I Regressed to My Ruined Family – 82

 #I returned, and my family was ruined (83)

The Yongsal Corps, who visited Londinium with the Grand Prince, was only thirty strong.

The remaining members who did not depart were given a special mission by the strategist Lawrence.

“I want you to infiltrate the five territories.”

The places she pointed out on the map were the noble families belonging to the Cheyman faction.

“What should we do once we infiltrate?”

“Approach the knights. They firmly believe that the youngest prince will be elected. All you have to do is shake their belief.”

Shake their belief.

The Yongsaldan nodded in agreement. For such a mission, there was no need for the entire Yongsaldan to move to a single domain.

“This is detailed information on the knights in each domain.”

The knights looked at the document Lawrence handed them and let out quiet exclamations of admiration.

As he had said, the document contained not only the names of the knights serving in each fiefdom, but also their personalities.

No access.

Neutral.

Top priority target, etc.

Not only were the knights classified into various categories, but the back page also contained montages of the top priority targets.

The drawings were so detailed that even just looking at them, there was no chance of confusing the characters.

“Um… Strategist.”

“Yes.”

“Is there a painter in the intelligence organization?”

“Yes. There are also intelligence agents from various other occupations.”

The knights’ eyes lit up with interest. Not many people knew about the intelligence organization that Lawrence ran.

Even Nerian, the captain of the knights, only knew that the name of the intelligence organization operated by Lawrence was Black Moon.

Even the slightest bit of information about the intelligence organization was bound to arouse their interest.

Of course, no knight was foolish enough to ask any more questions.

“Understood. We will approach the top priority targets one by one.”

“Yes. If they hear that you are a knight of the Grand Duke, they won’t draw their swords without thinking. Here are some fake identity cards.”

Get notified for updates: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

From wandering merchants to ordinary townspeople.

The identity cards were made to match the areas the knights were heading to.

They were so sophisticated that no one would be able to tell they were fake.

It was perfect preparation for infiltrating each domain.

“I will tell you how to recruit them.”

“Yes!”

The Yongsal Dan listened intently to the strategist’s words with sparkling eyes.

After listening to the briefing, nearly seventy members of the Yongsal Dan divided into groups and secretly infiltrated the five domains.

The recruitment operation began.

The top priority targets.

They started with the knights.

Manhattan, the former commander of the Karagas family’s knights.

He was now in the territory of Count Pernes. He was also entrusted with the important role of squad leader.

It was a dark night.

He saw the torchlight and his eyes lit up.

“The information provided by the strategist is indeed accurate!”

He had heard that two common knights of the Blue Lion Knights were patrolling this area at this time of night.

“They were also top priority targets.”

Manhattan and the other members of the Dragon Slayers lit up. Soon, they surrounded the knights who were on night patrol.

The two common knights lit up when they saw the encirclement that had formed in an instant.

They were about to shout, but stopped themselves.

They widened their eyes.

“Yo… Yongsaldan?”

It was because of the black badges held out by the people blocking their way.

The badges were shaped like a dragon with its throat cut. They were distributed to the knights after the Yongsaldan was founded.

Rumors were already spreading about the black shields used by the Dragon Slayers.

Seeing the knights’ trembling eyes, Menhattan immediately continued.

“I am Menhattan, the leader of the Dragon Slayers. I used to be the captain of the knights at the House of Karagas.”

“The captain of the knights at the House of Karagas?”

Come to think of it, he seemed to have heard the name Menhattan mentioned as the commander of the knights of the baron’s family before.

Menhattan’s sword skills were certainly sharp enough to be called the leader of the Yongsal Corps. He continued speaking.

“I’m not here to harm you. If I were, I would have drawn my sword immediately. So please calm down.”

“…

The two knights looked at each other. Everything was uncertain.

However, there were some things that seemed certain.

First.

The Yongsa Dan was moving secretly.

Join our discord and ping me to update more chapters. Discord: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

Second.

The Yongsa Dan were knights who were considered to be even more skilled than themselves.

Third.

In such a situation, calling for other patrols could put their own lives in danger.

The decision was quick.

Now was not the time to use force, but to resolve the situation through dialogue.

“…What is your purpose?”

“Just a brief conversation. That’s all.”

“…A conversation? The Grand Prince and our lord are not on good terms…”

“I know that. To be precise, I came here to offer you a favorable proposal. Can you spare a moment?”

All he had to do was give them some time.

