Raising the Northern Grand Duchy as a Max-Level All-Master-Chapter 158

158. Following Orders Across Thirty Thousand Miles

A grand procession of ten luxurious carriages, escorted by a mercenary corps, made its way through the city streets.

Each carriage bore the crest of Bishop Trading Company, a behemoth known not only across the Empire but throughout the entire continent.

Enchanted with spatial magic, the carriages gleamed with jewels both inside and out, flaunting their opulence.

"Hey, boss. We’re almost there."

"Got it."

Entir nodded at the report from outside the carriage.

As the Empire’s most powerful merchant and the noble assembly’s key financial backer, his movements were akin to those of a small army.

Even within the city, his presence outshone that of most high-ranking nobles.

"So, why the sudden noble assembly meeting?"

A voice from outside the carriage followed.

"There’s a reason. A good one."

The mercenary’s tone was far too casual and irreverent for someone addressing the Empire’s most influential merchant.

But neither Entir nor anyone else took offense.

"A reason? And what would that be?"

"Sorry, but I can’t tell you yet."

Because the one speaking was none other than Carpe of Red Wolf, the Mercenary Queen—said to rival a Sword Master in skill.

"You know, boss? The assassination attempts on you have been getting bolder lately."

"Which is exactly why I’ve continued to hire you and Red Wolf, isn’t it? Not to mention the high-ranking knights from Renslet."

As the Empire’s internal conflicts intensified, Carpe had abandoned her disguise as Phil and resumed using her real name, title, and appearance.

Red Wolf had done the same, returning to their bold, open mercenary work.

After all, those who mattered already knew their identities, so there was no longer any reason to hide.

"Yeah, keeping us on payroll—smart move. But this is exactly why you should be even more cautious. If I were an assassin, this would be the perfect time to strike—especially while you’re traveling."

"Carpe, this is Ascai. The noble assembly’s central stronghold."

"Which makes it even easier to let your guard down. You never know what might pop out. In fact, dense cities like this are perfect for assassinations and ambushes. Hell, if both the Dark Grand Duke and Havana showed up together—"

Before she could finish, Entir chuckled and shook his head.

"That won’t happen, Carpe. The Emperor is more anxious than anyone right now. There’s no way he’d send two Sword Masters at once."

"So you’re saying he might send one?"

"And? Can’t handle a single Sword Master? The great Mercenary Queen Carpe?"

"Of course I can."

"Confident, are we? What if it’s the Dark Grand Duke?"

"Hmm… That’d be a problem."

"…Is he that strong? You, your mercenaries, and those Renslet knights are all equipped with the latest magic weapons, aren’t you?"

"Even so, the Dark Grand Duke is a monster. But as much as I can’t guarantee victory, I also won’t guarantee defeat. Besides, we’ve got some High Tower knights with us."

Carpe’s gaze shifted toward another group escorting the carriages.

Unlike Red Wolf, these four warriors had a distinct aura and attire, resembling wandering knights rather than mercenaries.

"So basically, as long as it’s not the Dark Grand Duke, I don’t need to worry about my safety?"

"That’s right. We’re expensive, but we’re worth it."

"Other than him, is there anyone else who would be a difficult opponent?"

"Normally, I’d say the Golden Tower Master or the Archbishop, but thanks to those magic weapons you provided, they’re no longer a problem. If I had to think of a worst-case scenario…"

"And that would be…?"

"Renslet’s Frostblade Balzac or the Spring Magus."

"Balzac, sure—he’s on par with the Dark Grand Duke. But why the Spring Magus?"

"Because elemental magic is completely unpredictable—even for seasoned mercenaries like me."

"Sounds like I should never make an enemy of Renslet."

As he spoke, Entir reaffirmed his earlier thoughts.

If I go against Renslet, not only will I lose Carpe, Red Wolf, and the Renslet knights protecting me…

…but their swords will turn against me in an instant.

"Ugh… This only reinforces that I have to follow that damned order."

With that realization, Entir frowned in frustration.

"How the hell am I supposed to spin this at the meeting?"

