This Bastard is Too Competent

Second Princess Elizabeth Kaistein.

And Lord Huntill.

Ian was confused for a moment, but he quickly came to his senses. Then he asked, just in case. 

“Come to think of it, what is Sir Huntill’s first name?”

“It’s Alexander, Your Highness.” 

Alexander Huntill. 

Again, it was not Zabeth Huntill. 

‘Could it be that the two acted as a team and were called so?’

However, as far as Ian knew, Zabeth Huntill was the name of one person.

The individual who left a very special history in the Northern Expedition. 

There was no way to mistake such a man. 

But that wasn’t important now. 

‘It doesn’t matter whether that name refers to one person or two people using the same name.’

All he needed was their ability. 

Only their abilities, hailed to be genius among combat engineers, were said to be sufficient.

So, he needed to check something. 

“Then, I take it that both of you will be in charge of my logistics and support from now on, right?”

“I intend to do so. Is there a problem?” 

“Yes. I need something, but I don’t know if Sister can do it.”

“??” 

Ian passed a note to the Second Princess.

What was written on it were the items needed for this conquest. No, these were the things Ian thought were necessary.

However, after checking the entire list of items, the Second Princess’s expression became strange. 

“You want me to prepare all of these? This much?” 

“Yes. Is it possible?” 

“…” 

The Second Princess looked at Ian as if it was absurd. 

Was that why Ian said that it would never be possible to use an ordinary supply officer? 

The quantity was one thing, but there was some stuff that didn’t make sense.

Sure enough.

“There are no official supplies of this level. Even if I am responsible for the household of the royal family, the amount is determined immediately after the successors…”

“But isn’t it possible for you, sister?”

“…?” 

At Ian’s words, the Second Princess frowned.

‘This kid… Does he know something about me?’

No, it must be a bluff.

Thinking so, the Second Princess smiled.

“Let’s talk this out slowly. I think you overestimate me. I appreciate the kind words, but there’s a limit to what’s on the market. It’s not like I can make things in the blink of an eye…”

“Yes, I already took that into consideration. I want you to make it right now.”

“What? I can’t accept such ridiculous demands…” 

“You are acquainted with the royal blacksmiths, aren’t I right?”

“…!!”

“Maybe it’ll be possible if we mobilize all the royal blacksmiths from now on.” 

“No…” 

The Second Princess’s eyes shook. 

That’s true, but how did he know her secret that no one else knew? No, it was more shocking that Ian knew the capabilities of the royal blacksmiths. 

But Ian smiled. 

“The supplies of the royal palace that my sister is managing and the royal blacksmiths. If you use two of them, it should be possible. No, is that probable?”

Ian clearly had correctly read the Second Princess’s trump card.

Unable to escape any longer, she waved the white flag. 

“I don’t know how you knew, but fine. But I think we’re running out of time.” 

“If you hurry from now on, it will be possible.” 

“Youngest, the distance between this place and the royal castle is…”

“If it is you, you must have a little special contact network, right?”

“…” 

It’s a special means of communication she received from the royal blacksmiths. 

The Second Princess was not in a situation to ask how Ian knew that. 

She sent her brother a stare with a hint of suspicion. 

And seeing her unusually raised guard, Ian smiled inwardly. 

‘I’ll be in trouble if I push her any further. I should give her carrots now.’ 

Ian whispered in the Second Princess’s ear.

“Sister, you have been going through a lot. I’ll give you a gift instead.”

“What?” 

“If I become king, I will put you in the position of chancellor.” 

“…?!” 

The Second Princess seemed greatly surprised.

That’s right, it’s one of the Second Princess’s long-cherished wishes.

It was to become the first female chancellor who never existed in Kaistein’s long history. Even the First Princess would not allow that.

Ian smiled. 

“Aren’t you more interested in that position than being king?” 

“…!” 

Of course, the Second Princess did not immediately believe Ian’s words. She asked with a rather suspicious look.  

“I don’t know how in the world you knew that, but I’m not that easy…”

“If you want, I’ll make a pledge to you. In return, you’ll have to thoroughly help me become king.” 

The Second Princess shut her mouth. 

Instead of giving up the improbable throne, her dream that she thought she had long forgotten began to bloom before her eyes.

Perhaps that’s why. 

“Alright, but I’ll take the pledge after this. I will receive it when my work is done.”

“I believe in you, sister.”  

“You should be. If you fail even after I airlifted all of this, I’ll judge you as never having the competence to be king from the beginning.”

“I should also check my sister’s abilities this time.”

