How to Live as a Swordmaster of the Enemy Nation

Emergency Meeting (2)

Upon deep reflection, Gregory realized that, nominally, he was in a position of collusion with the enemy nation.

If that was the case, then even if there was curiosity about how he knew the details of their identities, it could simply be written off as accumulated information provided by them up until now.

Therefore, Gregory began to confidently spin his sophistry without worry.

"First, we will bring in the informants positioned on the enemy's borders."

Walter, watching Gregory who had grown increasingly arrogant, asked for the reason.

He was curious as to why Gregory intended to start by bringing in those posted on the borders.

To this, Gregory said,

"The informants hold ranks among the high-ranking officials. If so, their absence is sure to cause a commotion."

Gregory explained the reason calmly and gently. As he said, Radian was a noble who held a rather high status in Blandi, and accordingly, even his family enjoyed high positions.

It wasn't simply due to their status that they stayed in one place; rather, they were doing their best in their respective local administrative districts.

At his words, Walter nodded once.

"So you intend to capitalize on that? Sounds reasonable."

Even in his previous life, the corruption of the Blandi Kingdom began in the remote borderlands.

The reason misconduct was rampant in the distant regions was because the number of inspections carried out there was inevitably fewer. One might think that oversight should be stricter on the borders, but the well-to-do nobles were too busy embezzling funds behind the scenes.

Taking these factors into account, it would be reasonable to recruit Radian's family and, at the same time, begin tempting others from the borders inward toward the central regions.

Ernest posed a question to everyone.

"If everything can proceed so smoothly, where should we gather? Since we're not moving with a legitimate pretext, frequent comings and goings will be inconvenient."

When Gregory had infiltrated previously, the pretext of a martial arts tournament made it easier to transport goods and travel, but this time the situation was clearly different.

As they had to move covertly, many people couldn't come and go, nor could they move about noisily.

Moreover, if that was the case, it would be far more convenient to move in one go rather than moving back and forth between Arme and Blandi Kingdoms.

Fortunately, as the discussion gained traction, the meeting proceeded swiftly. Since it was a matter that could threaten their lives, everyone in attendance was burning with such a sense of mission that it felt as if they would go mad without taking immediate action.

Walter put forth an opinion.

"Then, how about this?"

According to his proposal: fortunately, his companions had no objection to convincing Gregory's informants to defect and illegally enter Arme Kingdom.

Even if they held clandestine talks, it wasn't as if they would unconditionally cross over from Blandi to Arme—after all, it was a given that anything taking too long was inconvenient for everyone. Thus, Walter proposed that they split up to try persuading as many as possible.

Once that was done, they would set a common time and place and have everyone gather at once.

There were pros and cons to both approaches.

Ernest presented another view.

"If that's the case, isn't there no need to start from those on the borders? After all, once the time and location are set, it'll be about enticing them with a more reasonable argument, right?"

Walter countered,

"No. What if a key person turns their back on us?"

"Would that really happen? Aren't these the very people who have been colluding with us? If they're caught, they're as good as dead—so wouldn't that drive them to our side?"

Walter and Ernest's debate intensified.

"But how do we know those colluders were actually taking bribes?"

"In that case, my father would never have allowed Gregory to approach."

"You can't really know that. Isn't it possible they're only now succumbing to temptation?"

As the two argued, the situation grew progressively more complicated. Their opinions clashed, emotions heightened, and the debate drifted away from the main points Gregory had expected.

As a result, Gregory felt compelled to double-check all opinions and look for flaws. Implicitly, he thought there must be better ideas than this.

'Should I bring up Radian's case? For their survival, for keeping my promise to Radian...?'

Standing at a crossroads, Gregory developed a headache. He could clearly foresee that, as more information was shared about Radian, an endless chain of questions would inevitably follow.

'Tch, all this must be resolved before Radian's actions are discovered by the Stria group.'

At this point, it was no longer possible to turn the situation around. Still, he couldn't just leave the unpersuaded behind and return to Arme Kingdom.

Failing to keep his promise with Radian would be the least of it; if a collaborator was killed, Hemingway would surely suspect that Gregory was being followed.

Gregory had never wished for them to die ruthlessly in the first place. One way or another, he had no choice but to bring them with him. Even as his head throbbed with pain, time continued to pass.

In the end, the only option he chose was to push through recklessly.

"I'll go alone."

No matter how hard everyone was voicing their opinions, it was clear how seriously they were taking this matter.

If he went together with them, detailed planning and split-second decisions would be crucial; if the debate continued endlessly, not only would feelings be hurt but the matter itself might fizzle out, he thought.

Walter was at a loss for words at Gregory's sudden declaration.

"You mean you'll go there alone? By yourself?"

Gregory nodded, his resolve steely. Even though that meant disobeying Hemingway's orders, he was prepared to accept whatever punishment awaited.

He was determined to atone for his own actions with his own hands. And, if the result this time was good, he held onto the slim hope that Hemingway's support might absolve his sins.

Gregory had already made up his mind.

"I will not accept any further opinions."

Walter was dumbfounded by Gregory's audacity. He couldn't trust someone who'd so recklessly propose such a course and expect others to rely on him.

"Why insist on going alone? Am I so worthless in your eyes?"

Walter assumed Gregory was unaware of how critical his own condition was and took this arrogance as a personal slight. Gregory's arrogance originated from concern for Walter's well-being.

As the spiritual pillar and knight order commander of the Dawn Knight Order, Walter knew the timeline had already been disrupted since he possessed this body. Even if he failed to keep his promise to Radian, he intended to see this through to the end for the consequences brought about by his own existence.

Ignoring further protest, Gregory curtly spat out his answer and strode out.

"That's not it. For everyone's sake, nobody should follow or ask. From now on, consider this matter as if it never happened."

For everyone's peace, and for vengeance.

Even if it meant making himself out to be garbage, as long as the outcome benefited everyone, as long as he could achieve the result he desired, he would not hesitate.

In those moments, Gregory's resentment toward the Blandi Kingdom grew, and it became an opportunity to reconsider his goals.

After so much trial and error, it seemed that simple revenge would no longer satisfy him.

To protect every one of his comrades so not a single one died in the war.

To trample underfoot Blandi Kingdom—the very kingdom that instructed Meren, who boasted he'd soon become the First Knight Order Commander, to betray Gregory—and to break them mercilessly.

After Gregory left, none of his companions could say a word. All their passionate arguments had been for the mission and obeying orders—but with Gregory's sudden action, the atmosphere turned cold. Everyone was too busy watching each other for cues.

It was Alessandro who finally broke the heavy silence.

"So, what should we do now...?"

Walter immediately answered, as if he had been waiting for the question.

"There's nothing we can do. All we can do is wait for him to safely complete the mission."

Though Walter's nerves were frayed, there was no stopping Gregory once he had left. After all, Gregory possessed all the information, and in his frenzied state, it was clear that words would not reach him.