At least it was much better than having his life threatened.

However.

“…If you are trying to persuade me, I must first refuse…”

“Just as you said, strategist.”

Yong-sal’s eyes lit up.

He had predicted that nine out of ten targets would react like this at first.

The situation was unfolding exactly as Lawrence had predicted.

“Well, of course.”

For a knight, betraying his lord was a disgrace that could never be washed away.

Moreover, the knights of the five provinces were convinced that the youngest prince would win the coming-of-age ceremony.

They had heard rumors that he had unleashed Black Flame.

On the other hand, the crown prince was an excellent knight, but he had never been able to unleash Black Flame. According to tradition, it was clear who would be elected as the next head of the family.

Therefore, there was no reason for him to be persuaded.

However.

The purpose of the Yongsaldan was not to persuade him immediately.

“That’s not it. Let’s hear you out first. I’m sure your master told you that the next head of the duke’s family would definitely be the youngest prince. We know that too, so there’s no need to hide it.”

“What do you know?”

“The fact that the youngest prince lit the black flame.”

“…!”

The two knights widened their eyes.

But only for a moment.

One of the knights asked.

“…Even though you knew, the Grand Prince still participated in the opening ceremony?”

“Yes. The Grand Prince was confident in himself.”

“What are you trying to tell us?”

“Think about it again. If the Grand Prince wins the Flower Ceremony… will he really leave the collateral branches of the family alone?”

“…”

Absolutely not.

That was easy to guess from what they had seen so far.

Viscount Helmut.

Baron Zifron.

Viscount Lokhan.

Even Viscount Mush.

Four people had already been turned into spirits by his sword.

“If the Grand Duke is elected head of the family… he will make his move immediately. When that time comes, think carefully before you act.”

“…”

“By the way, the Grand Duke treats his knights with great respect. That’s clear from the Yongsaldan alone. He taught them techniques that would be considered valuable secrets in other families without asking for anything in return. Even I, for example, have risen to a higher level since joining the Yongsaldan.”

Gulp.

The two knights swallowed hard.

The sword technique known to be taught by the Yongsal Corps, Yongsal Sword.

I had heard that the knights who mastered the subtleties of Yongsal Sword, a sharp yet solid sword technique, rapidly rose in rank.

“Oh, before we go, let me tell you one more thing.”

“……What is it?”

“When you join the Yongsal Corps in the future, if you happen to achieve any notable accomplishments, the Grand Prince will personally consider them. If you do well, you may even be able to learn the advanced Yongsal sword technique.”

With that, the Yongsal Corps disappeared into the darkness. The two knights stared at each other blankly.

“…He really just left.”

“Yeah…”

The two knights breathed a sigh of relief and soon fell into deep thought.

The Grand Duke’s chances of winning the coming-of-age ceremony were not zero.

“He wouldn’t have told only us this.”

Probably quite a few members of the Blue Lion Knights had heard this story.

“If the Grand Duke really wins…”

There was no reason to stay on a sinking ship. Depending on the outcome of the opening ceremony, they would have to take different actions.

Starting with the Blue Lion Knights of the Count of Cheiman, the knights of the other four territories would follow suit.

The secret proposal was spreading rapidly.

* *

The opening ceremony.

The news that the person elected as the new lord was the Grand Duke spread throughout the five noble families’ territories.

The rumor continued to spread like wildfire.

As if that weren’t enough.

Memory crystals scattered throughout the city were replaying scenes from the ceremony.

―…The 18th Duke of the House of Ardan…is hereby appointed…as the Grand Duke…

―Pernes. Liman. Kesten. Henaris. Even Ailian. All five noble families will have their estates confiscated, and as an example of their crimes, the five men standing here will be beheaded.

Oh my God!

The video was undeniably real. Upon hearing the news, the soldiers quickly broke free from the control of the noble families.

The five noble families no longer held their titles.

Therefore, they had no reason to obey orders.

Frankly speaking, they were now commoners, so why should they obey their families?

Those who were quick-witted were already fleeing from the inner castle.

On the other hand, the knights.

were quietly shining their eyes.

Except for the knights who were loyal to their families to the core, nearly nine out of ten were like that. They were thinking about what they had heard.

“If you have any special achievements, the Grand Duke will surely take them into consideration.”

Achievements.

What could be considered an achievement in the current situation?

It was clear.

It was to capture the members of the families that had been branded as traitors.

Everyone looked at each other.

