Subscriber of the Gods-Chapter 289: Many Questions
“Quickly! Evacuate to the shelters quickly!”
On the ground.
The residents of Rimu territory hurriedly evacuated. Thanks to Baron Hendan personally directing from the front, there were few casualties, but the financial losses were enormous.
The homes they had lived in all their lives were completely destroyed. Moreover, they couldn’t properly take any of the assets they had accumulated until now.
But there was no choice. Life was the most important thing.
“Baron, shouldn’t we send a request for support to the Marquis house even now? If that’s not possible, we should at least request support from neighboring lords.”
“The Archbishop who said he would definitely bring support hasn’t seemed to arrive either!”
“……”
Baron Hendan remained silent.
“Huff… huff… I just came from near the miasma in that mine. And Fog here also went out to support the underground mine area together.”
“And what kind of mercenary groups are dispatched to the underground mine right now, Baron? Aren’t they the ones with a captain famous for exorcism?”
“I know well. I saw his demon-expelling staff with my own two eyes.”
The baron’s subordinates were urgent. Those miasmas were quickly rising to the surface and devouring everything indiscriminately.
Although no deaths had been seen yet, quite a few people were missing.
Whether they were dead or alive was currently unknown.
At this rate, the miasma would soon reach the lord’s castle, and if that happened, the situation would become irreversible.
They would suddenly be branded as lords who abandoned their territory and fled.
“I’ll believe in him. Until Count Ethan says we need to find another way because he failed, I intend to believe in him.”
“It’s someone we just met today! And he’s still young. As far as I know, he’s someone who doesn’t know failure. He’s only been on the path of success so far…”
“That’s a slip of the tongue.”
Baron Hendan also knew quite a bit about Ethan, having received reports about him.
“You probably know too, but until recently, there were rumors that he was about to die. He hasn’t been on the path of success for long. If we’re going to argue, he’s probably more used to failure than success.”
That’s why Baron Hendan could have some inexplicable trust in Ethan, despite seeing and talking to him for the first time today.
It’s because you know failure that you finally know how to succeed.
“If we’ve decided to believe, we have no choice but to keep believing.”
For Baron Hendan right now, the only savior was Ethan Whiskers.
At the baron’s firm expression of intent, his subordinates could no longer offer advice.
And not long after, an anomaly occurred.
“My, my lord!”
“My lord! The miasma has stopped!”
The miasma that had been flowing out of the mine like a wave suddenly stood still in its place.
No, that wasn’t all.
The miasma was writhing and retreating back into the mine.
“Could it be!”
The lord’s expression brightened.
The fact that the miasma had stopped meant that Ethan’s group who had entered the underground mine had accomplished something.
Pssshhh-.
Pop-!
The miasma writhed and then started bursting like fireworks. And then it began to disappear as if it were a lie.
“It’s, it’s disappearing!”
“It seems… Count Ethan’s group who went to the underground mine have succeeded!”
“I can see them, Baron! The residents who were trapped in the miasma!”
“Quickly, save them!”
As the miasma disappeared, the figures of residents trapped inside became visible.
The baron gave the order and then led the way in rescuing the residents.
And not long after, four figures could be seen in the distance.
One person was the Archbishop of the Holylight Order, wearing a blood-stained and tattered robe.
And the other three were Ethan’s group. Ethan’s group’s attire was quite clean, in contrast to the Archbishop’s appearance.
“Count Ethan!”
Baron Hendan ran urgently to greet Ethan.
“Are you alright!”
“Baron Hendan.”
Ethan said.
“It seems the evacuation is no longer necessary.”
“Does that mean…?”
“We’ve dealt with the evil spirit in the underground mine.”
At those words, the baron’s expression brightened pleasantly.
The baron’s subordinates who heard the conversation from the side also smiled.
“Count Ethan has eliminated the miasma!”
The residents cheered.
-You have achieved an accomplishment.
-You have gained likes for achieving the [Savior of Rimu Territory] accomplishment.
-You have gained ’10’ likes.
-The trust of Rimu territory residents towards you has become 100 percent.
