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A loud trumpet blast, filled with inner force.
The signal for the Espin Elaina Marquis's army to prepare for battle.
It serves to inform the troops of the impending combat.
But it also contains the intention of causing the enemy to lose their will to fight.
"You all stay in the barracks."
"Let us come with you."
Espin Elaina looked over Davian and his two companions again.
"With your skills, you should be fine. Do as you please, Davian. But if a battle breaks out, don't get too involved. You don't want to get demerits from the Academy."
Was he teasing him?
Espin kept bringing up the Academy demerits.
But there was no sarcasm to be found in his tone.
In fact, Espin was sincere.
The day Davian first came to him with the Venenum Pool.
He had heard that he would get demerits if he didn't return quickly.
At the time, Espin had been deeply moved.
Demerits?
To have such skills at this age.
More than that, to be faithful to his current situation and to abide by the rules of the organization he belongs to.
If Espin had possessed that level of skill at that age.
He would have quit the Academy long ago to pursue bigger dreams.
But Davian Naone was different.
Rather than simply showing off his skills.
He was the kind of person who could adapt himself to the current situation.
And yet, he did not hesitate to assert his presence.
'A wonderful fellow.'
Of course, he thought this way because he didn't know that Davian's main quest was graduation.
In any case, that was how Davian appeared in Espin Elaina's eyes.
Espin headed for the entrance of the encampment with a few knights.
Davian, Mons, and Sara followed behind.
"What, it was you?"
"Greetings, Marquis Espin."
A figure in golden armor bowed respectfully to Espin.
Davian had seen him before.
Gregory Garrett.
The Commander of the 2nd Royal Guard of the Alcancia Kingdom.
He had personally interrogated Davian, who had the Ferrarius Gauntlet, and escorted Glacie and Davian to the King.
"So, you've become the Commander of the 2nd Royal Guard?"
Gregory Garrett looked up and smiled brightly.
"Wasn't it about time? Senior."
"Hahaha."
Espin Elaina laughed heartily.
"To think that you're already a Royal Guard Commander. I must be getting old."
"Old? You're in better shape than when you left the royal court."
The two men greeted each other like old acquaintances.
But behind Espin Elaina, tens of thousands of soldiers in the marquis's army were ready for battle.
And behind Gregory Garrett, about 200 members of the 2nd Royal Guard and tens of thousands of soldiers under the 2nd Royal Guard were lined up in formation.
"It's good to see you, but did you come to fight?"
Gregory Garrett looked at Espin with a serious expression.
Depending on Gregory's answer.
A war could break out between the marquis's army and the Royal Guard.
The battle would be fierce.
The 2nd Royal Guard would eventually be annihilated.
Then all of the royal family's combat troops would pour in here.
After that... Gregory didn't know.
There was no need to think that far.
And fortunately.
Gregory had no intention of fighting Espin right now.
"Hahaha, how could I? Who would want to fight you, Senior?"
Espin smirked and pointed his chin at Gregory's back.
"What are those knights and soldiers behind you?"
"The royal family has to save face, doesn't it?"
"Is that your intention?"
Gregory nodded.
"I spoke to the Regent myself and was the first to deploy like this. I don't know what your intentions are, Marquis, but we have to prevent a war, don't we?"
Gregory explained that he had come himself with the entire 2nd Royal Guard and its subordinate soldiers to save face for the royal family, in case something happened and the royal family sent other troops.
But.
Regardless of his commendable intentions.
Another word touched Espin's nerves.
"Regent...? Not the King? Since when did the Royal Guard become an army that reports to and moves under the command of the Regent?"
"Ah... well, let's go inside and talk, Senior. It's going to be a long story. There are too many ears listening here."
"What? The Royal Guard is moving under the orders of the Military Regent?"
"Yes. Except for the 1st Royal Guard. Anyway, the 1st Royal Guard's mission is to protect His Majesty, so the reason is that the remaining troops will be operated more efficiently."
"It's certain that the 1st Royal Guard only moves under the King's orders?"
"At least on the surface..."
Crack, crack!
The edge of the wooden desk that Espin was holding broke off.
"That bastard Dux Miles dares to manipulate the Royal Guard as he pleases?"
Gregory shook his head.
"The problem isn't Military Regent Dux Miles."
"Then?"
"It's Administrative Regent Publius Solus above him. He's practically leading the other two regents."
Even though they were the only two in the barracks.
Gregory lowered his voice even more.
"He's called the most powerful man in Alcancia right now."
"Publius? I think I've heard of him. He's not a familiar figure, though?"
"He's been building his position in politics for a long time. You may not know him well, Marquis, since you were only in the Royal Guard before leaving."
Gregory, who briefly told the situation of the royal family, took out a letter from his chest.
It was a letter sealed with the royal family's emblem.
"What's that?"
"It's a letter for you, Marquis. I came to deliver this. Maybe..."
Gregory handed over the letter in very slow motion.
