Chapter 192

RMSBS – Episode 192 . The Beginning of a Plan (1)

The Kingdom of Divide, a key nation in the Western Kingdom Union .

It was a powerful country that once directly competed with the Hebrion Empire for world dominance . Divide had access to perfect soil and boasted the most powerful army among the Western Kingdom Union . Its citizens never forgot the mighty country’s past; they had no doubt they would one day reclaim its glory, topple the Hebrion Empire, and dominate the world .

Aaron was a man who shared this sentiment . He believed in the Kingdom of Divide’s power .

“The day will soon come when we crush the cocky Empire . ” 

Recently, the Kingdom had started to show signs that their gaudy ambition may have more merit than a naive wish . Their once lecherous and extravagant king had turned over a new leaf, allowing the nation to flourish once more .

After the shocking terrorist attack in Prillecha, their king had radically changed . As though baptised by the evil of the world, he began making sweeping reform . Corrupt officers were removed, exploitative nobles were outed, and new policies were put in place to make efficient use of the land’s bountiful resources, which had long been squandered . All the while, he diligently trained the Kingdom’s soldiers and brought the military up to modern standards . The newly reformed force was overpowering, equal in strength, if not outright better, than any other member of the Western Kingdom Union .

Citizens and government officials had nothing but praise for the current king . The people of Divide were confident that the present Divide was stronger than ever .

Given that the King was a national hero, Aaron was glad when he received a summons from him .

Aaron stepped into the palace and was escorted to the throne room .

“I’ve been expecting you, Sir Aaron . ”

Inside the magnificent palace .

At the end of the hallway, with a floor concealed by a tiger skin rug, was the King that he now proudly served .

Aaron kneeled to show his respect .

The King of Divide, Clora Ars F . Baldershu, addressed Aaron .

“As a result of our efforts, Divide was able to play an important role in the war and established its position as the de facto leader of the Western Kingdoms . ”

He was referring to the battle against the Outsiders .

“Amongst the Western Kingdoms, Divide led the largest army, devised ingenious strategies, and our tainted reputation has been rectified as a result . ”

“We’ve finally reached a reputation and a power that once again matches the Hebrion Empire . All of these blessings are thanks to the Janissaries, which you have led excellently . In the name of the King, I acknowledge everything you’ve done for the royal family . ”

The Janissaries .

They were Divide’s elite armed organization .

Even before the King’s reforms, they were widely known and referred to as one of the most powerful armed groups, not just in Divide, but across the entire world .

The Janissaries were composed of talented individuals raised together from birth, trained for the sole purpose of serving the royal family . They, who willingly sacrificed everything for the royalty, were loyalty incarnate . Their sheer strength was awe-inspiring as a result of their constant relentless training .

And Aaron was the Janissaries’s leader .

“Our raison d’etre is solely for the royal family . ”

Aaron, rather than allowing the King’s praise to move him, simply pawned off their accomplishments as nothing more than the Janissaries doing their job . He was the epitome of an honor-bound knight .

“We did our duty; there is nothing more to it . ”

“Very trustworthy . ”

The King nodded his head, seemingly satisfied by Aaron’s answer .

Aaron thought it was peculiar .

“I suppose the Prillecha incident really was shocking . ”

Aaron noticed the King’s subtle difference from his past summons . The King, who expressed nothing but frustration and anger in the past, was now emanating an odd sense of tranquility .

It was a subtle difference in the atmosphere that was hard to pinpoint . Or so Aaron thought .

“The reason I summoned you here is rather simple . ”

At this moment, someone entered the throne hall .

They wore a mask that concealed their entire face .

“You are aware of it too . ”

“Yes I am, Your Majesty . ”

Aaron sized up the mysterious man .

The Janissaries were formed to protect the King . Naturally Aaron knew all of the Kingdom’s affairs, inside and out .

“So, this is the person interfering in the King’s affairs . ”

No one knew his identity .

Rumors floated that he was someone from out of the country . Yet despite this, he had earned the King’s favor and had begun swaying his views, interfering with the country’s private affairs . To say Aaron didn’t trust the man was an understatement .

So why was he summoned?

“You have tirelessly worked for the royal family up until now . It’s time to rest . ”

Aaron felt a pit form in his stomach . An unnatural sense of unease began to burden him . .

“It would be better for you to travel down to the Longort region . You will be carrying out simple missions there . ”

“Your Majesty . ”

“From now on, the Janissaries will be under this man’s command . ”

“Your Majesty, excuse my rudeness . ”

Aaron raised his head, fully aware of it being an utter breach of decorum and an offense to the King, and addressed the King directly .

“I would willingly throw myself into fire if it was Your Majesty’s command . But the Janissaries are an organization that only exists for the royal family . Our members are trained from birth for absolute loyalty . I cannot let a man of unknown pedigree command it . ”

Despite all the loyalty he had for the King, to give up leadership of the Janissaries to someone who wasn’t even a member of it, let alone a foreigner, was a bridge too far .

“What does Your Majesty hope to achieve?”

It was equivalent to denying the very authenticity of the Janissaries that had served the royal family for centuries .

