At Baron Share's words, Ghislain faintly smiled.
"When is it?"
"A month from now. The negotiation will take place on the Heine Plains, and the 'item' will be exchanged."
Rumors were already widespread that something would be exchanged during the negotiations. While the exact nature of the item was unknown, knowing that an exchange would occur was essential for the administrators to avoid being blindsided.
"It seems carefully chosen."
The Heine Plains was a place Ghislain knew well. It was near the southern front line and had neither small forests nor hills to hide in.
It was a completely open field.
If both sides brought their promised forces of 50,000 each and met head-on there, it would be nearly impossible to stage a surprise attack.
Baron Share nodded in agreement.
"Yes. Both sides are constantly scouting to ensure only the agreed-upon troops are brought. It's their way of double-checking."
"Very cautious."
"They seem to consider this negotiation extremely important."
If the ceasefire negotiation was the main event, there wouldn't be such precautions. By now, even unrelated people could guess that the 'item' being exchanged was the real objective.
Baron Share spoke cautiously.
"The Kingdom's army will depart in a week. It's a considerable distance, after all. I'll flee three days later under the pretense of checking the current status. But... are you sure about this?"
A total of 100,000 soldiers would gather in that open field. No matter how skilled Ghislain was, it didn't seem easy to steal the item and escape from such a place.
Moreover, with the Kingdom's Finest Sword and the Royal Knight Commander present, there were doubts as to whether the item could even be snatched in the first place.
But Ghislain replied with a nonchalant expression.
"Well... it won't be easy, but I'll find a way to grab it and run."
Baron Share, looking at Ghislain with a mixture of disbelief and resignation, spoke honestly.
"If you fail, Count, I'll immediately flee to another kingdom."
Frankly, Baron Share wasn't fully convinced, but it was a life-threatening matter, so he had no choice but to take the risk. Besides, staying in the capital was terrifying due to the mad king, so there wasn't much regret.
Given what Count Fenris had accomplished so far, there was a strange feeling that he might pull it off again.
Ghislain chuckled heartily and nodded.
"Do that. I'll assign you a knight to escort you to Fenris."
It would be easy to send Dark ahead and then dispatch knights a week later. After confirming the baron's destination, Ghislain asked.
"Is there anything else unusual?"
"His Majesty is going personally."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, everyone tried to dissuade him, but he wouldn't listen. He seems determined to verify the item himself."
"I see."
Ghislain roughly guessed the reason. The king sought his own health, and the item from the Salvation Church was likely the method to achieve it.
Naturally, he had to verify it personally. If it turned out to be the wrong item, it would be a massive disaster.
After passing on this information, Baron Share stood to leave.
"Then I'll take my leave. I sincerely hope for your success."
"Yes, travel safely. See you at the estate."
Ghislain's confident words made Baron Share smile unconsciously. Where did such unwavering confidence come from?
It was both enviable and absurd.
Just as he was about to leave, Baron Share paused and asked.
"Will you not visit Marquis Branford before you go?"
There wasn't much benefit in meeting him. Despite the Northern Army being declared enemies of the Royal Family, Marquis Branford's safety was guaranteed due to the nature of the king and the nobles.
Many regional lords and nobles, including the Northern Army, were still known to follow Marquis Branford. If someone took the Marquis hostage or harmed him, it could incite rebellion among them, so they left him alone until the rest were subdued.
However, if it were discovered that someone had a relationship with Marquis Branford beyond mere political alignment, it was highly likely he'd be taken hostage and used for leverage.
Thus, those who supported Marquis Branford also remained silent for now.
"Well, since I'm here, I was considering stopping by to greet him. Now that he's stepped away from politics, he must be feeling quite lonely."
Ghislain was well aware of the risk. But so what? It didn't matter as long as he wasn't caught.
Baron Share simply laughed. Indeed, that confidence and composure were truly the Kingdom's finest.
"Understood. I'll see you again after your success."
After Baron Share left, Ghislain returned to the gathering. While other soldiers indulged in drinks and meat, he remained sober.
With the negotiation's date and location set, he had to start moving.
'Dark, it's time. I'll give you the location, so relay the message to prepare.'
— Got it!
A raven silently flew through the dark night sky.
After informing the Northern Army, Ghislain received a permit for leave the next day.
His destination was none other than the Branford Marquisate.
"Hmm, sneaking in unnoticed... Can I manage that?"
In the past, he had frequented the mansion and memorized the blind spots of the guards. However, avoiding the magic devices and the knights' senses wouldn't be easy.
For nobles like Marquis Branford, the entire mansion was enchanted with detection magic to prevent even superhumans from sneaking in.
With the entire space under surveillance, even Ghislain would be caught.
"In that case... a direct approach is probably best."
Ghislain confidently walked up to the mansion's main gate.
Seeing one of the guards stationed there, he smirked.
'Still working here, huh?'
The guard, who had once tried to stop Ghislain from entering, yawned. Apparently, the job had decent benefits, given his long tenure.
'Well, staying with Marquis Branford these days is probably the best choice.'
Joining another army could mean death at any time in this chaotic world.
Ignoring the other guards, Ghislain approached the familiar one and asked.
"Hey, the Marquis is in, right? Don't even try to say he's not—I've already checked."
The guard tilted his head, puzzled. That line sounded oddly familiar, as if he'd heard it somewhere before.
"What?"
Ghislain was dressed in plain clothes, and his appearance was altered to a different face, making him look like an ordinary commoner.
The guard frowned. How could a non-noble dare to come here unannounced?
Still, following protocol, he answered stiffly.
"Please leave your name and purpose in the visitor's log, and someone will contact you to schedule—"
Ghislain chuckled involuntarily. How consistent could they be?
Placing a hand on the guard's shoulder, he turned him away from the others' sight and said.
