Chapter 109: The Fall of the Shartega Family (1)
Inside the study of Marquis Shartega.
Count Sharn, standing stiffly there, gulped down his dry saliva.
Although he was an old retainer nearing seventy, Marquis Shartega had once been called the strongest knight of the previous generation.
Together with Rai Ragnar, the previous Head of the Ragnar Family, he had been a figure symbolizing the military might of the Kingdom of Daon.
If Marquis Shan was responsible for the kingdom’s food supply, the Shartega Family was responsible for the kingdom’s military power.
Because of that, Count Sharn found it difficult to open his mouth.
“Speak.”
“Th-the Emperor of the Tylers Empire personally ca to congratulate the Coronation Ceremony.”
“……The Emperor is infamous for his eccentric behavior, so ignore that.”
“While there, Emperor Adrian referred to Kyle Ragnar as his close friend. And Marquis Sakarin returned to Kyle Ragnar covered in blood.”
“Was there anyone who didn’t know that bastard was strong?! Don’t state the obvious—tell
the information you consider important!”
As Marquis Shartega burst out in anger, Count Sharn flinched and hurriedly spoke.
“Th-the identity of another Master from the Ragnar Family has been revealed.”
“Where did that one co from?”
“The Envoy of Tylers…… It is said that was the other identity of the Ragnar Family’s Master.”
The eyes of Marquis Shartega, who rarely reacted to anything, widened beyond what could be tolerated.
The Envoy of Tylers.
He was known as the one who had crushed all the talented Masters of the Empire and was considered second only to Ian Kylers.
“That’s impossible. The Empire officially announced that the entire Special Operations Unit had died!”
“Emperor Adrian personally revealed it. And the powerful individuals beside Kyle Ragnar were said to have served as the Empire’s Special Operations Unit.”
“…….”
“Furthermore, it was revealed that Kyle Ragnar personally taught swordsmanship to Ian Kylers as his master.”
Marquis Shartega let out a hollow laugh as if the situation was absurd.
Why would such a remarkable man return to such an insignificant family?
His mind soon filled with questions.
If he was the Emperor’s close friend and the teacher of Ian Kylers—who was known as the strongest on the continent—then he could have settled in the Tylers Empire and lived in great luxury.
No matter how he thought about it, he could not understand.
Receiving a noble title in the Tylers Empire would have been far more advantageous than becoming king of the Ragnar Kingdom.
“……This isn’t a lie, is it?”
“The Emperor of the Tylers Empire proposed an alliance to King Pramo first, so it does not seem to be false.”
“Ha…… Hahaha. What an amusing situation.”
“Ah, and it was also revealed that a man called Aron, known as the military strategist of the Ragnar Family, is actually Count Jamie, who was once called the genius of the Tylers Empire.”
Marquis Shartega placed a hand over his forehead.
He had intended to gather the western lords and overturn the Ragnar Kingdom.
As the father-in-law of King Clover, he had sufficient justification.
But he had not expected to hear news that would make him lose the will to fight before even beginning.
“……The Capital City must have been sealed, right?”
“Yes, it has.”
“Then the only ones who know this information are you and the nobles who ca from the Capital City.”
“That is correct. The news has not yet spread inside the Ragnar Kingdom.”
The mont Count Sharn finished speaking, Marquis Shartega infused Aura into his hand.
Before anyone realized it, his hand had already pierced Count Sharn’s chest.
“Keugh!”
“I’m sorry. I know you worked hard to bring
this news, but there is no need to create confusion within the family. You may resent
if you wish.”
“Marquis…….”
“Your sacrifice will be rembered by . I will also take good care of your family. So leave without regrets.”
Paaat―!
After forcefully pulling his hand out of the heart he had pierced, Marquis Shartega called the knight waiting outside.
“Enter!”
“You called for ?”
“Deal with the nobles who ca from the Capital City imdiately. Send them off without pain.”
“Understood.”
Even after seeing Count Sharn dead on the floor in a pool of blood, the knight’s expression did not change as he left to carry out the order.
Marquis Shartega frowned before opening the door and stepping outside.
He intended to stay outside while organizing his thoughts until the body was cleaned up.
“Where did such a monster appear from…….”
Although he had never seen Kyle even once, Marquis Shartega knew he was strong.
It was impossible for soone who had reached the rank of Master to be weak.
But he had never imagined there would be such a trendous gap between him and Marquis Sakarin.
“Marquis Sakarin may rank near the bottom among Masters, but he is still a veteran who has been a Master for more than ten years. And yet he returned covered in blood…….”
This war would certainly not be easy.
Because Kyle Ragnar himself would take the field.
A powerful figure who could symbolize the Ragnar Kingdom itself.
That was how dangerous Kyle Ragnar was.
Even if he raised his army under the banner of avenging King Clover, the chances of overturning the Ragnar Kingdom were low.
“But even so, this cannot simply be overlooked. I must avenge my daughter.”
His daughter who had been the queen of the Kingdom of Daon.
After the Capital City was seized and King Clover died at the hands of Kyle, she returned to the family.
But not long after, she attempted to take her own life.
Even now she lay unconscious within the family estate.
He could not waver if he wanted to avenge his daughter.
Even if there was no hope, he felt he would regret it if he did not at least try.
“Even if it ans the end of the Shartega Family, we will go to the very end.”
It was a vow to himself.
He must never waver.
There must be no compromise made for the sake of preserving the family’s safety.
“Inform the lords of the western lands. Tell them Kyle Ragnar has begun moving, and that they must fight to the end prepared to die.”
