Chapter 409: The Hour of Reckoning

Charles set eyes on the island on which his dear friend Sieg had given his life. His still gaze was itself a quiet act of mourning and remembrance.

"It's a fine place," Charles said at last. "The concentration of mana is high, and there's none of the mess and strife that plague the mainland. With the dragons' absurdly powerful existence and the aid of the Church of Nightfall, this island will flourish before long."

The rest was up to its inhabitants.

"No doubt," Wang Yu agreed. "And I'm not concerned for the dragons. Aurelian and Noelle are already helping them adjust to this day and age. Truth is, their foundations have always been far stronger than any other race. If not for the catastrophe with the abyssal creatures back then, they'd likely be another intelligent race with a voice in the affairs of the continent."

Charles's reasoning was sound. Wang Yu, too, could see the endless potential the Isle of Dragons held.

"Once I retire from the Nightblades, I might just live out my days here. With dragons for neighbors, no fool would ever dare attack. And with my connection to you, the Archbishop? I could live in peace—and perhaps with just a hint of tyranny."

Charles was still as much of a consummate jokester as ever.

"Spare me your nonsense." Wang Yu sighed, shaking his head. "And what do you mean, ‘tyranny'? Besides, even if you did step down from leading the Nightblades, you're nowhere near retirement age. Be serious."

He knew Charles had no shortage of resources. For a magician like him, he could definitely stay young all the way until he died.

"All right, enough banter." Charles coughed lightly, his expression turning grave. "Tell me, would you have any interest in becoming a usurper?"

Wang Yu blinked. "Usurper? You mean, of the royal house of Aleisterre?"

He turned the word over in his mind, unable to grasp Charles's full meaning. But anything that touched on royalty surely involved Aleisterre.

Charles nodded. "That's right. Your little incident served as the spark. After it blew over, the Nightblades and the royal family kept the peace for a time—and shoved me, poor wretch that I am, into the middle as their scapegoat.

"But the conflict never vanished. It only deepened. The royals started stuffing their own men into the Nightblades, hoping to seize control bit by bit. But it never worked. Those loyal to us either follow the Lady of the Night or the God of Light. Those royal lackeys may wear our crest, but they've never been part of our inner circle.

"The Nightblades' numbers are fixed. Every time the royals forced one of theirs in, one of ours was pushed out—and those who left joined Edward's ‘Isolated Fang.' They don't have an official banner, but they work from the shadows all the same. In truth, it suits them better."

Charles sketched out the state of affairs since Wang Yu had departed Aleisterre. Much of it matched what Wang Yu had already learned.

"And now?" Charles gave a bitter laugh. "Now the royals don't even bother with pretense. On paper, a third of the Nightblades already belong to them. They've grown tired of me and are planning to arrange an accident. These days, One and I spend half our time just guarding against assassination attempts."

He spread his hands, face weary. The endless attempts on his life had clearly worn him thin. After all, a man only had one life. One slip would represent the end.

"Weren't you the one they themselves nominated as the future leader of the Nightblades? Why turn on you now?"

Wang Yu clicked his tongue. He wasn't one to cling to grudges, but neither was he forgiving. His quarrel with the royals had never been settled. Perhaps that reckoning could now be brought forward.

"Yes, that's how it was meant to be," Charles said. "Future heir of the venerable Ryders, and leader of the Nightblades—what better buffer to slow the clash between us and the throne? It gave the royals time to wipe out the upstart nobility and claim their power and wealth.

"But buffers expire. Once they're useless, they become obstacles. Now that the crown has consolidated nearly all the power it sought, the Ryders have been quietly shunted aside by those same old noble houses who've fattened themselves on royal favor.

"We're still among the ancient bloodlines in name, but in truth, we've been pushed to the fringes. My position has likewise grown delicate.

"Once, it was my family name that gave me command over the Nightblades; now it is that same command that lends what little leverage my family retains. And that, naturally, makes me expendable."

He spoke with casual ease, but Wang Yu could tell Charles understood the machinery of the court all too well. None of it surprised him.

