chapter_0040

40 – What He Wants

40 – What He Wants

After Hadem Lion was ousted, the handling of affairs progressed very quickly.

Typically, when such a rebellion occurs, there is backlash from the knights and vassals who worship their lord like a fanatic.

However, ironically, in the case of the Lion Family, the knights who had idolized Hadem like a zealot were the first to perish under his reckless orders.

It was as if the story of the people in North Korea, who obediently followed the orders of the Workers’ Party, quickly perished during the arduous march, was reflected in the Lion Family, where hardly any of Hadem’s loyalists remained.

Many vassals and nobles welcomed Hadem’s downfall and actively cooperated.

As a result, after the lion hunt concluded, it did not take long for Bara to seize control of the Lion Family.

In just a week, all traffic regulations in the Lion territory were completed, and Bara became the head of the Lion Family and the lord of the Lion territory.

“Today, everything is on Lord Bara’s tab!!!!”

“Everyone, drink up!!!”

After the succession ceremony of Lord Bara, I stood with Bara on the balcony of the Lion Family’s castle, looking over the Lion territory.

The dreary atmosphere of the Lion territory that I had seen in the game had not completely vanished, but smiles bloomed on people’s faces.

Hearing that such a scene, which was natural in our territory, had not been seen here for almost ten years made it clear how much the people had suffered.

“Brother, thank you.”

As I watched, Bara, now a lord, bowed his head to me in gratitude.

Wearing the lord’s robe made him feel quite lord-like.

“It’s fine. I didn’t do this just for you. I did it for myself and for the people.”

As with all things in the world, not everything is done purely out of goodwill.

I helped Bara and the people of the Lion territory to survive.

“The future will be difficult, Bara.”

“Even if it’s hard, I will overcome it with everyone, just like you, brother!”

There is a saying that it is harder to keep a throne than to gain one.

I thought Bara would soon realize that.

At that moment, Bara asked me with a serious expression.

“Brother… is that really all you want?”

After the battle with Hadem, I had discussed with Noah and Hart about claiming compensation for the damages incurred in the Lion territory.

However, Noah was trying to extract too much, so I had to calm him down.

Compensation for the deceased knights and their families, along with a little profit, would have been sufficient.

“I believe you should ask for more.”

“That’s enough.”

When I heard Noah’s words, I learned that it was common to demand an enormous sum, such as half of the territory’s operating costs for a year, when participating in battles for another lord.

But I thought that was unnecessary.

Even without that money, our territory was in a very prosperous state, and if I sought excessive compensation, I could turn the people of the revived Lion territory into enemies.

Just like how Germany instigated World War II due to the enormous reparations from World War I, excessive compensation could become poison.

‘To think you’re only asking for this much… Brother wouldn’t be doing this for no reason.’

While Calix was thinking this, Bara was confused.

Bara was prepared to become a slave of the Crones Family due to this incident.

He was even ready to give everything, including the Lion territory’s operating costs for a year or all the hidden treasures of the family.

Yet, he only asked for about 10% of the amount he had prepared, including the compensation for the deceased soldiers.

That was something Bara could not understand.

As Bara was wracking his brain, Calix spoke.

“Bara, how do you think this empire will turn out?”

“The empire?”

“Yeah…”

Bara pondered Calix’s words.

The current empire was increasingly plagued by the clashes of rampaging lords, princes, princesses, and the Northern Duke.

Moreover, he had recently heard news that assassinations among the Blood Clans had begun.

Thus, the answer was obvious.

“I think it will become chaotic.”

“Right, if things continue like this, the empire will become even more chaotic. And if His Majesty the Emperor passes away, it will be a big deal…”

Traditionally, after the death of an emperor, a tremendous civil war erupted during the process of electing the next emperor.

Betrayals and fights ran rampant, and many people died in the process.

However, at the same time, numerous heroes were born.

That period was referred to with a mix of respect and disdain as the ‘Game of Thrones.’

“When that time comes, what matters is not money. What matters is the power that will protect me and the neighbors who will stand with me.”

Calix believed that when that time came, what was more important than money was having allies.

The more allies there were, the less likely they would be attacked, and everyone could live happily.

“I think it’s time for the South to unite and gather strength.”

That was why he had built a good relationship with Zeras and ousted Hadem to normalize the Lion Family.

That was Calix’s thought.

However, Bara heard Calix’s words differently.

‘Brother… are you perhaps planning to participate in the Game of Thrones!?’

To Bara, Calix was truly the ‘Overlord of the South.’

