LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 21 - Reconstruction. (1)
Under the stillness of the temple, Lena retrieved the dagger she had stabbed Kiel with.
And she muttered in a low voice.
“It’s all over.”
Then, two figures appeared inside the temple.
It was the director of the orphanage, the Eighth Elder.
Behind her followed Lucy, the teacher.
The Eighth Elder pushed up her glasses and looked at the dead Kiel.
“You handled it cleanly.”
“Thank you.”
At the Elder’s praise, Lena bowed her head.
She didn’t feel good just because she was praised.
Lena knew well that an Elder of Black Raven wouldn’t come all the way just to praise her.
If they really intended to praise her, they would have sent Lucy, not the Elder.
As Lena expected, the Eighth Elder had a different motive.
“So, how is the Phantom?”
The Eighth Elder brought up the main topic.
What the Elder was curious about wasn’t whether Lena was doing a good job, but the existence of the Phantom.
The Phantom was the Leader’s direct secret royal guard, and information about them was rarely revealed.
Not only the Elders Council but even the Supreme Council didn’t know much about them.
But a few days ago, a lord named Ethan from the Count’s Family visited.
When combining recent events, the Eighth Elder firmly believed that Ethan was a member of the Phantom.
And following Ethan’s request, she sent Lena and Ray.
As expected, Lena and Ray were immediately deployed to the field.
“Yes, Elder. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t find anything about Lord Ethan. He’s thoroughly hiding himself. If it weren’t for your words, I would have thought he was just an ordinary young master.”
To the Eighth Elder’s question, Lena told what she saw without embellishment.
In fact, the Ethan that Lena saw appeared to be an extremely ordinary person.
Because there was no power felt from him, and he didn’t give any separate orders to her.
She could only roughly guess based on Ethan’s words and actions.
Lena remembered what Ethan had said.
– It will probably be very hard at first. But if you follow well, I’ll take care of you without disappointment, so I hope you’ll do your best too.
It was what she heard directly from him when she first met Ethan.
On the surface, they are just words of encouragement, but Lena could tell.
‘There will be many difficult missions, so use your skills to the fullest.’
Ultimately, it was equivalent to telling Lena and Ray to prove their skills to the Phantom.
Above all, the reason Lena moved in this matter was also because of a word from Ethan.
– It’s just unpleasant.
After Priest Kiel’s diagnosis, that’s what Ethan said.
Even frowning as he said it.
Lena and Ray secretly left the mansion at night and headed to the temple.
At first, they had no intention of killing Priest Kiel.
They just planned to monitor him.
But the one who crossed the line first was Kiel.
Wasn’t Kiel arbitrarily examining whether Ethan was truly of the Hartwell family’s bloodline?
Of course, the result was as the Eighth Elder expected.
“And it has been confirmed that Lord Ethan is not of the Hartwell family’s bloodline.”
“As expected of the Phantom.”
At Lena’s report, the Eighth Elder nodded.
Lena was a clever child.
But to be able to deceive even Lena with his acting, the Phantom was a scary bunch, even in the eyes of the Elder.
“Moreover, not being of the bloodline. The Fire Magic Tower was involved as well.”
The more she thought about it, the more impressive it was.
They kept the duchy and the empire in check while collapsing the mana stone mine, and even Phantom infiltrated into the Hartwell Count’s Family.
Perhaps this was the beginning of officially revealing Black Raven’s activities, starting with the Hartwell Count’s Family.
The Eighth Elder immediately turned her back.
If this was the Leader’s will, the Elders Council would also willingly move.
Lena asked the Eighth Elder, who was leaving the temple.
“What should we do with the corpse?”
The Kiel that Lena killed was a priest.
If it was revealed that a priest was murdered inside the temple, it was obvious that all eyes would be focused on the Hartwell territory.
The Eighth Elder thought for a moment at Lena’s question and opened her mouth.
“Just leave it as it is. The Holy Kingdom won’t make a move.”
Lena flinched at the Elder’s eerie smile.
* * *
As expected, the death of Priest Kiel turned the Hartwell territory upside down.
In particular, Count Benedict Hartwell, the head of the Hartwell Count’s Family, shouted and urged his retainers.
“What in the world is going on! To have such a tragedy occur in our territory–and in the sacred temple at that!”
The Count bit his tightly closed lips.
A priest was murdered within the territory.
Not outside the temple, but inside the temple.
The death of Priest Kiel was a serious matter.
If things went wrong, the Hartwell territory could be branded as heretics.
The Count would be in deep trouble if the Holy Kingdom dispatched an inquisitor to investigate this incident.
“Hmm…”
Therefore, the Count’s worries deepened.
Inquisitors were beings called the Spears of the Holy Kingdom and held a tremendous position.
If they came to the territory, a bloody purge would begin.
Even more frightening was that even the lord of the territory couldn’t stop their actions.
No, there were even cases where the lord was executed for trying to stop them.
No matter how much of a lord he was, his presence could only diminish in front of an inquisitor dispatched by the Holy Kingdom.
“Edgar.”
“Yes, Count.”
The Count quietly called for the head butler.
If they remained still, even the Hartwell Count’s Family would be in danger.
“Prepare a letter to be sent to His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Grand Duke.”
It was a situation where they had to inform the facts to not only His Highness the Grand Duke of the Hailstone Duchy, but also His Majesty the Emperor of the Arcadia Empire and claim innocence.
