Chapter 175: You Were Here

“Your Highness, are you certain it’s safe for us to go alone?”

Ian proceeded to meet the Third Prince.

The location where the Third Prince awaited was situated in Ian’s territory, close enough to Marquis Adelas’s villa to be considered nearby.

A short horseback ride would take them there.

While riding, Nathan asked, “What if it’s a trap?”

“It most likely is,” Ian responded calmly.

“Why risk it then? Are you sure about this, especially now when things are so precarious?”

Ian had recently subdued most of his brothers and was on the verge of securing the top position for the throne.

With the upcoming coming-of-age ceremony, his claim to the throne felt more solidified.

Given this, was it truly necessary to venture into such perilous situations? Despite these considerations, Ian remained resolute.

“The time is now.”

“What do you mean…?”

“If I delay, achieving that mere first place will lose its significance.”

“I’m sorry?”

Ian knew.

He was aware that there was a dungeon containing an ancient relic hidden in his territory.

And that dungeon had changed the political situation of the continent.

‘Even the mighty eastern empire on this continent is making moves.’

However, Ian had previously paid little attention to it for a simple reason.

‘It’s buried deep, and unless you use a special method, you can’t find the entrance.’

The ores and herbs sought by Marquis Adelas paled in comparison.

The true treasures lay within that dungeon.

Until now, that secret had been perfectly protected, but…

‘It’s time for that event to unfold soon.’

As a result, the abandoned mine, dormant for years, would cave in, unveiling the entrance.

Various traps and guardians would spring into action.

In his previous life, Garcia had suffered great losses to secure the dungeon.

But it wasn’t just that.

‘If the contents in Ceres’s notebook are accurate… one of the Seven Virtues is there.’

For Ian, it was something he had to obtain.

He could not allow the Third Prince, one of his strongest competitors, to get it.

Thus, it became a problem.

The information he had from his previous life was only partial.

‘I know only the when and where of it, not the method to acquire it.’

This information was classified even within Garcia.

Hence, Ian possessed only a superficial understanding.

At least in this life, the Duke of Garcia was imprisoned, so he couldn’t interfere.

‘Who would have thought my brother would go there?’

Ian recalled the phrases written in Ceres’s notes.

One of them resembled the emblem of his territory, Helgaia.

The Third Prince must have discovered it through an alternative means.

Yet, the current pressing issue wasn’t that.

‘Why contact me now, of all times?’

The Third Prince had been quietly searching for traces of the Seven Virtues and the Seven Sins until now.

But why reach out to him?

It was clearly a different flow from his past life.

Well, that might be expected.

‘Originally, the Third Prince should have died in a civil war with Garcia.’

Yet he had survived until now.

Not only that, but the one who should have been his greatest strength was at Ian’s side.

Ian’s gaze turned to Nathan, who jumped back in surprise.

“What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I was just looking.”

“You’re making me uneasy again. What are you going to make me do this time?”

“I’m not making you do anything.”

But Nathan didn’t look convinced at all.

In fact, his face turned even paler.

Whenever Ian had that kind of look in his eyes, it meant something was about to happen.

‘It never meant anything good. Never!’

This was true with matters related to the First Princess as well.

‘What is he going to make me do this time?’

Nathan broke into a cold sweat, but Ian had already redirected his focus.

‘The important thing isn’t my brother or the contents of the letter.’

Ian’s eyes sparkled.

Helgaia Territory was now faintly visible in the distance.

Nathan asked with an anxious look.

“Just the two of us going? The Third Prince and his knights will be there, won’t they?”

“Why? Are you scared?”

“No. You said it might be a trap! No matter how skilled I am as a knight, I can’t perfectly protect you like Galon can…”

“Don’t protect me.”

“Pardon?”

“Sir Nathan, do as you please. I’ll fend for myself, so don’t follow blindly for mere promises.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

Nathan jumped up from his seat.

“Becoming overly confident due to recent gains in strength can be perilous.”

“How about we have a friendly sparring session, considering it’s been a while?”

At those words, Nathan averted his gaze.

Ian’s skills had improved significantly, and it had been a long time since they had sparred.

Lately, Nathan had only been helping him by correcting his stance on the side.

‘Last time we fought, I barely won.’

Yet, the prince, who seemed almost inhuman, was becoming stronger and stronger.

It seemed like he hadn’t even shown all his skills.

‘He mentioned concealing around 30% of his skills, but it feels more like 70%.’

Certainly, fighting was not the solution.

“No way! We absolutely can’t go with just the two of us! Who knows what that third prince will do? If something happens, I’ll be killed by Galon!”

“I called for reinforcements because I thought that might happen.”

“Pardon? Who?”

“They’re waiting there.”

“?”

Nathan turned his head.

Indeed, there were people waiting in front of the territory, just as Ian had said.

Even from a distance, they shone brightly.

For a moment, Nathan widened his eyes.

“Th-They are…”

***

Helgaia.

As Nathan entered Ian’s territory, he found himself speechless.

“Is this really the same rural town from back then?”

“It’s changed a lot, hasn’t it?”

“It’s not just a lot, it’s completely different.”

Ian’s territory, Helgaia, had once been a typical failing territory.

However, what lay before him now was beyond a mid-sized town and was approaching the scale of a large city.

Yet Ian merely smiled as if it were no big deal.

“Was the sum I provided merely a trifle? It was meant to facilitate this progress.”

“How much did you allocate…?”

