Chapter 58

Large beads of sweat rolled down his pale cheeks, and his weak arms supported his aching body. Tielant took deep breaths, leaning against the wall and looking out the window.

The sunlight grew dim, and the sky gradually changed.

Listening to the footsteps of the patrol members and seeing their blurry faces, he wondered what expressions lay behind those masks.

In the final moments, who would be willing to follow in his footsteps?

Those who could dedicate themselves to an ideal were always few; most had succumbed to the harsh realities. Rhetoric and manipulation could only influence them temporarily; only they themselves could change their will.

"Valdor, I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?"

Behind him, the man in the black robe quietly asked.

"I need your help with Angelo. If the Royal Guard suddenly launches a rescue, I believe they won't have the strength to resist. Please convey to your master the hope that they can ensure their safe departure."

Tielant closed his eyes, a bitter smile on his lips.

"Agreed," the man in the black robe said simply.

"The Royal Guard is coming. The negotiations have broken down, and our cooperation will end. You should leave," Tielant said.

"We will leave, but not now," the man in the black robe replied.

"Do you have unfinished business?" Tielant turned to him and smiled.

"I need to see you die," the man in the black robe said frankly.

"Ha ha—"

Tielant shook his head. In the end, they still didn't trust him.

He suddenly remembered what Dean Ambowit had said. Their actions might lead to different outcomes because of them. He didn't understand what the dean meant, as he had never delved deeply into this issue.

He roughly understood their intentions. They needed him to slaughter the kingdom's nobles and ministers, cutting off the king's wings. He wasn't a fool when it came to the royal family's dirty business.

The king had fallen ill again, and the two princes who had been vying for the throne for over a decade were probably already impatient. Now, someone had started to implement the plan. What would the future hold?

It didn't matter who would sit on the throne. What mattered was whether that person was willing to offend the kingdom's nobles and bring about change. Only change could save the kingdom.

That person was willing to change, and that person was willing to slaughter.

They were in perfect agreement.

He didn't want to expose himself. Without evidence, even the king couldn't convict him.

The king wouldn't give up, and he knew that person wouldn't take such a risk lightly. If there were no backup plans, he wouldn't be the one lurking in the capital, eyeing the throne.

What else did they want to do?

"What else do you want to do?" Tielant asked.

Thinking, speaking.

On the brink of death, his doubts were no longer restrained and were openly revealed.

"Why do you ask?" the man in the black robe said calmly.

"The smarter a person is, the more they like to complicate things. To avoid drawing attention, they deliberately obscure their intentions. They need to deceive and confuse the other party's judgment. The more they give to the opponent, the higher the success rate of their goal. When the opponent thinks they have solved the other party's intentions, they realize the other party had a different goal, but by then, it's too late to reverse the situation."

Tielant spoke slowly, his words complex, the complexity within them even more so.

The intertwined complexity told Valdor that he knew, but he also didn't know.

And he wanted to know.

"You have your goals, and we may have ours. In cooperation, appropriate concealment is not a bad thing for both sides," the man in the black robe said indifferently.

"But what if it is a bad thing for us?"

As soon as Tielant spoke, the scene fell silent.

Looking at the silent figure in the black robe, Tielant knew they indeed had ulterior motives. He wouldn't say it.

At this point, how much worse could the outcome be?

Bitterly smiling, Tielant sighed and said, "You should go."

In the room, the figure in the black robe disappeared. Tielant slowly dressed in his neatly folded clothes, picked up his sword, and felt its weight. Looking at his hands, he sighed with regret.

In a secluded corner of the comprehensive building with many classrooms.

Valdor slowly opened the door, entered, and closed it.

Before him were countless figures in black robes, making the large room feel crowded.

"Solt, how are the arrangements?"

Valdor's hoarse, low voice spoke, and a figure in the corner quickly responded.

"Sir, everything is arranged."

Looking around the room, Valdor lifted the wide hood covering his head, revealing a face scarred and weathered.

"Geiger, Galin, and Babize, lead your teams to the planned locations."

"Yes!"

Three voices in unison, and the room, which had seemed crowded, was suddenly half empty, leaving a sense of emptiness.

"Beim, the remaining people are under your command to protect the second target. Be aware, you may face a sudden attack from the Royal Guard. When the second target completes the task and safely evacuates—"

As he spoke, Valdor nodded at a figure in the room.

