The Crown Prince stayed put in Command as if he was telling them that he would remain stuck in the Northeast until he personally saw Iron. Crimson was flustered when the Crown Prince, who was originally only going to take a quick look and leave, suddenly decided to stay in the Northeast. 

Just like any other descendant of the Imperial Family, the Crown Prince was also a person who hated uncleanliness and treated ordinary humans as pests due to their lower pedigree. However, the Crown Prince still remained in the Northeast. And he did not just stay. He was fully aware that he would be treated as a thief who wanted to steal a good talent if he stayed for the sole purpose of seeing Iron. So, he apologized to everyone he met while walking around Command. 

The Northeastern officers were embarrassed to see the Crown Prince apologize to them on behalf of the Imperial Family and the Central Government. 

“I’m sorry. I’ll do my best to get more support for the Northeast.” 

The Crown Prince held the officer’s hands with both of his hands and stared at the other embarrassed officers. And it wasn’t just this, he even told them that he would go around the entire Northeast to apologize. 

“I don’t think that they’ll be able to feel my sincerity if I just go around Command and apologize like this.” 

“Do you really need to do that? Just by looking at what you have done so far, it’s clear to see that the soldiers are already fully convinced.” 

Crimson tried to dissuade the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince just shook his head. 

“Anyway, I have to see what the Northeast is really like in order for me to convince the Center to give support. You know?” 

Crimson was left with no other words to dissuade the Crown Prince. In the end, he was forced to take the Crown Prince to travel around the Northeastern Units. 

At first, they thought that the Crown Prince would just roughly say his apologies and leave but he suddenly declared that he would go on a tour and visit all of the units in the Northeast to apologize in earnest. He even began the tour as he rode on a drake the next day. 

Starting with the Command, the Crown Prince bowed his head and apologized as he traveled all over the place. He visited the newly built academy, the training center and all of the military units. As a result, the Crown Prince’s actions in the Northeast were dubbed as the ‘Path of Apology’. These rumors crossed the Northeast down to the North and eventually spread to the Center. 

There was another rumor that circulated while the Crown Prince was busy staying in the Northeast. It was said that the Crown Prince wanted to personally meet with the Winter Mountains’ Hero. 

“Is he going to take away the Winter Mountains’ Hero?” 

“There’s no way the Commander will let him be. He’s someone who will eventually become a key figure in the Northeastern Army, you know?” 

“I know. His eyes for talent might be good but the Crown Prince is too greedy.” 

“I think differently. I believe we should grow our influence further in the Center. It would be better for us to build a network so we would receive better help here in the Northeast in the future.”

Aside from the truth of the rumors, they participated in a heated debate on whether a better result would happen if Iron was taken away. Their two differing opinions clashed in a heated argument.

One side said that there should be a strong power in the Center from the Northeast so they could get better support while the other side insisted that a future key figure should not be taken away. 

In the middle of this, the Crown Prince sent a letter to Iron, who was in the middle of an operation.

“This bastard is selling drugs.”

The words that Iron saw when he read the Crown Prince letter went like this…

[ Nice to meet you,

I am Alexar sol de Granciel. Although I am not good enough, I am the Crown Prince. 

Ahem, ahem… The reason why I sent you this letter is because I wanted to see you once. I’m curious about the hero who had prevented and stopped the dimensional crack. But in fact, it’s because I want to be closer to you. Haha!

I have never seen a hero who’s my age. So please don’t refuse my request.

―The Crown Prince who wants to be your friend ]

The Crown Prince’s letter was screaming of gentleness and amiability. It seemed like he wanted to take on the friendly route to try and get closer to him. However, Iron just snorted at him.

Iron was someone who had fully experienced what the Imperial Family was like in his previous life. So, he was fully aware of the Crown Prince’s character and how he dealt with his subordinates. 

He was two-faced to the point that Iron believed that he could become the top star if he was an actor in his world. He also had a severe belief in pedigrees and bloodlines. A trashy bastard who was greedy to the extreme. 

This was Iron’s evaluation of the Crown Prince based on his experiences from his past life. 

In Iron’s eyes, his wit and acting were top-notch. His wit, discerning eyes and talent for acting was the biggest reason why he was appointed as the Crown Prince among all four of the princes despite not running around with more effort. In addition, he believed that he should only do politics since he was the Imperial Family’s direct lineage. The problem was that he only kept jumping around trying to discern whether he should fight or join forces with the enemy. He was the type of person who secured some skills through his studies but failed to achieve anything due to his narrow vision. 

This was the Crown Prince. 

