The others didn't immediately object as they might have in the past.
First, because Ghislain had given them advance notice. Second, because they knew arguing wouldn't change his mind.
So, they decided to wait and hear him out. He'd promised to explain, after all.
Ghislain felt a bit disappointed by their reaction.
"Ahem, anyway, let me explain. Listen carefully. The king and the duchy are trying to exchange something."
A torrent of information was pouring in from the spies sent to the capital.
While the other vassals didn't fully grasp the situation, Ghislain and Claude, who had been receiving these reports, had a general idea of what was happening in the capital.
Ghislain organized his thoughts, combining his own speculations with the intelligence they'd gathered, and began to speak.
"Doesn't this all seem strange? The way the duchy and the Salvation Church have been relentlessly targeting the royal family, the sudden halt to the war, the announcement of negotiations—it's all odd. And now we hear the king is set to receive something."
As Ghislain spoke, the others nodded in agreement. Claude, still nursing his bruised face, was the first to respond.
"It's definitely strange. With the northern army withdrawn, it should be easy for the duchy and the Salvation Church to overthrow the royal family. That priest from the Salvation Church could assassinate the king at any time."
"Exactly. But that guy is still cozying up to the king. It must mean there's something he's yet to collect. He's not even trying to hide it; the nobles all know about it."
'And they have no reason to strike down a king who's working with them.'
"True. From the duke's perspective, they'll have to fight us eventually, so there's no need to take on the royal family as well."
Ghislain's expression grew serious as he continued.
"Honestly, we could fight the king right now. But I want to find out what he's giving them. That's likely the root cause of this entire war. I'm also curious about what the Salvation Church is offering the king in return."
Both sides were surely trading items of significant importance. Ghislain wanted to know what they were.
Claude caught on quickly to what Ghislain was implying.
"So... when you say you want to 'find out,' you mean you're planning to 'steal' it, don't you?"
"...That's right. You've got it."
Simply uncovering the information wasn't satisfying enough. There was always the risk of incomplete understanding.
The best way was to steal it and confirm it directly.
Everyone nodded. If you want to know, take it. It was an approach typical of Ghislain.
"Are you planning to wear a mask...?"
"If I do, they'll keep the item hidden."
"Then how will you do it?"
"I'll infiltrate and follow them to the negotiation site. If I can grab it before then, I will."
"...Can you pull that off?"
"If I set my mind to it, anything's possible. What's impossible, really?"
"..."
The room fell silent. When Ghislain spoke like that, there was nothing more to say.
After all, he was someone who had accomplished countless tasks everyone else had deemed impossible.
Breaking the silence, Belinda stepped forward.
"Then I'll go with you."
Belinda was now a superhuman in her own right. She was among the best in the region when it came to infiltration and ambush.
But Ghislain shook his head.
"No. I plan to go disguised. The more people involved, the harder it'll be to stay hidden."
"But it's too dangerous! What about Lady Erenes or Lady Parniel?"
Both were the northern army's greatest assets. Even one of them could wreak havoc in the capital.
Still, Ghislain shook his head.
"I told you, I'm going in disguise to follow them to the negotiation. Do you really think those two could hide their identities?"
"..."
Everyone turned to look at the two. Erenes's pointed ears and Parniel's massive frame made it clear that stealth wasn't their forte. Their appearances were far too conspicuous for any disguise.
It was true that the more people involved, the harder it would be to stay hidden.
Ultimately, the best option was for Ghislain to go alone to maintain secrecy.
"Don't worry. I'm a master of disguise. Just make sure my escape route is clear."
Prominent figures from both the royal family and the duchy would undoubtedly be present. Ghislain couldn't handle all of them alone.
He would need allies ready to assist.
"Even if we figure out the negotiation site, we can't take the entire northern army there. Let's prepare an elite strike force."
Ghislain and the others huddled together, brainstorming.
They had to plan for various scenarios, not knowing if the negotiation site would be indoors or outdoors, or how many people from each side would attend.
While strategizing, everyone was deeply concerned.
They had no excuse to object and no time to waste. Once Ghislain set his mind on something, he always followed through.
In the end, Belinda spoke in a worried tone.
"Please, be careful. If it's too dangerous, just run. It's not worth risking everything to find out what it is. There will be other opportunities."
"Got it. Don't worry so much. I've been practicing... Belinda's techniques, too."
Whoosh!
