Beside Krang, five steps away, a whip-wielding bodyguard stood on alert, keeping an eye on the surroundings.
In addition, there was a bald warrior who looked like he could handle himself, standing with him.
The warrior was behind Krang, showing his back like a statue.
He had a well-trained body, easily recognizable at a glance.
He wasn't some amateur.
Encrid looked at the two of them and thought of Andrew.
He was probably making a grim face somewhere inside the party hall right now.
When he attended parties, he often complained that people didn't even treat him like a ghoul.
Meaning, if he were a ghoul, at least they'd acknowledge him and give him dirty looks, but instead, they completely ignored him.
A petty noble, a mere Baron at that, who had made the wrong connections—who would bother dealing with him?
Even the butler at the entrance of the party completely ignored him.
"Baron Andrew Gardner? You really came here?"
The butler didn't even bother with formal language. Andrew sighed inwardly but answered calmly on the surface.
"Why? Am I not allowed here?"
"Your invitation?"
"You must've missed sending it. Busy, I assume."
"...You may enter."
The butler, with a deeply displeased expression, allowed Andrew inside.
As for Encrid, who was acting as a bodyguard, he wasn't allowed in.
Actually, he had managed to slip inside a few times before. Thanks to that, he'd gained some attention and recognition.
After that, though, the host stopped allowing bodyguards in.
Not that Encrid cared much about the inside of the party hall.
He was here mainly to observe Krang and the general atmosphere.
Truthfully, part of him had hoped that while wandering the night streets, he might encounter another 'warning fanatic', but nothing of the sort happened.
In the end, he met Krang and asked him a question.
"A Knight."
Krang paused for a moment, deep in thought.
His pupils didn't waver, and there wasn't a hint of tension.
Only after carefully choosing his words did he continue.
"Why is it that Count Molsen, who claims to be the King of the Frontier, hasn't been punished? That was the first question I had."
Krang had pondered it, and since he had already found the answer, he was able to provide it.
"You know the southern Kingdom of Rihinstetten, right?"
Krang's tone was casual, as if he were introducing a well-known tavern at a market square.
Though it was evening, it wasn't too cold, so having a conversation outdoors was perfectly pleasant.
An old bench, the lights of a house where the party was in full swing.
A few fireflies and other glowing insects could be seen.
The conversation didn't quite match the peaceful surroundings, but Krang's voice, always cheerful, made it feel like a leisurely evening stroll, despite the subject matter.
"It's already been seven years since we've been fighting the Kingdom of Rihinstetten, and we haven't been easily defeated, right?"
That's true. He had heard rumors of that.
"Do you know why?"
"Because the southern territories are fighting well?"
"For such good fighters, didn't they crumble a bit too easily when the monster uprising began?"
"Then what's the reason?"
"Because Sir Cyprus and another Knight are holding the line there."
The southern Kingdom of Rihinstetten's military strength was objectively superior to Naurillia's.
They had their own reasons for not achieving complete victory, but even so, the fact that they were being held back was remarkable. They resisted. They pushed back the invasion.
"I went to see it for myself after hearing the news. Those two Knights are performing what could only be described as miracles. If they were to falter, the southern front would fall by tomorrow."
As Krang spoke, he nudged a stone on the ground with his foot, then kicked it free from the earth.
After pulling out the embedded stone, he kicked it around a bit and continued.
"The two Knights are tied down there. Do you think they're the only ones?"
"Their entire Knight order must be tied down too."
Encrid wasn't a fool.
What's the best way not to be pushed back on the battlefield?
You reinforce your forces and bolster your strength.
The Kingdom did just that.
Two Knights are currently defending the southern border. If even one of them had turned away from the border, they'd already be halfway ruined due to Rihinstetten's invasion.
Krang knew how much of a mess this country was.
And now, Encrid knew it too.
"The third Knight?"
Naurillia had three Knights. At least, three that were known.
"The third Knight is currently facing off against a horde of monsters."
This was news to Encrid. It was top-secret information, yet Krang maintained his casual tone.
"Well, some troublesome monsters showed up and formed a colony. Plus, the mercenary King in the east has been eyeing this place, so part of the Knight order had to be dispatched there. And they aren't the only threat."
Even during the full-scale war with Aspen, one Knight barely managed to pull away to join the battlefield.
Back then, the focus of the battle wasn't on wearing down Aspen's forces.
Instead, the focus was on striking quickly and withdrawing just as fast.
Why?
'Because they couldn't afford to be away for long.'
The absence of a Knight posed a threat elsewhere.
At the time, Aspen was the most pressing issue, so the Knight had no choice but to come. Otherwise, the Knight wouldn't have even participated in the battle.
It all made sense.
Everything added up—the absence of Knights, why only part of the Knight order remained at the Royal Palace.
