I Regressed to My Ruined Family – 60

 #I returned, and my family was ruined (61)

King Delphion of the Kingdom of Haidern.

A knock sounded at the door of his office.

“Your Majesty. It is Wellington. May I come in?”

The kingdom’s secret intelligence organization, “Red Moon.”

The head of that organization was none other than Count Wellington.

“Come in.”

“Your Majesty, I have carried out your orders. I have demoted William and reduced his title from count to viscount. However… I was unable to go further. I deeply apologize, Your Majesty.”

“With the Duke of Gerond casting a dissenting vote, there was nothing you could do. That is still a commendable achievement. Hold your head high, Count.”

The Duke of Gerond.

He was the head of the Laysian family, one of the seven great families of the kingdom.

As the leader of the noble faction, he was also the person who cast the most dissenting votes against the king’s policies.

This time was no exception.

Since the evidence was clear, it was easy to strip him of his position as the kingdom’s master blacksmith and demote him two ranks in the dwarf nobility.

However, as if he would not allow anything more, Duke Gerond mobilized the Seven Houses of the Kingdom to put pressure on the royalist faction. In the end, there was no choice but to compromise to this extent.

The power of the Seven Houses of the Kingdom was such that even the current king could not ignore it.

Still, demoting William, the royal blacksmith who was close to the aristocracy, was one of the biggest achievements for the royalist faction.

“Count Welington.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Have you found out about the relationship between the House of Laysian and William?”

“It seems that they are not only secretly supplying weapons, but also engaging in deeper exchanges. However… I have not been able to ascertain anything further.”

“Don’t rush into anything. If you slip up, it will be troublesome.”

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

Wellington bowed his head and handed over a document.

“This is the document regarding the investigation you ordered last time.”

The Red Moon was one of the kingdom’s secret intelligence organizations. Delphreon took the document handed to him by the head of the organization and looked at the title.

[Southern Union Investigation Report]

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Two southern dukes.

And two viscounts.

The Grand Duke had taken over all four families located in the southern part of the duchy.

The Southern Alliance was the name given by the world to the region occupied by the Grand Duke.

“An imperial decree. What do you think, Count?”

“I think it is only natural to lower the taxes of the Duchy in accordance with the contents of the feudal contract. The Ardan family has done so for generations. However…”

Count Welington continued.

“I find the response to the dragon tribe quite unexpected. Even though they don’t recognize the dragon worship ideology, they are willing to accept their technology…”

Delphreon nodded.

Even to him, it was quite unexpected news.

According to the Grand Duke’s decree, it meant that even if they learned the dragon tribe’s technology, it would not matter.

‘A lot of time has passed.’

The House of Ardan.

It had already been fifteen years since they had blocked the dragon tribe.

In the meantime, the world was changing rapidly.

Not only were countries actively accepting the technology of the dragon tribe, but they were even forming cooperative relationships with them.

The Grand Duke’s decision was not to completely reject the changes, but to accept them to a certain extent.

Count Welington continued his report.

“The Grand Duke has risen rapidly as a powerful force, controlling four families. It will be difficult for Count Cheyman or Count Irdan to confront him head-on.”

“Does that mean there will be factional fighting for the time being?”

“That is likely.”

The Southern Alliance was in a truly exquisite position. There were two factions of ten branches of the royal family in the east and west, and the Pushkes Mountains surrounded the rear. This meant that they only had to defend the front.

The fate of the two factions would be decided by where the Union’s spearhead was pointed.

I don’t know if it was the Grand Duke’s intention, but it was certainly a brilliant choice of location.

Delphreon nodded and continued reading the documents.

The Southern Union.

They had nearly 8,000 soldiers and nearly 120 knights. It was hard to believe that they had built up such a force in just four months.

Well,

the son of a tiger couldn’t be a puppy. The Grand Duke was a tiger cub.

A tiger born with a powerful bloodline that would surely become a great tiger.

“Your Majesty. I have one more thing to report.”

“What is it?”

“There are strange rumors circulating in the House of Pernes. They say that the youngest prince of the Ardan family has produced black flames.”

“…Black flames? Are you referring to black flames?”

“It seems so. However, no one from our side has confirmed it yet.”

Even though the information was uncertain, he reported it directly to the king because it was a matter of utmost importance.

The Ardan family.

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Black flame was one of the essential elements required for selecting the next head of the family in the Ardan family. At least, that was the case until the previous generation.

Myers.

If he produced black flame,

the Ferne Count family could demand that a “flowering ceremony” be held to select the next head of the family.

Even if it was just a rumor, it was something to pay attention to.

It was that kind of rumor.

“How many agents have been sent to the House of Ferne?”

“About two.”

“Increase it to six.”

“Yes, sir.”

The agents were all highly skilled in covert operations.

They are rare talents, even in the kingdom.

The fact that three times as many agents were being deployed was a clear indication of how seriously the king was taking this matter.

“Count Wellington.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Have you finished your investigation into the dwarf named Popolence?”

“Yes, it is complete. There are no major points of suspicion. His ideology is close to those who hate the Yongin tribe. His skills are also outstanding enough to be entrusted with a high-ranking position.”

“Are there any candidates who could be considered for the position of royal blacksmith?”

