50. Contact him. Right now.
‘A horse without legs can travel a thousand li.’
Like that saying, the rumor spread quickly through people’s mouths.
“Did you hear? A hero appeared in the north and defeated the Demon King and the demons.”
“Not the Demon King, but a fragment of the Demon King, they say?”
“Oh man! That’s the same thing! Anyway, it means the hero and the Demon King exist!”
Of course, it was only spreading slowly through the kingdom for now.
‘It’s a bit slow.’
It didn’t feel like it had reached the people the main character needed yet.
So how could this rumor spread faster?
“I need to use the fastest people on the continent.”
Of course, it wasn’t a centaur with a horse for a lower body. It wasn’t a harpy or an asura with wings either.
[Night Walkers]
Those who wander through the darkness with the moon and clouds as their companions.
Those who were faster than horses.
‘That’s right, theives.’
It was a method he had used dozens of times before.
Thieves have their own network, as they always have.
To commit illegal acts, they had their own information channels, not to mention black markets.
“The fastest way is to get help from the [Great Heavenly King of Thieves] known as the King of Thieves, but…”
Thieves were always suspicious, as expected.
It would take time to get the King of Thieves’ help.
Well, there was also the method of using the King of Knights, who had been a comrade of the King of Thieves.
However, that was only possible if he lowered his head first.
If he used that method right now, it would backfire.
There was only one thing he could do right now.
When Joo-in, who had returned to the ducal palace, packed his bags, the surprised Haken followed him.
“M… Master Joo-in? What are you doing now?”
“I’m leaving this castle.”
“Yes?!”
“Follow me if you want, or stay here if you don’t.”
“……!?”
Haken’s eyes shook greatly.
It was because he had enjoyed the abundant life of the Duke of Edmer until now.
However, his decision was quick.
“What are you talking about! Of course, I have to be by Master Joo-in’s side!”
“Why didn’t that guy follow the order?”
“hehehehe. It looked a bit dangerous, you see.”
Haken quickly lifted Joo-Yeon’s luggage.
“Anyway, I’ll follow Joo-Yeon-nim!”
“Good. Then let’s go.”
“……By the way, where are we going right now?”
Joo-Yeon spoke loudly enough for the people of the Duke’s family to hear.
“Well…… to look for the thieves?”
“What? The thieves?”
Haken looked around in bewilderment.
Why were they looking for thieves when they had the honorable Knight King?
“Weren’t you also a thief?”
Oh, right. I’m a thief too.
Anyway, that wasn’t important.
“Why are you looking for the thieves?”
Did the Knight King forget that he hated thieves?
Thieves and assassins were taboo in Edmer’s territory.
Even though they were comrades as warriors, the Knight King really hated them.
However, Joo-Yeon’s attitude did not change.
“I have something for the thieves to do.”
Fortunately, Haken was quick-witted.
He spoke quietly so that others wouldn’t notice.
“Surely you…… don’t plan on using the thieves’ network?”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Correct!”
“Huh……”
Of course, even if he did, not just anyone could use the thieves’ network.
Only the executives, or rather the top executives called the Twelve Fingers, could do so.
‘But Joo-Yeon-nim is the warrior of this generation. Besides…… he helped the previous warriors find peace……’
The thieves might come out and help.
It was even a chance to become a warrior’s teacher.
It was a chance to wash away the stigma of being a thief who only robbed other people’s houses and land.
Considering the weight of the name warrior, it was quite possible.
It was something so important that even the Great Lord might move himself.
No, the Great Lord might even want to become the teacher himself. It was an opportunity to raise the status of thieves on the continent.
Haken’s body trembled.
“You really are a fearsome person, Joo-Yeon-nim……”
“What’s with that?”
“Then I think there might be a way for me to help.”
“Oh, right. You were a thief too, weren’t you?”
“Could you please leave out the word ‘were’……”
Haken coughed unconsciously.
“Anyway, I know someone in the Thieves Guild in the North.”
“Oh? You seem to have a good sense of things. Were they quite high-ranking?”
“Not very high, but they have connections in the Thieves Guild.”
Of course, if they had been high-ranking, they wouldn’t have ended up in prison in the first place.
Juyeon was a little disappointed.
If Haken had been a mid-level executive like a regional leader, he would have been able to contact them right away.
Although they were inferior to the Twelve Fingers, who were disciples of the Great Way, they were still capable enough to be in charge of a region.
Well, it didn’t matter.
Juyeon was about to leave the ducal residence.
Someone blocked his way.
Chuck!
It was the Knight King.
Juyeon’s eyebrows furrowed as he blocked his path.
“What? Are you seriously going to use force?”
If Juyeon fought properly, the entire ducal residence could be blown away.
However, the Knight King had no intention of fighting.
“What do you want?”
