Chapter 90: Returning to Ragnar (1)
Kyle’s gaze as he looked at the northern lords was far from friendly.
The ones who had suffered were himself and the forces belonging to the North.
A proper occasion for the distribution of rits and rewards would be arranged later.
The very act of trying to check the Ragnar Family already, at a gathering ant to devise plans to stabilize the nation, was nothing but foolishness.
Before long, once the one who had raised doubts about Aron’s abilities was driven out, one of the northern lords stepped forward.
“May the Ragnar Family’s martial fortune continue to flourish. I have lived my entire life in the North, and I have no intention whatsoever of leaving my holand. I ca here simply to convey my congratulations. It seems so lords, aiming for advancent into the central political sphere, are engaging in pointless behavior—have so sha.”
While so saw leaving the barren land as an opportunity, there were inevitably others who did not wish to leave the place where they had lived since childhood.
Moreover, the North was an important defensive frontline of the Kingdom of Daon.
If all the northern lords were to advance into the central political sphere, gaps in the defenses would be inevitable.
At the sharp remark of one lord, the expressions of the others twisted.
“Grand General, I will take my leave and return to the North.”
“There is no need to worry about the defense of the North. Once this eting ends, I will return to the North imdiately.”
“If you remain, Grand General, those living in the North will be able to continue their lives without worry. Thank you for making such an important decision.”
The lord with no intention of entering the center left the grand hall.
At that, most of the northern lords began whispering with widened eyes.
That was only natural, as they had thought Kyle would remain in the capital city to seek national stability.
‘If Kyle Ragnar returns to the North, even if we advance into the central political sphere, we could lose our foundation.’
With Pramo holding firm in the center and Kyle holding firm on the North—the most critical defensive line—the lords could not act recklessly.
After all, all of their foundations existed in the North.
The mont they tried to check Ragnar, Kyle could erase the lords’ foundations.
No, he was certain that he would.
Up until now, whenever Kyle judged soone to be an enemy, he made the decision to eliminate them without hesitation.
“And watch carefully what happens to the lord who questioned Aron’s abilities. Commander Akun!”
At Kyle’s call, Akun, who had been waiting at the entrance of the grand hall, rushed over.
“You called for ?”
“Issue the order to close the territory of the lord who just left.”
At Kyle’s command, Akun bowed his head and exited the grand hall once more.
Hearing those words, one northern lord bit his lip.
“Do you not realize that what Ragnar is doing now is the sa as what the Daon royal family did? Pressuring the powerless just to apply pressure is no different from King Clover!”
“I know.”
“Grand General!”
“Was it not you who made
into soone who acts like King Clover? There must be an example set, so that you do not act recklessly.”
“…….”
“Listen carefully. For the new royal family to stand tall, I am prepared to do anything. Even if I end up acting like King Clover, as long as the outco is different, that will suffice.”
Of course, it was true that he intended to give the northern lords an opportunity to fill the vacant seats left by the empty ministers.
However, he could not stand by and watch them check Ragnar while advancing into the central political sphere.
It was a necessary choice for Pramo’s smooth control of the royal palace as well.
At Kyle’s words, the lords shut their mouths tightly.
“Aron, begin the eting.”
“The throne of the Kingdom of Daon is currently vacant. And with the defeated army’s Clover massacring the ministers, all the important positions have beco empty.”
One fortunate point was that Marquis Shan, the core of the centrist faction, had survived.
Marquis Shan had left his seat to et Pramo, and because of that, it worked to their advantage that nobles occupying key positions within the centrist faction had not moved.
“Therefore, we intend to prepare asures to fill those vacancies. The Kingdom of Daon has long had its paths to advancent blocked. Even those with talent could not display their abilities due to differences in status. Thus, I believe we must give proper opportunities to those who never had a chance.”
A nation that gave opportunities to those with ability, excluding personal connections, blood ties, and regional ties.
This was also the reason the Tylers Empire possessed so many talented individuals—because such a system was well established.
The talent cultivation plan led by Kyle and Emperor Adrian had been maintained successfully.
Now it was ti to supplent that system’s shortcomings and apply it to the Kingdom of Daon.
“We will change the selection of knights to be conducted under state leadership, and personnel for administration, field operations, and other areas must also be selected through examinations.”
Duke Zaira let out a low groan as he listened to Aron’s assertion.
If that happened, those entrenched in vested interests could be pushed aside.
He could not understand why they would not grant privileges to those who had inherited nobility through the efforts of their ancestors, but instead force them into competition.
However, Duke Zaira was no longer in a position to voice any opinion freely.
“Duke Zaira, do you have sothing to say?”
“……Am I allowed to state my opinion?”
Kyle stared straight at Duke Zaira.
He could roughly predict what he wanted to say.
To be honest, when the Tylers Empire had proceeded with its talent cultivation plan as well, it had faced trendous difficulties.
The fierce opposition of vested interests had been a major obstacle.
However, at that ti, the Tylers Empire had been at war and in need of talent, so Emperor Adrian and Kyle stepped forward, persuaded the vested interests, and only then were they able to begin cultivating talent.
“You may speak.”
“Then, does Military Officer Aron an that, for the sake of cultivating talent, the state should lead the effort and grant opportunities even to commoners?”
At Duke Zaira’s question, Aron nodded.
“Correct.”
“If that happens, the nobles currently registered in the Kingdom of Daon will push back.”