“Long live Lord Ethan!”
“Long live Count Ethan!”
There was no more resistance. With this incident, Rimu territory was as good as perfectly incorporated into Count Whiskers’ domain.
Especially Baron Hendan’s expression was worth seeing. He now completely trusted Ethan.
‘Now the next step is up to Hera Dren.’
If Hera Dren succeeds, the rest of the land will also surely enter Count Whiskers’ domain.
‘After that, it’s about naturally absorbing what Marquis Dren’s family has.’
“Schudlen.”
“Yes!”
At the highest point of the lord’s castle.
A flag bearing the crest of House Whiskers was planted there.
***
Marquis Dren’s domain.
Many lords belonging to the marquis’s domain attended the marquis’s grand funeral. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
The marquis’s children, who were heir candidates, were busy trying to win over those lords, and Hera Dren was no exception.
“Whew.”
On the last day of the funeral. A secret meeting was held in Hera Dren’s room.
“The attention is very focused on us right now, Lady Hera. The eyes of the other Twelve Families are very sharp.”
“What’s the common assessment?”
“The majority assessment is that no matter who organizes the Marquis house, its status will be different from when the late Marquis Dren was alive.”
“That’s accurate. Right after the funeral ends, no, reports should have already gone in by now. Now the Twelve Families will become enemies. It’s just the right situation to take away what we have.” ＲάΝỔᛒÈṣ
Hera sighed.
“Yes, and that’s not the only problem. Even in the moment when all of ours is being taken away, the successor fight will continue.”
“And the lords won’t easily give up what they’re holding onto. There’s a high possibility they’ll demand independence.”
“There are already movements.”
Hera’s aide said.
“There’s almost none on our side, but… I hear many lords are already approaching the other young masters and ladies. They say they want to hear how they plan to deal with the current situation.”
“It’s fine. If they come like that, it’s actually better. It shows exactly how they think of us. There’s no need to hurry. For now, I should go to my sister. We can start by forming an alliance.”
Knock knock-.
At that moment, someone came to Hera’s room.
“Who is it?”
“Lady Hera, it’s urgent.”
“Urgent? Come in.”
A subordinate entered urgently and reported.
“Lord Wilas has arrived.”
“…!”
“…!”
Wilas Dren.
He was the former head of Marquis Dren’s family, Hera’s grandfather, and the father of the deceased Marquis Dren.
“No, why suddenly? Didn’t they say he had gone into seclusion? They said they didn’t even know where he was, so they couldn’t even tell him that father had passed away?”
“Yes, that’s right. But… he suddenly came.”
“Did he come alone?”
“No. He came leading the people he took with him when he left.”
“Damn it.”
When Wilas retired, he took with him all those who had created the golden age of the marquis family together with him.
He said if they stayed, it would only cause troublesome things and be uncomfortable for his son.
The fact that they had returned meant that a powerful axis of power had been created.
This changes the situation.
If Wilas settles everything, the alliance Hera made with Ethan becomes meaningless.
No, on top of that, there was a high possibility that Hera would be completely finished. If the fact that she had formed an alliance with Ethan was revealed, Wilas would never try to put her in the successor’s seat.
Hera hurriedly went outside.
As soon as she went out, she could see it. Wilas Dren and his entourage were standing in the courtyard of the lord’s castle.
They were the former strongest members of the marquis family, exuding a powerful presence just by standing there.
For a moment, Wilas raised his head, and his eyes met with Hera’s who was above.
It was exactly the same as the grandfather she had seen when she was young.
Jet-black hair.
Powerful eyes.
And the long scar drawn in a straight line from his eye to his mouth.
“Grandfather.”
“Hera, come down.”
Her siblings were already gathered in front of Wilas. Like Hera, their eyes were also shaking.
It was natural since all the plans they had made were completely shattered by Wilas’s appearance.
Also, the lords ruling each territory of the marquis’s domain were quite tense. Some of them were nobles directly chosen by Wilas.
As much as they knew what kind of person Wilas was, they just quietly bowed their heads without any notable movement.
