Knight: from Apprentice to the Almighty

Chapter 328: Chapter 315: Each with Their Own Scheme

"Whether Duke Anno’s real goal is to start a war or if he has some other scheme, the only thing we can do now..."

Roland picked up a dry twig and sketched a simple route on the ground.

"Is to leave the Golden Valley Kingdom’s territory as quickly as possible and return to the River Domain."

"Only under Dean Graham’s protection can we truly be safe."

"But..."

Reggie shook his woozy head. He struggled to lean against the cave wall, forcing himself to stay alert as he spoke.

"Didn’t you say... that Leonard already knows the truth and is on his way back to the Royal Capital to expose Duke Anno’s conspiracy?"

At the mention of Leonard’s name, Reggie’s gaze flickered as he recalled Roland’s casual mention of having defeated him.

He knew Roland never exaggerated, but the thought of that powerful Knight being defeated still sent a tremor through him.

He took a deep breath, temporarily pushing aside his chaotic thoughts, and continued speaking.

"Roland, you might not know this... but Leonard’s family has served the Golden Valley Kingdom for generations. Starting with his grandfather’s generation, they have followed King Morne, serving him loyally. Although..."

Reggie coughed violently a few times, spitting out a mouthful of congealed blood before continuing.

"By his generation, the family’s prestige is not what it once was, but his and his family’s influence within the Golden Valley Country is still not to be underestimated."

"As long as he can return safely, I’m sure Anno..."

"Master Reggie, you’re right. If he does manage to return safely, he could indeed cause Duke Anno a great deal of trouble. That’s why I was willing to let him go. But..."

Recalling the terrifying Abyssal Creature that had swept across the battlefield, prioritizing the slaughter of Golden Valley Soldiers, Roland slowly shook his head.

"I don’t think he can return to the Royal Capital safely. Even if he does get back, I’m afraid he won’t be able to see Prince Lucius..."

Up to this point, Roland had only met Duke Anno a few times.

But judging by the Duke’s unhesitating decision to send an Abyssal Creature to silence everyone on site, he was undoubtedly a meticulous and ruthless man.

A man like that would never let Leonard’s status stop him from achieving his goals.

Perhaps even...

"You mean..."

Reggie understood Roland’s implication and his eyes widened.

"How is that possible? Anno is just a Duke. How could he dare to openly slaughter..."

"Master Reggie, we don’t know what exactly Duke Anno will do, but we must prepare for the worst."

Roland said, his voice calm yet grave.

"If he sends people to assassinate Leonard on his way back and then frames us for the deaths of both Earl Auston and Leonard... then what awaits us is an endless hunt by the Golden Valley Kingdom."

"This..."

Reggie was at a loss for words. After a long silence, he sighed softly.

"Perhaps... we should have accompanied Leonard..."

He stopped mid-sentence and shook his head self-deprecatingly.

"Sorry, Roland. My head’s a little fuzzy."

"It’s alright, Master Reggie."

Although Reggie hadn’t finished, Roland completely understood what he was thinking.

But just as Reggie himself had said, he wasn’t thinking clearly right now.

’Accompany Leonard back to the Royal Capital to expose Duke Anno’s conspiracy?’

Even though Roland’s current Power far surpassed that of an ordinary Knight, if Duke Anno were to set up an ambush, he would never send just a single Transcendent.

Even if they could fight off all the Assassins and successfully reach Golden Ears City, what could they change?

That was Duke Anno’s home turf, and they were just outsiders.

As for that Prince Lucius...

He didn’t seem like the kind of wise Monarch who would readily accept advice.

If any part of that plan went wrong, they would be walking right into a trap.

Roland had no intention of taking that risk.

"There’s still some time before dawn..."

Roland glanced at the sky outside the cave and gently patted Reggie’s shoulder.

"Get some rest, Master Reggie. As soon as it’s light, we’ll set off."

"I’m counting on you, Roland."

Reggie nodded, his gaze sweeping over the dozen or so surviving students around them, a flash of pain in his eyes.

"I’ve failed to live up to Dean Graham’s expectations... I don’t know how I’ll face him when we get back..."

His voice grew hoarser, even taking on a choked quality, sounding particularly desolate in the dim cave.

...

...

"What?"

In a spacious, brightly-lit room, Anno was standing at the window, gazing into the distance.

After listening to Erwin’s report, he suddenly turned around, his usually calm face showing a look of disbelief for the first time.

"Are you saying... not only did that band of fishermen repel Leonard, they even... killed the creation I so meticulously engineered?"

"Yes, Your Grace."

Erwin said slowly, his eyes lowered.

"At least, based on the traces at the battlefield, I found no evidence of your creation’s existence."

’A Mechanical Body specially made with Abyssal Power... is that all it’s capable of?’

Anno slowly sank back into his large chair, his thick fingers tapping silently on the desk.

’Or... is someone among the fishermen hiding their true strength?’

To the rhythmic sound of his tapping, the Duke frowned slightly, recalling the faces of the students from the River Domain, but ultimately shook his head.

"Then, Your Grace."

Erwin took a step forward and asked in a low voice.

"What are our next steps...?"

