Chapter 98. Rightful Lord of Norington (1)
A black-haired man was hugging his face and sitting on a nearby rock.
“Where on earth did it go…….”
Right in front of where he was sitting, a stone grave stood lonely.
It was a sincere-less grave likely to be made for a vagrant whose origin is unknown.
“W-We also don’t know well…….”
Workers who dug up the stone grave following Blanc’s order didn’t know what to do and were just trembling in fear.
It was a situation where workers deserved to tremble in fear.
Because the owner of the grave they dug up was Pallard Cadmus, the former head of the Cadmus family and the Lord of Norington.
Nothing was contained in the stone grave they dug up.
It was an empty grave.
***
Battle of Norington.
Territory scramble started from the tragedy of the Cadmus family.
From the time the Black Wolf howled holding his flag in Moirai, influential people in the Human Three Kingdoms were watching Blanc.
Whether the knight of Aselheit expected to be a rising star and a legend was a person equipped with the ability to move a large group called an army beyond individual ability.
Blanc proved excellently to the gazes looking at him.
He not only repelled an army fully over 3 times larger even on an uncertain foundation but also cut down 2 barons and exterminated one family.
It was a deed a thirteen-year-old boy risen from ashes achieved in 3 years.
From then on, the name Blanc Cadmus was strongly engraved in the minds of numerous influential people moving the world.
Blanc Cadmus.
The sixth knight of Aselheit and the rightful master of Norington.
The baron who held all titles as a knight and a lord in his hand was only sixteen years old now.
“……Did you find it?”
However, Baron Blanc, the victor of the war who regained glorious titles, was currently in a very uncomfortable mood.
Because he couldn’t find his father’s remains.
His father whose head was cut off by Baron Kamora the very next day Blanc escaped.
Since one of the driving forces moving the regressor named Blanc was exactly vengeance against his father’s enemies, it went without saying that his heart was burning black right now.
“I investigated all the territory residents nearby but…….”
Billy reported while bowing his head deeply as if sorry.
Billy, the only butler of the Cadmus family, was currently suffering from heavy work.
Because he was the only person who could move properly among Blanc’s subordinates.
Knights of the Cadmus Knights were currently all injured and recuperating.
It was the result of burning their everything to oppose the cosmic existence called Void.
Especially in the case of Simon Diez, he was in a state of severe injury to the extent his abdomen was completely pierced.
If the arrogant young Phoenix hadn't felt pity for him and sat on Simon’s stomach, the knight named Simon Diez would have already met his end.
“……Continue to look for it. It is a matter more important than any other work.”
Billy fully understood Blanc’s feelings of wanting to find his father’s remains.
When they first arrived at the stone grave where Pallard Cadmus was said to be buried, his strong and shining Baron was wailing loudly like a child.
Piles of stones so shabby that it was hard to even call it a grave.
There was no one who didn't redden their eyes watching him holding onto them and crying sorrowfully.
However, under those stone piles, the father’s corpse the young Baron called out loud did not exist.
“I will do my best. Baron.”
Billy vowed to find Pallard Cadmus' remains without fail and left Blanc’s office.
“……Too few people.”
As Billy left the office, Blanc sighed and grabbed documents piled up like a mountain.
In the meantime, Blanc was the head of the Cadmus family but lived as an empty shell without a territory.
His shining titles and achievements all stemmed from personal achievements, and the largest unit organization the person named Blanc Cadmus operated was a knight order of less than 5 people.
However, Blanc, who led the Norington war to victory, became a lord who had to manage not only the knight order but also the territory from now on.
A lord possessing 8 villages and one city.
It was his duty to feed and save thousands of territory residents as the rightful master of Norington.
However, for Blanc who just entered Norington, hands were far too short to control all of them.
Moreover, he had to handle the important and massive task called post-war processing.
The workload following that was beyond imagination, but people Blanc could trust and entrust work to were far too scarce.
Furthermore, Billy, the only trustworthy and mobile subordinate, was inputted into the heavy mission of finding Pallard’s remains.
It was so urgent that he asked Franz for understanding and entrusted the work, but.
Possessing a free soul, he couldn’t endure a few days and ended up lying down.
