Regressor of the Fallen Family Novel - Chapter 307
Episode 307
“There is a requirement.”
“A requirement?”
The leader of the Casell Enchantment Tower chuckled casually in response to Baros’s words.
“You seem to have poor hearing for a young individual. Didn’t I mention that I would handle everything, and yet you wish to establish prerequisites?”
“How can I have faith in you without them? Conditions are essential to have trust in that commitment.”
“Haha. Quite the covetous young one, aren’t you?”
The elder’s mouth curved into a kind smile resembling a rural person, but his grey eyes showed no amusement at all.
Baros simply gazed back with a smirk at those chilling eyes.
Expressions are merely facial features without sincerity, a common trait among those in the Imperial Court.
Certainly, they did not possess immense power like the elderly man in front of him.
“You must understand there is no justification for us to select you specifically, correct?”
“If you interfere with another royal close to the throne, not the Sorceress of the Scorching Wind but the Imperial Legion will come searching for you next time.”
“There is always the option of manipulating your mind without the need for persuasion, isn’t there?”
“If you were able to surpass the magical defenses of the Imperial Palace, you would have already done so.”
Their stares, one black and one grey, fiercely locked despite the smiles on their faces.
“Puhahaha! Spirited youngster, aren’t you.”
At the old man’s hollow laughter, Baros realized his gamble had paid off.
“What do you desire?”
“There is this individual who disturbs my mind every time we meet. Eliminate him or investigate the cause for me.”
With the opponent yielding first, Baros shifted from his confrontational informal tone to a semi-respectful one.
It might have been an illusion, but it seemed like the old man’s grey eyes softened a bit.
“An Imperial Prince unable to handle one person?”
“He is a king of a nation and possesses extraordinary abilities.”
“What?”
“The current ruler of the MacLaine Kingdom, Logan MacLaine. That is the man.”
“Puhahaha.”
Amused, the elder chuckled.
But then he suddenly halted and wore a peculiar smile.
“The king of MacLaine, huh? I’ve heard rumors about that young prodigy. But if something happens to that king, wouldn’t it cause chaos?”
“That is exactly what I am aiming for.”
“So, the Empire intends to start a war.”
Baros clenched his teeth momentarily, regretting that he may have divulged too much.
But.
‘With things altered to this extent, I must utilize these individuals as a stepping stone.’
The Royal Guards had appeared at the meeting scheduled with the Casell Magic Tower. If he returned without any progress, he would undoubtedly lose his position, if not his life.
For Baros, these individuals had become a crucial support that he needed to secure.
“Well, not a bad idea. I have been observing the fellow.”
Observed him? Why?
A feeling of unease crept in, and as he was about to speak, he was silenced by those sparkling grey eyes.
“You little Royal, descendant of the whole lineage. Since the time has come, I will entertain your pace, but no more. You are aware of the fundamentals of a deal, right?”
The time? What time?
There were numerous questions, but instinctively, he comprehended.
If he tried to delve deeper into the transaction, the old man would no longer cooperate as easily as before.
“The basics of a deal involve giving and taking. How could I not be aware?”
But he had no intention of being gullible.
“However, it was your proposal that you would make me Emperor if I adhere to ‘that condition,’ not my desire.”
“Speaking as though you do not aspire to become Emperor. All the descendants of that hypocrite are identical…”
Offended by the insult to his ancestor, Baros’s face hardened.
But soon, the grey aura emanating from the old man’s entire being weighed down on him, rendering him speechless.
“Remember, youngster. You can deceive the entire world, but not yourself.”
The elder’s voice suddenly turned ominously cold, like a simple rural old man.
“The agreement with the black serpent is one tied by the soul. Now that you have chosen, you cannot revoke it. No deity, no magic, can annul this agreement.”
As his voice reverberated as if making a proclamation, for a moment, it felt like the old man’s grey aura enveloped the whole world, suffocating Baros.
“Cough! Ack! How could this…”
Unable to withstand the pressure, Baros cried out.
“So do not forget the commitment, Prince Baros.”
Once again wearing a smiling facade, the old man’s voice was accompanied by the dissipation of the oppressive aura, as if it were merely an illusion.
But Baros could not smile like him.
“What have you done to me!?”
“What have I done? We have just conversed.”
Baros’s expression grew colder at the old man’s trickling laughter.
“Thinking I am a fool…”
“You stated it yourself, if I could breach the Imperial magical barriers, there would be no need for such a lengthy discussion.”
“…!?”
“Truly, to think an Emperor-to-be would become frightened so easily.”
With those words, Baros’s expression hardened further, yet he refrained from speaking again.
There was much he wished to express, but he knew further words would be futile.
His silence also stemmed from trust in the Imperial enchantments.
If the elder could have harmed him without this extensive dialogue, he would have done so.
“Just remember the commitment.”
“…Do not forget the commitment, especially regarding that Holy Kingdom. You must determine what to do about it…”
“Your father will comprehend if I inform him directly. The Emperor would not be unaware of the situation in the Holy Kingdom. That should be adequate…”
“They are to be utilized?”
The Emperor’s inquiry brought Baros back from his reverie.
“Yes, Your Majesty. There is no need to trouble my brother and His Highness the Dongik King needlessly, I believe.”
“Do you understand what needs to be accomplished?”
“Eliminate Logan MacLaine and his close associates.”
“Hah…”
The Emperor’s demeanor stiffened slightly at such a direct and violent statement, and Baros promptly continued.
