Chapter 92

Chapter 92
## Chapter 92

Upon concluding their survey of the hidden vault, the two companions voiced the identical thought.

“Given enough time, this collection of wealth could shake the very foundations of the Empire! It eclipses the majority of official relic repositories!”

“You must proceed with extreme caution, My Lord. If this becomes known too early, it will be seized before you have the chance to utilize it effectively.”

“Precisely.”

Lucian signaled his agreement with the observations made by Hugo and Raymond.

If he could construct a firm base and foster a climate where this lost knowledge could be applied without restriction, ascending as the new ruler of the Empire would be more than a fantasy.

The difficulty lay in the monumental effort required to establish such a state.

“Even if I locate the mages capable of interpreting this technology, the scrutiny of the Imperial Family remains a major obstacle. We must wait for their focus on us to drift, at the very least.”

“That is unlikely to happen for several years. The eyes of the public will remain locked on you, My Lord, if only due to the complications surrounding the imperial succession.”

“That is probably true.”

Lucian gave his answer, though he harbored a private, cynical smile.

The truth was, the wait would not be nearly that long.

In his previous life, the Emperor had collapsed into a terminal illness shortly after the devastation of Krepelt.

The distress of losing the First Prince had surely contributed, but his physical state had likely been deteriorating long before that.

‘Observing how he is pushing himself to mold me into a secondary power, he will likely be confined to his bed soon in this timeline as well.’

The Emperor’s decline would trigger absolute instability. That chaos would provide the perfect veil for these ancient legacies to finally emerge.

However, regardless of his retainers’ devotion, he could not disclose his knowledge of the future. He simply nodded and transitioned to the next topic.

“In any case, to harness this inheritance, I must first reinforce my own standing. Whether it is a matter of debt or other obligations, those can be settled later. The priority now is a steady stream of capital.”

“While the Imperial Family might be liberal with their lending, there is a ceiling to such grace.”

“We can bridge any gap by draining the House of Calix. The severity of what we take will be dictated by the path they choose to take.”

In truth, Lucian preferred that the House of Calix challenge him in a blatant confrontation.

Such a scenario would allow him to shatter them entirely and pick their granaries clean.

‘They shouldn’t presume their own hoard will remain untouched after they tried to snatch someone else’s assets.’

Fortunately, the groundwork for dismantling the House of Calix was progressing smoothly.

His political standing had surged following the restoration of the Grimaldi family and the successful recovery of Asagrim.

Combined with this were the legal authorities granted to him as a Margrave and the specialized gift provided by Thorkel.

Yet, the most vital element would be the military support dispatched by the Imperial Family.

‘Two thousand veteran troops and the Blue Rose Knight Order, one of the elite units under the direct command of the throne.’

Though they were technically a loan, they represented a force he could direct as he saw fit for the duration of their deployment.

His pulse quickened at the prospect of commanding the largest military contingent of his career.

What would it be like to hold sole authority over such a formidable army?

‘I am about to find out.’

Lucian cast a final glance at the treasures of his ancestors and walked away from the sub-level chamber.

The moment to ascend as the sovereign of his dreams was drawing near.

—

“Sir Glen. I believe the time has come to transfer the military units you promised.”

The following morning, Lucian sought out Glen and spoke candidly.

With accommodations for the soldiers now ready, there was no reason for further delay.

“As it happens, I spoke with His Majesty the Emperor just yesterday. He informed me that all preparations are finished and the troops will be deployed the moment you are ready. However…”

As Glen paused, Lucian’s expression turned sharp.

Surely they weren’t attempting to withdraw the offer now?

“Is there an issue?”

“No issue at all. It is simply that His Majesty has put forward one additional suggestion.”

“A secondary proposal?”

“He expressed concern that you might be short on domestic staff, so he proposed sending several skilled attendants and servants along with the military… Ahem, cough!”

Glen’s voice trailed off as he looked away awkwardly.

Lucian found it hard not to laugh at the man’s transparent attempt to mask his discomfort.

‘So, they intend to plant informants among the domestic staff.’

In reality, it would be a lapse in judgment for the Emperor not to include spies in such a transition.

No matter how strong an alliance seemed, one could never be certain of another’s true intentions unless it was their own heir. It was common statecraft to embed spies under the guise of being helpful.

‘There will certainly be moles within the military ranks as well, but soldiers and domestic servants have vastly different levels of entry.’

