A week after Ghislain met Marquis Branford, as Baron Share predicted, the Kingdom's army of 50,000 began moving toward the Heine Plains.
The Kingdom's army, having barely reorganized after being shattered by the Delphine Army, was little more than a ragtag group. However, they selected the best among them to form the core of the advancing troops.
At the forefront of the 2nd Corps stood the 3rd Infantry Company with pride.
For the soldiers, it was an uncomfortable position. While being ranked first felt rewarding, being at the front line meant they'd be the first to face any potential battles.
But the 3rd Infantry Company Commander was ecstatic.
'Ah, there are talks of personnel transfers in the next quarter. At this rate, a promotion is certain, isn't it?'
Having secured first place with an overwhelming infantry charge, the commander was naturally attracting attention.
The 3rd Infantry Company Commander stared at Ghislain, who walked confidently at the front, with eyes burning with admiration.
'Ah, such a pretty one. Where did such a gem come rolling in? Once this operation is over, I'll appoint him as my adjutant. Let's go together for life.'
The commander wasn't entirely foolish. He was well aware of the performance of Dougley's squad.
To make his assault tactics successful, Dougley's squad was indispensable. Hence, even after his promotion, he planned to bring Dougley into his inner circle.
'Thanks to me, your life is about to change. I'll ensure you're well-rewarded and provide a good position for you. Always bring me luck, haha.'
Dreaming such idle thoughts, the 3rd Infantry Company Commander kept his gaze fixed on Ghislain.
Ghislain found that gaze slightly burdensome.
'What's with him?'
The look in his eyes resembled someone wooing a lover. It seemed his contributions had drawn too much attention.
The commander's unsettling gaze only fell away when they finally reached the Heine Plains.
"Formation!"
At the shout of the Corps Commander, the Kingdom's army quickly aligned in disciplined ranks. Determined not to be underestimated by the forces of the Duchy, they straightened their posture even more.
Soon, several officials emerged, placing a table at the center of the plains to set up seats.
The seats were for the King and the Duchy's representative.
The negotiation table was simple to the extreme, meant to show that no tricks were at play.
Before long, a messenger galloped in, shouting, "The Duchy Army is approaching!"
At those words, everyone grew tense, their eyes fixed on the direction from which the messenger had come.
The Duchy, once considered the strongest force in the Kingdom before the Northern Army rose to prominence, had utterly crushed the Kingdom's army on the southern front before.
From the distance, the Duchy's grand army, bearing their flag, slowly advanced.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
The rhythmic tremors in the ground, without a single misstep, echoed in all directions. Every soldier maintained a perfectly aligned formation as they marched forward.
Seeing this, the Kingdom's commanders' expressions darkened.
This was different.
Commanders who had fought against the Duchy before instantly realized that this army was nothing like the one they had faced before.
'This can't be….'
'We were mistaken.'
'That… that must be their true main force.'
At the forefront of the advancing army was a massive brown horse carrying Count Kaien Balzac, the Kingdom's Finest Sword. Strapped to his back was an enormous two-handed greatsword befitting his large frame.
Next to Kaien rode priests of the Salvation Church dressed in black robes, as well as commanders of the Duchy exuding sharp, commanding presences.
But that wasn't all. Each knight and soldier in their ranks radiated an extraordinary aura. Their every step was precise and unwavering.
The imposing momentum they exuded filled the vast plains. Their appearance left no doubt as to why they were once deemed the strongest force in the Kingdom.
The Kingdom's army was utterly overwhelmed by their mere presence.
Count Palantz, always overshadowed by Kaien's fame as the Kingdom's Finest Sword, found the sight distasteful.
"Don't cower! What kind of disgrace is this in front of His Majesty?"
His shout snapped the soldiers out of their daze, and they straightened their postures.
The Kingdom's Royal Knight Commander, whose reputation rivaled Kaien's, was also present. There was no need to be intimidated.
Even Berhem scowled at the atmosphere of fear.
"Such a grand presence should belong to my army…."
His murmuring silenced the Kingdom's commanders, who dared not respond.
Ghislain, too, watched the advancing Duchy army with a subtle smile.
'As expected.'
The faces of the Duchy's commanders, whom he had seen in his previous life, finally came into view. Each of them was at least at the high-level knight, with some on the verge of reaching the Master rank in due time.
These were no mere vassals' forces. The true main force of the Duchy, directly under their command, had been preserved until now.
'Count Balzac, will I finally get a chance to face you this time?'
In his past life, he hadn't even had the opportunity to confront Kaien before losing. Kaien had always been by Duke's side.
Staring intently at Kaien in the distance, Ghislain curled his lips into a grin.
The Delphine Army, advancing at a measured pace, finally came to a halt at a certain distance.