“It is different this time. By utilizing them, even if unsuccessful, no one will be able to trace it back to our Empire. And, given the recent disturbances caused by me, it is regrettable.”
At this, everyone in the room displayed interest.
The Emperor gazed at Baros with a peculiar expression.
“It appears you have changed significantly since our last meeting, Your Highness. To acknowledge one’s mistakes so readily.”
Dongik King, Gerard von Aserian, with blue eyes gleaming with amusement.
It was impolite to interrupt the conversation between the Emperor and the Prince without permission, yet no one reprimanded him.
As one of the four pillars of the Empire who stood only below the Emperor, he possessed the right to do so.
“Gerard.”
“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I could not help but feel joy at Baros His Highness’s development…”
“He is still lacking.”
Despite the King’s praise, the Emperor’s words were frigid.
Unable to challenge the Emperor’s judgment, Dongik King stepped back and bowed his head silently.
Merely from their words, one could not discern who the true father was due to the stark contrast in the temperature of their words.
And Baros, barely managing to suppress the twitch in his face, averted his gaze.
‘A detached evaluation is preferable.’
The King’s seemingly warm words were hollow, merely empty compliments.
“Am I summoned now for the… task related to MacLaine that Baros His Highness mentioned earlier?”
While the Emperor observed the blue eyes lose their mirth, he subtly shook his head.
“Any means will suffice. Find a suitable method to execute ‘the plan’ smoothly.”
“…Am I free to select the method?”
“Yes.”
“In that case, I wish to support Baros His Highness’s suggestion.”
Baros’s gaze shifted to Dongik King.
The Emperor, evidently surprised, watched Gerard with a curious expression.
“Everyone present knows that Baros His Highness has been reaching out to numerous eastern countries. It will undoubtedly be more efficient than if His Highness Clide, who has been in the west for so long, were to handle it.”
Clide, listening silently to Dongik King’s words, grimaced subtly.
‘So similar, even in their expressions.’
It seemed rehearsed.
Baros was annoyed by his half-brother’s trivial expressions, but he concealed it.
Revealing any vulnerability was out of the question.
Although he disliked Dongik King, the King was advocating for him now.
Perhaps sensing his earnest desire, the Emperor, who had been relatively unresponsive, casually nodded in agreement.
“Very well. But utilize Dongik King’s assistance.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Let Dongik King oversee those individuals. You can manage that coordination, correct?”
He could not reveal his genuine feelings of difficulty.
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
He had to feign the confidence he did not truly possess.
Thus, the unexpected three-way audience concluded.
“You have changed in various ways.”
“Ah. Is that so, brother? A humble younger brother striving to emulate your path.”
“…Sly as always.”
A hint of disgust appeared on Clide’s composed face.
But for Baros, eliciting a reaction from that stoic brother was actually gratifying, and he simply widened his smile.
“I merely wanted to rectify my recent errors. I apologize for inconveniencing you, brother, by summoning you for no reason.”
Pfft.
“A wasted journey… Impossible.”
You gained something from it?
With Clide’s meaningful words, Baros’s eyebrows twitched subtly.
“Well then, it seems our Prince brothers have a good relationship. Could it be that this time, there will be no clash of swords?”
An irritating voice enveloped the two Princes, bringing them closer together.
Both their faces scrunched up simultaneously.
It appeared their thoughts aligned this time.
Not only did his arms ignore the evident 20cm height difference between their shoulders in a ridiculous manner, but the insincerity of his remarks also felt utterly disingenuous.
“Oh? Not this time? Surely we will not witness that spectacle again?”
The provoking words from Dongik King prompted Clide to brush off the right arm with an impassive expression.
“I am occupied, so I will take my leave.”
Before the sentence was even completed, he turned and departed, causing Dongik King to tongue-click in mock annoyance.
“It appears the larger they are, the more inflexible they become. Do you not think so, Baros?”
Baros, too, wished to mimic his half-brother’s gesture just this once, but he refrained.
His past errors. To bury them once and for all, he needed to handle this man assigned to monitor his actions.
“So, how do we commence the work?”
Sigh.
“Just do not obstruct, please.”
“Obstruct? I am a committed ally, am I not? Did you not hear His Majesty’s words a moment ago?”
“I did, which is why I am informing you.”
“Hehe. A sorrowful thing for a father to hear. Oh, by the way, how about we start by visiting Dongik Palace first? It is nearby, and…”
“I will pass.”
“It has been a while since I last saw Luisa. The cousins have not met in a long time, have they?”
Baros forcefully disregarded the voice beside him as he delved into thought.
‘How am I to disclose being manipulated by the Dongik Palace?’
His head throbbed with the most pressing concern.
So much so that he failed to notice the peculiar grey gleam flickering across Dongik King’s bright blue eyes.
“I wish to alter the atmosphere of the Council of Elders, Luisa.”
“Yes.”
“Then you must earn recognition. A recognition that everyone can acknowledge.”
“…”
“Go to MacLaine. And investigate that man.”
“Just investigate?”
“Begin with an investigation. The actions of that king may be closely linked to a time when the gods have forsaken us.”
“And afterward?”
“If he is deemed unrelated, eliminate him immediately. But if there is a connection, we take different measures. The kingdom’s unrest does not necessarily require the king’s downfall.”
“Yes, I comprehend.”
In a dim stone chamber, beneath the black attire, a beautiful woman’s face peeked out, framed by glossy black hair on pale skin and blue eyes strikingly reminiscent of a certain renowned individual from the Empire.
English