LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 77
Chapter 77: The Nest of Intrigue (1)
“Despite the failure, I don’t think we came away empty-handed. At least we’ve gauged Martin Adalbert’s true strength.”
Theodore Altaria nodded in agreement. “That’s exactly it. Even though Heinz Schwarzenbeck couldn’t fully display his power due to his age, the fact remains that Martin Adalbert defeated an 8th Circle powerhouse. Considering his talent, we must assume he will reach the 8th Circle himself soon.”
Theodore shook his head with a wry smile.
“I’ve never felt inferior in terms of talent before, but this time, it’s hard not to feel some level of inadequacy.”
At just 27 years old, Theodore had already reached the 6th Circle.
This alone was enough for people to hail him as a genius.
Indeed, he had always taken great pride in his exceptional talent.
However, even someone as self-assured as him had to acknowledge that Martin’s talents were on a whole different level.
“What’s more alarming is the sharpness of his mind.”
“That’s right. His ability to devise and execute a plan is nothing short of extraordinary. I don’t think my dear sister will ever be able to pull the wool over his eyes.”
“Yes. Given that they’ve shared control of Akela City, it’s safe to say they’ve formed a solid alliance.”
“How much synergy do you think their alliance will produce, Marquis?”
“Considering the Adalbert family’s military and financial power, they’re now on par with our side. Plus, with their control over the dungeon entrances, they might even surpass us in the future.”
“Without the Ferdinand family on my eldest brother’s side, Martin might well be his equal.”
“Regrettably, Your Highness, that’s correct.”
Theodore’s eyes grew cold as he asked, “Now that we’ve assessed the situation, what’s our plan? We can’t just sit back and let this happen.”
Nicholas von Royce nodded firmly.
“We will utterly destroy Martin Adalbert.”
“Are you planning to declare a territorial war?”
“If necessary, yes.”
“Wouldn’t that be difficult now that we’ve lost Akela City? Unless you plan to lead the forces yourself, which isn’t feasible at the moment.”
If Martin and his sister had indeed formed an alliance, there was no way Irina von Meinert, a 9th Circle powerhouse, would remain passive if Nicholas clashed directly with Martin. Not to mention the First Prince, who might exploit the opportunity to intervene, striking at both sides.
There was a real risk of suffering losses on multiple fronts.
“And it’s not just that. Martin’s tour of the North was a success, and he’s solidified his dominance over the region. In essence, we might be facing the entire North in battle. Is that really the right choice?”
“As Your Highness pointed out, an all-out war wouldn’t be wise. That’s why I’ve prepared a card that will bring him down.”
“Stronger than Jerome Metzelder or Heinz Schwarzenbeck?”
“Far stronger, and the forces under this person’s command are incomparable. What’s more, they’re hiding within his ranks.”
“Oh? An enemy within, then?”
“Indeed. They’ll be handling the supplies, and they’ve promised to recruit more supporters. Losing Akela City won’t disrupt our plans.”
“That’s reassuring to hear.”
Theodore smiled with satisfaction.
The strategy was simple: strike from the outside with elite forces while an internal traitor destabilized things from within.
It was a tactic that had worked time and again throughout history.
“I’d love to meet Martin before the marquis declares war. I’m curious to see how he’ll react once he realizes he’s up against the Royce family.”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Nicholas replied, his expression emotionless, though his aura radiated deadly resolve.
Theodore’s smile grew more predatory at the sight.
* * *
Near the Imperial capital, Raize, stood Fort Varehein.
Since breaching this fortress would lead directly to the capital, the discipline here was always strict.
However, today the soldiers wore grim expressions as they looked down below.
While the fortress’s knights wore navy blue uniforms, the knights below were dressed in white.
“…That’s the White Dragon Knights.”
“So, it’s true that they rival the Imperial Guard.”
There were a total of 112 White Dragon Knights gathered in front of the fortress.
Aside from those who were away on other missions, every member of the order had assembled.
At the head of the group stood Lucas Hoffman, the commander, and Fritz Khan, the vice-commander. The rest of the knights were split into two rows, flanking their leaders.
Even as they stood still, an intimidating aura radiated from them.
The soldiers of Fort Varehein prided themselves on being elite, but even they felt suffocated by the presence of the White Dragon Knights.
Thud, thud.
Suddenly, a powerful pressure fell upon them, making their bodies feel heavy.
They quickly looked up and saw a man and a woman slowly descending from the sky.
“Lord Martin approaches!”
“Lord Martin approaches!”
At Lucas Hoffman’s command, all the knights knelt in unison.
The soldiers of Fort Varehein were completely overwhelmed by the display.
“I heard he’s only 18… He still looks like a boy.”
“And yet, he’s already reached the 7th Circle and defeated an 8th Circle mage. He secured control of the North in a single tour.”