They wouldn’t be able to turn a blind eye.
If the inquisitor couldn’t find suitable information in the Hartwell territory, they would immediately head to the nearby territories.
Count Benedict sought ways to survive while making various preparations like this.
However, the Count’s efforts were in vain due to a letter that arrived at the Count’s Family shortly after.
“C-Count!”
Head butler Edgar came running with an urgent voice.
At the sight, the Count sighed.
“T-The Holy Kingdom…!”
Even without listening, it was obvious what would come out of Edgar’s mouth.
Surely, it would be the news that the Holy Kingdom dispatched an inquisitor.
The Holy Kingdom was not a place to stand by idly at the death of a priest.
The Count resigned himself and waited for Edgar’s next words.
“They say the investigation of this incident will be entirely entrusted to the Hartwell Count’s Family!”
“What?”
At Edgar’s unexpected words, the Count asked in disbelief.
“I-Is that true?”
It meant that the Holy Kingdom would officially withdraw from this incident.
Of course, it didn’t mean they wouldn’t get involved at all, but that they would fully trust the Hartwell Count’s Family investigation.
Even that much put the Count’s mind at ease.
Just the fact that an inquisitor wasn’t coming was equivalent to overcoming the crisis.
The Count ordered Edgar in an excited voice.
“Mobilize all the knights within the mansion at once! No matter what, we must uncover the mastermind behind this incident!”
Unlike the Count’s bright expression, Countess Lavender was having a terrible time.
“T-This can’t be happening!”
Lavender was sitting in the room with a pale face.
The reason she was trembling like this was precisely because of the death of Priest Kiel.
Although she wasn’t directly related to Priest Kiel’s death, the Countess made one big mistake.
Because she had committed a corrupt act by giving Priest Kiel a large sum of money.
‘This is bad!’
Lavender’s hands were shaking.
She was extremely worried that the fact that she had separately given money to Kiel and invited him to the mansion would become a problem.
Suddenly, one existence came to Lavender’s mind.
It was none other than Ethan.
Could it be that Ethan was involved in the death of Priest Kiel this time?
‘No way…’
But she denied such thoughts.
If Ethan had the skill to kill Priest Kiel, he would have already taken over the Count’s Family.
Lavender gritted her teeth.
Hoping and praying that nothing would happen.
* * *
“Tsk… Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue at the absurd news.
“For a priest to die so pathetically.”
It was none other than the news about the death of Priest Kiel.
It is said that a believer discovered Priest Kiel’s dead body.
‘It seems priests can’t be treated recklessly either.’
According to rumors, Priest Kiel’s body was pierced with holes all over.
In other words, it meant that someone with a deep grudge stabbed him multiple times with a sword.
Of course, it had nothing to do with me.
So, I was comfortably taking a break while drinking juice.
‘Well, it’s not entirely unrelated.’
Since a priest died, the Holy Kingdom was likely to make a move.
If the Holy Kingdom made a move, it was highly likely to be an inquisitor, but this also had nothing to do with me.
Even if an inquisitor really seemed to come to the territory, I could just order Black Raven at that time.
‘Let’s think about that when the time comes.’
I gave the empty glass to Lena after finishing the juice.
“One more glass, please.”
“Yes, I will pour it right away. Young Master.”
Lena always acted respectfully.
Sometimes, it was burdensome, but thinking she was loyal to me made me feel good.
“Thank you. The juice tastes especially good today.”
I thanked Lena and became lost in thought again.
Rather than the death of the priest, I was more interested in another incident.
It was about the Golden Wing Merchant Group operated by my second brother, Bastel.
The Golden Wing Merchant Group was recently attacked by thieves and nearly wiped out.
Fortunately, they recovered the stolen property and were preparing to rebuild.
But I frowned.
“To dare to attack the Golden Wing Merchant Group.”
Originally, I planned to raise the prestige of the Hartwell Count’s Family through Bastel’s business.
But before that could happen, Bastel’s merchant group collapsed.
Thinking that someone had ruined my plan, I felt a bit annoyed.
But it was already a thing of the past.
Even if I said something now, it’s not like the merchant group would come back to life.
Above all, the fact that Bastel’s position improved thanks to this incident also benefited me.
‘I need to restore the merchant group as quickly as possible.’
First, to restore the merchant group, I needed Bastel’s cooperation.
No matter how much I try to help the merchant group, it’s useless if Bastel doesn’t cooperate.
‘I should also acquire a share of the merchant group while I’m at it.’
This was where my aim was.
I planned to increase my influence by seizing a share of the merchant group.
Of course, if I took a share of the merchant group directly, Bastel and the Countess would keep me in check.
‘That must never happen.’
There was no need to create discord when we, as brothers, needed to work together.
I was planning to hide my appearance and put forward a proxy to act on my behalf.
And there was one person suitable to be my proxy.
‘Bella.’
I slightly raised the corners of my mouth as I thought of Bella.
A member of the Fire Magic Tower and a direct disciple of the Tower Master.
Bella knew me as the Phantom and would follow my orders well.
Moreover, Bella was a mage.
It was easy to gradually consume Bastel’s merchant group using the prestige of a mage.
While simultaneously building my own force within the merchant group and the family…
‘It’s a good idea.’
A smile spread across my lips.
But I couldn’t go and meet Bella myself.
I spoke to Lena, who was standing next to me.
“Lena, could you go and call Emilia for me?”
It was a bit early, but the time had come to use Emilia.