Ian laughed. 

While the two were talking, Huntill, who had been listening from the sidelines, observed Ian with discerning eyes. 

‘Well, he is not an ordinary prince.’ 

It wasn’t just because of the way he had that outstanding Second Princess dancing to his tune. 

To be more precise, it was the list of supplies he asked to pack. 

Items that were easily obtainable, not necessary for a fight but essential for a war. Those were things that most Kaistein knights and generals overlooked. 

‘Shovels, axes, and even extra sacks. They’re tools that can be used for military engineering.’

The shovels and wood were useful for digging and felling trees. The sacks were indispensable items for making trenches through camp construction.

And as a soldier who had risen to the rank of a supply officer, he could say for sure. 

‘The Seventh Prince knows very well about war as well as politics.’ 

Warfare and strategy were not the only ways to win a war. There was nothing like military engineering to pressure the opponent.

So, Huntill was curious about something.

‘Military engineering’s true value is revealed in defense rather than offense. But the Seventh Prince said he would conquer Bahara in the shortest time.’ 

Most Kaistein people were very aggressive. 

They believed that the best defense was offense and even considered military engineering, the defensive technique of building a garrison, insignificant. But he wondered why Ian packed up the work tools.

However, Ian asked first before he managed to. 

“Sir Huntill, what is the name of your child or wife? Or do you have a brother or sister?” 

Ian looked like he hadn’t given up on finding Zabeth Huntill yet.

Alexander Huntill had a middle-aged, solemn face. 

Ian was sure that there must be a family or sibling. 

But it was a mistake. 

“I’m an only child and still single.” 

“…” 

Ian found it was too bad. 

He thought he was middle-aged with that serious look on his face. 

Finally, Huntill added a word with a determined expression, as if Ian shouldn’t have asked.

“And I’m still in my twenties.” 

“…” 

That was the end of the conversation between the two. 

Huntill’s expression had turned stony after Ian stepped on a landmine with his last question. Even the Second Princess sent him a weird gaze, wondering why he asked such things. 

Ian clicked his tongue inwardly. 

‘Have you been in the army for a long time? Why do you look so old?’ 

But the water had already spilled. 

It seemed like he needed to postpone his search for Zabeth Huntill for a little while. 

*** 

Inside a huge palace stained with blood. 

Fallen bodies were strewn all around, creating a river of blood streaming down the place. This was the heart of Bahara, Balrog. 

On the throne, there sat a young man stained with blood. 

“This seat is more comfortable than I thought, Father.” 

He looked down with an arrogant expression. 

Before him lay the king of Bahara. 

The king barely managed to open his mouth in a dying voice. 

“Why… son? That position will be yours anyway…” 

“That’s why I told you to hurry up and get ready for war. It’s your fault for ignoring it, Father.” 

“O… only for that reason?” 

“Sigh… How can you survive without having a sense of reality, Father? Do you have any idea how many countries out there are targeting this place right now?”

The man who purged his own father and usurped the throne. 

He was Arak, the crown prince of Bahara and called the First Warrior. 

Arak’s face twisted ferociously as he snapped. 

“If the throne is going to be taken away by others anyway, I might as well sit on it before it happens. If it were me, I’d be able to stop all of them, be it Kaistein or Cantum.” 

“Did you think I was just playing around? I, too…” 

When King Bahara was about to say something. 

Arak rose from the throne and slowly approached the king. 

And. 

Squelch! 

“Aaaaargh!”

He cut off the king’s hand with his own sword.

In an instant, the king’s blood spurted, drenching his face. However, Arak flashed a sickening smile, his father’s blood trickling down his face. 

“That’s proof of your stupidity, Father. All we, the great Bahara warriors, do is make a secret agreement with those Cantum rats. In the end, we were only used.” 

“That’s…” 

“I heard that my poor youngest brother was even caught by the youngest prince of Kaistein. The idiot my father tried to have him sit here instead of me.” 

The king’s eyes shook at Arak’s words. 

His eyes were full of disbelief. He kept it a tight secret, but how could his son come to know it? 

Nevertheless, Arak burst out laughing. 

“All the people you trusted were my aides. Thanks to you, I learned something interesting.” 

“So you killed all those who followed me? That will only exhaust national power. Eventually, this country will fall into the hands of others.”

No matter how great Arak the First Warrior was, he could not handle a power leak of this degree. After all, they were facing two countries aiming for this place. 

However, Arak burst into laughter. 

“My father has indeed gone senile. Did you think I wouldn’t even think that far?” 