At that moment, Entir was on his way to the mansion of Duke Sephiros, the ruler of Ascai and head of the noble assembly.

He could have hosted the meeting at the Bishop Trading Company’s local branch, but that would have been discourteous.

After all, ignoring the ruler of the city while holding a major gathering would create a bad impression.

"Damn it, I never wanted to fight the United Kingdom."

He recalled the directive he had received from Bardenheim the previous day.

That was the real reason he had gone out of his way to convene the noble assembly.

—"Chairman Bishop, I need you to put an end to Bardenheim’s assassination war."

Arad Jin had given Entir an order that went against his personal interests.

—"And how exactly should I do that?"

—"If you’re the Entir Bishop I know, I’m sure you’ll figure it out."

—"…?"

Compared to Arad, Entir was in a clearly inferior position.

He had no choice but to say he’d try.

"How… How do I minimize our losses while uniting the United Kingdom against a common cause?"

Even though he had called for the noble assembly’s meeting, Entir still didn’t have a clear solution.

"For now, I’ll just put on a show. That’s what’s important."

This sudden noble assembly meeting was, at its core, nothing more than a performance.

Entir had orchestrated this entire noble assembly meeting for one reason—so he could later tell Arad Jin:

"I did what I could, but those greedy imperial nobles simply wouldn’t listen."

The noble assembly meeting had begun, but the streets of Ascai remained unchanged.

There were no swarms of noble carriages clogging the roads.

Since the meeting had been convened so abruptly, the vast majority of nobles couldn’t attend in person.

But that posed no issue for its proceedings.

"Most of them will attend through this."

Entir glanced at the magic communication device inside his carriage.

Though there was still a good amount of time left before the meeting officially began, he could already see a significant number of nobles connected.

"These fools have no sense of magic stone conservation."

The noble assembly members were burning through magic stones like water, chatting away on the communication devices.

In a way, this was the continent’s first-ever magical video conference.

By distributing these devices across the noble assembly, Entir had strengthened their unity and communication.

"Hm? What’s that?"

Just then, the steadily moving carriage suddenly jerked to a stop.

"What’s going on?"

Entir called out to Carpe outside the carriage.

"Something’s blocking the road ahead."

"Huh?"

Looking forward, Entir saw the obstacle in their path—two broken-down carriages.

"Two conveniently broken carriages blocking our way? How obvious."

"They’re still using such cheap tricks?"

Sching! Sching!

Carpe, Red Wolf, and the wandering knights of Renslet drew their swords.

Their extensive experience told them exactly what was happening.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Realizing an ambush was imminent, Entir didn’t bother hiding—he leaned out of the carriage door instead.

"Hey! Boss! That’s dangerous!"

Carpe tried to pull him back, but Entir simply shook his head.

"This carriage is enchanted with a protective barrier. Besides, the person who set this trap… feels like someone I need to have a talk with."

"What? How do you know that?"

"That crest on the broken carriage—it looks familiar."

No sooner had he spoken than thirty figures emerged from behind the wrecked carriages.

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

Their faces were hidden under deep hoods, their robes designed for concealment.

Classic assassins.

"Whiiiii~!"

Entir whistled as he spotted a slender figure at the center of the group.

"Havana? I don’t recall inviting you."

"……."

At Entir’s words, the figure in the middle silently removed her hood.

Though she had aged and borne children, the female swordsman still maintained the youthful, firm physique of her twenties.

"My love."

A sultry voice slipped from the lips of Elisha von Havana, the Flame Sword Master.

"My love, huh… Well, once upon a time, I suppose."

Entir suddenly realized that the Marchioness standing before him reminded him of someone.

Sharon.

The actress he had coerced into working at High Tower to seduce Arad.

Of course, it was just the atmosphere she gave off.

Her hair color, eye color, facial features, and height were all completely different.

Perhaps it was simply their nature that felt similar.

"Why did you betray His Majesty?"

Then, Havana suddenly asked in a calm, solemn tone.

"……?"

Her question was so naïve that Entir tilted his head in disbelief.

She seriously still doesn’t know?

