The sight of the aide pleading desperately looked truly pitiful, but Raul, wearing a blank expression, stared at him and said, "Are you joking? You bring this nonsense and tell those people are the weird ones?"
The trembling aide flinched at Raul's harsh words. The other aides around him were also visibly nervous.
Raul, known as the "Crippled Devil," was infamous for his cruelty. There was hardly anyone who had crossed him and lived to tell the tale.
Yet, summoning his courage from the depths of his being, the aide managed to speak.
He couldn't afford to die unfairly because of the weirdos in Fenris.
"I-it's true! The rumors about them are completely abnormal. I verified it several tis and sent multiple spies to gather these reports."
The aide's earnest tone seed to soften Raul's anger, and instead of sending the man straight to the dungeon, Raul asked, "Are you sure it's not because you failed to collect proper information?"
"No, sir. The people of the territory say the sa things. These individuals are so well-known in the region that there's nothing to hide."
Raul scrutinized the aide for a long mont. The man didn't seem to be lying.
If he was saying they were all abnormal, it ant there were more strange among the others.
Taking a deep breath, Raul turned to the next page.
[Ogre Slayer, Leather King of the North, Mad Dog, Genius of Violence, Arrogant Fool, Rebellious...]
[Knight Kaor]
The nicknas alone were troubling. He didn't seem like soone who deserved knighthood at all.
As Raul read on, the description of his role in the territory only made things worse.
"So... this man is in charge of public order, occasionally leads training sessions, supervises prisoners, oversees construction, and even goes on expeditions to procure leather?" "Yes, sir."
"So, he's basically just a jack-of-all-trades doing whatever cos his way?"
"...It appears so."
Raul pinched the bridge of his nose a few tis before flipping to the next page.
[The Nanny of Sches, Belinda]
Raul didn't even have the energy to read further. It seed pointless to try to understand sothing so incomprehensible.
Instead, he turned to the aide and asked directly, "What's this about?"
"She is the castle's head maid and also served as Count Fenris's tutor when he was a child. However, there's a widespread rumor that she controls the lord from behind the scenes. Especially..."
"Especially?"
"She doesn't tolerate complaints about food."
||||
[The Demon Mathematician, Lowell]
"What's this one about?"
"They say his calculations are incredibly fast, capable of ntal arithtic up to seven digits instantly."
"Impressive. Then I assu he's in charge of the territory's finances?"
"No, sir. He works as an intelligence officer. The head butler, Claude, refuses to relinquish control of the finances to anyone, as he's notoriously obsessed with money."
"...I see."
[The 6th Circle Maid Mage, Vanessa]
"...Maid?"
"Yes, sir... She reportedly started as a maid at the Magic Tower, doing nial chores."
"And she beca a 6th Circle mage from that?"
"Surprisingly, yes. Furthermore..."
"Furthermore?"
"She's said to love explaining things."
"...Explaining what?"
"Anything, sir."
"...I see."
[The Great Blacksmith, Galbarik]
For the first ti, Raul's expression softened slightly. Despite the grand title, this one seed relatively normal.
"They say this dwarf has advanced the technology in the Fenris territory by several levels alongside Count Fenris."
"Good. Look further into this dwarf. If he truly possesses extraordinary skills, we should secure him for ourselves."
"Understood."
"Finally, so proper information. Let's see the next one..."
[Unrestrained Fury, Ascon]
"...What's this about?"
"He's an elf with anger managent issues, sir."
Just when Raul thought they were getting back on track, the absurdities resud.
Sighing, he flipped to the next page.
[The Saintess of Juana, Piote]
"Saintess?"
Raul, intending to skim over the report, froze at the unexpected term.
A saintess was no ordinary occurrence, and the implications of one's existence were
monuntal.
"What's the aning of this? If there's a saintess, rumors should've spread across the kingdom by now. Has there been no report to the royal family?"
A saintess was untouchable. No one could dare lay a hand on such a figure, which is why Raul
reacted so sensitively.
The aide shook his head vigorously.
"No, sir. When we inquired with the Juana Church, they denied any such occurrence. She seems
to be an ordinary priestess who has gained significant favor among the people of the territory.
However..."
"However?"
"Many people claim to have witnessed her receiving divine revelations. We believe further
investigation is needed."
"Do the testimonies of those who witnessed the revelations align?"