“I… raised a wolf.” 

“No, I am not just any wolf. I am the man who will raise this Bahara back to what it used to be, unlike my incompetent father. So, watch over from hell, my dearest father. I will sever the neck of the youngest prince who destroyed the honor of Bahara, hang it in front of the Bahara palace, and strike Kaistein, further unifying this kingdom.”

Arak raised an eyebrow seeing the king’s gaze.

“I guess Your Majesty doesn’t trust me. What do you think? Can you tell me?” 

With those words, someone appeared from behind the pillar.

His whole body was covered with a black robe, but his face was oddly familiar to the king.

Of course, he recognized him.

He was the man who had visited this country often as a merchant. 

The king shouted in surprise. 

“You must be Kaistein’s…!” 

“Greetings, Your Majesty. I apologize we have to meet like this.” 

It’s Duke Garcia of Kaistein’s eldest son, Ceres. 

He had a mysterious smile on his face. But this didn’t make any sense. Why did the ducal family of Kaistein help Arak? 

No way. The man Arak believed in… 

The king shouted in a hurry. 

“Don’t be fooled! That guy is from Kaistein—!”

“You mean Ceres Garcia. I’m well aware of it.” 

“But why…” 

“There is a saying that the enemy of an enemy is a friend. And it is not the Garcia family that I believe in.”

Ceres beckoned to his back at Arak’s fishy smile. 

Then, people who had been committing slaughter in the kingdom until now appeared. Their entire bodies were clad in robes, similar to the Secret Special Force but different in nature.

The king was speechless for a moment. 

“No… no way? Were you the ones who killed the royal warriors?” 

“I lent my men, though it may be lacking. I came in easily thanks to the help of the crown prince, no, His Majesty Arak.”

The king urgently shouted to Arak. 

“Son! Listen to me, those people—”

But right at that instant. 

Slash! 

Arak swung his sword at the king. The king couldn’t even cry out his last words. He took his last breath just like that. 

‘Ah… no. Those guys will eventually destroy this kingdom…’

Thus, the king of Bahara died a lonely death. 

After everything was over, Arak sat back on the throne. 

Then he opened his mouth arrogantly. 

“Well, then. Since you kept your promise, is it my turn now?” 

“Everything is at your disposal.” 

Arak and Garcia exchanged glances. 

This had never happened in Ian’s previous life. The butterfly’s wings were flapping violently. 

*** 

“Check the situation in Bahara.” 

“Prepare to attack Bahara!” 

Under the great mountain range. 

The successors and nobles who arrived at the border of Bahara seemed to be burning with anticipation.  

War was on the horizon. 

However, Ian furrowed his eyebrows.  

‘He is not here yet.’ 

Ian looked at the excited soldiers. 

‘If the letter had arrived, he should have arrived first.’ 

Ian was just waiting for someone. 

That person was a necessary force for this Northern Expedition.  

‘I got a reply that he was definitely coming.’ 

Strangely, he still hadn’t arrived. 

‘Is there a problem?’ 

However, as he entered the barracks, Ian soon smiled upon seeing a falcon that had just arrived.  

And it was then.  

“Umm…” 

“!” 

Another person Ian had been waiting for appeared. 

It was none other than Heinley.  

He had never looked for Ian since he was caught.  

But.  

“Why didn’t you report my betrayal to Kaistein?” 

“…” 

Ian raised the corners of his mouth.  

As a matter of fact, Ian had not mentioned Heinley’s betrayal at the gathering of all the successors despite the opportunity to shake a duke of Kaistein.

The reason was simple. 

‘In order to bring down Garcia, I need an inside ally.’

Garcia had more wealth than he thought, practically enough to build a country.  

And Ian couldn’t get back at him just by being a king. 

If it was that duke, he could either go into exile or become king elsewhere. No, he would rather attack Ian instead.

Therefore, Heinley or Karan was an absolute must for his revenge. 

‘But Karan alone is not enough. Duke Garcia is not an easy opponent.’ 

Of course, the eldest son was out of the question.  

‘He must have used another way.’

Ian turned his back. 

“If that’s all you have to say, go away. I don’t want to see the face of the scoundrel who tried to sell my information to the empire.”

At that very moment, Heinley knelt down, biting his lips. 

Only then did Ian look at him with interest. 

Heinley shouted in desperation. 

“I’ll do anything. Please save me from my father, Your Highness!” 

Seeing Heinley’s desperate face, Ian’s lips curled up into a smile as if he had been waiting for it.