Translator: MarcTempest

Editor: Himanshu02A few days after Eurius’s appointment as the chief of staff and the deployment to the western alliance, a messenger from the Grand Duke arrived at the southern front.

“So, according to this letter, you want me to leave the south for a while and build up some military achievements on the western front?”

“That is the Grand Duke’s intention. But he said that the choice is yours, of course.”

The messenger, who was one of the Grand Duke’s confidants, knelt down and answered in front of Leonhart.

‘This is just a way of telling me to go up there, right?’

Although he was a prince, he had been a good nephew who followed the Grand Duke’s words for a long time.

Even if he refused here, there was a high possibility that the Grand Duke would send more messengers or come personally to persuade him that this was a golden opportunity.

‘I don’t really feel like it.’

In fact, it was hard to make any significant military achievements by going there late and suppressing a few rebellions of small countries.

‘But it’s better than doing nothing, right?’

He thought sourly to himself, but Leonhart nodded his head.

“Tell him that I’ll be there soon. And thank him for giving me this chance.”

“You have made an excellent choice, as expected of your highness.”

‘Yeah, right…’

He had never used the so-called ‘vulgar language’ unlike Eurius, but not because he didn’t know how to.

But he didn’t decide to go to the west just because he cared about his uncle’s wishes.

‘I can also see my brother’s face on my way up to the capital and breathe some fresh air instead of this annoying desert.’

To be honest, Leonhart was very curious about the rumors that had spread throughout the empire lately.

He didn’t think Eurius had the ability to achieve such amazing military achievements, based on his last memory of him.

And there was also that strange guy who still visited him regularly.

He probably wouldn’t come all the way to the capital.

“It’s been two months since we last met. Are you interested in doing business with us?”

“…!”

Leonhart looked at him with an incredulous expression for a while.

He was so used to his periodic visits that he almost felt familiar with his voice.

‘Should I just tell the Grand Duke about him?’

If they could sneak into the prince’s residence for almost a year, they must have a powerful force behind them.

But he had a reason not to do that.

‘Does the Grand Duke’s faction need any more wings?’

He thought that his chances of becoming the crown prince were quite slim by now.

So he hoped that Eurius and the Grand Duke would fight each other until they ran out of steam.

Leonhart didn’t consider either the imperial faction or the Grand Duke’s faction as his allies from the beginning.

That was why he could think like that.

‘If my brother dies and the Grand Duke’s faction loses a lot of power, that would be the ideal scenario for me.’

“Get lost!”

“We know we are suspicious. But what if we do something that proves our credibility?”

The masked man usually asked his intentions briefly and left, but today he unusually brought up another matter.

“…?”

Leonhart felt that he smiled behind his mask that only showed his eyes.“Do you know about the royal martial arts tournament that will take place this summer? We will take your first brother’s life there.”

“That’s absurd…”

The royal martial arts tournament was a big event that was favorable for assassins to infiltrate. But the guards who protected the royal family in the capital were not a joke either.

“As we told you before, nothing bad will happen to you, your highness. And we heard that you are going to the west for a while. We wish you good luck.”

‘They knew I was going to the west and they planned to assassinate my brother…’

The Grand Duke’s letter had arrived not long ago.

He hadn’t even officially announced his intention to go up yet, but they knew about it.

That meant their intelligence was not ordinary.

‘They are not trustworthy after all.’

Leonhart hardened his face. He had no interest in becoming an emperor who was only a shell. What would he do with their dubious power?

‘But my brother’s assassination is interesting.’

Could they really succeed in killing a royal family member in the capital? And without causing any harm to him?

As soon as such a suspicious incident happened, the Grand Duke who backed him up would be suspected first, and then himself.

That was where his interest lay.

He spoke to the masked man who was about to disappear quietly as usual for the first time.

“Wait!”

***

“Your Majesty, Count Perez has requested a meeting with you.”

“Let him in.”

Eurius greeted his guest who came to his palace today with a smile.

“Your highness, thank you so much for entrusting me with this deployment!”

“Didn’t you miss the chance to earn any merit because of me last time? It’s just my way of showing some consideration!”

Eurius welcomed him warmly as if it was nothing, but Count Perez was at a loss for words in front of him.

‘Was it worth it to serve(?) his majesty diligently on my way up to the capital?’

He knew that Eurius, who was known for his fairness, had taken care of him who had barely achieved anything in the last war. He had some acquaintance with him, and it was better to know him than not, right?

The deployment was urgent, so he had to leave soon, but it wasn’t so urgent that he couldn’t visit the palace near the capital.

He thought this was an opportunity to make another impression on him.