And all of this was a perfect opportunity for those with ambition who dreamed of rebellion.
'Even the Royal Guard has become embroiled in factions.'
The gatekeepers and their Captain were no different.
Everyone was in a position where they had no choice but to pick a side.
Reality and facts intertwined to tell a single story.
Why did everything seem to fall into place so perfectly?
Why was the stage set so conveniently for those dreaming of rebellion? Why did the circumstances make it so easy for them to act?
Encrid's instincts sharpened his already excellent sense of judgment.
Even though he wasn't in battle, his focus heightened naturally, and his senses became keen.
His mind raced, and he drew one conclusion.
What does Krang stand to gain from all of this?
Why did he come to the Royal Palace and cause all this commotion?
Since his arrival, the noble faction had been acting like their feet were on fire.
They were pushing the crown heir to demand the throne.
He had already gathered some influence. Everyone knew that Marcus from Center Pole had sided with him.
Impatience leads to action. The noble faction acted that way.
Looking deeper, the nobles could even be signaling which side they were on through their actions.
In this situation, you either choose a side, or you're pushed out.
You had to make it clear where you stood.
"Am I right?"
There was no need for a long question. Encrid asked, and Krang, with a bright smile, answered.
That smile looked so innocent.
It didn't seem like the face of someone with such intricate schemes.
To some, that smile would have been terrifying.
"I was just about to tell you everything anyway."
He had no intention of hiding his motives.
No, in fact, it seemed like he was telling Encrid to notice them.
Krang dusted off his knees and stood up.
As he got up, he kicked the stone he had dislodged earlier. With a loud clink, the stone flew off into a shadowed area where the light couldn't reach.
"I'm going to gather up all the useless things and sweep them away. That's why we need a civil war."
If you gather up trash, you either burn it or bury it. A civil war is the act of doing that. That's how he had set it all up.
Of course, the premise was that they had to quietly push the noble faction out of the Royal Palace first.
Krang wasn't here to prevent civil war—he was here to accelerate it.
No, his goal was to fully achieve his own objectives through the process.
In other words, by laying the groundwork and subtly forcing people to take sides.
He intended to separate what could be said from what couldn't be said.
And, of course, the foundation of that would be power.
'He deliberately pulled troops from the palace to filter out potential traitors.'
That's the conclusion.
Encrid stood up as well. It was time to leave. He could see Andrew coming out of the mansion, looking utterly exhausted.
As he watched, Encrid asked a question—one of the two reasons he had come here.
"Do you know who the leader of the Black Blade is?"
The leader of the bandit group had a position within the Royal Palace, and that person was a member of the Black Lily.
That's all Jaxon had been able to uncover.
However, he couldn't figure out just how well the leader was hiding their identity.
In the meantime, a request had come from someone suspected to be part of the Assassin's Guild.
"…It's just a coincidence, but we share the same goal. That person is my biggest headache right now. I'll sort out the information and send it to you, so you can think it over. I'm also trying to track them down."
Encrid nodded. He had essentially accomplished the purpose of chasing Krang down through various parties.
His curiosity had been satisfied, and he had secured a promise of assistance.
At this moment, Encrid had effectively chosen his side.
"Oh, Enki, you don't plan on becoming my Knight, do you?"
Krang stopped as he was leaving and asked suddenly.
"What?"
"I didn't think you'd be satisfied being anyone's Knight. Just saying."
He flashed that same innocent smile as before and then turned away, leaving. His attitude made it clear that the answer didn't matter.
Encrid didn't think too deeply about it either.
He had always weighed the idea of becoming a Knight, but he had never considered being anyone's Knight specifically.
It wasn't an important question right now.
What mattered was that Krang was distinguishing between friend and foe.
He had set the stage. Through his actions, he had spoken to all the nobles, revealing his intentions.
Of course, only a select few among the nobles would grasp his hidden intentions.
But even if they did, they couldn't ignore it.
Krang had essentially told all the nobles:
There are no Knights, no Knight order, so feel free to run wild in the palace.
The effect was clear.
Everyone was gathering their private soldiers, plotting or scheming for a coup against the Royal Family.
Count Molsen had proclaimed himself the King of the Frontier.
And within the Royal Palace, the number of those openly displaying their ambitions had increased.
'Is he going to get himself killed at this rate?'
Encrid briefly worried.
In this precariously laid-out situation, Krang was the one in the most danger.
Naturally, the appearance of someone with a claim to the throne would be a thorn in everyone's side.
Given the circumstances, to think that he would calmly foresee a future where he becomes King—it was a testament to his capacity.
Encrid dismissed his fleeting concern.
A mind as sharp as Krang's would have surely considered how to protect his own life.
After all, this was a game built on the foundation of power.
Encrid was curious, though—what hidden power did Krang possess?
The urge to witness it suddenly welled up inside him. Though it seemed Krang wasn't going to reveal it anytime soon.
