ALL NOVEL Chapter 35
Chapter 35: The Enemy Beneath (1)
A woman in a platinum uniform and a blue cape stood in a room adorned with various ornaments.
Her long, gray hair fell down her back, and her sapphire-blue eyes glimmered like jewels. She radiated a mature beauty.
However, her appearance wasn’t the most striking thing about her. It was the overwhelming presence that filled the entire room.
This was Irina von Minert, the current vice-captain of the Imperial Royal Guard.
Though she was only 38 years old, Irina had reached the 9th Circle, establishing herself as one of the strongest figures in the Altaria Empire.
With a calm tone, she reported, “Young lord Martin Adalbert of House Adalbert has beheaded the traitor, Valdemar von Rustal, and officially dissolved House Rustal.”
After finishing her report, Irina slightly lifted her head.
Sitting on an opulent chair was a woman with long green hair and amber eyes.
Although Irina’s beauty was undeniable, the woman with green hair was even more overwhelming.
Her striking features radiated an intense presence. Though not as powerful as Irina, her sharp aura was enough to mark her as a skilled individual.
This was Claudia Altaria, the Empire’s first princess and third in line for the throne.
Claudia, who had entered the imperial succession race in earnest, smiled with interest.
“Can you tell me how much time has passed since Martin Adalbert declared war on House Rustal, Irina?” she asked.
“Approximately six hours, Your Highness.”
“Six hours… So, it’s all over in that short span? From the declaration of war to the final battle.”
“Yes. After Martin Adalbert declared war, Valdemar von Rustal immediately led all his forces in an assault. However, he was defeated in a one-on-one duel with Martin and lost his life on the battlefield.”
“Honestly, I still can’t believe it. I never imagined Martin Adalbert would be that capable.”
Claudia thought about Martin.
The news that he had manifested his unique ability and soon after reached the level of a 7th Circle mage had become a hot topic in the capital, Raize.
But that was as far as her interest went.
Claudia had never paid him much attention. She had deemed that, despite his talents in swordsmanship, he wasn’t suited to be a proper head of his family and wouldn’t survive the turbulent times ahead.
“You thought he’d be devoured by the branch family heads and elders before he could prove himself,” Irina noted.
“Of course. No matter how talented a swordsman he is, it’s hard to imagine an 18-year-old handling those seasoned elders. It turns out I was mistaken, though.”
“Indeed, the strategy he displayed against Valdemar von Rustal was no small feat. Valdemar’s cunning was renowned even here in the capital.”
“It’s more than just strategy.”
Claudia considered how Martin had gained the loyalty of key supporters like Vincent through a duel that earned him the emperor’s approval. That alone was impressive.
But then the hidden secrets of House Rustal had come to light.
The connection between House Rustal and the Blood Sword Guild.
The vast amounts of hidden funds the family had amassed over generations.
These were things that even the highest-ranking nobles and members of the imperial family had been unaware of.
“Sure, Martin probably got his information from the previous head of House Adalbert. But the important part is what he did next. He used that information to trap House Rustal and quickly eliminated them. His ability to swiftly act on his decisions is terrifying.”
“He’s not just a knight focused on the sword.”
“Exactly. He’s someone who rules over others. In the coming civil war, his name will be known far and wide.”
“Sigh. Your Highness, using words like ‘civil war’ so carelessly…”
Claudia responded with a smile, “But am I wrong?”
Irina didn’t respond.
It wasn’t just her—anyone with knowledge of the empire’s politics could sense that a civil war was looming.
Ever since the emperor had fallen into a coma, the factions within the capital had grown more divided.
Many noble families had begun aligning themselves with either Claudia or one of the emperor’s two legitimate sons. Though everyone was focused on gathering strength for now, conflict seemed inevitable.
“Irina.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“What do you think about approaching Martin Adalbert? If he joins us, our faction’s power will increase significantly.”
“That’s true, but…”
“As you’ve probably guessed, there’s no way my brother Theodore can bring Martin into his fold.”
“Indeed, the second prince won’t even broach the subject. Marquis Nicholas von Royce is furious over the death of his grandson, after all.”
“Exactly.”
“But do you think Martin will want to join us? He’s already gained near-complete control over his family.”
“If things stay as they are now, no, he won’t. But that’s not going to happen. Marquis Royce will undoubtedly seek revenge for his grandson.”
“And that’s when you plan to extend an offer?”
“Yes.”
Claudia answered confidently, a light smile playing on her lips.
“It’s a logical approach. However, I doubt the first prince will sit idly by either.”
“Oh, you don’t need to worry about Richard. His goal is to consolidate our family’s power and ensure its dominance, especially by absorbing two of the remaining great houses—excluding his maternal Ferdinand family. He’s not going to let someone like Martin get in the way of that.”
“Couldn’t he extend his hand to Martin, thinking to use him?”
“I won’t completely rule out the possibility. But judging from what we’ve learned about Martin, he’s not someone who would easily be manipulated.”
Even though Valdemar von Rustal was from a branch family, his cunning was infamous, yet Martin had destroyed him with little resistance.
A man with that kind of strategic mind wasn’t likely to become anyone’s pawn.
“I understand, Your Highness. I’ll keep an eye on Martin Adalbert’s situation and make contact at an appropriate time.”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll take my leave now.”
Irina bowed her head and turned to leave.
As her loyal subordinate walked away, Claudia smirked.