Ghislain's body blurred, darkness spreading around him. It was a skill of his mother, Annette.
Whenever he had free time, Ghislain practiced his mother's techniques. Having already reached a certain level, it wasn't too difficult for him.
He wasn't as skilled as Belinda yet, but it was enough to remain hidden.
"The mana flow is eerily similar."
At the highest levels, it seemed everything converged into one. His mother's techniques bore a slight resemblance to the magic tome Ghislain had studied in his previous life.
Though the application was different, the results were equally extraordinary.
Seeing Ghislain demonstrate the skill, Belinda felt slightly reassured. With that level of proficiency, he could evade the eyes of most knights.
"I'll head out first. Move the northern army to the first checkpoint. Once I find out the negotiation site, I'll send word through Dark. Be ready."
Ghislain mounted his horse and set off for the capital. Since he would need to abandon the horse midway, the Black King remained with the northern army.
He pushed the horse hard, aiming to reach his destination as quickly as possible to allow ample time for planning.
Disguised, Ghislain slipped into the capital and made his way to a certain nobleman.
It was none other than Baron Andy Share, a royal secretary who had once delivered royalist supplies to the north. Ghislain had bribed him lightly in the past.
"You… Who are you?"
Baron Share was startled when Ghislain appeared in his office. He never imagined the man branded a traitor to the kingdom would dare show his face in the capital.
Ghislain waved cheerfully, smiling.
"Hello, have you been well?"
"W-What is the meaning of this? Count, you shouldn't be here!"
Baron Share frantically looked around his office, even though it was his own space. If they were caught, both their heads would roll.
He was already nervous about the bribe he had accepted.
"Relax. I checked to make sure no one's around."
"Still, this is…"
Baron Share gaped in disbelief. He had always known Ghislain to be a daring individual, but coming alone to the capital like this was beyond reckless.
Ghislain plopped down on a sofa in the office and spoke casually.
"How's Marquis Branford? Everyone doing well?"
"Well… I wouldn't say they're doing well, but they're safe for now."
"Good. They'd better be. Otherwise, things would get messy—or maybe they'll get messy soon anyway."
Baron Share swallowed hard, unnerved by the ominous glint in Ghislain's eyes.
"W-What brings you here?"
"Let's cut to the chase. I need your help."
"What help could I possibly provide…?"
Baron Share trailed off, his face pale with fear. Whatever Ghislain wanted, it couldn't be simple.
The capital's atmosphere was already at its worst. One wrong move and heads would roll, and Baron Share was already being cautious.
Moreover, while he was a noble, he was merely a titular one—a fallen noble with nothing but his rank. His role as a lowly royal secretary was limited to logistics and orders.
Ghislain chuckled at the frightened baron.
"It's really nothing major. You've heard about the king and the duke's negotiations, right? Just tell me the date and location."
"That… That hasn't been decided yet."
"Really?"
"Yes, His Majesty is deliberating very carefully on the time and place. Every high-ranking official is focused solely on this matter."
Ghislain nodded. It made sense. To avoid betrayal from either side, they would have to proceed with the utmost caution.
"I guess I made it just in time. The forces for the negotiation must be prepared, though, right?"
"Y-Yes. Both sides have already agreed on the number of troops. Each will bring 50,000, along with the royal knights."
Ghislain's eyes gleamed.
"Perfect. Slip me into the troops headed for the negotiations. I'll keep my identity hidden."
"What?"
"Come on, even a lowly secretary can add one more soldier to the list, right?"
Baron Share furrowed his brow in disbelief. The famed Count Fenris of the north, disguising himself as a mere soldier? Why?
Recalling Ghislain's track record, Baron Share quickly pieced together his intentions.
"Y-You're not planning to cause trouble… are you?"
"Yes."
Ghislain's unabashed answer left the baron momentarily speechless.
Regaining his composure, Baron Share shook his head furiously.
"That would get me killed! It won't take long for them to figure out I put you there!"
"Run away, then."
"What?"
Leaning back into the sofa, Ghislain spoke nonchalantly.
"Find an opportunity to leave the capital before the negotiations start. Don't you have plenty of errands that require travel? It shouldn't be too hard to slip away."
"Where would I even go…"
"When I promise something, you know I deliver, don't you?"
Baron Share, startled by the sudden proposal, nodded. Count Fenris was known as a miser, but when he decided to spend, he made sure to do it generously.
Ghislain formed a circle with his fingers and spoke.
