Chapter 66 - Battle for the Throne 3 (2/2)

“Oh, I also saw that you managed to secure large quantities of Wildfire. Who did you buy from?”

“It is none of your business….”

With a glance from Count Gwain, the guards rushed toward Woohyuk. However, they never even managed to get close.

“Ugh…”

“Kuhuk”

Seeing his guards drop to the ground, Count Gwain’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘Since when was the Duke so good with a sword?’

He knew that he had enjoyed hunting, but never that he practiced any martial arts.

It was as if he had been knocked on the head and became a new person.

“I’ll give you one more chance to answer my question, but I assure you this will be the last.”

Woohyuk said as he placed Grandia against the Count’s neck, his eyes hiding a violence behind them.

Count Gwain gulped nervously.

“It’s the Cohen merchant group from the free city of Media. I heard that they were able to procure it from the Owen kingdom.”

The Owen kingdom was just south-east of the Holy Aperian Empire. It was quite the distance from the Rhine kingdom.

Still, Woohyuk had a good idea who it was that the Cohen merchant group had dealt with.

‘Could it be the Golden Rose Society?’

A secret organization composed of masters in their respective fields. It’s purpose was to control the Eeth continent from behind the scenes, using their vast network and deep pockets.

They were definitely a group worth having friendly relations with, since they were so influential that they had branch offices all across the continent.

‘I might be able to get in touch with them this time.’

Even in his past 40 years in this world, the mystery which was the Golden Rose Society had never been unmasked. Because of this, even he knew very little about them.

It looked like he would have to seek out the Cohen merchant group to learn more.

As he added another thing to his to-do list, Woohyuk quickly knocked out Count Gwain.

“Kuook”

“Sorry, but I need you to help me with something.”

By using his ability, he would be able to save himself some time, as a black mist enshrouded the two of them.

* * *

After turning Gwain into a puppet, he now had a firmer grasp on the capital’s politics. Woohyuk then had Duke Arnold assume the throne.

Of course, that was all just for show. The real power was in Woohyuk’s hands, as King Arnold was more than willing to spend his days in the palace.

He had never been one to thirst for power, and was rather content with just living a pampered life. All he hoped for was a swift end to the war so that things could return to the way they once were.

The throne would be far too burdensome, so he promised to hand it over later.

The nobles outside of Blackburn however were completely unaware of any of this. This was because Woohyuk closed the castle’s gates and wiped out any rebels inside.

Because of this, Count Ludwig simply led the rebel army to march on the capital city of Heidelberg, as had been the original plan.

On the plains of Cerendia, they naturally met the opposing loyalist army.

It was a very close and hard fought battle, as the two sides tried to gain an edge over the other. However, as soon as Marquis Nelson arrived with his forces, holding a royal decree, the battle quickly tipped in the loyalist’s favor.

Soon after the rebel army was defeated, and forced to retreat to the Issilon province.

They sent a carrier pigeon asking for Count Gwain’s help. After poisoning King John to put a temporary puppet king in place.

However, contrary to their expectations, the throne had already been occupied by Woohyuk.

“It looks like they will dig themselves in for a long drawn out war. What’s the current situation in northern Cerendia?”

Woohyuk, who had just read Count Ludwig’s letter, asked the scribe.

“The kingdom army is chasing down any rebels.”

The Exodus and Akatsuki clans had been busy going at each other’s throats, that they had been caught off guard by a surprise attack from the 4th Legion.

Although both Clan leaders were alive and had gotten away, it was only a matter of time now before they were caught.

Woohyuk nodded and then continued.

“Don’t give these rebels any time to recover. If we can’t stamp them out soon, we will have to wait until after winter.”

Even if they had achieved a big victory, dragging out the war wasn’t in their interest.

It was the reason that the loyalist faction and the kingdom's army were still in the field, having yet to return to the capital.

He would be awaiting their good news.

“Okay I will pass on your orders to the Legion Commanders.”

After the scribe left, Woohyuk got up from the throne and began walking away.

The new Royal guard quickly spoke as he followed Woohyuk.

“Boss, no… Lord Regent. Where would you like to go?”

It was Lee Jaesung. Although his skills were still a bit lacking, there was no one he could trust implicitly.

The other members who had fought alongside Huntington, also came to Blackburn.

“To the Queen’s chambers..”

Now that the war was heavily in their favor, it was past time to have a face to face meeting with Joanna. She would know everything there was to know about the Royal Palace’s underground dungeon.

Upon arriving at her chambers, he had Lee Jaesung guard the door.

“If anything urgent comes up, contact me right away.”

“Yes, Lord Regent.”

Although he had increased the security in the castle, he couldn’t let his guard down. There existed a vacuum due to him having to kill the previous Royal guard as well as the Commander of the 1st Legion and other high position officials.

Things would also get complicated if either Duke Arnold or Joanna were assassinated.

As Woohyuk opened the door and stepped inside, he was greeted by the sight of a woman with long blue hair, sitting by the window.

“How can I help you, Lord Regent.”

Joanna, despite turning 39 this year, she retained her beautiful appearance form when she was in her twenties.

Since the average lifespan of a native on the Eeth continent was 300 years, they would age very slowly.

“I have some questions to ask you.”

“... Please speak, I can help you I will.”

Joana felt greatly indebted to Woohyuk. Not only did he avenge her son’s murder, he also prevented her from having to marry Count Gwain, a man she considered to be a psychopath.

“What is hiding beneath the royal palace?”

“There is a secret passage that takes you to the emergency safehouse for the royals.”

The place where the mysterious altar resides.

Although the treasure from the Clavis Dynasty were hidden down there, the Devos royal family had been trying to get in for generations, with little success.

“Take me there.”

In order to obtain the Key to Medusa’s Temple, he would first have to clear the dungeon beneath the Rhine kingdom’s royal palace.