Chapter 80: Tacticians Are Heartless
“Why are you two kneeling? Is something troubling you?” Kailun tapped the armrest of the throne, the rhythmic sound echoing through the hall. “If someone is bullying you, just tell me. Don’t hold it in. It’s not good for your health.”
Everyone knew he was the one in control now, casually occupying the throne as if it were his birthright.
“N-no, Master Kailun! It’s nothing! We’re just… old! Our legs are weak!” Nick stammered, his gaze darting nervously.
Every time he met Kailun’s eyes, he felt a surge of fear, as if he were staring into the abyss.
Kailun’s voice lowered, his tone grave. “You wouldn’t be… threatened by the Divine Church, would you?”
“What? No! Of course not!”
“Bang!” Kailun slammed his fist against the armrest, his voice booming with feigned anger. “Those Divine Church bastards! They dare to threaten the Xiya Kingdom? Slaughtering our ministers and intimidating our officials? Despicable!”
Mitchell, the elderly minister, sensed danger. “Master Kailun, you misunderstand! It’s not like that!”
“Silence! I’ll handle this myself!” Kailun waved a dismissive hand. “From this day forward, the Divine Church is an enemy of the Xiya Kingdom! Those who dare to set foot on our soil will face swift and brutal justice!”
“Thud!” Nick, who had managed to struggle halfway to his feet, collapsed once more.
He understood now. Kailun hadn’t killed him and Mitchell because he enjoyed tormenting them.
“Oh, and I don’t mean all members of the Divine Church. This is specifically targeted at Harry and his followers. An eye for an eye. I hope the Pope and the Archbishops understand.”
He had already dispatched five thousand knights to hunt down Harry’s remaining followers. His goal wasn’t to eradicate them, but to drive them into a lawless territory beyond the border.
It wasn’t time to strike yet. He needed them to gather more recruits. He had a special gift waiting for them.
Unfortunately, that gift was currently in someone else’s possession. He would need to retrieve it first.
Nick’s hope dwindled. Not only could he not seek refuge with Lodis, but he couldn’t even leave the hall.
And then Kailun delivered the final blow.
“Now that we’ve addressed the Divine Church issue, let’s move on to the first item on our agenda: purging this court of corrupt officials. Any suggestions? Anyone you’d like to report?” He leaned back, enjoying their discomfort.
He hated this throne. It was cold and uncomfortable, lacking the softness of a woman’s thighs or the warmth of her bosom.
Driven by self-preservation, all eyes turned towards Nick and Mitchell. Their fate was sealed.
Nick, overwhelmed by fear, finally snapped.
“Hahaha! You have no right to judge me! You’re all just as guilty! Don’t pretend to be innocent!” He pointed at the other ministers, his voice trembling with rage.
“Roxy! Remember that time you abducted that girl from the streets? Polosha! You murdered your own colleague! And Singiko! Don’t think we’ve forgotten about your cannibalistic tendencies! You have no right to accuse me! I’m just more… efficient! If I’m going down, I’m taking you all with me!”
His words shattered their facade. They had all committed similar crimes, but they had never faced consequences.
But things were different now. Kailun was in charge.
“Thud!”
One by one, they collapsed, their foreheads pressed against the floor, their bodies trembling. They didn’t even dare to cry out, afraid of attracting his attention.
Nick, watching their pathetic display, wasn’t satisfied. He kicked Mitchell. “Get up, you old fool! Help me expose these bastards! We’re all going to die anyway! Let’s drag a few more down with us! Hahaha!” He laughed maniacally, his mind unraveling.
“I…” Mitchell, tears streaming down his face, glanced at his colleagues and then, with a trembling hand, pointed at them.
He might as well have some company on his journey to hell.
Within ten minutes, they had all confessed to numerous crimes.
Once Nick and Mitchell had calmed down, Kailun nodded, a satisfied smile on his face. “Excellent. You haven’t disappointed me. I’ll grant you a swift death. Guards! Take Nick and Mitchell outside and behead them!”
