Chapter 94: Ambush in the Hidden Vault

Sure enough, as soon as the tax collection delegation left, there was movement.

Under the cover of a dark, moonless night, a group slipped out of the lord’s castle.

They moved stealthily, but their trail was precisely captured by someone.

Swish.

A man emerged from the shadows.

It was none other than Cordell McNeil, Black Agent of the Imperial Knights.

“Tch! How did he predict this again? His insight is beyond comprehension.”

Duke Abel Carius’s exceptional abilities were already legendary.

From businesses that exploded in success at his touch to his consistently brilliant rulings.

It even made one wonder if the rumors were true—that he was a god.

“Come to think of it, this was practically a prophecy, wasn’t it?”

That once the tax delegation left, someone would try to move the hidden funds.

Those were Duke Carius’s words.

They’d assume Viscount Toby Acword would confess quickly under torture.

It made perfect sense when you thought about it.

But to predict that and immediately decide to leave the scene—that decisiveness.

None of the leaders Cordell knew were this outstanding.

“Whoa? I’m gonna lose them at this rate.”

While briefly thinking of Abel Carius, the group had already vanished into the forest.

Even though it was the frontier, teeming with monsters, their movements showed no hesitation.

Which meant this was a path they’d frequented enough to prove it safe.

Cordell McNeil swiftly tailed them.

Soon, they reached a cliff hidden among the bushes.

“Nothing here but natural scenery…”

As Cordell’s mutter suggested, this was just a dense forest.

A place untouched by human feet, with an eerie atmosphere to boot. It wouldn’t be strange if undead monsters popped out.

Yet the five figures in black robes vanished in an instant.

They’d just been walking along the cliff, but it looked like they’d evaporated.

“Whoa!”

Even Cordell, skilled in espionage, couldn’t hide his shock.

Their presence had been completely erased.

But the bewilderment was fleeting.

Whatever secret it was, he’d uncover it.

Cordell McNeil scouted the cliff area.

Then he noticed something odd.

“Oh? So that’s how they made the secret entrance.”

The trick was ingenious yet simple.

A small hole covered by camouflage netting—that was the entrance.

It slid inward like a cylindrical slide.

The last person pulled a rope as they descended, covering the hole again.

If he hadn’t seen them enter directly, it would have been extremely hard to spot.

“Even if the netting was peeled back, it’d be tough to notice.”

It’d look like a natural hole or an animal burrow.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Cordell McNeil leaped in.

He knew who they were and had found their hideout— no need to be cautious.

From here, he’d just go in and crush them all…

Slide! Thud!

“Huh?”

Cordell, having slid all the way in, wore a dumb expression.

The brightly lit interior was filled with dozens of burly men waiting.

All heavily armed.

“As expected, a rat followed. Who are you?”

“He’s gotta be from the tax delegation. I checked at the gate; they were one short.”

“Crush the spy quick. We gotta move the goods first.”

“Yeah, that’s the priority.”

The clanking of armor grew closer by the second.

But Cordell McNeil’s face remained utterly calm.

No matter how elite they were, they couldn’t beat a knight trained in aura…

Humm!

Suddenly, blue streaks of light unfolded before his eyes.

“Huh? This wasn’t in the plan?”

The approaching ones were all emitting clear auras.

At that level, they’d rank mid-to-upper in any capital knight order.

Over thirty of them, with no escape route?

In this tight space, victory seemed impossible.

Even for a Black Agent of the Imperial Knights, it was too disadvantageous.

But at that exact moment.

Sliiiide!!

Someone came sliding down the cylindrical chute.

A figure in a black jacket, landing dramatically.

It was Abel Carius, the mastermind of this operation.

“Ooh! Your Grace, these bastards raided the vault. Crush them quick!”

Cordell McNeil scampered over and quickly ratted out the enemies.

I glanced back and shook my head.

“Please act with some dignity. You’re with the Imperial Knights, after all.”

“Who cares? I’m not stationed at the palace. Besides, this is my true self.”

“Sigh!”

How he hid that personality to join the Imperial Knights was beyond me.

He was truly incomprehensible.

“The duke? So this guy’s the head of that delegation.”

“Perfect timing. We can cut off the root entirely.”

“Did Toby Acword confess already?”

“We’ll find out tomorrow. If so, eliminate him too.”

They spat out terrifying words without hesitation.

Not just obstructing a duke’s duties, but killing to silence?

What kind of lunatics were these?

They must be going all out since their secret’s exposed.

Then I’d respond in kind.

Time to show my skills after so long?

Gripping the communication rod, a warm sensation climbed my arm.

「Beast’s Heart Activation」

Yes. This was it.

My blood boiled with frenzy.

I was the second most important person in the empire after the Emperor.

