295 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Episode 295 “Again! Another failure!?” Leos shut his eyes tightly as he glanced at the Second Prince, whose dark eyes were wide with frustration. Since the debacle at MacLine, or to be precise, since the tables turned against him in favor of the First Prince, Varos van Arez, who had always been the epitome of composure, was slowly beginning to show cracks. ‘Has his facade shattered? Why is he acting worse than he did in his childhood….’ Even as these thoughts crossed his mind, Leos found himself compelled to follow through with the prince’s reckless plans. After all, he was the chronicler of the succession war; the fate of Prince Varos was inherently tied to his own. “Not only did you disobey His Majesty’s command to exercise restraint, but you even made a pact with ‘those people.’ And yet you failed!?” Leos flinched, fearing that Varos's trembling hand might strike him, but thankfully, the prince refrained from crossing that line. Destiny had placed them on the same ship until the very end. In the current plight of the Second Prince, Leos was one of the few remaining confidants he could trust. The sentiment was mutual for Leos as well. Thus, despite the churning feeling in his stomach, he knew he had to speak up. “According to ‘those individuals,’ supernatural assassins have emerged from the Principality. They claim that since this occurrence breaches their contract, they are unwilling to pay any penalties.” “What nonsense!!” Crash! It was fortunate that Varos had dismissed all guards and attendants, showing no concern for maintaining royal decorum. With this in mind, Leos waited patiently for the prince’s outburst to subside. Once Varos seemed somewhat calmed, Leos resumed his speech with measured composure. “There is still hope. Though we lost our influence over the Principality, the Confederation of the Small Kingdoms is in turmoil. That disruption was undoubtedly instigated by us.” “And so?” Watching the flicker of red flare within the prince’s dark eyes, Leos swallowed hard. He could predict that a false move here would provoke Varos's wrath upon him. Moistening his dry lips, he hurriedly continued. “Under His Majesty’s orders, the succession battle is at a standstill. With the First Prince unable to advance his own efforts, the chaos in the Confederation will reflect beneficially on your score in the succession contest, making a comeback possible.” While his words carried logical optimism, he indeed presented a valid argument. However. “…It was all to pit MacLine against the Confederation." The growling voice still resonated with unquenched fury. “MacLine is not what matters here. The ultimate goal is the throne itself. Your Highness, focus on the greater picture.” Finally, the intensity in Varos’s eyes began to fade gradually. Eventually, as if all energy had left him, the prince slumped down into his seat. “Apologies for the disgraceful display.” A deep sigh accompanied his humble admission, allowing Leos to finally release the breath he had been holding. The Second Prince spoke next with a troubled face. “Lately, I don’t know what’s come over me. Every time Logan MacLine crosses my mind, I seem to lose my composure.” “It’s probably the sting of repeated failures, Your Highness.” “…No, that’s not it.” “Pardon?” “There’s another reason. An unknown reason. Something is stirring my mind.” It was a remarkably composed statement for someone supposedly driven mad by continuous setbacks. This was the very persona that convinced Leos he was the best candidate for the next emperor. His expectations began to rise again. “Does that mean…?” “Summon them. To the palace. In matters of manipulation of the mind and spirit, they are unparalleled.” “Even one contract felt like a gamble. If His Majesty were to catch wind of this...” “No. I cannot let this go on. It will only deteriorate further.” “It’s a perilous approach. What if they are the ones who have ensnared Your Highness?” “The royal family is equipped with magical safeguards that protect the mind even more than the body. Have you forgotten?” Keeping silent about the tradition initiated due to ‘those people’, Leos swallowed his words, and the prince, seemingly aware of his thoughts, continued with a smirk. “No, the strangeness began soon after I encountered Logan MacLine. Strange dreams and fierce anger towards him keep rising. I need to identify and resolve the cause.” With little concrete evidence or rationale, Varos’s voice curiously resonated with conviction. Despite his hesitations, Leos unconsciously nodded in agreement. “Understood. I will get in touch.” “Tell them to come to the palace posthaste.” “They might refuse. For them, entering the palace is akin to venturing into their demise.” “If it's impossible, I'll have to meet them myself.” “That is even more….” Leos, on the verge of objecting, froze at the sight of Varos’s dark crimson eyes glaring intensely at him. The Second Prince appeared more terrifying when displaying such calm and collected eyes rather than the ones flashing with madness moments ago. Perhaps it was for this very reason he had volunteered to be his chronicler. “…Understood.” In the end, Leos resolved once more to tread into territories he shouldn't. At the very moment their conversation crept along. In the heart of the palace, a dialogue that would ultimately determine their fates was unfolding. “So, Varos has extended a hand to the serpents.” The furrow of the middle-aged man, who filled the grand throne, deepened momentarily. It was rare indeed for the supreme ruler of the empire to show strong displeasure. Yet, when speaking of the ‘serpents,’ such emotion was well justified. – I have confirmed it personally. Another voice resonated within the space, where the emperor seemed to exist in solitude. In response to such audacity from an unseen presence, the emperor remained impassive, apparently accustomed to it. “How did the boy manage to connect with those evildoers?” – I was unable to verify that part. “Those lunatics were still holding ties within the royal court. Unpleasant. It’s a detestable matter….” The emperor’s fingers tapped against the armrest rhythmically, a tangible expression of his palpable disdain. After a considerable time passed with no further commands, the voice resounded once more. “What would you have us do?” Despite the audacity of rushing the emperor, the