Chapter 14

Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Lucian’s brow gave a sharp, involuntary twitch.

‘The Lion Heart Sword.’

It was a martial art of such exclusivity that only the designated heir and a tiny circle of the most trusted associates were ever granted access to its secrets. Even when compared to other legendary ancient forms, it stood apart for its unrivaled aggression and terrifying power.

From the highest-ranking paladins to the common laborers in the fields, the reputation of the Lion Heart Sword was universal. Its name was woven into the fabric of the world, passed down through bedtime stories and the tall tales of traveling bards.

And in this moment, Grand Duke Sigmund had offered to initiate him into its mysteries.

Lucian bit down on his lip, using the physical pain to anchor the surge of raw emotion threatening to overwhelm him.

‘At long last…!’

Throughout his previous existence, he had wandered the breadth of the continent in a desperate search for a high-tier combat style, yet he had always come up empty-handed. The best he had eventually managed to secure was a watered-down, inferior version of the standard drills taught to basic infantry.

To a common soldier of fortune, even that scrap of knowledge had been a treasure, but it had never been enough to quench Lucian’s ambition.

He lost count of how many times he had bested a noble knight in raw combat, only for that same man to return years later and crush him using the sheer mechanical advantage of superior techniques. Every near-death escape and every bitter defeat had fueled a burning self-hatred and an obsessive craving for true martial power.

But now, the pinnacle of all styles—a technique that made “high-level” seem like an insult—was being handed to him.

“I shall present myself at the training fields at dawn tomorrow.”

“See that you do not push your limits too far.”

“It is no burden, Your Grace. My recovery is complete. To remain idle any longer would only allow my newfound strength to wither.”

The Grand Duke’s gaze sharpened with skepticism, but Lucian didn’t flinch. He adjusted his posture, projecting a sense of vitality and readiness.

After a silent, piercing appraisal of Lucian’s physical state, the Grand Duke’s expression softened slightly. He seemed to conclude that the boy’s claims of health were backed by genuine resilience.

“If you are so certain, then proceed. Just remember that you alone will suffer the penalty if you have misjudged your own endurance.”

“I will bear that in mind.”

“The orchestration regarding House Roglan is now in your hands. Create as much chaos as you can manage. Should the final outcome please me, a significant prize awaits you.”

“I shall exceed your expectations.”

“Dismissed.”

Lucian offered a respectful bow and departed the Grand Duke’s private chambers. His pulse, which had quickened the second the Lion Heart Sword was mentioned, continued to hammer rhythmically against his ribs.

‘This is merely the opening move.’

In his former life, Lucian had been devoid of every resource necessary to realize his grandest visions. His lineage was unremarkable, his combat skills were mediocre, and his very body was a flawed instrument. Trapped by such a hollow foundation, no amount of desperate effort could elevate him beyond the status of a glorified mercenary leader.

‘However, in this life, the foundation is absolute.’

The approaching era of turmoil would play out very differently this time. Most importantly, now that he possessed a bloodline of true quality, the barriers that once capped his growth had been shattered.

Lucian resolved to push himself to the absolute limit. He wondered just how high he could ascend now that he held both future knowledge and devastating power.

Fighting back a triumphant smile, Lucian began to mentally outline the path ahead.

—

The moment the door closed behind Lucian, the Grand Duke signaled for Edwin to enter.

The steward’s face drained of color as he scanned the reports detailing the Marquis’s clandestine operations.

“Your Grace.”

“Save your apologies, Edwin. They are unnecessary.”

“My lack of foresight is to blame…”

“Enough. I was the one who diverted our primary intelligence assets to the frontier. With our internal security stretched so thin, you could hardly have been expected to see everything.”

“Nevertheless, I am at fault. This occurred in Kelheim, the very core of Valdek territory. That our enemies could press a blade to our throats within our own walls without my knowledge is a stain on my record.”

“A blade? You overestimate them.”

The Grand Duke let out a short, mocking laugh at Edwin’s display of contrition.

