Chapter 42: Shadows of Secrets

Ethan seized Jifron by the collar.

“Let… let go!”

The Baron’s挣扎 was quite bothersome.

Slap!

A sharp strike to his cheek silenced him instantly. The sheer force knocked him out cold.

Despite the Baron being beaten before their eyes, no one moved.

“From now on, the Baron’s seat is vacant. For the time being, I’ll personally govern the Romenton Barony.”

Ethan hoisted the unconscious Jifron and approached the knights.

The remaining knights had attacked him under their master’s orders.

Yet they held some respect for the Ardan Ducal House, or at least bore no hostility.

That’s why he spared them.

“Where’s the prison?”

“It’s… near the training ground to the west.”

“Lock him in there.”

“The… the Baron in prison?”

“I said he’s no longer a Baron.”

Good heavens.

To actually imprison Jifron!

There wasn’t a hint of jest in Ethan’s words. This was no joke.

“When I return, if he’s not in the prison, you’ll answer for it.”

Even knights sworn to their lord’s loyalty faltered when their lives were openly threatened. The knight Ethan addressed was no exception.

“Any complaints?”

No one stepped forward.

With a smirk, he handed Jifron to the knights. Hesitating, they carried the Baron toward the prison.

Ethan’s gaze turned to the soldiers.

Despite Jifron’s orders, they had fiercely defied him.

They reminded him of the old Ducal House—worthy of gratitude.

He gave a slight bow.

“Thank you all.”

“N-No! We only did what was right…!”

The soldiers jumped in protest.

To commoners like them, their actions were natural. Hardly worthy of the great Ducal House heir lowering his head.

Ethan continued.

“I promise you here and now: the Romenton Barony will change.”

Gulp!

The soldiers swallowed hard.

In their childhood, the Ardan Ducal Territory was renowned as the best place to live in the Hydern Kingdom.

Ruthless to enemies, yet kinder than anyone to those within its fold.

Thus, the people of the Ducal Territory took immense pride and revered every Duke.

The Archduke was their heir. His words carried unmatched credibility.

Extortion and oppression would vanish, and the golden age could return.

Hope filled the soldiers’ eyes.

“If the Archduke governs the Barony… I’ll protect this land with my life!”

“Me too!”

Amid the excited soldiers, one raised his hand.

“Archduke! C-Could you… shake my hand?”

William shouted, eyes shut tight. He recalled a story from his parents.

When the previous Duke visited, he’d shaken their hands and blessed them.

Afterward, their endeavors flourished, allowing them to open a proper shop in the city.

Though that Duke had passed, his heir stood before him.

If I could get the Archduke’s handshake!

Perhaps he, too, could build a thriving family.

Ethan nodded readily.

During past inspections with his father, he’d blessed some villagers with prayers.

“Not difficult.”

He approached the soldier.

“What’s your name?”

“W-William!”

“William, may blessings guide your path.”

Just as his father taught him.

Ethan blessed him.

“Thank you! I’ll never wash this hand!”

“…Wash it anyway. The blessing won’t fade that easily.”

“Right! Thank you!”

William bowed deeply. Then—

“Archduke! Bless me too…!”

“Me too…!”

Soldiers raised their hands en masse. It seemed today would involve many handshakes.

After shaking hands with all two hundred soldiers, Ethan entered the Inner Castle.

Everyone inside looked ashen.

The 5-star knight commander and the 4-star deputy had both met their end.

The knight corps couldn’t even touch a hair on the Archduke—his prowess was undeniable.

He hid his strength.

The rumors from the Kargas Barony were proven false.

As a result, Jifron was imprisoned without resistance. He’d mocked Helmut, yet met a wretched end himself.

As silence enveloped the Inner Castle, a figure entered.

As if it were natural, she reached the Baron’s office and knocked.

“Archduke, may I enter?”

“Go ahead.”

Silvia stepped inside.

“You’ve now reclaimed two baronies.”

“A long road ahead. Where’s Frexian?”

“I’ve informed my master. He’ll arrive within a day.”

Silvia handed over documents.

Ethan opened them.

Like with the Kargas Barony, they detailed strategies for misinformation.

