Chapter 162

Chapter 162
Chapter 162

‘Curse it.’

The instant Malcolm met Vincent’s eyes, he realized his son had blundered.

Unlike Malcolm, who had survived countless trials, his young son was likely overwhelmed by such a high-stakes confrontation. If he tried to mask a secret unskillfully, it was bound to manifest in his expression.

Inevitably, Vincent spoke up, a strange smirk playing on his lips.

“So that is the craftsman’s pride? To pursue a goal even when defeat is certain? Quite something. You appear to lack even basic funds for travel, yet you are gambling your entire livelihood on a single attempt.”

“…How many certainties truly exist in this life? At times, one must commit everything just to earn the chance to try.”

“Fair point. The tragedy is that triumph rarely arrives on the first endeavor. Yet, for some reason, I suspect you might actually succeed on your very first try.”

“…!”

Even Malcolm, who had been fighting to keep a neutral mask, failed to suppress his shock this time.

Had this warrior really identified the exact words that triggered his son’s reaction in that fleeting moment? He recognized the man was a veteran knight, but he had not anticipated such sharp intuition.

‘This is dangerous.’

Malcolm felt a layer of cold perspiration drenching his back.

In years past, the Ancient Metal Smelting Method was viewed as a joke, but now it was a treasure without equal. He had no way of knowing how the knight standing before him would react if he realized Malcolm held such a secret. In a worst-case scenario, the man might execute them both to claim the technique for himself.

Malcolm was genuinely weighing whether he should upend the table and bolt for the exit right then.

“My apologies. My manner of speaking must have caused alarm. Even if you possess a hidden truth, I have no intention of taking it by force. So, ease your expression. You look as though you are ready to commit murder.”

“…”

Despite Vincent’s assurance, Malcolm refused to drop his guard. Everything would collapse the second Vincent, who held all the power, decided to change his mind.

Eventually, Vincent clicked his tongue and made his actual goals known.

“Since it is clear you do not trust me, I will be blunt. We did not come here solely to pay respects to Sir Eisen. We have come to request an audience with Duke Lucian to seek a place in his service.”

“…?”

Malcolm blinked, stunned by the unexpected revelation. It wasn’t as if the Duke was hurting for knights, so trying to enlist out of nowhere during such a period seemed bizarre. Without a formal letter of introduction or social ties, it was virtually impossible, was it not?

Seeing Malcolm’s confusion, Vincent offered a wry smile.

“In truth, I have a history with the Duke. It was a brief association, but significant enough that he would not deny me an audience if I asked.”

“…!”

“The issue is, it is not the sort of bond where I can ask for major favors beyond a simple talk. There is a high probability His Grace might turn down my request, so I require some leverage.”

“Leverage, you say…?”

“For instance, gaining the Duke’s favor by presenting him with a master artisan.”

Only then did Malcolm grasp Vincent’s logic. Currently, the Duke was in dire need of a smith capable of processing Ancient Metal. In other words, finding and proposing such a smith would be a massive service on Vincent’s part.

“I do not believe this is a poor arrangement for you either. What are your thoughts? If you truly have the talent, would it not be superior to demonstrate your skills directly to the Duke instead of competing in a public tournament?”

“Hmm.”

Malcolm lapsed into heavy contemplation over the sudden offer. As Vincent pointed out, nothing surpassed showing his capabilities to Lucian personally. Unlike a public contest, a single mistake wouldn’t mean the end. The Duke would likely wait with composure to see if he could yield results over a period of time. If even a minor, significant breakthrough occurred while the Duke remained patient, his status would be secured instantly.

‘The difficulty lies in whether this knight is trustworthy.’

He appeared to be speaking with sincerity, but one can never truly grasp the depths of another’s soul. Agreeing to a tempting offer too quickly could invite even worse disasters. On the other hand, he wasn’t certain he could flee successfully if he turned the proposal down.

“…Then, would it be feasible to see the Duke at once?”

After much internal debate, Malcolm suggested the best middle ground he could devise. If the man truly possessed a link to the Duke, they ought to be able to meet shortly after the request was made. If Vincent wavered or gave a non-committal reply, Malcolm intended to escape immediately.

Vincent gave a nod and a smile at Malcolm’s condition.

“As soon as my comrades return, we shall go and ask for an audience.”

—

“What? The Black Lions have arrived?”

“Yes. They identified themselves as Vincent, Widro, Jude, and Martin.”

Lucian’s eyes widened at the mention of those names. Were they not the group that had traveled with him to Bornholm under the command of Grand Duke Sigmund? He had not expected to cross paths with them again unless he initiated a campaign against the House of Valdek, yet here they were, seeking him out of their own accord.

“They claimed Your Grace would recognize their names and did not offer their family titles, so I suspected they might be frauds…”

“No, that is accurate. I only learned their given names when we collaborated previously. That actually confirms it for me. Bring them inside at once.”

At Lucian’s order, the official gave a bow and departed quickly. A moment later, four recognizable faces from his previous journey stood before Lucian.

“It has been a long time, Your Grace. Do you still recall us?”

“Of course I do. It has been quite a while. It feels as though we departed for Bornholm only yesterday.”

“We share that sentiment. Is Captain Raymond doing well?”

“He is doing so well it is almost an inconvenience. And what of you? Have you been alright?”

“…Regrettably, we have not. Everything fell into ruin after the Second Young Master proclaimed himself the Head of the Family.”

