Chapter 452
Chapter 452: One More Secret Weapon Has Emerged. (2)
Raoul looked utterly flabbergasted at Gathros’s words.
“Decoy? Are you suggesting we commit an assassination?”
“Something along those lines.”
Raoul shook his head at Gathros’s naivety.
“Do you really think that would work? If that were a method that would work, we would have used it long ago. Unless that fool is actually a fool, we can’t lure him away.”
Count Penris is a master. To assassinate someone like him would require several superhumans from the Duke Faction to work together.
Even if an assassination unit succeeded in sneaking in, Ghislaine’s subordinates are no pushovers. There are many knights and soldiers.
What if the superhumans we dispatched were wiped out by them? That would end the war right there.
Gathros shook his head at Raoul’s pessimistic reaction.
“I’m not saying we should kill Count Penris. We could target Marquis Perdium or his brother instead.”
That sounded even more ridiculous. Raoul frowned.
“Killing them wouldn’t change the overall situation. If anything, Count Penris would become even angrier and fight us with everything he has. Unless we completely crush Perdium, trying to assassinate that kind of person is…”
Raoul suddenly realized something and nodded.
“Oh, you’re suggesting we make a diversion.”
“Exactly. Didn’t Count Penris act during the barbarian invasion? There’s no reason he couldn’t use a similar strategy again. In fact, wouldn’t that have been a successful operation if it weren’t for Amelia?”
“Hmm…”
“We don’t even need to redirect the entire Northern Army. If Count Penris merely separates from the Northern Army to save his family, that counts as a success, right?”
It sounded plausible. However, after considering the objective situation and the forces at play, Raoul shook his head again.
“It’s impossible with just ordinary assassins. No, we’re currently in a wartime situation. It’s not easy for assassins to even reach that place.”
Throughout history, what rulers have feared the most is assassination. That’s why noble residences are heavily fortified. Moreover, they reinforce these defenses over generations.
Though the elite don’t acknowledge those who seize power through assassination, the probability of success is generally low.
Raoul would love to assassinate Ghislaine if possible, but if it were that easy, he would have done it long ago.
Raoul pointed that out.
“Perdium has become a lot stronger than before. Even if you send exceptional assassins, they’ll likely be intercepted before entering the territory.”
Thanks to the Mana Circulation Method that Count Penris improved, the number of knights has increased, and so have the soldiers.
It’s only natural that border checkpoints across various regions have been strengthened, and the lords and nobles have thoroughly prepared against assassins.
“Count Penris is known for being reckless, but considering what he’s done so far, he actually has a surprisingly meticulous side. He must have taken measures against assassins targeting his family.”
It was nearly impossible for a handful of assassins to infiltrate and kill a target. Most would likely be caught before even reaching the territory.
Even Raviere, a superhuman, ultimately could not escape pursuers and ended up hiding until he was killed.
Gathros was aware of this to some extent. However, he wasn’t exactly aiming for a successful assassination.
“We need to discard a card of our own. One that can infiltrate and make Count Penris act.”
“What do you mean?”
“Black Moon.”
“…Gathros, that’s…”
“Isn’t there a group that secretly guards the Duke Faction? I’ve heard they are formidable enough to eliminate the shadows that protected Ruthania long ago. They even saved that dying lord, so we might be able to ask for their help.”
Raoul immediately shook his head.
“That’s impossible. They are protectors of the Duke Faction. Count Valzac would never allow it.”
“The Emperor would grant permission. After all, the lord was meant to be used as a disposable piece. We should put it to use now.”
“…”
“To achieve great feats, we must sacrifice them. And spread rumors about the assassination plot. If Count Penris wants to save his family, he will have no choice but to move.”
“…”
“With any luck, Count Penris could take them down with him. They are the kingdom’s best assassination group, after all.”
“Gathros, that’s quite overreaching right now…”
“And then, when he moves, we advance.”
Gathros’s eyes were filled with desire.
He had no interest in the sacrifices of others. His mind was solely occupied with thoughts of quickly conquering the capital and seizing the royal family’s secrets.
Gathros continued with urgency.
“We can only use this card once, but it will be used by a superhuman. No matter how much he’s prepared for assassination, would Count Penris stand idly by upon hearing that a superhuman targets his family?”
“…”
“Count Penris will have no choice but to act to save his family. The Northern Army, without him, will not be able to stop our high-ranking priests and forces from the Duke Faction.”
Raoul fell deep in thought at his convincing words.
The Northern Army would move to a safe place once they dealt with the rift in the East. They couldn’t gather the allied forces at the front line. Therefore, only the Kingdom Army would remain on the southern front.
They could advance eastward to lure part of the Kingdom Army while simultaneously executing an assassination plot openly using a superhuman against Perdium.
“Count Penris will have to choose whether to aid the East or his family.”
Whichever path he chooses to act upon, they would immediately strike the remaining Northern Army and Kingdom Army, rushing toward the capital to conquer the royal family.
If Count Penris is absent, no one would be able to block the Duke Faction’s army, led by superhumans and high-ranking priests.
They could handle the prolonged battle afterward. For now, the priority was to conquer the royal family.
Raoul agreed that Gathros’s suggestion was feasible.
“Certainly, if they move it won’t be impossible. However, we will have to use our last resort here.”
“It won’t matter once the operation succeeds. No one will enter this place anyway. They’ll all be focused on reclaiming the capital.”
“Hmm…”
“It would also be good to send assassins across the kingdom to create chaos. That would raise their guard even more. While high-ranking nobles would find it difficult, the lower-ranked officials and nobility should be manageable.”
“So you’re suggesting we make Count Penris even more wary of assassination?”
“Exactly. Whether by spreading rumors or leaking information, we must find a way to make him act.”