In just two short years, he had revitalized the Crones territory, suppressed the Dreyhart rebellion, organized slaves into his own army in unexpected ways, and gradually expanded his power without offending any factions.

Now, there was no one in the southern region who could ignore the Crones Family.

And now Calix said he was preparing for the upcoming Game of Thrones.

What could that mean?

‘Let’s cooperate to live peacefully among ourselves.’

That was not something a lord who had seized control of the southern region in such a short time could say.

Rather, this made more sense.

‘I too intend to participate as a player in this Game of Thrones, just like the Northern Duke. Brother, when that time comes, lend me your strength.’

Feeling a thrill as all the pieces fell into place, Bara was moved.

He had thought of himself as merely the powerless son of a mad lion.

He could not hide his emotion at being seen as a comrade who would achieve great deeds.

When that day came, he vowed to become Calix’s strength and repay his kindness, kneeling before Calix, he said,

“Don’t worry. Brother… I will do my best to serve you!!”

“Y-Yeah, let’s work hard together.”

Calix was taken aback by Bara’s reaction.

What is this? This guy?

Was it really such a touching thing to simply say let’s help each other and live?

The festival in the Lion territory continued amidst their differing thoughts.

That day, the people of the Lion territory gained their freedom, and Bara gained his future goal.

And Calix thought he had gained a good neighbor, but,

In reality, he had acquired the power of the Lion Family, which was evaluated as having the strongest charge in the South.

At that moment, in the capital of the Novarens Empire, Novaresia.

The battle report from the southern region arrived at the most splendid office in the Prince’s Palace, where the prince resided.

Seeing it, Prince Kailos and Duran were having a conversation.

Upon hearing that Calix had succeeded in punishing Hadem by the prince’s command, Duran said,

“With this, the southern region has come under the prince’s control.”

With the prince’s command, Hadem was ousted, and the lord of the Lion territory became Bara, the son of the prince faction, succeeding Hadem.

While it was regrettable to lose Hadem, Duran thought that the center of gravity in the southern region had suddenly shifted to the prince.

At that moment, the prince spoke with a troubled expression.

“Do you really think so, Duran?”

“Did I think wrong, Your Highness?”

The prince did not look pleased.

Sensing his lord’s unease, Duran reduced his words.

“The lord of the Crones wanted my command to oust Hadem. It’s a commendable thought; if Hadem had acted as he did, he could have demanded a war trial in the imperial court, but he sought my permission.”

Hadem could have sued for all the crimes he had committed, including the incident of impersonating a thief, and started a war without the prince having anything to say.

Not doing that and instead making Hadem the villain until the very end, creating a justification that he had no choice but to oust him, was truly a political skill worthy of admiration from the prince.

“As a price for this, the lord of the Crones could have demanded many things from me. Whether it was compensation for the damages incurred by Hadem or a higher position, he could have asked for something, yet he asked for nothing.”

The problem was what came next.

With this incident, the lord of the Crones could have demanded something from the prince.

He could have requested the territorial expansion permits that Hadem possessed or asked for a reduction in the salt tax to adjust the taxes.

But he asked for nothing from the prince.

“Duran, among my supporters, is there anyone who has not made any demands of me until now?”

“…No, Your Highness.”

“Right, conversely, does Lily ask me for anything?”

“Surely not…”

“Right, that’s it.”

Those who do not demand anything from the prince fall into two categories.

Either they want something too great or, conversely, they are enemies and therefore want nothing.

“Then, does that mean the lord of the Crones is our enemy?”

“He possesses a sense of justice that even Azel acknowledges, so he cannot be my enemy. But he is not yet a complete ally…”

Moreover, with this incident, the Lion Family had also benefited from the Crones Family, so the influence of the Crones could not be ignored.

The three largest territories in the South had concentrated under one family.

In other words, if they gained the Crones, they could be said to have seized control of the southern region, but conversely, losing them could result in a painful loss.

“Duran, make sure to investigate Calix Crone well, especially to find out what he desires.”

“Yes! Your Highness.”

The prince thought he had been complacent.

No matter how much information came to the palace after all situations had ended, he could have acted more swiftly regarding the existence of Calix Crone.

The only reason he hadn’t was that he had let his guard down.

The only fortunate thing was that he was not completely his enemy.

For the sake of the battles to come, the prince wanted to make Calix Crone an ally.

A word from the author (Author’s Note)

I’m quite tired due to the weather.

Please take care of yourselves and always be happy!

Thank you for reading today!!!