emperor showed no further displeasure. “I thought Varos had potential, but he’s nothing but a disappointment.” After some time, the emperor’s voice emerged, chilling and decisive. “Use Varos as bait. Let him forge connections with them and uncover their hideout.” “And the succession war…?” “Varos is disqualified. Yet, we’ll delay the announcement. The deadline is when we eliminate those wretched black serpents from the empire.” “I will follow your command.” “I’ll assign Sword Phantom and Whirlwind. This time, eradicate those serpents’ roots.” With the mention of the continent's greatest swordsman and the empire’s pinnacle mage, the decision was firm. “Yes.” With that brief answer, the voice was no longer heard. --- Only three days after meeting the king, Logan arrived at the border with the Lomen Kingdom, which was one of the four sovereign states and the northernmost. Despite the prior notice given by the king's commands and communications, the reception at the front-line base was less than warm. “The superhuman from the mountains, huh…?” Earl Caril Zyad scrutinized Logan from head to toe with an unmistakable dismissiveness. “You intend to take the vanguard? Even as a superhuman, you understand the difficulty without knights supporting you. Hence, it would be prudent to follow my directives.” His words weren’t technically wrong, but Logan could clearly discern the ambition in Caril’s eyes. ‘A war already won, and yet he plans to take all the glory for himself.’ His solid physique and stern, robust features brimmed with determination. However, the real problem was that his ambition was wrongly directed at an ally. Were it not for the king's mandate and their communication, Caril might not have even granted him an audience. Understanding his mindset, Logan simply nodded in silence. “As long as you allow me to lead the vanguard, there’s no issue.” Caril’s expression twisted momentarily at Logan’s blunt words. However, the truth remained that this could lead to a dukedom in Liberty without much struggle, as Logan was recognized to possess aura-user potential. Additionally, having received confirmation of his abilities directly from Gunther Liberty himself, Caril dared not test Logan further. Swiftly managing his expression, Caril forced a smile and nodded reluctantly. “Very well. Rest for now. We’ll call for you when it’s time for battle.” He spoke of coordination with knights for support but didn’t even suggest making introductions. His intentions were blatantly clear, making Logan suppress a chuckle. ‘Looks like I’ll have to take charge myself if things don’t go as planned.’ No point engaging in a battle of wills unnecessarily. Logan’s goal was to end this war as quickly and with as little collateral damage as possible. To achieve that, he needed to display overwhelming force from the outset. Petty power struggles would only devalue his purpose. “The war will commence independently in Tria, Liberty, and Theron, yet simultaneously.” Theron, positioned to the east, will apply pressure on the formidable maritime nation of Carlon. The mighty nation of Tria, situated at the heart of the alliance, would march southeast towards Romero and Tahiti. In this maneuver, Liberty aimed to conquer Lomen, a twin ancestor of Romero, before swiftly advancing southward. Expanding the frontline with overwhelming force, the plan was as straightforward as it was efficient: engulf all four nations at once. “Quickly capture Lomen, then advance south. And…” As he ended the communication with Ronian, Logan recalled the face of Ramon I, the King of Tria, whom he subsequently contacted. Specifically, the third party maneuvering behind the scenes. “I’ve kept my promise.” “Ah... Haha, as expected of MacLine. I had faith.” “When will the war begin?” “We’re preparing vigorously at this very moment. Haha.” The awkwardness felt through the connection. Those behind the scenes likely felt even more flustered. Concern that troubles might arise from Tria’s front made Logan’s face harden. If something indeed went wrong in Tria. ‘Then the vanguards of Liberty and Theron would pay a visit to Tria's royal court.’ Even if it meant dealing with them, the war would end. Perhaps that might even be preferable. If he and Eileen proved their capabilities, the kingdoms in the alliance, starting with Liberty and Theron, would have no choice but to heed MacLine's words. Organizing his thoughts, Logan quietly closed his eyes to meditate in the quarters Earl Caril had arranged for him. ‘The board is set. Now, I am curious about how the empire will respond.’ Truth be told, it was starting to feel rather tedious. With strength enough to reshape the world, why persistently scheme so much? Yet, he was beginning to grasp their intentions. ‘What they seek is chaos.’ Just as MacLine had, the empire likely aimed to weaken surrounding nations. Was it a prelude to offensive war preparations? If so, his mission was to quell the chaos swifter than they anticipated. ‘And ally even the kingdoms from the confederation.’ Logan’s preparations continued intensely within his mind, as did those of the Eyes of Flame and Damian. And by the third day of such preparations, The Liberty Kingdom’s army set into motion. However, their approach was far from what Logan expected. “Advance!” Over two thousand knights, and more than fifty thousand soldiers. The full force of Liberty’s army began crossing the border. The known strength of Lomen Kingdom was less than half of that. Every soldier, knight, and even the commanders brimmed with anticipation for the victory firmly in their grasp. And by all accounts, their premonitions were proving accurate. Merely three days past crossing the border, they easily captured the first fortress without encountering significant resistance. Revelling in victory, Caril Zyad turned to Logan with a broad grin. "It seems there's no need for a superhuman to take action. Just watch from the sidelines." As suggested, three days after taking the second fortress, and another three days following their third conquest, Liberty Kingdom's forces found themselves at the gates of the Lomen Kingdom's capital. Naturally, their morale soared to its peak. "The enemy has abandoned resistance!" "Advance!" While most of the commanders and soldiers celebrated with confidence, only a few, including Logan, harbored skepticism and doubts. It was at that moment the battlefield began to shift.