At Marquis Shartega’s muttering, a masked man appeared from the darkness and bowed his head.
“Prepare the Secret Knight Order. We will assassinate Kyle Ragnar.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“It will likely beco an impossible mission. The entire Secret Knight Order may be annihilated.”
“I am one who has lived as an assassin until now. I have already abandoned my fear of death.”
Marquis Shartega slightly nodded at the masked man’s words.
Even if the Shartega Family collapsed, if Kyle Ragnar could be eliminated, the Ragnar Kingdom would certainly be shaken.
Frowning, Marquis Shartega turned his head and looked out the window.
“……That Wolf of Ragnar raised his children well. The eldest son returned as a Master, and the second son is clever.”
“Would it not be better to assassinate the King of the Ragnar Kingdom instead?”
“It would be aningless. The Ragnar Knight Order is likely stationed beside that young king at all tis. More importantly, even if the king disappears, the Ragnar Kingdom will not shake.”
Even if Pramo were assassinated, the Ragnar Kingdom would not fall.
Kyle Ragnar would simply ascend the throne after him.
“So even if the king is assassinated, as long as Kyle Ragnar lives, the center will not disappear?”
“That’s right. The purpose of the Shartega Family is the destruction of the Ragnar Kingdom. Do not forget that we are not trying to install a new king.”
By the ti the news reached the Shartega Family, Kyle had already reached the entrance of the western region while leading the Northern Army.
The Northern Army, advancing at trendous speed, had sharp eyes.
“We will soon arrive at Sharn Territory.”
“Did you say Count Sharn escaped from the Capital City?”
“That is correct. By now the news that you have set out will have reached Marquis Shartega.”
Kyle let out a faint laugh at Aron’s prediction.
The events that happened during the Coronation Ceremony must have been delivered to Marquis Shartega exactly as they occurred.
It was unlikely that he had spared Count Sharn, who brought information that would cause confusion within the family.
“Count Sharn is most likely dead.”
“That is likely.”
“The fate of the nobles who fled to the Capital City will not be much different. Those who hold positions of authority are always cold.”
Marquis Shartega had a decisive personality.
He was a man who had been active in the sa generation as Kyle’s father, Rai Ragnar.
Even if he had never stood out due to living in his father’s shadow, his abilities should not be underestimated.
“He will fight prepared to die while buying ti. Shartega Territory lies at the far end of the west, so we must break through more than ten territorial gates.”
“It doesn’t matter. I called for reinforcents.”
“Reinforcents……?”
Even Aron, who handled all the planning, tilted his head at the news he had not heard.
But soon his pupils widened.
“Surely…… My lord, it is not yet the ti for them to appear.”
“They will not reveal themselves openly. The Dark Elves specialize in moving secretly.”
Kyle sat on top of Seori and folded his arms.
Whether the Monarchs would stand at the front after the Ragnar Kingdom stabilized or move quietly had not yet been decided.
But it would be foolish to leave usable forces idle.
“My lord, even so, should we not decide how to utilize the Monarchs after discussing it with His Majesty the King?”
“Matters concerning the Ragnar Family will be decided and judged by . The king must focus on the Ragnar Kingdom.”
It was a form of consideration.
The forr Kingdom of Daon had left the nation in chaos, and he did not want Pramo to worry about Ragnar Territory as well.
“……Even so, this is an important matter.”
“Aron.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Are you soone who follows , or soone who serves the Ragnar Kingdom?”
If it had been the usual Kyle, he would never have asked Aron such a question.
Since the days in the Tylers Empire, Aron had followed Kyle’s opinions on most matters except the most critical ones.
Aron, who had built plans according to those opinions, answered without hesitation.
“I am soone who follows my lord.”
“Then trust
and carry it out. You may call it tyranny if you wish. But rember this as well—no one cares for the king more than I do.”
“I apologize. I expressed excessive concern.”
“I understand your loyalty to the king, but do not forget that I stand behind him.”
Kyle would never do anything that might harm Pramo without careful thought.
Even mobilizing the Dark Elves was sothing he had decided only after much consideration.
“The Dark Elves will not join the Northern Army. They will eliminate the lords of the western region. I told them to move freely, so Gina will handle it herself.”
The Monarchs were not only powerful in strength.
Their minds were exceptional as well, so Kyle did not create a detailed plan for them.
He rely gave orders.
At Kyle’s words, Aron nodded in agreent.
“Then we will focus only on breaking through the castles.”
“The Northern Army has always fought defensive sieges. They likely do not know well how to attack and break through castles.”
“I have prepared tactics suited for the Northern Army.”
“Do as you see fit. We must subdue the Shartega Family with minimal casualties.”
“I will rember that, my lord.”
A group of Dark Elves secretly moving westward from the mountain range after receiving Kyle’s summons.
There were about fifty of them, all wearing hoods that concealed their faces.
At that mont, one of the Dark Elves running through the night wind spoke to Gina.
“This is wonderful. I never dread we would get a chance to leave the mountain range and roam freely like this.”
“Don’t get too excited. Lord Kyle gave us strict instructions.”
“Of course. Even the children know we cannot yet mix with humans.”
“We must never cause trouble for Lord Kyle. We will simply move at night according to his orders and cut down the humans who will beco enemies of the Ragnar Kingdom.”
“Yes, Queen.”
Seeing the excited movents of her subordinates, concern appeared in Gina’s eyes.
If it were discovered that Dark Elves stood behind Kyle, not only their clan but also the Monarchs living in the territory could be placed in danger.
They needed to move as quietly and secretly as possible.
‘This won’t do. I should warn them again before we move.’
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