CHAPTER 156

Elric's feelings toward Isabelle were far from romantic.

It was more like a bond of loyalty between them.

Although the Blue Hawks playfully called him the "nephew-in-law," Elric was currently focused on building his family and hadn't given such things much thought yet.

However, it was true that he admired Isabelle's abilities and character.

That's why it was unfortunate that Isabelle was the sole heir to the Weyl family.

While lost in such thoughts, Elric, Isabelle, and the others moved to the training grounds within the Weyl family mansion.

Following Isabelle's instructions, the territory had already been opened to outsiders.

As a result, numerous reporters swarmed them, requesting interviews, but Elric silently ignored them and continued walking.

'Their eyes are all filled with hostility.'

Because of this, Elric had to endure the wary glares from all directions.

Among them were not only those who supported Paul but also some ordinary knights affiliated with the Weyl family.

These knights likely wanted the internal conflict to be settled quietly, but Elric had unintentionally stirred it up.

In fact, ever since the mention of a territorial war, various media outlets had been extensively covering the Weyl family's internal strife, which had sparked this incident.

Because of this, the public became aware of how Paul had tried to seize power within the family while Herman was bedridden with reflux disease, what hardships Isabelle endured during that time, and how the knights who swore loyalty to the family responded.

Most of them had turned a blind eye to Isabelle's suffering.

As a result, the image of the Weyl family's knight order, previously known for its fairness and justice, had now shifted to one of people more concerned with their own standing.

Their pride in being noble had been tarnished, so it was natural that they harbored resentment toward Elric.

However, Elric seemed entirely unconcerned, and both Herman and Isabelle defended him, making it impossible for anyone to voice complaints.

『They're like barking dogs, baring their teeth but doing nothing,』 Mephistopheles sneered, amused by the knights.

[Still, for a family that produced lions, their forces seem quite formidable,] Elric mused, keeping his Mind's Eye open to assess the Weyl family's military strength.

Since he intended to form a close alliance with them in the future, it was crucial to understand their capabilities. And they exceeded his expectations.

He had already suspected as much after clashing with the Blue Wolf Squads and meeting the Blue Horse and Blue Ram, but the Weyl family possessed at least two more knight orders of similar caliber.

Furthermore, whenever Isabelle or the Blue Hawks passed by, the knights displayed impeccable manners.

Their gazes were sharp, and their movements precise, a clear indication of how well-disciplined they were.

'I heard the internal conflict has been going on for just over a year. Normally, the family would show signs of instability by now, but there's no indication of that at all. This means their foundation is solid, and their system is well-established.'

Elric felt as though he was learning a great deal from observing all of this.

It was the same when he visited the Nerester family—there was always a reason why certain families were called "prestigious."

The same went for Tiger King Yul, whom he had met in the arrangement.

The Anthromorph tribe was vastly different from the Weyl family, with a much more free-spirited nature.

However, within that freedom was an unbreakable bond of trust and camaraderie.

'If only I had such forces...'

He needed allies who could be his wings.

Wings that would allow Elric to soar freely and enable the Melvinger family to expand its influence without restraint.

'It'll depend on what results I can achieve here.'

Elric's eyes sank deep in contemplation.

***

Elric and Isabelle sat in a spot that overlooked the training grounds.

The five knight orders, including the Blue Horse and Blue Ram, as well as the family members and vassals—all the people who made up the Weyl family—were gathered in the training grounds.

'Not only journalists... but have other noble families sent people as well?'

Elric subtly scanned the audience, picking out a few individuals whose demeanor differed from the typical Weyl family characteristics.

There were knights, magicians, and priests, each trying to disguise their identities, but their purpose was the same.

They were here to observe who would become the next head of the Weyl family.

And if that person were to be Herman, they were here to gauge how much his skills had recovered since overcoming reflux disease.

'Some of them might be Paul's plants as well. I'll need to be cautious of everyone.'

As Elric's eyes sharpened, Herman and Paul took their positions on the training grounds.

"Haa! So, we've come to this in the end," Herman sighed deeply as he looked at Paul. His face was filled with worry, concern, and fatigue.

He was clearly distressed by the thought of having to clash with his younger brother.

At times, he felt furious about how Paul had driven his daughter to the brink of death. Yet, at other times, he pitied his younger brother for falling so far.

There were moments when he even considered throwing away the burden of family headship rather than continue this bitter struggle between brothers.

However, Paul sneered at Herman's gaze, as if it were absurd.

"Why don't you drop that thick veil of hypocrisy?"

"H-Hypocrisy? Brother, I…"

"In the end, you've always been the victor, and I the loser. It was like that in the past, and it'll likely be the same today. And in the future as well."

Defeat.

Though the duel had yet to begin, Paul was already using that word.

But his eyes, still fierce, were anything but those of a defeated man.

"I hated it. I hated how you, always acting superior, won everything, claimed everything, and hoarded everything. Not one part of it was ever mine."

Though the Weyl family had become a martial family in this generation, during their father's time, the family had been a merchant family.

One of the most powerful merchant families on the continent, even within the Empire.

The previous family head, knowing that money alone wasn't enough to protect their wealth, had given swords to his two sons.

