A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

18 – Gibraltar’s Invitation (2)

It would have been nice to talk more about preparing for the festival, but it was too late.

My father decided to have some time as a couple, and I returned to my room without saying anything.

Creak.

I can hear the sound of the bed sliding against the floor.

Then from now on, it is time for the returner.

If you exercised restraint in front of your mother or father by acting ‘a smart but still child’, this moment is the time of the traitor Gray.

Creak.

Once more, the bed moves.

While everyone is asleep and the couple is busy whispering their love to each other, this is a time just for me.

“Whew.”

Sit upright on the bed and catch your breath.

‘Build up mana.’

I’ve already shown my father that I can feel mana, but what I’m going to do from now on is expedient.

‘With the imperial style mana practice.’

The fall of the kingdom was the fall of Mana.

The knights ignored the empire, but the era of knights fell when they were killed by the magic bullet of an advanced and improved musket.

-The knight is surrounded by auras, so the magic bullet doesn’t hit? Then shoot magic bullets until the aura is exhausted.

Due to the concentrated fire of magic bullets, the mana around the body begins to be consumed faster.

-Not enough mana? Then build up your mana quickly. Increase mana at the cost of lifespan. Whether it’s stuffing the mana herb into your stomach or drinking the monster’s blood like water.

And after the empire became strong enough to launch a massive offensive.

-It is the Empire’s way, but in order to revive Nostrum, it is necessary to learn even the enemy’s way.

Including the princess, the Kingdom Resurrection faction studied a new mana practice method.

-If they collect mana with every breath, we should do the same. Don’t hesitate by any means possible.

While the existing method naturally accumulates mana in the body, this method literally accumulates mana ‘randomly’.

‘The imperial style plus the revolutionary army style.’

Whether it is the imperial style or the revolutionary military style, that method is nothing more than an expedient method at this point.

‘They say that expediency cannot beat standard practice.’

However, if the expedient is one era ahead of the standard, the standard becomes a relic of an old era.

“Whew.”

Take a long breath and forcibly draw the mana flowing in the air into your body.

‘Unconditionally, build up mana.’

When you exhale from your lungs, you force the mana in the air that escapes through your bronchi, throat, and mouth to remain in your body.

“…Kruk.”

My throat feels uncomfortable, as if there is phlegm in my throat.

It’s not that something is actually blocking my throat, but for a moment, my throat is blocked to the point where it’s difficult to breathe.

Mana is running wild.

They make a fuss and tell people not to confine themselves as they please.

They rebel against suppressing freedom and forcibly ruling people.

“…….”

However, this is the result of keeping your mouth shut and holding your breath.

30 Seconds, 1 minute, 1 minute and 15 seconds-.

“…Pa-ha!”

My victory is if I succeed in stopping my breathing and accepting the mana.

If I fail and exhale along with my mana, I am defeated.

‘I thought I was going to die.’

Fortunately, it was successful this time.

Perhaps because the site of Gibraltar is nice, the night air flowing through the window was clear and clean.

‘Maybe it’s because the air is good, but I’m glad that my mana is in good condition.’

The air is not polluted and turbid like in the empire over there, so there is no great difficulty in absorbing mana from the atmosphere.

‘If you’re at least 15 years old, you’ll be fine.’

If your body grows further, in the future you will be able to accumulate mana while breathing during everyday life.

‘Even so, it must be difficult for the emperor.’

Even if one were to accumulate mana through future training methods starting from the age of 10, the emperor would be accumulating mana in a more ignorant way than that.

Three things covered in blood.

Massacre, slavery, drugs.

With the subversive idea that all you have to do is be pure and naive, and build up unconditionally, the emperor did not choose any means to become strong.

This side should do the same.

As someone who knows the emperor better than anyone else, I must prepare anything to respond to him.

However.

‘If you get caught right away, you could be kicked out before you even start.’

Under the water, quietly.

Although blood may not flow as much as that of the emperor, I must move in a new way, in my own way.

You must move secretly in a place where neither the kingdom nor the empire, nor even your father, is aware of it.

For this, I need people who will be my hands and feet just for me.

Sir Robert?

