Novel Full Chapter 214 : Chapter 214
Chapter 214. Knight A (1)
Pyoyang Hyeon, where the Twin Dragon Sect was located.
There were two martial arts sects here.
One was the long-established Twin Dragon Sect.
The other was a place called the Plum Blossom Sword Sect, an embedded stone that had rolled in decades ago.
Normally, when two sects belonged to the same region, it was bound to be uncomfortable even if they were of the same orthodox faction.
But the Plum Blossom Sword Sect Master was different.
[Master, have you been well all this time?]
[Haha, thanks to you, I am well.]
He always treated the master of the Twin Dragon Sect with courtesy and made sure to send greetings with small gifts every year.
This was possible because the gap between the two sects was incomparably large.
The master of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect was a former lay disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, his martial prowess was first-rate, and he had over 80 disciples.
He operated more than two inns as businesses and also dispatched disciples to escort agencies.
He was the master of the most successful sect in the vicinity of Pyoyang Hyeon.
Compared to that, the Twin Dragon Sect was just a third-rate sect located in a shabby thatched house with only a few disciples.
They weren’t even competitors in the first place, so naturally, there was no reason to be hostile.
In fact, it was better to be on friendly terms.
The master of the Twin Dragon Sect was a man known for being a gentleman and a good person, and just by being friendly with him, the master of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect was also regarded as a good person.
The Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon also remembered his first meeting with him as not bad.
[Oh, so this is the disciple Master has taken in.]
[His name is Jin Cheon. It is a name I personally gave him.]
[Hahaha. His gaze is very good. Work hard and become a great swordsman.]
He vividly remembered the Plum Blossom Sword Sect Master showing a relaxed demeanor and offering him words of encouragement.
But the relationship between the two sects changed as the Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon made his name known.
As the Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon became more active, the Twin Dragon Sect gradually grew in power.
With the skill of the Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon added to the reputation of his master, who was already highly respected in the vicinity of Pyoyang Hyeon, the prestige of the Twin Dragon Sect instantly surpassed that of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect.
In the end, the Plum Blossom Sword Sect Master gradually distanced himself from the Twin Dragon Sect and eventually became hostile.
And in the end….
‘That man acted as a spy for the Unorthodox Alliance and informed them of my absence.’
As a result of the attack that exploited that gap, many disciples fled, and the master and disciples who fought back were killed or injured.
It was one of the most painful backstabs in the entire life of the Radiant Dragon Great Master.
Why did the Plum Blossom Sword Sect Master make such a choice?
In his hot-blooded youth, he thought it was just because the man was scum and trash, but thinking about it now, he could somewhat understand the reason.
‘He must have been anxious. He must have been anxious about the reality of his position being threatened and gradually pushed back.’
That was the reason why a figure of the orthodox faction, a lay disciple of the Mount Hua Sect no less, became a pawn of the Unorthodox Alliance and tried to destroy the Twin Dragon Sect.
He realized it then.
People extremely dislike having their position threatened.
To the point where you don’t know what they might do if left alone.
‘I can’t get stabbed in the back like that again.’
Patrick wanted to focus on pioneering the Great Forest from now on.
That’s why he came here today.
“I will build up your prestige, Count. I will also continue to respect the authority of the Margrave of the East. So please, stop trying to keep our Schneider family in check.”
“And if I choose not to?”
Did Patrick’s unexpectedly low posture provide an opening?
Count Parmas pushed a step further.
At that….
“Well, you see, Count.”
Patrick scratched his head with a troubled face and spoke.
And he said nonchalantly.
“Wouldn’t it be troublesome if you became my enemy?”
At those words, Count Parmas let out a sigh.
He had tried it with a “might as well poke the persimmon I can’t eat” attitude, but he didn’t even get his money’s worth.
‘My mistake.’
If he had known he would become such a great figure, he would not have sent him to the capital.
No, even if he had sent him, he would have done so after putting a firm leash on him.
He should have made him his man, even if it meant forcibly pushing his only daughter into his bedroom, and then nurtured him.
But now, it was all belated regret.
‘If I cannot have him under me, I must at least not become his enemy.’
In the end, he decided to accept Patrick’s proposal.
“Did you say you would build up my prestige?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Tell me how.”
“Understood. Well, it’s nothing much….”
* * *
A few days later.
Many of the eastern nobles gathered at the Count Parmas family estate.
“Baron Hank, you came too?”
“Mm, Baron Aust, you are here as well.”
“The Count summoned us, so we must come.”
“Mm, that is true. He is still our representative for now….”
“For now, that is.”