But Eurius didn’t favor Perez because he liked him.

His real purpose was the person he brought with him.

“By the way, you brought Devan with you? I thought he was still a low-ranking staff officer. He must have impressed you a lot, huh?”

“Haha, isn’t it the empire’s policy to favor young and talented people? He’s a capable friend as your majesty said, so I promoted him a lot recently.”

“It’s good to see you again, your highness!”

As expected, Perez brought Devan, who he thought had played an important role in making him look good in front of the prince.

“How is the situation of the third army? I’m worried that there might be some problems with your strength because of the long march…”

“We’ve been resting for several months, haven’t we? I don’t think it’s a problem to face a few kingdoms.”

‘It shouldn’t be a problem, as he said, but I should let him know anyway.’

As they exchanged some casual talk about the expedition, Eurius suddenly remembered his original purpose and brought it up.

“By the way, weren’t you from the Kingdom of Carvan, Devon?”

Devon looked surprised.

He knew that Eurius was interested in him, but he never dreamed that he would remember his origin from a small western kingdom, let alone the Western Alliance.

“Yes, I am. I didn’t expect you to know that.”

“I heard it somewhere.”

“Huh…”

Count Perez looked at Devon with a new interest.

This expedition was a war to help the Kingdom of Carvan and suppress the other hostile kingdoms of the Western Alliance.If he was from that kingdom, he would be somewhat familiar with the culture and geography of that place.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? If you’re from there, I’ll have to listen to your opinions more in this war.”

“I was going to tell you after we deployed, but I guess it’s out now.”

Eurius smiled triumphantly.

‘It seems like there won’t be any problem now, but if his origin is revealed properly, I can use him more effectively.’

Now that he had mentioned it himself, Devon’s opinions would carry a lot of weight in this war.

When the conversation was about to end, Eurius asked Perez to step aside for a moment.

“I want to talk to Devon about some unfinished stories from our academy days. Can I borrow him for a while?”

“We still have plenty of time. I’ll wait outside then.”

After sending Perez away, Eurius and Devon finally faced each other.

Devon looked somewhat puzzled.

Of course, Eurius was a great benefactor to him, but why did he care so much about him?

He had done enough for him last time.

But he had some sense.

He didn’t think that Eurius had called him separately just to hear some stories from the academy.

As he expected, Eurius opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“Devon, I think this war is a great opportunity for you.”

“……!”

“That’s why I gave the 3rd Legion a chance as well. My words at the academy were not empty. I saw your talent and wanted to keep you by my side.”

“Your highness is too kind.”

Devon couldn’t hide his gratitude.

He had shown his abilities at the academy, but he was still a low-ranking staff officer without any notable achievements.

Yet Eurius trusted him and cared for him.

He was the one who had gained a great reputation recently.

He was very thankful for that.

“But unfortunately, neither you nor I are in a good position to stay together.”

Eurius didn’t have the authority to command an army yet, and Devon was still a mere staff officer.

They wanted to work together, but there was no way.

“So I want you to make a brilliant achievement in this war. I think you have enough ability to do that!”

“I’ll do my best. No, I’ll definitely do it!”

Devon knew what Eurius wanted from him and answered with confidence.

He wasn’t lacking in confidence in his abilities either.

But if Eurius had arranged for Perez to push him forward like this, he could now voice his opinions more actively.

That meant he could change the course of the war depending on his abilities.

“Then work hard and come up to where I am! I’ll support you as much as I can until then.”

Eurius patted Devon’s back. Devon’s growth was indispensable for his future plans.

If he rose to a higher position, it would be a great help for him to build his own faction.

‘And there’s no way Devon will fail in this war. The war will be almost over before Leonhart can do anything.’

The Grand Duke would probably send Leonhart to the west in a hurry, but he could only send him as additional support.

If Devon was as capable as he knew, he would have already made a remarkable achievement by then.

This was not an expectation but a certainty.

This was where Devon Calios, who competed for the best strategist in the continent in his previous life, started his brilliant career.

In his previous life, Devon didn’t come to the Empire, but he started from a low-ranking staff officer of the Kingdom of Carvan and gained recognition for his abilities through this war and gradually became famous in the continent.

Eurius also heard that the Western Alliance, which consisted of seven kingdoms at this point, became one under the Kingdom of Carvan thanks to Devon’s outstanding performance.

‘Leonhart will come up to the west and get nothing. This is a good opportunity to raise Devon’s reputation!’

This was the core of his second plan.

No matter how talented he was, he couldn’t use him well in the Empire’s culture that valued abilities without a proper achievement.

‘Please do as well as you did in your previous life, Devon!’