Reborn As Noble

”I think that’s enough chit-chat... since this is getting kinda boring, you know.”

Mulkas fell silent, his mind racing, desperately searching for a way to escape.

If... if only I could reach the room...

I set up a barrel of gunpowder inside, enough to blow this entire building to pieces. If I could just get close enough, I could ignite it and take this golden knight down with me.

But... how?

Just as he was about to say something, he noticed both his hands suddenly bound by glowing magic handcuffs the moment the golden knight snapped his fingers.

”Alright, let’s get you out of here and send you directly to the Punisher.”

”W... wait!” Mulkas stammered, panic rising in his voice.

”Oh? What is it?”

”At... at least let me get something from my room. It’s my right as a prisoner to gather my personal belongings!”

Javier chuckled, his voice dripping with amusement.

”Oh... you mean you’re going to get this thing? Hmm?” Javier raised his palm, and a barrel filled with gunpowder materialized in his hand, the old-style bomb that required a flame to ignite before exploding.

Mulkas’s eyes widened in shock.

Javier chuckled darkly. ”Do you think I’m dumb? You forgot I’m a genius, didn’t you? I already swept the entire building before I even kicked the door down. Did you really think I’d leave a bomb waiting for me?”

Mulkas gritted his jaw, his mind racing.

Shit, shit, shit. Who is this guy?

How does he know what I’m planning? How does he know what I’m thinking? Is he reading my mind? Or is he just that good at predicting moves?

No... I can’t let this end here.

He raised both hands, attempting to activate his magic, but his eyes widened in shock when he realized his mana wasn’t responding. No matter how hard he tried, the magic wouldn’t channel.

Javier exhaled, shaking his head. ”You know a little bit of magic, huh? But you were stupid enough not to notice that the magic handcuffs are designed to bind any magic activation. Man... it’s rare for me to see someone outside Armand who knows magic. But well... it’s not like it’s going to work anyway.”

Mulkas stared at his bound hands in disbelief, too shocked to form words.

”You’re also wondering how, huh? Well... that’s why Armand is different from the rest of the world. We don’t just rely on brute strength or outdated tactics. We adapt. We innovate. And we’re always ten steps ahead of people like you.”

Mulkas turned when he heard the synchronized footsteps of an approaching army. From a distance, he saw a large contingent of Mathrias soldiers marching toward them, led by a familiar face.

His face twisted in hatred when he recognized Captain Bhujar, his former subordinate who had remained loyal to Lord Rolland.

Bhujar stopped and gave a proper salute to Javier.

”Your Highness.”

”Mm. This traitor is already captured. Make sure he’s escorted to the transport drone. I don’t want him causing any more trouble.”

”As you command, Your Highness.”

Mulkas struggled against his restraints, shouting in protest. ”No! I refuse to be captured by someone of lower rank! I am a General! I demand to be treated with respect!”

Javier tilted his head and chuckled. ”Huh? What are you talking about? This is the new General of the Mathrias Army. General Bhujar.”

”W... what?” Mulkas’s face went pale.

Javier shook his head and exhaled before glancing at Bhujar.

”Bring the prisoner to the transport drone. We’re sending him directly to Armand for proper judgment.”

”As you command, Your Highness.” Bhujar saluted, signaling his soldiers to move forward.

”No! I refuse to be escorted by this guy! I don’t care if he’s the new general or whatever, he’s still beneath me! I demand to be treated with the respect due to my rank!” Mulkas shouted, struggling against his restraints.

”Ugh... what a headache.” Javier rubbed his helmeted head in annoyance. ”Man... I really have the urge to kill you right here and now, but because my father commanded me not to, I have to obey. Damn.”

He glanced to his side, and a figure in full tactical gear, wearing a full mask with the Armand emblem of the Shadow House, materialized silently.

”Your Highness.” The masked man placed his fist over his left chest and bowed slightly.

”Bring this annoying shithead and make sure he arrives at Armand without any trouble. Deliver him directly to Alf.”

”As you command, Your Highness.”

The masked man stepped forward, approaching Mulkas without a word. He raised his fist and delivered a single, precise punch straight to Mulkas’s face, knocking him unconscious instantly.

He grabbed Mulkas by the collar and dragged him away, while several other masked figures materialized behind him, following in perfect silence to escort the captured general.

Bhujar and his soldiers fell silent as the Shadow House operatives passed by.

Javier turned and clasped both hands behind his back, his golden armor gleaming under the fading light of the battlefield. He glanced at Bhujar with a calm, authoritative gaze.

”Bhujar.”

”Yes, Your Highness.”

”Collect all the gold, money, and treasure inside this building, along with anything else of value that can be sold, and bring it to the Mathrias Treasury. It will be used to rebuild and restore what the traitors have stolen from the people.”

He paused, his voice turning cold. ”And kill all the traitors. Leave no one alive. You heard what my father commanded before: no traitor will be pardoned, captured, or absorbed back into the Mathrias Army. Every single one of them must be eliminated.”

He turned his gaze toward the sky, where several attack helicopters still hovered above, scanning the area for remaining traitors. Several Armand soldiers stood on the mana helicopter’s sides, pointing their mana rifles toward the ground, scanning for any remaining traitors.

”You know my father’s words are absolute. There will be no mercy for those who chose betrayal.”

”As you command, Your Highness.”

”Mm... good. Now go. Finish the job and secure this region.”

Meanwhile.

Beastkin Nation.

A village at a distance from the Royal Capital.

The Royal Beastkin Assassin units stood over the fallen human assassins from Hanarak Houses, their bodies scattered across the ground. Two scout units and an officer from the traitor army were captured and bound, kneeling silently with grim expressions.

The leader of the Beastkin unit raised a compact mana radio, about the size of a walkie-talkie, and pressed the transmission button.

”Mission complete. All enemy combatants neutralized. Hanarak assassination team eliminated. Awaiting further orders.”

A soft crackle sounded before a calm, clear voice responded.

”Good job. Report back to base once the area is secured.”

”Understood.” The leader lowered the radio and clipped it to his belt.

He glanced over the scene, his sharp eyes scanning the fallen enemies and the captured prisoners.

”Looks like the information provided by Armand was accurate. They even pinpointed their hideout and their movement schedule. Without that intel, this mission would have been far more complicated.”

He turned toward his gathered units, his voice firm.

”Bring the captured prisoners to the royal prison. Their fate will be decided by His Majesty, the King.”

”As you command, Leader.”

The leader then glanced at two of his subordinates standing nearby.

”Burn this place down. Leave nothing behind. I will inform the property owner that they will be fully reimbursed through the royal treasury for the loss of their building. The crown will handle the compensation.”

( End Of Chapter )