"Proceed as planned."

Anno stopped tapping, picked up the black tea beside him, and took a small sip of the scalding liquid.

"That band of fishermen has already served their purpose. Since the arrest warrants have been issued, there’s no need to waste any more energy on them. I have already ordered the mobilization of my domain’s army to pressure the borders of the River Domain. As for the rest..."

A slight smile played on Anno’s lips.

"I’ll leave it to you."

"Rest assured, Duke Anno."

Erwin bowed slightly.

"I will convince Prince Lucius to declare war on the River Domain. It’s just that, regarding King Morne..."

"Hmph!"

Hearing Morne’s name, Anno let out a cold, disdainful snort.

"That old fool can barely handle his own affairs. By the time he gets back from the border, everything will be set in stone... and he’ll be powerless to change it."

"They’re just Beastmen. Even with an inside source leaking information, he shouldn’t have fallen into such a predicament. It seems... he’s really gotten old."

As he said this, Anno sighed softly, his tone tinged with what seemed like a hint of regret.

"I understand."

Erwin nodded lightly. Just as he was about to take his leave, Anno spoke again.

"Oh, and Erwin, remember to remind that boy..."

Anno put down his teacup, a sneer flashing across his face.

"If he wants to win the approval of the nobles and ascend the throne smoothly, military achievements alone won’t be enough. He also needs to..."

The Duke’s voice remained steady and cold.

"Eliminate all of his brothers and sisters."

"Morne may be old, but he isn’t senile. Our plan isn’t exactly seamless."

"When he comes back and senses something is wrong... that old man will definitely strip the boy of his position and appoint someone else."

"I understand."

Erwin bowed and backed out of the room. The heavy oak door closed silently behind him.

Anno sat alone where he was, his gaze still fixed on the direction Erwin had left.

After a long moment, a cold smile slowly formed on his lips.

’The pieces are all in place...’

He whispered, his voice so soft it nearly vanished into the air.

’Oh, Lucius, Lucius. You think you’re the one controlling the board, but you don’t realize you’re the fattest lamb on the table. Once you’ve eliminated all your siblings for me and drawn everyone’s attention... it will be time to deal with the most troublesome problem.’

He lifted his teacup and stared at the dark red surface of the liquid within, as if examining an impending sacrifice.

’Even a King who possesses great power will suffer a mental breakdown after enduring the pain of losing his children one after another, only to have his most trusted Duke ’reveal’ that his heir is a Demon who slaughtered his own kin... his spirit is bound to crack.’

’And no matter how great the Power, it still requires a will to control it.’

Anno’s fingertips tapped gently on the desk as he calculated a much more far-reaching plan.

’At that time, I will prepare for him... an ’end’ befitting his Extraordinary status.’

He chuckled softly, the sound chillingly cold in the empty room.

Meanwhile, Erwin was walking down a long corridor. His steps were steady and unhurried, his face devoid of any expression.

After confirming he wasn’t being followed, he turned into a hidden side hallway and knocked gently on an inconspicuous wooden door.

"Come in."

A somewhat lazy voice came from inside.

The scene inside the room was completely different from Anno’s study.

The air was thick with smoke and strewn with empty wine bottles. Prince Lucius was lolling on a chaise lounge, his white hair disheveled and his clothes in disarray, idly toying with an empty wine glass in his hand.

However, when Erwin bowed in greeting, Lucius lifted his eyelids. In that instant, an unusually clear light flashed in his cloudy blue eyes.

"What did he say?"

Lucius asked, his voice still hoarse, but with less of a drunken slur.

Erwin accurately recounted Anno’s plan, including the suggestion to eliminate all the royal children.

Surprisingly, Lucius showed no sign of anger or shock.

Instead, he slowly sat up straight and placed the empty wine glass aside.

With this movement, his previously stooped shoulders gradually straightened, and his perpetually half-closed eyes opened fully, revealing a sharpness completely at odds with his usual image.

"He wants me to bear the crime of kinslaying..."

Lucius said softly, a cold smile touching his lips.

"That suits me just fine."

He stood up and walked to the window, gazing out at the pitch-black night sky.

At this moment, with his upright posture and piercing gaze, he looked like a completely different person from the muddle-headed, decrepit Prince of his everyday persona.

"Do as the Duke says."

Lucius said slowly, his voice calm and firm.

"However, I want you to make sure that every ’accident,’ every ’misfortune,’ can be traced back to Anno."

He turned around, his eyes glinting with cunning.

"Let Anno think he’s manipulating me... let him think I’m a sharp blade in his hand."

There was a hint of mockery in Lucius’s tone.

"And when the time is right, when all obstacles have been cleared..."

He paused, a smile that could almost be called cruel appearing on his face.

Erwin bowed deeply, hiding the calculating glint that flashed in his eyes.

"As you wish, Your Highness."

Lucius waved his hand and expertly resumed his lazy, decadent posture, sinking back into the chaise lounge as if the shrewd, cold-hearted Prince who had just been discussing kinslaying had never existed.

But Erwin knew he had witnessed the truth.

In this palace, the most dangerous predators were often the best at disguising themselves as prey.