Chapter 850

Chapter 850

A woman with a frame like a skeletal man, her face marred by a deep scar and hollowed cheeks, stood nearby. Kraiss looked over the duo and inquired,
“Remind me of your name?”
Enkrid provided the answer for him.
“Edin Molsen.”
“He looks a bit different than I remember.”
It was more than a bit—it was a total transformation. He had discarded the disguise he used during his days as a low-life criminal, and the desperate, frantic period spent rescuing his sister had concluded.
Edin had come at Enkrid’s request, but he anticipated a difficult road ahead. Would anyone actually welcome him? He doubted it.
‘If they turn me away here…’
Should he try to validate his presence? And for what purpose—to honor the man who placed his faith in him?
‘Or should I just accept my status and disappear?’
He was a Molsen—did the offspring of a notorious traitor even possess the right to stand in this place?
His mind was a knot of conflicting thoughts. Perhaps staying in the shadows would have been the honorable choice. If he hadn’t stepped into the light, this friction wouldn’t exist.
‘However.’
Was he meant to just exist? To abandon any sense of purpose or utility? Could he really turn a blind eye when he actually had something to contribute?
His gaze met his sister’s. Her brown eyes, tinged with a faint red hue, blinked as she watched him.
‘If I am permitted to hope…’
If one final opportunity was being granted to him.
It wasn’t merely about showing off his talents. Having severed ties with his father, what was Edin actually capable of? This was his chance to find out.
“Are you truly the son of Count Molsen?”
An envoy from Naurillia was present, and he stared at Edin with naked astonishment. His shock was impossible to hide; his eyes were wide with disbelief.
The uprising led by Count Molsen was a dark chapter that would be etched into Naurillia’s history forever.
The envoy was unaware that the Count had been manipulated by a creature from the Demon Realm, but he knew the man’s crimes.
He had attempted to overthrow the queen and seize the crown from the rightful sovereign.
Kraiss shifted his gaze to his commander, asking silently with his eyes:
What is the meaning of this, and what is your plan?
Enkrid’s perspective hadn’t wavered since the moment he first met Edin. In fact, his philosophy remained consistent across the board.
He supported the child who wanted to be an herbalist. He supported the woman seeking to become an elixir.
He simply offered his support to a man who wanted to use his skills to help others.
The envoy’s eyes darted back and forth. Given the tension in the room, it felt like a powder keg waiting for a spark.
“Start the preparations to conquer the continent, Kraiss.”
Enkrid spoke the words clearly. The envoy forgot to breathe.
What? High treason? Was that the reason for bringing in the son of a rebel?
If one stopped to think, it made no sense. Planning a coup and recruiting a traitor’s son were entirely different issues.
Furthermore, why announce such a thing right now?
The envoy’s mind went blank, struggling to process the statement. Yet, one realization was chillingly clear.
‘If he’s saying this right in front of me…’
Doesn’t that mean he intends to kill me before I can leave?
“Conquer the continent? Ah, that old talk.”
Kraiss’s voice remained steady, as if the topic were trivial. With a massive conflict against the South looming, what did it matter if they recruited one rebel’s son?
Besides, this was Enkrid’s call. He surely had his motives, and he had just voiced a portion of them.
“If that is your wish, then let’s get to it.”
Kraiss gave a sharp nod.
Deconstructing the subtext of the conversation, Enkrid had signaled for Kraiss to find a role for Edin, and Kraiss had signaled his agreement.
Edin understood, his sister understood, and the others mostly just nodded in acceptance.
The people gathered there were well-acquainted with Enkrid’s unique way of communicating.
Aside from those who were indifferent—like Ragna or the Dragonkin—most of them caught the true meaning.
The envoy, naturally, was lost. He didn’t even dare to take a full breath as he watched for any sign of what to do next.
“So, where exactly does the global conquest begin?”
Rem spoke up from behind the envoy at just the right moment. The messenger’s heart skipped a beat. It was clearly a jest, but at this rate, he felt he might die of a heart attack without anyone drawing a blade.
Kraiss looked over at Rem, then gestured toward the man in front of him, saying casually:
“Ah, the Royal messenger. I’ve taken note of everything. You can go back now and report exactly what you just witnessed.”
The envoy’s back was drenched in cold sweat. He managed to stammer out a response.
“……Sir?”
“Tell them that Edin Molsen is officially joining the Border Guard.”
With heavy, hesitant steps, the envoy began to retreat toward the exit.