The nobles, who were quick to hear rumors, had already heard.
That the Double Dragon had returned to the Schneider family.
With the return of the Double Dragon added to the rapid growth of the Schneider family over the past few years, it was reason enough for the leadership of the east to change.
In the first place, the east was a land ruled by the strong.
Now that the power of the Baron Schneider family had surpassed that of the Count Parmas family, there was no reason to object even if the leader was replaced.
Just then….
“Count Parmas has arrived.”
With the servant’s words, Count Parmas appeared.
However, he did not appear alone.
“Hmm? Who is that person next to him?”
“Could it be?”
“Ah, I think it is. I have seen him once in the capital.”
Next to the Count was Patrick Schneider, following with a face full of dissatisfaction.
To the eastern nobles who did not know the reason for their joint appearance, Count Parmas spoke.
“Thank you all for coming despite your busy schedules. I have called you here today because there are a few things I wish to say.”
And to the clueless nobles, he said.
“I have heard that recently, many nobles in our east have borrowed money from the Schneider family and have not repaid it.”
At that moment, more than half of the nobles had a guilty expression.
And Patrick interjected and shouted.
“How dare you rip off my father while I was away. You bastards really want to die….”
“Young Schneider!”
Patrick, who was flying off the handle, flinched at Count Parmas’ words and stepped back.
“Was I not in the middle of speaking?”
“……”
“Step back for now.”
“Yes. Understood.”
Count Parmas, who had silenced the exploding Patrick, spoke again.
“Illicit financial transactions are matters that can damage the friendship and unity of the east. As the one responsible for the east, I cannot stand idly by and watch such things happen.”
“But Count.”
“We have our circumstances.”
“Please hear us out.”
Count Parmas raised his hand to stop the nobles who were trying to make excuses and said.
“It is not that I do not know your circumstances. The recent poor harvest has continued, and everyone is struggling, so it must not have been easy even with the will to repay.”
As the Count stepped forward and spoke as if he understood their situation, the nobles were relieved.
But his words were not yet finished.
“However, it is a fact that you have borrowed money, and it is also a fact that the repayment of the debt is being delayed. That is why Young Schneider here has carried out a forced execution.”
The fact that Patrick had turned five nearby fiefdoms completely upside down in one night had already spread throughout the entire east.
The nobles who had suffered were keeping quiet out of pride, but could such a thing be hidden just by trying to hide it?
Count Parmas let out a sigh as if he had a headache and said.
“For now, Young Schneider. You are to stop forcibly confiscating the nobles’ property.”
“But Count. Then what about the money owed to our family?”
“Extend the deadline a little. For about a year from now.”
“No, that is….”
“Young Schneider.”
“……”
“Are you planning not to follow my words?”
At Count Parmas’ words, Patrick, showing a face full of reluctance, said.
“It’s not just anyone, but the Count’s command, so I have to follow it. I’ll follow it, but…. Aww. I’m so pissed off.”
At the sight of Patrick openly exuding killing intent and anger, the indebted nobles broke out in a cold sweat.
‘I heard about it, but he really has an extraordinary temper.’
‘Where did such a ruffian come from?’
‘Is he really that pushover’s son?’
‘By the way, Count Parmas is able to control that hooligan.’
‘I guess the position of the leader of the east is unshakable.’
The conversation between the two shown here today contained more than they thought.
Not only that Patrick Schneider was a much more aggressive person than the rumors suggested, but also that Count Parmas could control such a Patrick to some extent.
The nobles who had thought that the pinnacle of the east might change came to correct their thoughts.
‘Come to think of it, that fellow was admitted to the Academy with Count Parmas’ recommendation.’
‘Perhaps there is a deal between the families.’
‘To be able to control the world-renowned Double Dragon like that….’
Who was the Double Dragon?
He was a complete lunatic who wouldn’t back down and would charge even against the regular army of the Kaisar Kingdom.
And Count Parmas was controlling such a mad dog with mere words.
As long as this relationship continued, no one in the east would dare to challenge the hegemony of the Count Parmas family.
A short while later.
The eastern nobles all went back.
The nobles indebted to the Baron Schneider family wrote a contract promising to repay the debt within the next year, and returned after putting up collateral in case they couldn’t repay.
The name of the Margrave of the East, Count Parmas, was written as the guarantor on the contract.
With this, they had to repay the debt.
And as soon as possible, at that.
In the end, Patrick cleanly settled the debt relations his father had left behind and re-established his relationship with Count Parmas.
As long as he proved that he had the right to control the eastern nobles, he would not be hostile to the Schneider family.