“There are a few who are being recommended by the Seven Families of the kingdom, but…”

There was no reason to push someone connected to the noble faction this time. With William out of the picture, the justification had long since shifted to our side.

“What about our side?”

“There are a few candidates, but none of them are skilled enough to be the kingdom’s master blacksmith.”

If we push someone like that, the noble faction won’t stand idly by.

It was obvious that there would be controversy over favoritism.

Poporen was a skilled blacksmith with proven ideology who appeared in such a situation.

It meant that he was a person who could be used in the right place at the right time, as if the Grand Duke himself had sent him.

Delphreon nodded.

“Then let’s go with him. But for now, let’s make it a temporary position for one year.”

“I will obey His Majesty’s will.”

Popolence.

That was the moment he was appointed as the kingdom’s master blacksmith, even if only temporarily.

* *

The training ground inside the inner castle of the Count of Itun. All the knights had gathered there. It was because the Grand Duke had summoned them.

The moment they arrived at the training ground.

The knights tilted their heads in confusion.

This was because knights of five stars or higher were standing in the training ground with the Grand Duke. Nerian, the only six-star knight and commander of the Duke of Dekun’s knights, was also in the training ground.

The Grand Duke looked at the knights gathered in one place and said,

“Over a hundred knights from four families have gathered. The command structure is only temporary. Most of them don’t even have titles or positions yet.”

“……”

That was true.

Until now, they had just been following the Grand Duke around. It was only natural that the knights were awkward with each other.

This was because four groups had come together without any common ground to unite them.

“Today, I intend to establish a knight order. This will also be a place where you will learn what you are to learn. Take up your swords.”

Ethan’s words had just finished.

Nerian, the knight commander, and six five-star knights drew their swords.

“Begin.”

It was the moment when Ethan’s words ended.

One 6-star knight and six 5-star knights surrounded the Grand Duke.

Even 5-star knights were skilled enough to hold a position in a decent family.

That was why their formation was so precise.

It was at that moment.

Ethan drew his broadsword.

There were no flickering flames as usual. At that moment, the knights realized.

“…This is a pure sword fight.”

If it weren’t, mana would have risen above the other knights’ swords.

However, no one raised any mana. This was proof that it was a pure sword fight.

The knights swallowed their saliva involuntarily.

It was already well known that the Grand Prince was highly skilled.

However, most people attributed his skill to his mana.

The mana of fire that rose spectacularly.

The scene of his great sword melting like ice whenever it touched the steel swords was still vivid in their memories.

Would the Grand Prince’s swordsmanship be as outstanding as his fiery mana?

Everyone began to watch the duel with curiosity.

The first to attack was Nerian, a 6-star knight.

“Haah!”

He thrust his sword at an opening with a sharp strike. As if that weren’t enough, six knights rushed in from all sides. It was a moment that anyone would consider a life-threatening crisis.

“Huh.”

The Grand Prince took a deep breath.

When he swung his broadsword…

“…!”

Everyone’s eyes widened. In an instant, the Grand Prince parried all seven swords and began to corner Nerian.

He wasn’t even using mana.

Nevertheless, the Grand Prince’s movements grew faster and faster with each strike.

His swordplay was precise and fast, yet filled with a domineering aura.

The knights could tell at a glance. This sword technique was different from the Duke’s sword technique, which emphasized balance and harmony.

On the contrary, the sword technique used by the Grand Duke was full of a domineering aura.

It was surprising.

“…What kind of sword technique is this?”

It was similar to the Duke’s sword technique, but completely different.

“…Did he mix something in?”

However, the swordplay was too domineering to be Ardan’s.

It wasn’t just the knights watching the duel who were surprised.

Six-star knight Nerian.

He and the other five-star knights were all shocked.

“…This is it!”

There was no mistake.

This was definitely a sword technique mixed with the techniques of the dragon clan. It was a seemingly perfect sword technique filled with the tricks they had used!

Pah!

Every time he struck someone with his sword, a knight fell to the ground.

Overwhelming power.

An astonishingly precise balance of power.

And innate combat sense.

No one could match the Grand Prince with pure swordplay.

The same was true for Nerian.

After about twenty exchanges.

The only one left standing in the training ground was Nerian.

Even he couldn’t hold out for ten more exchanges and declared his surrender.

“…Oh my god.”

Was that the true extent of the Grand Duke’s swordsmanship?

It was then that they realized that fire mana was not his only strength.

His talent was terrifying.

While the knights remained silent, the Grand Duke spoke.

“The swordsmanship you just saw is a new style that combines the swordsmanship of the dragon clan and our family.”

“…!”

At those words, all the knights in the training ground widened their eyes.

Although he had acknowledged through an edict that he would accept the techniques of the dragon tribe, he had not thought that it meant that even the Grand Prince would use the techniques of the dragon tribe.

It was a shocking statement.

That was the moment.

“The name of this sword technique is Ryu-Satsu-Ken (Dragon Slayer Sword).”

A sword that kills dragons!

It was a moment that revealed the true intentions behind the Crown Prince’s acceptance of the dragon clan’s techniques.

“Then let us begin the knight’s ceremony.”

Though temporarily distracted by the Crown Prince’s astonishing sword technique, the knights had gathered for a purpose: the knight’s ceremony.