Lord of Caldera - Chapter 246

Chapter 246: Chapter 246

“He’s definitely pulling some kind of trick!” Dani fumed, pacing angrily in the Corleone family’s garden, his face flushed red with disbelief and suspicion.

“There has to be a limit to exaggeration! This is way over the line!” Dani believed he knew Sylas’s capabilities better than anyone. Sylas was undoubtedly talented across multiple fields, exceptionally sharp in strategy. But as far as strength went, he was just slightly above an average knight.

“And now they say he killed seven dragons? And that six of them were defeated in consecutive battles? This is utter nonsense!”

“Hmm,” came a calm response from in front of him.

“‘Hmm’ is all you have to say?” Dani slammed his hand on the table in frustration. No matter how much he complained, his older brother’s attitude remained unchanged. How could he be so calm? He should be just as outraged!

“Say something, brother! Are you really planning to let him get away with this?”

“Hmmm.”

“Stop with the ‘hmm’ already!”

Dani ran a hand through his hair in exasperation, but Ulrich merely observed him quietly, his expression unchanging. Finally, after watching his brother’s tantrum, Ulrich spoke.

“So, what do you want to do about it?”

“What?”

“Sylas. You’re saying he used deceit, so what? Are you planning to investigate and expose every detail?”

“Of course! That’s exactly what we need to do!” Dani said passionately.

“Fine. Then you go ahead. Knock yourself out.” Ulrich’s response was nonchalant.

“Brother!?” Dani was stunned by Ulrich’s reaction. As the family’s heir, Ulrich should be more invested in bringing Sylas down a peg. Sylas’s standing had grown immensely, even beyond Ulrich’s, yet he wasn’t even trying to counter it?

“Why are you acting this way? We should be working together to crush him!”

Ulrich sighed deeply and looked at Dani. “Listen closely, little brother.”

“Why the serious tone all of a sudden…?”

“Just shut up and listen. Your whining is getting old.”

Dani flinched at the irritated edge in Ulrich’s voice as his brother fixed him with a piercing stare.

“You’re under some sort of illusion, Dani. For me, there’s no loss if Sylas rises in status.”

“What are you talking about!?”

“Think about it. If Sylas truly achieved these incredible feats, what do you think he’ll do? Compete for the heir position? Or will he establish his own branch outside the family? I’d say the latter.”

“…”

Dani’s eyes widened in shock. He had never even considered that possibility.

“A separate branch? That kind of thing doesn’t just happen…” he stammered.

“It doesn’t happen under normal circumstances,” Ulrich replied. “But these circumstances are far from normal.”

Establishing a separate branch meant that a non-heir set up a new family line, becoming the founder of a new house. Normally, it was almost impossible to achieve. The empire was hesitant to acknowledge new family lines, but for someone like Sylas?

“Sir Ray has been appointed Marquis of the western frontier, he’s established ties with King Bjorn, and now there’s even talk of a marriage with the Elven Princess,” Ulrich pointed out.

“But it’s all a deception! He must have tricked them somehow…” Dani protested.

“Trick or no trick, who cares? They’ve chosen to ally with him,” Ulrich replied, cutting him off. Dani fell silent, realizing the truth in his brother’s words. His accusations of deception were simply excuses to discredit Sylas. But no matter how loudly he cried foul, it wouldn’t change Sylas’s alliances.

“Whatever the details, Sylas has gained influence, achieved merits, and is well-positioned to establish his own family line. Why should I clash with him over the heirship?”

“But he could still aim to be the heir!” Dani insisted.

“That would be scary, wouldn’t it? And Father would just allow it?” Ulrich said sarcastically.

“Damn it! The so-called future heir can’t even see what’s right in front of him!” Dani muttered, seething with anger as he stomped away. He had assumed Ulrich would cooperate against their common “foe,” Sylas, and his indifference only fueled Dani’s rage.

“I can already see it—he’ll regret this later, beating his chest in frustration!”

But deep down, Dani knew the truth. Sylas had no real reason to pursue the title of Count. Dani’s desire to crush Sylas was purely personal, driven by resentment, jealousy, and the stain of his father’s favor. The idea of a person like Sylas being celebrated as a hero grated on him more than he could bear.

“If no one else will help, then I’ll handle it myself!”

With this resolution, Dani quickly wrote a letter to his mother, Helena, who was still recovering at her family estate.

Mother, I do not know if you’ve heard of that bastard’s recent rise in fame, but it’s shameful how overly glorified he’s become. Someone needs to expose his deceit, yet my brother refuses to lift a finger…

Dani, lacking any influential allies of his own, knew he had to draw support from elsewhere, and his maternal family was his only viable option. Fortunately, Helena replied swiftly.

How dare Ulrich stand idle when I’ve suffered because of that wretch! At least you understand. Show him his place! He may be a hero to the world, but in this family, he’s nothing but the child of a lowborn. Teach him his limits!

“Mother always understands,” Dani murmured with satisfaction, smiling as he met a group of visitors in a secluded area near the estate. Dressed in worn, scarred armor, they were members of an infamous mercenary group, the Blood Wolves—a rare mercenary order composed entirely of knighted warriors, known for their steep fees and brutal reputation.

“So, you’re Halcan Rugos, the commander?” Dani asked.

“Indeed. But my friends call me the Red Wolf Halcan,” replied the rugged mercenary with a wicked grin. A large scar across his cheek seemed to writhe whenever he spoke.

The scar across Halcan’s already fierce face made his expression even more intimidating as he grinned and addressed Dani.

“We’ve already received payment. Just say the word, and we’ll handle anything you need—be it war, pillage, or assassination,” Halcan said without a hint of shame.

“Impressive,” Dani replied, appreciating the blunt dedication despite the dishonor of the offer. He had spent a fortune, but it felt worth it if they delivered on their promises. Too many took money and failed to live up to expectations.

“While I appreciate the offer, what I require is a duel,” Dani clarified.

“A duel, you say?”

“Yes. This charlatan has amassed undeserved fame through deceit.”