“That Yusta fellow didn’t educate his children properly. Did he think he’d live forever? Huh, really.”
Though he seemed unaffected by his son’s death, contrary to that impression, Wilas Dren was simply quietly angry.
“Is it true that the name of the one who killed my son is Ethan Whiskers?”
“Yes, yes, that’s right, Grandfather.”
Paris Dren, who had lost all his standing in an instant, bowed his head and said. The aura Wilas Dren emitted was hardly believable for someone who had retired.
The moment he came here, the successor fight was over. Fighting among themselves no longer had any meaning.
If they want to become the successor, they have to impress him.
With the appearance of Wilas Dren, the marquis family that was about to completely collapse changed drastically.
The other lords also fully felt that atmosphere. They all abandoned the improper thoughts they had secretly harbored in their minds right there.
“And yet you just left him alone?”
“That’s, because there was no evidence…”
“There might not be clear physical evidence, but it must be obvious that he’s the one who killed Yusta.”
“……”
“Your father died. And yet you couldn’t do anything even with the culprit right in front of you?”
No one could answer Wilas’s words.
“The Twelve Families in name only. Not one of you stepped up to settle the situation and seek revenge.”
“That’s… Grandfather, Ethan Whiskers is someone who might have received the grace of the Third Princess, the Pope, and perhaps even the Emperor. It’s not that we’ve given up on revenge, we just couldn’t take revenge right away.”
At Paris’s words, Wilas’s eyebrows twitched.
“Princess? Pope? I’ve heard the name Whiskers for the first time today. But you’re saying that family is under the protection of the 3rd Princess and the Pope, what does that mean?”
“Well, the truth is…”
Paris quickly explained about Ethan Whiskers.
“…Hmm.”
Even Wilas was surprised at this figure.
There have been countless people in the history of the continent who rose up in a short period of time, and Wilas had stepped on many of those who popped up like that several times.
From Wilas’s perspective, such guys were no different from weeds.
Even if they grow quickly, their root is ultimately a weed.
But Ethan was somewhat different.
“There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll take care of this matter myself. And I’ll handle the successor issue as well.”
At Wilas’s words, the expressions of the successor candidates hardened.
Hera, looking at such a Wilas, thought of Ethan. The situation was turning out very badly.
***
“Lord Ethan, a report has come in. They say Wilas Dren, the former head of Marquis Dren’s family, has returned.”
“What was bound to come has come.”
Ethan was organizing the Rimu territory. This place had now become a definite part of Count Whiskers’ domain. Ethan immediately sent letters to the surrounding territories.
On top of that, he put Baron Hendan, who had completely changed his mind, at the very front.
“This way, with Wilas Dren as a focal point, it seems they won’t accept our proposal.”
“No, they will come to accept it.”
Ethan said.
“You don’t intend to let Wilas Dren live, do you?”
“……”
Yerica remained silent at Ethan’s words. It was a sign of agreement. Wilas was a figure more deeply involved in Hecate’s death than Marquis Dren.
They couldn’t thrust the blade of revenge because he had gone into seclusion, but now that he has reappeared, there was sufficient reason to kill him.
This revenge was already as good as out of Ethan’s hands. He had laid out the board, so whether to dance on that board or fold it was entirely up to Yerica.
‘I just need to focus on the work of raising House Whiskers to the Twelve Families.’
The rest of the revenge, Yerica will handle on her own.
“It won’t take long.”
After Yerica left. Ethan passed through the residents who were in the midst of restoration work and headed towards the underground mine.
Baron Hendan had not yet touched the underground mine area.
Deep in the underground mine.
Passing by the temporarily sealed Cesare, Ethan headed to where the executive of the Rosicrucian Order was.
“Sleeping well, I see.”
Slap-!
Ethan slapped him hard. Those fierce hand movements continued without stopping until the executive of the Rosicrucian Order woke up.
“Ugh!”
The executive of the Rosicrucian Order, who woke up with a swollen face, looked at Ethan with confused eyes.
“I have many questions.”
Ethan lifted him up as he was.
“Let’s move to a different place and talk.”
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