Despite his younger siblings trying very hard to drive him away from his position, he still sat firmly on the Crown Prince’s seat and gobbled up the Empire a lot of times. Even if he was dragged down, he would still come back to sit firmly on that seat. In the end, he was the one who created a shortcut for the Empire’s defeat.

“You’re quite quick on the uptake.”

Iron could see that the Crown Prince had instinctively felt that embedding himself deep in the Northeast was good for him under the current circumstances. 

If he was lucky, he would receive the support of the Northeasterns. If he was not, public opinion about the Crown Prince would still improve since he sacrificed himself alone and went to the Northeast. 

“Am I lucky that it’s only the Crown Prince who came?”

Iron looked at the distant Black Forest.

If someone other than the Crown Prince had come, he would have been forced to neglect his mission just so he could take care of them. Especially the Fourth Prince, he was extremely troublesome. 

His targeted goal was just right around the corner. In such a situation, he did not have much time to pay attention to the Imperial Family. So he thought that he was a bit lucky that it was the Crown Prince who came to this place.

“What’s that?”

Iron showed Lintel the letter in answer to his question. 

“His Highness the Crown Prince wants to see me.”

“Shouldn’t you go?”

“I’m on a mission, how can I even go and babysit him?”

“No, but His Highness the Crown Prince wants to see you…”

“The mission comes first.”

Iron answered Lintel before sending a reply.

He said that it was difficult to meet with His Highness since he was in the middle of an important mission. Then, he called for a drake knight and asked him to deliver it instead of him. 

“Wow… Did your liver get swollen?”

“Are you telling me that he will kill me just for refusing him?”

Iron shrugged his shoulders as he replied to Lintel. Then, they focused on their mission again. 

After the dimensional crack in the Winter Mountains was sealed, he was promoted to a major. Because of this, he could no longer remain as the outpost leader or even a company commander of a search team. So, he returned to Ghost.

They were now undergoing a mission directly given by Command and were currently combing through the entire Northeast. The Ghosts had two top priorities. The first one was finding the dark elves and the second one was stopping any other dimensional cracks.

After rolling around like some crazy dog for two months straight, they were finally able to find some clues. Thanks to this, he quickly forgot about the Crown Prince’s letter as he focused on the mission. After another month, they were finally able to pinpoint areas at risk for having dimensional cracks based on the clues that they had found. 

And right now, the Ghosts have gathered in one of those areas. 

“Hoo… It’s Owl’s territory…” 

Although this was an old territory, rumors about the Black Forest still circulated countless times. During its heyday, Owl was an existence so strong that even the master level beings had to run away and circumvent from its territory here in the Black Forest. After the Black Forest was opened, the Northeastern monsters’ territories had completely changed. At the same time, the monsters from the Frost Mountain Range also started to become a problem. All of this happened after Owl left its territory in the Black Forest. 

This was also the reason why they had to take over the Black Forest and prevent what the dark elves wanted to do in the Northeast.

Perhaps this would prove to be a more daunting operation than the one they did in the Winter Mountains. After all, the dark elves had blocked their plans in the middle back then but no one was coming to stop them this time.

“Again? Ha! This bastard…”

Iron was extremely annoyed when he received another letter from the Crown Prince. He should have already left after crushing all his hopes but he did not know why he was still so hung up on him to send another letter again. 

“He’s the type to get tired.” 

Lintel looked apologetically at Iron. He was still approaching but it seemed like he already knew the reason why he was reacting like that. 

“He’s tired… because of the Imperial Family.” 

Billie Brandt also looked tired. He looked like he had also experienced what the Imperial Family was like. 

They had reunited after the incident with the dimensional crack. And since they had lived together over the past few months, all of them had gotten closer together. Even his relationship with Billie Brandt, who was well known for being the hardest to get close to, had developed to the point that they could have conversations. 

“It’s a bit different this time.” 

[ His Highness the Crown Prince came to the Rangers 3rd Unit to meet with you, so meet with him temporarily. ]

Lintel couldn’t help but scratch his chin when he saw the commander giving an order personally.

“You are now forced to meet with him.” 

“Hoo…”

All the Ghosts smiled bitterly when they saw Iron sighing. 

“It might take a long time.”

The Ghosts gathered nearby looked at Iron strangely when they heard his words. Even the Rangers looked at Iron strangely. 

“There are rumors that His Highness the Crown Prince is obsessed.”

“Obsessed? Can’t you just reject it? What more can he do if you reject him?”

Iron sighed quietly when he heard Lintel speaking as if this had nothing to do with that.