“Hmm…… I think differently. Precisely because of now—no, I believe this is sothing that can only be carried out at this point in ti. When a new dynasty cos in, its system must change as well. Knowing the problems in the existing frawork and still choosing to follow it is unnecessary.”
“But…….”
“Do you still cling to power?”
“…….”
“The House of Duke Zaira will never be able to advance into the central political sphere without the lord’s permission. The sa goes for the families that followed Duke Zaira.”
At Aron’s words, Duke Zaira’s eyes flashed.
Whom had he just used that title of lord for?
At Duke Zaira’s gaze, Aron let out a quiet chuckle.
“I do not follow the Ragnar Family.”
“……Then whom do you follow?”
“Kyle Ragnar. I am rely a military officer who follows only him and serves his will.”
Those whom Kyle had brought back upon returning to Ragnar were all known to be geniuses.
In particular, in Seros’s case, no matter which country he settled in, he possessed strength worthy of receiving at least a ducal rank.
And the remaining mbers of the Special Operations Unit were all individuals with outstanding talent as well.
“Do you know why the Tylers Empire still bears the title of the strongest on the continent even after enduring fourteen years of war?”
“That would be thanks to Grand Duke Ian Kailers, wouldn’t it?”
“That too, but more importantly, it is because talent continues to erge, and there exists a system that allows them to freely display their abilities. Because one can beco a noble from a commoner at any ti, and be demoted from a noble to a commoner as well, people live fiercely.”
It had taken a full ten years to establish that system.
The reason they had been able to fill Ian Kailers’s vacancy was thanks to the talent cultivation system and the Masters that Kyle had nurtured.
In the end, for a kingdom to be reborn as a great power, growing pains were inevitable.
“I am in favor of the military officer’s words.”
At that mont, Marquis Shan, who had been observing the situation, strongly nodded in agreent with Aron.
He had lived his entire life with integrity, and for the sake of the nation’s growth, he was soone who had even relinquished his family’s interests.
An increase in talent ant, in turn, that the nation would grow prosperous.
Duke Zaira, who had long remained among the vested interests, did not know this—but he did.
He knew that the citizens were now sinking into despair, unwilling to do anything.
“Marquis Shan…….”
“You would not know. How much King Clover and you ruined this country. Do not try to make excuses. I know that to protect your power, you did not appoint talented individuals and instead thoroughly excluded them.”
At Marquis Shan’s sharp rebuke, Duke Zaira lowered his head.
He knew well that opposing it here would be aningless.
‘What use is clinging to regrets? I already gave up everything in exchange for preserving my life and Deira’s.’
Politically, it was no different from having already received a death sentence.
There was no longer any place for the House of Duke Zaira to stand.
As Duke Zaira sank into despair like that, Marquis Shan knelt toward Pramo, who was standing across from him.
“The Shan Family will take the lead in proclaiming Pramo Ragnar, Head of the Ragnar Family, as sovereign.”
Early dawn.
Kyle stood before the building housing the teleportation gate together with Seros, Acacia, and Aron.
They continued speaking in the order of Aron, Seros, and Acacia.
“It’s a sha.”
“I wanted to see a bit more how the capital city would stabilize and how things would unfold.”
“Indeed. By the way, when is the Ragnar Knight Order returning?”
Kyle, standing at the front, shook his head at the voices coming from behind.
“If you regret it that much, you can stay.”
At Kyle’s calm, emotionless voice, the three of them closed their mouths at once.
It was true that they felt regret, but they could not leave Kyle’s side and remain in the capital city.
Seros clenched his fist with resolute eyes and expression and spoke.
“I will follow you to the ends of hell.”
After that, Aron shook his head with a gentle tone.
“Hehe, I trust the Family Head. Simply staying by my lord’s side is safer.”
“I prefer a leisurely place where I can just put the Ragnar Knight Order to work. Haha.”
When Acacia spoke last, Kyle let out a sigh.
“Go quietly. Otherwise, I’ll forcibly leave all three of you behind in the capital city.”
“……We’ll keep quiet.”
Of course, Kyle felt the sa regret, but for now, it was right to trust Pramo and leave the capital city.
For Pramo’s safety, he had also left the Ragnar Knight Order behind, so there should be no problem.
As Kyle stepped onto the teleportation gate, he ford a faint smile.
“We’re returning to Ragnar.”
Without even saying that he was returning to Pramo, he slipped out of the royal palace at dawn.
If the three, who knew Kyle’s personality well, had not ghostlike prepared in advance and waited, there was a high chance he would have left even these three behind.
‘There is far too much to do.’
Pressuring the uncooperative northern lords was also a task Kyle had to shoulder.
And until the new dynasty stabilized, he had to maintain the defense of the North as solid as an iron wall.
Soon, as the light from the teleportation gate faded, Pramo and Ellis rushed into the building in haste.
Upon hearing the news that Kyle had slipped out of the royal palace at dawn, they had run over imdiately, but missed him by a hair’s breadth.
“Ah…….”
“We were too late.”
“Why did he leave without saying anything…….”
“Brother-in-law must know. That the longer he stays in the capital city, the less advantageous it is for you.”
“……Ellis.”
“It’s also proof that brother-in-law trusts you. If he were uncertain or anxious, he wouldn’t have left like this without a word, would he?”
At Pramo’s eyes that looked sorrowful, Ellis gently stroked his back.
Doing one’s best at one’s own position.
She felt certain that this was what Kyle wanted.
“We just have to do well what we can do.”
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