[Preparation]
(??? Side)
The leaders of the Noble Faction were assembled in a room, seated around a long rectangular obsidian table.
They waited in silence for the arrival of the guest of honor.
Among them were some youthful faces, newly appointed heads of their respective houses, enveloped in an air thick with tension.
Amid the palpable tension, a man entered with dignified strides and claimed the central seat at the very back of the table.
All eyes immediately shifted towards him.
“I’m sure you have heard the news. Our enemy has taken action, signaling that time is running out. Nezul.”
“Yes, Your Excellency!”
Upon hearing his name, the rotund, mouse-like Count rose from his seat, stroking his proud handlebar mustache.
“According to my sources, the encounter took place within Cyliss Marquisate. We suspect his appearance is linked to the monster march originating in the Lost Forest of Marshall Duchy—or more precisely, the perpetrator, a new monster wielding deadly sin magic, as indicated by the mana traces left behind. Lord Luc confronted him, and—”
“That’s enough.”
Despite being interrupted, Count Nezul simply bowed respectfully and returned to his seat.
“Gordon.”
“Yes, yes♪.”
The response broke the heavy atmosphere, though no one dared to criticize.
The sole authority in the room to do so was the man occupying the main seat. As long as he permitted it, none dared to express disapproval.
“Any updates from your pawn?”
“Hmm~, sorry, but it looks like we’ve to shelve the plan. I was hoping she would bring li’l Luc to us, but she ended up getting roped in instead.”
“Hey, hey, Big Sister. You can’t be–”
A one-eyed young man in a leather jacket attempted to criticize Marquis Gordon’s report of failure, but a glance from Marquis Gordon silenced him.
“Looks like the new head of House AcGee has quite a loose mouth~. Shall I help you keep it closed~? Mwah.” Marquis Gordon blew him a kiss and winked.
“Ugh! You think you’re still hotshot, you creep?! I don’t mind prove you wrong!”
Quickly shaking himself off Marquis Gordon’s intimidation, the new Marquis AcGee shouted back in a defiant tone.
“Both of you please stop. You are in the presence of His Excellency,” Ceasin Lecherouss Piggs, the new head of Count House of Piggs, reprimanded the two. With the support of Saintess Iris, he had secured the position of Pope and held sway over the church. His achievements were evident in his dignified demeanor.
“Oh, playin’ the obedient dog? Mind your own biz!”
Having seen enough of Marquis AcGee’s quarrelsome manner, Testa, seated at the far right of the table, slowly emanated his mana.
“Marquis AcGee, I envy your energy, but could you please quiet down for a moment?”
Upon hearing Testa’s mana imbued words, Marquis AcGee stopped speaking, perhaps intimidated. Marquis Gordon, sitting across from Testa, raised his hands and stepped back as well.
“Count Caribbean, how is the food supply?”
“We have enough to last for 30 years. There are no issues with trading partners, either.”
“Hmm.”
The Noble Faction’s real target wasn’t the Royal Faction, but the Demon King, who lured in the shadows. All assembled nobles were well aware of this fact.
After each of them concluded their reports, the nobles’ attention returned to Duke Deskustos.
“We have only a year left before we can implement our grand plan. However, the construction efforts in the royal capital and other territories are not yet complete. It is still too early for us to make a move. I want us to proceed without provoking the Demon King. Who among you can go to Marshall Duchy?”
The assembled nobles remained silent. Like Duke Deskustos had mentioned, all of them had their hands full managing their territories. Their subordinate nobles were also rushing to prepare for the grand plan.
“May I?” Count Nezul raised his hand amid the silence.
“Nezul. Will you go?”
“No, Your Excellency, but I would like to vouch for my son, instead. What do you think?”
“Hmm.”
“As I reported earlier, Lord Luc is in Cyliss Marquisate, and it is close to Marshall Duchy. Considering the friendly relationship between my son and Lord Luc, I would like to suggest—”
“That we use him?”
The gathered nobles were already aware that Duke Deskustos viewed Luc as nothing more than a pawn.
They were also aware that Duke Deskustos had initially planned to dispose of him as he deemed Luc unusable as a pawn. However, Luc had recently proven himself to be a useful pawn, earning some acknowledgment.
Nezul’s suggestion found favor among other nobles.
“That’s a good idea~. My daughter is there too, so let her help out.”
Marquis Gordon endorsed the proposal and offered another to make up for his previous failure.
Nezul the Master of Intelligence.
Greedy Gordon.
With their heirs taking on the mission, no one raised an objection.
“Very well. Use him to subdue the Lost Forest. Just make sure not to incur the wrath of the Demon King.”
“Understood.”
“Okay, okay~.”
With that, everyone stood up from their seats.
“For the future of our kingdom.”
“”””For the future of our kingdom””””
They all lifted their cups from the table and downed the contents in one go.
————————————————————–
(Testa Side)
How irritating. How utterly irritating.
“Lord Testa.”
“Oh, Count Piggs. Is something the matter?”
“Oh, not at all. I simply wanted to ask something.”
“Well? Ask away.”
“What do you think of Lord Luc? Will you oppose him? Or will you leave him alone?”
This new head of House Piggs supported Iris.
I had heard he was a determined man and even surpassed the previous head of the house as a priest.
He garnered the love of the masses, a fact that I couldn’t help but envy.
Top of Form
“As long as he doesn’t get in our way, I’ll leave him to his devices. For now, he’s proving useful, so I don’t mind making use of him.”
“I see. I’ll take that as you won’t oppose him for now.”
“Why do you care? I can’t see any reason anyone would be interested with someone without motivation like him.”
I grew a bit curious.
Previously, House Piggs had always advocated human supremacy.
It wasn’t done out of persecution, but out of necessity to eliminate demonkins who were followers of the Demon King.
I had heard that an event recently took place that caused them to change their stance, but was my stupid brother linked to it?
“You haven’t seen his true nature. I believe he is the closest person to God. Please talk to him if you get a chance. And make sure that you are not at odds with him. So long as you do that, I can rest at ease.”
With that, Count Piggs took his leave. I couldn’t help but imagine the face of my stupid brother.
“Huh, both Iris and Luc really know how to garner love.”
Heading in the opposite direction of Count Piggs, I spotted Marquis AcGee waiting.
We exchanged glances, and he joined me.
We had to complete our preparations before the upheaval began.
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Zky Translates 
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