Chapter 7

Camilla stood frozen at Kane's sudden order.

"Subdue the Dyer troops."

"What?"

"Yes, subdue all of them."

Camilla was bewildered, Kane had changed too drastically.

Not only had he killed all of the assassins sent by Hatzfeld, but right after returning to the family, he beat up Rivan Dyer.

Her head began to throb.

'If it's the changed Grand Duke, he could definitely do something like this.'

Having already witnessed firsthand how Kane had killed the Hatzfeld assassins, she soon overcame the shock.

They were mid or high 2nd Class assassins.

'But this is going too far…'

The opponent was the second son of the Dyer family.

Could he really handle the aftermath?

She was worried from the start.

'And it's impossible for me to subdue the Dyer troops on my own.'

She was a failed knight.

A human who was full of mistakes and not very good at anything.

Yet, Kane had given her the order.

"Don't damage the expensive armor and weapons. We need to sell all of it."

On top of that, he said something utterly incomprehensible.

'There is nothing I can do.'

For her, Kane's orders were the top priority.

When the master commands, she must obey.

She drew the sword she had brought from her quarters and pointed towards the troops that Rivan had brought with him.

***

Meanwhile, the Dyer troops shouted as they saw Rivan lying on the ground.

"Young Master!"

"Who dared to harm Young Master Rivan?"

"Don't just stand there, help him up!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Dyer troops rushed towards Rivan.

At that moment, Camilla stepped in their way.

"Move aside, now!"

A paladin who was with the troops shouted furiously. It was because a young-looking woman was blocking their way.

What made it even more absurd was her attitude. She blocked their path, but she was trembling as she spoke.

"I-I have no choice."

As she infused mana into her drawn sword.

"What?"

Dense mana flowed up the blade. She was astonished by the sight.

"The flow of mana is so smooth."

The mana circulating within her was rushing through without any obstruction.

"What's happening?"

"Camilla, hurry up."

Kane's voice snapped her out of her daze.

She quickly pushed off the ground.

Boom!

Camilla charged towards the Dyer troops. The distance closed in an instant. She was more surprised by her own movements than anyone else.

'What's happening to my body?'

It felt like she was floating. As light as a feather.

Many questions arose, but dealing with the Dyer troops was first priority now.

She rapidly narrowed the distance. Two paladins swung their swords towards her.

Heavy sound of blades cutting through the air rang out, but none of them even grazed Camilla's clothes.

Zing—

Her sword was now covered in Water Aura. She slashed diagonally at the two paladins.

"Kurk!"

"Ugh!"

"Gah…"

The pressure from the Water Aura sent the paladins and troops flying backward. Camilla's eyes widened at the sight.

Two 2nd Class paladins and sixteen troops lay on the ground and continuously groaning from pain.

"Did… Did I do that?"

She looked down at her hands in disbelief. When had she become this strong? She was astonished at herself.

Kane, who was watching the scene from the sidelines, smirked.

"You've risen up to early 3rd Class, right?"

Sara also couldn't take her eyes off Camilla. She couldn't believe what was happening.

Camilla was a failed knight and she always remained diligent and loyal to her master, but…

She had a tendency to get into trouble.

However,

Who would have thought she would become an early 3rd Class knight?

"Did you know about this?"

Sara asked, but Kane only smiled.

A 3rd Class knight would be treated with respect in any household. This meant that the once-called failed knight might now receive scouting offers from any family.

"Of course."

"So, that's why you acted recklessly?"

"Not at all."

"Right. You wouldn't trust Camilla with this unless you were crazy. But you know, right? From the moment you harmed Rivan, financial support from Dyer's is cut off."

That was the reason why Sara had gotten engaged to Rivan.

But there were plenty of solutions to solve financial problems.

"We can hunt monsters in the demon forest and sell their corpses. If that doesn't work, we can reclaim the rights we sold cheaply to the tenants."

"That's only possible if we have the basic funds."

"No need. It's about returning the favors the Rehinar did to the tenants over time."

Kane intended to act as he did when he was Ray Hatzfeld. Without mercy and with unstoppable force.

He wasn't concerned about losing his reputation or gaining notoriety.

"We have to seize this moment to kick out those who aren't on our side."

Sara once again saw the menacing smile on Kane's face.

'That smile again. What on earth is he thinking?'

Sara felt only unease about Kane. Since his personality changed, he was like a walking time bomb.

Kane pointed at the fallen troops and paladins and said.

"Camilla, throw them all into the prison."

"Yes!"

***

Thud!

Rivan collapsed into the prison.

"Ugh. Do you think you'll get away with this? Once my father finds out, he won't let you off."

He shouted as he gripped the iron bars. His escorting paladins were equally indignant.

"How dare you treat us like this?"

"We came here as guests, and you treat us like this out of nowhere!"

"When we return to Dyer, we'll make this public."

Rivan ground his teeth in anger at their rage.

"I won't let this go. I'll tear the Rehinar out by the roots."

Rivan vowed revenge, determined to repay this humiliation tenfold.

However, Kane didn't seem the least bit concerned about Rivan's threats.

"Camilla, did you seal their mana?"

"Of course. Even I wouldn't forget something so basic."

Camilla replied as she stuck out her tongue playfully.

Her expression was like that of a happy puppy. If she had a tail, it would have been wagging furiously. Her personality was just as dog-like.

Clang!

Rivan struck the bars and yelled.

"Release us immediately!"

"I went easy on you because your expensive clothes will be sold at high prices but it seems you haven't learned your lesson."

"You've made a grave mistake."

Kane sneered at his anger.

