Regressor of the Fallen Family Novel - Chapter 315
-“Chapter 315”-
“What in the world occurred? Who authorized the nobles to make a move already!?”
A piercing cry echoed through the Gran palace, specifically from the quarters reserved for the empire’s guests.
Naturally, Luisa’s outcry was skillfully masked by magic, only audible to her guard, Jun, beside her, and the individual on the opposite end of the communication orb.
Shortly after, an elderly man’s voice through the orb responded, dripping with sweat, vehemently shaking his head.
[We did not spark the incidents in the Darlan region, Elder Luisa. We were following the original plan.]
“What?”
[We could never have predicted that the MacLain nobility, constrained as they are, would act independently. I swear! Please believe me!]
“…Hmm? So, it was a coincidence?”
[Yes. From our faction’s perspective, we did not engage with the nobles.]
“Then…”
That statement caused Luisa to knit her elegantly arched brows.
Initially, the strategy was to manipulate the nobles to provoke the disarmed or restricted commoners to rebel after disbanding or limiting the vigilante group.
As part of this plan, they had already stoked the emotions of the downtrodden individuals suffering under the cruelty of the corrupt lords.
By now, the notion that “we can also eliminate the nobles” must have taken root in their minds. If the nobles retaliated under those circumstances, the commoners would no longer perceive it as unreasonable to believe that their oppression was a reality, unlike their previous helplessness.
In reality, the aim was to fan that spark and incite a nationwide uprising through indoctrination and provocation.
Considering the commoners in this nation possessed weapons like the repeating crossbow, they indeed had the potential to overthrow the entire kingdom.
“But that seems futile…”
Now that the nobles’ assaults had commenced, the king would inevitably impose limitations on both the nobility and the commoners.
Logan MacLain was an absolute monarch. The instant his restrictions were enforced, if the nobles were coerced into action through manipulation, the royal family would undoubtedly sense something amiss and take action.
Once the extraordinary king, who spearheaded the kingdom’s resurgence, began deploying legions, any seeds of discord would swiftly be suppressed.
“Tch. Since it has reached this point, we must guide it towards a clash between nobles and commoners. Division is imperative. MacLain’s sun will need to pick a side between the nobles and the commoners.”
[Yes. This realm will regress closer to the era of Grandia.]
“Exactly. That will suffice.”
If the royal family turned against the nobles, the current regime would crumble. If they opted to support the nobles to uphold their system, the commoners could then be incited once more.
And the royal family would likely have no choice but to align with the nobles to retain their immediate power.
“Although the impact may be less than initially envisioned…”
It couldn’t be avoided.
She ruminated as she continued to refine the strategy in her mind.
“News of the summit has been leaked!”
“So soon?”
Why did it conclude so swiftly?
A strange sense of foreboding washed over her.
“But…”
The unease materialized with the report from her subordinate.
“What in the world is this…”
An expletive rarely heard escaped Luisa’s crimson lips.
* * *
“The individual who murdered the lord will face the severest penalty in accordance with the law. However, due to the significant moral transgressions accumulated by the lords, we will not enforce the principle of collective punishment on the perpetrator’s family.”
Instead of convening the nobles for discussion, the king issued a unilateral announcement, enough to shock the nobility.
A commoner had committed the atrocious act of assassinating a noble, yet collective punishment would not be applied?
“Your Majesty! This is equating the noble class with commoners! Kindly retract your statement!”
The king’s father-in-law, Roberts Floyd, exclaimed, but Logan’s response was resolute.
“I will dispatch ten elite knights to reassure the uneasy lords. They will guarantee the safety of the nobles without fail.”
Furthermore, that subsequent action only heightened the nobles’ anxiety.
“But even those perturbed lords will have their security assured by the royal family. We will offer them accommodations in the capital, ensure their protection, and assign capable officials to oversee their territories in their absence.”
At first glance, it seemed like an attempt to pacify the nobles.
However, the essence was a far more drastic measure, rendering it impossible for any noble with a sound mind to remain composed.
“If the protection is so stringent, does that imply they will be under surveillance…?”
“What do you mean by overseers? Are you insinuating a complete relinquishment of our lands to the royal family…?”
“Is the king aiming to dismantle the feudal system…?”
Whispers barely audible to those nearby began to circulate, swiftly darkening the countenances of the noble class.