Four knights entered the hall and dragged them away. Nick laughed hysterically, while Mitchell sobbed uncontrollably.
“Thud!”
The sound of their heads hitting the ground echoed through the hall.
The remaining ministers shuddered, their pants soaked with urine.
They prostrated themselves before him, their submission both pathetic and comical.
“I don’t know why Hilna kept you around, but I’m not as forgiving.” He stood, towering over them, his gaze cold and calculating.
He extended his hand towards Afra, who placed a scroll in his palm.
It was a record scroll, typically used for official documentation.
He unfurled the scroll, revealing a long list of names and crimes.
“It’s quite a coincidence, isn’t it? The Divine Church slaughtered those ministers, but they left behind this little notebook detailing their crimes. Why don’t you take a look? See if your names are on it?”
He tossed the scroll towards them.
One mountain couldn’t accommodate two tigers. When a villain encountered another villain, he felt an instinctive aversion, an urge to eliminate the competition.
He couldn’t stomach the thought of someone being more villainous than him.
“This… this can’t be…”
They scrambled towards the scroll, their eyes scanning the list of crimes, their hearts pounding.
And then Kailun’s voice echoed through the hall.
“You’re all valuable assets to the kingdom. I can’t just execute you all. So I’ll randomly select a few for… bisection.”
“Guards! Take Roxy, Polosha, Singiko… outside and bisect them! Immediately!”
He listed over twenty names, his voice steady and emotionless, as if he had memorized the list.
“No! Master Kailun! We’re sorry! Please spare us!”
“We were blinded by greed! We wouldn’t have been accepted if we hadn’t done those things!”
“I was forced by the Second Prince! I didn’t want to do it!”
They begged for mercy, offering excuses, some even crawling towards him.
But before they could reach him, the knights seized them and dragged them away. Their screams echoed through the hall.
Bisection was a slow and agonizing death.
The number of ministers had been reduced by half. Those who remained knelt, their heads bowed, their silence a testament to their fear.
“I said I wouldn’t kill you all. You’re still useful. But my mercy is temporary. You’re only slightly less corrupt than those who were just executed.”
They were grateful to be alive.
“But don’t celebrate just yet. To survive, you must fulfill three conditions. First, surrender ninety-nine percent of your wealth to atone for your sins. Second, train worthy successors to take your place. They must be competent and understand their role. Otherwise, you’ll all be bisected. And third, before you leave, you’ll sign a life-and-death contract, swearing to keep today’s events a secret. Any objections?”
He leaned back, finding a comfortable position.
They stared at him, their eyes filled with terror, and then, with trembling voices, they cried out in unison:
“As you command, Your Majesty!”
He wasn’t king yet, but in their eyes, he already wore the crown.
Vivian watched, envy filling her heart. He possessed a presence, an aura of authority, that Hilna lacked.
Perhaps this was what Isabella had meant by “potential.”
Isabella, standing in the corner, observed the shifts in his fate. He was a master manipulator, his every action altering the destiny of the world.
On a less profound note, she had to admit, he looked quite handsome sitting on that throne.
[Vivian’s favorability has increased. Current favorability: 20.]
[Isabella’s favorability has increased. Current favorability: 20.]
Ignoring their sudden affection, he turned his attention back to the ministers. “Now, let’s discuss the first item on our agenda: increasing taxes on the nobility. Any objections?”
Silence.
“Excellent. Moving on to the second item: reducing taxes on the commoners. Feel free to offer your suggestions.”
He had already made up his mind about the nobility. He needed these ministers for their expertise in managing the kingdom’s affairs.
He shifted in his seat, seeking a more comfortable position. He wanted to use Afra as a pillow, but he didn’t want to undermine her authority in front of the others.
He would bring Phils or Carol next time.
…
The assembly lasted for nearly three hours. Once they had finalized the initial plan, he had them sign the life-and-death contracts.