“If it were a genuine threat, you would have sensed it. You missed it because it was nothing more than a nuisance—the equivalent of a minor scratch. Your competence isn’t the issue; it’s simply that Bernhardt managed a momentary surprise.”

“You view a plot to contaminate our lands with illicit substances as a minor scratch?”

“Continue reading.”

Edwin shifted his focus back to the papers. After a moment of further study, a look of weary realization crossed his face.

“They were so obsessed with secrecy that they crippled their own efficiency. At this pace, the narcotics would take years to circulate, and the financial returns would be negligible.”

“Precisely. After factoring in the overhead for production and the cost of the smuggling routes, they would barely break even. Profit wasn’t the motive; the goal was the erosion of my public standing.”

The prestigious House of Valdek, humiliated by a drug epidemic flourishing under their very noses—it would have been the ultimate political weapon for his detractors. They would use it to undermine the Emperor’s trust every time a major appointment was considered for the Grand Duke.

“Even so, he went too far. To orchestrate such a scheme while the Empire’s stability is in question… it borders on high treason.”

“Loyalty was never a trait he possessed. This treachery is entirely in character for him.”

“Regardless, thanks to the intervention of the Third Young Master, we have avoided a public scandal. It was a fortunate turn of events.”

“Pardon me? Are you saying the Third Young Master provided this intelligence?”

“I’m informed that the operative managing the distribution has shifted his allegiance to the boy. It’s a calculated guess, but I suspect it’s that individual from the criminal element who recently entered his service.”

“The one they call Hugo?”

“The very same. It’s almost comical, isn’t it? A high-ranking figure of the underworld abandoning his post simply because a single operation was compromised.”

The Grand Duke chuckled, leaning back into the leather of his chair. He had glossed over the detail during the meeting, but it was a fascinating development.

“What sort of charisma does my third son possess to inspire such a sudden shift? If that man were merely looking for a new master, he would have sought someone with established power. Or, he would have simply vanished into the shadows.”

“The fact that he chose the Third Young Master suggests he was personally won over.”

“Won over… I suppose that’s one way to put it.”

The term seemed insufficient. Would a cynical, battle-hardened criminal really fold so easily just because of a persuasive argument? Based on a mere promise of future glory?

‘Highly unlikely.’

The man had been balancing his life between a Marquis and a Grand Duke. He surely possessed nerves of steel and a mind as sharp as a razor. For such an individual to pledge his life to Lucian and hand over his leverage meant something far more profound.

It meant Lucian had projected an aura of absolute capability. He had convinced a man as dangerous and calculating as a serpent that he was the only master worth serving.

“In any case, it is sooner than I intended, but now that the boy has shown his worth, there is no point in stalling. I will begin his training in the Lion Heart Sword tomorrow.”

“A wise course of action. Regarding his primary instructor…”

“I will summon Sir Eisen. I dislike disturbing a man who has earned his peaceful retirement, but there is no teacher more qualified for this task.”

“As you wish. I will send word at once.”

“One more thing. Do not interfere with the criminal network mentioned in those files. The boy expressed a desire to dismantle them from within, and I wish to observe his methods.”

Edwin hesitated, his expression flickering with concern. He understood the value of a practical test, but the stakes seemed dangerously high. If Lucian failed, the fallout could be significant before they could intervene.

“Your Grace, forgive my intrusion, but this situation…”

“I know your thoughts. You think the matter is too critical to serve as a training exercise?”

“Not just that. The Third Young Master lacks the experience for such complex shadow games. Even if he succeeds, it would likely be far less efficient than if I handled it personally.”

“You are correct. But despite the inefficiency, I choose to leave it in his hands.”

“Did you perceive something specific in the Third Young Master?”

“It wasn’t a single thing, but his eyes told the story.”

The Grand Duke held the conviction that a person’s history was etched into their gaze. A high-born lady who had never known hardship would retain a glimmer of naivety even while sentencing a man to death. Conversely, a person forged in the gutters would always carry a spark of lethal intent, regardless of how polite their mask was.

He saw the same principle in his other sons. Despite their talent and upbringing, they couldn’t hide the soft, unseasoned nature of noble youths.