"It's probably not good news. Administrative Regent Publius Solus wrote it himself."
Thud.
Espin quickly snatched the letter.
Tear.
After roughly tearing open the outer envelope.
He unfolded the letter.
Before long, Espin's hands were shaking.
"How dare..."
Gregory was a junior in the Royal Guard who had fought alongside Espin on the battlefield.
He was trying his best not to touch Espin's nerves by alternating between calling him Marquis and Senior.
Of course, it wasn't because he was afraid of Espin and her army.
He had been in the Royal Guard for nearly 20 years and had been the Commander of the Royal Guard for several years.
He wasn't afraid of dying on the battlefield.
It was an honor if the opponent was Espin.
However.
If he touched Espin's nerves here.
An irreversible disaster could strike the capital of Alcancia.
Gregory didn't want that.
"What... what does it say? Senior."
Espin Elaina's angry voice filled the small barracks.
"It says to immediately withdraw the army to Portus City. And that I am to enter the royal palace separately. He says he's going to charge me with treason."
Gregory's face turned pale.
"I-It's just a power play. This is how Administrative Regent Publius Solus does politics. He's not a soldier, he's a politician, so he sent this letter. Marquis, please calm down..."
Espin's voice cooled down again.
"A power play, huh? A power play is good. Now, Gregory, you go back to the royal palace."
"Senior? May I ask what your plan is..."
"I'm going to advance into the capital."
"Senior...!"
"I'm going to seal all the gates of the royal palace from the outside and try to talk again. I'll see if they can still spout such nonsense then."
"That could start a real war!"
Espin chuckled.
"If I was going to start a war first, I'd just crush the 2nd Royal Guard right now. Go back. I have my reasons."
"What, what did you say?"
"The Espin Elaina Marquis's army has entered the capital."
"The capital defense force!"
"I'm told they're being pushed back without daring to engage. They've asked the Royal Guard for help."
"You fools! Is that what you call the capital defense force that protects the kingdom's capital!"
"That's, Marquis Espin has made a proposal."
"A proposal? What proposal?"
"That's..."
"What proposal!"
The hesitant adjutant finally opened his mouth.
"He said... either all die, or retreat to the front gate of the royal palace. Choose one."
"You crazy...! This is treason! Isn't that openly attacking the royal palace!"
Royal Palace Front Gate.
2nd Royal Guard Commander Gregory Garrett is on the ramparts above the front gate.
Outside the front gate, Espin has brought her army and is standing there.
An evacuation order has been issued to the citizens near the royal palace, and Espin's hundreds of thousands of troops have surrounded the royal palace.
Gregory shouted with inner force.
"Marquis Espin Elaina! You must not come any closer!"
"I know."
Espin Elaina took a step forward.
He took out a letter from his pocket and threw it up towards the ramparts.
Despite being a light piece of paper, it flew through the air sharply as if throwing a hidden weapon.
Thud.
Gregory caught the letter that Espin threw.
"2nd Royal Guard Commander Gregory Garrett. Deliver that letter to the King. You personally."
A troubled expression appeared on Gregory's face.
"I will deliver it, but the procedure is complicated."
"I won't say it twice. You deliver it to the King yourself. Don't forget that the Royal Guard is the King's direct unit."
Espin hit his chest twice with his fist, then stretched out his arm and pointed at Gregory Garrett.
A Royal Guard-style greeting to confirm each other's trust.
Huff...
Gregory took a deep breath and did the same, hitting his chest twice with his fist before pointing at Espin.
"I understand, Senior."
"Get out of the way."
"The Military Regent has declared a state of emergency. You cannot enter any further without the permission of the High Council."
"Don't you know who I am?"
"You are General Gregory Garrett, Commander of the 2nd Royal Guard."
"That's right. Who would stop the Royal Guard Commander, who protects the King, from meeting His Majesty?"
"However, a state of emergency has been declared now, so..."
"If you don't open the way right now, a real state of emergency will occur."
Gregory grabbed the gatekeeper soldier by the collar and pulled him towards him.
Then, he whispered in the soldier's ear.
"I have to deliver Marquis Espin's letter. Otherwise, a war will break out here right now. If you keep stopping me, you and your family and your friends will pay the price."
"Even so, I have to report..."
Gregory swung his arm back with the gatekeeper soldier still by the collar.
The gatekeeper's body, wearing thick heavy armor, flew like a paper doll.
Thud!
It made a loud sound as it crashed against the wall.
"Go report it right now. I'm going to go through this gate. Ah. If the Military Regent tries to blame you, report that I overpowered the gatekeepers and went through by force. It's not wrong either."
Creak.
Gregory opened the door leading to the center of the royal palace.
It was something that would get him fired from the 2nd Royal Guard immediately if the Military Regent found out.
No, it wouldn't end with being kicked out of the Royal Guard, he might even be executed with a trumped-up charge of treason.
However.
If he doesn't deliver this letter now, many more people might die.
'I have to stop the war.'
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