However, the mood shifted dramatically with Logan’s subsequent words.
“Nevertheless! The lords who demonstrate exceptional management results will have the chance to govern royal cities directly. The evaluation criteria will not be based on the size of the territory, but on the growth rate of the previous year’s harvest and public sentiment!”
The opportunity to oversee larger territories without the need for military merits stirred excitement.
These groundbreaking proclamations swiftly filled the hall with enthusiasm.
“Your, Your Majesty. Are you implying…!?”
“Are you suggesting territories will be granted solely based on performance…?”
“What exactly…!?”
“The rural lords could become rulers of vast territories akin to Harun.”
“……!!”
Logan’s additional remark ignited fervor in the grand hall.
“The opportunity to become a grand noble…!”
“Yes. Perhaps he perished because he foolishly provoked the commoners. If one governs their domain effectively, who would have thought they would meet such a fate!”
“That’s correct! I, a lord popular among the people, have no concerns!”
Greed overshadowed their apprehension.
And Logan’s declaration naturally evolved into a proclamation that resonated throughout the kingdom.
As a result.
“It signifies that nobles will be treated similarly to our common citizens.”
“The realm is bound to progress!”
“Long live our king…!”
Praise surged from the general populace, predominantly composed of commoners, and even the intellectuals who grasped the deeper implications of the proclamation marveled in a similar vein.
“It implies the empire’s transformations over the past century will be implemented swiftly.”
“It’s as if they were waiting for this incident to push forward.”
“Could this have been orchestrated intentionally by the royal family? If the nobles weren’t fearful for their lives, such policies wouldn’t have been swiftly enacted.”
“That’s accurate. Even if most of the nobility is imprudent, surely a few possess some intelligence. They must discern the lessons from imperial history.”
“But could it truly have been deliberate?”
“Indeed. If revealed, the entire nation might be upended. It’s a gamble.”
Apart from a minority, most of the nobility held little to no land in the empire. Their status was assigned based on competence but retained operational authority through non-hereditary governance. This marked a truly momentous change, showcasing an exceedingly centralized system.
MacLain had finally broken free from the constraints of feudalism and approached a genuine absolute monarchy.
And at that instant, Logan smiled brightly as he conversed with someone.
“Thank you for your diligent work, Baron.”
[How could I dare disobey your majesty’s order?]
“Is everything in order in the territory?”
[Yes. There’s merely a rumor circulating that it has descended into chaos.]
Trevot Darlan cheerfully relayed from the other end of the communication orb.
[But was it truly necessary to spread such a rumor? It might have been wiser to allow it to settle…]
“Some pesky individuals are meddling. I cannot allow the situation to tip in only one direction.”
“Oh?”
“You need not know more. But anticipate outstanding performance during next year’s evaluations.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Now, I too can bid farewell to this rural territory.
The delight reflected on Trevot Darlan’s visage was palpable.
After Logan concluded the call, a grin lingered on his face as he turned.
“Thanks to this, we have taken another stride forward. Now, what lies ahead…”
The Second Prince and Luisa—how they now appeared to him as the empire—swiftly traversed Logan’s thoughts.
* * *
[Setback?]
“…I regret. Forcing agitation like this could attract unnecessary attention. It might expose our vulnerabilities.”
[…Such a letdown, Luisa. You seemed quite assured.]
“I am ashamed.”
With her head bowed, Luisa clenched her teeth.
‘I thought this plan was foolproof, but I was blindsided.’
Without foreknowledge and preparation, rapid responses like these would be unattainable.
‘I didn’t anticipate MacLain’s nobles to be this foolish.’
It was absurd that they were oblivious to the nooses tightening around their necks while fixated on the bait before them. The so-called elite of the kingdom were beyond foolish.
Individuals naturally narrow their perspectives in moments of crisis. It was exceedingly rare for someone to retain their rationality.
As a sorceress who had dedicated a lifetime to studying the human psyche, she could have swiftly analyzed them with a bit of contemplation, but Luisa could only vent her frustration at the imbecility of MacLain’s nobility.
She also sensed the urgency herself.
[You do not intend to retreat now, do you? The empire’s mission must be accomplished. For the sake of our plans as well.]
“I comprehend.”
[Then what is the next course of action?]
“…We will proceed with the elimination of key figures.”