It was difficult to make a move unless someone took the initiative.

Just then.

“It’s the Yongsaldan!”

Hermes.

A shout erupted from the inner castle where Chayman’s mansion was located.

Yongsaldan!

They were definitely the same people he had seen a few days ago.

They were standing in front of the inner castle gate, raising their banners and shouting loudly.

“The five branches of the royal family are now considered traitors! Open the gates! If you prevent the Dragon Slayers from entering, you will be considered traitors to Duke Ardan!”

Treason against the duke?

The servants rushed out and looked at the knights with panic in their eyes.

But that didn’t last long.

“Don’t talk nonsense!”

They immediately rebelled.

If they admitted their guilt here, everything would be over.

“Don’t open the gate! Traitors! Don’t believe their nonsense!”

“How dare you refuse the Duke’s orders!”

The thunderous cries made everyone inside the inner castle flinch.

But that was only for a moment.

One of the knights standing near the gate quickly sprang into action.

“The count has been defeated!”

This fact had already spread through memory modification.

Moreover, the noble’s castle had been confiscated, so he was no longer his master. It was a hundred times better to switch to a sturdy ship than to drown in a sinking ship.

“Sir… Sir Wolsun!”

One of the retainers urgently called out to the knight, but he did not even look back as he lowered the pulley.

“Stop him! Hurry!”

Just as some of the knights were about to move, another group of Blue Lion Knights blocked their way.

“Stop!”

“…What are you doing?”

“We are only following the duke’s orders. You are the ones who are committing treason!”

“You… traitors! Attack!”

“Capture the rebels!”

Sword fights broke out throughout the inner castle. The sense of unity that had bound them together as Blue Lions just moments ago had long since shattered into pieces.

Soon after, the castle gates opened.

The Dragon Slayers were deployed, and the balance began to shift.

It seemed that the price for taking all the elite knights with him, thinking that the Grand Prince might resist and refuse to accept the results of the opening ceremony, was now being paid.

It took only a moment for the five inner walls to be captured.

* *

It had not even been half a day since they entered the inner walls of Londinium.

In the distance, white smoke could be seen rising.

There were exactly five plumes of smoke.

“It’s over.”

The territory of the five branches of the royal family.

They had been executing their plan for several days to capture it in one fell swoop.

The results were now before our eyes. Starting with the loss of their noble titles, the lords of the territory had lost everything, including their masters, and in less than a day, the territory had been completely occupied.

Ethan looked at Silvia standing next to him.

“Well done.”

“No, it was my duty.”

She bowed her head respectfully and handed him a flag.

“I am ready.”

“Let’s go.”

The complete occupation of the duchy.

Now that it had been accomplished,

it was time to make an official announcement throughout the duchy.

The training ground inside the inner castle.

The place was already crowded with the duchy’s soldiers and countless serfs.

They had heard that the Grand Duke, who had just taken office, was about to make an announcement.

Flags fluttered inside the inner castle.

The symbol on those flags was not the flame that represented the Duchy.

It was the emblem of the ten new branches of the family created by the Council of Elders.

Soon, the Grand Duke approached the flags hanging inside the inner castle.

Swoosh!

With his great sword, he cut down the flag bearing the emblem of the ten collateral branches in one swift stroke.

After cutting down the flag, he

hung a flag engraved with a golden flame pattern.

Ethan looked at the people of the domain and said.

[From this moment on, the entire domain of Duke Ardan belongs to the Duke’s family!]

“…!”

The ten branches.

There was no doubt that they had all been destroyed.

This was not happening only in Londinium, which was like the capital of the domain.

The same was true for Hermes, a metropolis that was practically the capital of the five branches of the family.

In addition, flags of the duke’s family were beginning to be hung in the inner castles of the four remaining noble families.

The entire duchy.

The people of the duchy who had settled there cheered when they saw the flags with Ardan’s emblem.

“Wahhh!”

The ten branches of the family had ruled the Duchy for over ten years.

It was the day they would completely disappear, and the beginning of change.

The ruined metropolis of Londinium.

Ethan, who was looking down on the city from the highest point of the inner city, said.

“As the 18th head of the Duke of Ardan, I declare that from this moment on, the duchy will begin to reclaim its past!”

The duke’s voice, filled with mana, echoed throughout the city.

In response to his words, cheers rang out across Londinium.

The entire duchy was bathed in golden flames.

The fluttering flags signaled that the ruler of the west had returned once more.