Overwhelming Firepower

As Lucen expected, First Prince Elric was the first member of the royal family to enter the war. Elric demanded several Fenrirs, airships, and the newest rifles produced in Ironhold.

As the heir to the Northern Duke, Lucen possessed enough influence to delay the demand or provide a reasonable excuse for refusing it. The Fenrirs were still experimental, the airships were needed to patrol the North, and Ironhold could only manufacture a limited number of the newer rifles each month.

No one could easily force the Thorneharts to surrender weapons produced within their own territory. However, refusing Elric would create more problems than it solved.

The prince was leading an army against an enemy kingdom. If Lucen refused to provide him with weapons while soldiers were dying along the border, the political enemies of the Thorneharts would accuse the Thorneharts of hoarding their strength and placing their own influence above Norvaegard.

So Lucen gave the prince two Fenrirs, a couple of airships, and an older model of the rifles.

It was not only the First Prince who had begun making moves. Second Prince Gregory had also entered the war, although his approach was far more subtle.

Unlike Elric, Gregory did not request an army or travel toward the border. He remained in the capital and used his personal wealth and connections to organize supplies for the soldiers.

Wagons carrying food, medicine, mana crystals, and replacement equipment began traveling toward every major front. He also arranged for additional healers to be stationed near the border and promised compensation to the families of soldiers who died during the war.

To the people of Norvaegard, Gregory appeared to be supporting the kingdom without using the conflict to pursue personal glory.

However, Lucen understood what the Second Prince was actually gaining.

Every commander requesting supplies had to report the size and condition of his army. Gregory learned how much ammunition each force possessed, which units had suffered casualties, and where reinforcements were most urgently needed.

It was information someone could use to support the war. It was also information someone could use to control it.

’Second Prince Gregory. The man many players believed had orchestrated the deaths of his siblings. There had never been any proof, but in most routes, he was the one crowned king in the end. The way he operated from the shadows had only strengthened those suspicions.’

Lucen could not assume that everything the players believed was true. The game had deliberately left many events surrounding the royal family unexplained, allowing players to form their own theories.

However, he also could not ignore what Gregory ultimately gained from those deaths.

’For now, I’d better observe him for now. Those masked b*stards are also doing some sh*t here and there. Still, Alexander and his group are dealing with them spectacularly.’

In the original game, there weren’t any signs of the masked b*stards, but their actions had been done by a similar group.

’Are they the same group? Did they just change their wardrobe preference? Anyway, Alexander, who had been trained by the Martial God, and his group should be able to handle them.’

Compared to the threat of Inevir, the masked group’s chaotic actions were the least of Lucen’s problems, for now.

That did not mean Lucen intended to leave them unchecked.

He had already increased the protection surrounding Robert and Durik, while agents from the North continued searching for the rifles stolen from the border patrol. Unfortunately, none of the captured subordinates knew who was truly commanding them.

They had received orders through intermediaries, used equipment gathered from several kingdoms, and carried nothing that could identify their allegiance.

Whoever led the masked group understood how to keep their organization hidden.

However, Lucen could not personally deal with every suspicious group appearing throughout the kingdom. Alexander and his companions needed real opponents to continue growing, and the masked group’s subordinates had provided exactly that.

’It’s practically a side quest designed to give the protagonists experience.’

While he was thinking one of his many communication orbs started glowing; it was Lysette’s communication orb. Lucen used a mana crystal to activate the Communication orb.

Lysette’s image appeared above the orb. Her golden-blonde hair fell neatly around her shoulders, while her deep-blue eyes held their usual cheerful light. A porcelain cup rested in her hands.

”Good day, Sir Lucen. I hope I am not disturbing you.” As usual, Lysette showed a smile that masked her real thoughts.

”Let’s skip the formalities and tell me what you need.”

”Oh my, you’re more aggressive than usual today.”

”I have a war to manage. If you called merely to tease me, then I’m ending this call.”

Lucen knew that Lysette wouldn’t call him just to tease, knowing the situation. Still, he needed to say it to get the conversation going.

”Then you won’t get to hear the information I have.”

”What information?”