"The mistake is yours. As a noble family of the Fresia Empire, you colluded with the enemy Kingdom Hatzfeld."

"What nonsense is that!"

"Your panic is evident."

Rivan's eyes wavered. Everyone affiliated with Dyer flinched as well.

It was a top-secret matter.

How did the Grand Duke of Rehinar know about this?

Their eyes darted quickly. Rivan feigned anger to cover his unease.

"How dare you accuse Dyer of treason! Bring the Head of the Rehinar family. I will proclaim my innocence to him."

Kane knelt to meet Rivan's gaze, speaking softly.

"Call me 'you' one more time, and I'll rip your tongue out."

"You…!"

Rivan recoiled and hurriedly stepped away from the bars. He nearly shit in his own pants.

Kane stood up.

"Stay quiet right here. You're useful, so I'll let you live."

Rivan bit his lip hard.

'Does he really know about Dyer's connection to Hatzfeld?'

His chest tightened with anxiety. Kane's eyes looked like they knew everything. The smile on his face was ominous.

And sure enough, a troubling question followed.

"You've arranged to meet Peter Shade, haven't you?"

Peter Shade was one of Rehinar's vassals.

Currently, he was managing the Blue Guild in the territory.

"Wh-what are you talking about?"

"You know what I mean."

"I don't know anyone by that name! I only came here to see Sara."

"Then I'll have to jog your memory."

Kane entered the cell.

"Camilla, the cloth."

"Here you go."

She handed him a cloth.

"No need for water, I guess."

He covered Rivan's face with the cloth.

"Mmph!"

Rivan lost his balance and fell and struggled to break free, but Kane's knee pressed firmly against his chest.

"Speak up when you remember. I won't stop until you do."

As Kane activated 'Blue Tiger's Breath' and water began to flow from his hand.

It soaked the cloth and trickled bit by bit into Rivan's mouth.

"Guhhh!"

"You're holding out quite well."

Despite Kane's words, Rivan was in agony.

His mouth and nose were covered by the cloth.

The cloth stuck to him when he tried to breathe.

And now, water was also added.

He choked and felt like he was suffocating.

"Ugghh!"

"It's been a while since I've done this, so bear with me while I refresh my memory."

Back when he was Ray Hatzfeld, he did all sorts of things.

Torture was common, especially when it was performed on the captured enemies.

Though he eventually left it to his subordinates.

But in the beginning, he used numerous torture methods himself.

This was one of the methods he learned back then.

"Guhhh!"

"Still don't remember? You're one stubborn asshole."

Kane continued to pour water over the cloth on Rivan's face.

Camilla was watching the whole process and clenched her fists involuntarily. It was painful just to witness.

'How does the Grand Duke know such torture methods?'

She was horrified.

Kane was smiling as he inflicted pain on Rivan.

Just watching him made her body tremble.

Kane's relentless torture persisted. Even when Rivan tried to confess, Kane didn't give him the chance.

It seemed like pure torment, as if to make him regret ever looking down on the Rehinar.

Eventually, Rivan's body went limp.

Only then did Kane remove the cloth from Rivan's face.

"Looks like he lost consciousness."

Rivan's eyes were white as a sheet. The torture was too much for him to handle for the first time.

"His mental fortitude is pathetic."

Kane dusted off his hands and stood up.

As he turned his head, the Dyer troops came into view.

"What are you going to do?"

Kane asked.

"Ugh…"

"Rehinar will… fall soon…"

Black blood began to flow from the mouths of the captured knights.

They had bitten down on the poison hidden in their mouths to commit suicide, prepared in advance for such a situation.

Even though no information was obtained, Kane didn't feel disappointed.

"They killed themselves to withhold information, but it was pointless. I never intended to get any information from you in the first place."

After all, Kane himself was the one who orchestrated the plot to swallow Rehinar whole.

He knew everything, down to the smallest details.

"It's convenient that they killed themselves. When Rivan wakes up, he'll be terrified, thinking he's all alone."

Kane stepped out of the cell.

***

Kane stepped outside, inspecting the items he had confiscated from the Dyer troops.

He sold everything of decent quality at the exchange shop.

[You have looted Rivan's belongings.]

[600,000G]

[Firante's Sword (★★)]

[Decreased favorability with the opponent.]

…

…

He took everything valuable, including Rivan's items and those of his guards.

"I knew Dyer had deep pockets, but giving this idiot 600,000 gold for security is absurd."

Kane opened the info window for Rivan's sword.

[Firante's Sword

Category: One-handed weapon

Grade: ★★

Description: A sword crafted by a Dyer family blacksmith. Using this sword for healing magic might be quite effective…

Effect: Water attribute resistance +20%, Healing magic +10% ]

It was a decent sword for an idiot like Rivan.

Kane handed it to Camilla.

"Want it?"

She waved her hands, refusing it.

"N-No! I don't want any trouble with the Dyer family."

"I was hoping to settle my promise with this, but that's disappointing."

Kane clicked his tongue.

He had hoped to use this sword to fulfill his promise to get her a new weapon, but it didn't work out.

Even if he activated the forge.

He couldn't have gotten a better weapon.

He'd have to level up the forge to get a decent weapon at least.

"I'll get you a better sword next time."

"I've already been issued a sword from the family armory, so you don't have to worry, I'm okay."

"I'm not okay."

Despite Kane's blunt tone, Camilla was touched.

'Even if he's harsh to his enemies, he's still kind to me. That hasn't changed.'

A small smile blossomed on her face, a happy smile like a puppy reassured of its master's affection.

But Kane didn't see her smile, he was busy reading an unverified message.