The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 28

Murmurs filled the air.

Without even having to look, one could tell that a significant number of people had arrived.

Yet Raul walked into the hall undeterred, his steps bold and unwavering.

“…….”

A brief silence reigned.

Most of them were nobles from the Ashton county, yet not a single one had laid eyes on Raul before.

‘With that face, he claims to be one of our kin?’

‘A face like that could turn the social world upside down without the need to wield a sword.’

‘But blood does not lie, does it? They said he’s 15, but he must be at least 180 cm tall.’

‘Is this young lad really the one who put Baron Zender in his place?’

‘But, did he truly win the swordsmanship tournament?’

The murmurs grew louder as the brief silence ended.

While they were busy appraising Raul, he made his way across the hall and stood confidently on the stage.

“It seems I have unexpectedly found myself before so many of you. Have you all come because of the matter with Baron Zender?”

Perhaps it was the difference between the Raul they had imagined and the one standing before them that left the crowd dumbfounded.

Without any hesitation or stumbling, Raul spoke exuberantly, silencing the crowd once again.

Yet, this silence was only momentary.

“Indeed. The bloodline members are here, angered by your outrageous actions. What do you think? Isn’t it time to apologize to the elders and make amends?”

Baron Zender addressed Raul with familiarity, as if speaking to an equal.

However, Raul responded with a calm and neutral expression.

“Then, am I to understand that Baron Zender here represents everyone present?”

After exchanging looks, the crowd nodded in agreement.

“Very well. Let us then determine right from wrong, as I have promised.”

“What nonsense. What is there to determine? This manor has been managed in turns by our bloodline residing in the capital for decades! A young lad from the main house, who knows nothing, should not meddle with matters as if it were a toy!”

“That’s right! Is the main house disregarding us?”

“It’s too much even for the Count. Granting authority to a child!”

Following Baron Zender’s lead, several nobles echoed his sentiments.

This sparked a barrage of complaints from many nobles, ranging from grievances about insufficient funding to demands for more open management of the estate and changes in administration. The barrage was so relentless it seemed there would be no opportunity to discuss Baron Zender’s actions or why he had been dismissed.

Throughout this exchange, Raul kept silent after his initial statement, while Baron Zender seemed to revel in the atmosphere.

But the reality was quite different.

Raul wasn’t quietly standing there just to listen to them. Unnoticed due to the heated atmosphere, his eyes had, at some point, begun to emanate a strange golden light as he observed each person in the hall.

‘It appears the situation might be more complicated than I thought…’

Upon analysis, he realized that individuals from as many as five different factions were present.

First, naturally, were the Ashton county’s kin, those who came without knowing much, simply participating.

Second were agents from the Cranen Empire’s intelligence service, the Imperial Hounds; only two, but their presence suggested some connection.

Raul wasn’t surprised. Hadn’t he experienced firsthand that the empire was often behind many of the large and small conflicts across the continent?

The third group, however, was unexpected.

At the very back of the hall.

A line of knights stood apart from the gathered guards.

At first sight, they looked like ordinary knights of varying affiliations and uniforms.

One knight, in particular, with numerous scars across his face and short-cropped hair, stood out. He looked to be in his 40s.

[Name]: Graham (45 years old)

[Level]: 88

[Occupation]: Knight (Advanced Sword Expert)

[Affiliation]: Ruben Kingdom, Haun Household // Brennan Republic, Delamian Household

[Title]: The Red Executor

[Stats]: Potential (A-Grade)

[Strength 82]

[Agility 72]

[Stamina 84]

[Intelligence 62]

[Mind 68]

[Magic Power 71]

[Senses 76]

*Unique Traits

Indomitable Physique (A), Melee Combat Specialist (B)

He was a formidable opponent, on par with those of Philip’s caliber.

Moreover, his true affiliation was with one of the five great families of the Brennan Republic, the Delamian Household.

It was a headache, honestly, to uncover what business he had here, originating from a considerably mightier household than that of the Count of Ashton.

Additionally, about a dozen knights standing beside Graham also belonged to the Delamian Household, and a few of them seemed to have surpassed the intermediate level of an expert.

‘To think they’ve ventured from the neighboring territories to here… Our family must have been severely underestimated.’

Turning his gaze, he found them.

The knights of the Count of Randal, the sworn enemies of the Count of Ashton.

Though there were only five, one was an advanced level sword expert, while the rest were of intermediate level.

The problem was their representative.

[Name]: Haphael (26)

[Level]: 61

[Occupation]: Knight (Junior Sword Expert)

[Affiliation]: Randal Household

[Title]: The Fourth Son of Randal Household

[Stats]: Potential (B-Grade)

[Strength 61]

[Agility 65]

[Stamina 58]

[Intelligence 61]

[Mind 53]

[Magic Power 60]

[Senses 55]

*Unique Traits

Lineage of Swordsmanship (B),

Agility (C-)

While his skills didn’t particularly stand out, his mere presence was a weapon in itself.