‘Even though House Rustal had weakened, they were still one of the three great houses. This could be fun.’
Claudia’s heart, which rarely raced for anything, now thumped wildly with excitement.
—
“Congratulations on your victory, young lord.”
Beyren Kloze, the guild master of the Adventurers’ Guild branch in Varehein City, bowed his head.
Outwardly, he appeared calm.
But inwardly, it was a different story.
‘This is incredible!’
After being caught up in the Blood Sword Guild incident, Beyren had thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to pledge loyalty to Martin, especially once he manifested his unique ability.
But that was just the beginning.
Martin had actually defeated Valdemar von Rustal!
The fact that House Rustal was considered the weakest of the branch families didn’t matter.
What mattered was that Martin had personally killed Valdemar and proven his qualifications to be the head of House Adalbert in front of the entire empire.
No one could oppose his rise to power now.
Even the other heads of the branch families and the elders who had once dreamt of independence were now keeping a low profile.
Martin had completely taken control of the situation.
For someone like Beyren, who had chosen to follow Martin, it was a thrilling, heart-pounding moment.
“Thank you. So, what brings you here?”
“I’ve come to inform you that your adventurer rank has been updated. As of now, young lord, you are an A-rank adventurer.”
“An update? But I haven’t taken any exams.”
Martin’s expression shifted to one of curiosity.
On the Cracian Continent, all nobles held dual roles as adventurers. This was true not only for the Altaria royal family but also for other royal families in different nations.
Dealing with monsters in dungeons was part of a noble’s duty.
As such, even nobles had to be ranked as adventurers, with their ranks usually determined by their circle level.
1st- and 2nd-circle mages were ranked F, while those from 3rd to 7th circles ranged from E to A rank.
Those in the 8th circle were ranked S, and 9th-circle mages were placed in the EX rank.
However, rank wasn’t solely determined by one’s circle level.
To prove they were worthy of their rank, individuals had to pass an exam or complete a quest.
Given that, it was strange that Martin’s rank had been updated without any exam or trial.
“You personally defeated Valdemar von Rustal, a powerful 7th-circle mage. The Adventurers’ Guild deemed that sufficient proof of your abilities.”
“Is that so? But do other nobles also get promoted without taking the exam?”
“It’s not common. The exam is usually skipped only for those at A rank or above, but one must still prove their skills through other means.”
“I see. Well, it’s convenient that I can skip the annoying process.”
“I’m glad to bring you good news.”
With that, Beyren handed over a piece of paper—a certificate confirming Martin’s A-rank status as an adventurer.
Smiling, Martin accepted the certificate and stored it in his subspace.
“Is that all you had to report?”
“No, there’s one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve been receiving more and more requests from landless nobles to arrange a meeting with you.”
“It must be because of House Rustal’s territory.”
“Exactly
.”
Although House Rustal was only a barony, the territory they governed was as large as that of some earldoms.
If Martin wished, he could divide it into several baronies and viscounties.
Knowing this, the landless nobles were eager to win his favor.
The gap between a noble with land and one without it was massive.
“Who’s the most notable person that’s reached out?”
Beyren, having anticipated the question, replied without hesitation.
“Helmut Breiner, the Thunderbow; Paul Oberat, the Moonlight Sword; and Bernd Kalz, the Storm Spear. They’re the most well-known. I expect even more people to approach me in the future.”
“House Rustal’s territory is certainly a good bait, seeing how quickly such famous people are biting.”
Martin had no intention of governing House Rustal’s lands directly.
House Adalbert already controlled an area as vast as a small kingdom. With the internal unrest still simmering, expanding his domain unnecessarily would only invite more trouble.
It was far more advantageous to put House Rustal’s territory up for sale.
He could secure valuable allies that way.
‘I’ve already decided who to accept.’
Knowing the future was indeed a powerful advantage.
Martin could feel that more than ever.
“Don’t you want to become a lord, Beyren? You’re a noble, even if you work for the guild.”
“Hmm. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested. But I’ll have to decline, young lord.”
“Why’s that?”
“I’ve already sworn my loyalty. I’ll help you from within the guild. Being a lord sounds nice, but I’d rather aim for the top of the guild.”
“Wow. That’s actually touching.”
Martin looked at Beyren and smiled sincerely.
He liked the man’s determination.
“I’ll do everything I can to support you.”
“Thank you. Now, for the last topic: it seems a Monster Wave is approaching.”
A Monster Wave.
This phenomenon occurred when the aggressiveness of all monsters increased abnormally, and their numbers multiplied exponentially.
This alone made it dangerous, but there was something even worse.
The monsters would all attempt to reach the surface.
It was a catastrophe that plagued every city with a dungeon entrance.
Though Beyren’s expression remained calm as he mentioned it, Monster Waves, while dangerous, were not rare. They happen once or twice a year.
Moreover, the wave only affected one dungeon at a time. If it occurred in Varehein, the other dungeon cities would remain unaffected.
As such, adventurers and nobles across the empire had developed a routine for dealing with these events, mobilizing quickly to contain the monsters.
After a thousand years of experience, the empire had built up plenty of knowledge, and nowadays, Monster Waves were rarely considered major events.
This applied not only to Varehein but to the other dungeon cities as well.
However, Martin’s expression darkened.
Because he knew.
‘This Monster Wave will be a nightmare.’
The incident that would signal the start of chaos in the Altaria Empire was drawing near.
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