Chapter 265: Battle of White Bunker (5)

“Wh-Who are you?!" Tuli shouted in a panicked voice.

Had she been so focused on the battle between Revol and Karyl that she hadn’t realized the White Bunker had been breached?

No, that wasn’t it.

Though the front walls had been destroyed, even Fran’s forces were too intimidated by the ongoing battle to dare enter the White Bunker. Yet, despite the clear danger, someone had, in fact, infiltrated the fortress.

Gulp–

She swallowed nervously, tension wrapping around her like a vine.

When did they...?

There had been no reports of an attack, no sounds of combat from the corridors, and naturally, no signs of forced entry. Thus, the sudden emergence of the Black-Eyed warrior from the shadows left her bewildered.

“Don’t do anything stupid.”

As Tuli’s eyes shifted, the blade was pressed deeper into her neck.

“Ugh...?!”

A sharp pain shot through her neck, the blade draining her mana the further it cut.

“Your Highness!!”

It was then—

BOOOOM!!!

A powerful roar echoed through the corridor, and a massive halberd came crashing down between the two.

“...!!”

Startled, Zigra quickly stepped back from the oncoming axe blade. The one who had separated them was none other than—

“Sir Ganeth!!”

The Sword Master of the principality, previously missing in action at Yoman.

Tuli, her voice filled with relief, called out to the man in shattered armor wielding the halberd that resembled a giant scythe.

“My apologies. After Yoman fell, I barely managed to survive and return,” Ganeth said, his eyes fixed on Zigra, keeping him under close watch.

Ganeth’s wounds and shattered armor made it clear to everyone that he had barely escaped with his life from a fierce battle.

Despite his humble apology, Tuli felt as though she had gained an entire army.

With renewed vigor, she smiled and shouted, “Don’t speak like that! If it weren’t for you, I’d already be dead! Rewards and punishments can wait. As the Sword Master of the principality, eliminate these pests threatening the White Bunker!”

Tuli pressed her hand against her neck to stem the flow of blood. Every time she raised her voice, more blood oozed from the wound.

“That idiot Fran ruined everything! How can he bring in those savages?! We can’t allow him to continue defiling the principality!” she bellowed.

Ganeth nodded in agreement.

BOOM!!

Ganeth poured all his mana into his halberd, causing its blade to crackle with lightning as it smashed into the wall, obliterating it with a single strike. The fierce assault sent Zigra scrambling into the shadows, fleeing the scene.

“There may be more of them. It would be best for everyone to retreat to the safehouse. I’ve positioned my soldiers around the castle to guard it. They will handle the escort,” Ganeth said, gesturing for his men.

Soldiers clad in armor similar to Ganeth’s rushed down the corridor, saluting as they arrived.

“Here, this way!!”

“I go first!”

“Hurry! Everyone, move!”

The nobles, sensing the danger, quickly rushed out of the hall, eager to escape the looming threat of the collapsing golem. No one wanted to be left behind in such perilous conditions. They followed the soldiers, making their way to safety.

“Your Highness.”

Once the hall had emptied, only Tuli and Cox Butler remained.

“Let’s go,” said Cox, bowing his head respectfully to Ganeth before guiding Tuli toward the exit.

“Douglas and Ledios.”

“...!!”

Just as the two were about to leave, Ganeth uttered those two names, his firm gaze fixed on Tuli and Cox.

“Do you know those two individuals?”

Tuli froze in her tracks.

“I assumed they were nobles of the principality, but I’ve never heard of them before. However, it seems they are somehow involved in this civil war. Is that true?”

“Wh-What are you saying...?”

In contrast to Ganeth’s calm demeanor, Tuli went pale. She had never imagined that such names would come out of his mouth.

Who were those two? They were members of the Wooden Cloud, individuals that Karyl had been searching for since his time in Azor.

Kamma had already made contact with one of them, Ledios, and after discovering the connection between the Wooden Cloud and the Gnome Kingdom, Karl Mack had stayed in the principality to establish further contact.

But all of this was top secret. Only the highest-ranking members of the Wooden Cloud, known as the Roots, were aware of these matters.

What... What the hell is going on? How does he know about them?!

Tuli’s mind raced, trying to piece together the situation.

“I’ve also heard that they drugged Lord Fran. Are they perhaps your people, Your Highness?”

She was left with two choices: to admit or deny her connection to them.

The existence of those individuals had already been exposed, and Tuli quickly needed to figure out which decision would benefit her the most. After all, not even the most loyal nobles of the principality were privy to this information.

In fact, not even all of the seven dukes were aware of this.

“Is it true that this civil war is being orchestrated by the Wooden Cloud? Did they truly attempt to poison a duke?”

Damn it...

Tuli bit her lip hard as she realized just how dire the situation was. This wasn’t the time for such complications, especially not during a critical moment of the war. She had too little time to explain.

“But Sir Ganeth, as the Sword Master of the principality, you know well that the Wooden Cloud has long-standing ties with the ducal families. And that they exist for the benefit of the principality.”

“My loyalty lies with the principality and the ducal families, not with the Wooden Cloud,” Ganeth responded firmly, unfazed by her attempt to sway him. “And at the very least, the war led by the dukes ought to be honorable. Only then will the other dukes and nobles recognize a new ruler.”

His response was principled almost to a fault, and Tuli found herself unable to refute it. Her cheek twitched slightly in frustration, and her mind was racing as she tried to think of a way to sway Ganeth to her side.

“One of them, Douglas, has been captured.”

“...What?”

“He made the bold move to try and escape across the border to the Three Kingdoms of Istria, using the Silverwing Fleet. However, he hadn’t anticipated Sir Lachiel to be defeated at Cove so quickly. When he was captured, he spoke.”

