Vol. 1 - Ch. 61 - The Burning White Pine City

“Milord, the first step of the plan has been completed. The city guards on patrol are currently occupied with extinguishing the fires and maintaining order. The next step is the Viscount’s Manor.”

“Mm. Remember, do not burn down the banquet hall. Otherwise, things will become troublesome. It does not matter how many commoners die, but if one or two nobles are killed, it will become a headache.”

“Understood.”

Watching his subordinate leave, the hunched old man continued strolling leisurely through the streets. A faint chuckle escaped from his lips.

“After that bastard Dawson died, he still managed to be somewhat useful. Without him, these fire oils would never have been able to reach all these locations.”

Leaning on his cane, he admired the several pillars of flame that rose into the night sky.

Under the dim glow of the firelight, the rose emblem of the noble house displayed on his clothing revealed his identity—

The head of the Helmer family.

The Baron of Rose Territory.

At that moment, a sound that made one’s teeth ache came from the darkness.

Scrape...

The sound of scales dragging against stone bricks echoed through the silent streets.

“Helmer, this is the ‘small disturbance’ you mentioned for Plan Three?”

Another aged voice rang out from the darkness, cold and emotionless.

The Rose Baron turned his head and looked toward the crawling shadow hidden in the darkness. He waved his hand indifferently.

“Of course, it is only a small disturbance. After all, Plan Two involved directly taking control of White Pine City by force.”

He paused for a moment before continuing with a faint smile.

“Speaking of which, I truly did not expect you to agree to let me carry out Plan Three. Didn’t you always say that everything had to be done cautiously?”

“Caution is based on the premise that the risks being avoided are worth the time spent.”

The emotionless voice replied calmly.

“You have already been carrying out this plan for more than two years, yet you still have not obtained Blackstone Territory. If there is no further progress, my clan’s grand plan will be delayed from entering its next stage because of this.”

Although the words sounded like a complaint, the voice remained as mechanical and indifferent as ever.

“Richard, if you had told me earlier that you could suppress information of this level, I would not have needed to spend so much effort planning for such a long time.”

The Helmer Baron listened as the previously silent streets gradually became filled with the shouts of guards and the terrified cries of civilians.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“However, it was the right decision not to tell me.”

“Because now, I have started to unconsciously wonder—”

“Just how many other important figures are cooperating with you…”

“Or rather, how many people throughout the Northern Territory have yet to participate in your grand plan?”

“Not available for disclosure.”

Richard’s voice remained emotionless.

“You should understand this better than anyone else. Just know what you need to know.”

“Heh, that’s true…”

Helmer chuckled softly.

“However, there is one thing I am rather curious about.”

With abilities as extraordinary as yours, why are you unable to discover anything about the newly appointed lord sent to Blackstone Territory?”

Upon hearing the slightly mocking question, the voice hidden in the darkness fell silent.

After a long pause, he finally spoke again.

“We do not know either… As compensation, the only thing I can tell you is that his surname is Elkasnoa Redi.”

The Rose Baron’s footsteps abruptly stopped.

Although he quickly resumed walking, it was only after a moment of silence that he slowly spoke.

“That truly is… quite an impressive background.”

Within those few words was a vicious hatred that came from the deepest depths of his heart.

————————

Looking at the flames spreading throughout the city, Lynn immediately collapsed onto the ground.

How much wealth and tax revenue are going to be lost because of this?!

“Ahhhhhhh! My White Pine City! Ahhhhhhh!”

Although Fenrir had no idea why the person in front of him had suddenly started crying so dramatically, he quickly understood the seriousness of the situation.

A commotion of this scale was absolutely something only the Blood Serpent Society could create.

“Could it be… a teleportation array?”

He did not lower his voice. Instead, he directly voiced his guess.

The matter concerning those two people could be dealt with later. Right now, their priority was capturing the poisonous snakes that had crawled out of their holes and stopping those bastards’ scheme.

“Hey, stop crying. Tell us where we should go next.”

Fenrir crouched down and looked at Lynn, who was repeatedly pounding the ground while crying.

“Sniff… The Viscount’s Manor. They will definitely go there. Their target is the Viscount himself.”

After the tiger beastman left with the remaining forces Aina had left behind, Lynn stood up once again.

Although tears still lingered on his face, his expression had already become completely calm.

“Let’s go. We have dealt with them. Now, we need to find the bastard who planned everything.”

He looked in the direction where Fenrir had left.

“Did you hear what our tiger-man friend said? There is a high chance that he entered this place through a teleportation array.”

Looking at how quickly Lynn changed his expression, Griffin could not help but admire him.

“As expected of you, milord. With nothing more than a simple performance, you managed to avoid wasting time on meaningless struggles.”

“What performance?”

Lynn looked at Griffin in confusion.

Then, he picked up the blanket from the ground and curled his finger toward Liko.

“Come here. Get on me.”

The main reason for doing this was because Griffin needed to maintain his mobility. Carrying the heavy Liko would make it inconvenient for him to display the abilities of a scout.

The secondary reason was that Liko’s wrapping ability could be considered biological armor, allowing her to effectively protect him if he encountered danger.

Watching Lynn carry Liko on his back, Griffin rolled his slightly stiff shoulders, and his expression became serious.

“Where are we going now? Do we still need Liko to guide us?”

“No need. I already know where we will encounter our schemer.”

A faint smile appeared on Lynn’s face as he strode toward a certain direction.

Based on all the information currently available, he had already created a profile of the Rose Baron—

A person who was extremely self-centered and most likely possessed NPD, a narcissistic personality disorder.

This could be seen from the fact that he had not even bothered using the most basic emotional manipulation tactics on his subordinates, as well as the enormous commotion he had caused right now.

If that was the case, then when such a person was carrying out the final stage of a long-planned scheme, what method would he use to reach his destination?

Or rather…

Which route would he choose?

An alleyway?

A hidden passage?

A cellar?

Absolutely impossible.

That man was definitely enjoying everything happening around him right now, believing it to be the magnificent symphony and supreme masterpiece he had created with his own hands.

He would not hide himself.

Instead, he would walk along the widest road, like a victorious conqueror returning from war, heading toward the Viscount’s Manor with his head held high and his steps filled with confidence.

Therefore, only one route matched his personality.

“Are we really just going to stand here?”

Standing in the center of the enormous plaza connected to the road leading toward the Viscount’s Manor, Griffin took a deep breath and asked in a low voice.

“Of course.”

Lynn confidently tried to place his hands on his waist, but failed because Liko had already wrapped herself around him.

Griffin opened and closed his hands anxiously, his breathing growing heavier and heavier.

“Why don’t we go directly to the entrance of the Viscount’s Manor? That is definitely where we will encounter.”

“Are you stupid?”

Lynn glanced at him.

“That place will definitely become a battlefield. Whether we can even get close is already a problem.”

Although Lynn said this, cold sweat had already begun forming on his forehead.

Don’t tell me I analyzed everything for so long… and still got it wrong?

Just as Griffin once again could not hold himself back and was about to continue speaking—

His body suddenly froze.

Because at the entrance of the plaza, he saw that figure.

The figure who had once taken him in from the streets where he wandered, given him a cursed half-life, and then taken away everything he possessed.

“Hmm… that old bastard is here too…”

Liko, resting her chin on top of Lynn’s head, spoke casually.

“This is going to be troublesome… He will definitely ask…”

“Liko, why did you fail to complete the mission? Have you betrayed my clan?”

“Ha… as expected…”

Before Liko could finish speaking, violent fighting energy suddenly erupted from Griffin’s body beside them.

“Helmer!”

With a furious roar, Griffin suddenly charged forward.

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