Chapter 196 - Volume 2

Chapter 141 – Warm words of Hope (3)
The other male lover lowered his voice and added:
He might be a viscount, but surely their family’s influence has limited reach over the south. I had sent men out to investigate his family name and he comes from Baltha, the furthest northern region in the kingdom.


Are you stupid?
Graudin said. Even though he was in a rage his mind was unaffected by it.
Who do you think we can send after him? That skeleton said that bastard is at least a Gold-ranked swordsman, and the red-haired woman by her side most likely has the same strength as well. Do you think my troubles are still not enough?


I apologize, my lord. I had failed to consider his strength.


Then perhaps we can close the city gates and force them to stay here while we send word to the assassins in the capital?
His other lover said.
Graudin took in a deep breath before he kicked him:
Halfwit! Should I send you out to close the gates? Perhaps he would cut you down as well!

The latter screamed in pain and shook his head.

Perhaps we can try to get the Skeleton Lord and his undead army to attack him? Are they not our allies?
The other lover who was still standing said.

They won’t act on this matter. Aouine and Madara had just signed a treaty, and they won’t risk a war with any noble families at this point of time. Even though I don’t know what their undead commander is doing here, I don’t think they will leave the city easily.
Graudin said.
There were other words that did not leave his lips. His family and Madara were both using each other. This alliance in the dark would never see action in the open. Randner was allowing Madara to attack the other southern regions in order to bolster their own forces.
This was the secret between them.
He did not tell his kept lovers about this. He looked at them and shook his head, touching the injury on his cheeks and said bitterly:
But I’m not going to let this matter slide. I will absolutely get my revenge on that bastard. My father might not be willing to go to war with another family, but I’m going to see if he’s capable of protecting his companions—

His smile was a twisted curl of his lips:
Get me a pen and some paper, I’m writing a letter to the count.


Understood, my lord.

Both of his lovers bowed and prepared to leave, but at that moment the door opened and a dark figure entered the room like a snake.

My lord, the matter you assigned to Kerri is finished. I have just received their message—

Graudin took a moment to understand the figure’s words because of his anger, but he quickly nodded and said through clenched teeth:
Good, then bring that thing and my letter over to my father. I don’t think he will refuse this small request of mine.

When he saw that the figure was still there he spoke again:
What else do you have to report?


My lord, the situation within the city looks unstable, I’m afraid those mercenaries will……
He said in a low voice.

Ignore them. Even though the Madara undead monsters won’t help me with the viscount they won’t let these rebels get to me. I know this point better than you do.
Graudin waved his hand:
Take a rest. If the mercenaries are still rowdy I’ll teach them a lesson again—

The figure nodded and left the room quietly.
= Brendel’s POV =
Amandina wanted the rest of the day to pass by quietly, but it seemed like the world was not going to let her wish come true. The situation kept spiraling out of control and beyond her calculations.
Firbugh was no longer safe to stay when they fought with the city’s lord. Even though Brendel was not afraid of Graudin he still had to consider the possibility of Madara backstabbing him. They had most likely realized he was the one who had led the refugees out. He was probably on Incirsta’s kill list.
Kabias might hold back for now because of his status as a viscount, but that identity was ultimately fake and would not last forever.
Leaving Trentheim as soon as possible was the best decision. However, just three hours after they left the city, they met with a group of cavalry directly under Graudin—
Kerri was surprised at the group of people in front of him. His face was angular, had a pointed chin, with prominent cheekbones. His cunning eyes were spaced apart and set under a faint pair of slightly raised brows, looking almost like a hyena. He looked at the women within the group with lustful eyes.
[Marsha above, these woman are beautiful! Even the lord’s women are not as good-looking as them.]
The man who was widely known as the Jackal, rubbed his eyes and pinched himself in order to test whether he was dreaming. The women he saw in the territory were mostly weathered and thin, or were whores who lurked nearby the inns. This was the first time he saw so many women with such beauty and elegance.
[If I can send them all to my lord, wait, maybe keep one secretly for myself—]
He licked his lips and checked out the group of mercenaries who were following a young man. This was not the first time he attempted something like this, and he had previously sent the sister of the group’s leader to Graudin.
[Even though these ten-odd mercenaries look like they are Iron-ranked fighters, they should be doable with my riders. The fools who resisted me the last time had even more……]
The hundred-odd men behind him perked up their heads when he lifted his morning star.
[It looks like that young man has pretty good clothes on him, probably a small-ranking noble. These nobles who travel to Trentheim are really fools. Do you really think that a ‘noble’ title is going to help when you come to the desolate borders of Aouine?]

Boys, let’s go greet our prey.
He said and rode out.
The men behind him snickered with leering faces and followed him. Before long, they reached Brendel and the Jackal yelled at him.

Who are you lot?
His voice was as grating as the bellows used in a forge:
Do you not know whose territory you are in? If you dare to carry your weapons so openly, are you—

He wanted to say ‘bandits’, but the word suddenly stuck in his throat. The young man in front of him was looking at him strangely as though he was looking at an idiot.

All of you came over from the Green village?
Brendel asked, acting like he had not heard the Jackal’s question.
Kerri recovered from his daze and immediately roared with anger.

You bastard, who the fuck do you think you are talking to? Do you even know who we are? Lord Graudin’s personal city guards. I suspect you are bandits outside Firbugh, and I order you to lay down your weapons and come with us! If I give my order to my men to attack, there won’t be any mercy!


So?
Brendel said.

How dare you speak back……
The Jackal did not hear the suppressed killing intent that was leaking out from Brendel’s lips. Perhaps he did not expect the group of Iron-ranked mercenaries would resist him, and there was also the fact behind him were blood-thirsty mercenaries who were paid handsomely for their skill.
I’m giving you a final chance. If you offer me your women right now, I might be kind enough to just let the rest of you go.

His men laughed when they heard their commander’s words.
Amandina did not feel the slightest bit of anger. It was the complete opposite. She had seen enough of the nobles’ private troops acting to what the man in front of her did, but she still sighed as she looked at Brendel.
That youth was about to unleash the anger he suppressed in the baron’s manor. His right hand was released from his sword’s hilt, clenched and unclenched once before it hung loosely beside him. He tilted his head and said one word at a time:
You asked me who I am, right?

The Jackal paused and wondered if the man in front of him was crazy, but he subconsciously gripped his morning star tighter as he felt something was amissed.

I wonder if you have heard of this story before.
The youth said.

Story?


The story of an idiot and an unhappy person.

Everyone looked at him with furrowed brows. Brendel was looking so serious they thought that there was something to his words, but they realized he was mocking the man in front of him after a moment.

In the story that unhappy person takes off the idiot’s head.
Brendel said. His hand suddenly reached for his sword and a flash of light suddenly appeared and disappeared.
Like so.


You fucking—
The Jackal wanted to order his men to attack but he suddenly froze.
He had a shocked expression on his face before his head slid off his body and fell down from the horse.