Blanc anticipated he would be in this situation and set up a plan to supply talent through Neudorf and Tolome, and at the same time recruited quartermaster Bonas who had a connection with him in the last life, but it would inevitably take some time for them in Baltimere to reach Blanc.
Blanc sighed helplessly and grabbed the documents again.
Blanc just envied his knights who would be lying in bed.
***
“I acknowledge you fulfilled your duty. Now please return to your true lord. Sir Magnus.”
Although Blanc became emaciated due to heavy work, he treated the cavalry captain of Quiesco with all sincerity.
“Thank you very much for trusting and relying on us. Baron Blanc. Quiesco will not forget Baron Blanc who reached out a hand in the most difficult time.”
Magnus and the Quiesco Cavalry performed the mission excellently.
Blanc acknowledged they performed the mission excellently as their employer and war lord.
Since Magnus fulfilled his duty as Quiesco’s spokesman, Blanc, the war lord, also had to fulfill the duty he promised.
“Take this.”
Magnus accepted the letter Blanc handed over.
The faithful cavalry captain did not ask the content in that letter, but Blanc told him instead.
“I promised Princess Isabella to give half of Norington in exchange for borrowing you.”
At Blanc’s words, Magnus tensed momentarily.
Because the person named Blanc seen from the side was absolutely not such a figure, but the existence called territory was very precious and sensitive to lords.
“However, now we not only regained Norington but also almost obtained the territory called Monshau by exterminating Vicious.”
As Blanc said, there was no family ruling Monshau right now.
Monshau, truly in a state of ownerless mountains.
However, lords of Gartaria nearby could not easily covet Monshau.
First, to take Monshau, they would have to prove connection with the Vicious family and be recognized for inheritance rights, but if that happened, they would naturally inherit even the rage of Blanc, the Lord of Norington.
Lords around Monshau did not want to take such a risk.
Moreover, since the former King of Gartaria died and unusual currents were flowing among the 3 princes, it would be the best policy to live quietly holding breath for the time being if possible.
“Perhaps then?”
For that reason, the only one who could rule Monshau now was Blanc Cadmus, the righteous avenger.
Just as Langketa, Vicious, and Kamora ruled Norington, Blanc also had the right to do the same to them.
“I intend to give a choice to Princess Isabella.”
Magnus understood what Blanc was saying at once.
Blanc Cadmus was trying to give Monshau to Quiesco rather than half of Norington.
Monshau, an intact territory.
If it were that place, it would be able to fully contain the identity of the ruined nation called Quiesco.
“I will definitely convey it to the Princess.”
Quiesco who drew swords together for his revenge.
Blanc was repaying doing his best for them.
“Please hurry and go.”
“Thank you. Baron.”
Magnus held the precious letter Blanc sent and left the office.
Wiseman of the Thornbush Mercenary Corps and Ulvent, the captain of the Brass Helmet Mercenary Corps, were swallowing saliva watching that scene.
A territory was handed over right in front of their eyes just now.
Mercenary captains who only received gold coins as payment at best couldn't help being astonished at the transaction of a completely different class.
Therefore, they did not see.
Blanc’s coldly shining gaze as soon as Magnus left.
‘If it goes well, I can set up a sturdy shield.’
Blanc wasn’t trying to hand over Monshau just to repay Quiesco.
By handing Monshau, one of the territories surrounding Norington, to Quiesco, he intended to prepare for a possible invasion from Gartaria.
Moreover, Quiesco would need much help to fully take root in the territory called Monshau.
Blanc had already set up a plan to expand influence over Monshau through those things.
“Good.”
Blanc, organizing inside his head, turned his gaze and looked at the two mercenary captains standing in immobile posture in front of him.
“Now I should pay the 2 captains too.”
Wiseman and Ulvent looked at the gold coin pouches falling on Blanc’s desk making heavy sounds.
“I added a little more appreciating your fighting.”
Blanc smiled beamingly and pushed the gold coin pouches to them.
“I want to maintain a good relationship in the future too.”
Wiseman gazed at the gold coin pouch placed in front of him.
It had been truly a long time since receiving such treatment from a war lord.
In the meantime, employers were prone to change their attitude the moment payment was due, acting as if they had never uttered those sweet words they used to entice people in the first place.
Wiseman had seen such scenes countless times.