When the room became empty again, Valdor put the hood back on and walked out. His steps were slow, but his gaze remained fixed on the entrance of the building, as if something there was attracting him.

...

At the entrance of the Royal Central Academy.

Among the crowded people, a commotion began as they heard the news that the Royal Guard was approaching.

The ground began to tremble, and everyone's eyes focused on the distant street.

Hooves pounded the earth, and the metallic clatter of armor and swords grew louder. The long-awaited figures gradually appeared in sight. They saw the mysterious Royal Guard, known throughout the kingdom.

The soldiers, standing tall on their horses, exuded a strong aura of severity. As the sky turned to dusk, the setting sun cast a crimson glow, and a banner with a yellow rose and sword pattern fluttered in the wind, declaring the might of the royal family.

The horses moved like a dragon, and the hundred guards paid no attention to the people's gazes. Their cold armor reflected a blinding light, and their stern faces seemed to look down upon the world.

Under the people's watchful eyes, the Royal Guard entered the academy in neat formation. No one blocked their path, and no one dared to challenge their honor!

"Kainslon, do you think the king is overreacting?"

In the lead of the guard, one of them said, looking ahead.

"Eduardo Saphirian, Deputy Commander of the Third Royal Guard."

"The king's orders are supreme, and nothing can be a reason for refusal or resistance," Kainslon said expressionlessly.

"Egbert Kainslon, Commander of the Third Royal Guard."

"Ah, you're still as boring as ever. After all these years, I've thought about switching partners with Doushen. Being with Lady Salisst would be a man's happiness!" Saphirian shook his armor, looking helpless, and sighed.

"I can guarantee that if you switched to Lady Salisst's side, you'd regret it within three days!" Kainslon on horseback glanced at him and snorted.

"Tsk tsk, it seems you must have some lingering trauma from your time at the academy with Lady Salisst?" Saphirian tilted his head, looking interested.

"Shut up!"

Kainslon frowned and coldly rebuked him, as if Saphirian's words had struck a nerve.

Saphirian quickly closed his mouth. Although he had worked with this superior for many years, harmless jokes were fine, but whenever it came to Lady Salisst, he would turn serious. After some inquiries, he gradually understood the truth.

In his impression, Kainslon was a rigid and serious person who had never changed since they met. Working under him was far less interesting, and his lively personality often used Lady Salisst's affairs to provoke him, but he always knew when to stop. This behavior had become a habit over the years.

"Saphirian, the key to our mission this time is to protect the nobles and ministers from harm. If we fail, the king will not forgive us easily."

As the team approached the site of the student unrest, Kainslon reminded him of the mission.

"Understood. According to the plan, the burden of this rescue operation is on you. I will buy you enough time, so don't worry."

Saphirian nodded and smiled. Although his superior was rigid, he always completed any given task. His strong personal abilities and cautious, focused mind were his greatest strengths.

"Kainslon, the students' thoughts aren't wrong, just their actions are too extreme and reckless. Have you thought about this?"

After a short pause, Saphirian suddenly said.

"No, we don't need to concern ourselves with these. Our duty is to carry out the king's orders," Kainslon said coldly.

Saphirian sighed, as if he had already accepted this answer. He was indeed still the same.

"Last night, I received a letter from a friend who graduated with me. It seems the skeleton army in Sugro has completed its unification..." Saphirian said to himself.

Kainslon remained silent, his face as hard as stone, showing no change.

"Then, at the end of the letter, he told me that if Sugro suddenly invades, I should take care of his sister in the capital." Saphirian's voice grew low, and after a moment, he suddenly laughed. "I know he's trying to get me to see his sister again. That guy has always wanted to marry his sister to me since the academy. Ha ha, I didn't expect his methods to become more interesting."

"Is that so, Kainslon?" Saphirian turned to him, but he didn't respond.

"That guy always faces the world with pessimism."

Saphirian muttered, "Just like those students who caused the unrest."

"Whoa—"

Kainslon pulled the reins, and the advancing team came to a halt.

"Let's start the plan."

Dismounting, Kainslon looked up, the sky dyed a deep crimson.

Saphirian, we both know the kingdom's dire state, and we both understand the difficult situation it faces.

But I am a soldier.

If that day comes, I will stand up to defend this kingdom.

Even if it means death.