Bloodhound’s Regression Instinct

Chapter 91

On the day of the Royal Council, guided by the Chief Instructor, Yan and his companions headed to the Grand Hall where the council was convened.

“The atmosphere feels more solemn today, different from yesterday,” Roman remarked, scanning the surroundings.

“Yesterday was for welcoming the nobles visiting the Imperial City, and today is for the significant Royal Council,” Kasa explained, to which Roman silently nodded in agreement.

Lorena and Cruel, who had been at ease during the banquet, seemed tense and swallowed hard, as if this kind of meeting was new to them.

The Chief Instructor and the group arrived at the grand doors leading into the Grand Hall.

Two knights, standing guard, scrutinized the group thoroughly. Unlike the guardians at the banquet hall, these knights donned gleaming golden armor.

One of the knights had a familiar face.

Yan’s eyes sparkled.

‘Kyle?’

Kyle, one of the Royal Knights’ Seventh Order, and the man beside him were also members of the Royal Knights from Yan’s memory.

Stepping forward, Kyle addressed the Chief Instructor.

“We will begin the body search now. Do you have any items that could pose a problem?”

With a shrug of his shoulders, the Chief Instructor responded.

Kyle’s gaze then turned to Yan and his companions.

“We… we have nothing,” they stammered.

“The… Royal Knights.”

“…The Empire’s strongest order.”

The group looked at Kyle and the other knight with dazed eyes.

In the meantime, Kyle swiftly conducted the body search on the Chief Instructor and the group.

Though it seemed casual, the touch of a Royal Knight meant a different story.

Without needing to touch, they could find what they sought, yet they confirmed by touch nonetheless.

After completing the search, Kyle stepped back.

“All clear,” he announced.

“Clear. The Special Mission Unit’s Dragon Cavalry Project Chief Instructor and the six invited trainees may enter.”

Another Royal Knight communicated their details into a device, and the doors opened.

The Chief Instructor walked nonchalantly into the hall, followed by the trainees who, seeing the Grand Hall for the first time, gazed around in wonder with slow steps.

The hall was made entirely of pristine white marble, without a speck of dust or stain, which was quite astonishing.

Inside, the nobles were seated according to rank.

As all eyes suddenly turned to them, the Chief Instructor coughed uncomfortably.

Overwhelmed by the stares, the group froze.

Only Yan walked comfortably through the Grand Hall, quickly surveying the surroundings.

First, he noted the four grand and luxurious thrones, excluding the Emperor’s.

‘The seats of the Four Dukes.’

Three people were seated in their respective places.

First, the Duke of the North, Frost Duke Bacchus Beowulf, sat in his chair, exuding a heavy presence as he watched Yan’s group.

Second was the Duke of the West, the Phantom Duke Vivian Melkir.

With eyes like onyx and long black hair like silk reaching her toes, she was an unpredictable enigma compared to the more reserved Duke Beowulf.

Her forte was self-invented magic and bizarre sorcery.

And third, the Duke of the South, Sun Duke Juda Caballan.

Despite being over fifty, he looked no more than in his thirties, with a doll-like expression that showed no emotion.

He was the current Emperor’s half-brother and a bearer of the Dragon Body.

The most feared figure among the southern pirates and known as the strongest among the Four Dukes.

His specialty was overwhelming swordsmanship, powered by immense mana.

Excluding the Duke of the East, who lived his life in his garden, the other Dukes had gathered.

‘It’s unusual for three of the Four Dukes to attend the Royal Council…’

Yan swallowed hard.

Even under the Emperor’s direct supervision, there had never been such a gathering before.

‘If the Sun Duke always attends and Duke Beowulf came because of Lorena…’

Yan’s gaze shifted towards the Phantom Duke, Vivian.

‘Why did the Western Duke come?’

Her inscrutable nature made it difficult for Yan to predict.

Just then…

A light smile.

Feeling Yan’s gaze, Vivian looked at him and smiled lightly.

Her innocent smile, like that of a country girl, made Yan break out in a cold sweat unwittingly.

‘Hundreds have fallen for that smile.’

It was no coincidence her title included the word ‘Phantom.’

Yan bowed lightly to Vivian in greeting and then surveyed the other nobles.

His gaze stopped somewhere.

Two nobles were staring at him intently.

Count Dwight with an openly hostile look and Count Zion, laughing heartily but with cold eyes.

‘They’re not a concern for now.’

The Dragon Soldier Project would protect them.

But they would have to face the outside world eventually, so he kept them in mind.

At that moment…

“His Imperial Majesty enters!”

A herald’s booming voice filled the Grand Hall.

The nobles, excluding the Four Dukes, rose swiftly to praise the newcomer.

“May the Caballan Empire be forever glorious!”

“Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurray!”

The Emperor of the Caballan Empire.

The most powerful ruler on the continent began to enter the Grand Hall.

Despite the nobles’ praises, the Emperor, showing no emotion, walked slowly but with a heavy step towards his throne.

Yan watched and felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘It’s my first time seeing the Emperor, in both my past and present lives.’

In his past life, he hadn’t stood out in the Dragon Soldier Project, so he never received an invitation from the Emperor.