“His Majesty expects you to march South as soon as your gear is ready.”
Despite his fear, he fulfilled his duty. He paused at the door, turning slightly to deliver the final word. His brow was glistening with sweat.
Enkrid mused that Crang had at least chosen a competent messenger. The only issue was the man’s lack of iron in his nerves.
Of course, in a room full of volatile knights, very few people could hear such jokes and remain composed.
Observing from the perimeter, Edin was just as shocked as the envoy. The process was effortless. Enkrid made a decree, and the rest simply fell in line.
It reminded him of how his father used to run their household, yet it felt fundamentally different.
In the past, when his father made a decision, everyone obeyed. Or rather, they were forced to obey.
‘If you wish to survive.’
If you want to live, you must fight. Edin, why should I bother with a weakling who can’t even hold a sword, even if he is my blood?
His memories turned to ache, and the ache turned to agony. Edin had suffered through it all to reach this point.
If his goal had been to simply erase his father and live a quiet life, he would have stayed in the shadows.
Enkrid was the opposite of his father. When he spoke, people followed him by choice.
“Shall we conduct a brief examination, then? What would be your first move?”
Kraiss was blunt. He offered no context regarding the city’s current affairs and simply threw out the question.
Abnaier watched the exchange in silence, thinking to himself:
‘So, Kraiss isn’t completely sold on this yet.’
Kraiss was a master of personnel management. You could see it in the way he directed his subordinates. His greatest talent was matching the right task to the right person.
Was this sudden interrogation an attempt to crush the man’s confidence?
Edin blinked, processing the question, then spoke up. Regardless of the circumstances, if a door was being opened, he had to walk through it. That was the whole reason he was there.
“First, I would organize a sit-down with the leader of the trade city.”
“I asked what *you* would do personally.”
“It would take too long to describe it in words.”
“Isn’t the talent for making a complex idea brief and convincing a skill in itself?”
Edin stared into Kraiss’s large eyes. There was a spark of madness in those eyes that mirrored Enkrid’s own.
“At this moment, the Border Guard is missing three critical elements.”
Edin tucked his thumb over his pinky and held up his index, middle, and ring fingers.
“First, crime. Second, tolerance. Third, breathing room.”
Enkrid tilted his head curiously. Rem made a small sound of intrigue and watched closely. Slowly, the entire group of eccentric knights began to drift closer.
Between the arrival of the envoy and the talk of an impending war, their spirits were high and they were looking for engagement.
Jaxon gave Edin a quick look before turning away; Audin offered a small smile.
Ragna and Pell were warriors through and through. They had zero interest in civil management. Edin’s words went in one ear and out the other for them. Rophod, however, having risen through the ranks of a formal order, had a broader perspective.
But because his experience was rooted in the military, he evaluated the city based on the equipment of its standing army.
‘If they weren’t flush with cash, they couldn’t fund a professional force like this.’
Their ranks were significant, and their gear was high-quality.
Would the Royal Guard even live in such conditions?
No—one would likely need the status of a squire just to get this level of treatment.
In the mercenary circles, it was common knowledge that the Border Guard offered excellent pay and top-tier equipment.
‘Though, the training is so brutal that plenty of recruits desert.’
The desertions made sense. Those with a bit of ego were humbled, and those with local reputations learned real discipline.
‘That is the essence of the Border Guard.’
These weren’t just idle stories; they were based on hard facts. There were constant skirmishes and battles.
The Border Guard had seen plenty of action. Just recently, they dealt with a Salamander’s awakening and an assault by a group of mages.
They had even decimated the Demon Sanctuary Church; it was logical they were considered that cult’s primary foe.
‘That implies the risks they take are equally massive.’
That was how a mercenary would see it. Rophod pulled his focus back to the present.
Regardless, the Border Guard’s prosperity was well-known. So what did Edin mean by a lack of “breathing room”? And what was “tolerance” supposed to imply in this context?
“If you are spending every coin you earn just to keep the military running, then you need to increase your revenue.”
Edin stated it plainly. Was it a rehearsed line? Unlikely. But it was exactly the kind of logic that resonated with Kraiss.
“Kin Baisar set up a boutique and a tea house in Lockfried, and that tea house became a hub for information. Vanessa’s collection of books was also quite notable.”
At this point, even Enkrid only grasped about half of the implications. The conversation was becoming highly specialized. Why mention a tea house and a library?
“The Border Guard already possesses three things.”
Kraiss mirrored Edin’s gesture, raising three fingers as well.