In that process, Herman's talent proved so exceptional that he was called a genius, and their father was always satisfied with him.

This favoritism extended to the point that their father had even bequeathed most of the family's immense wealth to Herman.

Although there were two sons, the family head had reasoned that splitting the wealth between them would weaken their strength. He wanted the Weyl family to remain a great house that possessed both wealth and martial power.

And since Herman also had a knack for business, there was no concern that he would ruin the merchant enterprise.

But this left Paul deeply scarred.

It only fueled his feelings of inferiority.

"That's why I wanted to take it back. Surely there was something there that should have been mine, but in the end, I was left with nothing. Father didn't see me as his son but merely as a servant, a loyal vassal."

Paul's eyes gleamed with malice.

"That's why I'll show you. That not everything in this world belongs to you. You've taken it all, and now, it's my turn to have everything."

Chaang!

Paul drew his sword. The aura radiating from his bastard sword was as cold as his icy glare.

Herman drew his sword as well.

He didn't respond to Paul's accusations with words.

He simply bit his lips in silence.

He knew full well that it was largely his fault his younger brother had gone astray.

Unlike Paul, who had constantly sought his attention, Herman had always done whatever he pleased.

Looking back, he felt remorseful.

However…

Herman also held another belief.

No matter how much someone is mistreated, not everyone turns into a villain.

Paaat—

And so, Herman resolved to end this duel as quickly as possible.

Dragging it out would only deepen their wounds.

The reason for calling this a duel to decide everything was simple—it was to settle things, once and for all.

Paul, too, seemed to have the same thought, as he immediately unleashed his full aura and charged at Herman.

Swish!

The lion and the wolf, two beasts, were about to clash.

Thunk!

Suddenly, something sharp dropped between the two men.

It was powerful enough that if either of them had been hit, they would've been gravely injured.

As a result, Herman and Paul quickly deflected their strikes and distanced themselves from the point of impact.

"Who dares?!"

"How dare you…!"

Both Herman and Paul glared at the intruder, assuming a ready stance.

It was a middle-aged man with long black hair.

Despite the palpable killing intent from both brothers, he remained completely unshaken.

In fact, he seemed so composed that his presence overwhelmed even the two warriors.

"I am Tritan, Director of the First Inspection Bureau."

"…!"

"…!"

Herman and Paul's eyes widened in shock.

The Inspection Bureau, and the First Bureau at that, which was directly under the Emperor.

If the leader of such an organization had moved, it could only mean one thing.

The Emperor had sent a message.

Not from the Imperial family, but directly from the Emperor!

"His Majesty has personally spoken to me. He has heard that there are those in the eastern borderlands who, despite receiving the Empire's grace, dare to harbor rebellious thoughts. And while all citizens of the Empire should unite as one to punish such traitors, they instead bicker among themselves, which grieves His Majesty deeply."

As Tritan spoke, his gaze naturally shifted toward the audience.

At that moment, the atmosphere in the audience grew tense.

The reporters hurriedly took notes to prepare their stories, while the knights of the Weyl family wore stiff expressions.

Although the Empire was often seen as the Emperor's "possession," that didn't mean he could intervene in the affairs of every noble family. Imperial law clearly separated the authority of the Emperor and the nobles. This was, without a doubt, an interference in internal affairs.

'It's a warning meant for me,' Elric thought as he met Tritan's gaze with a smirk.

He had known the moment Tritan appeared that the Melvinger family was also being targeted.

It seemed the Emperor was displeased with how the territorial war and the impact of this event had overshadowed the Imperial Family's event.

'This isn't going to end easily. What's he planning?'

If Tritan had only come to deliver a verbal warning, Herman and Paul would likely ignore it. No matter how much authority the Emperor or the Inspection Bureau wielded, they had no legal grounds to intervene in this duel.

But merely voicing the warning would embarrass the Emperor, so the Inspection Bureau was sure to make a move.

Herman was about to protest the interference in internal matters. Even as a knight who swore loyalty to the Emperor, he could not accept such interference. The mission to punish the Red Lion family had nothing to do with this.

But before Herman could speak, Paul let out a crazed laugh.

"Pahaha! His Majesty is so eager to sever the lions' limbs. Is taking down the Red Lion's head not enough? Now he wants to bind the Blue Lion's limbs too?"

Tritan's expression hardened.

"How dare you, a subject of the Empire, speak so disrespectfully of the Emperor's will?"

The atmosphere grew hostile, but Paul merely scoffed.

"His Majesty is free to assess the will of his subjects, but we cannot do the same?"

"You dare…!"

"Enough. On what grounds are you going to stop our duel?"

Tritan's eyes blazed with fury, but it was clear to him that there wasn't a single loyalist here who would listen to his words.

'These traitors...!'

In Tritan's eyes, the martial artists and magicians who defied the Emperor's orders were all potential rebels.

Someday, he would punish them all, but for now, he had to endure and deliver the Emperor's message. That was the noble duty weighing on his heart.

Just as he was about to speak again, the head of the Melvinger family, whom Tritan had been closely observing, suddenly rose from his seat.

His voice, amplified by mana, echoed loudly.

"I may not fully understand His Majesty's words, but I hereby express my refusal by the authority of the Radiant Star Duke."

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