a bad feeling.’ The black irises of the second prince, Baros van Ares, shimmered intensely. * * * After the Kingdom of McLean announced their national marriage. As winter approached, marking the end of the year, a large procession crossed the eastern borders of the McLean Kingdom against the biting cold winds. The procession, easily numbering over a thousand, stretched on with wagons and people in tow. An annoyed voice came from the front of the line, “Usually, marriages, especially national ones, are held in spring, aren’t they? In the middle of winter...” “Well, they must have their reasons. Let’s focus on our task rather than such trivial details, Roy.” “Yes, I know that. It’s just the weather is so cold...” Lagon fully understood the young officer’s grumbling heart. As a mid-tier knight, he wouldn’t really feel the cold due to the gusty winter wind. ‘It’s not the weather that’s cold; it’s your heart.’ He felt the same. ‘Where did it all go wrong...?’ Their homeland, the Kingdom of Tria, within a coalition of seven minor countries, was the most powerful and had long held its leadership since the formation of the coalition. Last summer, though only a duchy in name and more akin to a large territory of McLean, the sudden and unexpected request from the Duchy of Tahiti for a reconsideration of their decision-making power resulted in a change of the coalition’s leader. It was an incomprehensible move, but from within the coalition, it wasn’t such a significant change. However, Tria was already shaking due to its newly diminished influence. New coalition resolutions required the reduction of border guards and lowering tariff rates for merchants. For Tria, occurring income from trade between kingdoms was significant due to its central location in the coalition. Naturally, this situation was expected. However, their unique geopolitical status also rendered it impossible to leave the coalition. ‘We have to find a new way to survive.’ So now, they were heading to McLean with a large trading caravan, ostensibly to celebrate McLean’s national marriage. Not content to remain a mere trade intermediary, the royal family had embarked on an attempt to create a new source of income. In other words, they were on a journey to carve out new direct trade routes. With this huge undertaking, Lagon was acutely aware of the profound responsibility he carried. The rest of the high-ranking envoys felt the same weight, unable to afford the luxury of enjoying the new foreign landscapes due to their stern expressions. Yet, even amidst their intense apprehension, they couldn’t help but turn their heads in awe when they encountered an unexpected scene. Upon entering the end of the eastern part of the former Douglas ducal territory, now the royal domain, they saw hundreds of people firing crossbows at targets. Even putting aside the power and designs of these crossbows, which seemed very different from any they had seen before, the attire of those using them was bizarre. “What are those people doing? They don’t look like soldiers...” Before Roy could remark that they looked too much like peasants, the McLean knight guiding the delegation, Tamil, stepped in. “Ah, it’s the training of the local militia.” “Militia?” “Yes. By the king’s order, men from each territory are being trained for self-policing.” Hearing this, Lagon wanted to object on several counts. For one, among those firing crossbows, there were many women, and how was shooting a crossbow at a target any way to train for maintaining peace, not hunting? But most importantly, Lagon had a separate burning question. “That crossbow seems quite strong. Will ordinary people be supplied with something like that?” “Ah, it’s probably just given to them for the duration of the training. How could they be...” “If it won’t be used, why train with it? They are obviously being supplied. Of course, it’s not for individuals, but on a village level.” Roy, who had interrupted Tamil, now looked dumbstruck at the knight’s firm reply. “Ah... Haha. Well, since McLean knights are strong, they can afford to give such weapons to the people...” “Well, the repeating crossbows can hurt the knights if they’re not careful. They easily pierce through ordinary armor, so for ordinary knights who can’t infuse force into their weapons or armor, it’s quite a threatening weapon.” “Excuse me?!” That’s hardly a threat just to ordinary knights. Even as a mid-tier knight, Roy couldn’t fight for long periods with his armor infused with force. That’s why he considered Tamil’s words to be mere bravado. “Oh, come now. Joking aside, you seem to be taking us lightly because we’re from the coalition...” “Not at all. How could I take lightly the delegation whom His Majesty instructed me to receive with great care?” “Are you serious about what you just said?” “Yes, of course.” Baffled by the knight’s candid response, Roy went so far as to say something he should not have. “Then, could I test the real power of that weapon?” “Roy!” Lagon had to shout at his subordinate. While he understood the nervously loyal guard’s tension due to the nation’s situation, questioning the guide’s words hinted at disrespect, which could not bode well for international relations. However, Tamil calmly accepted Roy’s request. “Sure, go ahead.” “Don’t take people lightly...” Roy was livid as he stepped up only to return with a bolt from the crossbow pierced through his forearm armor, his face now crestfallen. It was a scene that shocked the entire delegation. – They’re distributing weapons capable of killing knights to ordinary people? – Have they lost their minds? Everyone was flustered, and yet the surprises were far from over. Three days after crossing the border and arriving at Douglas City, the scene laid out before them was nothing short of astonishing. “Come one, come all! Fresh silk from the capital, only 10 gold a bolt!” “A bucket of ten apples from the southern Desen region, just 1 gold! It’s a bargain!” “Selling anti-plague remedies from Raftan territory! Get one for your home!” “Crafts from Taren territory, forged in the city of the Dwarves! Don’t hesitate, come and have a look!” Amid the biting winds of winter, the streets bustled with noise, a lively sight unseen in any of the smaller coalition kingdoms. “The revolt just ended...” “I heard it only lasted a day, but this is quite different from what we expected.” Lagon, with a stunned face, was met by Roy, who bore a similar expression. “There’s no need to go all the way to Grand if we’re just going to engage in regular trade.” “Exactly.” If not for an official contract with the McLean royal family, they could have sold their prepared goods right there and then. Moreover, yet another curious sight caught their eyes. “Why are they digging waterways inside the city?” “That’s a royal project. It’s a sewer system, intended to channel domestic waste to the farmlands.” Townsend Rendoval, the mayor of Douglas City, responded kindly to Lagon’s inquiry. “Sewer system?” “Yes. It’s being implemented not only in the city but also in the larger villages outside. It has certainly reduced the smells.” “That means...” “Lagon, sir. Let me explain that to you...” The delegation’s urban planning expert approached with a whisper to fill in the bewildered Lagon. Townsend, the mayor, simply smiled and turned his head slightly in respect for the envoy’s dignity, and as Lagon received the explanation, he gazed intently at the construction site within the city, marveling anew. ‘I thought the recent turmoil would have left them in bad shape...’ Three civil wars in four to five years, including a change of dynasty, yet the country was functioning normally. ‘If a regional metropolis is like this, what about the capital...’ Seeing one thing, understanding ten, Lagon was amazed but also somewhat galled by the sight, as the image of his own country faltering over a mere pact resurfaced in his mind. But precisely because of that, he refocused his resolve. ‘I will ensure the contract is successful.’ Considering the repeating crossbows and the prosperity of McLean that they had already witnessed, establishing a proper trade route could significantly assist their current national plight. ‘We must have the largest delegation. I’ll negotiate directly with the king.’ With this determination, Lagon headed onward. When they finally arrived in the capital, Grand, after more than a week, he couldn’t help but grimace at the unbelievable sight. Carriages flying golden dragon banners filled the castle, along with rumors that screamed in their ears. The Empire’s second prince had personally come to congratulate the Emperor’s marriage. Lagon’s vow to have a private audience with the king faded into irrelevance as the McLean royal palace bustled, unprepared for the unexpected guest.

Chapter 263

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