Why on earth was the fourth son of Randal Household here?

It seemed that the nobles of House Ashton had yet to recognize his presence.

‘He’s surely not here with good intentions, but could it be something related to the incident in Mira?’

There were worrisome possibilities, but it was unlikely they would act openly.

Despite the ongoing internal strife, it was hard to believe that the blood relatives of House Ashton would be foolish enough to fragment in the face of an external threat.

Lastly, the fifth and most significant party in this commotion.

The real instigators and likely the most visible in the event of a real conflict were the traitors of their own family.

And the de facto leader wasn’t the Baron Zender making noise at the forefront. Disguised as a bodyguard, he couldn’t evade Raul’s analytical gaze.

[Name]: Titus (27)

[Level]: 65

[Occupation]: Knight (Intermediate Sword Expert)

[Affiliation]: Ruben Kingdom, House of Jayden // Brennan Republic, Jayden Family

[Stats]: Potential (A-Grade)

[Strength 70]

[Agility 64]

[Stamina 68]

[Intelligence 62]

[Mind 65]

[Magic Power 63]

[Senses 58]

*Unique Traits

Noble Swordsmanship Lineage (A),

Straightforward Instinct (A-),

Twisted Combative Spirit (B)

‘Bingo!’

Titus.

He was none other than the eldest son of Raul’s great uncle, Jayden, a viscount of the Ruben Kingdom and Raul’s cousin!

* * *

Raul’s father, Count Melvin de Ashton, had two brothers.

Jayden, the elder, and Austin, the younger. The three brothers all had a talent for swordsmanship, but Melvin shone the brightest.

However, succeeding the county was not determined solely by one’s skill with a sword.

In the Ruben Kingdom as well, the principle of ‘primogeniture’ was followed, and unless there was a special reason, the next count would be Jayden’s position.

The issue arose with Jayden’s character.

He was extremely arrogant and had a strong sense of pride.

With the absolute conviction that he would become the count, his behavior was very violent and reckless.

If someone irked him, he resorted to violence, and he even went as far as to take lives.

Then, one day,

Melvin reached the intermediate level of an expert, surpassing Jayden, and he became a strong candidate for the next count.

Jayden felt a great sense of jealousy towards his brother, and a sense of crisis, eventually crossing a line.

He sent an assassin to try and kill his brother, Melvin.

However, the assassination attempt failed, and once the full story came to light, Jayden was stripped of his right to succession.

As time passed, Melvin ascended to the position of count, and Jayden, the elder brother, was given the title of viscount along with a large domain of a viscount’s rank.

But Jayden seemed to find it difficult to accept the reality of losing the county to his brother.

Incredibly, he sold the domain he inherited to the McNeil Dukedom, which was in competition with the Ashton county, and left the Ruben Kingdom with his followers.

That was 15 years ago, the year Raul was born.

* * *

The news that the son of Viscount Jayden, my uncle, appeared here sufficiently indicated to whom Baron Zender might be liaising.

After all, those who had stayed in the capital hadn’t suffered much from the events 15 years ago, so they held no particular sentiment towards Viscount Jayden.

They probably thought they might even become lords themselves by pushing out the main family.

And since in a previous life, the Ashton county was split into dozens of parts, and the county family met its end, their decision might have been wise.

‘But that was when I wasn’t here. This time, I’ll make them painfully aware that their choice was a mistake.’

Having identified the five forces present, Raul had a rough idea of how things were unfolding.

Thinking it was time to make a move, Raul signaled to Philip.

Bang, bang, bang!

Philip drummed on his shield, drawing the attention of the chattering nobles.

In the brief silence, Raul slowly spoke up.

“I’ve heard enough of your opinions, so allow me to share a few words of my own. Bernard, distribute these.”

At Raul’s instruction, Bernard and the servants handed out small booklets of nearly 30 pages to the nobles.

The nobles, opening their eyes wide in surprise, asked in astonished voices,

“What is this?”

“It’s exactly as the title states.”

The cover of the booklet they held was engraved with large letters.

– Interim Audit Report on the Management Condition and Financial Operations of the Count Ashton’s Mansion Located in the Capital –

(Evidence and Investigation Material on Baron Zender’s Embezzlement and Breach of Trust Attached)

Flap, flap.

The sound of pages turning crisply was heard.

Some of the onlookers’ faces turned pale as they examined the contents.

Especially, Baron Zender’s face changed colors like a chameleon with every page he turned.

Raul quietly, and calmly observed their expressions.

Snap! Snap!

“This is falsification! It’s fake!”

Baron Zender ripped the booklet to shreds and threw it on the floor as he shouted.

And a few nobles slowly closed their booklets, saying,

“It sounds plausible, but it’s hard to believe.”

“You expect us to believe you investigated all this in one day since arriving? Impossible.”

But contrary to their words, the hands holding the booklets were trembling.

Raul slightly lifted the corners of his mouth and said,

“Now, shall we have a proper discussion?”

(To be continued)