Chapter 54

"Hey, look at this?"

Astonishment rose on Auto's real face beneath the mask.

"He's asking me to kill him?"

It was a strange feeling.

Would there ever be another day in his life when he would receive a contract to kill himself?

"Auto de Scuderi... "

Auto repeated with interest and asked the crown prince.

"Are you already worried about that unheard-of guy?"

"He's not someone to be underestimated."

The crown prince replied.

"From the information I've gathered, Auto de Scuderi is a very capable person. In just a few months, he has taken control of most of the western region and laid the foundation for a country, hasn't he?"

"Hmm."

"He may be the king of a small, insignificant country now, but he could grow significantly if our country falls into civil war, couldn't he?"

"That's a possibility, but..."

"Moreover, once the civil war begins, our country's power will weaken greatly."

The crown prince's prediction was correct.

No matter which side wins, the power of the Roshan Kingdom will weaken significantly in the future.

In the worst case, more than 70% of the military might could be lost.

"If Auto de Scuderi invades while our country is weakened... it could be very dangerous. Even if I defeat that traitor Alex and reclaim the throne, what good would it do if the Iota Kingdom invades and our country is destroyed?"

"You make a valid point."

...But Auto felt a twinge inside.

'This guy is sharp.'

The crown prince was accurately seeing through Auto's plan.

Of course, he wouldn't dream that the person in front of him was Auto...

"I want to cut the roots. I want to eliminate the leader of the force that could threaten my kingdom in the future."

"I understand what you mean."

"I will eliminate Auto de Scuderi and defeat my uncle to claim the throne."

"What will you do next?"

"Of course, I will invade Iota, which will have lost its leader."

"Oh?"

"Then our Roshan Kingdom will completely dominate this region. If that happens... our Roshan Kingdom will have a foothold to become a great power."

The crown prince's ambition was truly remarkable.

To completely dominate the western border region of the continent and then advance eastward to become a great power.

It was exactly the same as Auto's plan.

The crown prince was certainly no fool.

"What do you think of my plan?"

"It's very wise."

"Can you help me? If you help me, I will not let you down."

"Well..."

Auto smiled and replied.

Of course, his smiling face couldn't be seen behind the mask...

"Of course. I will help you, Your Highness."

"Really? Oh! Thank you."

"It's nothing..."

"Then you will kill Auto de Scuderi?"

"Of course. I'll have Gonzales, that vicious and persistent guy, assassinate Auto de Scuderi."

Yes, I'll kill him.

Hehehe.

"Thank you! Really, thank you!"

The crown prince grabbed Auto's hand and thanked him.

Unaware that the person right in front of him was the very Auto he had asked to be killed...

* * *

After the meeting.

"What is it?"

Camille asked Auto, who had returned to the lodging.

"It's nothing much. Just that I need a bit more help. I appreciate it."

"Understood."

"And..."

Auto added.

"I need you to kill me. The crown prince..."

"Understood."

Camille immediately placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Hey, you!"

Auto shouted when he saw Camille about to draw his sword.

"Are you going to kill me just because I said so! In Korean... no, you should listen to the whole story, right?"

"It's just following orders?"

"Am I crazy? Would I really ask you to kill me?"

"Didn't you?"

"No!!!"

Camille, looking disappointed, removed his hand from the hilt.

"What's with that look? You seem disappointed?"

"Does it look that way?"

"Yeah, completely."

"It's just a feeling."

Camille said firmly.

"Anyway, what's with that... charming... no, strange order?"

Camille, trying to suppress his true feelings, asked Auto.

"The crown prince wants me dead."

"Really...?"

"The king of the Iota Kingdom, Auto de Scuderi, to be precise. As a precaution for the future."

"Was the crown prince such a good person?"

"What? Good?"

Auto glared.

"Your comment just now was quite suspicious?"

"It's a misunderstanding."

"What's the misunderstanding?"

"I was just saying that the crown prince has an excellent strategic vision for the future."

"Really?"

"To the crown prince, I am a very threatening enemy. It's natural to want to eliminate such an enemy before they grow stronger, isn't it?"

"That's true, but..."

Auto, looking suspicious, narrowed his eyes and glared at Camille.

"..."

Camille looked at Auto expressionlessly, as if he didn't understand what he was talking about.

"I'd rather die than suffer."

Auto, seeing how good Camille was at acting, gave up on interrogating him.

No matter how tough he was, there was no reason to push further when Camille was so good at maintaining his composure and denying everything.

"Anyway, if you're asked to kill me, you should do it. I'd actually prefer it. When the news of Auto de Scuderi's death reaches the crown prince, he will trust me even more."

"Understood."

"Go tell Duke Wazir. He'll take care of it."

"Understood."

Camille, following Auto's orders, immediately left Fort Pelton and headed for the Iota Kingdom.