"Yes, sir. They are consistent."
"Then she could truly be a saintess, couldn't she? Perhaps the church is hiding her existence
or refusing to acknowledge her due to internal power struggles."
"That may be true... except, according to the church, she's a man."
"A man?"
"Yes, sir. The church insists that she's a man raised among them since childhood, though
appearance resembles that of a woman."
Raul instinctively pressed his palm to his forehead.
Everything about the people of Fenris defied common sense. Understanding them seed like
an impossible task.
Feeling a headache coming on, Raul closed the report. He didn't want to read any further.
Staring coldly at the aide, he said, "I'll consider the limited ti you had. Investigate again
and bring proper information."
"Understood. But, sir... are you sure you don't want to see the rest?"
"There's no point. They're all bound to be strange anyway. I'll review them when you return
with better findings."
"Y-yes, sir..."
Among the remaining nas were oddities such as "The Children's Friend, Lumina," "Claude's Caretaker, Wendy," and "The Muscled Bedwetter, Gordon."
While Raul dismissed most of these individuals as unworthy of his attention, one na
caught his interest.
"You should check out the man nad Alpoi."
"Alpoi?"
"Yes, sir. The rumors surrounding him are particularly alarming..."
Raul irritably reopened the report.
[The Man Who Defeated a Goddess, Alpoi]
"... Is that a nickna a sane person would have? And you're saying this man is left
unchecked?" Defeating a goddess? In this era, such a claim would make soone the enemy of every religious order, branding them as a heretic or dark mage.
If Count Fenris wanted to avoid suspicion, he should've eliminated this man long ago.
Yet, according to the report, Alpoi openly proclaid this title within the territory, an act of
blatant blasphemy.
"This is real?"
"Yes, sir. Many people have witnessed him withstand holy power, which seems to have discouraged Count Fenris from taking action against him."
In truth, Ghislain simply didn't care, but outsiders misunderstood his indifference.
Raul massaged his temples, unsure of what was true or false anymore. There were already widespread rumors of Count Fenris being a lunatic, and Raul had
personally confird that the man had a reckless streak. But to find out his subordinates bore such insane nicknas was beyond comprehension.
"Did you say Alpoi was from the Scarlet Fla Magic Tower?"
"Yes, sir. According to our inquiries, he was considered a prodigy and a successor candidate
within the tower."
"Hmm. That ans he likely has great talent... or extraordinary skills."
"That appears to be the case. Based on our initial conclusions, we believe this man is Fenris's
hidden ace."
"Hidden ace?"
"Yes, sir. His obscurity, despite such a grand nickna, suggests he has displayed so
hidden power. As soone from the tower, it's plausible that they've tried to keep his identity secret."
"And the rumor about gambling?"
"We suspect it was fabricated to hide his true abilities. Such a nickna wouldn't stick over
re chance, especially for a Magic Tower successor. The Scarlet Fla Magic Tower was
once renowned as the greatest in the North."
Raul nodded in agreent.
"Understood. Categorize Alpoi as a special individual for further observation."
Whether the rumors were true or not, there was clearly sothing significant about him.
Thus, Alpoi was marked as a "dangerous individual" and added to the list of special reports and surveillance.
Raul's eyes glead sharply as he gave further orders.
"Reinvestigate the Scarlet Fla Magic Tower and confirm its current activities. The Fenris matter has delayed our progress with them. Also, considering how bizarre all these individuals seem, it's likely so deliberate manipulation to deflect outside attention."
This wasn't the case. Ghislain had been too preoccupied hiding the territory's military strength, technological advancents, and production capabilities to bother concealing people like Claude or Alpoi.
However, the duchy's advisors, unaware of this, tried to rationalize their findings within the bounds of logic, inadvertently overcomplicating matters.
Raul, reliant on the reports provided by his aides, reached similar conclusions. But he wasn't
the type to blindly trust such unsettling findings.
"Use unlimited personnel and funds to uncover more detailed information. If the sa
results co back, we'll reassess then."
"Understood, sir."
Despite the thoroughness of their investigations, the duke faction decided to pour more
resources into gathering intelligence.
Shoving the Fenris report aside, Raul moved on to other matters.
"What about Alia?"
