Reborn as the Third Prince: To Build and Conquer my way to Royalty.-Chapter 74: The power of the legions.

Alfred was seated at a table just at the side of the room he was given by Count Eric.

In front of him was a small book he had been reading while waiting for his prince to arrive at the mansion.

He had only spent a night here, and he had already learned many things about how things worked.

The Count was married to a single woman but had no kids to speak of.

Many of the workers who worked for him were often afraid, from their interactions, Alfred was forced to believe they were badly treated.

Since he had spent most of his life around workers, he had come to understand them more than anyone else could. As a former head butler, it was partially his duty.

Although he had not seen any of them get abused, that was probably because the Count was putting up a front in order not to leave a bad impression.

Most of the staff he had run into all had the same behaviors: shaky voice, swallowed eye bags, and overanxiousness.

Those were not normal behaviors.

Even when he tried to ask a few of them about how Count Eric was, they would often shrug it off with a fake smile or compliment him in such a way that he sounded like a perfect god.

Which, to his understanding, couldn’t be further from the truth—not after what he saw in the Lower City.

Knowing Prince Sylus, he also noticed it too.

The hours Alfred spent awake were used to understand what the main issue of the mansion was, as a way to reduce the workload Sylus would have to do.

At first, Alfred made the theory that he was probably using some kind of manipulation.

Everyone under the kingdom’s lineage would fall under the divinity of the Trinity: Chaos, Control, and very rarely, Catalyst.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Count was under the divinity of Control.

Perhaps he had also manipulated the people under him to do his bidding.

But if that were the case, it would render Alfred’s first observation useless. There would be no need for the workers to feel any type of fear, just as he never knew he was under Martin’s influence.

Although, he may also be wrong.

Sigh.

He closed the book, turning his gaze towards the window.

"I’m sorry, Your Highness, this is more difficult than I expected it to be."

Just as he was about to stand up and head for breakfast, he heard a familiar voice in his head.

<Alfred, how are things going there?>

It was his lord, Sylus.

A smile etched on Alfred’s face almost instantly.

<Your Highness, are you here already?>

<Not yet; I should be there in a couple of minutes.>

Alfred took a deep breath.

<Okay, good, I shall go inform the count of your coming.>

<No, don’t do that.>

<Pardon?>

<Right now, there is an uproar growing in the city. If my calculations are correct, and the Count is behind this, he should have gotten the news. I want you to observe him till I get there.>

Alfred didn’t quite understand, but since it was Sylus, it was obviously for a reason.

<Do you want me to report whatever he does?>

<Nah, that won’t be necessary. I keep my aspect active. Whatever happens there, I’ll know about it.>

Alfred smiled again. Of course, the prince had an aspect capable of that.

<Understood.>

Alfred stepped out of the room.

As soon as he made his way into the hallway, he ran into Eric, who was standing next to a man dressed in red, whispering into his ear.

From the look of things, it was clear the man was reporting something serious.

He was about to take a step when he paused after hearing the words that left the Count’s mouth.

"Yes, they are free to kill them all until the culprit is found."

Actually, Alfred didn’t hear that—but Sylus did.

<Alfred, subdue both of them. Don’t let either of them leave.>

<Forcefully?>

<Without question.> Sylus replied.

Taking his order, Alfred’s entire aura changed.

He stood there, watching as the man in the red cloak was walking towards him, probably heading toward the stairs near his location.

The Count, at the back, had spotted Alfred and was smiling with a wave.

Alfred didn’t care; he already had his eyes locked on his target.

As the man in red took a single step past him, Alfred grabbed him by the throat, and then—

Baam!

Slammed the man into the ground, hard enough to leave a huge crater and knock him out.

"Sorry, but my lord would prefer it if you stayed behind."

Seeing this, the Count froze up in fear. While he wasn’t sure why Alfred did what he did, he knew he needed to get out of there.

He turned around, dashing right down the hall, and heading straight into the room at the end.

Alfred slowly stood up, stalking his prey.

One of the powers of his Star, Gamma Legion Army, was the power of the Rook, which allowed him to ignore distance and move freely in the space around him.

He took a single step to get closer, landing directly in front of Eric, who stumbled at the sight.

"AHHH! It wasn’t me!"

The Count crawled on his butt, his face trickling with fear.

Looking down at the man, Alfred uttered, "You are to remain put. I am sorry, but I can’t allow you to leave."

"Wh-what? I—what is happening?" Eric wriggled back even more.

Alfred didn’t respond.

He took a single step forward, aiming to grab the Count and lock him inside the room until Sylus showed up.

But Eric didn’t intend to go without a fight.

"Fool, you let your guard down!"

Opening his coat, two metal knives flew out, each connecting to Alfred’s head.

The proud smile that was once glued to the Count’s face gave way to fear slipping back in, as the knives, meant to have impaled Alfred, slid down his skin.

"The power to control weapons, I suppose. Interesting blessing. But not impressive enough to harm me," Alfred uttered calmly.

Yes, one of the Legions—the Queen—gave him the ability to ignore all damages weaker than his master’s.

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