* * *

The rebel army led by Duke Alex.

And the suppression army led by Crown Prince Louis Blanc.

The armies of the two factions left their encampments almost simultaneously and advanced towards each other.

The rebels from west to east.

The suppression army from east to west.

The civil war for the throne had begun.

On the other hand, the command of the suppression army led by the crown prince was deeply troubled.

In the tent.

"The terrain is extremely unfavorable."

Crown Prince Louis Blanc, as soon as the evening meeting began, looked at the map with a troubled expression.

"Is there no way?"

"Unfortunately, there is no other solution."

Count Robert answered the crown prince's question.

"No matter how much we increase our marching speed, we cannot prevent the rebels from securing the advantageous terrain."

"Then what should we do? Our army is at a great disadvantage, isn't it?"

The crown prince said, sounding frustrated.

Indeed, the situation was quite frustrating.

The 1st Legion, being the elite force of the Roshan Kingdom, had formidable combat power, but the problem was with supplies and terrain.

Currently, the 1st Legion only had enough food and supplies for one month, so the longer the war dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would become.

Moreover, the terrain was not favorable, and attacking first would certainly result in heavy casualties.

On the other hand, the rebels had a very advantageous position.

Thanks to controlling the capital, they could receive food and various supplies steadily.

In other words, they could prolong the war and maintain a very advantageous position.

'They must be frustrated.'

Auto, listening quietly to the conversation between the crown prince and Count Robert, could see through their thoughts.

"We have no future if we cannot break through this canyon ridge. It will be a tough battle, but we must capture the canyon ridge at all costs."

"Even if we succeed, we cannot avoid heavy casualties."

"Then what should we do? If we continue like this, we will starve to death. Is there any other solution?"

"That is..."

Even Count Robert, a seasoned commander, could not come up with a way to capture the canyon ridge in the current situation.

'He won't be able to hold back and will launch a desperate attack.'

Auto predicted the crown prince's next move.

"We must capture the canyon ridge at all costs. Only then can we continue this war."

Sure enough, Auto's prediction became reality in just a few seconds.

'All or nothing. Either the army will be wiped out like dogs, or they will somehow manage to capture the ridge.'

Based on Auto's experience, the probability of the crown prince capturing the canyon ridge was about 20%.

'The problem is that even if they succeed, the loss of troops will be too great.'

Auto estimated that if they succeeded, the crown prince would lose more than a third of his troops.

This would make the war even more difficult, and the civil war would quickly end with Duke Alex's victory.

Then the Iota Kingdom would be finished.

Just like the crown prince, Duke Alex would not let the rapidly growing Iota Kingdom go unchecked.

"Your Highness, but that is too dangerous..."

"Sometimes great sacrifices must be made. Count Robert, you know that if we do not capture the canyon ridge, we have no future."

"..."

"I have already made my decision. We will attack the canyon ridge."

At that moment.

"I will do it."

Auto stepped forward.

'Here, I need to help.'

If he could help capture the canyon ridge, Crown Prince Louis Blanc and Duke Alex would engage in a destructive conflict.

In other words, more than half of Auto's goal would be achieved.

"I will try to capture the canyon ridge."

"Is that possible?"

The crown prince couldn't believe Auto's statement.

The canyon ridge was a crucial strategic point, with nearly 10,000 rebels defending it.

To say he would capture it...

"First, move the army near the canyon ridge."

"What should we do after that?"

"Just wait."

"Just wait?"

"Yes."

"What do you mean? Please explain in detail."

"You'll see when the time comes."

Leaving those words, Auto immediately left the command tent.

* * *

Three days later.

The suppression army led by the crown prince arrived near the canyon ridge.

"The suppression army has arrived."

"Understood. Let's wait."

Auto, leading the Kuntachi family's swordsmen, was hiding near the canyon ridge and nodded at Cassim's report.

That night.

"Let's go."

Auto led the swordsmen and began to climb the canyon ridge.

The canyon ridge was already occupied by the rebels, and many rebel scouts were patrolling the area.

This was not surprising.

With the crown prince's army gathering around the ridge, it was natural for the rebels to intensify their reconnaissance.

"Let's pass quietly."

With the <Piercing Vision> skill activated, Auto and the swordsmen, wearing night vision goggles, easily bypassed the numerous scouts and successfully infiltrated the rebel camp.

That was the terrifying aspect of the <Piercing Vision> skill.

While it didn't provide much help in direct combat, it gave a significant tactical advantage at night.

Not only that...

'I can see.'

With the <Piercing Vision> skill, Auto could clearly see inside the military tents set up in the rebel camp.

Thanks to this, Auto and his group used the tents as cover and managed to avoid all the night guards patrolling the area.

"Let's change our uniforms here."

Auto and the swordsmen stole and put on the rebel uniforms that were laid out to dry, then immediately headed for the tent serving as the command post.