Back in Aldbourne, the celebrations continued late into the night. Food was handed out from the stores, torches lit the streets, and even the noble quarter was opened for citizens to admire. Despite the festive atmosphere, Arthur remained on edge. He had brought in his own people to serve as the new local leaders, since the previous ones had proven themselves untrustworthy. The only exception was the deputy mayor. Roland had assured Arthur that the man had been successfully persuaded to support their cause.
Even so, the city's bureaucracy was in shambles. The tax ledger had gone missing, and most of the treasury had disappeared.
"This is most displeasing.”
"Please forgive me, my lord. I didn't know..."
The voice came from the young deputy mayor, who now stood before him. His name was Joseph. He was not even thirty, unusually young for his position, and the perfect candidate to take the fall. Arthur suspected that the true mayor was already far away and would never return. Both his personal funds and the city's treasury had likely been emptied and sent to his brother. That was the only way he could escape without being branded a criminal for stealing from a Valerian-controlled city.
"Sir Gareth, Sir Moiren, please give our Mayor some room to breathe."
"Yes, Lord Valerian!"
Both knights nodded and stepped aside. Joseph was ordered to sit on a chair before Arthur, who had just finished reviewing the last of the documents the city official had managed to produce. Although the treasury was nearly empty, not everything had vanished. There were still reserves of food and medical supplies, along with a few hidden stockpiles of construction materials scattered throughout the noble quarter.
"We’ve taken control of the thieves’ guild and a few other source.It’s not ideal, but it’s a start."
For now, it would have to suffice. He had spent over a year preparing for this campaign, and the first stage was complete. The next steps were already set in motion. With a quiet nod to himself, he rose and looked down at Joseph.
"Joseph.”
He said, his voice softer now but still commanding.
"You will stay on. Not as deputy mayor, but as the new Mayor of Aldbourne."
"No, please, good lord, I will do anything..."
Joseph dropped to his knees and slammed his forehead against the wooden floor, convinced he was about to be struck down by one of Arthur’s rapiers. His voice trailed off as he realized what had been said.
"You wish me to become the Mayor?"
"Yes. We need someone familiar with this city. You'll be assigned an assistant, and we will choose a new deputy mayor for you to mentor. If you prove yourself loyal, you may keep this position permanently."
"I... I'll do my best, Lord Valerian!"
Joseph, who had been terrified just moments before, now seemed to realize the situation might not be as dire as he had feared. He was being promoted to mayor—at least for now. And there was a real possibility it could become permanent. Most importantly, he understood that as long as he remained useful, he would be allowed to live. That, above all else, was his priority.
“I’m sure you will, that will be all.”
“I… I understand, my lord. Thank you. I won’t fail you. You will not regret this, I will prove myself to be useful!”
The man continued to bow, over and over, like a madman on something far stronger than just fear. Arthur felt a flicker of discomfort at the display. The man’s groveling made him seem like some bloodthirsty tyrant tormenting a helpless commoner. He had hoped people would respond to his leadership with respect, or at least cautious trust. Perhaps Joseph’s fear had less to do with Arthur himself and more to do with his encounter with Roland. Arthur couldn’t help but wonder what exactly his friend had done to convince the man to sign over all the necessary documents.
“Someone will be waiting outside. She will be your new assistant. Start by finding the families who lost someone during the city’s defense and compile a list, no matter how small. Also include those who lost family in the months leading up to the dungeon break.”
“Yes, my lord!”
Joseph didn’t ask questions. He simply listened and obeyed. Arthur knew people had been captured and sold into slavery in this city. The more witnesses he could gather to testify against his brother, the stronger his case would be. Moments later, the young mayor exited the room, clutching the ledger Arthur had returned after reviewing its contents. As the door closed behind him, a female voice spoke from the shadows.
"I’m not sure we can trust him, Lord Arthur."
"That’s why one of your maids is shadowing his every move."
A robed figure stepped forward from the darkness, her voice instantly familiar. As she neared, she lowered her hood, revealing orange cat ears atop her head. Her movements were as silent as ever, so much so that even the two Tier-3 knights had failed to notice her presence until she was already inside the room—something that clearly annoyed her.
"You two need more training. What if I had been an enemy assassin?"
"...My apologies."
Both knights lowered their heads like children being scolded by their mother. Arthur couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of his most trusted retainers interacting. He knew it had been Mary who allowed Gareth and Moiren to land their blows on Alphonse, the high-ranking knight who had once seemed far beyond their reach. Though their strikes had connected, it was one of the leaders of the prosthetic-using knights who had delivered the final blow.