He then dismissed them, sending them home to gather their funds.
As they exited the hall, their shoes squelching in the pool of blood, many of them vomited.
Some, their hearts weak, even fainted. If not for the presence of healers, they might have joined their deceased colleagues.
The image of Kailun, the devil incarnate, would forever be seared into their minds. They would never defy him again.
…
“I apologize for that display. I’m actually quite kind most of the time.” Kailun smiled at Isabella as she approached him.
“Such events are commonplace. Every kingdom has its share of darkness. One might even say it’s the true nature of the world.” She shook her head.
If not for such injustices, why would so many desperate women join the Loya Ballroom?
“That’s not my concern. I just need someone to rub my shoulders.” He wasn’t a saint. He didn’t have the energy to save the world.
Afra, sensing his fatigue, sat beside him and began massaging his shoulders. “You’ve worked hard. Delegate these tasks to others when you can.”
“I will. But I still need to train my staff. It’ll take some time before they’re ready.” He sighed, leaning against her, her soft body a welcome comfort.
“I don’t think I’m qualified to be queen,” Vivian said, her voice small.
She had witnessed Kailun’s capabilities firsthand. She doubted her ability to rule.
“You have self-awareness? That’s a surprise.”
“You jerk! Couldn’t you have lied?” She kicked him playfully.
Her favorability remained unchanged.
“Master Kailun, the Grand Duke has sent a message. The Rose Queen has contacted him, demanding an explanation. She’s threatening to retaliate. How should we respond?” Roden approached, holding a device for receiving magical messages.
“Tell him to ignore her. I’ll handle it. Her threats are empty. She’s currently engaged in a two-front war. She doesn’t have the resources to spare. Besides, her defenses are weak. I could easily launch a surprise attack and wreak havoc in her territory. She’s just trying to intimidate us.”
The Eternal Fortress was a critical defensive position. Beyond it lay vast plains, ideal for cavalry maneuvers. If his knights broke through, the Rose Queen’s rear would be vulnerable.
He could fight or flee as he pleased. He had countless ways to torment her.
“How did you acquire this information? My sources haven’t reported anything,” Isabella asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
“It’s a secret.”
Isabella: “…”
“What are you going to do? Ignore her?” Vivian asked, eager to know how he would handle this new threat.
“Of course not! This is a golden opportunity! I’d be a fool to let it slip away.” He flicked her forehead playfully.
“You’re planning to attack the Rose Kingdom?” A bold idea formed in Isabella’s mind.
“Too small. Think bigger.” He tried to flick her forehead again, but she dodged. “Attacking her directly would be profitable, but it would drag us into a prolonged conflict. The Xiya Kingdom isn’t ready for that. We’ll be spectators, reaping the rewards without risking our own necks.”
A familiar, wicked smile spread across his face.
“I don’t understand. Can you explain?” Isabella, intrigued, wanted to witness his brilliance firsthand.
He glanced at the others, then cast a soundproofing barrier. “Tell me, how would you maximize your profits in this situation?”
“Normally, I would suggest forming an alliance with the other two kingdoms and dividing the Rose Kingdom between us. But you said that would drag us into a prolonged conflict. And doing nothing would be a waste. Forgive my ignorance, but I don’t know what to do.”
He finally managed to flick her forehead. She glared at him, rubbing her head.
“The reason you’d be dragged into a prolonged conflict is that the Rose Kingdom is stronger than you think. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have attacked two kingdoms simultaneously. Her defenses might be weak now, but once she realizes her mistake, she’ll redeploy her troops, creating a stalemate on all three fronts. We don’t have time for that. If we can’t conquer a kingdom in ten days, what’s the point of fighting?”
He stood and stretched. “I’m going to form a partnership with the Madden and Kaz Kingdoms.”
“But you just said that wasn’t a good idea!” Vivian exclaimed.