‘He’s so kind.’

He is a loyal subject.

‘I need a moderately dirty human being.’

If I tell myself to walk down a path filled with blood, slaughter, crime, and corruption, I will be the person who will faithfully accuse me.

It’s not a bad thing.

Each person has different tendencies, and he is a person who lives in a white area.

I am not a human living in a world of dark red, filth, and dark gray like my future self.

So, we need to find those people.

Even if a 10-year-old child grows up, there is someone who will represent my face before he becomes an adult.

Some.

Passing faces from memory appear.

Revenge on an incompetent king.

Loyalty to the empire learned from a young age.

Or, it’s just because it’s fun to see the country falling apart.

People in the gray area, each with their own reasons.

‘I wish at least one person would come.’

I don’t know if they will come to this land of integrity and innocence.

Still, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to at least try.

Just as the Empire sends a letter of love to Gibraltar in the name of the kingdom’s henchman, if you extend your hand here too, there will be some response.

‘As long as there is a good cause.’

A justification for the Empire to reach out to ‘Gray Gibraltar’.

‘There is no better place to hang out with people than the banquet hall.’

Stop breathing.

At the same time, I stand up and grab the wooden sword lying next to the bed.

– Gray Margrave. Listen carefully.

When the emperor taught me this, he said that to me.

-When you breathe, when you drink water, when you kiss a woman. In order to always be able to extort mana at any moment, you need to build your body so that your unconscious mind accumulates mana on its own.

May mana accumulate naturally in daily life.

-Mana does not naturally stay in my body, but I take away the mana of the whole world. That is the true conqueror.

Extortion. Plunder. Control. Oppression.

-That is my card too.

In a sense, he can be called a teacher, but I have no intention of walking the same path as the emperor in this life.

But I have no intention of denying that path.

‘I have no intention of walking the path of a tyrant, but I have clearly seen what the path of the strong is.’

I learned.

In any situation, the strong are those who become the leaders and actively move and make decisions.

Like his father, who was at the center of the 3,000 Orcs, the strong are those who create their own environment and lead the way.

‘I make the board.’

Hold the wooden sword and lightly slash from top to bottom.

“…Tsk.”

My breathing is difficult, and my grip hurts as if it will tear.

‘You have to become stronger.’

No matter how much they speak out, no matter how they gain power by making the political situation better.

-Keep in mind. Gray Gibraltar.

The emperor proved his words more clearly than anyone else.

So even if he doesn’t like it, he should keep that in mind.

-Strong force is the true power.

His thoughts.

-For him, you should not hesitate to use any means.

Also, an empire can do unimaginable things to conquer a kingdom.

-In order to dominate humans, you must become a monster that humans cannot understand.

The actions that originated from that ideology.

“Huh.”

Neither father nor mother, nor anyone else cares.

However, as someone who knows the future, I have no choice but to ask questions about questions that everyone takes for granted, even though I know the correct answers.

3,000 Orcs.

Why did so many orcs come to the canyon?

Is it really just the monsters in the contaminated area trying to cross the canyon like usual?

Really?

No.

‘It’s common for monsters to attack the canyon. But not this time.’

It seems like a common occurrence for 3,000 orcs to try to cross the canyon, but in reality, that is not the case.

‘Maybe what we take for granted actually has a different cause.’

Everyone in Gibraltar, even my father, was taking it for granted, but it was actually part of a plan and tactic.

-Study it well. Margrave.

The emperor once said something like that.

-When dealing with an enemy, it is a foolish thing to take matters into your own hands.

The emperor does not choose any means or methods.

-Etiquette. Form. Humanity. Right way. Custom. Discipline. Everything is newly defined before these words. You know what that means, right?

“Victory.”

You can do anything to win.

History belongs to the winners.

Kkiik.

I heard the sound of a window opening.

‘Is it time?’

It seems to be a sign not to think too deeply anymore, or to go to sleep.

“Whew.”

As the night deepened, I lay down on the blanket and quietly closed my eyes.

* * *

The next day, morning.

After finishing the meal, I headed to my mother’s office while my father and younger brother practiced swordsmanship in the training hall.

