Lord of Caldera - Chapter 168

Chapter 168: Chapter 168

“But you’re talking about crowning a king, no less,” the Marquis scoffed. Even the idle current Emperor would be aghast, and the suggestion practically ensured a charge of treason.

“But if the imperial family recognizes it, it won’t be treason, will it?” Sylas replied.

“Don’t say absurd things,” the Marquis retorted, visibly frustrated. There was no chance the Emperor would willingly strengthen regional power.

“Then we just have to make it so he has no choice,” Sylas continued.

“How, exactly will you do that?”

“By pressing the imperial family with the entire North’s support.”

“You insolent wretch!” the Marquis shouted, slamming his fist on the table, which cracked audibly from the force. For his age, he was certainly vigorous.

“Daring to suggest pressuring the imperial family! And you call yourself a noble who has pledged loyalty to them?”

“A king will rise,” Sylas declared calmly.

“Are you serious?” The Marquis’ fury did not diminish.

“If we do not support someone ourselves, that king will be Ragnar.”

The Marquis froze. His expression shifted several times as he processed Sylas’s words.

“Ragnar lacks the capacity for that. He’s no more than a barbarian chief.”

“Don’t pretend,” Sylas replied, noting the Marquis’ reaction. “You’ve clearly met him already.”

Sylas knew exactly what kind of person this Marquis was. Before his return, when the North was devastated, this man had managed to preserve his own territory by walking a tightrope of self preservation. Even the imperial family, usually indifferent to the suffering of other northern lords, supported this man without reservation.

If the Marquis switched sides, Ragnar would have gained the North and seceded.

He had exploited that situation thoroughly, using imperial support to strengthen his own position, dividing the North, and leaving other territories to ruin. With such political acumen, there was no way the Marquis could be unaware of Ragnar’s power.

“Ragnar claimed he’s already brought six border lords under his rule,” Sylas remarked.

“Obvious lies. Those lords are loyal to the Empire,” the Marquis shot back.

“Enough with the testing. You know the truth,” Sylas said. The Marquis must have known; otherwise, he wouldn’t be advocating for the revival of an old tradition like the Platinum Council. His remarks were bait to gauge how much Sylas actually knew. Sylas sighed, crossing his arms.

“And do you know who came here with me?”

“Your three knights, I assume.”

“Two are indeed knights. The third is the new lord of Veldaine.”

“…Bjorn Veldaine!” The Marquis’s eyes widened. His intelligence network was impressive, but he likely hadn’t anticipated the new lord’s direct presence.

“Ragnar has already visited Veldaine.”

“For what purpose?”

“It seems he wants to bring all seven lords under his rule.”

“Ugh.” A groan escaped the Marquis’s tightened expression. Even if most of the border was compromised, having just one holdout was vastly different from having none at all.

“So, what did you decide?”

“That will be for Bjorn to handle.”

“Bjorn, you say.” Typically, one addressed a noble by title, or added “sir” for unfamiliar ones. But the Marquis used Bjorn’s name directly, an indication of Sylas’s standing in relation to him. After a moment, the Marquis studied Sylas, his gaze complex.

“Who are you, truly?”

“Sylas Corleone. Merely an unimportant attendant knight.”

The Marquis let out a hollow laugh as if he’d heard a poor joke.

“A mere attendant knight who slays demons, disrupts the West, and meddles in northern disputes? Nonsense.”

Now it was Sylas’s turn to be surprised. This old fox had known all along and had been feigning ignorance.

They say old ginger is spicier, Sylas thought.

The Marquis continued, “What are you really after? Or is this some scheme of the Corleone family?”

“The former, your grace. My father doesn’t even know what I’m doing,” Sylas replied. His actions were entirely independent of his family. And as for his goals?

“My goal is simple. I want to see the North grow strong.”

“A noble sentiment, then?”

“Of course, a purely noble sentiment. I’d love to see the imperial family trembling before a powerful and prosperous North.”

The Marquis’s mocking smile faded as he realized he had been bested. Sylas’s light hearted grin stood in contrast to the Marquis’s hardened expression.

Alright, enough teasing, Sylas thought. He’d have to get to the heart of the matter now, or risk genuinely being charged with treason. Adopting a more serious tone, Sylas spoke.

“The Crown Prince has his eyes set on the Corleone family as an example to the other lords.”

“…!”

It wasn’t a lie. To be precise, the Crown Prince was waiting for an opportunity to target one of the influential families, and the Corleones were not exempt.

In truth, the Corleone family should have been untouchable, Sylas reflected. Before his return, events had led to an internal upheaval that left the family vulnerable, and the Crown Prince—by then Emperor—had seized the moment, declaring the extermination of the Corleone bloodline.

“Unbelievable,” the Marquis muttered, incredulous. “Even the Crown Prince wouldn’t dare move against the Corleone family?”

“People are not always rational,” Sylas replied. Even in his previous life, the decision to destroy the Corleone family wasn’t a rational one, and there was no guarantee the same wouldn’t happen again.

“I know your intentions, your grace,” Sylas continued.

“And what might those be?”

“You’re planning to split the North with Ragnar.”

The Marquis flinched, hit squarely with the truth.

“But for that plan to work, you’ll need close ties to the Imperial Palace.”

In military power, the Marquis was far outmatched by Ragnar. Imperial support was essential to bridge that gap, meaning he couldn’t risk alienating the palace.

“If the Corleone family is attacked, would you be able to take a stance?” Sylas asked.

“I think it would be best if you stayed quiet,” Sylas remarked, implying tacit acceptance. This had been the Marquis’s stance before Sylas’s return. Naturally, his passive attitude sparked outrage among the other nobles, as it essentially set a precedent of allowing the Emperor to annihilate noble families.