“Many things have to change for the sake of the kingdom . ”

“Your Majesty, this man is just a foreigner . I have many doubts about your trust in him . What if… ”

The King interrupted Aaron .

“This is not a request, but a command . Do not neglect your duty, Aaron . ”

“… ”

The atmosphere didn’t allow any further objection .

Aaron knew he had no other choice but to accept .

He kneeled, clenched his teeth and answered .

“If that is the will of the son of Sorin, the almighty King . ”

* * *

“It might have been too sudden . ”

The two men remained in the throne hall after Aaron left .

“But it was a necessary task . At this crucial moment, as we are commencing our plan, there is a chance he might look into our true identities . ”

Pierrot Mask, who had taken over the identity of King of Divide, stood up from his seat . With dramatic movements, he spun around before idly looking up and down the palace hall .

“Well, whatever . The Divide Kingdom is completely in our hands now . ”

One year .

They had thoroughly devoured the Kingdom of Divide over the span of just a year .

Officials who were wise or opposed the King had been secretly murdered or exiled .

They filled those positions with powerless figureheads .

Furthermore, they swayed the provincial lords in their favor and cleverly manipulated them into suppressing those who opposed their absolutism . All of this was for the sake of strengthening their control over the country .

There were people who held suspicion towards them, but the number of people who did so were now miniscule .

Crow Mask stirred up hatred against the Empire amongst the citizens . He drew up the declaration of war and published it in the newspapers .

Historic enemy, an old rival .

A “common enemy” was born .

The general public were all shook up . Crow Mask’s cleverly conducted political work was perfectly concealed .

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the current Divide Kingdom was completely in their hands . Now that the last cause for future concern, the Janissaries’s Aaron, was evicted, there was no longer a force that could keep them in check .

“Not just Divide . We hold the key to all the Western Kingdoms . ”

“Your talent really is amazing, whether it’s political skill or public provocations… ”

To completely usurp control of a kingdom without starting from a privileged position within that kingdom was pure lunacy . It wasn’t just impossible, it was so far-fetched that it wasn’t even worth considering . Yet Crow Mask attempted, and succeeded .

“I’m only proceeding according to the plan . ”

The plan .

All of their work was done with indifference with the sole objective being to further the plan .

But this was but a single step in the true objective Crow Mask wanted to achieve .

“There are still a few variables left . ”

Pierrot Mask reminded Crow Mask . To this criticism, Crow Mask let out a sigh .

“Desir Arman . ”

He was a recurring thorn in their side .

He was an entity that left a taint on an otherwise flawless plan .

“First of all, Desir Arman achieved Fourth-Circle recently . ” 

“He probably reached it through analyzing the ability of the Homunculus . ”

The Crow Mask immediately reached a conclusion .

The homunculus that was tasked with killing Desir Arman turned out to be an opportunity of growth for him .

He took a few deep breaths .

“No need to rush . The opportunity to eliminate Desir Arman will certainly come again . ”

Pierrot Mask stood in front of Crow Mask .

“Is that it? Is he the only remaining variable in your plan?”

Crow Mask gave Pierrot Mask a sideways glance . He responded after a brief moment of contemplation .

“He is still walking the same path as us . ”

“But we know almost nothing about him . ”

Skull Mask .

Everything about him was concealed or obscured . No one knew his real identity . Not even Crow Mask and Pierrot Mask, who were on the same side as him .

Come to think of it, there were an infinite number of questions about him .

He had a strategic weapon with a level of power that matched what a homunculus was capable of . He had access to an unimaginable number of artifacts with utility that defied common sense . All these tools would be impossible for a human of the modern era to accumulate and maintain possession of .

“What’s more, he never once talked about what his true goal was . ”

“ ‘Only for the sake of Artemis…’ – or so he said . ”

“His actions have been even more irregular recently . ”

Pierrot Mask pointed outside the window .

There was some sort of structure outside . It was releasing dusty smoke as if it were some kind of machine . It was a bizarre-looking giant sculpture completely made out of steel .

“He ordered the collection of magic stones from all over the country in order to build that . ”

“I’m aware . He didn’t even tell us what it’s for . ” 

“He clearly has a different goal from what we have in mind . By using us as his pawns, he is steadily making progress on his own plan . And whatever his plan is, it is most definitely not in our favor . ” 

It certainly was concerning .

In his own mysterious way, Skull Mask was clearly progressing some plan that he kept to himself . It was highly likely that, if he continued uninhibited, he would end up destroying their own plan in the process .

It was true that it was perturbing . Despite the unsettling feeling, Crow Mask could only sigh .

“Whatever his goal is, we have no choice but to follow him . ”

Crow Mask’s choice wasn’t out of anything vain like loyalty .

“Making use of the resources he provides far outweighs any risk he poses . ”

“Willing to take any risk for the goal, huh? I like that attitude . ”

Pierrot Mask looked back at him .

“But it still feels really dangerous to me . ” 

*Thud*

There was a dull sound of something heavy crashing .

—-

Chapter brought to you by The Patrons .

???: …

ED: Purplemen101

TLC: N/A

QC: Nhan