"Could you please stop attending these parties? They're driving me insane."
Andrew, who had approached without Encrid noticing, grumbled.
"Isn't training better?"
Andrew fell silent at that statement. If he had to choose between a party and training, what would it be?
"I'll go with training."
He said it while briefly sweating from his forehead.
"Alright, let's do that."
In any case, the days of chasing after parties were over.
Even after bringing Jaxon along and keeping an eye on the surroundings, no one else dared to challenge them.
Things would remain quiet until the spark Krang had thrown exploded.
In the meantime, they would capture the leader of the Black Blade, interrogate them, and observe the chaos Krang was about to unleash—perhaps even lend a hand.
That was all there was to it.
In doing so, they might end up fighting an unexpected opponent.
Would these ambitious factions really attack without thinking?
Speeches without force behind them tend to lose power.
Especially now, when the Royal Palace's law was dictated by strength.
The Chief Constable was said to be particularly threatening.
"Let's go. Off to training."
With determination and a tight clench of his jaw, Andrew spoke, and Encrid followed suit.
They returned to the mansion, and the next morning, Encrid was greeted by a visitor.
"As the rumors said, you really have come to the Capital."
Kin Visar, a woman known as the most beautiful in the Capital.
Encrid was drenched in sweat, swinging a halberd.
Rem had emphasized that experience with various weapons was just as important as sparring against opponents.
It had indeed been helpful.
With one hand on the end of the halberd, he was recklessly swinging it, causing sweat to pour down.
So, when he received his guest in that state.
"Your manners in receiving guests haven't changed, I see."
"You didn't come alone, did you?"
Encrid asked, lowering the halberd so the tip pointed toward the ground, then turned to face her. His thin training clothes clung to his body from the sweat.
This made his muscles stand out. Kin, briefly wanting to run her hand over them, opened her mouth to speak.
"No, there's someone who wishes to see you. Wouldn't you prefer to clean up and greet them properly?"
From outside the mansion, Encrid could feel an imposing presence.
In other words, someone formidable was here.
While they weren't exuding a deadly aura, they weren't hiding their presence either. To assert oneself so confidently—what did that mean?
At the very least, it meant they were a Knight.
"No need to get all dressed up to meet an old man."
Someone said as they entered the mansion. It was an elderly noble with white hair. Though he was nearly at an advanced age, his steps exuded subtle strength.
It gave the impression of a firm, solid stride.
As he entered, Mac hurried out, and Andrew also stepped forward.
"What brings you all the way here?"
Even Andrew seemed uncomfortable.
The one closest to the Queen in the current Kingdom was Visar.
The one with the most formidable power, aside from the Knight order, was Count Molsen.
But if all the citizens and nobles were asked to name the most noble figure, it would be a different name.
There was someone who, in their own lands, was respected for their kindness and clarity of governance, and who, even without aligning with any faction, was respected by all.
Naturally, he was one of the five great noble families, owned the largest land in the Kingdom, and had been the Queen's mentor.
He was the Marquis of Octo, the Kingdom's 'Fourth Finger'.
He looked like a friendly old man who was obsessed with chess.
The smiling Marquis entered and said,
"I've come as a guest, but if I'm in the wrong place, do let me know. I have no intention of being a bother."
At those words, Andrew shook his head.
"Not at all. Though it's a humble place, you are welcome to stay as long as you'd like."
The fact that even Andrew, who was usually indifferent, showed such respect was a testament to the Marquis' reputation.
Encrid, too, felt a similar sentiment. This man was different from the other nobles.
He was someone who had built much based on his own estate.
Among all the nobles Encrid had met here, this one gave off the purest impression.
But that didn't mean he was to be underestimated.
The aura of the guards standing behind him made that clear.
Sitting on a stone bench off to the side of the training grounds, the Marquis observed Encrid with a sharp gaze, further reinforcing that fact.
"Go on with what you were doing. I came by suddenly, so I'll wait."
"Your Excellency, the Marquis."
Kin spoke from the side, gesturing with her eyes for Encrid to come and sit down.
Encrid, noticing this, spoke.
"Alright then."
Since the Marquis' offer to wait wasn't just a formality, it seemed right to respect that.
It wasn't a battle of wills.
Yet, with Encrid's choice, the tension from the guards behind the Marquis grew just a little sharper.
Encrid found that interesting.
It seemed like the two guards would pounce at the slightest provocation.
"Who's here?"
Of course, there was a reaction from behind Encrid as well.
Rem spoke, stepping forward, while Ragna, seated nearby, cast a glance in their direction.
Jaxon had somehow already positioned himself leaning against the mansion's outer wall, while Dunbachel and Esther stepped up next to Encrid.
Judging by their presence alone, these were people who wouldn't be outmatched by anyone.