From Trash to Villain Master of Card: With Harem of Evil women-Chapter 97: Avernor New King
Grand Hall of Vestria — Gala Continues
Kaito was conversing with the ambassador from Sorenth when a new presence approached.
He didn’t need to turn to know.
The energy shifted. Nearby nobles quieted slightly. A subtle tension filled the air.
A voice behind him.
"Lord Kaito Yukimura. Finally we meet."
The tone was polite. Cultured. Educated.
But with an underlying threat that vibrated in every syllable.
Kaito turned.
King Aldous of Avernor.
Young — thirty-two, perhaps thirty-three. Black hair perfectly styled. Beard trimmed with precision. He wore red and black, Avernor’s colors.
Dark eyes that constantly evaluated.
The posture of a man accustomed to power.
But also... hungry for more.
Kaito processed.
Age: young for a king. Recently ascended.
Posture: confident but tense. Wants to assert dominance.
Expression: polite on the surface, hostile beneath.
Threat level: high. But not immediate.
"King Aldous."
His voice, neutral. No visible emotion.
Aldous extended his hand.
Kaito took it.
A firm handshake. Too firm.
A small test of physical strength.
Kaito didn’t react.
Simply held the grip until Aldous released it.
"Your kingdom attacked mine three times."
It was direct. No emotional accusation. Just a fact.
Aldous offered a slight smile.
"Mistakes of the previous administration."
"My father. My uncle. Incompetent councilors."
"They made... poor decisions."
He made a vague gesture with his hand.
"I seek... understanding."
"Understanding."
Kaito repeated the word.
Processing its multiple possible meanings.
Aldous continued.
"Yes. Clarify intentions. Establish boundaries."
"Avoid... misunderstandings in the future."
He paused.
"But first, there is a pending matter."
"Marcus and Eldric. The generals who led the invasions against your kingdom."
"I would like to request their extradition."
"So that Avernor can judge them. For their crimes."
Kaito processed.
Extradition request. Politically significant.
Implies Avernor has rights over its citizens.
Refusing would be an insult. Accepting, a weakness.
He responded mechanically.
"Marcus was pardoned and released."
"He sought personal redemption. It was granted."
"I don’t know where he is now."
Aldous frowned.
"Pardoned? A general who invaded your kingdom?"
"He was following orders from his superiors. And he lost."
"Defeat was punishment enough."
Kaito continued.
"As for Eldric..."
He recalled briefly.
Eldric, the first captured general. He was imprisoned for months.
Finally released after the battle against Kalthor.
With... conditions.
"We released him. Tied to a boat, near the sea."
Aldous raised an eyebrow.
"You simply... released him?"
"It wasn’t that simple."
Kaito looked directly at Aldous.
No emotion. Just stating a fact.
"Valeria — my Fourth Queen — took care of showing him what would happen if he returned."
"Or if he even thought about Neudämmerung again."
He paused.
"She didn’t specify the methods. But Eldric understood the message."
"I doubt he’ll return to Avernor anytime soon."
Aldous processed that.
Trying to determine if it was a veiled threat.
He decided it was.
"I see. Then the matter is... resolved."
"From Neudämmerung’s perspective, yes."
A tense silence.
Nearby nobles watched, but pretended not to.
This was the confrontation everyone had anticipated.
Aldous changed tactics.
"Your kingdom has developed some... interesting technology."
"Aurelia Nobelford. Your Fifth Queen."
"I’ve heard about the devices you used against my — pardon, against the invading forces."
"Incendiary projectiles. Chemical smoke. Explosives."
His tone suggested disapproval.
Kaito responded.
"Defensive technology. We only use it when attacked."
"Defensive? Weapons that can destroy entire formations?"
"Effective defense requires the ability to respond proportionally."
"Or superiorly."
Aldous leaned slightly toward him.
"That technology, in the wrong hands, would be... catastrophic."
"Good thing it’s in the right hands, then."
"For now?"
Aldous left the question hanging.
The implication was clear: What if Neudämmerung becomes aggressive?
Kaito didn’t take the bait.
"Forever. Neudämmerung does not seek conquest."
"Only to protect what we’ve built."
"Pretty words. But power corrupts."
"Speaking from your own experience?"
A verbal jab.
Subtle, but sharp.
Aldous smiled coldly.
"Touché. I see you’re not just a soldier."
"I never claimed to be."
A diplomatic stalemate.
Both evaluated each other.
Neither yielded.
Finally, Aldous stepped back slightly.
"An... enlightening conversation. I hope we maintain the... dialogue."
"If it’s productive, yes."
Aldous nodded once.
"Enjoy the Gala, Lord Kaito."
He turned to leave.
But stopped.
Looked back.
"One more thing. Your textile technology."
"Lady Aurelia’s designs."
"They’re generating massive demand among the nobles."
"And?"
"Markets are... volatile. It would be a shame if something interrupted the supply."
A veiled threat.
Completely clear.
Kaito processed.
An economic threat. Not military.
Avernor plans commercial sabotage.
"Neudämmerung protects its interests. All of them."
"Of course. Just an... observation."
Aldous withdrew.
Left Kaito processing the interaction.
---
Immediately After
Naporia appeared from a side.
Her hand still on her sword, hidden beneath her dress.
"I need permission to kill him."
"Denied."
"But he threatened..."
"With words. Not actions."
Kaito looked toward where Aldous conversed with other nobles.