"Come to Fenris. I'll find you a good position. Excellent salary, a nice house, and if you want, even a retirement fund. Enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life."
Baron Share swallowed hard. Lately, the capital's atmosphere had been terrifying, and he'd been increasingly anxious.
The only reason he'd survived so far was because he wasn't an important noble. He didn't belong to any particular faction.
'Which also means, if things go south, my head could roll at any moment.'
He was the perfect example of a plain bureaucrat, someone who simply followed orders without question.
Now, the richest man in the kingdom, Count Fenris, was inviting him to his territory, promising generous rewards.
'This is my chance!'
Baron Share had no family. As a fallen noble, he'd ended up living alone. After the king seized power, he'd lost all dreams and hopes, merely surviving day by day.
Refusing this offer would be foolish.
Baron Share cleared his throat a few times before rummaging through his bookshelf to retrieve a document, which he handed to Ghislain.
"Among the forces attending the negotiation is the 2nd Corps. I can arrange for you to be enlisted in the 3rd Infantry Company by tomorrow."
"And this document?"
"Just some minor details about what's been happening in the capital. This is all I know. I'm just a low-ranking secretary... heh."
"Ha, I like how efficient you are, Baron."
"Make sure your disguise is perfect. And whatever you do, don't cause any trouble until the negotiations. Since the commanders were replaced, the atmosphere has been awful lately."
"Don't worry. I've had plenty of experience as a rookie."
In his previous life, Ghislain had spent many long years as a member of a mercenary group.
It was hardly a reassuring statement, but Baron Share simply nodded. His plan was to escape at the right time, anyway.
"I'll need to head out soon to check the status of the prisoner transports. You'll learn the negotiation date and location once you're enlisted, but if I find out anything beforehand, I'll inform you right away."
Ghislain had already heard about Berhem consuming people in the capital.
Officials were working hard to meet the numbers, and Baron Share's task was to oversee the prisoner transports and ensure their proper arrival.
Ghislain nodded in understanding.
"Got it. Let me know when you're ready to escape. I'll send some knights to escort you. I have a quick way to reach them."
Baron Share smiled brightly at that.
Escaping wouldn't be difficult, as he only needed a few soldiers for prisoner inspections. They wouldn't question his motives and would simply follow him.
The real problem was the bandits infesting the roads. Regular soldiers couldn't handle them, but if Fenris knights escorted him, he'd have nothing to fear.
"Thank you! I'll do my best for the kingdom!"
People's minds were fickle. The moment Baron Share decided to flee, his attitude changed completely.
'Honestly, it feels like the northern army is going to win.'
Count Fenris, who had saved the ruined royal army and wiped out the duke's 200,000-strong force, seemed like a safer bet.
If he had to stake his life, it might as well be on Fenris.
Of course, if the royal army and the duke's forces united, the outcome might change. They had the kingdom's finest sword and the royal knights' commander on their side, after all.
'If the northern army loses, I'll run.'
Escaping to another kingdom from Fenris would be relatively easy. Anywhere would feel safer than the capital.
"By the way… how are you planning to disguise yourself?"
"It's not too hard. Watch and remember this face."
Crack.
Ghislain manipulated his facial muscles using mana. While the technique required a constant mana supply, the consumption was minimal.
Soon, Ghislain's appearance completely changed. Baron Share gawked in astonishment.
'He really can do anything.'
At this level, even people who knew Ghislain wouldn't recognize him.
And so, Ghislain enlisted in the 2nd Corps as a lowly soldier.
The royal army had been continuously recruiting to target the northern forces. Joining the desired unit was difficult, but enlisting somewhere was easy.
Once his enlistment was confirmed, Ghislain cheerfully reported to his assigned barracks.
"I'm the new recruit, Dougley! Pleased to meet you!"
"Oh, a fresh recruit!"
"Loud voice, full of energy."
"Great attitude!"
The senior soldiers grinned mischievously. A new recruit always meant fun for the veterans.
But Ghislain soon found himself in an awkward situation.
"Hey, rookie! Go wash these clothes! The atmosphere's been tense lately, so we'll let this be your initiation. After that, clean our gear too."
The senior soldiers threw their foul-smelling laundry at him one after another.
"..."
"What are you waiting for? Not moving? Want us to show you what army life is really like?"
"..."
Ghislain was now experiencing the full brunt of military hazing firsthand.
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]