CHAPTER 194: SUDDEN KILLING INTENT

Clement Hahn's sudden revelation caused an uproar among the nobles off-stage. Some of the nobles immediately realized that his words were patently absurd, but many—due to limited perspective and lack of information—might very well take Clement Hahn's statement at face value.

Under these circumstances, it wasn't even necessary for him to secure the trust of most, or even many, of the nobles. What he was angling for was a momentary shock that would get a few nobles to consider casting their vote for him in their brief moment of surprise.

Clement didn't really care about a seat on the Elder Council—he was well aware that the positions had already been decided behind the scenes.

As a businessman, he viewed this meeting as a stage to showcase both his noble house and the Golden Rain Coalition.

The goal was to boost the reputation of the coalition, attract more investors, and thereby strengthen his family's influence. That was his true objective.

As for borrowing Wang Yu's name? That had long been part of the plan. Although Wang Yu hadn't agreed to form an alliance the last time they met, it was true that Clement had visited his home. As for what happened during that visit, no one else knew—so couldn't he say whatever he wanted?

As for the potential fallout of using Wang Yu's name without permission, Clement didn't care about that in the slightest. He was confident that Wang Yu couldn't do anything to him. This was the capital—anyone who stayed here had to abide by the kingdom's laws. Wang Yu had no real backing. He was just a titled knight with limited status.

The grand knight who had run around killing nobles recently had set the bar high. Only someone equally strong could pose a real challenge—and even that fearsome figure had had his arm severed by Hugin Smokes of the Nightblades. Who would be able to replicate such a feat?

Wang Yu didn't have the power to threaten the Hahn family or the Golden Rain Coalition, especially without a strong background.

Still, Clement didn't mind tossing Wang Yu a few benefits—hopefully, the man would see reason and not do anything foolish.

Clement Hahn turned his gaze toward Wang Yu, who hadn't reacted to his speech, and smiled faintly.

Wang Yu's lack of reaction pleased him. He hadn't stood up and publicly countered Clement, and neither had he flown into a rage.

He seemed like a rational man—he probably had already figured out how to handle their relationship.

Clement waited for the nobles below to finish their discussion before he bowed, requested that the nobles vote for his house, and then left the stage.

Then came voting. It was simple in principle: the royal representatives at the front would hold up the crests representing the various noble houses in turn, while the nobles below raised their hands to cast votes. Though seemingly primitive, the method had proven effective and had been in use for ages.

Time and again, the crests and the nobles' hands rose and fell. The nobles in the front received fewer votes; their seats were practically guaranteed, and no further participation was necessary. Wang Yu casually cast his vote for the Ryders.

Doing so was a statement that he didn't intend to form any alliances or participate in this game of politics.

Thereafter, as the voting moved toward smaller noble houses, it grew far more chaotic. Nobles cast their votes based on whom they wanted to ally with. The meeting had set aside time after the vote for prospective allies to discuss the details of their partnership.

As expected, the Hahn family received quite a number of votes. Forming a partnership with the Nightblades, an organization that typically remained outside the sphere of major power blocs, was clearly an attractive prospect.

Wang Yu silently considered how to deal with all this. He really didn't have an effective way to deal with Clement.

His background was all but nonexistent. Charles and Edward were friends, but as heirs who had yet to inherit their families' positions, their favor didn't hold much weight.

Sieg, Hugin, and the Nightblades, on the other hand, couldn't serve as direct backers. They could offer him some protection, sure, but the Nightblades had always avoided power struggles.

As for Wang Yu himself, his strength was average, and his status hadn't advanced due to both his lack of time and disinterest in social climbing.

"Well... there's nothing much I can really do about it. I might as well be pragmatic and try to get something out of this—damn it, I can't stand staying in the capital any longer. Once the war between Aleisterre and Selwyn's over, I'm out."

Wang Yu pursed his lips. The anger burning inside him began to fade. He was a practical man—since there wasn't much he could do to deal with Clement, he might as well squeeze some benefits out of the situation. If Clement wanted to call him a partner, then he'd better pay up.

