Deruth Henituse summoned him to his office. Of course, he sat calmly on the couch while his siblings and stepmother stood behind the count.
"Because I could not find any leads and because of the North's brewing silence, I will take your word for it, Cale."
He smiled. Deruth is a very efficient man to work with.
Cale hands down the document about the Founding Banquet bombing. He smiled the moment his father's expression turned pale.
"You..."
"This is the information I have," he said, referring to a combination of his and White Star's plans.
Deruth let out a long-suffering sigh. He places an invitation on the table, one from the Crossman Royal Family. Deruth wasn't sure at first, but the way Cale proved that something would indeed happen made him certain.
Cale is not fooling around.
His supposed good-for-nothing trashy son has turned into a predator due to a single night's hangover. Deruth could not believe the sudden change, but...
"The Crossman Family has been the leading family of the Rowoon Kingdom; the founding noble houses support the Royal Family and even sold their children to control the royal court," Deruth says solemnly. It was more serious than it was in his previous life.
Cale is aware of these inhibitions. After all, Henituse County is a family that has long supported the Royal Family from the sidelines. Resigning from that position is treasonous.
"To be honest, father, I do not think the Royal Family had any features worth following." It is only because they have been blessed by the sun god that they have been elected and chosen as the Kingdom's leading household.
The struggle for power, however, nearly wiped out the entire royal family, including the noble household. Henituse County is the only legitimate bloodline in existence right now. The only family that defended everything beneath it from the Forest of Darkness.
Deruth must have realized that the Royal Family is looking for a suitable powerhouse to strengthen its position in the kingdom right now. The powerless Crown Prince, the Second Prince Faction, and the Third Prince's involvement with hunters—the royal family is as chaotic as ever—to the point of extinction.
The perfect noble house that kept the Royal Hall in order was none other than Henituse County.
Deruth appeared to be concerned about everything. Of course, Zed Crossman tried to shut him down in order to keep the Royal Family in power. He manipulated everything and even set Henituse County to neutrality, despite the fact that it was never equal from the beginning.
"We are marionettes in the palm of a puppeteer father."
Deruth let out another long-suffering sigh.
" I don't know what to believe. You just came to me and fired all those bombs, but Cale, Let me ask you, should we continue to play the innocent or—"
"Be a powerful family, father." Cale needs Deruth to be ambitious right now. "That even the Royal Family couldn't do anything to you."
Cale was well aware that he sounded like a greedy and ambitious man. He could care less because their lives are on the line.
"No matter which path we take, it will end in bloodshed, Father."
Deruth closed his eyes tightly and exhaled. He opened his eyes again and said to Cale.
"To become free and independent," says Deruth, "we need one good reason to separate from everything below the northeast."
"The best and quickest way to do it, Father, is to protect our home on our own." Cale looked at him and said, "You have 10 million people to protect, and this city alone has 10 million smiles to protect."
The bloodshed, the ruins, the massacre that once befell this happy city.
Cale did not want to see or know about it in the future he was attempting to create.
Deruth had the feeling that Cale had seen something worse in the future. He truly believes what his son is telling him right now as a father. But as Lord of the County? He was hesitant. Cale is a young man who has not left the territory in eighteen years. He had spent his entire life in this city, even wasting away for the past ten years.
He thought giving him everything he wanted was enough, but Cale—his son—speaks to him as if he knows what kind of future they will face.
The future where Bassen and Lilly died, the future where his grandnephews and grandnieces died. Choi Han told him about a future in which no one lived in this once vast and wonderful city. The family that Cale once protected and protected him—all died and withered like ashes.
"I want to protect our family... Our home, father," Cale said again, his face filled with anger and sadness. "I do not want to lose it again."
Deruth nodded his head and looked at Violan and his other two children.
"Then it's settled," Deruth said. If Cale is willing to risk it all, he should do his worst and risk everything for him as well.
Deruth placed a huge golden map on the table. Violan sat on the seat beside Deruth, while Lilly and Bassen took the Cale's side.
"This is the entirety of the Northeast." Deruth points to the territories that the Northeast has. Only four families remained neutral and had been following them.
"Northeast is a leaderless leader," Deruth explained. "If we want to do this right, we need forces and resources to strengthen our defenses. The land, the water—the Royal Family has been eyeing the Ubar region for a while now. It has been watching over Chetter's paddy fields as well."
Bassen slowly spoke, "If it's resources, the Ubar region would be a dangerous place to find resources. However, the strategic location is good for creating a naval base."
"We need people."
"Don't worry about people," Cale said. "I will bring you the people."
Cale responded by pointing to the Forest of Darkness and saying, "A high-grade mana stone reserve is located in the heart of the Forest; if we can control it, we will have unlimited resources and money to do so."
"I will take care of it," Bassen said as he stood up and walked away, giving orders to his butler.
"I will limit the sale of marbles and contact with noble houses," Violan said, adding, "We also need to strengthen the knights."
"We need talents," Cale explained, "and I have one in mind, but he is in Whipper Kingdom." Bringing Mueller into the County is Cale's top priority. Eruhaben and Rosalyn would be good as well, but it will be difficult to regain their trust now that things will not be the same as before.
Cale taps the table invitation.
"I would like to take Bassen with me there," Cale said as he moved closer.
"Will not that be dangerous?"
Cale simply smiled again and said, "It is not." It is time for Bassen to take control after coughing blood and pretending to be weak. Of course, it is all part of Cale's third-rate performance.
After all, giving your opponent the satisfaction of camaraderie, words of endless friendly praise and justice, and building trust before dragging them down to the mud after they soar high and mighty would give Cale the most satisfaction.
The tree of liberty must be refreshed occasionally with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
For the wretched earth, there is always a flame that never dies. Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. But it won't be the same sun.
A different sun will soar and brighten the sky.
People will live in freedom, in the garden where no bastard would suppress them. They will walk behind the plough-share. Put away the sword. The chain of suppression will be broken and all men will have their reward.
Bassen should see what kind of men will be in that place.
I'll soon see that bastard again.
Cale smiled and said, "Having two heirs to the county would be good for the fronts."
Cale intends to showcase what Henituses are.
"Cale."
"Yes, father."
"Be careful in choosing your people," was Deruth's warning to him.
So ironic. He failed to choose a good one and suffered retribution.
"Yes, father." He knew, "I will choose my people carefully."
.
.
The day of departure came with Bassen and Cale standing side by side in tow. They're both wearing the golden turtle insignia. If one knew the meaning of this, it means that both of them have authority equal to the other.
They'll be moving with such a small but grand envoy. Of course, the First and Second Born will attend the banquet together. Not only that.
"Bassen," Deruth approached them, "no matter what happens, do not leave your brother's side."
"Yes, father," Bassen replied. "I have the feeling that Hyung-nim's side would be the safest place there," he said as he watched Cale ride the carriage.
"Right," Lilly said, "I would like to come too, but..."
"You are too young," Cale said lazily from the carriage, "Let us go?"
"Yes, Hyung-nim," Bassen said as he climbed the carriage and sat on the other side of the couch. He looked over at the kitten next to Cale. He may suspect they are not ordinary pets.
"Cale."
"Yes, father?"
"Do whatever you want." Deruth's stern voice echoed, "I will take responsibility."
Cale smiled; it was the first time he smiled unbridled with anger or any negative emotion.
"Yes. I'll just be casually flipping places over."
It's time to make Venion Sten suffer once more.
Cale plans on wiping that bastard off the map this time around.
"I don't have time to beat around the bush."
Cale has already planned the most painful way to make Alver Crossman suffer.
I don't need extras anymore.
TBC
gore will follow