362 - A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

**Chapter 362: Krang's Scheme** Five steps away from Krang, an escort with a whip was keenly alert to their surroundings. Besides this person, Krang was accompanied by a bald warrior who looked like he knew how to handle himself. He stood behind Krang like a silent statue. His body was well-toned, recognizable at a glance. He was no amateur. Observing the two, Encrid couldn't help but think of Andrew, who was surely scowling inside the party. Andrew had mentioned that at such gatherings, people treated him as if he were invisible—worse than a ghoul. At least ghouls got a reaction, even if it was a grimace. But him? He was ignored completely. Why would anyone bother with a fallen noble, a mere baronet who had aligned himself poorly? Even the butler at the entrance had paid him no heed. "Baron Andrew Gardner? Are you sure you're meant to be here?" The butler didn't even bother with formalities. Andrew gave a silent sigh but responded with stoicism. "Why? Is this a place I shouldn't be?" "The invitation?" "Seems it got lost in the shuffle." "...You may enter." With clear reluctance, the butler allowed Andrew inside. Encrid, as his escort, couldn’t follow. Not that he hadn’t made it inside a few times before—but those times had ended with him drawing unnecessary attention. Since then, the hosts made sure guards were restricted from entry. Not that Encrid had the slightest interest in mingling at the party anyway. He was out for the surroundings, specifically to see Krang. Despite hoping a new warning would spring up during his nightly patrols, nothing surfaced. Eventually, he found Krang and asked him questions. "A knight, huh." Krang paused in thought. His pupils didn’t waver, nor did he show a hint of tension. After carefully selecting his words, he spoke. "Why hasn't Count Molsen been punished for claiming sovereignty over the borders? That was my first question." With a question posed and the answer already found, Krang was willing to share it. "Are you familiar with the great southern nation, Lihinstetten?" Krang's tone was casual, as if recommending a popular tavern at a local market. Although it was evening, the chill had lifted, making it pleasant to have a conversation outdoors. There they sat: a worn bench, the party's mansion illuminated in the background. Firefly-like bugs hovered here and there. Though the setting didn’t quite match the conversation, Krang’s voice was as lively as ever, lending a sense of a leisurely nighttime stroll. "It’s been seven years since we started fighting the Lihinstetten Kingdom, and not once have we easily been surpassed, right?" Indeed, such rumors had circulated. "Why is that?" "Because the southern estates fight well?" "Then why were they so easily breached at the first signs of a beast uprising?" "Then what's the reason?" "Because Sir Cyprus and another knight are holding the fort there." Objectively, Lihinstetten's military might surpasses that of Naurilia. Even they have their limitations, making a flawless victory elusive. And yet, the southern front was held firm—the invasion resisted. "I saw it with my own eyes at the place, having heard the news. Two knights have been accomplishing wonders. If either were to vacate, the south might fall by tomorrow." As Krang spoke, he flicked a stone on the bench ground with his toe, dislodging it. With the stone pried out, he gave it a few taps and continued. "It’s as if the knights’ hands are tied. You think only their hands are bound?" "The knights' order must be tied down as well." Encrid wasn't foolish. What’s the best way to ensure you’re not overrun on the battlefield? Reinforce and bolster your strength. The kingdom has done just that. The two knights are guarding the southern border. Were either to turn away, the kingdom would have been half-ruined by Lihinstetten’s invasion by now. Krang knew how chaotic this kingdom was. And now Encrid knew too. "The third knight?" Naurilia was known for having three knights. At least it's known that way. "The third knight is engaged with a swarm of monsters." This information was new to him. A top-tier secret, yet delivered by Krang with his usual demeanor. "Well, an annoying monster colony emerged, and the Eastern Mercenary King is seeking an opportunity here too. Thus, some knights are deployed there. They’re not the only threats." During the previous full-scale war with Azfen, one knight barely managed to disengage to participate in that battle. Back then, the focus was not on diminishing Azfen’s might. Instead, the aim was quick strikes and withdrawals. Why? 'Because being absent for too long causes threats elsewhere.' Because the absence of a knight poses vulnerabilities elsewhere. Azfen was the immediate threat, necessitating his presence. If it weren’t, the knight wouldn’t have even come to the field. Everything made sense. The absence of knights, why only parts of the knight's order remained at the palace, and more. And all this presented rebel dreamers with a golden opportunity. ‘Even the Royal Guard was caught up in factions.’ The gatekeepers, even the gate commander, were no exceptions. Everyone was forced to take sides. Fact and reality intertwined, forming a single narrative. Why does everything align so perfectly? Why was the stage set so favorably for those dreaming of rebellion? Why did it so conveniently allow them to act? Encrid’s instincts bolstered his keen situational awareness. Although it wasn’t combat, his focus naturally heightened, his senses sharpened. From his racing thoughts, he drew a conclusion. What does Krang stand to gain from all this? Why did he come to the palace and set things in motion? Since his arrival, the noble factions have been behaving as if their feet were on fire. Demanding the heir relinquish the throne. He was gradually consolidating influence. Everyone knew Markus from Centerpaw had sided with them. Impatience gave way to action. That, the nobles did. Upon closer scrutiny, the noble factions’ actions could reveal which side they truly stood on. In this environment of drawing lines and taking sides, one had to make a clear statement of allegiance. "Right?" Encrid posed the question without needing to elaborate. Krang responded with a broad smile that seemed almost innocent. It looked like the smile of someone unburdened by the complexities of intrigue. But to some, it would appear quite sinister. "I was just about to spill the beans." Krang had no intention of hiding his plan. In fact, it seemed he was revealing it almost intentionally for others to notice. Krang casually dusted off his knees and stood up. As he rose, he kicked away the stone he had dislodged, sending it skittering into the shadows. "I'm gathering all the unnecessary elements in one place to dispose of them. That's why we need a civil war." If trash is gathered, it must be burned or buried. The civil war would serve that purpose. That was the plan. Of course, the premise was first to drive out the noble factions peacefully from the palace. Krang wasn't here to stop a civil war, but to expedite it. Moreover, to achieve his goals perfectly in the process. By laying out plans and subtly encouraging people to choose sides. He planned to distinguish between useful and useless statements. Naturally, this would all be based on force. 'By deliberately pulling troops from the palace, he’s filtering out potential traitors.' That was Encrid's conclusion. Encrid stood up as well. It was time to leave. Inside the mansion, he spotted Andrew emerging, looking utterly fatigued. Watching him, Encrid asked one of the two pressing questions he had come for. "Do you know who leads the Black Blade?" The leader of the thieves settled within the palace, a member of the Black Lily. That's what Jaxen had discovered. However, they couldn’t unveil how adeptly this so-called leader concealed themselves. Nonetheless, an offer had come that seemed linked to an assassination guild. "Coincidentally, they're my biggest headache too. I'll compile the necessary information and send it to you for consideration. I'm searching for them myself." Encrid nodded. His objective in trailing parties to meet Krang was fulfilled. His curiosity was sated, and he had secured a promise of assistance. In that moment, Encrid had effectively chosen his side. "Hey, Enki. You're not considering becoming my knight, are you?" Krang paused his steps and suddenly asked. "What?" "You just don’t seem like someone who’d be content as anyone's knight. Just saying." That same bright smile accompanied those words before Krang turned and walked away. He acted as if a response was of no consequence. Encrid didn’t dwell on it. The thought of being a knight held weight for him. Not the thought of serving someone as a knight. It wasn't a pressing matter at the moment. The important thing was that Krang was in the process of defining foes and allies. By setting the stage, he had communicated to all nobles through his actions. Revealed his intention. Only a select few might perceive his deeper intentions among the nobles. Yet, even if they noticed, ignoring it was not an option. Krang had effectively thrown down the gauntlet for all nobles: with no knights and no knightly orders, dare to cause havoc in the palace. The impact was palpable. Everyone began mustering private forces, dreaming of royal overthrow or scheming. Count Molsen presumed to be the ruler of the borders. Inside the palace, the number of individuals brazenly displaying ambition had increased. 