In fact, he even invited Patrick, who was about to leave, to a meal.
But Patrick returned, promising for the next time.
“Now, it’s about time to start.”
It was a time to be busy for a while.
* * *
Around the time Patrick returned to the east and began preparations for the pioneering of the Great Forest.
Something else was happening in the northeast of the continent.
“All troops! Advance!”
“Uooooooh!”
A war had broken out.
It was a war between the Yusef Kingdom, one of the four eastern nations, and the Flame Kingdom.
The one who declared war first was the Yusef Kingdom.
The pretext was a broken royal marriage.
King Cierion, who had ascended to the throne of the Yusef Kingdom, had married one of his sisters to a prince of the Flame Kingdom.
Princess Heminia, known as the most beautiful princess in the Yusef Kingdom, was King Cierion’s half-sister.
It was a political marriage to strengthen the ties between the neighboring countries and was proceeding smoothly.
But it went wrong.
And in the worst way possible.
“Hey, did you hear? They say Princess Heminia, who was sent to marry into the Flame Kingdom, was murdered by an assailant.”
“What? Is that true?”
“Yes. Her body was said to have been brutally murdered with dozens of wounds.”
“How could this be? Why?”
The reason was not revealed.
But the princess sent for a royal marriage was murdered by an assailant on her wedding night.
Her body was in a gruesome state, and the culprit was never found.
In the end, the delegation from the Yusef Kingdom returned with the princess’ body, and the Flame Kingdom expressed its regrets to the Yusef Kingdom.
And….
[In my name, Cierion Baisus Yusef, I command. I will hold the Flame Kingdom responsible for my sister’s death!]
King Cierion declared war.
He declared war on the Flame Kingdom to avenge his deceased sister.
At first, the people of the Yusef Kingdom were baffled.
But….
“Hey, have you heard the rumor?”
“About the war? Of course, I’ve heard. What is this all about…”
“No, not that, but about the death of the princess that caused this war. The truth is…”
“…What? Really?”
“They say it’s true.”
“How could this be? In that case…”
A rumor from an unknown source began to circulate.
The culprit who killed Princess Heminia was actually a royal of the Flame Kingdom.
That royal lusted after the princess’ beauty, harbored dark intentions, and tried to take her by force, and when she resisted, he killed her.
That rumor spread throughout the entire Yusef Kingdom.
And that rumor was enough to enrage the people of the Yusef Kingdom.
“How dare those Flame Kingdom bastards…”
“How dare they do such a thing? How lightly must they have looked down on our country?”
“It’s only natural that His Majesty Cierion declared war.”
“Of course. This is a matter of national pride.”
“We must clear the princess’ name and make those Flame Kingdom bastards pay for their sins.”
Public opinion began to form in support of Cierion’s cause for declaring war over the princess’ death.
In any country, the tragic death of a beautiful woman creates enough empathy to enrage people.
This is even more so if it is a princess of a nation.
In the end, the Yusef Kingdom led a total of 30,000 troops and attacked the Flame Kingdom.
At the forefront stood King Cierion himself, enraged by his sister’s death.
“Out of the way!”
The scene of a fierce clash between the main forces of both countries, the knightly orders.
King Cierion, riding a white horse with a red cape fluttering, charged into it.
At that….
“Everyone, fall back!”
“Do not interfere with His Majesty!”
At Cierion’s roar, the knights hastily retreated.
And….
“Uoooooooh!”
A massive Aura Blade soared from the sword of Cierion, who stood at the very front.
The sword of light, soaring gigantically over 20 meters, boasted its majesty alone in the midst of the chaotic war.
The Emperor Sword Form, which he had realized in his duel with Patrick.
Cierion had assimilated it as his own.
“Uh… uh uh uh….”
“Get out of the way!”
The enemy knights, terrified by the fearsome Formed Qi of Intent, tried to scatter in a hurry, but by then, it was already too late.
“Haaaaaap!”
Lord of Sword.
The great king’s sword, swung down without hesitation, wiped out the entire enemy knightly order.
Kwaaaang!
It was a radiance of victory for his allies and a symbol of despair for his enemies.
King Cierion, who had crushed an entire knightly order with overwhelming power, swallowed the blood that rose to his throat and raised the great sword of light high.
And he shouted with a voice full of dignity.
“Warriors of the Yusef Kingdom! Advance. Justice is with us!”
“Oooooooh!”
“Long live the Yusef Kingdom!”
“Long live His Majesty Cierion!”
Starting from this day, the 30,000-strong army led by Cierion would bring down the Flame Kingdom in three months.
It was the moment the Hegemon King’s march began.