Chapter 354: How About Living in My Body? (4)

"Join the royalist faction... and fight against the Duchy?"

At Count Mowbray's heavy words, Ghislain nodded without hesitation.

"Yes. That is what I desire."

"...."

Count Mowbray stared at Ghislain for a long time before letting out a deep sigh.

"Are you from the royalist faction? Did Marquis Branford send you?"

"Something like that. Though not directly from the Marquis."

"You might as well be asking me to give up my house and territory in exchange for saving my son. That's impossible."

The reason Count Mowbray, a southern noble, had not joined the duke faction was simple—he didn't want to support treason. Hence, he had declared neutrality. It was a position he could afford to take, given his confidence in his own power.

Neither the royalist faction nor the duke faction had much to gain from attacking him, other than exhausting themselves. However, if he were to align with one side, the other would certainly seek his destruction.

"I cannot fight the Duchy."

No matter how strong he was, he couldn't compare to the Duke's power. If he were to oppose them, his territory would be doomed to annihilation, making saving his son pointless.

"I'm sorry. I hope you understand my situation. But is there another way I can compensate you?"

Count Mowbray regarded Ghislain as a benefactor for curing his son. He couldn't simply let him leave without repayment. Nobles valued honor, and repaying one's debts was a matter of pride.

Ghislain nodded at Count Mowbray's response. He had anticipated as much.

"In that case, I'll ask for something else."

"What is it?"

"First, continue to maintain your neutrality."

"That goes without saying. I have no intention of becoming a traitor."

"The second thing… at some point, I may ask you to grant me passage."

"Passage?"

Count Mowbray tilted his head. Asking for passage seemed like an odd request. Ghislain chuckled and removed his beard and wig. His sudden transformation left Count Mowbray wide-eyed in shock.

"Who are you? Why did you come here in disguise…?"

"I am Count Fenris."

".....!"

Count Mowbray was so stunned that he couldn't speak for a moment.

Recently, the kingdom had been rife with rumors about Count Fenris.

The man who defeated the powerful northern lord, Count Desmond, and seized control of the north through sheer force.

The man who had openly defied the Duchy.

To have such a figure appear here was nothing short of a major event.

"Y-You mean to say you are truly Count Fenris?"

"I am."

It took Count Mowbray some time to calm his startled heart before he nodded.

"Indeed, they said Count Fenris cured the illness of Marquis Branford's daughter and created remarkable cosmetics. It seems those weren't baseless rumors."

If it was Count Fenris, it made sense that he could exorcise an evil spirit. The rumors surrounding him were hard to believe, but witnessing his actions firsthand, Count Mowbray realized this man truly possessed an uncanny breadth of knowledge.

Straightening his posture, Count Mowbray continued.

"You must have a reason for revealing your identity. What do you mean by asking me to grant you passage?"

"The royalist faction and the duke faction will inevitably go to war."

"I am aware. The tension grows more palpable by the day."

"When the time comes for me to strike against the Duchy, I plan to bypass their defenses by moving through your territory. I am asking you to open a path for my army."

"..."

Count Mowbray finally understood Ghislain's intentions.

His territory, located at the southernmost edge of the region, was a natural entry point. If civil war broke out, the battlefield would likely exclude his neutral territory. Ghislain was proposing to use the Count's territory as a strategic detour to strike directly at the Duchy.

It was a dangerous military strategy. If Count Mowbray so much as breathed a word, the plan would fail.

In fact, even without his betrayal, the plan's success was far from guaranteed. Count Fenris, stationed in the north, would face countless obstacles just to reach this far south.

For such a strategy to be viable, the royalist faction, led by Count Fenris, would need to grow strong enough to force the Duke's forces to establish defensive lines. Only then would this maneuver become meaningful.

After a long pause, Count Mowbray spoke while staring intently at Ghislain.

"Do you believe that is possible? Your opponent is the Duchy. Everyone predicts they will win if a civil war breaks out. Many believe you wouldn't even make it this far south."

"That remains to be seen."

"And even if you do make it here, what's to stop me from exposing your plan and betraying you?"

"We'll cross that bridge if it comes to it."

Ghislain's nonchalant reply made Count Mowbray twitch his lips.