Raoul fell into contemplation. The Duke would undoubtedly approve of this operation. It was clear he would greatly support Gathros’s suggestion. He was an individual who didn’t care about his own safety.
Ultimately, Raoul sighed and nodded.
“Then let’s do that. I’ll think a bit more about the details.”
The leader of the Black Moon was a master, but there was no guarantee he could kill Count Penris.
Even sending a superhuman would struggle to succeed in an assassination alone. However, if they brought too many people, they would be ineffective unless they were truly skilled. It indicated the necessity of deploying real powerhouses.
And they would eventually die in Perdium.
Still, if they could provoke Count Penris, it would be worth it. Moreover, if the assassins perished along with him, it would be even better.
“Well thought out. This time, we’ll surely succeed.”
Gathros smiled contentedly. Raoul then spoke to his staff.
“I’ll meet with the leader of the Black Moon. Prepare for it.”
The assassins of Black Moon lurked throughout the Duke’s Castle, Eclipse, watching for any unusual movements inside. Their leader was hidden deep within the Duke’s underground.
Raoul arrived at a stone chamber after passing through a maze of corridors, opening the door.
Creeeak…
In the middle of the dark stone chamber was a magic circle, radiating a similar energy to that of a rift. Even the bodies laid nearby appeared to be similar.
The differences lay in its smaller size and the fact that the energy gathered around the man seated atop the magic circle.
The man was wrapped in bandages from head to toe. Only his eyes and mouth were visible.
With each breath he took, dark energy seeped out, swirling around him.
“Melkior.”
At Raoul’s voice, the man called Melkior opened his eyes.
He gasped like metal grinding, asking,
“Is His Majesty in danger?”
“No.”
“Has someone broken into the castle?”
“Neither.”
In an instant, Melkior’s body blended with his surroundings and became blurry.
Whoosh!
Soon a thick darkness radiated and Melkior appeared before Raoul. He growled in a gravelly voice.
“Then has that woman been found? The one who made me like this!”
Raoul shook his head.
“That is not it either. That was already twenty years ago. We’ve found no traces or activities. At this point, it’s safe to assume she’s dead.”
“Can you be certain?”
“Weren’t we told she was heavily injured and her mana core was shattered? It’s impossible for someone in that condition to survive long.”
“That woman is gifted with divine powers. Even if her core is shattered, it doesn’t mean she’s easily killed.”
“Even so, surviving with those injuries would be difficult. If she had moved, she couldn’t have evaded our intelligence network.”
“She was an assassin who used similar techniques to mine. Are you really sure we couldn’t find her?”
At those words, Raoul briefly pondered.
‘Surely Penris…’
Among the individuals investigated by the intelligence department was someone who used a similar technique.
However, the age and active period didn’t match. The hair color was also different. The woman Melkior was searching for had blonde hair, while the individual captured by the intelligence department did not.
‘No, other kingdoms had a fair share of such assassins. Raybold’s lynx smuggling group leader, for instance.’
Assassin techniques tended to be similar. There was no need to get confused by unnecessary speculations.
Finally, Raoul shook his head again.
“There is no one. It’s certain she’s dead, so there’s no need to dwell on it.”
“……Is that so.”
Melkior fell silent for a moment.
In fact, he believed the person he was looking for was dead too. He only desired to take revenge on the one who gave him these wounds. Back then, he had clearly suffered defeat.
But it seemed that the opponent had also passed away from the injuries sustained back then.
Melkior, calming his spirits, asked in a somber voice.
“So, what brings you here?”
“We have an enemy to take care of.”
“It seems it’s time to use my life.”
“…It’s a borrowed life, but isn’t it possible for you to make one more contribution?”
It was Duke Delphine and the priests of the Salvation Society who saved his fading life. They too couldn’t afford to just let Melkior die unattended.
After all, Melkior had ascended to master level more than twenty years ago.
They preserved his life for the sake of utilizing those skills again, not allowing him to die at will.
Nodding readily at those words, Melkior responded.
“Yes, I can fight once more before I die.”
After all, he was the hidden blade of the Duke Faction. His mission was to eliminate enemies of the Duke Faction. That was both his destiny and duty.
After receiving irreparable wounds, his task was changed to guarding the Duke Faction, but originally, his job was to kill someone.
“Who is the opponent? I hope it’s someone worth burning my last breath on.”
“Count Penris.”
Melkior’s gaze reflected slight disappointment.
“That’s a name I haven’t heard.”
“It would be. He’s a figure who emerged during your time resting here.”
“His abilities?”
“Master.”
At that, Melkior’s eyes lit up with joy. It was a noticeably satisfying prey to end his final days on.
It wouldn’t do to simply kill such an opponent. Killing him outright would be utterly boring.
He suddenly licked his lips and asked.
“Does that guy have family?”
“Yes, a father and a brother.”
“In that case, can I start off by killing his family like before? There’s nothing quite like the pain of an expert suffering through the torment of losing those dear to him. I want to make sure my name is widely known before I die.”
He was a cruel assassin who considered himself a high-level artist. Thus, he preferred to slowly eliminate the valued individuals around the target before killing them.
He believed that seeing strong prey mentally break down and collapse was the epitome of beauty.
Although that sadistic preference had diminished after a significant event around twenty years ago.
Raoul also smiled as he responded.
“Actually, we were planning to ask for that. The longer we draw things out, the better it will be for us. Kill everyone you can, family and all.”
“Should I act immediately?”
“No, you should wait until the priests gather and war commences. We need time to organize since this is a hastily arranged operation.”
Raoul smiled. They had pulled out a strong card meant to be used only once.
Count Penris would have no choice but to fall this time.