Lintel could say this because he did not know the extent of the Crown Prince’s obsession. But Iron knew that he wouldn’t be able to say this anymore if he knew that his obsession went beyond the normal level. 

“I heard that the Crown Prince obsession and greed is beyond one’s imagination.”

“Where did you hear such things?”

Lintel looked at Iron incredulously. He was wondering where this guy, who was always with them, gathered rumors. However, strangely enough, the rumors that he had heard were usually correct.

“Anyway, I think I’ll be exhausted.”

“What’s the strategy without you?”

“I’ll just go and come back quickly.”

Lintel sighed and nodded his head when he heard Iron’s words. 

“Don’t worry about us. Just focus on meeting with His Highness the Crown Prince and coming back safely.” 

“Yes.” 

They had been through many activities together. So, after Carl Gustav dropped the words ‘safe’ together with the Crown Prince, all the Ghosts turned around and went back to their position. Even Jim Rogers, the one leading the rangers, also ordered his men to focus. 

Iron bid them goodbye before moving across the forest alone. 

After rolling around and working like a dog under the tutelage of the Lion Family Head, Iron was able to reestablish his path. And right now, he was experiencing explosive growth in his strength. At this state, he felt like the 5th Stage was not that far away from his grasp.

“Fweeeet!”

At the sound of Iron’s whistle, a drake slowly descended on the safe zone. Since the drake knight was on the ready in case of emergency or support request, it quickly descended on the ground in just one call.

The drake flew away as soon as Iron climbed up. Just like that, Iron quickly headed to the 3rd Unit, where the Crown Prince was currently staying. 

The Ranger 3rd Unit was located in the previous academy’s 3rd year academy. When he arrived there, he saw the Crown Prince waiting for him at the military camp.

“I have seen Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince smiled widely when he saw Iron getting off the drake while he approached him.

“Oooh! Are you the Winter Mountains’ Hero?”

The Crown Prince immediately grabbed Iron’s hands. 

“I can’t believe you’re this young… The commander sure found someone reliable.” 

The Crown Prince’s eyes shone as if he was jealous of the commander. Then, the Crown Prince stepped back and bowed his head towards Iron. 

“Your Highness?” 

Iron’s eyebrows twitched when he saw him bowing his head at him.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault that such a young man like you is working in a dangerous place like this.” 

“Not at all.” 

“I heard that you had a hard time in the Winter Mountains because of the lack of proper support in the Northeast.” 

“My other comrades had a harder time than me.” 

The Crown Prince’s expression hardened for a while when he heard Iron’s sharp and blunt answers. However, he immediately let go of this rigid expression.

“If your deeds have been properly reported to the Center, you would have probably received a peerage… It’s my fault that you stopped at a two-step promotion.” 

“I believe I have already received too many rewards for my services.” 

“Not at all. No… You deserve to have a title. Commander.” 

“Yes, Your Highness?” 

“Is it alright for me to borrow the Major?” 

Crimson’s expression hardened when he heard the Crown Prince’s words.

“Borrow…” 

“I want Major Iron to receive what he needs to receive before sending him back here.” 

As the Crown Prince said this, he turned to look at Iron with shining eyes. 

“I want to give you the title of Count, but with my position, giving you the title of a Baron is my limit. But I will give you a fief of your own even though it's small. I’ll also try and give you a higher rank. So let’s go and see His Majesty together.” 

The Crown Prince spoke amiably as he tried to seduce Iron with a title of nobility. He seemed like he was trying to do this for Iron but he was just trying to strengthen his position by using Iron, who had gained the title of a hero. It was his trick to raise the capital’s evaluation of him to the roofs. Although he was doing it all for himself, his expression looked like he was pitying Iron for being treated unfairly. 

These were sweet fruits that Iron would have definitely grasped with his own hands if he had only seen the Crown Prince for the first time in his life. After all, no one who was in a situation where he was being held back by the military would be satisfied with just those meager rewards. 

However, for Iron who had been beaten once to the ground by their despicable family, his words were just like a dog’s bark. 

‘Stop talking shit.’ 

Even though this was what Iron truly felt, he just bowed his head to the Crown Prince. 

“Thank you for your offer but I refuse.” 

The Crown Prince’s expression hardened when he heard Iron’s refusal.

“The mission that we are currently doing is extremely important. Although I’m not worthy enough, I still play an important role. So going with Your Highness for something like that is going to be hard.”

“Is it that important?”

“That’s how it is for me.”

The Crown Prince turned to look at the Commander when he heard this.

Crimson sighed as he quietly spoke.

“It’s related to the dimensional crack.” 