"It's me."
As his face returned to its original form, the guard tilted his head again, confused.
"You look familiar... Huh?!"
The guard's eyes widened, and Ghislain quickly covered his mouth, changing his face back as he whispered.
"Shh, it won't help anyone if others find out, will it? You'll escort me in, right?"
The guard nodded furiously. He wasn't stupid—causing a scene wouldn't end well.
"Let's go in."
When the other guards tried to stop them, they asked suspiciously.
"Hey, who is that? You can't just let anyone in."
Annoyed, the guard snapped back.
"I know him! The butler summoned him!"
He used the butler's name as an excuse, knowing he couldn't use the Marquis's.
The other guards reluctantly backed off, muttering to themselves.
Feeling nervous, the guard hurriedly led Ghislain inside.
For a lowly guard, meeting Marquis Branford was almost impossible. Strict protocols were in place.
But for the butler, it was different. He was one of the few who could meet the Marquis directly to report.
Thus, the guard immediately brought Ghislain to the butler.
"Hmm? What is it?"
The guard approached and spoke in a very low voice.
"It's Count Fenris."
"What??"
The butler looked at Ghislain in astonishment. Ghislain grinned and revealed his true face again.
"Unbelievable…"
The butler, visibly flustered, shouted to the soldiers stationed outside the office.
"Everyone, stand down! We have an important guest, and I need to speak to him privately!"
At those words, the soldiers guarding the area withdrew. The guard who had brought Ghislain stood awkwardly, rolling his eyes.
The butler turned to him and said, "You're excused from all duties for now. I'll assign you a room where you can stay alone. Understood? In return, you'll be well compensated."
"Ah, understood."
To prevent rumors, the butler decided to confine him temporarily. However, when he handed the guard a pouch of gold coins, the man nodded enthusiastically with a grin.
Once the guard had been dismissed, the butler turned back to Ghislain with a startled expression and asked, "How did you get here?"
"I came to visit the Marquis. Just wanted to pay my respects."
"Ha…"
Although the Northern Army had not officially rebelled, refusing the king's orders was a serious crime tantamount to treason.
Currently, public sentiment toward the Northern Army was extremely negative. There were even rumors that the Royal Family, after concluding negotiations with the Duchy, was planning to join forces to suppress the Northern Army.
And here was Ghislain, showing up alone in the middle of all this!
The butler, astonished by his audacity, couldn't help but admire him. Gathering his wits, he quickly said, "Let me escort you to the Marquis."
With a calm demeanor, Ghislain followed the butler.
The butler ordered all the knights and soldiers stationed near Marquis Branford's office to withdraw. Though puzzled, they complied, knowing that the office was guarded by Knight Commander Toleo himself.
The butler cautiously entered first and spoke.
"Marquis, you have a guest."
"Hmm?"
Marquis Branford, who had been reading a book, looked up. His face was pale and gaunt.
Seeing his condition, Ghislain couldn't help but smile bitterly and said, "Have you been well?"
"And who might you be?"
"It's me."
When Ghislain revealed his true face, both Marquis Branford and Knight Commander Toleo widened their eyes in shock.
"What—how did you…?"
"I'm in the capital and thought I'd stop by to say hello."
"Hahaha…"
At Ghislain's response, Marquis Branford chuckled heartily.
As always, he found this young man amusing. To come alone to the capital and visit him in this situation—what a bold move.
"Bring some tea. I'd like to have a chat with an old friend."
At the Marquis's command, the butler brought tea.
However, when the two finally sat face to face, they didn't engage in much conversation. They simply asked how each other had been.
After some small talk, Ghislain stood up from his seat.
"I'll take my leave. It's enough to see you are well."
"Will you be meeting Maurice as well?"
Ghislain shook his head.
"No, I'll visit him later. If he insists on drinking with me, the news will spread quickly. Besides, I only have time today. I'll see the others later."
Today was his only day for outings. He couldn't afford to visit everyone he knew. With an important task ahead, discretion was critical.
Marquis Branford asked again, "And Rozalin?"
Ghislain hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.
"Hmm… I'll visit her later as well. I don't want to stir up unnecessary emotions."
At those words, Marquis Branford let out a dry laugh. As a father, he found Ghislain's attitude quite infuriating.
The Marquis, now with a calm expression, asked, "So, have you made up your mind?"
"I decided the moment I heard the news."
"That's just like you."
Marquis Branford nodded with a faint smile.
He had expected this. Though it troubled him, he knew it wasn't something he could prevent. The leaders who had guided the kingdom thus far needed to step aside.
After contemplating for a moment, Marquis Branford looked into Ghislain's eyes and said, "Ghislain."
"Yes."
"I entrust the kingdom to you."
The man who had always prioritized the Royal Family was now asking Ghislain to look after the kingdom instead.
No one present misunderstood the meaning behind those words.
Ghislain had little concern for the kingdom's future. All he cared about was destroying the Duchy and protecting Perdium and Fenris.
But circumstances had changed. To achieve his goals, the Royal Family had to fall.
Those who dethroned the king bore the responsibility of guiding the kingdom.
Thus, Marquis Branford had entrusted his final wish to Ghislain—not for the Royal Family, but for the kingdom's future.
After a moment of silence, Ghislain bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for everything, Marquis."
Although he had been the one to approach the Marquis first, it was Marquis Branford who had recognized his potential and offered unwavering support.
It was no small feat. One needed the discernment to recognize talent and the courage to place trust in it.
Ghislain felt genuine gratitude toward him. Without the Marquis and the nobles who supported him, his growth wouldn't have been so swift.
So, he intended to honor the Marquis's final wish.
As Ghislain slowly raised his head, his eyes gleamed with the ferocity of a predator.
"It won't take long."
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]