"A handler has been dispatched to monitor her. They'll arrive shortly." "Good. Strategize to keep Fenris in check using Rayfold. Ensure that Fenris's whelp doesn't
stray too far north. Once we've dealt with the royalists, we'll clean up the north."
"Understood. However..."
Raul frowned at the aide's hesitation.
"Speak."
"Alia's demands are becoming increasingly excessive."
"What do you an?"
"She hasn't yet quelled Baron Valois's rebellion, and she claims her finances are in shambles
due to ongoing conflicts with the northern lords."
"Already? How much is she requesting?"
"She's asked for provisions, horses, weapons, timber, iron, rune stones, herbs..."
The list was seemingly endless, with quantities so staggering that even Raul, known for his
stoic deanor, was montarily taken aback.
Managing Count Fenris was headache enough, but Alia was proving to be a different kind
of problem. Other aides chid in indignantly.
"A woman lacking ability shouldn't be in charge of a territory! No wonder her finances are in shambles!"
"We must bring her under control quickly, or her mismanagent will ruin the land."
"Why did Count Desmond ever support such a woman? Even the Fourth heir, Daven, would've been a better choice." While his aides vented their frustrations, Raul rely smiled coldly.
'She's trying to line her own pockets while she still has the chance. Her political instincts are sharp, but
she doesn't realize she's just another pawn to be discarded once the hunt is over.'
Raul didn't know much about Alia, so he judged her based solely on the current situation,
assuming her demands stemd from greed.
"Provide her with half of what she requested. Our handler will oversee her actions. If she
proves too difficult to control, prepare a plan to replace her."
"Understood, sir."
"As for the north, Harold has already failed. Proceed with isolating the region. How are the
royalists faring?"
Raul had previously sent a threatening warning to Marquis Branford, demanding he relinquish his position and transfer the throne.
Naturally, Marquis Branford wouldn't accept such a humiliating proposal. "Marquis Branford is furious and has mobilized the eastern army in preparation for war."
"Marquis Macquarie is rallying the royal forces and has issued a warning that he's ready to act
at any mont."
"Count Ailesbur has also contributed an enormous war fund. It seems they've been preparing extensively."
Raul nodded as he listened to the aides' reports.
"Such greed. They've sat on the throne long enough; it's ti they stepped down."
In truth, Raul knew that if Marquis Branford were to step down, the royal family would
collapse.
The marquis was as bound to his position as he was to his fate. "Hmm, their actions are a little bolder than before. The others don't seem as intimidated
either." Previously, the royalist nobles would cower even at the slightest gesture from the duchy, avoiding conflict at all costs.
This shift in attitude could be attributed to one man.
"It seems they've gained confidence because Count Fenris keeps succeeding."
The northern powerhouses, Count Cabaldi and Count Desmond, had been consecutively
defeated.
And by none other than the notorious "northern troublemaker" who had once been dismissed
by everyone.
No wonder the royalists were emboldened.
Raul sighed bitterly.
"That bastard has really thrown everything into chaos."
"I wondered why Marquis Branford would back such a man, but now it all makes sense.
There's plenty of dissent within the royalist faction, but he's been suppressing it effectively." "Indeed. Marquis Branford was never one to be underestimated."
Raul acknowledged the marquis's prowess. Without him, the kingdom would've fallen apart a
decade ago.
Marquis Branford had led the self-serving royalist nobles in their resistance against the
duchy.
He had even elevated the once-overlooked Ghislain to his current prominence.
With Count Desmond, the strongest in the north, defeated, there was no denying that Marquis
Branford's gamble had paid off.
One of Raul's aides cautiously asked,
"With our failure in the north... There are few nobles left who can be swayed by either persuasion or intimidation. Count Fenris has forced a stalemate. It seems Marquis Branford's strategy will continue to hold for the foreseeable future."
"This ans the only option left is civil war."
"If we initiate a war now... we'll inevitably suffer so losses. And if that happens..."
Before the aide could finish, Raul interjected with a wry smile. "Yes, it'll make pioneering the Forest of Demonic Beasts even more difficult."
Unbeknownst to his aides, Raul was holding back the war for one reason.
To secure sothing in the Forest of Demonic Beasts.
'... All to find 'that'.'
The true reason Raul avoided war and conserved his forces was tied to the forest.
[T/L: Please support and read 385 extra chapters: sko-fi/revengerscans]
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