[Hehe, how amusing. Weren’t you the one advocating for reforming the organization’s extreme tendencies?]
“…I will manipulate the kingdom’s key figures to instigate conflicts among themselves. If it involves the superhumans, it could lead to even greater disturbances.”
[We must gather more intelligence on MacLain’s elite.]
“I have already conducted an investigation.”
[No. What you know will be insufficient. Much has altered recently.]
“Excuse me?”
[The information left by Gerohin, who perished in the coalition, has recently been retrieved. It appears he was attempting to cover his own errors.]
“…What do you mean?”
[There were others who opposed him back in Tahiti. In other words, apart from the known superhumans, three more lurk in the shadows of MacLain.]
“What!?”
Luisa, taken aback, seemed to relish the slightly amused tone on the other end of the communication orb.
[While I lack detailed information, the characteristics of those three appear clear. One exhibits a gray aura, another possesses an orange aura. And one utilizes a bow.]
“That…!?”
At that moment, a realization struck Luisa.
An orange aura? Force?
She had recently encountered an individual who displayed a similar force color. Such a rare hue was not easily found.
However, it seemed her astonishment was interpreted differently by her grandmaster.
[Indeed, it’s startling. A gray aura wielder? That denotes someone from our side harbors aura potential. If possible, attempt to locate that individual. Whether you recruit or enchant them, ensure their presence, and I assure the rewards will be substantial, commensurate with the success of this operation.]
Though it was a tempting offer, that statement failed to reach Luisa’s ears.
“…He deceived me? That young lad? How dare he!?”
[Do you have any inklings?]
At the grandmaster’s query, Luisa, momentarily contorting her face in humiliation, found it challenging to articulate her thoughts.
After a brief pause, she managed to compose herself and spoke.
“Perhaps I have been ensnared in someone else’s trap.”
[What?]
In the eyes of the blushing Luisa, a singular image dominated her thoughts: her view filled with the fiery red hair and crimson eyes of a young man.
Had she fallen victim to enchanting magic, her aura wielding prowess would have been flaunted proudly.
The absence of such boasting indicated…
“It appears they have uncovered my identity within the MacLains.”
The worst-case scenario.
[How? Did you expose your mana?]
There was a fierce intensity in the old man’s expression.
He could not help but exhibit such emotions.
Luisa’s dual identity was a closely guarded secret even within the organization. Presently, all that was disclosed to the empire was that the princess was collaborating with the Dongwangbu’s operations. Should the royal family uncover her true identity, numerous strategies would unravel.
“No way. My seal is flawless. Even if the other elders were right next to me, they would not detect anything.”
[Indeed, true. But does that mean someone managed to…? How could that be possible?]
“…I do not know. I am sorry.”
Her lips pressed together, Luisa bowed her head.
To have confidently ventured into MacLain, only to endure such humiliation, was truly absurd.
[Ha… So MacLain’s king is not to be trifled with. Discovering this now is still advantageous.]
“What?”
[The organization’s identity remains a secret even from the imperial royal family; MacLain’s king cannot be aware. He has yet to experience our magic firsthand. …Do you think you displayed magic to the king?]
“That absolutely did not happen!”
[In that case, he might have viewed you merely as an imperial spy from the empire’s side. Thus, focus on returning safely. I will assign the operations to another elder.]
“But it seems the other party has already fallen under the charm. Given that, our information might also…”
[…That is not possible. The magic you prepared is meticulously crafted. Would a knight’s intervention have any impact to foil it?]
While those words diminished aura users to mere knights, they were steeped in profound pride regarding the tower’s magic.
And Luisa shared similar sentiments.
“It is not so.”
[True, indeed. The aura wielders are relatively immune to the charm you devised. However, it could be due to the ‘Aura of Destiny’ that he encounters symbiotic disturbances with those around him. If that legendary power described in our archives truly exists, it might be the reason.]
“That is plausible.”
[Mind to restrain those excessive concerns that could cloud your judgment. Focus on returning safely now.]
“It is not. I am taking charge of the operations this time.”
[What?]
“I will ensure not to lose sight of the fact that I have been uncovered. I will make sure to capitalize on this situation.”
Those unwavering convictions to take the offensive did not daunt her any further.
Regardless of returning home with disdain, she would undoubtedly act according to her volition.
A gaze brimming with determination settled firmly on the figure in the communication orb.
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