The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth

Chapter 178: An Unexpected Meeting

Kromen’s funeral proceeded smoothly over the remaining three days. Of course, with the messy and tense situation at the palace, nothing truly went smoothly.

“Karyl? Gather all the information on him!”

“We don't have time! We need to act before the funeral ends. We must prevent him from siding with Olivurn!”

“If we can’t make him our ally... at least find his weaknesses!”

It was Prince Luon’s faction that was causing the commotion in the side palace. They instinctively knew that Karyl, having confronted Luon’s army at the Twin Armor, would be hard to win over.

He’s not just someone who blocked Prince Luon’s forces. He’s also Kuwell MacGovern’s adopted son. A guy like him would never side with us. Besides...

Having seen how Karyl and the emperor spoke to each other in the Sun Hall, Chancellor Bryn Ennik realized they had some kind of relationship.

After Prince Kromen’s funeral, a storm will befall the palace because of him.

With only one day left, the chancellor was already trying to minimize the damage Karyl would cause.

On the other hand, contrary to expectations, Olivurn’s faction, which was expected to have already secured Karyl, was equally busy.

“Uncover every detail about him!”

“How did he become the lord of Tatur?”

"Find anyone who knows what happened at the Twin Armor immediately!"

“A new day... What does that mean?”

“Just wait and see, Your Highness.”

Karyl kept his message short.

His response left Kuwell puzzled, but it seemed to pique Olivurn’s interest.

“I look forward to it.”

As if not wanting to concede to Karyl, Olivurn also kept his words brief.

Regardless, Karyl’s appearance that night was enough to throw all factions into disarray.

“...”

In contrast to everyone’s turmoil, Karyl quietly observed Kromen’s ongoing funeral through the window.

The funeral continued for twenty-four hours, with condolence gifts and visitors arriving continuously from various regions. Interestingly, there were no visitors from neighboring countries.

Civil war had plunged the principality in chaos, and the Three Kingdoms of Istria were engaged in a cold war with the empire due to the fierce battle at the Twin Armor during the southern subjugation.

Despite being the mightiest power on the continent, no other country attended the prince’s funeral, marking what was arguably the greatest disgrace in the continent’s history.

Perhaps I should have brought the southern barbarians, Karyl thought with a bitter smile.

No one knew the south had fallen under his control.

This is interesting. Of all people, Kromen was the only prince to meet me in the south. And yet no one is aware of my relationship with Digon.

He had worn a mask then as he did now, and the only one who had seen his face in Digon, Randol, was absent.

I changed my mask, but... it’s like playing hide and seek. If Randol were here, no matter how dull he might be, he would sense something strange about me.

Everything was falling perfectly into place. Karyl nodded in satisfaction as everything proceeded according to plan.

“It’s time to head out.”

The emperor had ordered him to stay low during Kromen’s funeral, but that didn’t mean he had to stay confined to his room.

Kuwell MacGovern was likely the main reason for such a command, but it was also because Karyl’s presence as the adopted son of the continent’s greatest swordsman held significant weight.

Even Titan Shutean must have been surprised. Originally, he broke his promise by acting on his own.

However, instead of being bewildered by his sudden appearance, the emperor likely saw it as an opportunity.

Having my father by his side in the Sun Hall wasn’t just for protection. It was to show me.

Perhaps the emperor had guessed beforehand that the arrow spectacle had been Karyl’s doing. A frosty grin formed on Karyl’s face as the realization dawned on him.

In that sense, the emperor is still above the rest.

Olivurn had also approached him using Kuwell MacGovern as a pretext, but their positions were entirely different.

Saying that I should follow him because Kuwell chose me is less effective than saying he would kill Kuwell if I did something rash.

To emphasize this point, the emperor had placed Belin Vallention beside Kuwell.

But despite being sharp, the emperor didn’t even realize he was being poisoned... Olivurn, you have surpassed the emperor in a different way. Color me impressed.

Twilight, the poison used by Olivurn, was an extremely potent toxin handled only by Jannabi, a northern tribe.

I need to find out how he obtained the poison from the immigrants.

Karyl resolved to advance his plans quickly.

On the first day, they came to me, but on this final day, I shall seek them out myself.

Following this day, the emperor’s scrutiny would begin in earnest. Karyl knew he had to lay the groundwork before that.

Rumble...

Thunder rolled in, signaling an incoming storm.

Crackle... Crackle—!

On the last day of the funeral, people mourned the death of a child not even ten years old, regardless of his royal blood. They lit fires in their chimneys to soothe Kromen’s soul.

He was a beloved prince, after all. Or... was he simply a pitiful child in the eyes of the people?

Karyl looked up at the sky. Plumes of smoke rose from the palace, lingering like black clouds over the palace.

Tap, tap, tap...

Raindrops fell on the window.

The black smoke of mourning slowly dispersed under the falling rain.

“It’s over,” Karyl muttered softly.