From the Duchy's side, Kaien and Gartros stepped forward, while from the Kingdom's side, Berhem and Count Palantz did the same.
Kaien dismounted and placed his hand over his chest, bowing his head.
"I greet Your Majesty."
Berhem's lips twitched. The lack of kneeling or proper deference did not sit well with him.
However, Count Balzac was loyal to Duke Delphine. Any complaints here would only make him look petty.
"Count Balzac, it's been a while. Is the Duke well?"
"The Duke regrets being unable to personally attend due to ill health and deeply apologizes."
At those words, Berhem's expression soured further. Surely, the Duke wasn't in worse health than him.
Suppressing his irritation, he took a seat with a displeased look.
"Since we're here to negotiate for mutual gain, let's skip the formalities. Who is the man beside you?"
Gartros smiled as he bowed his head.
"I am Gartros, a priest of the Salvation Church. It is an honor to meet Your Majesty."
"Ah, I see."
Berhem's demeanor softened as he smiled warmly at Gartros. After all, it was the Salvation Church's Flaccus who had saved his life and provided him with an item that promised to make him a superhuman.
Gartros produced a small box and opened it before Berhem.
"This is the 'Orb of Life.'"
Inside the box lay a small, black orb, emanating a constant stream of black energy.
"Ohhhh…."
The black energy rippled through the air, mesmerizing Berhem.
His trembling hand unconsciously reached for it.
Clack.
The box snapped shut, cutting off the black energy entirely.
Smiling, Gartros spoke.
"Your Majesty, now that you've seen the Kingdom's most treasured artifact, please show us yours."
Berhem frowned, snapping out of his trance. Being dragged into such negotiations irked him greatly.
If he wielded absolute power, he would simply take what he wanted.
'Just wait.'
For now, he needed to strengthen his forces and solidify his authority. Joining hands with the Duchy was essential for the time being.
Berhem removed a ring from his finger and asked, "How will you confirm that what I offer is the royal treasure?"
Thanks to Flaccus, he could sense the black energy and verify the orb's authenticity. However, he wondered how they would discern whether his artifact was genuine.
Gartros produced a small grayish-white cup, resembling an incense burner, and opened its lid.
"Place the artifact here, and it will react," Gartros explained.
"Hmm…."
The cup seemed like an ordinary item one might find in a commoner's home, so worn it looked as though even commoners would reject it.
Could such a shabby object truly identify the royal treasure?
Berhem, curious, dropped the ring into the cup.
Clink.
The ring rolled inside, but nothing happened.
Gartros frowned and said, "Your Majesty, this ring does not seem to be a royal treasure."
Berhem smirked and replied, "The Kingdom's history is long, and its treasures are many. What exactly are you looking for?"
"Your Majesty, perhaps you already have an idea."
Berhem's twisted smile grew. Gartros didn't seem to be bluffing or speaking out of ignorance.
"Let's try this, then."
Removing a necklace from around his neck, Berhem handed it over. Flaccus tilted his head in surprise; he had seen that necklace countless times while treating the King. It was so plain and unremarkable that no one would suspect it to be a royal treasure.
But then…
Flash!
As the necklace entered the cup, it emitted a brilliant light.
"Ahhh…."
The light was so sacred that everyone present was left in awe, their faces blank with wonder.
The energy radiating from it was entirely different from the black energy of the Salvation Church.
"This…."
Even Berhem was astonished. After years of receiving treatment from priests, he recognized it instantly.
This was holy power, immensely strong at that.
"So, there really was a way to confirm it."
Berhem had inherited the necklace from his predecessor, only ever told that it was an important item. He never knew it possessed such an ability.
Berhem's eyes glimmered with greed. Initially, he intended to exchange the treasure for a healthy body, believing it to be nothing more than a necklace with a story behind it. However, its revealed capabilities changed the situation entirely.
"Do I really have to give this up? It's an item passed down since the founding king's time. I feel a bit guilty toward my ancestors. Perhaps I could offer them something greater instead."
"Your Majesty, my apologies, but this is absolutely necessary for us."
Gartros' firm tone forced Berhem to suppress his anger.
'How dare they! Shouldn't they comply when the King himself makes a request?'
For now, he had no choice but to swallow his fury. Knowing where it would go meant he could retrieve it later if necessary.
Berhem exhaled deeply and spoke.
"Very well, it's unfortunate, but there's no helping it. Let us exchange the items and proceed with the ceasefire negotiations."
As Berhem placed the lid back on the cup, the holy power ceased to emanate.
Kaien glanced at Gartros, silently asking if the item was genuine. Gartros, his face flushed, nodded eagerly.