However, the young baron in front of his eyes was praising them and giving payment doing his best with faith and sincerity.
That action showed explicitly the vessel and boldness the person named Blanc Cadmus possessed.
In Wiseman’s view, Baron Blanc Cadmus was not a figure to stop here.
He was a person certain to head to a higher place.
And Wiseman also didn’t want to waste life doing mercenary work forever.
“……I will not accept.”
“What did you say?”
Blanc asked back, raising his eyebrows hearing Wiseman’s unexpected answer.
However, Wiseman stood up from his seat and knelt on one knee instead of answering Blanc’s question immediately.
“I realized through this war that Baron Blanc is a person who will fly high.”
Wiseman bowed his head deeply and said to Blanc.
“Please allow me to look at the same sky beside the Baron too!”
Wiseman pleaded to Blanc, planting his head on the ground entirely.
He noticed Blanc was suffering from a shortage of talent.
Therefore, he judged that if it’s now, no, only now is the time he can catch Blanc’s eye.
“…….”
Blanc looked at Wiseman and was lost in deep thought.
‘Thornbush Mercenary Corps huh…….’
Blanc was intending to absorb Ulvent and the Brass Helmet Mercenary Corps.
However, Wiseman bowed his head first and pleaded to take him in instead of Ulvent whom he tried to coax with effort, so this was not what Blanc intended.
However.
“I did covet your spirit and ability shown on the battlefield.”
Considering the situation of Norington and surrounding territories still disordered, Blanc judged it wasn’t a bad choice to increase the standing army and decided to accept Wiseman.
Moreover, since the ability Wiseman showed during the war looked quite useful, there was nothing bad in keeping him under him.
Ulvent, watching the appearance of Wiseman being appointed by Blanc, was swallowing dry saliva.
Because he also thought he was a trustworthy lord seeing Blanc’s appearance.
Except, he just didn’t move actively like Wiseman because he didn’t dare to think he would accept a mercenary like himself.
However, Blanc accepted the mercenary Wiseman.
Ulvent decided not to miss this opportunity.
“Baron!”
Ulvent knelt like Wiseman and spoke to Blanc.
Tried to speak.
“Baron, there is a report you must hear.”
Billy, the only butler of the Cadmus family, entered the office panting for breath.
“Ah, a moment.”
Blanc stopped what Ulvent tried to say for a moment and called Billy in.
Billy approached Blanc and reported in a whisper, perhaps minding the mercenary captains in front.
“……Bring them in immediately, no, I will go personally.”
Blanc, having heard Billy’s report, stood up from his seat urgently.
Blanc left the seat with Billy.
In the office that lost its owner, there were only 2 mercenary captains kneeling.
“……Should have done it a bit faster.”
At Wiseman’s sincere rebuke, Ulvent ended up sitting down on the ground.
“Damn it…….”
Ulvent ended up spitting out a curse at the feeling of dismay rising from deep in his chest.
***
Norington welcoming the rightful owner.
There were 3 men passing through its gate.
They were 3 people of different ages, but there was one common point among them.
It was that all three men were wearing shabby and old clothes.
It was an attire anyone could see they were driven into a pitiful situation and living a destitute life.
“Father, are you alright?”
A middle-aged man limped on one leg and spoke to his father.
Since he was in destitute attire and even limping on one leg, his appearance was pitiful to look at.
“Good…….”
The elderly old man piggybacked on the young man took off the old hood he was wearing and raised his head.
“I didn’t know I would come here again before I die…….”
The old man, so skinny he seemed likely to collapse even at the passing wind, shed tears from two eyes and looked at the highest place in Norington.
“Norington where the rightful owner returned…….”
The pants of the weeping old man were swaying powerlessly in the passing wind.
The old man had no two legs at all.
“…….”
The young man cherishing such an old man on his back.
The young man looking to be the same age as Blanc had a pale complexion perhaps from not eating for a long time, but his eyes were emitting bright energy.
“Let’s hurry and go. Jerome.”
At the old man’s urging, the young man turned his body and walked the streets of Norington.
Three father and sons were moving their bodies with difficulty toward the highest place in Norington.
“Want to see the Young Master quickly.”
Tears did not stop from the eye rims of the old man heading to the nostalgic place.