But today, that softness was entirely absent from Lucian.

“He possessed the gaze of a veteran of the front lines.”

“The front lines…?”

“You know as well as I do the difference between a child who has read about war and a soldier who has felt the cold steel of a blade against his skin.”

When Lucian had offered his own life as a guarantee, he had the look of the latter. It wasn’t the empty bravado of a teenager or a standard oath of loyalty; it was the expression of someone who had truly walked through the fire. Currently, none of his other heirs were capable of projecting such intensity.

“Skill and will are distinct, but since he has shown such profound will, I trust he has a strategy to back it up. I am curious to see exactly how far he can go.”

“If that is your command, Your Grace, I shall not question it further.”

Edwin bowed and departed. Regardless of the complexity of the mission, if the Grand Duke saw this as the best way to forge his successor, the steward would support it. Secretly, he also felt a growing curiosity about what the Third Young Master would achieve.

After all, no one possessed a keener eye for potential than Grand Duke Sigmund.

—

Returning to his quarters, Lucian immediately sent for Hugo.

“Are you capable of exposing the Marquis’s direct hand in this?”

“Exposing it? In what sense?”

“I want them backed into a corner where they can’t simply sever the connection and walk away.”

He didn’t expect to drag the Marquis himself into a courtroom. It would suffice to create enough evidence that simple denials wouldn’t work. Even a marginal increase in public suspicion would be a win. There was a massive difference between losing a minor pawn and having one’s own family implicated. The cost of damage control for the Marquis’s house would be staggering.

Hugo broke into a knowing smirk at the request.

“That should be quite manageable. A courier from the Marquis is expected to check in twice more.”

“Twice?”

“They intend to personally monitor the start of production and the inaugural sale. They always send a representative early on to ensure I haven’t simply fled with the capital.”

“Who is the representative? A low-level flunky won’t be enough to cause real damage.”

“He attempted to remain anonymous, but I had him shadowed to confirm his identity. It is the Marquis’s fourth-born son.”

“…!”

Lucian’s eyes brightened. If a blood relative was caught in the act, the Marquis could never realistically claim ignorance. They would be forced to either sacrifice the fourth son or go to extreme lengths to cover it up. If they hadn’t anticipated Hugo’s change of heart, this would be a catastrophic blow.

“Can you manage the sting without assistance? I cannot leave the estate. If the house of Valdek is seen moving too early, they will retreat.”

“The target is walking straight into my hands; why would I need help? I’ll send word when the trap is ready, so rest easy.”

Bolstered by Hugo’s self-assurance, Lucian decided to trust the man’s expertise. Since Hugo was the one the Marquis had originally contracted, he understood the logistics better than anyone. It was far more effective to let Hugo use his natural cunning than to micromanage him. Lucian already knew from his past life that the man was a master of his craft.

“Hans, what is the status of the servant retraining?”

“Truthfully, there isn’t much left for me to do. The staff has been remarkably diligent since that last incident. In terms of their actual duties, they are all seasoned enough that the work is getting done perfectly.”

“Even so, fear is a temporary motivator. Keep a sharp watch on them and report any signs of complacency immediately. Old habits die hard.”

“If anyone dares to revert to their old ways, I will notify you instantly.”

After finalizing the immediate plans with his two subordinates, Lucian retired for the evening.

The following morning, at the precise hour, he walked toward the training grounds alone. A figure was already standing there, waiting in the early light, exactly as the Grand Duke had promised.

“It has been two years since we last crossed paths at the Grand Duke’s celebration. It is a pleasure to see you again, Third Young Master. I trust you haven’t forgotten me?”

Despite the veteran’s relaxed and unassuming demeanor, Lucian remained on high alert. This was a man whose exploits were legendary, a name that had been spoken with reverence long before Lucian’s rebirth.

‘Eisen Brightner.’

The former Grand Duke’s most trusted commander and a stalwart protector who had served the Valdek line for three generations.

Standing before him was the lone survivor of the five legendary warriors who had attained the rank of Sword Saint across the entire continent.