Chapter 259

Upon hearing Duke Beowulf’s agreement, Yan swallowed nervously. He had never dreamed that things would be resolved so swiftly.

Having played a significant role in rescuing Lorena and aiding Helena’s recovery, Yan had gained the Duke’s immense trust. Not to mention successfully dealing with the sloth, one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

“Ahem.”

Beside him, Vila let out an awkward cough. His demeanor seemed entirely out of place.

‘What’s going on?’

Yan wondered why this barbarian was acting so strangely. Vila’s eyes darted toward Duke Beowulf, revealing his unspoken thoughts.

Finally catching on, Yan smirked and turned to the Duke.

“Your Grace, if you’ve resolved to fight the Emperor, it’s best to avoid unnecessary battles.”

The Duke grasped the implied meaning in Yan’s words instantly.

He glanced at Vila and then spoke decisively, “We have a debt to repay. I shall recognize your current territory as the land of the barbarians... no, the Kubilai clan.”

Vila’s pupils widened. He hadn’t expected the Duke to grant them territory so readily.

But as the leader of his tribe, Vila couldn’t afford to appear weak. No, he wouldn’t allow it.

“Th-thank you,” Vila stammered, trying to maintain his composure.

Duke Beowulf regarded him with amused eyes. “Your reaction is surprisingly subdued. Do you wish to be banished far away?”

“N-no! I’m genuinely grateful!” Vila replied, flustered.

Yan chuckled at Vila’s helplessness. But soon, his expression turned serious.

“Now that we’ve settled matters, it’s time to get to the heart of the issue.”

“The heart of the issue? Is there something I don’t know?” Vila asked.

Yan nodded and began sharing what he knew about the current Emperor. The truth was that the reigning Emperor was none other than Bahamut CabalLan, the founder of the empire, who had achieved immortality through soul transference.

And now, Bahamut planned another soul transference, intentionally causing calamities to achieve his goal.

Duke Beowulf’s face hardened as he absorbed this information. His expression revealed just how seriously he regarded the matter.

“If the Emperor... no, the Founder, uses soul transference, who is the target?” he asked.

“His Highness, Crown Prince Leon,” Yan replied.

“Interesting. So that’s why he’s imprisoned in the Star Palace?”

Duke Beowulf recalled the recent rumors. Prince Leon’s diplomatic blunders had led to his confinement.

If others heard those rumors, they might assume the Emperor was punishing Leon for his misdeeds. But the Star Palace was more than a mere mansion—it was a vast estate.

Duke Beowulf realized that Prince Leon’s situation ran deeper. ‘Is there more to this?’

His eyes gleamed with curiosity as he continued, “This opportunity to settle scores has come unexpectedly.”

“What exactly are you aiming for?” Yan asked.

“I intend to assert my name and make a bold move,” Duke Beowulf replied.

Yan’s eyes widened. This was an unexpected turn of events.

After all, such a strategy was typically reserved for those of Duke Beowulf’s stature. Even if Yan had achieved great deeds and become a Duke, his influence was still limited.

But Duke Beowulf was different.

With a single word, he could send shockwaves through the imperial court. And if no timely explanation or reaction followed...

“Division,” Yan thought, trembling like lightning.

Starting a confrontation with the Emperor seemed less daunting than he’d imagined. The door was opening wider than he’d anticipated.

Yan laid out his plans and made a request of Duke Beowulf—one that the Duke accepted nonchalantly.

“Indeed. It’s not a difficult task,” Duke Beowulf agreed.

* * *

Yan, having secured the cooperation of the northern forces, set forth directly toward Armenia. There, he left Theo and Lorena under Duke Beowulf’s protection.

Though their strength was lacking, reuniting with Helena after so long was worth any inconvenience.

‘And when the time comes to strike at the Empire from the north, Theo’s influence will play a significant role.’

Upon returning to Armenia alone, Yan was greeted by Cruel, Kasa, Roman, and Charles.

“How did it go?” Cruel asked.

“Are we truly going to fight the Empire?” Roman inquired.

“And what about Lorena?” Shara added.

Yan answered each question, and their complex expressions mirrored the gravity of the situation. His revelation about securing northern cooperation had a profound impact on them.

