Chapter 49

Darius Brutus is a general.

Even if someone from another country were to hear this, they would probably just tilt their head in confusion, not knowing what it means. However, in the country of Holmea, when one speaks of a general, it is not an exaggeration to say that they are referring to Darius himself.

The Brutus family, into which Darius was born, is one of the most prominent noble families in Holmea, with ties to the royal family. As the eldest son, he was obligated from birth to lead and fight in battles. At the tender age of twelve, during his first battle, although he was accompanied by a seasoned knight from the Brutus family, he was entrusted with the command of fifty soldiers.

At that time, the young Darius felt a strong sense of responsibility, realizing that his orders could mean life or death for the soldiers.

From then on, he strove to improve himself without being arrogant about his lineage. This effort was not limited to honing his martial skills and studying military strategy. To truly understand the soldiers under his command, he actively engaged in conversations with common soldiers, shared meals from the same pot on the battlefield, and praised their achievements regardless of their lineage.

This behavior was quite unusual for a noble of that time. Even Darius's own family did not approve of it.

However, as a result, he earned the deep respect of the common soldiers.

While many nobles treated common soldiers as expendable pawns, Darius valued their lives and aimed for solid, less risky battles. This made him a valuable presence to the common soldiers.

Therefore, when the soldiers fought under Darius, they displayed a terrifying strength. While many soldiers would flee in the face of defeat under other generals, under Darius's command, they fought tenaciously, turning many dire situations around and bringing victory to Holmea.

Eventually, Darius was praised as the best general in Holmea and was appointed as the Grand General.

The Grand General is the supreme commander of the military, to whom the King of Holmea delegates full authority over the army. If there is no suitable candidate, the king himself would take on this role. This position is so important that it clearly demonstrates Darius's exceptional abilities.

However, even Darius could not resist the passage of time.

"It's not becoming for an old man like me to strut around as the Grand General."

Five years ago, Darius said this to the king and resigned from his position as Grand General. Essentially, he was aging and wanted to step down from such a demanding role. Indeed, his snow-white hair and deeply etched wrinkles told the story of his advanced age.

However, when the high officials of Holmea heard his words, they all tilted their heads in confusion, thinking, "Is he joking?"

After all, the sight of Darius, clad in heavy armor, walking with a dignified air and a white beard flowing in the wind, did not seem like that of an old man. This was partly due to his daily training, but more so because of the vitality that radiated from within him.

Even now, five years later, this has not changed. Darius, freed from the heavy responsibilities of the Grand General, was so full of vitality that his friends even said he looked younger. He spent every spare moment training himself and drilling his private soldiers, as if to vent the frustration of being confined to a room in the palace.

In response to this, his close subordinates would say in unison:

"He is a general at heart."

With these words, everyone would nod in agreement.

Darius was such a man.

And today, as he was practicing with a wooden sword in the courtyard of his mansion, an elderly butler approached him.

"Master, a visitor has arrived."

Darius, finishing his final swing with a sharp exhale, responded:

"Really? I don't recall making any appointments today. Who has come to visit?"

Darius planted the wooden sword in the ground and picked up a cloth from a nearby tree branch to wipe the sweat that was rising from his body like steam.

"I apologize for the intrusion, but I thought it best to inform you. I will handle the matter."

As the butler bowed and was about to leave, Darius called him back.

"Wait. What's going on?"

This butler had served the Brutus family for a long time. To Darius, he was not just a subordinate but also a childhood friend and close companion. Sensing the butler's unusual behavior, Darius deduced the nature of the visitor.

"I see. Is it him? — There's no helping it. Show him to the study in the annex."

The butler, however, advised Darius:

"Master, I know it may seem presumptuous, but associating with such a lowly person will tarnish your reputation..."

"I understand your concern, but such people are necessary."

Though still unconvinced, the butler knew that if his master insisted, it would be presumptuous to argue further. He bowed deeply and left.

After wiping the sweat from his body, Darius changed into clean clothes and headed to the annex where the visitor was waiting.

This study, set up in the annex for focused reading and writing, was often used to meet visitors who could not be seen openly.

Opening the heavy wooden door, Darius found two visitors waiting for him.

Darius, walking calmly to the long chair in the center of the room, said:

"I kept you waiting."

The first thing he noticed was a tall woman who could easily be mistaken for a man. With her fiery red hair tied in a single braid down her back and dressed in men's clothing, she could be mistaken for a handsome young man at first glance. However, a glance at her chest revealed her true gender. When she bowed deeply to Darius, her ample chest, like a large fruit from the south, swayed noticeably.

However, Darius's gaze quickly passed over her and focused on the other person standing beside her.

"No, I apologize for the sudden visit, sir."

The one who spoke and bowed was a beautiful young man with a decadent air, reminiscent of a male concubine kept by noble ladies.