Normally, I’d never get a chance at real combat.

And my position was Chief Justice, no less.

I couldn’t wield violence freely.

Just look at the Yates Marquis case.

But when the enemy clearly threatened, it was different.

Retribution must be firm. But always within bounds.

Beast’s Heart was a skill that turned one into a berserker instantly.

One slip, and I could lose reason.

After all I’d built, I’d never do something stupid like…

Clang!

“Oh?”

This wasn’t something to handle lightly.

The sharp sensation in my grip.

I’d deflected four sword strikes at once, but the impact was greater than expected.

It’s not just the aura quality. Their fundamental skill is excellent.

There were such people sometimes.

Talented in aura sensitivity but lacking real battle experience—hothouse flowers.

Noble heirs with knight titles.

But these reeked of rough battlefields.

The way they swiftly regained balance after clashing with the rod said it all.

Footwork to dissipate impact. That’s not just from practice.

Yet a question arose.

Why were they raiding the lord’s assets?

Marquis Yates wasn’t some middling noble.

They’d get ample rewards without colluding with tax officials.

“We’ll beat it out of them.”

No need to overthink—just take them all down and interrogate.

I tightened my grip on the rod.

The crimson flames doubled in size, blazing fiercely.

“Damn, it’s the northern berserker. He came himself? This is a headache.”

Someone recognized me, grumbling.

But the knights didn’t waver.

They just steadied their stances, eyes gleaming.

“Doesn’t matter who—kill and erase. Operation start!”

“Glory to Yates!”

They closed the distance instantly, slashing swiftly.

But the directions and speeds were unusual.

Attacking with time delays, targeting different spots.

This would make deflecting all tough.

Aura-infused strikes carried heavy recoil.

Prioritizing dangerous ones would leave my body bloodied everywhere.

“Heh!”

But I just smiled faintly.

No intention of dodging.

I could tank this bare-bodied.

「Extreme Choice Activation」

Humm!

A heavy vibration, and two options appeared.

Without hesitation, I picked one and dismissed the hologram.

Time to focus on battle.

「Choice ‘Defense’」

「You have entered ‘Water Punch’ state.」

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The skill activated, and a tremendous noise erupted.

Like hammering iron plate madly.

Seven slashes raked my body.

Blue auras swept past, but not a scratch on me.

And more—I extended my left hand to grab the last attack.

Crunch! Grind!

“Th-This!”

The knight twisted his wrist desperately.

His face turned beet red, but the sword didn’t budge.

I gifted him a fresh shock.

Whoosh—!

The rod smashed his temple, spinning his body in mid-air.

The limp knight didn’t twitch.

Knocked out in one blow.

As expected, this works.

Even with attack power halved, it wasn’t zero damage.

Abel Carius was inherently strong.

A precise strike always landed effectively.

“Don’t waver. Stick to training!”

“Yes!”

“He’ll fall eventually. Keep pressing!”

“Charge!”

One down futilely, but their morale held.

At the apparent commander’s shout, countless auras poured.

Another precise linked assault unfolded.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Regardless, I trusted Extreme Choice and pushed forward.

But a movement pierced my sharpened senses.

Clang!

Instinctively swung rod sparked brightly.

Ugh!

I nearly groaned.

The impact flowing up my arm was beyond imagination.

An aura of different caliber—dense and slightly dark.

Probably the commander’s strike.

He seemed skilled, so I’d take him first.

“Hmm?”

Clang! Clang!

This time, strikes targeted the rod.

Crushing the enemy’s weapon was battle basics.

But now, I couldn’t.

They’d realized attacking my body was pointless.

So they’d disarm me first.

I somehow deflected them all, but my grip throbbed like tearing.

Thanks to boosted defense from Extreme Choice, I was fine, but at this rate, I’d drop the rod…

Claaang! Whoosh!

“Oh, damn.”

Bad omens never miss—the situation turned tricky.

The commander hid in his allies’ gaps, then struck suddenly.

Blocking it, the rod flew far away.

Even superhumanly strong, I couldn’t beat such experts bare-handed.

“Hehehe! Finally got rid of that damn hammer.”

“Now’s the chance. Finish him!”

The knights charged with fire in their eyes.

“Your Grace! I’ll handle this. Run!”

Cordell McNeil stepped forward from the side.

As a bodyguard, he meant to sacrifice himself.

But that was wrong from the start.

There was no space to run here anyway.

Guess I’ll fight bare-handed… Huh?

Raising my arms for a boxing stance, a fallen knight’s weapon caught my eye.

A well-maintained greatsword.

Not familiar, but better than nothing?

The thought hit, and I leaped to grab it.

But at that instant.

「Combat skill unlocked.」