"I could capture you here and now, then contact the Duchy. Their lands are closer than yours. Handing you over would bring me great rewards."

Ghislain grinned fiercely.

"If you're confident, feel free to try. Are you sure you can manage?"

Count Mowbray leaned back in his chair, studying Ghislain.

He had heard of Count Fenris's prowess. Rumor had it that during the war, he displayed strength on par with a master swordsman. While rumors were often exaggerated, there was no doubt that Count Fenris's title as the strongest in the north was well-earned.

'Indeed, his confidence is unmatched in this kingdom.'

Count Fenris was famous for his fearlessness. If Count Mowbray dared to try anything foolish, Fenris would undoubtedly fight back without hesitation.

A region's finest sword could reportedly face dozens of knights alone. Count Fenris, reputed to rival even the masters, could wreak havoc if he fought here. Most of the knights and soldiers in the estate would likely perish.

With a wry smile, Count Mowbray shook his head.

"As the rumors say, you're quite something. How could I betray my benefactor like that? I was merely testing you."

"I was confident Count Mowbray wouldn't do such a thing."

Count Mowbray was one of the kingdom's most honorable nobles. Though situated in the south, he declared neutrality, even while believing the Duke's faction would win, simply to avoid being branded a traitor. Such a man wouldn't stoop to betray his benefactor.

After some deliberation, Count Mowbray nodded.

"Very well. I will keep your secret and grant you passage when the time comes. However, I cannot offer you any further assistance."

"That is more than enough."

"But do you really think it's possible? Reaching here from the north will not be easy."

"If I can't make it, then so be it. That would be less burdensome for you, wouldn't it?"

Count Mowbray laughed at Ghislain's response. He wasn't wrong. If Count Fenris failed to arrive, Count Mowbray could plead ignorance and avoid suspicion. He could claim that Fenris had snuck through without his knowledge, making it difficult for anyone to blame him outright.

Still, Count Mowbray wasn't overly concerned. He considered it nearly impossible for Count Fenris to make it this far.

'If a civil war breaks out, the area near the capital will be the main battlefield. How could he possibly reach this far?'

Marquis Rodrick in the west alone commanded enough forces to overturn the kingdom. Even if Fenris managed to breach that, defensive lines would be established around this region. Breaking through those lines would be nearly impossible.

"Well, I'll keep an eye out. If you do make it here, I'll gladly open the path."

"Thank you. Now, shall we put that in writing?"

"In writing?"

Count Mowbray frowned slightly. Did this man not trust his word?

Ghislain ignored Count Mowbray's reaction and pulled a contract from his coat, holding it out.

"These matters must always be formalized. Now, if you'd kindly seal it."

"Ugh…"

It seemed Ghislain had anticipated this very situation and prepared the contract in advance. With a faintly defeated chuckle, Count Mowbray stamped the document with his seal, thereby solidifying their agreement.

Their deal was officially struck.

A small part of Count Mowbray was curious. Could this man, hailed as the Holy Shield of the North, truly make it this far south in the chaos of a civil war? If he did, the duke faction's victory might not be as certain as everyone believed.

"You must be tired. Stay for a few days to rest. I'll arrange a grand banquet in your honor."

"No need, I should return to my territory quickly. It wouldn't do for me to linger here too long, would it?"

"Hmm… That may be true…"

Count Mowbray reluctantly agreed. There was little benefit in Count Fenris lingering too long in the south. Over the next three days, Ghislain and Arel prepared for their departure.

While they were making their preparations, the sounds of a loud argument echoed from somewhere within the estate.

"You wretched boy! You've already forgotten everything I told you? What do you plan to do in the future, acting like this?"

"Please, Father! Just stop! My body hasn't even fully recovered yet!"

"Are you talking back to your father now?"

"I won't stay silent any longer!"

"What?! You've grown bold since being possessed by that evil spirit!"

"Yeah, so what?!"

Hearing the raucous shouting in the distance, Arel looked confused, while Ghislain shook his head with a wry smile.

***

"Is the enemy's Magic Tower... becoming more active?"

