Lord of Caldera - Chapter 309

Chapter 309: Chapter 309 Sylas Stop The Killing
“My signet ring. Let’s find that before we proceed.”

Sylas led Kaspar back to the hall, which was still filled with corpses. Seeing the carnage for the first time, Kaspar froze in shock.

“Wh-what in the world…?”

“We were attacked unexpectedly, so we retaliated. This is the result,” Sylas said flatly.

“How large of an army did you bring here?” Kaspar asked cautiously.

“Army? What army? It was just me and my three knights who took care of everything,” Sylas replied.

Kaspar opened his mouth to dismiss the claim as nonsense, but the memory of Sylas’s incredible strength stopped him. Even more convincing was Ervin’s visible trembling, unable to refute Sylas’s words.

While Kaspar surveyed the hall, his gaze fell upon the decapitated corpse of Baron Anton.

“…Did you kill him?”

“My knight did. Is there a problem with that?” Sylas answered flatly.

“No, none at all. I was just curious,” Kaspar muttered, stepping closer to the corpse. He crouched down and pulled the signet ring from Anton’s lifeless hand.

Looking at the baron’s body, Kaspar mumbled to himself, “Foolish man. To end in such disgrace…”

His expression remained composed, but there was a hint of bitterness in his tone, as though he was discarding the last shred of sentiment he held for Anton. He slipped the ring onto his own finger and stood upright.

“It’s done,” he said.

“Good. That makes you a baron again,” Sylas remarked.

“I was always the baron,” Kaspar retorted.

“And I was always the count. Now that you understand the situation, isn’t it time you started addressing me properly?” Sylas said with a smirk.

Kaspar stiffened, realizing Sylas was right. It was an enormous breach of etiquette for a baron to speak so informally to a count.

“…My apologies, Count. Please forgive my rudeness,” Kaspar said, bowing his head.

“You’re forgiven. I can imagine you haven’t been up to date with current events, given your time in the prison,” Sylas replied graciously.

“Thank you for understanding. Allow me to guide you to the drawing room,” Kaspar offered.

“Wait,” Sylas said, pausing. “I’d like to invite our friend here to join us.”

“…!?”

Ervin, suddenly singled out, paled in alarm. Why me? What does he plan to do with me?

Kaspar, too, didn’t seem pleased by the suggestion.

“Count, do you really need that man to hear such private matters? Wouldn’t it be better to deal with him separately later and speak with me alone?” Kaspar suggested.

Deal with me? That wretched relic…! Ervin thought, grinding his teeth as he glared at Kaspar. The baron didn’t even flinch, unfazed by Ervin’s hostile stare. Why should I fear the look of a man who’s already marked for death?

Sylas, watching the tension between the two, chuckled and intervened.

“No, let’s all discuss this together,” Sylas said.

“May I ask why, Count?” Kaspar inquired cautiously.

“I’ve heard there’s been a lot of misunderstanding between the two of you,” Sylas replied, emphasizing the word “misunderstanding.”

A misunderstanding? Kaspar and Ervin had openly been at odds, not hiding their animosity. But Sylas continued, hammering the word home.

“Let’s clear up those misunderstandings. I’d like to facilitate that today,” Sylas declared.

Both men exchanged bewildered glances, unable to comprehend his motives.

Sylas, Kaspar, and Ervin convened in the drawing room, ostensibly for a reconciliation. In reality, most of the conversation revolved around bringing Kaspar up to speed on current events.

The bulk of the discussion focused on Sylas’s achievements.

“And so, I earned the title of Dragonslayer. Isn’t that right?” Sylas asked.

“Indeed, Count. While I didn’t witness it personally, your reputation precedes you,” Ervin confirmed.

“Yes. After handling matters in the north, I was even invited to the royal banquet…”

On the surface, it seemed like Sylas was boasting about his exploits. In truth, he was using Ervin’s corroboration to establish his credibility with Kaspar. Even someone aligned with Sylas’s enemies couldn’t deny the truth.

Kaspar, while skeptical, found it increasingly hard to dismiss Sylas’s claims.

“If he weren’t truly a count, he wouldn’t have been able to create such a bloodbath.”

For nobles, lives were precious. Killing another noble outside of war or a formal duel was almost unheard of, as it risked making oneself a target of all other nobles.

But Sylas was an exception. His title had been granted by the emperor himself. Any attempt to undermine Sylas’s appointment would be considered treason against the crown. Sylas could brand any opposition as traitors and eliminate them without repercussions.

Kaspar couldn’t help but be astonished.

“Unbelievable. Without completing his official appointment, he technically has no troops under his command. Theoretically, this might work, but in practice, it’s a death sentence to try such a thing.”

Without military power, declaring someone a traitor would only provoke them to retaliate. The accused noble could simply mobilize their soldiers and eliminate the accuser. Waiting for a later opportunity wasn’t viable either; after the appointment, both sides would be officially recognized as lords under the empire.

“This branding of treason is a tool that can only be used before the official appointment. And he’s using it this way?”

Sylas’s ability to annihilate troops and kill lords while branding them as traitors was something only a monster, not bound by human limitations, could pull off.

“Hmm. I seem to have gone on for too long. This wasn’t the topic I intended to discuss,” Sylas said casually, his tone shifting.

Both Kaspar and Ervin straightened, sensing that the true subject was about to be broached.

“Right. I originally gathered you two here to resolve the misunderstandings between you. I almost forgot,” Sylas continued.

“Count, about those misunderstandings—” Kaspar began.

“Listen first. Don’t interrupt,” Sylas cut him off coldly.

Kaspar flinched and fell silent under Sylas’s sharp gaze. After a brief moment, Sylas turned to Ervin.

“Sir Ervin,” Sylas addressed him.

“Yes, Count,” Ervin replied, exhaling in relief at the formal address.

The title signaled a return to political norms, indicating that Sylas no longer intended to outright kill him.