His pale beauty was framed by auburn bangs on the right side of his face, and his thin, fine eyes glowed seductively. Just standing there, his slender body swayed, and he was draped in a large piece of fabric, like an ancient Roman toga, covering him from head to toe.

"Tutu, I know your knees are bad. Please sit down without straining yourself."

"Thank you, sir."

The young man called Tutu spoke, and the woman in men's clothing moved fluidly behind him to adjust the wooden wheelchair for him to sit.

As he sat down, the fabric draped over Tutu's shoulders slipped off.

This revealed his arms, or rather, the lack thereof. His arms were missing from the shoulders, and the empty sleeves of his tunic swayed with his movements.

The woman in men's clothing, after replacing the fallen fabric, stood silently behind Tutu.

Since she was only his servant, Darius did not acknowledge her presence and did not offer her a seat.

"It's unusual for you to come to the mansion, Tutu."

"I am deeply sorry. I fear I have caused discomfort to everyone."

Despite his youthful appearance, his mature speech did not surprise Darius. Darius suspected that Tutu was not as young as he appeared.

Darius, a prominent noble, met this mysterious and suspicious person through an incident involving the woman in men's clothing, who was now accompanying Tutu.

Five soldiers, though heavily intoxicated, were trained and robust men under Darius. However, the woman swiftly defeated all five of them in an instant, just as Darius arrived to stop the commotion.

Intrigued by her skills, Darius apologized for his subordinate's rudeness and invited her for tea. It was then that she introduced her master, Tutu.

Initially, Darius's interest was solely in the woman's skills. However, during their conversation over tea, his interest quickly shifted to Tutu himself.

The depth of his knowledge, his understanding of customs and traditions in regions unknown to Darius, and his extensive network in the underworld, which connected him to people in less reputable professions, all piqued Darius's interest.

Darius realized that his subordinates had likely fallen into a trap set by this person.

The purpose was to sell his talents to Darius.

"Will you work for me?"

Darius, recognizing this, bought Tutu's talents.

They were invaluable to him.

No matter how much he interacted with common soldiers, Darius was still a noble. The gap between nobles and commoners was undeniable, and he could not fully understand the true thoughts of the common soldiers. This was even more true for the criminals he was supposed to police.

"Working under you, sir, would be a great honor."

Thus, Tutu began working as Darius's spy. Since then, his work has exceeded expectations, satisfying Darius.

However, despite Darius's trust, Tutu's true identity remained unknown. Tutu himself, mindful of Darius's reputation, rarely visited the mansion directly.

"I have come to report on the recent activities of the Romanian nation, as requested by you, sir."

Tutu nodded to the woman standing behind him, and she handed a bundle of papers to Darius.

These were reports from spies Darius had sent to the neighboring country of Romania.

Romania, a large nation bordering Holmea to the east, had been a long-standing enemy. The two countries had fought numerous wars over the dominance of this region. "When Holmea cries, Romania laughs, and when Romania cries, Holmea laughs" was a common saying that aptly described their relationship.

Darius took the documents and read them in silence for a while.

"Hmm, the King of Romania is trying to undermine Holmea, it seems."

The documents detailed the names of nobles in Holmea who were secretly communicating with Romania and the dates of their correspondence.

"Indeed. Lords Rustiatos and Legnasis are frequently exchanging letters."

Darius placed his hand on his chin, recalling the locations of the territories of the nobles Tutu had mentioned.

"Both of their territories border Romania. They are probably maintaining good relations with Romania as a precaution."

"Yes, I believe it is acceptable to overlook them unless Holmea is in a dire situation."

For the lords near the border, maintaining good relations with the neighboring country was a prudent measure in case of an attack. Overreacting could drive these lords into the arms of the neighboring country.

"In that case, the problem is Lord Bordain."

Darius mentioned a noble whose territory was far from the border but who was exchanging letters with Romania as frequently as the two previously mentioned nobles.

"He is a spendthrift. Perhaps he has been pressured or bribed with gold, or both."

At Tutu's words, Darius's face twisted into a fierce smile.

"A pig selling his country... "

Tutu smiled wryly, imagining the grim fate that awaited the noble Darius had targeted.

After exchanging several more pieces of information, Darius nodded in satisfaction.

"As always, your reports are excellent. I am always grateful for your help."

"No, I am the one who should be grateful for your recognition."

Darius's lips curled into a smile at Tutu's modest response.

"However, if this was just a routine matter, you could have sent a messenger as usual. What brings you here today?"

"Ah, you noticed."

Tutu smiled sheepishly, like a boy caught in mischief. However, his expression quickly turned serious as he whispered:

"Do you remember the incident in Bornis?"

How did he get this information so quickly? As always, his sources were impressive.

"I just heard from a national army officer this morning. It seems that in Bornis, a rebellion by subhuman slaves led to