As for a seat on the Elder Council, a formal alliance, and everything else—Wang Yu had no interest in such a mess. He was free, and saw no need to entangle himself with those burdens. Once the war reached a conclusion and he'd had enough of the capital, he'd just leave. Simple as that.

With that thought, Wang Yu's anger completely dissipated. Later, he'd have a word with Sieg and the others to clear up the rumor about the Nightblades. There was no need to drag them into these noble alliances.

He watched Clement cheerfully chatting with people nearby, his expression calm.

Eventually, time ran out. The nobles wrapped up their negotiations and alliances as they left the palace—some satisfied, others disappointed or furious.

Clement did the same. He had just concluded several deals with various nobles. With this momentum, his house would be able to rise to new heights.

Smiling, he left the hall. His father—the current patriarch of the house of Hahn—was waiting with a smile in the corridor.

"Well done this time."

The Hahn patriarch clapped his son on the shoulder approvingly. He was very pleased with Clement's performance in the re-election. Clever, bold, and eloquent, Clement had secured quite a few deals.

"Thank you, Father. I believe that as long as we work together, the house of Hahn can become one of the major noble houses of the capital," Clement replied with a smile.

"Well said. You possess ambition—but don't forget what the foundations of the house of Hahn family was built upon. Don't rush, my child. After I'm gone, once time has pushed these old tales into the forgotten corners of memory... that will be the moment to truly lead the house of Hahn toward fame and glory."

His father's voice was gentle as he put an arm around Clement's shoulder.

Clement sighed. As he recalled some of his family's past deeds, he solidified his resolve to break free of the specters haunting them.

There was no need to stick to conventional methods to accomplish such an objective.

"I understand, Father. Our family won't linger on the margins of power forever. As for the past... let it stay in the past."

Clement made a firm promise to the Hahn patriarch, who gave him a satisfied pat on the back. The two of them walked out of the palace together.

"Hold on, Father. I need to deal with that Nightblade I described as our partner."

Just as they stepped out of the palace, Clement spotted Wang Yu waiting in the distance, his arms crossed. Wang Yu's gaze was clearly locked on him, so Clement decided to go confirm just what the man wanted.

"Go ahead. I'll wait here."

The Hahn patriarch nodded as he watched his son walk toward Wang Yu. This was a test of sorts.

He had gambled on borrowing the Nightblades' name. Now, how he handled the follow-up would determine whether he had the ability to lead the house of Hahn away from its past.

Clement approached Wang Yu, who continued standing with arms crossed, and stopped a respectful distance away. "Sir Wang Yu, were you waiting for me?"

"I was. I think you owe me an explanation, don't you?"

Wang Yu's tone was flat, and his gaze, fixed on Clement, was emotionless. He came across as rather aggressive.

"As partners, there's no need to be so formal, is there?" Clement inwardly frowned. Wang Yu hadn't made a fuss at the meeting earlier, but for him to be confronting Clement directly—how improper.

"Exactly. As a partner, shouldn't you show a little... gesture?"

Still calm, Wang Yu extended his hand toward Clement, palm facing up. His implication was clear.

"Ah, of course." Clement paused for a second. He immediately understood Wang Yu's intention.

He had thought Wang Yu was coming to demand an explanation, that it would be an unpleasant confrontation. But to his surprise...

Clearly, Wang Yu knew how to read the situation. Clement wouldn't mind giving him a few benefits in the future.

With a sincere smile, Clement took a mana crystal card from his pocket and handed it to Wang Yu.

"A small token of appreciation, nothing more. I hope you'll accept five thousand gold coins as a gift from a respectful partner, Sir Wang Yu. I also hope our collaboration will continue for a long time to come."

He gave Wang Yu a courteous salute as he smiled with satisfaction. Using a simple bribe to get Wang Yu to drop the matter of falsely invoking his name—what a perfect outcome.