Click—

When he opened the door, the guards in the hallway watched him intently. Although they wore ordinary armor, the guards themselves weren’t ordinary.

Knights, of course.

It was to be expected, so Karyl wasn’t surprised. Besides the knights, surveillance magic had also been cast on the corridors as a precautionary measure.

“I wish to go to the main palace... Would that be alright?”

“We will accompany you.”

“Very well.”

With his skills, Karyl could have killed the guards before the surveillance magic was even triggered, but there was no need for that. After all, he wasn’t trying to meet with Luon or Olivurn in secrecy.

However, it wasn’t long before something interrupted Karyl.

“Stop right there! Don’t you know this area is off-limits?”

“So-Sorry!”

A commotion arose at the end of the corridor, and Karyl stopped and turned around. He saw a young man, appearing to be in his early twenties, with pale skin and neatly combed hair; he looked like an avid bookworm.

“I was heading to the Academy. This route is the shortest... I didn’t know this area was restricted.”

"Are you serious? There was a huge commotion here a few days ago. Didn’t you hear?”

“I was organizing the books in the Academy library... I’ve been out for a week."

The guard was speechless.

“Leave him be. Don’t you know? This guy is the librarian of the palace and is quite well-known here. Even the court sorcerer has given him special permission."

“How come?”

“Who knows, but he organizes all the books used by the Academy students himself.”

“...What? He handles all that by himself?”

The guard looked at the man once more, this time with an incredulous expression.

“...”

Karyl glanced past the guards, looking intently at the man’s face.

Interesting. I never expected to see you here....

In contrast to the man’s seemingly naive expression, Karyl’s eyes gleamed with determination.

“Hold on.”

Karyl walked over to them.

“I’ll leave immediately.”

After bowing and apologizing to the guards, the man looked up and met Karyl’s gaze. In that instant, his innocent expression turned stern for a second before softening again, something that Karyl didn’t miss.

A fleeting change in his expression, but Karyl understood what it meant.

He didn’t take a wrong turn.

For a long time, Karyl had felt that something was missing in his power structure. Namely, he had yet to find an advisor.

Currently, Tiren MacGovern stood out. In his previous life, despite being a fallen noble, he rose to become the empire’s chancellor through Kuwell’s support and his own capabilities.

He’ll likely do the same in this life.

However, under current circumstances, having Tiren come to him when he had to wield a sword against the empire was out of the question.

That’s why I considered Anthem Howard as a second choice.

But Anthem, thought to have fled the Three Kingdoms of Istria after the empire’s conquest, was actually an agent of Duke Fran of the Lurein Principality.

If my guess is correct, after the Lurein Civil War, Anthem Howard loses his position and flees to Princess Viola in the Kingdom of Fenria.

However, he was not aiming to strengthen the Fenria Kingdom.

At first, he likely saw great potential in Princess Viola.

Yet, Anthem Howard would end up joining Prince Luon’s faction.

He must have realized that even with talent, it’s impossible without a clear vision at the top.

The King of Fenria was incompetent, just like the other two in the Three Kingdoms of Istria.

No matter how exceptional Princess Viola is, she would never think of committing treason. Although outstanding, she’s ultimately a sheltered flower. But to set things right, sometimes, the ethics of power are necessary.

Karyl smiled faintly.

That was why he had treated Viola harshly when she first approached him. By showing his Free Army’s strength in clearing the dungeons, Viola’s perspective on the world had changed.

Karyl had accomplished what Anthem Howard couldn’t. Perhaps this time, the Kingdom of Fenria would see its first queen.

Come to think of it, his life was truly tragic. From the commander of Cove to a commoner, ultimately failing in his final choice and dying.

He was a brilliant strategist, praised for his talents, but every king he served eventually perished.

If Fran loses the civil war and Anthem flees to Fenria, with Viola on the throne...

Karyl had kept the strategist’s position vacant, thinking those he had considered weren’t close enough to him.

Maybe in this life, Anthem Howard’s fate will change.

But if it did, Anthem would likely follow Viola, not Karyl. That would technically be a loss for Karyl, but he would be fine with that. In the future, he could secure both Viola and Anthem Howard for himself.

He had made this decision in this brief moment for a reason.

“Nice to meet you.”

Karyl looked at the man standing before him.

I never thought I’d meet you here.

Even he hadn’t expected this.

Karyl had initially given up on this man, thinking they had no connection. But the fact that this man was now a librarian in the palace was truly surprising.

Perhaps the missed opportunity with Anthem Howard was ultimately meant to lead me to you.

He found this coincidence rather amusing.

“Nice to meet you.”

With that, Karyl extended his hand. It was pure chance, yet also fate. Had he not come to the palace, he never would have discovered that this man was just a librarian.

I will have you...

Karyl’s eyes gleamed with intent.

Before him stood one of the empire’s Seven Pillars and the most brilliant strategist in history

...Bran Gamunt.

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