The voice came from the topmost floor of a colossal tower. Sitting in the highest seat of honor was a middle-aged man with a gaunt frame but piercing, dangerous eyes. His appearance exuded a sense of menace.

"Yes. They are expanding their power at an incredible rate. I think they've acquired a large quantity of runestones." 

Glenn answered carefully. Though he had once been humiliated by Ghislain during a failed attempt to purchase food, he remained one of the most powerful figures in the Crimson Magic Tower and still held his position as an elder.

The man receiving the report was Delmud, the tower lord of the Crimson Magic Tower and a 7th-circle mage.

Delmud turned to the three other elders present in the chamber and asked, "It's impossible for them to have suddenly acquired so many runestones. We've already secured all the runestones being sold by the northern merchants. What do you make of this?"

"It seems... Count Fenris has provided them once again."

"Fenris… Count Fenris…"

Delmud narrowed his eyes, muttering the name several times with obvious irritation. That man was a thorn in his side. Because of him, Count Desmond had fallen, cutting off vital support to the Crimson Magic Tower.

While the Duchy had been sending merchant guilds to provide assistance, transporting resources from the south to the north was no easy feat.

They had worked tirelessly to bring down the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower, and success had been within reach. But then their adversaries had begun to recover, and now they were actively expanding their influence.

Sales of magic artifacts, scrolls, and potions were steadily increasing, drawing even some nobles who had once been patrons of the Crimson Magic Tower back to the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower. 

The Scarlet Flame Magic Tower, with its long standing traditions, had deep networks to rely on.

"Their numbers of mages are increasing as well?"

"Yes, they are attracting freelance mages by advertising the availability of abundant runestones."

"And they have close ties to Count Fenris?"

"Yes, Count Fenris has established a branch of the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower within his territory, and their heir has been dispatched there to oversee it."

"I see… It's certain now. That brat from Fenris is helping the enemy Magic Tower. But where on earth is he getting so many runestones?"

"Apparently… from the Forest of Demonic Beasts, or so the rumors say."

The news about the Forest of Demonic Beasts had inevitably spread due to the massive operations to clear roads and establish territories. Yet, even with this knowledge, the sheer volume of runestones coming from Fenris's lands remained baffling.

Delmud muttered darkly, "The Forest of Demonic Beasts… So, the Forest really did have that many resources. No wonder the Duchy coveted it."

The Duchy had never explicitly revealed why they were so intent on controlling the Forest of Demonic Beasts. But judging by the current situation, it seemed they had been aiming for its hidden resources. How they knew about it remained a mystery.

Of course, even the Duchy couldn't have known the Forest held such vast quantities of resources. Delmud's thoughts were mere conjecture.

"With Count Desmond's defeat, we can no longer strangle the enemy Magic Tower with financial pressure."

Count Fenris, the wealthiest man in the north, was backing the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower. Meanwhile, the Crimson Magic Tower's funding had been severely curtailed. 

Even the merchant guilds were beginning to reestablish connections with the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower. There was no point in engaging in a war of finances any longer.

"This is troubling. If the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower isn't neutralized, they'll pose a serious threat when we attack the rear of the royalist forces during the civil war."

Though currently at a disadvantage, the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower had once been the preeminent Magic Tower in the north. Their network of disciples and connections was still far deeper than that of the Crimson Magic Tower.

Up until now, the Crimson Magic Tower had managed to maintain an edge thanks to Delmud's exceptional skills and superior funding. But with the financial tide turning, the only advantage they had left was their tower lord's power.

"All of this is because of that Fenris brat…"

Delmud's anger was palpable as he spoke through gritted teeth.

"While we can deal with Count Fenris during the civil war… if this continues, it's only a matter of time before the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower surpasses us again."

At Delmud's grim assessment, the elders bowed their heads. There seemed to be no way out of their predicament.

As predicted by Ghislain, the rapid resurgence of the Scarlet Flame Magic Tower was driving the Crimson Magic Tower into a state of desperation.

"With no other choice, we must resort to a show of strength."

"What do you mean…?"

Grinding his teeth a few more times, Delmud declared, "Request a Magic Tower Exchange. I will find an opportunity to kill them myself."

A terrifying killing intent radiated from his cold, calculating eyes.

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