Unless they were the absolute elite groomed by the household, soldiers were generally restricted to communal areas.

In contrast, attendants and personal servants could inspect everything from the underside of a mattress to the private washroom. Naturally, they would gain deep insight into the lord’s personal habits.

‘It is essentially a request for me to leave my flank undefended.’

“Your Grace, I beg you not to take offense. His Majesty suggested this purely out of a desire to be helpful. If it truly causes you distress, you are free to decline.”

Glen watched Lucian’s face, a bead of cold sweat forming.

Even he clearly felt the Emperor’s move was a bit too transparent.

However, Lucian offered a relaxed smile and replied.

“I shall accept the gesture with gratitude.”

“Yes, well, it can’t be help— Wait, what did you just say?”

“I was actually concerned about the logistics of sourcing competent staff. I am delighted that His Majesty is handling that burden for me.”

“Yo—Your Grace.”

“Once the household staff arrives, I’ll need them to attend to my chambers immediately. My bed has been neglected lately, and I’ve been waking up with a quite painful back.”

Glen’s eyes wavered at the casual remark.

Granting them access to his sleeping quarters meant allowing them near him at his most defenseless. It was a display of total confidence, a declaration that he possessed no secrets to hide.

Glen reached out and gripped Lucian’s hand instinctively.

“Your Grace is truly a gift from the Eight Gods. One could not find ten men as loyal as you in the entirety of the Empire.”

“Come now, what is this? Empty praise won’t earn you any rewards.”

“I speak with total sincerity. I give you my word that I will report your unwavering devotion to His Majesty, so please, have patience.”

The intensity of the grip suggested a firm resolve that such intrusive requests would not be repeated.

Lucian adopted a humble expression while trying to stifle his amusement.

In truth, he had welcomed the servants not out of blind faith, but because he realized that spies would soon become irrelevant.

‘It is true that I require a large staff immediately. If I opened recruitment, I would be flooded with candidates, but who could say how many moles from the House of Calix would be hidden among them?’

Since he couldn’t vet every individual, he had to choose between the Emperor’s spies and Calix’s spies.

In that scenario, the Imperial informants were the safer bet; they might gather intelligence, but they wouldn’t attempt an assassination. Furthermore, only a few would actually be spies; the rest would simply be high-caliber, professional labor.

‘The critical factor is the Emperor’s remaining time. It appears they transmit data only through magical artifacts without intermediate hubs. Will these informants even have a purpose once the Emperor passes?’

Magical artifacts reserved strictly for those of the royal bloodline.

He was almost curious to see how the First Prince would manage the network—and how that prince would treat the most influential figure among his allies.

—

With the terms settled, Glen immediately stepped outside to activate the magical artifact.

However, after several failed attempts, he returned to Lucian with a frustrated look.

“Your Grace, my apologies, but I believe we must distance ourselves further from the White Castle.”

“Is it non-functional within the walls?”

“It seems so. Given that other magical devices are operating normally, it appears that only magic related to spatial manipulation is being suppressed here.”

“I see.”

Lucian’s eyes brightened at this revelation.

It meant he needn’t worry about an unexpected breach of the castle via teleportation magic.

“Then there is no other way. We shall ride out beyond the perimeter.”

“I am sorry for the inconvenience.”

Following Glen’s apology, Lucian’s party mounted their horses and rode out from the castle.

A group of pilgrims trailed at a distance, curious about the sudden movement.

After pausing several times to test the device, Glen finally confirmed a connection once they had traveled a significant distance.

“The Master of the Blue Path summons thee, appear! By the ancient pact, I call thee forth, appear! The Dragon’s Blood summons thee, appear!”

The exact incantation the Emperor had utilized previously echoed from Glen’s lips.

After a tense moment, the phenomenon repeated itself.

*Flash!*

“Ah!”

“What in the world is that?!”

The cries of the startled pilgrims, witnessing a portal tear open in the air, reached the ears of Lucian’s group.

Seconds later, a military force began to emerge from the glowing rift.

Knights bearing the blue rose emblem upon their chest plates led the way, followed by two thousand veteran soldiers radiating an intense martial pressure.

Finally, roughly a hundred neatly dressed attendants and servants appeared, guiding wagons loaded with a vast array of provisions.

“M-My lord!”

“People are appearing from thin air!”

Despite the commotion from the pilgrims, the soldiers remained perfectly still.