“Grey. Is this enough for classification?”

My mother held out an envelope in front of me.

These are envelopes with the name of each family written in large letters, and the envelopes are divided into three categories.

“If it’s like this… It’ll be okay. The classification can be appropriate. This is my first time anyway.

“First time….”

“The party must continue to be held. Many nobles will come and find the right people among them.”

“You’re just trying to kill me.”

“You have to take responsibility.”

“Yes. That is my duty. As the Countess of Gibraltar.”

Her mother took a moment to catch her breath, fiddling with her dress that went up to her neck.

“But Gray, there is one problem.”

“What is it?”

“There is no reason to invite.”

“Isn’t the justification for slaughtering 3,000 orcs?”

“That’s an external justification for holding a party.”

My mother adjusted her posture and sat down, as if everything was going well.

Is she trying to educate someone?

“Why do you think nobles throw parties?”

“Let me tell you, it will be at least five pages of parchment.”

“…….”

“Tell me the conclusion first. What is the problem?”

“There is no real justification.”

Mother sighed deeply.

“Shouldn’t there at least be a plausible justification that those who came all the way to Gibraltar can understand?”

“It is to let people know that the love between our Countess and his wife is alive and well, or that we are still passionately in love.”

“If you’re teasing, stop. I’m being serious.”

My mother hardened her expression.

“Whether there are people who came for that purpose or not, we need a reason to tell them.”

“I understand.”

“Are you really asking me to write that down?”

My mother asks back with her serious face.

“Are you suggesting that we invite so many people just to spread the word that the scandal in the royal capital was just an accident and that the couple’s relationship did not break down?”

“That can’t be right.”

If the only purpose was to brag, ‘We’re married and living well,’ they didn’t even bring up the story of the celebration.

“Mother. I think the nobles’ party is a kind of business briefing session.”

“When did you learn that word again?”

“I’m a lot smarter than my mother thinks.”

“…Okay.”

The mother nodded her head, her face sour for a moment.

“I’m glad that my son is as much of a genius as Queen Carmen. Then, why don’t you tell me your plan?”

“Nobles will definitely bring all kinds of gifts to impress. Be it treasures or luxury goods.”

“To Gibraltar?”

“Even if it is a family with integrity and innocence, it is worth checking first. For example, high-quality black tea or wine.”

This is the first party held in about 3 years.

Even nobles would have their own optimal range, thinking, ‘Wouldn’t even a margrave receive this much?’

“The Count thinks it’s easier not to accept or give.”

“I will leave the list of those who sent me gifts, their items, and the organization of their families to my mother.”

“…Yeah. That’s my job.”

Thank goodness.

In the future, I used to take care of that, but now I don’t have to.

“I will organize the invitation text and write it down on one page. You can copy it and send it to your mother.”

“…There are more than 50 families invited right now?”

“You’re not asking me to write a letter, are you?”

“…….”

The mother was in tears.

Of course, it doesn’t mean that I can’t write as closely as possible to my mother’s handwriting, but it’s not like my mother doesn’t have hands and there’s no reason for me to write.

“I said I would prepare the stationery, so I will organize the reason to pique the curiosity of those invited. That is what it is.”

I shook the empty envelope lightly.

“I’m planning to build a daycare center, so I could quietly ask if they would like to donate.”

“What?”

“Of course, when writing a letter, you will have to add all kinds of political rhetoric.”

“No, uh, suddenly a daycare center…?”

“Yes. Actually, it doesn’t have to be a daycare center, but I think this would be the most ‘efficient’.”

It’s not the same, it’s like that.

“There is no money as blind as donations, mother.”

Because it’s an experience.

“They say they will feed and house orphans with money given in good faith, but who cares how much money was spent? hahahaha.”

Of course.

“It would be even better if it was a relief facility for children who have lost their parents or children whose parents cannot raise them properly due to poverty.”

I know because I tried it.

Also.

“Our lovely youngest, Lettar, will have good friends.”

For the youngest, as her older brother, shouldn’t you give her something nice as a gift?

* * *

One week later.

Invitations to Gibraltar were sent throughout the kingdom.