Ganeth’s voice grew stronger as he continued, “He said that Your Highness had promised the principality to the Wooden Cloud. That’s why Lord Fran was drugged.”

“Wh-What nonsense is this? Why would I—?!”

“Those were my exact thoughts,” Ganeth replied.

Tuli’s face hardened as she shouted at Ganeth, who merely nodded in acknowledgment.

“Then what’s the problem? Even that idiot agreed to it! This was all a staged war! It was never supposed to escalate this much!” Tuli screamed as though she had gone mad.

“Ganeth! No matter how highly you’re regarded, if you disobey Her Highness’ command, you won’t escape the charge of treason!”

“I know, Lord Cox. And I also know about the Wooden Cloud. The former king told me that the Wooden Cloud was the greatest threat to the principality."

“...What?”

“Your Highness is trying to ruin the principality that the previous generation built,” Ganeth said, then turned to Cox. “And so are you. As a loyal servant, it is my duty to protect the principality, even if I have to take your head."

“Shut your filthy mouth!” Cox spat, his face twisting with rage.

At that moment, a voice interrupted, “The play ends here, Sir Ganeth. This confirms everything.”

A soldier walked through the door, and as he removed his helmet, Tuli and Cox looked at him in shock.

“Sister... No, Tuli. Now it’s clear that you intended to sell the principality to the Wooden Cloud."

“...What?”

“Fortunately, now I can avenge my brother.”

Tuli looked like she had just seen a ghost.

“...Ruiche? How is it possible that you—?” Tuli couldn’t believe that the young girl she considered just a child would be standing here in the midst of battle.

“Don’t bother making excuses. The Wooden Cloud might be known as a secret organization of the principality, but that’s not the truth. What are they really? And what is their purpose? As a duchess, I’ve never met them, nor has my brother Bonitos.”

“What nonsense are you...” Tuli’s face contorted with anger.

“But now it’s clear. This war was manipulated by them, and I won’t forgive you, Lady Tuli, for selling out our family to those lunatics.”

“...This is insane!”

Tuli was beyond disbelief; she was utterly speechless.

“We were anxious from time to time, hearing rumors. We wondered if the dukes, who were supposed to protect the nation, had been deceived by the untrustworthy Wooden Cloud, just like the emperor of the empire across the strait who was drawn into the Church.”

These fools...!

Tuli’s face twisted even more.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

It made sense that Ruiche and Bonitos didn’t know about the Wooden Cloud. They were the youngest of the seven dukes of the principality and had inherited the most remote territories. They lived quietly, preferring to remain uninvolved with the rest of the country.

But that had been their downfall. Despite being dukes, they knew nothing about the Wooden Cloud, so they could only speculate and imagine the worst.

Judging by Ruiche’s expression, she wasn’t even aware that Fran was part of the Wooden Cloud, let alone Tuli herself.

They should have just stayed quiet and let things pass...!

Tuli trembled with a mix of anger and regret.

No one had told Ruiche the truth, that Fran’s condition was due to Tuli’s poison, or that Lachiel had betrayed them. The only dukes left on their side were the two naive ones, who had no idea what was really going on.

But who fed them this nonsense?

They had been completely deceived. These two, unaware of the truth, viewed the Wooden Cloud as the dark force behind the civil war and considered them an enemy that needed to be eliminated.

But something’s off. Even if those fools believe it, why would Ganeth? Who convinced him to act this way?

Ganeth was a loyalist to the principality. Even if Tuli truly had handed the principality over to the Wooden Cloud, he never would’ve dared to raise his sword against her.

Is this Fran’s doing? No, it can’t be. Then Anthem...? No, not even he could sway Ganeth, who outranks him.

Tuli shook her head, realizing the answer was already clear to her.

Bang—!!

With a powerful strike imbued with mana, Karyl brought Revol to its knees as the massive golem staggered. Leaping onto its leg, Karyl placed his hand on the armor covering its chest, murmuring something in a low voice.

“...!!!”

In the cockpit, Wingel Hart was struck with disbelief.

“How... How does he know the activation code?”

“Maybe I’ll tell you after this war is over,” Karyl responded with a mysterious smile, reaching out to open the armor’s hatch. Their eyes met.

With that, Karyl delivered a swift, powerful chop to Wingel’s neck, knocking him unconscious.

Thud—

Karyl then stepped off the now-immobile golem and leaped in through the broken window.

“Karyl...!!” Tuli growled his name through gritted teeth.

But Karyl, grinning as if he was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, responded, “I was right, wasn’t I? The real enemy of the principality isn't Fran but Tuli. She tried to sell this nation and all its innocent people to the highest bidder.”

“...”

“Fran was merely deceived. He fought for the country but was turned into a shell of his former self because of a vile addiction.”

At Karyl’s words, Ganeth lowered his head in shame.

“It’s time to deliver justice, Ruiche.” Karyl turned to her, his voice firm.

“Could it be... Ganeth...!! You were the one who opened the gates of the White Bunker!”

Tuli finally grasped the situation. She now understood how the outsiders had infiltrated the fortress undetected and why Ruiche was there.

“No matter what tricks you’ve pulled, you think I’ll just step aside?!” Tuli snarled.

“Tricks? There was a much simpler way,” Karyl replied calmly, walking closer to her. “You should know it. After all, you did the same.”

“...What?”

“Poison might not work well on a Sword Master, but luckily, we have a poison expert on our side. We went to great lengths to prepare it,” Karyl whispered into her ear, showing her a small pill.

“...!!”

Tuli’s eyes widened in shock, and she stumbled backward, falling onto her rear in terror. The pill Karyl showed her was the very same Obscura Herb she had used on Fran.

“Tuli,” Karyl said, lightly tapping her trembling shoulder. “This is how you use poison.”