Arthur crossed to the window, hands clasped behind his back as he looked out over Aldbourne. The city glowed softly under the moonlight. It was quiet now, though far from still. Somewhere below, plans were already unfolding. Some were his, others were not.
Alphonse’s fall had been swift and public. Thanks to Roland’s recording, there was no ambiguity about the legality of Arthur's takeover. The recording clearly showed Alphonse rejecting Arthur’s claim and refusing to recognize the charter that granted him the lawful right to assume leadership.
This technology, the ability to record and replay the past, was both powerful and unsettling. It far surpassed the traditional use of powerful mages to glimpse into past events. That method was extremely difficult, unreliable, and accessible only to a few noble houses. The new recording technology had its own limitations in that it required a recording device to be present at the time of the event. However, once captured, the memory could be freely copied and replayed by almost any rune mage.
One of such mages, a trusted friend of his High Commander, had already made his way towards the place Arthur needed to tackle next, the noble court.
"How long until the noble court reviews the matter?"
Arthur asked quietly. Mary stepped beside him, her feline eyes glowing faintly in the low light.
“A few days at most. Sir Wayland sent the recording through the approved channels. By now, perhaps even the High Seat will have seen it.”
Arthur gave a slow nod.
“And Theodore?”
Mary’s expression darkened.
"Just as we expected. He’s not sending more troops. Reports suggest he’s redirecting his forces to the northern passes and the main roads. It seems he expects his older brother to act, but our spies have confirmed that Julius has made no move. On the contrary, Lord Arthur..."
Mary paused, her expression shifting as concern crept into her features.
"What is it?"
Arthur asked while raising his brow.
"It’s better if you read this yourself."
She handed him a few pages from a report. Arthur scanned the contents quickly, his eyes widening with each line.
"This... Isgard, how could this be? Was the dungeon break truly this devastating?"
Mary gave a slow nod.
"It seems the capital city took the worst of it. Tier Four monsters were seen in the area, and even Orichalcum-ranked adventuring parties were called in. Some of their members fell during the fighting…"
Arthur’s thoughts swirled. He had not anticipated that his father’s stronghold would suffer such a devastating blow. According to the report, the monsters had breached the city and caused widespread destruction. Casualties were high, and the fate of many residents remained unknown. The only certainty was that his father had survived, or at least that was what had been reported. Arthur knew that if anything had happened to him, his father would likely go to great lengths to conceal it.
"Are you all right, Lord Arthur?"
"Yes, I’m fine..."
In truth, he felt little affection for his father or for the people who lived in that cold and distant castle. He preferred not to recall the years he had spent there. His youth had been anything but joyful. Only his mother had brought light to that place, the one person who could pierce through the constant gloom that surrounded his childhood. His father had been her shield, the only reason she had remained unharmed. As long as the Duke stayed in power, her safety was assured. If one of Arthur’s brothers rose to that position, he feared for her life.
‘But what should I do? Would they even allow me an audience with Father?’
To confirm his father's condition, Arthur would need to go there and see him in person. Yet the timing could not have been worse. If he left now, Theodore might seize the opportunity to make a move. Just as he began weighing his options, something in the report caught his eye, something he had nearly overlooked.
‘Wait, what is this?’
A section he had nearly missed. There was more. Something unexpected. Something unsettling, but also something that could change into a possibility.
"This could be a chance but also a trap…”
His eyes narrowed at an opportunity that presented itself. He wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad thing, but it didn’t seem he would have a choice in this matter
“Where is our High Commander now?”
While speaking, Arthur tossed the report into the nearby fireplace. The paper caught fire immediately, glowing orange before crumbling into ash. Mary paused for a moment, then spoke.
"He should be working on the teleportation gate. Should I call him here?"
"Yes, that would be best."
Arthur replied as he lowered himself into the chair at his desk. His eyes drifted to a crystal resting on its side. It was the same type used in the ascension ritual. All the requirements had finally been met. The title he earned from leading his forces was the final one he needed.
He had pushed himself relentlessly. His skills had been trained to their peak. He had hunted monsters to master combat, studied every text that might offer insight, and ensured there were no weaknesses left in his preparation. Now, the moment had come to ascend to the next stage of power. Without his friend, he knew he would never complete it in time.