Not bad, he thought.

The more the enemy underestimated him, the easier his moves.

Nodding approvingly, he turned to the second page.

“Details on the Romenton Baron’s Family’s vassals and kin.”

He studied the contents.

The documents listed the kin’s connections to vassals and their actions in detail.

Her intelligence network had been busy.

“This place is thoroughly rotten too.”

“Yes. It needs a purge. If you make the decisions, I’ll handle the rest.”

“Do it.”

He first reviewed the tax officials’ profiles.

Eight out of ten were corrupt beyond redemption.

Marking an X on their names, he deemed them beyond salvage. Confiscate their assets and send them to the guillotine.

Xs multiplied across the pages.

“By the way, how’s the recruitment of officials?”

“We’ve gathered over thirty, all with experience in the Ducal Territory and sound character.”

“Leave ten in the Kargas Barony and send the rest here.”

With so many vacancies, they needed capable people.

Twenty should prevent administrative collapse.

“I’ll arrange it.”

Next, he entrusted Silvia with command of the soldiers.

She’d handle the marked individuals and restrain the Barony’s kin.

She nodded lightly.

Less than a day after seizing the Romenton Baron’s Family, the purge was already in full swing.

A day passed.

The prison’s population had surged.

So many deserved confinement.

Someone approached the prison.

Silvia.

Several knights escorted her.

She gazed at the prison building.

Unlike a dungeon, it was a three-story stone tower.

She climbed the stairs. Jifron was locked in the topmost cell.

“Get up.”

A single day.

In a sunless solitary cell, Jifron’s face was deathly pale.

As if he’d been lost in thought for ages.

“Who are you?”

“The Archduke’s Strategist.”

“Why are you here?”

“To ask questions.”

Silvia calmly produced several tools.

Jifron’s face turned white. Clearly torture devices.

Bound tightly, unable to move, he faced pure terror.

“What… what are you doing, you maniac!”

“You know what happened to Helmut, don’t you?”

“If you want a peaceful end, answer my questions.”

Her expressionless, curt delivery suggested no room for negotiation.

Such people were the most terrifying.

As Jifron trembled, Silvia asked.

“The Duke’s relic. Where is it?”

“The relic… you mean that black liquid?”

“Yes.”

Jifron’s eyes darted. When the previous Duke passed, a mass of black liquid had emerged from his body.

Its purpose was unknown, but it was clearly extraordinary.

All ten branch families coveted it, leading to an auction.

Eight pieces existed, and Jifron had won one.

The Archduke’s Strategist was seeking it?

It must be valuable. Greed stirred within him.

“You’re reacting just like Helmut.”

Silvia picked up a tool—a small, thorn-like awl with sharp edges.

She drove it into Jifron’s thigh.

“Argh!”

“Answer?”

“It’s… in my office… inside! Stop… stop twisting, you lunatic!”

The sensation of a blade grinding in his thigh was excruciating.

Silvia released her grip.

She pulled something from her pocket and sprinkled it on his thigh.

“What… what’s that?”

“Hemostatic powder.”

Madwoman!

Why stop the bleeding right after wounding?

To inflict maximum pain if he resisted.

She was truly insane.

“Second question.”

Jifron’s eyes shook violently.

He instinctively knew.

Fail to answer, and he’d endure endless agony.

“The ‘Order’ serving the Dragonkin, or a group of skilled mages—know anything? They must’ve approached you.”

She toyed with the awl.

Who knew when it would pierce his thigh again?

Pure terror.

As she raised it—

“Wait! I need time to think!”

“One minute.”

Jifron spent the most intense minute of his life.

58 seconds.

59 seconds.

As the minute neared its end—

“I remember! You mean those lunatic cultists?”

“…Cultists?”

“Well…”

Jifron spoke urgently. Silvia listened intently.

After gathering the information—

She left the prison and headed straight to the Archduke’s office.

“Done?”

“I learned the Eight Rings’ location and some intriguing information. Ever heard of the Dragon God Scripture?”

“The Dragon God Scripture?”

“It’s said to contain praises for the Dragonkin.”

An interesting tale.