Lysette slowly lowered her cup. Her pleasant smile remained, but the amusement disappeared from her eyes.

”I believe someone may attempt to assassinate His Majesty.”

Lucen’s expression immediately changed.

”How certain are you?”

”Not certain enough to accuse anyone. Concerned enough that I did not trust the warning to a messenger.”

Lucen frowned; in the game, the king was already dead before the start of this war, but in this reality, he still lives.

’The king in the game was someone who died due to sickness, but for some reason this time he did not get sick. Now, instead of sickness, he was going to be assassinated. Like every other event, even though it is out of order, it still happens in some way or form. Does that mean it’s still possible that the third prince becomes that worthless loser in the game and the second princess is killed?’

Lucen did not like those thoughts; that meant everything he did was meaningless. The lives he changed were only temporarily changed until fate got to them.

’No, that can’t be true! Isn’t me sitting here enough proof that fate can be changed? Lucen Thornehart was someone who died earlier than anyone in the game, and he was never meant to do anything. Yet here I am; even though I don’t shine as brightly as Alexander, I shine all the same.’

Lucen gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. Lysette watched him through the orb and spoke, interrupting his thoughts.

”Sir Lucen?”

Lucen slowly loosened his fists. ”I’m fine. Tell me, how do you think they intend to do it?”

”His Majesty will inspect the soldiers being sent to reinforce the border tomorrow afternoon. Afterward, his carriage will travel through the eastern district before returning to the palace.”

Seeing as Lysette had information about the king that he did not, Lucen could already guess the plan to assassinate the king.

”If there is to be an attack, they’re planning to do it when his carriage is leaving after he leaves the inspection.”

”Correct. This is why I like talking to you, Sir Lucen, always quick in the uptake.”

Lysette showed a blossoming smile that would have captivated any other young man, but Lucen was always on guard, knowing what kind of person she was from the different routes.

”Where along the route will they attack?”

”The road narrows before the eastern plaza. His Majesty’s carriage will have to slow down while passing between several tall buildings.”

”An ideal location for an ambush.”

”Especially for one carried out from a distance. Don’t you think so?”

”Yes, the assassins could attack from the buildings. So why do you think someone will assassinate the king?”

”There’s always someone out there who wishes to assassinate a royal. Especially now that we are at war, many people wish to assassinate the king. Enemies, allies, and everything in between.”

”So just a guess then.”

”Well, even so, are you willing to take the gamble that no one will take this chance to assassinate the king?”

There was a slight pause before Lucen answered. ”No... Very well, I will send men to occupy those buildings so that no one can use them to ambush anyone.”

Lysette smiled. ”A rather simple precaution, especially coming from you.”

Lucen shrugged his shoulders and answered. ”Sometimes simple is best.”

”And if there is no assassin?”

”Then my men spend a day staring out of windows.”

”I see...”

”Have you informed the king of this?”

”Of course, I haven’t. Saying such a thing without any evidence to support my idea would only lead to disaster for my family and me. Not to mention, such an obvious thing either his majesty or someone from his side would have noticed it as well.”

”Then why bother telling me?” Lucen asked, a little confused, but of course, he did not show it on his face.

”Why else? Just in case. Also, I just wanted to have an excuse to talk to a busy person such as yourself.”

Lucen studied her face. ”You’re a terrible liar.”

”Oh? Which part do you believe was a lie?”

”The part where you needed an excuse.” Lysette did not deny it.

”Is that all you wanted to say?” Lucen asked.

”Of course not, but since you are so terribly busy, I shall graciously take my leave.”

”How considerate of you.”

”I can be considerate on rare occasions.”

Lysette lifted her cup. ”Do try to keep His Majesty alive, Sir Lucen.”

”I was planning to.”

Her image vanished before he could say more.

Lucen summoned an officer and ordered Thornefang soldiers in the capital to occupy the buildings overlooking the king’s route.

To Lysette, this was just a guess, a gut feeling, but to Lucen, who knew of the other routes, this might actually be a real threat.

’I’d better head out myself to make sure.’ Once he made that decision, Lucen stood up from his chair, put on his trench coat, and left.