The reason he could become the best was that he treasured his subordinates and knew how to acknowledge his opponents.
“If I accept this glass, will you consider that base threat to have never happened?” “Of course.
As I said before, I simply want to get along with you, Elder.”
I raised my whiskey glass and proposed a toast.
“While you are here, you’ll be keeping a junior who is just like you by your side.” “You have a knack for saying disgusting things so nonchalantly.”
Darc lightly lifted his whiskey glass.
Then, the Head of the National Tax Service, standing behind him, asked with a worried expression.
“Elder.
Surely you’re not going to drink?
I thought you quit for your health…” “Chief.”
The old man turned to his subordinate with a meaningful look.
“Do you remember who the last person I shared a drink with was?” “It was the Commander of the Imperial Knights, Roben.”
“Yes, he came to me after you caught him for tax evasion.” “That’s right.
Even though I’d given him plenty of warning.”
The Great Elder, who only drank with those on his level.
“This friend before me has no blood ties to back him up, nor an informant to warn him of a surprise attack.”
He looked at me intently.
“And yet he defended perfectly, and even went so far as to threaten this old man.
When the strongest sword in the Empire was begging me for forgiveness.”
A faint smile appeared on Darc’s lips, reflected in the glass.
As if he was reminded of his own youth when he defied his superiors.
“An alliance is something you make with a troublesome fellow like this.”
The look in his eyes, which had seen me as a greenhorn, changed.
As if he had found a promising prospect worth raising.
Clang—!!
The two glasses collided with force.
Now that he had finally shown sincerity, it was my turn to respond.
“I will also tell you my plan to regain the trust of the subordinates you mentioned earlier.” “Speak.”
“Soon, there will be a large swordsmanship tournament hosted by the Grand Duke of the North.” “I know.
That kid came and told me to come watch.
Said he’s put up a pretty big prize.”
Darc, calling the Grand Duke of the North a ‘kid’.
He, who had little interest in the tournament, flinched at my following declaration.
“I will go as the prison’s representative and take care of the Holy See’s knights.
All three of the Great Holy Knights.”
The Order of Holy Knights.
One of the strongest knight orders on the continent, alongside the Empire’s Imperial Knights.
Among them, the Three Great Holy Knights were known as promising new stars.
“I will make it so my guards won’t even dare to look in the Holy See’s direction.”
He said that a mere scoundrel of a warden would bring such men down.
At this, the corners of the Great Elder’s heavy lips finally lifted.
“That silver tongue of yours won’t work in actual combat.” “Even if I lose, I’m the only one who dies, am I not?
You, Elder, have nothing to lose.”
Darc silently watched the confident green eyes.
If it were the first time they’d met, he would have thought it was just the bluff of a scoundrel, but now it was different.
“Fine.
What do you need me to do?”
As it was a difficult task, his eyes were filled with anticipation for what I would demand.
As if to return the favor, I too, requested something he hadn’t thought of.
“When I win, grant me an audience with Her Highness, the Princess.”
The woman with the second-highest rank in this vast Empire after the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
And I requested an audience with the current Master of the Magic Tower, the Archmage.
Because only if she doesn’t die can the Elder’s rage be completely prevented.
“…”
The Great Elder, who had cared for his niece like a daughter in place of the frail Empress.
Upon hearing my request, the shadow on his face deepened.
“What did you just say?” “I wish to meet Her Highness, the Princess.
There is something I absolutely must tell her.”
As I was thinking of a way to prevent her assassination.
I suddenly got goosebumps all over my body and looked back at Darc.
“Was the aspiration you’ve shown until now all for my niece?” “…?”
The noble king, his brows knitted with tension.
Both his fists were on the verge of strangling the sinister snake.
“So the reason you’ve been so diligent until now was for the sake of marrying up.” “…?”
Clea also stared at me with a sullen expression.
Because the princess was a possessor of great beauty, and at the same time, my damn biological older brothers were famous for being libertines.
The two synergies pierced me in a truly exquisite way.
Thanks to that, it took me a whole hour to clear up this damn misunderstanding.