The New King's Goal
"You're saying they went to Lucanmont?"
In a spacious and tidy study, an old man with wrinkles as deep as tree roots turned around to look at his subordinate who knelt before him, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
"Why did they go to Lucanmont..."
The subordinate didn't answer because he knew the old man wasn't really asking him. He was just speaking his thoughts aloud.
The old man had always been sensitive and suspicious, trusting only the conclusions he arrived at through his own thoughts. If someone else were to interject at a time like this, all they would likely receive was a severe scolding.
"Bring me the map."
After silently contemplating for a moment, the old man gave an order.
A massive map was spread out on the desk, meticulously marking every city, town, mountain, and river in Camelot. The level of detail was enough to astonish even the scouts of an army.
The old man's gaze traveled upward until he found the city named Lucanmont. He paused briefly, then suddenly noticed another inconspicuous name nearby.
As if realizing something, his brown irises contracted to the size of pinpricks.
"Could it be that he is thinking to...!"
===
At dusk, Arkhan and his group finally arrived beneath the walls of Lucanmont.
Rather than calling it a city, Lucanmont resembled more of a fortress. The city walls, reinforced with magic formations, stood over ten meters high, with massive ballistae stationed on the walls. The bolts, as thick as a grown man's arm, shimmered with a chilling light.
"Are they preparing for war?" Kay scratched his head.
The walls of the city sparkled with flowing lights, the radiance of magecraft.
Under normal circumstances, such resource-draining defensive magecraft would not be activated all day long unless there was a state of war.
"Halt! Who are you people?!" One of the soldiers on the wall shouted at them.
"I am the new king, Arthur." Arkhan lifted his head. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of the soldiers. "Summon the duke to meet me."
"King? Arthur?" The soldiers exchanged glances.
The results of the king selection ceremony, which had ended over a month ago, had already spread throughout Camelot. Everyone knew the new king had appeared.
But the new king was supposed to go to Camelot for the coronation ceremony. How could he be at the border?
"Impersonating the new king is an unforgivable crime. Please don't make such jokes!" One of the soldiers shook his head, clearly not believing Arkhan's words.
"Hey! What do you mean by that?! Open your damn eyes and look properly! Even if you don't recognize the new king, at least recognize the white-haired man next to him, the Great Mage and Wise Sage, Merlin! Can't you even recognize him?!" Kay shouted with irritation.
"Ahh~ I never expected that I'd be so well-known in your eyes, Kay. It's truly touching." Merlin theatrically wiped away a tear.
Kay gave him a side-eye. "I've spoken with the knights who participated in the king selection ceremony. They told me that the name of Merlin the Waste had already spread throughout all of Camelot."
Merlin sighed inwardly and decided to make Kay appreciate the 'harmony of life' a bit more tonight.
"Please leave. By order of His Grace, Lucanmont is no longer open to outsiders." The soldier said sternly and unmoved, showing no intention of opening the gates.
"You!" Kay was getting frustrated but suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Since we can't get in." Arkhan's face broke into a harmless smile. "Why don't we have him come out by himself?"
He drew Caliburn from his waist, activating the Black Dragon Body. An immense surge of magical energy poured into the sword, and the golden blade shimmered like a constellation.
*Hizzz—!*
The light surged!
The light roared!
A brilliant column of light beam shot up into the sky, and the vast waves of magical energy washed over the land like a mighty sea, painting the entire sky a dazzling golden hue.
All the residents of Lucanmont stared in awe at this miraculous sight.
Suddenly, a deep voice echoed in their ears.
"I am Arthur, the Chosen King of Camelot, the Fated Ruler of Britain. Duke of Lucanmont, do you intend to keep me waiting any longer?"
The soldiers guarding the city were left dumbfounded for a while. Then, they hurriedly adjusted their crossbows, aiming them down at Arkhan.
"Stop, you fool! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!" An old soldier next to them stopped the soldiers.
"B-But..." One of the soldiers stammered, his palms sweating with nervousness. "Didn't His Grace say that anyone who tries to force their way in should be killed without mercy?"
The old soldier wished he could open the young soldier's head to see what he was thinking.
"Have you ever considered that he might actually be King Arthur?!"
"I... I..." The soldier hung his head in resignation. "Then, what should we do now?"
"We wait! We wait for His Grace's orders!"
It didn't take long for a cavalry group of about fifty riders to approach the city gate, their sounds reaching the ears of the city's defenders.
"His Grace has spoken, open the gate!"
"Quickly, open the gate!" The old soldier ordered.
*Rumble—!*
The heavy gates slowly creaked open, and the cavalry group rode out, stopping about ten meters away from Arkhan and the others.
At the forefront of this cavalry unit was a middle-aged man clad in silver armor, with silver-white hair and a stern countenance. He exuded an air of authority and presence.
When the man saw the golden sword in Arkhan's hand and the smiling Merlin beside him, his pupils constricted. He dismounted and rushed to Arkhan, kneeling on one knee.
"Benedict Lucan, greet Your Majesty. I apologize for not being there to welcome Your Majesty. Please, accept my apologies."
The people behind him also dismounted and knelt.
""We greet Your Majesty!""
"No need to apologize, Duke. I understand this was an unintentional oversight and not a breach of etiquette." Arkhan said with a smile as he helped the duke to his feet.
Benedict breathed a sigh of relief. He had never met this new king and knew nothing about his character. He worried that the new king might be petty and vengeful, which would be troublesome.
"I've instructed my servants to prepare a feast. Please, Your Majesty, join us inside the city."
Arkhan readily accepted the duke's invitation, and they all entered the city of Lucanmont.
===
"Could it be that he is thinking to...!"
A rare look of panic appeared on the old man's face as he turned and shouted, "Quick! Send someone to Lucanmont! Tell the Duke of Lucanmont, no matter what the new king asks of him, he must not agree!"
The subordinate was taken aback by his lord's reaction; he had never seen his lord display such a look. For a moment, he forgot his place and instinctively asked, "What does the new king want to do?"
"That man..."
Madness flickered in the old man's brown eyes, and his words were icy and forced through gritted teeth.
"He intends to attack the Kingdom of Ganna!"