Count’s Youngest Son is a Warlock

Brachion was bewildered.

How could he have gotten here?

This wasn’t just any place; it was inside the royal palace.

Surely there must be items imbued with light here?

‘Could it be a fake?’

Brachion’s eyes flickered.

“Yes. Most of the items imbued with light don’t work properly. Let’s see.”

Lucion spoke as if it was absurd, moving his feet forward.

Merely four days after recuperating, he had swiftly made his way to the Kingdom of Myronist.

Under the guise of visiting the Chefran mansion, he had managed to create a convenient alibi.

Thanks to Hume, he had barely managed to evade Kran and Miella who had tried to stop him.

There was no need to involve the entire organization, and after absorbing the black orb, the distance he could travel using Shadow Travel had increased, allowing him to reach the Myronist royal palace via a midpoint.

However, upon arriving at the castle, something felt off.

Lucion stood before what appeared to be an item imbued with light.

“Is this truly imbued with light?”

He nearly scoffed but swallowed it down.

Brachion affirmed with a nod.

Lucion gladly took the item in his hand.

“See? It’s a counterfeit.”

[There are… very few items imbued with light.]

He could still hear Bethel’s incredulous voice from when she had scouted the area.

The Death Knight, who was informed about the fact that the king of the Myronist Kingdom had been poisoned, came forward and confirmed the truth.

To what extent had the Kingdom of Myronist fallen under Neubra’s influence?

“May we move to another location?” 

Brachion said, suppressing his anger.

That anger wasn’t directed toward himself. 

[He’s surprisingly calm.] 

Russell admired Brachion’s self-control. How did he manage to maintain such composure?

“Of course, Your Highness,” Lucion replied with a slight bow.

* * *

“Please, have a seat.” 

Brachion gestured for Lucion to sit. 

As soon as Lucion sat, Brachion spoke.

“How much do you know?” 

“What are you referring to?” 

“How did you come to know about the poisoner’s involvement in my father’s poisoning?”

“I have keen ears.”

Lucion didn’t want to mention that the Death Knight had told him.

“Your Highness, I came to collect my debt. I believe my actions warrant such a request.”

He aimed to sever the red thread tying him to Brachion along with the black orb.

The king was alive, so what more could he possibly want?

Lucion regarded Brachion as remarkably persistent, rivaling even Carson and Heint.

“What is it that you want?” 

At Brachion’s question, Lucion briefly glanced at Hume. 

Upon his arrival at the castle, there had been a flicker in Hume’s right eye, indicating that Brachion still had the black orb.

“I’m not asking for anything extravagant. So please, don’t be wary,” Lucion said, shifting his mask to a shade of green, observing Brachion’s stiff demeanor. 

“I just want the black orb you have.”

“Are you referring to this?” 

Brachion pulled the black orb from his pocket. 

—Hup! It’s the real black orb! 

Ratta’s tail swayed at the edge of the shadows.

“Yes, that’s the one.”

“How did you know I had it?”

“Didn’t I mention my keen ears?” Lucion chuckled lightly.

“Then, Your Highness, how did you come to possess that black orb?”

Although the black orb looked somewhat special, it seemed too worthless for a prince to possess.

“After my father fell victim to the poisoner’s toxin, it suddenly appeared in my room. I thought it might serve as some kind of evidence, so I kept it.” 

[Bad timing, he thinks it’s evidence.]

Russell noticed the hesitation in Brachion’s eyes.

[Lord Lucion saved the king. Regardless, if he knows what’s best, he should hand it over.]

Bethel’s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Brachion.

Even though the Death Knight had disclosed everything, had Lucion not shared this knowledge, Brachion might have remained unaware, potentially leading to the king’s demise.

[Surely, Your Highness wouldn’t act in such a manner.]

The Death Knight finally broke her prolonged silence, yet Russell merely scoffed.

[You never know. If he loses control, he might not be able to tell right from wrong. Brachion wants to find the culprit now, but that’s easier said than done. How will he find them without my disciple’s help?]

“I know it’s shameless, but once more… Would you use your special ears to help me?”

Brachion crumpled his face in a plea, hanging onto Lucion with desperate hope.

“Your Highness,” Lucion’s voice carried a hint of irritation.

“Are you attempting to negotiate with me at this moment?”

“…If my words upset you, I apologize. But right now, you’re my only hope. I have no idea when the internal enemy might strike at my father’s life, and in this vast palace, there’s no one I can trust… Please, help me.” 

‘Ugh. I thought it flowed too smoothly.’

As long as that red thread remained uncut, he couldn’t simply leave matters unresolved.

‘I had hoped they could break free from Neubra’s clutches once the king was restored…’

Lucion glanced at the Death Knight.

Even with the helmet covering her face, he could still feel her troubled emotions.

[I… I apologize. Allow me to offer my apologies on his behalf.] 

The Death Knight promptly lowered her head.

[You see? Desperation can drive people to this.]

The corner of Russell’s mouth lifted in a smirk. 

“Do you trust me?”

Lucion asked, feeling slightly uneasy.

His aim had been to secure the black orb and apprehend Chayton. The request for a favor from Brachion caught him off guard.

‘If it weren’t for that red thread…’

“I trust the one who saved my father.”

“What if I was in league with that poisoner?”

“I may have spoken boldly, but I am not naive. If you were in cahoots, you would have had to kill my father. No matter what happened, you should have made sure he died.”

Lucion was satisfied with Brachion’s answer.

The most important thing was trust, no matter what.

“So, are you curious about the traitor?”

“Ah, may I know?”

[I can reveal everything!]

The Death Knight chimed in, raising her voice excitedly.