"And assassination here would be a political disaster."
Adelheid approached from another angle.
She had been watching the entire conversation.
"He’s planning something."
"Yes."
"It won’t be military. He’s learned from past mistakes."
"It will be something more subtle."
Kaito nodded.
Processing the variables.
The threat to commercial supply. Economic sabotage. Possibly...
"Dreisburg."
Adelheid blinked.
"What?"
"Aldous mentioned the possibility of disrupting supply."
"Dreisburg is our key resource source. Including the Adenites."
"If Avernor attacks there..."
Adelheid understood immediately.
"We need to contact Elara. Right now."
Kaito processed.
Risk versus benefit.
Probabilities.
The decision crystallized.
"Adelheid. Contact Elara with the communication device."
"As soon as possible."
"What do I order her?"
"To contact the Dreisburg garrison."
"To evacuate the city. Immediately."
Adelheid processed the implication.
"A full evacuation?"
"Yes. And before they leave..."
He paused.
He knew this next order was devastating.
"Detonate the Adenite mine."
Silence.
Naporia stared at him.
"That will destroy Dreisburg’s main value."
"Yes. But it will prevent Avernor from capturing it."
"Scorched earth."
Kaito nodded.
"I’d rather destroy a resource than let it fall into enemy hands."
"And the citizens?"
"That’s why evacuation comes first. Send carriages. A military escort."
"Bring everyone to Neudämmerung."
Adelheid processed.
"That’s... hundreds of people. Enormous resources."
"But it denies Avernor a strategic victory."
She paused.
"Are you sure? Once destroyed, the Adenites are lost forever."
Kaito looked back at Aldous.
Processing the threat mechanically.
"Yes. Do it. Besides, we have the iron mines and we’re creating new forms of trade."
Adelheid nodded.
"I’ll contact Elara within an hour."
"Good."
Naporia frowned.
"What if Aldous wasn’t planning to attack Dreisburg?"
"What if we misinterpreted his threat?"
"Then we’ll have lost a resource unnecessarily."
Kaito responded without emotion.
"But we’ll have eliminated a vulnerability."
"It’s an acceptable cost."
Naporia and Adelheid exchanged a glance.
Shared the same concern.
Kaito was making the tactically correct decision.
But without fully considering the human cost.
The evacuation would be traumatic. The destruction of their home, also.
But he only saw the equation.
Protecting an asset versus denying it to the enemy.
The optimal solution: destroy and evacuate.
Adelheid touched his arm.
"Kaito. The Dreisburg refugees..."
"Yes?"
"They’ll need support. New homes. Work."
"Gorman will coordinate it. We have capacity."
"It’s not just about logistics. It’s... emotional trauma."
Kaito processed.
Tried to access his empathy.
Found... a distant echo.
He knew, intellectually, that it would be traumatic.
But he didn’t fully feel the emotional weight.
"Then we’ll allocate resources for psychological support too."
"Aria can coordinate it."
A technical response.
Correct, but... cold.
Adelheid nodded slowly.
"Alright."
But the concern remained in her eyes.
---
Private Balcony — Half an Hour Later
Adelheid used the communication device.
It was a crystal Lilith had enchanted, connected to its twin in Neudämmerung.
When activated, it glowed with a soft light.
Elara’s blurry image appeared.
"Lady Adelheid. How’s the situation at the Gala?"
"Complicated. We have urgent orders."
She explained the situation.
Aldous’s threat. Kaito’s decision. The evacuation and destruction plan.
Elara processed the information.
"That is... extreme."
"But necessary. Aldous is looking for vulnerabilities."
"We’re not giving him any."
"What’s the timeline?"
"Immediate. Begin evacuation tomorrow at dawn."
"Detonation in three days. When everyone is safe."
Elara nodded.
"I’ll coordinate with Drake. Send carriages and an escort."
"Will the citizens object?"
"Probably. But it’s not negotiable."
"Explain it’s a security measure. That it’s temporary, if possible."
"But be honest about the mine’s destruction."
"Understood. Proceeding."
The connection cut.
Adelheid put the device away.
Looked toward where Kaito conversed with another noble.
Processing. Always processing.
Efficient, but...
How much more can he lose before he disappears completely?
She had no answer.
Only a growing fear.
---
Aldous’s Quarters — Later That Night
Aldous walked toward his chambers.
His principal councilor accompanied him.
"Your assessment, Majesty?"
"Lord Kaito is... interesting."
"In what way?"
"He’s cold. Calculating. Processes everything mechanically."
"Does that play to our advantage?"
Aldous considered it.
"Possibly. Leaders without emotion make very specific mistakes."
"They underestimate others’ emotional responses."
"They fail to inspire genuine loyalty."
He paused.
"But his queens compensate. They feel. Deeply."
"Then we must separate him from them."
"Exactly."
Aldous smiled.
"Not with armies. With politics. Economics. Social pressure."
"Let’s isolate Neudämmerung. Cut off its alliances."
"Create a crisis that requires an emotional response."
"And watch him fail."
The councilor nodded.
"Do you have any concrete plans?"
"Multiple. Commercial sabotage. Propaganda. Diplomatic pressure."
"And... if we can infiltrate..."
Aldous left the thought unfinished.
But the implication was clear.
Espionage. Internal sabotage.
Not open war.
A war in the shadows.
"We’ll begin immediately."
"Yes, Majesty."