“There’s no more talk about the Adalbert family’s decline. In fact, they might rise even higher…”
The soldiers whispered among themselves, unable to take their eyes off Martin.
Meanwhile, a few others exchanged comments while watching the scene unfold.
“Isn’t this a bit over-the-top? We came here together, but now he’s putting on this grand display.”
“What can you do? He’s the heir of the Adalbert family, practically the acting head, and he’s on his way to the capital. He has to make an impression.”
“True enough. By the way, where’s the commander? You’d think he’d come out to greet the heir of the Adalbert family.”
“Guess he doesn’t want to bow his head to a Northerner. Westerners have always looked down on those from other regions, thinking of themselves as the center of the Empire.”
“They’re insufferable. They couldn’t even handle the monster wave, and yet their pride is through the roof.”
Both Martin and Sien stifled their laughter.
They had created this dramatic entrance on purpose, knowing the situation called for a display of power and dignity. Still, Martin nearly laughed at Sien’s casual remark.
After all, the Western territories had indeed suffered significant damage during the recent monster wave.
In fact, Fort Varehein itself had partially collapsed and was currently under repair, and uncollected monster corpses littered the roads.
“Remember, no jokes like that in the capital, Sien.”
“I’m not a child. I won’t make that mistake.”
“You’re right.”
Thud.
Martin and Sien finally touched down, their feet landing on the ground.
With an authoritative gaze, Martin looked over the White Dragon Knights.
“Rise.”
Shwoop!
At his command, the knights stood up in perfect unison.
“We’re not far from the capital now. Remember that you’re representing the Adalbert family, so act accordingly.”
“We will follow your command, Lord Martin!”
Their voices echoed powerfully, shaking the surroundings.
Satisfied, Martin nodded and walked among the knights.
Sien followed two steps behind.
Together, they reached the fortress gate.
“I am Martin Adalbert. You’ve been informed of our arrival, I assume?”
Though his voice was soft, it carried clearly to the ears of every soldier present.
“Yes! We’ve been informed!”
“Open the gates at once!”
At the knight’s hurried command, a soldier gestured toward the others, and they quickly began pushing the levers to open the gate.
Clang!
As the gates swung open, Martin entered the fortress.
‘Ah.’
He immediately understood why the fortress commander hadn’t shown up earlier.
He was currently walking toward them, accompanied by another person.
Moments later, two figures came into view: an elderly knight with white hair and a striking young man with green hair.
“Is that…?”
Sien’s eyes widened in surprise.
Lucas Hoffman and the other White Dragon Knights were similarly shocked.
Only Martin seemed amused as he focused on the green-haired youth.
Though his power didn’t quite match the old knight beside him, his presence was far stronger.
It was no surprise, given his background.
“I’ve seen many knights in my time, but it’s my first time seeing your face in person. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Martin.”
“The pleasure is mine, Your Highness.”
Muller Altaria.
The Third Prince of the Altaria Empire.
However, since his mother was a commoner, he had been excluded from the line of succession since birth.
Some called him the “Prince of Misfortune” because of this.
‘But in reality, he’s a terrifying man.’
In about three years, he would earn a new title.
The most notorious criminal in the history of the Altaria Empire.
Martin had only heard about him in stories and had never met him directly.
“Your Highness, shouldn’t you be in the capital? What brings you here?”
“I was curious to meet the ‘Holy One of the North,’ the heir of the Adalbert family. I wanted to see what kind of person could shake the capital before even reaching the age of twenty.”
“I see. So, what’s your impression?”
“I never thought I’d meet someone else like my eldest brother.”
“To be compared to the First Prince… You flatter me, Your Highness
.”
“That wasn’t a compliment. I’m just stating the truth. It was worth coming out to meet you.”
Muller smiled as he spoke.
Martin also smiled slightly.
Among the people of his generation, the one with the highest reputation was the First Prince.
He was said to excel in every area—military power, politics, administration—and was often described as flawless.
“I’m glad I didn’t disappoint. May I take my leave now?”
“Ah, just a moment. I have a small request for you. Since we’re both heading to the capital, would you mind traveling together with me?”
Sien and the White Dragon Knights frowned at Muller’s suggestion.
While Martin’s title was only that of heir, he was effectively the head of the Adalbert family. This would be his first appearance in the capital, a momentous occasion.
If Muller accompanied him, the attention would be divided.
Naturally, no one wanted that. Martin should be the sole focus of the capital’s attention.
“I don’t mind. The news of the Adalbert family heir and the Third Prince traveling together will certainly create a buzz. But are you okay with that, Your Highness? You might end up playing second fiddle.”
“I’m used to playing that role, so don’t worry about it. I appreciate your willingness, Lord Martin.”
“Not at all. I’ll be relying on you until we reach the capital, Your Highness.”
Martin’s smile deepened.
‘I’m truly curious.’
What kind of person would eventually be known as the Empire’s most infamous criminal?
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