"Mm." Wang Yu gave a small nod and turned to leave.

Clement didn't mind Wang Yu's somewhat rude departure. Resolving this mildly troublesome issue so easily had put him in a great mood.

He hadn't expected Wang Yu to be this kind of person. If he'd known earlier, there'd have been no need to prepare all those backup plans.

As Wang Yu turned and walked away, he rubbed the mana crystal card between his fingers. Five thousand gold coins—a hefty sum, even for someone who wasn't hurting for money anymore. It was enough for a new alchemical weapon or stronger potions—there was plenty of room to work with.

Wang Yu had no interest in the power struggles between nobles. What they cared about meant nothing to him. If he ever gained the power to strike down someone as disgusting as Clement, he certainly wouldn't hesitate.

But since he didn't have that power yet, he'd let it go. As someone pragmatic, he knew that it was best to turn all that abstract nonsense into tangible benefits.

He wasn't planning to stay in the capital, anyway. He'd be gone before long. The world was vast—there was far more to see than the human kingdom of Aleisterre.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Edward and Charles jogging over from a distance. It seemed they were still concerned about what Clement had said.

Behind Wang Yu, Clement was smiling as he walked toward his father. Everything had gone smoothly. Now all that remained was to reach an agreement with those new allies, and—"Huh?" Clement suddenly realized his feet were no longer touching the ground, and his father's expression had abruptly turned to horror and shock. What was going on?

Before his mind could finish processing the question, pain and loss of consciousness struck simultaneously. Clement didn't even have time to feel the pain of death.

A small black vortex had appeared behind Clement, and a hand wreathed in black smoke had pierced through his back. His heart was gone. Before he even realized what was happening, Clement was dead.

From behind his collapsing corpse, a one-armed figure wreathed in black smoke rose and turned to the horrified patriarch of House Hahn, Clement's father.

"You... How dare you appear here? The royals will kill you instantly. What are you trying to do?!"

The patriarch of the Hahns was utterly shaken. As he faced this figure wreathed in black smoke who had killed several nobles, his heart thumped in fear.

He cared little for his son, whose death stirred no true emotion beneath a façade of paternal affection—rather, his own life was now under threat.

"Some things... will not be forgotten by time..."

It was the first time the figure had spoken since its appearance in the capital. The voice sounded like a broken phonograph, full of static and distortion—completely unrecognizable.

"Are you mad? This is suicide. You've walked right into the lion's den. If you stay here—"

The Hahn patriarch stammered, trying to persuade the figure to retreat. Before he could finish, the figure crossed the short distance in a flash and grabbed him by the throat, lifting him into the air.

"It's fine. I wasn't planning to live anyway. Let's die together..." The eerie, emotionless voice spoke again in a strange, chilling response.

Everything happened far too quickly for anyone to react. The figure wreathed in black smoke had appeared, killed Clement in an instant, said a single line, and immediately seized the Hahn patriarch.

The grand knights nearby rushed forward—but it was too late. The figure wreathed in smoke was faster.

Even Wang Yu could only turn in shock as the Hahn patriarch was lifted into the air.

Edward and Charles stood frozen, their pupils dilated in disbelief. But a flicker of something complicated flashed across Charles's eyes—he had noticed something.

In Wang Yu's field of vision, a wisp of black smoke peeled away from the figure's. At that moment, the massive physical magic array atop the palace suddenly began to spin. A tidal wave of magical energy surged outward, one so intense that even non-magicians could feel it.

The palace's defense system had activated...

"Stop! Capture him alive—shut down the array!"

"We can't! When we had Stevenson Academy of Magic build it, we had them ensure it eliminated the threat instantly. It can't be stopped!"

"Damn it!"

The two magicians responsible for the formation argued as panic spread. The figure had discarded his concealment, triggering the palace's powerful automated defense array. What came next would be inevitable—boom. A blinding, massive pillar of lightning shot down from the array above the palace, annihilating both the figure and the Hahn patriarch in an instant. Nothing remained of them but dust.