“Law and order, military might, and geographic position.”
Edin was talking about the strategic evolution of the Border Guard’s city. Essentially, he was suggesting they expand into industries they currently lacked.
The most logical step would be social hubs, galleries, and cultural centers.
Why was this viable? Crang had already pointed it out.
From Naurillia’s perspective, the Border Guard was to the east—but viewed differently:
‘It’s a city bordered by the Empire to the north, the East nearby, and the West accessible via the Safe and Stone Roads.’
The Border Guard was a place where Imperial spies came hunting for Enkrid, but it was also a place where he held favor with the Eastern King and was on friendly terms with the Pope of Legion.
And that wasn’t all. Members of House Zaun visited frequently, and trade routes to the western merchant cities had been established.
Furthermore, the strict security that deterred crime provided a sense of safety for residents, and the presence of the elite knights served as a deterrent against outside threats.
Edin concluded that the Border Guard had all the necessary ingredients for “soft power” to flourish.
Did Kraiss not already realize this?
Until now, he had been too overwhelmed with immediate tasks to pursue it. But now he had help. Someone who could think and act independently.
The comment about conquering the continent was half-humorous, half-serious.
The serious half involved exerting influence over the continent through cultural means.
‘Culture.’
One could define it as the arts.
If painting, architecture, and music were to thrive, the city would become even more prosperous. And if they were feeling ambitious:
‘They could even siphon away the influence held by the trade cities.’
This was all possible because the city was already self-sufficient through its military strength.
Edin was surprised that Kraiss had followed his train of thought perfectly.
The vision Kraiss had for a salon wasn’t just a place for idle gossip. It was a venue for music, art appreciation, and the exchange of architectural and craft ideas.
‘Is this vision only possible because of the captain?’
It was.
If Enkrid actually ended the conflict as he intended, then the following era would allow these things to bloom.
A golden age of art would arrive.
That was how he imagined it. It was simply that, for now, they were too busy to focus on it.
“It’s difficult to achieve this without the cooperation of the trade city. We should offer them a stake so we can all grow together.”
The Border Guard was a dominant power. It had the strength to annex its neighbors if it wanted. Edin was advising them not to use that strength as a club, but as a bridge.
“Ultimately, instead of a cycle of killing, we create ties that allow for mutual survival.”
Enkrid looked intently at Edin. This was an insight he hadn’t expected. This dream aligned with his own.
While Enkrid sought his path through martial skill, Edin found a different way.
He saw a path to unity through administration and statecraft.
An adult might stop two children from fighting by force. But the moment the adult leaves, the fight resumes. Thus, you must teach the children how to live together so they no longer wish to fight. Kraiss nodded and gave his verdict.
“You pass.”
Edin noted that Kraiss and Enkrid shared a similar, direct way of speaking. Enkrid looked Edin in the eye and said:
“If you want to live, Edin, you must fight. If you quit now, your death won’t be the only one.”
If you want to live, fight; if you commit to something, finish it.
Of all the lessons his father had hammered into him, this was the only one Edin truly believed in.
‘At least my father was right about that much.’
Edin was the traitor’s son who had once discarded his own identity. He placed his left arm across his chest and bowed low. It was a formal aristocratic greeting.
“I will do as you command, my lord.”
Since the knights were already assembled, Enkrid declared their immediate departure for the South.
“The standing army will maintain the city’s defense.”
Kraiss had already issued the orders and secured the mounts. In less than half a day, they were ready to move.
The following day, Enkrid and his knights set out for the South. Meanwhile, the envoy who had fled the Border Guard was granted an audience with the King.
“Your Majesty, the son of Count Molsen is……”
When the envoy mentioned the plan to conquer the continent, Crang burst into laughter. He laughed so hard that he began to tear up.
“He really has a talent for messing with people. Well done.”
The King wasn’t concerned in the least. The envoy was still full of suspicion. If the King wanted, he could have Edin executed—yet he was letting him serve?
“Associating with Count Molsen’s son will be a political nightmare for you.”
Marcus Baisar spoke up, acting as the King’s advisor.
“Do you think that kid gives a single damn about political games?”
“No.”
“If we win this war in the South, we’ll have all the time in the world to deal with politics.”
The war was starting. Crang adjusted his cloak and headed for the door.
“Call for the Royal Guard.”
Marcus bowed and moved to fulfill the King’s order.
Even if he couldn’t lead the charge himself, Crang had no intention of being a passive observer.
That was simply the kind of King he was.