While Lucian noted their impeccable training, a knight dismounted and walked toward him.

“Gareth Muller, Captain of the Blue Rose Knight Order, offers greetings to His Grace, Duke Lucian, the true successor of Grimaldi and Margrave of Asagrim!”

Lucian felt a surge of pride as he watched Gareth drop to one knee with a booming declaration.

As the captain had stated, Lucian was no longer just a landless third son or a mere representative.

He was a sovereign in his own right—the Duke of Grimaldi and the Margrave of Asagrim.

“Stand, Sir Gareth. My thanks for your arrival. I shall rely on your strength for the time being.”

“By the decree of His Majesty, we are your blades from this moment forward. Command us as you see fit. At your word, we shall charge even an army of a million.”

“That is reassuring to hear. I shall certainly put that resolve to the test.”

Lucian spoke while offering an appreciative pat to Gareth’s shoulder.

He blinked slightly as he caught the man’s intense, focused gaze.

‘I thought he was merely being formal, but his drive is extraordinary. Was he perhaps sidelined among the other Imperial Knight Orders?’

The man’s eyes burned with a hunger for glory, looking as though he truly would charge into a million-man army just to prove his worth.

It appeared he had been neglected or overshadowed by rival orders.

‘He clearly wishes to distinguish himself under my banner and return home as a celebrated hero.’

This suited Lucian perfectly.

There was nothing more irritating than having a borrowed army that was hesitant in combat. If the man was chasing renown, he would seize the initiative without needing to be pushed.

‘In any case, the setup is complete.’

The military was in place, and he had secured the staff required for a grand event.

Now that the supplies were at hand, the only remaining tasks were to set a date and distribute the summons.

‘Let us see how they react.’

The time had come to confront the head of the thieving House of Calix.

—

—Lucian Grimaldi Valdek, Duke of Grimaldi and Margrave of Asagrim, requests your presence at a banquet.

The brief missive sent a shockwave through the North that felt like a seismic event.

It felt like only yesterday that the arrogant third son of Valdek was making noise about claiming his maternal inheritance.

But now, he claimed the title of Duke of Grimaldi and Margrave of Asagrim?

“What sort of madness is this? Asagrim is crown land, so how can there be a Margrave?”

“And the Duke of Grimaldi? Even if he is of that bloodline, this is an overreach!”

“Does he intend to provoke the Imperial Family after he finishes with Calix? His youthful arrogance has gone too far.”

Unless the throne had lost its collective mind, why would they relinquish the leadership of the Grimaldi family and the territory of Asagrim simultaneously?

Most assumed it was a title he had simply seized for himself, fueled by the recklessness of youth.

However, the lords who held that view were soon paralyzed by the specific reports that followed.

“They truly surrendered Asagrim to him? Along with the Grimaldi stronghold?”

“Impossible! You must be seeing things! The Emperor would never permit such a thing unless he were insane!”

“This is effectively the rebirth of the royal line! To think I would witness this in my lifetime…!”

“What becomes of Calix now? Weren’t they claiming Grimaldi just a few days ago?”

“Who cares about a minor Count’s household! Asagrim has returned to its rightful place in the North!”

The news that the Ducal House of Grimaldi had reclaimed Asagrim caused a massive stir.

Even if the Imperial Family refused to state it plainly, it felt as though the Northern Royal Family had been partially restored.

In the wake of this shock, the lords were bewildered, yet every one of them began the journey to Asagrim.

“It is a celebration held in Asagrim; missing it is out of the question!”

“It is the event marking the rebirth of the kingdom; I must be there. It is a moment of history.”

“I need to look that boy in the eye. What kind of trickery did he employ?”

“Curse it, I threw my lot in with Calix. If I go now and plead for mercy, will he show it?”

Their reasons varied, but not a single soul declined the invitation.

Everyone felt in their bones that the destiny of the North would be decided at this gathering.

Naturally, the House of Calix was among the attendees.

“This is our final opportunity. If we do not remove him, we are destroyed!”

Before setting out for Asagrim, Norbeck gathered his inner circle and shouted in a state of agitation.

They all wore somber expressions, fully grasping the weight of Norbeck’s fear.

Only one individual, standing at the very back, let Norbeck’s tirade pass him by as he whispered to himself.

“The final opportunity, indeed.”

Whether he would become a savior by being caught, or a reaper by being ignored.

Colin mirrored the action in his mind, carefully contemplating the card described in his vision.