“Half of the Second Prince’s wealth and half of Bahara’s royal treasury.”

“What?”

The treasures in the Second Prince’s palace were not small in quantity.

They were accumulations of all the gold and wealth he had gained as the royal heir, amassed over nearly a lifetime.

Moreover, what about Bahara?

‘The royal treasury must have priceless artifacts that can’t even be measured in money.’

This sum was akin to a nation’s budget, or even an empire’s annual expenditure.

Funneling such wealth into a solitary territory, especially a modest rural one, was astounding.

“Are you serious?”

“This place will become the center of the kingdom in the future. Such an investment is only natural.”

“The center? Don’t joke with me. To be honest, this land was never coveted by other nations…

Well, seeing this, I suppose they might be tempted.”

After all, that was why the king had willingly granted it.

But Ian’s words were no joke.

Once the dungeon was properly developed, it could become the center of not just the kingdom but the entire continent.

‘I had not uncovered all the secrets of this dungeon before I died.’

Thus, Ian spared no expense in investing in Helgaia.

He bought slaves, reduced taxes, and gathered people to grow it into a large city.

He also built up the military strength, training mercenaries and soldiers alike.

Despite being this large of a city, the absence of crime was entirely due to the strong public authority.

Thus, Ian smiled.

“You will understand if you wait. Now, let’s go this way. And you guys, try to be patient even if it’s hard. It would be a problem if you reveal yourselves now.”

At Ian’s words, the mysterious armored warriors following him nodded.

Nathan, who was watching this with discontent, asked,

“Prince? Where are we going? That’s not the lord’s castle.”

“We’re not going to the lord’s castle.”

“Pardon? Why not…”

Nathan tried to ask more, but he couldn’t.

“Who goes there!”

Feeling something, Nathan drew his sword.

It wasn’t the playful look he usually had.

A killing intent, as if he were on a battlefield, flickered in Nathan’s eyes.

However, Ian motioned for him to step back.

“It’s alright. Stand down.”

“But, Your Highness.”

“I called for them.”

“Excuse me?”

As Nathan stepped back, a figure emerged from the alley.

It was a man dressed like a shabby beggar.

“The captain asked me to deliver this to you.”

The man extended his hand, giving Ian a note.

Ian immediately checked its contents.

[There is a spy within the lord’s castle. The third prince has established a base near the unguarded mine. Five knights are stationed there. While there are no soldiers, traps appear to have been set. Exercise caution.]

It was exactly as he had thought.

“It appears my brother is indeed targeting me.”

“!”

If he could break through this trap, he might obtain that information.

But if he fell for it…

‘Rather than gaining information, I might lose my life.’

Of course, that was a scenario of falling into it without knowing anything.

“If we go to the lord’s castle like this, our entire force will be exposed. And they will likely lead us into the trap.”

However, it seemed that Nathan was not surprised by that information.

He was more astonished that the Third Prince had dared to place an intruder inside the lord’s castle, but also by the man who had delivered the note and then vanished.

“Who on earth was that man?”

Even though he wasn’t using Oath, it was an incredible movement to avoid the keen eyesight of a knight.

It was only natural to be shocked.

Ian smiled.

“They work under me. They’re the ones who keep an eye on the territory.”

“Surveillance?”

“Just in case there are people like my dear brother who would commit such sneaky deeds.”

Ian grinned.

“Well then, shall we go meet my brother who’s been waiting for me so eagerly?”

***

The Third Prince was in the outskirts of the Helgaia territory’s forest.

Unlike usual, he had a frightening aura around him as he drew his two-handed sword, holding it firmly with both hands.

He wore a solemn expression.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Then, at that moment…

“Are you really considering giving that information to the Seventh Prince, Your Highness? It would have a significant impact on the succession war.”

The knight guarding him spoke, and other knights chimed in.

“That’s right. That brat, the Seventh Prince, doesn’t seem like he would be of any help.”

“Why not just do it among ourselves?”

“If it’s you, Your Highness, you could handle it alone.”

However, the Third Prince shook his head.

He could manage the dungeon situation on his own.

But…

“The enemy is too powerful to fight alone.”

“And what about the other siblings…”

“To whom are you referring? The second brother, who lost an arm to the youngest? Or the foolish fourth brother, who’s cooped up in his room?”

Honestly, it was information he had never expected himself.

The knights lowered their heads at the Third Prince’s gaze.

“What about the First Princess?”

“My sister…”

Yet the Third Prince shook his head.

No matter how he thought about it, he felt the First Princess was not an option.

One knight, perplexed, tilted his head.

“Still, wouldn’t she be better than the Seventh Prince? Trusting that young prince…”

“To speak such words about the hero of Bahara.”

“Even if he is a hero, he’s still just a young child. What Your Highness needs right now is a powerful ally.”

The Third Prince patted the knight’s shoulder.

“I understand Sir Barang’s concerns.”

“Then…”

“So we must assess him.”

“Assess him?”

“If he can’t even pass such a trivial test, he won’t be worthy of standing by my side.”

The enemy he had to face was not one that could be defeated simply by power.

The reason he had become entangled with the Seven Virtues and Seven Sins, despite being a once-powerful heir to the throne, was all due to that.

He had to get his hands on powerful force somehow.

‘I wonder if the youngest will be able to break through my trap and get here.’

That was his minimum qualification for standing beside him.

And at that very moment…

“Ah? Brother? Are you here?”

“!”

The Third Prince’s eyes widened at the familiar voice.