“Ha... I never thought I’d be pointing my sword at the Imperial family,” Cruel chuckled wryly, shaking his head.

Roman remained silent, but his contemplative gaze hinted at deeper thoughts.

“This is an opportunity,” Kasa mused. For him, challenging the Emperor was a chance to revive the Ifrain lineage.

“Hmm, I miss Lorena,” Charles chimed in, seemingly unfazed.

Yan observed their varied reactions and smirked before entering his mansion. There, he convened with his advisors to meticulously plan their next moves.

* * *

A few days later...

“Remarkable. With plans like these, the Emperor will be powerless, ensnared by public opinion,” Yan marveled as he reviewed the meticulously crafted strategies during a meeting with his advisors.

Some plans seemed unrelated to the Emperor, but upon closer examination, Yan realized they were all intricately connected. The reputation of the House of Sagong was well-earned.

Yan began organizing the plans for seamless execution.

“First, Duke Juda and Duchess Vivian will host a noble assembly centered around my investiture ceremony. Then, Duke Beowulf will raise doubts about Prince Leon’s safety.”

Although more plans were in place, this should suffice to raise suspicion among the nobles attending the assembly. Even the mighty Empire would feel the pressure if all the Sagong turned their backs.

The Emperor would eventually have to release Prince Leon or maintain silence.

“If he remains silent, we’ll exploit the nobles’ doubts further. If he releases the prince, we’ll protect him,” Yan explained.

“Understood.”

“Either way, Bahamut will be caught off guard, won’t he? Both options have consequences.”

“...”

The Sagong members unanimously agreed with Yan’s summary.

As the meeting neared its end, a loud commotion echoed from beyond the video screen in Sun Duke’s office. Urgent-faced Merriott appeared.

Ignoring the usual pleasantries, he whispered urgently to the Sun Duke.

“...”

The polite Merriott’s unusual demeanor puzzled the attendees. But moments later, Sun Duke’s expression hardened.

“Damn it.”

He even used an uncommon expletive.

“Why the sudden outburst? What’s wrong?” Vivian asked, blinking.

Sun Duke turned his gaze toward the video screen and spoke heavily.

“One of our agents gathering information in the capital delivered urgent news.”

“Urgent news... What could possibly happen now?”

Yan furrowed his brow. What could be so urgent in this situation?

But Sun Duke’s next words chilled the atmosphere in the room.

“The Emperor is dead. Prince Leon is following the proper procedures and will ascend the throne immediately.”

“...!”

* * *

In the realm of shifting destinies, Yan felt his mind twist upon hearing the Sun Duke’s words.

The Emperor was dead, and Prince Leon was to ascend the throne.

“Is this some kind of divine retribution?” Yan wondered, though he dismissed the overly optimistic notion. The idea that the Emperor had already transmigrated into Leon’s body seemed preposterous.

The crucial ingredient for soul transference, the White Flame Jade, was still embedded within Yan’s own body. But was that all?

Energy for the transference ritual was also woefully insufficient. Yan had repeatedly sabotaged the energy-gathering efforts, acting against his own plans.

Yet, if the soul transference had succeeded, it meant the Emperor had been meticulously prepared all along.

“That can’t be true,” Yan muttered.

Across the scrying portal, Duke Beowulf raised an eyebrow, his gaze piercing Yan.

“How did this happen? Weren’t we certain he lacked the energy and materials for soul transference?”

“I don’t know,” Yan replied heavily. “If he already possessed them, then everything the Emperor has done so far would be meaningless.”

Beowulf’s next message arrived, and his expression darkened further.

“Imperial forces armed to the teeth are advancing from the capital toward the north. Some are identified as Royal Knights.”

Then another message followed, and Beowulf’s eyes sank deeper.

“Somaryung has fallen to the Central Empire. Our own Beowulf Territory is likely their final target.”

The other nobles turned their gaze to Yan, silently asking: What now?

And in that charged moment, Yan clenched his fists, blood pulsing through his veins.

The weight of their collective stares bore down on him, and with a primal scream, Yan vowed to forge a path through this chaos.