"Doesn't your family's bloodline and One's power guarantee your standing? Shouldn't the Ryders be secure among the nobility?"

Wang Yu knew the truth: once the crown regained its power, the Nightblades were sure to be its greatest obstacle.

"Ah, you see..." Charles gave a wry smile. "The royals have found a better tool. Remember the Royal Astrologer? Her gift of prophecy renders all others nearly obsolete. With her, our family's special place has lost its luster. There's no longer any reason for the crown to treat us with favor."

He waved away the matter.

"In any case, after your affair, most Nightblades saw the truth clearly. Serving the royals and currying favor with them is useless. The moment they dislike you, you're finished. Without strength, without steel, we can't survive.

"So I put it to the Nightblades. We had two options: either cut ties with the royals altogether, withdraw from Aleisterre, and scatter—or we march under your bright new banner. The Church of Nightfall always needs capable hands, and the Isle of Dragons is still shorthanded, isn't it?"

He smiled sidelong at Wang Yu.

"Of course," Wang Yu replied. "The Nightblades are elites. I'd love your assistance. But that's not something you're considering yourself, are you?"

Though Charles spoke earnestly, Wang Yu knew him too well. He was simply too attached to Aleisterre.

"You saw through me right away. Fair enough. The truth is, there are too many problems. Put aside the rather flimsy excuse of ‘disliking the royal family,' and you'll see the real issue: apart from you and the Professor, most members of the Nightblades are native to Aleisterre.

"Their ancestral homes, their fields and estates, even their wives and children—everything's rooted in Aleisterre. To ask them to abandon that, to leave their homeland behind, is something many of them simply cannot accept.

"And the royals would never just stand by and watch such a large contingent of Nightblades walk out of the kingdom. The laws of the realm forbid it, and the crown would never tolerate the hidden threat such a force might pose after its departure. They'll inevitably use the Nightblades' families and their lands as leverage."

Thus the bright shell of that initial plan was stripped away, revealing the rot beneath. Charles laid things out plainly. The crown wanted everything both ways. That was the nature of entrenched power, a privilege hardened by centuries of control.

"So it really isn't as simple as it looks. Then, this business about becoming an ‘usurper'—are you going to try to overthrow the royals?"

Wang Yu's conclusion was close to the mark. The plan seemed straightforward, but the hidden complexities made it anything but.

"That's very blunt, but more or less correct. Edward's unique status is the cornerstone of our second plan.

"There exists a deliberately obfuscated law left behind by the late king. It grants the four grand dukes of the borderlands the authority to choose a new royal house, should they judge that the reigning royalty is no longer fit to rule.

"Of course, in practice, the law is inconsequential. Never in history have the four grand dukes actually invoked it. Still, its mere existence lends legitimacy to our cause.

"Edward has already reached out to his father and the other three dukes. Their stance is unanimous: they will not interfere. The conflict between the Nightblades and the crown will be ours alone to settle. The Grand Duke of the North's faction quietly stands behind us. When the dust clears, they will recognize the victor as the rightful ruler.

"In other words, we must become 'usurpers'—not brigands stealing a throne, but liberators taking back the kingdom from the real thieves who wear the crown."

Charles lingered a moment on the irony of the name, but his explanation was clear.

"Cautious neutrality, huh? Understandable. Stability has always been the other three grand dukes' highest priority. Their refusal to intervene says enough. This world doesn't bend to Earth's ideals of law and constitution. Here, might makes right. That's the only truth that matters."

Wang Yu turned the thought over in his mind. He was already close to an answer.

"What we need now are allies strong enough to tip the scales. Can I count you among them?"

Charles looked at Wang Yu directly, his tone solemn as he extended him an invitation.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Of course. I never intended to let those old grudges go uncollected. Count me in."

"Now that's good news. Just make sure you're as strong as rumored. I'd hate to see you get caught again."

"At this point, I think there aren't even many legends who can take me on now." Wang Yu paused, then spoke with calm certainty.

"What? You monster!"

Even Charles, who had steeled himself for an outrageous answer, found this too hard to swallow.