Vincent exhaled a heavy sigh and shared the tribulations they had faced—how Jordi possessed no sense of honor, how the Black Lions had been transformed into a private tool for Jordi’s personal profit, and how they eventually hit their breaking point and abandoned Valdek.

“I do not regret that choice even now, but we found ourselves destitute. Thus, we shamelessly leaned on our past connection and came to seek Your Grace.”

“I understand. Have you come to ask for enlistment?”

“Yes. Though it is a bold request…”

“Very well. Take your oath of loyalty here and now.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Vincent and his comrades were stunned by the immediate acceptance, offered without a moment’s pause. They had braced themselves for a harsh dismissal, but the process was moving far more smoothly than they had dared to hope.

“Your Grace. Is this truly acceptable?”

“What is?”

“Our service. Your Grace is currently championing a noble cause. If it becomes known that you have taken in the Black Lions, your standing might be compromised…”

“Compromised? Ridiculous.”

Lucian scoffed at Vincent’s anxiety. From Lucian’s viewpoint, their fears were essentially groundless.

‘I appreciate legitimacy and moral standing, but there is a threshold.’

In an era of turmoil, there was no such thing as a perfect servant without a single blemish. If he cast aside every advantageous opportunity just to remain ‘faultless,’ he would be ensuring that history remembered him as ‘a devoted subject who was undone by a transparent plot.’

Furthermore, the Black Lions were elite knights who were also experts in clandestine operations. To discard such high-caliber assets just to maintain a ‘clean’ image would be like announcing his own incompetence to the world.

“Cease this pointless chatter and pledge your loyalty here. Once the vow is made, I will give you assignments immediately.”

“Y-Your Grace.”

“You must be exhausted, so take the next month to recover. I will have living quarters assigned for you within the White Castle. Additionally, I will provide two months’ pay in advance as a signing fee, so use it as you see fit.”

Overwhelmed by the unexpectedly kind treatment, Vincent and the other Black Lions looked at Lucian with eyes brimming with emotion. For a fleeting moment, the shadow of the late Grand Duke Sigmund seemed to merge with the present Lucian.

Vincent wanted to drop to his knees and swear his life right then, but he still had vital news to provide.

“We are moved by your incredible mercy, but before we take our oaths, there is a piece of information we must relay.”

“Information?”

“We encountered a blacksmith at a tavern in the outer castle who asserts he can work with Fairy Light. To be exact, he claims to have inherited a text containing the smelting process through his family lineage. Could he be the specialist Your Grace is searching for?”

“…!”

—

“So, you are claiming you won’t provide any assistance? Even though it is to seek justice for our father?”

“Brother, I beg you, stay calm. What do you expect me to do when I simply lack the resources?”

Joshua, formerly the Fourth Young Master of Valdek, was at the end of his rope. He believed he had finally eluded Jordi, only for Tristan to show up and demand financing.

‘Dammit, I want to tell him to rot, but…’

Joshua’s gaze drifted toward the window. Beyond the pane, the glinting spears and blades of the small army Tristan had brought shimmered in the light. If he snapped at Tristan as he wished to, those weapons would be directed straight at him. No matter how much he hated the situation, he had to be cautious with his words to stay alive.

“I can practically hear your mind racing. Are you searching for a pretext to throw your brother out?”

“Please, give me some credit. There is truly nothing I can do for you. What do you anticipate from a small Viscounty like this?”

“You are laying it on thick. From where I sit, you seem remarkably comfortable.”

Tristan gave a biting smile and ran his hand over the ebony table. It was a wordless threat—questioning how he could afford such grand furniture but claim to have no gold to assist his kin. Unable to tolerate the growing tension, Joshua finally snapped in irritation.

“I did not purchase this! This was bought by my maternal grandfather, the former Family Head! Are you really going to use household items from decades ago as a reason to squeeze me for money?!”

“The former Family Head, I see.”

At Joshua’s exclamation, Tristan shut his eyes. The gap between his current plight and Joshua’s circumstances was far too wide.

“True, you are a Viscount now. Quite a feat. To think you would recover after being exiled by Jordi and take over your mother’s side of the family.”

“…I was fortunate. If my maternal uncle hadn’t passed from sickness a few years back, this never would have transpired.”

“That luck is what is so impressive. Unlike you, fortune has not favored me.”

Joshua could find no words to counter the grief in Tristan’s tone. It wasn’t an overstatement; Tristan had been exceptionally unlucky. He had not only seen Grand Duke Sigmund perish, but he had also been stripped of his inheritance, and his mother, Lady Veronica, had been seized. Recently, even the aid from his maternal kin had been severed after his grandfather died and an uncle with whom he shared no affection became the Family Head.

It was a world apart from Joshua, who had managed to escape with his own mother, sought refuge with his maternal relatives, and eventually came into the title.

‘I heard rumors that Lady Veronica passed away long ago and Jordi is merely hiding it…’

Though it was just a whisper, Joshua felt this grim tale was more believable than one might expect. If Veronica were healthy and alive, would Tristan be marching toward Valdek with such lethal intent? He would have hesitated to attack out of fear for his mother’s well-being.

The fact that he was blatantly preparing for a strike suggested the rumor was likely a reality, and that Tristan was aware of it.

Joshua felt a sudden wave of pity for the ruin of the eldest son, who had once been viewed as a primary contender for the succession alongside Lucian.