Later, when he joined the special unit and began to gain status, it was after the current Crown Prince had ascended to the throne.

But…

‘Why does he seem so familiar?’

The Emperor in his past life, the current Leon Caballan, looked clearly different.

Yet the current Emperor’s cynical face, his emotionless eyes, and his cold, empty gaze seemed more similar to the Emperor from his past life than Leon did.

‘What could it be?’

Yan furrowed his brow slightly.

The Crown Prince he had seen since his reincarnation didn’t resemble the Emperor from his past life.

Instead, the current Emperor bore a resemblance to the Emperor from his past life.

‘Is it a coincidence?’

Yan watched the Emperor with a subdued gaze.

Swiftly…

The Emperor took his seat and, with a wave of his hand, his deep and heavy voice echoed through the Grand Hall.

“Let the 312th Royal Council commence.”

And so, the meeting began.

* * *

The Emperor, without much ado, approved and signed off on the agenda items presented.

To aid the starving citizens affected by the famine in the East, the imperial granaries were opened, and for the North, perpetually besieged by blizzards, pyromancers were dispatched.

“There’s no need for concern about the West, Your Majesty.”

“And the South has no urgent matters to present either.”

Vivian smiled broadly, and Juda spoke quietly, to which the Emperor nodded lightly.

A servant standing beside him respectfully offered a document to the Emperor.

Taking it, the Emperor announced its contents.

“Next, we shall commend those who have made significant contributions.”

A knight from the South who played a pivotal role in defeating the pirates.

A renowned scholar who discovered new principles.

An anonymous old woman who cared for countless orphans and served until her death.

Many others were named, and the Emperor bestowed honors upon them.

Yet, none of them were present in the grand hall.

And then.

“Lorena Beowulf, Cruel Dwight, Kasa Ifrain, Charl, and Roman, step forward.”

For the first time, these companions were called upon in the grand hall.

Following the Chief Instructor’s gesture, they swallowed hard and advanced towards the Emperor.

Duke Beowulf smiled contentedly at his daughter’s valor, while Count Dwight looked displeased at his son.

The Emperor spoke.

“Lorena Beowulf, Cruel Dwight, Kasa Ifrain, Charl, and Roman. To these five, I shall award a knighthood and a purse of gold as a token of encouragement.”

As the Emperor declared, servants with bags of gold coins and letters of knighthood approached the group.

The trainees’ faces were unmistakably filled with joy as they received their rewards.

With a wave of his hand, the Emperor brought the trainees back to their senses, and they hurriedly returned to their places.

“Now for the last.”

It was customary to save the most significant contributor for the final commendation.

All eyes turned to Yan.

“Yan.”

Upon hearing his name, Yan straightened his attire and stepped forward.

Approaching the Emperor, a slight smile appeared on the sovereign’s face.

“You’ve performed unbelievably well, not just once but several times.”

“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”

The nobles listened intently to the Emperor’s praise.

For such an impassive Emperor to smile meant the achievements must have been truly monumental.

The Emperor began to recount Yan’s exploits.

He rescued many imperial citizens, including Imperial Advisor Wigor, from a terrorist attack on a train.

He calmly devised a strategy to stop a derailing train.

In the North, he played a crucial role in defeating a vast horde of barbarians and contributed to the defeat of their leader, Vila.

In the East, he not only ensured the survival of his comrades stranded on the Plateau of the Undead but also purified the plateau to prevent further undead from emerging.

Each revelation was met with wide-eyed astonishment.

“Could that young man really have accomplished all that?”

“Is this the rise of a new hero?”

“No wonder the Chief Instructor took him as a disciple.”

The Four Dukes also watched Yan with curious eyes.

“…”

“Wow, I want that kid.”

Vivian licked her lips.

Duke Beowulf, displeased by her demeanor, retorted coldly.

“We’re in the middle of a council session. Mind your words.”

“Oh! Bacchus, is he a suitor for your daughter?”

“Do you wish to die?”

With the commendations complete, it was time for the rewards.

The Emperor stroked his chin.

“I shall bestow upon you the title of Baron and a substantial purse.”

The corners of the Emperor’s mouth lifted slightly.

“Will that suffice?”

A cold gaze bore down on Yan.

Yan felt his heart pounding under that gaze.

For some reason, he couldn’t fathom.

‘Pull yourself together!’

Yan bowed his head slightly and bit his tongue discreetly.

The taste of blood calmed his racing heart.

Raising his head, Yan spoke.

“It seems a bit lacking.”

A murmur arose among the nobility.

“Even with his great deeds, his confidence is excessive.”

“Does he not realize before whom he speaks?”

“Well, that’s why he’s a commoner.”

But Vivian clapped her hands and laughed at Yan’s audacity.

“Ahahaha! He’s amusing. Totally my type!”

As the Emperor raised his hand, Vivian and the other nobles fell silent.

With a look of ennui, the Emperor spoke.

“For his immense contributions, I appoint Yan to the vacant position of ‘Executor.’”

The hall fell silent at the declaration.

Unperturbed by the stillness, the Emperor continued.

“The Crown Prince has recommended a fine individual.”