Kaien gave a slight bow to Berhem and said, "Your Majesty, let us proceed with the exchange."
One knight from each side stepped forward to carry the items. They stood with their necks inches from their opponents' swords.
The procedure was clear—both would take exactly one step at a time. Any deviation would result in their immediate death at the hands of the opposing knight.
This exchange was treated with the utmost gravity.
Meanwhile, Ghislain, listening to the conversation, subtly released strands of mana.
'Good thing I'm positioned near the front.'
Though he stood at the forefront of the 2nd Corps, knights still blocked his view of the table. However, he had already determined its exact location using Dark's clone he had sent flying earlier.
Kaien surveyed both knights before speaking again.
"Then, let's proceed step by step…"
Clang!
Mid-sentence, Kaien suddenly rose and drew his sword from the sheath strapped to his back.
"What's going on?!"
Count Palantz, observing nearby, also unsheathed his sword. The surrounding knights immediately surrounded Berhem, and every soldier drew their weapon.
Naturally, the knights carrying the items were also instantly encircled by both sides' forces.
The atmosphere grew tense in an instant. Gartros and the Salvation Church priests began gathering their energy.
If anything went wrong, they were prepared to snatch the items by force.
Yet, the person who had caused the commotion wasn't concerned with them.
"What's this?"
Kaien frowned and looked to the side. Nothing was visible, yet he could clearly sense something approaching.
Even Count Palantz, the Royal Knight Commander, turned his head, sensing the same presence.
Both men had reached the rank of Master through their own efforts.
The strange energy caught by the senses of these fighters in the Kingdom was something peculiar.
Kaien's sword slashed through the air in an instant.
Slash!
He felt something being cut. Simultaneously, Count Palantz struck at the creeping presence in the air.
Boom!
Kaien turned toward the Kingdom's forces, shouting fiercely.
"Who's there?!"
Someone was present. Whether it was a mage or a knight, their mana control was extraordinarily advanced.
Even Kaien had never seen such a technique before. It was evident that the individual was someone who had reached a superhuman level.
All eyes turned in that direction. Even Count Palantz looked back.
Fwoosh!
At that moment, Kaien's eyes widened as he gazed at the sky.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of strands of energy scattered like a spider's web, spreading in all directions.
"You dare!"
Boom!
With a single swing of his sword, Kaien obliterated all the mana threads covering the sky.
Yet, new threads emerged from nowhere, once again covering the sky. Unable to pinpoint their source, Kaien focused on cutting down the threads.
Count Palantz also slashed through the spreading threads, trying to locate their origin.
And that was their mistake.
While the two were busy attacking the mana threads, a snake-like strand crept through the ground and suddenly ensnared the knights holding the items.
Realizing the situation too late, Kaien whipped his head around and shouted urgently.
"Hold onto the items no matter what—"
Slash!
Two items shot high into the air.
Gartros' eyes flared with fury.
"Stop!"
He surged forward, unleashing his energy. But before he could act, someone from the Kingdom's side leapt forward and snatched both the box and the cup.
"You scoundrel!"
Though Gartros didn't know who it was, he unleashed his energy in anger.
Boom!
However, his opponent countered the attack with their own energy, using it as leverage to retreat even further.
Thud.
A soldier in the Kingdom's uniform landed on the ground. All eyes turned toward him.
Kaien glared at the man and demanded, "Who are you?"
The soldier straightened his back confidently and replied.
"I am Dougley Squad Leader of the 3rd Infantry Company, 2nd Corps of the Kingdom's Army."
"…"
Kaien glanced at Count Palantz, who shook his head.
"I don't know him."
"Right, if he's here to fight us, there's no reason for him to do this."
At this point, Kaien had a good idea. There was only one person in the Kingdom with the audacity to pull such a stunt.
"Count Fenris."
At that, Ghislain smirked and revealed his true face.
If he could have hidden his identity, he would have. But even he thought it was a far-fetched scenario.
Besides, it would become obvious once the fighting began.
"Surprised?"
Kaien's brow twitched at the nonchalant response. This was only the second time he had seen him in person, yet it was a familiar face. He had seen the portrait many times before.
Information from the past resurfaced—Count Fenris was said to freely manipulate weapons on the battlefield.
That must have been how he stole the items.
"You dare…"
Kaien was so dumbfounded that he couldn't speak further. The audacity to hide among the Kingdom's army and steal the items alone. Did he really believe he could escape?
He must be insane.
Gartros, his face twisted with rage, shouted.
"You insolent bastard! This is perfect! I'll kill you right here!"
Boom!
He surged forward, brimming with energy, but stopped at the voice that followed.
"What if I destroy them?"
Ghislain, wearing a sinister grin, held the box and cup tightly in his hands.
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