'He might really get killed like this.' He briefly worried. In laying out this plan, Krang was in the greatest jeopardy. The emergence of someone with a legitimate claim to the throne was an eyesore for all. Given the circumstances, Krang's natural confidence in assuming kingship and looking to the future underscored the difference in caliber. Encrid dismissed his fleeting concern. A mind sharp enough to devise such a scheme surely included provisions for self-preservation. After all, it was a game plan set upon the foundation of power. He was curious nonetheless about the kind of hidden strength Krang wielded. A desire to witness this power emerged, though it seemed unlikely to be revealed just yet. "Can't you stop attending parties? It's seriously stressful for me." Andrew, who had approached without Encrid noticing, complained. "Training is better, isn't it?" That remark silenced Andrew. When faced with a choice between training and parties, the answer was obvious. "I choose training." Even in that brief moment, sweat beaded on his brow as he made the decision. "Alright, let's do that." The pursuit of parties had come to an end. Having walked carefully with Jaxen by his side, no one else seemed eager to confront them. Until Krang’s thrown sparks erupted, things would remain quiet. In the meantime, they'd capture the leader of the Black Blade, watch Krang’s plans unfold, and perhaps add their weight to the happenings. That would be the entirety of it. Through it, they might encounter unexpected adversaries. Would the ambitious assembled factions really act so thoughtlessly? A speech devoid of force loses its power. Especially now when force essentially equated to law within the palace. Wasn't the newly appointed magistrate said to be a significant threat? "Let's head out. Training awaits." With determination, Andrew gritted his teeth and spoke, as Encrid moved alongside him. And so they returned to the estate, and by the next dawn, Encrid had to attend to a visitor. "So the rumors are true; you've come to the capital." Kinn Vaiser, known as the capital's most beautiful woman, remarked. Encrid was in the midst of swinging a poleaxe, sweat glistening on his skin. Rhem emphasized that mastering various weapons was as important as facing opponents. Indeed, it had proven beneficial. With only one hand on the end, he swung the poleaxe in an uncouth manner, sweat pouring down his face. So he received his guest in that state. "You’re still the same when it comes to welcoming guests." "Weren't you accompanied?" Encrid asked, temporarily lowering the end of the poleaxe and turning his body. His training garments clung to his skin from the sweat, accentuating his muscles. Kinn, contemplating how she’d like to touch them, opened her mouth to speak. "Yes, there's someone eager to meet you. Shouldn't you freshen up and receive them courteously?" From outside the estate, a certain aura could be sensed. It was clear there was someone of considerable skill nearby. While not exuding a menacing aura, they weren't concealing their presence either. To be so openly assertive meant only one thing. At the very least, they were a quasi-knight. "There's no need for such pomp just to meet an old man." A voice echoed as someone entered the manor. It was a white-haired noble, an individual quite advanced in age, though his gait exhibited understated power. It felt like a strong, resolute stride. As he entered, Mac quickly made an appearance, and Andrew stepped forward too. "What brings you here?" Even Andrew seemed somewhat flustered. In the current kingdom, Vaiser was the one closest to the Queen. The individual with the most formidable force, discounting the knight order, was Count Molsen. However, if both the citizens and the nobility were asked to name the most noble-like individual, another name would surface. In his own domain, he was revered for his kindness and clear sense of judgment. Outside, although he belonged to no particular faction and took no sides, he still commanded universal respect. Naturally belonging to one of the five major noble families, he owned the largest land in the kingdom and was also the Queen's mentor. He was the Marquess of Okto, the kingdom's supporting fourth pillar. Outwardly, he resembled a neighborly grandfather deeply absorbed in a game of chess. Smiling, the Marquess entered and said, "I've come as a guest, so if I'm in the wrong place, do let me know. I have no intention of causing any inconvenience." At this, Andrew shook his head. "Not at all. It may be humble, but you are welcome to stay as long as you wish." Seeing Andrew express such respect indicated the esteemed conduct of the Marquess. Encrid felt the same distinct aura. He was unlike other nobles. He was someone who had achieved much based on his merits and legacy. Amidst the nobles he had encountered here, the Marquess felt the most genuine. Not that he was underestimated. The presence of his escorts spoke volumes. From the intensity of their gaze as they sat at a stone table in the training yard, examining him keenly. "Continue with what you were doing. Since I dropped by unannounced, I shall wait." "Your Excellency." Next to them, Kinn spoke up, signaling with her eyes for Encrid to come take a seat. Seeing this, Encrid replied, "Very well." Since the intention to wait was genuine and not mere politeness, it seemed right to respect his wishes. It was not a contest of dominion. Yet, sensing a slight increase in tension from the escorts behind, he found it intriguing. Those two looked ready to leap at any moment. "Who’s our guest here?" Of course, those behind Encrid reacted as well. Rhem approached with a question, while Ragna, seated nearby, glanced in their direction. Jaxen had somehow positioned himself leaning against the manor's entrance wall, while Dunbakel and Esther moved to stand beside Encrid. In terms of presence, they were second to none.