“You’re such a simpleton.” He ruffled her hair playfully. “Can’t I form a partnership with all three kingdoms?”
Vivian: “？？?”
Isabella: “？？?”
Afra and Roden, however, listened intently, their faith in him unwavering.
“I’ll offer military support against the Rose Kingdom in exchange for a hefty sum of gold. Then I’ll use that gold to purchase magic cannons from the Rose Queen.”
Isabella and Vivian exchanged confused glances.
He flicked their foreheads again. “Let me be clear. Listen carefully.”
They nodded.
“Without our support, the Madden and Kaz Kingdoms will fall within a month. We can use that as leverage to extort a large sum of gold. But will we actually attack the Rose Kingdom? No. We’ll form a partnership with her, staging a fake war while we split the profits. War is expensive. She’s desperate for funds. She won’t refuse our offer. And we’ll sign a peace treaty to reassure her, allowing her to focus on conquering the other two kingdoms.”
He paused, his throat dry. Afra, ever attentive, handed him a cup of tea.
He took a sip, noticing that the girls had finally grasped his plan.
“The Madden and Kaz Kingdoms will be devastated when they discover the truth,” Vivian remarked.
“No. The Rose Queen will be the one devastated.”
Vivian: “？？?”
Playing mind games with Kailun made her feel like an idiot.
“This might seem like a win-win situation, but we’re the ones reaping the most rewards. The key is to convince the Rose Queen to sell us her magic cannons at cost. We’ll use the gold we extort from the other two kingdoms to purchase the cannons. Since transporting that much gold will take time, we’ll provide her with the route and let her collect it herself. We’ll just wait at the Eternal Fortress and receive our cannons.”
He continued, “The loss of those cannons will hinder her offensive capabilities. And I’ll leak some crucial information to the Madden and Kaz Kingdoms, further bogging her down in this war.”
Silence descended upon the room.
“You’re ruthless. No wonder Hilna lost. I understand now,” Vivian said, her voice filled with awe.
“It’s like… getting something for nothing,” Isabella added.
“Exactly. Why else would I bother with all this planning?”
He hadn’t revealed his true purpose for acquiring those cannons.
They were unique to the Rose Kingdom. The Xiya Kingdom couldn’t replicate them. He had to acquire them through unconventional means.
Once he had them, he would transport them to the border.
Not the border with the Rose Kingdom, but the territory where he had driven out the Divine Church. He planned to exploit the Rose Queen’s predicament and conquer a neighboring kingdom.
His mind teemed with plans, all contingent on strengthening the Xiya Kingdom.
Victory wasn’t enough. He wanted a decisive victory with minimal losses.
Before the Abyssal threat materialized, he would make himself and the Xiya Kingdom as powerful as possible.
No one would stand in his way. He would reshape the world.
Isabella, seeing the madness in his eyes, recalled his previous words.
“If he succeeds…” The thought sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t fathom how he would achieve his goals.
“He truly is insane.” She watched him, a smile spreading across her lips.
She had signed an alliance with him. Their interests were now aligned. She would help him succeed.
He sent a message to the Rose Queen through Roden, but didn’t wait for a response. He led his entourage out of the palace.
Before they left, he blindfolded Vivian and Isabella, sparing them from witnessing the carnage at the entrance.
He lifted them into his arms and, his face emotionless, stepped over the remains.
The palace staff were slow cleaners. He would have to punish them later.
…
As he returned to his manor, he spotted three familiar figures waiting for him.
He had forgotten he had summoned Eve and the others to await his instructions.
The three academies had been temporarily closed due to the recent events in the city.
“Ahem. Allow me to introduce Eve, Kirin, and Charlene, outstanding graduates of the Knight Academy.” He felt a twinge of embarrassment as he introduced them.
He had brought home too many girls lately.
But these three would prove useful.
“Purely professional?” Afra asked, her gaze fixed on him.
“For now. Purely… for now.” He answered honestly.