*****
‘I wonder how Arion is doing, he didn’t seem too eager about going to the noble court.”
Roland thought to himself as he connected the final parts of the teleportation gate. The dwarves had prepared everything in advance, leaving him with the task of welding the components together using his magic. The city had been captured, the necessary evidence had been secured, and now all they could do was wait.
The battle was over, and he had played a key role in securing their victory. His golems, along with Lucille’s, now patrolled the streets under the cover of night. There had been a few complaints from the townspeople, but for now, they were forbidden from wandering outside. The official reason given was the danger of monster attacks, which was not a lie.
The Guild Master was already organizing adventuring parties to handle the remaining threats. Their army had done its job, and now it was up to others to finish the task.
In the past, after a culling event, adventurers would spread out to clear the surrounding villages. Many of those who had lived there were now temporarily housed in this city and nearby settlements. The rumors Roland had circulated had proven effective. People had been ordered to evacuate the less defensible areas to reduce casualties. Now, just as in those earlier times, adventurers would reclaim the abandoned villages and hunt down any monsters that remained.
“I might have to stay here for a while…”
This city now belonged to them by law, but Roland knew that Theodore would not see it that way. Once he realized that his brother Julius was not coming to his aid, he would no doubt bring his full army to their doorstep. The three thousand troops they had defeated, along with the few tier-three class holders they had captured, were nothing compared to Theodore’s main force.
Even if they made their stand in Albrook, with the golem defenses fully operational, Roland was not confident they could withstand a full assault. Theodore had been building his power base for over a decade. In contrast, Arthur and Roland had only just begun.
"At least with this, we will have a way to escape if anything happens..."
The situation was far from ideal, but the teleportation gate gave them a vital advantage. It offered mobility, a way out if things went wrong. Still, Roland saw another problem on the horizon, one that was far less deadly but much more personal. He had no idea how he was going to explain any of this to the Headmistress. She had already been reluctant to grant him any leniency, and he had skipped lectures just to be here.
"I'm sure she will understand. Nothing has been happening at the Institute since then."
He had been diligently performing his duties and had equipped the entire facility with a monitoring system. There was little reason for him to remain on-site, aside from occasionally giving lectures and explaining rune magic to the students. He had even acquired a personal assistant capable of delivering the lectures in his place. With the learning tools he had developed, the curriculum was now complete. Perhaps the Headmistress would be more lenient if he decided to make a request.
Even so, he had no desire to stand before a tier-four class holder unless absolutely necessary. Still, that woman might be the least of his concerns, as he was suddenly interrupted.
"Sir Wayland, the Lord wishes to speak with you."
"... I’ll be there soon."
******
“What is the meaning of this? Wasn’t Julius involved in all of this? Who gave me this faulty information?”
In a dimly lit room, an angry noble with a prominent beak-like nose hurled a stack of papers at the butler standing before him. The man didn’t move. He took the blow to his face without so much as a flinch. The papers fluttered to the ground like autumn leaves. The nobleman, Lord Theodore Valerian, seethed with barely contained fury as he paced across the length of his study.
“I stationed troops in all my cities. I disrupted trade. I forced my allies into submission. For nothing?”
The butler straightened his posture as the final sheet of paper settled at his feet. He waited in silence, as he had done for years, until the tirade began to fade.
“No sudden moves from Julius. Not even from Ivan. Did that bastard really orchestrate all of this? No. I won’t believe it. I was made to look like a fool. And Arthur walks into Aldbourne as if it belongs to him…”
The noble continued hurling curses and objects around the room before finally collapsing into his chair. He furrowed his brows and leaned back, exhaling through clenched teeth. Only then did the butler speak.
“My lord, this just arrived. It bears the seal of the Noble Court.”
Theodore froze. His rampage came to an abrupt end as he turned toward the butler in disbelief.
“The Noble Court?”
The butler stepped forward and presented a thick envelope, sealed with red wax and a crest inlaid with faint gold. Theodore snatched it from his hands and sliced it open with a flick of his knife. His eyes narrowed as he read.
“They're summoning me? Preposterous!”
It now seemed that Arthur had been the perpetrator all along, and Theodore was being summoned to answer for Alphonse's wrongdoings. The veins on his forehead bulged with renewed fury. Yet the butler remained calm, standing silently with another letter in hand. This one bore the mark of the Valerian household, though it was unusual, almost identical to the seal used for the Grand Assembly, the gathering of all nobles from across the island...
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