“Ho…” 

Since the dimensional crack had appeared in their conversation, the Crown Prince could no longer dare suggest that Iron be brought away. 

“What a pity. But after your mission is over, come to the capital. I will make you a noble without fail.” 

“I’ll do that, Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince felt pity with Iron’s answer but he had no choice but to step down as he turned around with the commander. 

A smile formed on Iron’s mouth when he saw the slightly distorted expression of the Crown Prince before he turned around completely. 

‘As long as I’m here, you won’t be able to take anything away from the Northeast.’

Iron laughed deep inside. 

Commander Crimson was already following his proposal. Even the North and the Leonhardts were also following his plans. 

Iron had requested that the Lion Family Head help the Northeast as the condition for winning the bet. And he was faithfully carrying out his side of the bet. Meanwhile, Crimson had already started implementing the Northeast Independence Operation that he had proposed long ago. 

In other words, it did not matter to them what the Crown Prince did here or what he reported to the capital. This was also the reason why Iron could freely reject the Crown Prince’s offer. 

In fact, it would have been better if it ended here. But unfortunately for them, the Crown Prince had an abnormal desire to have the best catch and special talents so he had not stopped and even became more clingy. 

He said that he wanted to know more about Iron before he left the 3rd Unit. So, he followed him around from a short distance. But Iron’s answer to the Crown Prince, who was sticky like a taffy, had always remained sharp and blunt. 

“I apologize, Your Highness.” 

“What a pity. You’re quite tough.” 

Whenever the Crown Prince asked about something, Iron would answer him like this and give him no room for arguments. Even though he lived in the 3rd Unit for as long as three days, he was not able to breach Iron’s impregnable iron wall and eventually failed to persuade him. 

When Crimson gave him a hint that he could no longer go on like this, he was forced to prepare to leave for the capital right away. But even if he was already going to depart, the Crown Prince still maintained his act as he looked at them with disappointment. 

“It’s sad that I have to go back to the capital alone like this. What a pity. I have to leave a talent like you behind.”

“If I have the chance, I will definitely visit the capital and meet with Your Highness.”

“Do that. If you come, I will definitely give you a decree so you can come and visit me anytime.”

The Crown Prince left those words as if he was already the Emperor before turning around and climbing on top of the drake. 

Iron mumbled to himself as he watched him fly away with the two commanders. 

“He’s still good at playing around with that silver tongue of his.” 

Iron couldn’t help but smile after watching the Crown Prince acting like that. The Crown Prince was acting like an amiable and generous man but he knew that he wouldn’t be able to control his anger once he was out of sight. 

“Ah! Feels nice!” 

Perhaps it was because he had given the Crown Prince a hit on the face after not seeing him for a long time that Iron was feeling good right now. With that feeling lingering in his head, Iron returned to his mission with a refreshed look on his face and a smile blooming on his mouth. 

Since the Crown Prince was safely sent back, the Northeast would now have the time to concentrate on the Black Forest for a while. Rather than them, it would be the capital who would fall into confusion.

Unlike in his previous life when the Northeast had fallen in a crisis during this period in time, it would be the capital who would fall into a crisis this time around. Although the Crown Prince went to the Northeast to control the public’s sentiment to some extent by apologizing, the discussions and negotiations for the most important support materials were not brought up at all.

The Command had already done a lot of work in advance. In a situation where they secretly found more clues and the risk of a dimensional crack was once again emphasized, what would happen if the support supplies reduction had been spread? By that time, the masses’ complaints about the nobles would continue to grow and their desire for a revolt would reach an all time high as their taxes soared higher and higher. 

In the end, what the Crown Prince did in the Northeast was just temporarily increasing his evaluation from the masses. He did not do anything substantial.

Whether they would receive opposition from the nobles or complaints from the people of the Empire, dissatisfaction for the Imperial Family and the Central Government would still be expressed one way or the other.

Iron was certain that the enormous power that the Imperial Family held in his previous life would not be maintained in this life. 

“Well… I’m pretty sure they already knew that there was something suspicious in the Northeast. Did they find it successfully?”

Iron giggled to himself. 

He wondered how the Crown Prince, who had only apologized and inspected the area, would be treated once he came back to the capital.

***

Notes

[Selling drugs] 약을 파네 – Literally selling drugs. It means that someone is selling fake drugs saying that it’s the real deal. Basically,  they’re telling something that they didn’t mean. Like lying with a straight face or something like that.

[Did your liver get swollen?] 너 간땡이가 부었구나? – He’s asking him if he became bold/brave. Any idiom related to the liver is talking about courage, bravery, recklessness.