"His Majesty is offering you one last chance. Come with me to the Imperial Palace. Beg for forgiveness. It’s not too late."

Havana pressed on, trying to persuade him.

"Think of the children. Think of your family and our house."

Hearing this, Entir’s expression twisted into one of irritation.

"Children? Do I even have any children that share my blood?"

"Gasp!"

A ripple of hushed gasps spread among those present.

That single sentence had just confirmed the rumors that had been circulating for years.

Entir’s true reason for defecting—was now a proven fact.

"So… you knew all along, Entir?"

Havana’s gaze hardened in an instant.

"And you knew that I had figured it out. So why the sudden act? Why pretend you’re clueless?"

Entir met Havana’s cold, murderous eyes without flinching.

"I told you, didn’t I? His Majesty is offering you one last chance. That’s why I gave you one, too."

"I respectfully decline. The two of you, so desperately in heat, should live happily ever after—just the two of you."

"That is treason against the Empire!"

At that moment, Havana and her knights lunged at Entir all at once.

There were only thirty of them, but they were no ordinary knights. Each had been carefully trained by both the Imperial Family and the Havana March.

But Entir simply sneered.

"Do you people never learn? You and the Emperor have already sent over a hundred assassins after me."

Surrounding Entir was an army of mercenaries.

And when it came to reliability, at least within the Empire, there was no questioning their loyalty.

"You think this pathetic force is enough?"

"Finally, a chance to warm up!"

"Red Wolves! It’s feeding time!"

"Awooooooo!!"

The howls of Red Wolf echoed from every direction.

Howls of Red Wolf echoed from all directions.

"That’s it? That’s all they brought?"

Entir remained seated in his carriage, showing no intention of taking cover. Instead, he calmly assessed the enemy.

"No sign of magical forces… Did they leave them out to move quickly and covertly?"

Something felt off.

Among the attackers, there wasn’t a single trace of magical reinforcements.

This was a surgical strike force composed entirely of high-ranking knights and a Sword Master.

"Or… could it be that the rumors are true? They say relations between the Imperial Family and the Magic Tower have soured. Maybe that’s why?"

Entir suspected two possibilities for the lack of magical troops.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

In the middle of the city, the two opposing forces finally clashed.

"Paladins? Looks like my second guess was right."

As he observed the battle, Entir confirmed that instead of magical forces, divine power had been deployed.

Out of the thirty attackers, five were Paladins.

How did he know?

Because instead of swords, they wielded massive hammers infused with golden mana.

"Hold the line!"

"Protect the boss!"

The elite knights, trained by both the Imperial Family and the Havana March, clashed against the Empire’s strongest mercenary corps.

"Renslet Rune Renslet."

Whenever their forces wavered, the wandering knights from Renslet stepped in to fill the gaps, effortlessly handling the Paladins.

"Long time no see, Havana!"

As for the greatest threat, Elisha von Havana, the Flame Sword Master, she was met head-on by Carpe’s battle axe.

"Still as ugly as ever, Carpe. Why don’t you go back to covering that face with your old Phil disguise?"

"You damn hag! Just you wait! By the time I’m done with you, orcs will look prettier than you!"

After exchanging these warm greetings, the two superhumans wasted no time launching into their murderous duel.

Fwoooosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

As expected of the Flame Sword Master, every swing of Havana’s blade left blazing trails, heating the air around them.

Boom— Boom—!

But Carpe’s massive battle axe smashed through the fiery slashes with ease, slicing through the heat with sheer force.

"Hahaha! Ahahahaha! See? We need to fight like this once in a while!"

"Damn, you got stronger! Did you get fatter? How much weight did you gain?"

"Shut up, you annoying bitch! You’re one to talk! Your belly’s jiggling too!"

"What?! Really?!"

The two warriors exchanged blows—and insults—with such natural rhythm that it was hard to tell whether they were sworn enemies or old friends.

"KYAHAHAHAHAH!"

Carpe, in particular, looked happier than she had in ages.

"W-What the hell…?"

Meanwhile, Havana’s expression began to harden.

As time passed, her face grew darker—serious, grim.

Something about this fight was beginning to unsettle her.