Lucion could be confident because he already knew everything thanks to the Death Knight.

‘It’s no different from making him indebted to me for free.’

However, Lucion pretended to hesitate.

He was a warlock, and Brachion was a prince.

Trust could be shown through words, but that was no easy feat.

“How can you show me your trust?” 

Lucion asked.

“What is it that you wish for?”

Brachion offered to grant Lucion any wish, yet Lucion remained unmoved.

It was a promise easily made out of desperation.

“I have one initial request.”

“Anything, please proceed.”

“If I tell you, will Your Highness have the power to resolve this?”

If he rushed in recklessly, it would only end up provoking the enemy.

From Lucion’s and the Empire’s perspective, it was inconvenient for Myronist to fall into Neubra’s hands.

That would be the beginning of those who tried to invade the Empire.

Under normal circumstances, if Brachion had shamelessly begged him, Lucion would have firmly brushed him off. 

However, knowing the situation kept him seated for now.

‘By the way, Teacher has been unusually quiet today.’

At this time, or even earlier, Russell would have likely scolded him for being so audacious, urging him to leave at once. 

He glanced at Russell.

In the past few days, he seemed somewhat weak.

‘What could be troubling him?’

Lucion paused momentarily before shifting his gaze back to Brachion.

“Were you truly powerless, I wouldn’t even bother asking.”

There was no trace of annoyance in Brachion’s eyes. 

“I have the power to kill the enemy. However, I simply lack the time to obtain information leading to them. If the enemy knew that my father is still alive, how do you think they would react?”

“Then, please capture just one person for me.”

“I can’t do that as a substitute. I can’t abandon my principles any further.”

Not all rulers understood principles, but Brachion was someone who did.

‘That’s good to know.’

Lucion leaned back in his chair, satisfied with the unfolding scenario. 

This conversation could go on for a while.

“Very well. Let’s write up a contract first.”

Lucion prepared to wield his words like a weapon. 

The relationship between the Kingdom of Myronist and the Empire was quite strong. 

It was obvious who he would choose between the one who was desperately trying to take over Myronist and the one who was helping him in various ways.

“The notary shall be His Majesty Ketlan Tesla, Emperor of the Tesla Empire.” 

With that, Lucion sold out the Emperor’s name.

“…!”

Brachion’s body tensed in shock, while Hume, standing quietly beside him, gasped audibly.

Was this really alright? 

Was it okay to casually sell the emperor’s name like that?

‘Let’s see how far we can take this.’

Lucion fidgeted with his itching palms.

[Are you sure about this? Even if the Emperor holds you in high regard, is it really okay to sell him out like this?]

Russell’s caution came swiftly, but Lucion subtly nodded in reassurance.

This course of action also benefited the Empire. 

If Myronist fell into Neubra’s grasp, the Empire would suffer the most. 

It would be akin to losing a valuable shield against Neubra.

“Are you… are you referring to the Emperor of the Tesla Empire right now?” Brachion questioned, visibly shaken.

“It’s not just a mention. I am currently collaborating with the Empire, under the Emperor’s order,” Lucion restated, slightly altering his phrasing.

It was Heint who was receiving Ketlan’s orders, but it was the same thing, wasn’t it?

“Is the Empire supporting us?”

“Don’t you know who your allies are, Your Highness?”

Vaguely.

But Lucion gave Brachion the answer he wanted.

The target was the Neubra Kingdom.

It was time to shake things up.

How many people within Neubra would be able to defend the king of Neubra, who had done something that a human should not do?

Would there be only one person who wanted to become the king of the Neubra Kingdom?

The bomb was thrown, but the sword that the Empire had to wield was always ‘justice’.

That sword had to be used for the anti-monarchy faction that had risen up like a storm within the Neubra Kingdom.

Lucion showed the certificate given to him by the Emperor.

“I value my life greatly.”

Russell’s expression hardened quickly.

[Russell?]

Bethel softly called out to Russell, noting his solemn demeanor.

[It’s… nothing to worry about.]

Russell forced a smile.

“I’ll write the contract right away.”

Brachion no longer hesitated. 

The certificate, bearing the seal of the Tesla Emperor, was real.

“As the prince of Myronist, I pledge to repay you in any way. I will also request the Emperor to act as the notary,” Brachion affirmed as he swiftly rose to fetch paper.

Lucion turned to the Death Knight. 

“Your turn now.”

[Thank you. Thank you for granting me the chance to repay my debt to Your Highness…!] 

The Death Knight removed her helmet and bowed to Lucion, her eyes gleaming.

Brachion wrote down exactly what he had said on the paper and even stamped it, and then handed it over to Lucion, leaving the notary’s seat vacant.

“Oh, and take this too.”

Brachion handed the black orb to Lucion.

However, Lucion did not immediately take it.

‘I still have one more goal.’

Instead, he looked at Hume.

Only after Hume had placed the black orb in his pocket did Lucion tell Brachion the names the Death Knight had given him, one by one, and Brachion wrote them down.

After finishing mentioning the insiders, Lucion mentioned another goal he had come here for.

“The man I need to find is Chayton. Chayton, the slave trader. I’ve been told he’s here. Do you know of him?”

Ting!

The red thread suddenly tightened.

‘Why is that?’

Lucion was stunned.

Does that mean Chayton and Brachion are related?

“I’m well aware of his whereabouts. I was planning to raid his hideout today.”

“How do you know?”

“In pursuit of a noble I had suspicions about, I stumbled upon him trafficking people to Chayton.”

“Was he once again enslaving people?”

“No,” Brachion shook his head. 

“He was murdering them.”