“I told you? I want a fair price.”
Hoong!
The Knight King snorted.
“You’re making such a grand move for someone like that? Tell me what you want quickly.”
Talking about thieves in front of people.
Didn’t he say it himself?
The Knight King’s face seemed to say that.
He seemed to have used his head quite a bit for an old-fashioned knight.
Grandmaster Albert or Aiden could have helped.
But they didn’t know.
‘I was waiting for this situation instead…….’
Juyeon hid his laughter.
“All I want is one thing. A fair price. I want to be properly compensated for everything I do.”
“So I should pay you…….”
“No. Not from you. I want all future work to be fairly compensated.”
“……??”
The Knight King tilted his head.
He didn’t seem to understand Juyeon’s words at all.
Juyeon’s goal was simple.
‘To create a breakwater called the [Knight King].’
Anyone who wanted to ask Juyeon for help would have to go through the Edmer family.
In fact, the teacher Juyeon really wanted was the [Knight King].
“Because it’s an old-fashioned, conservative family.”
The Edmer family wasn’t one that could be easily taken advantage of.
If he became Jude’s breakwater, he wouldn’t even be able to make simple requests.
However, there was a big problem with the Knight King.
‘Knights, especially the Knight King, value honor above all else.’
Knights were like that in general.
They were a group of people who would run wild if you just gave them a proper cause.
The [Knight King] was like their representative.
‘If the Knight King becomes my teacher, someone will definitely take advantage of his personality.’
The [Knight King] would definitely do something if he had honor and a cause.
Even if it meant demanding the sacrifice and devotion of a hero for free.
That’s why he had to make sure.
‘From now on, the Edmer family needs to faithfully fulfill its duty and responsibility as my breakwater.’
To put it to the extreme, they had to only move for Jude’s benefit.
Otherwise, not only himself but also the Knight King would make the wrong choice in the name of devotion and sacrifice.
That’s why he was taking such extreme measures.
“I will give you the opportunity and honor of being my teacher. But step back and swing your sword for me. Former Duke, no, [Knight King].”
I’ll give you honor, but benefit me.
And punish those who don’t follow through.
Jude was telling the Knight King this.
The man who only knew honor as a knight was taken aback.
“Huh…”
Killing intent filled the Knight King’s eyes.
“Have you forgotten who I am? I am the [Knight King].”
The most noble being on the continent.
One so faithful that he could withstand even the Demon King’s curse that corrupted and weakened its target.
“Are you telling me to swing my sword for profit, and to follow your orders?”
Just for the benefit of a single person?
But Jude shook his head.
“No, you don’t have to do it yourself. Just point the sword. There will be someone else to step forward.”
Jude pointed to Aiden.
Aiden was so surprised that he stepped back.
“Me…me?”
“Yes. From now on, as the Lord, you, Aiden, will keep in check anyone who tries to use me or the Edmer family.”
The Knight King would just be Aiden’s sword.
A means of delivering divine punishment to those who tried to use Jude.
Of course, he wouldn’t actually deliver divine punishment.
‘The pressure of being able to deliver divine punishment is enough.’
After all, a sword is sharpest when it’s in its scabbard.
Aiden’s eyes lit up at those words.
‘The lord and the hero’s companion are great, but…’
Being able to wield the name of [Knight King].
It was something that no one in the family had been allowed to do.
In the first place, if Father, Duke Edmer, had had this opportunity, he wouldn’t have made such a wrong choice.
‘Perhaps the Edmer family could become the best on the continent not only in name, but also in truth.’
He had to take the lead role unconditionally.
Aiden called out to the Knight King with a restless voice.
“Grandfather…”
The knights also watched the Knight King’s reaction.
It was because they had their own thoughts about the protagonist’s words.
‘Up until now, the Edmer family only had the name and no real benefits.’
‘They gave Edmer the hardest parts and never helped him.’
The Knight King let out a sigh at the sight of his vassals and grandson.
“Whew…”
Of course, he was angry at the protagonist’s attitude.
It was because it was an attitude that showed no respect for the honor of a knight.
However, it was better than letting the name [Hero] go to someone else.
He also thought that he should do what the people of the family wanted at least once.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Let’s raise the stakes for now. We should get what we deserve from those who have only put a yoke on the name [Knight King] instead of giving it honor.”
“What do you mean…”
Even now, envoys from various factions remained in the dukedom.
They were the ones who had received favors from the [Knight King] family in the past.
But there was no reward.
The sacrifice of the Hero and the Knight King was taken for granted.
Most of them looked away, saying that they needed permission from their superiors if they wanted to ask for compensation.
‘Let’s change that treatment.’
That was the least bit of courtesy that Jooyeon thought the previous Hero Ryuhan and the Knight King deserved.
“You don’t have to go to the Thieves Guild if it’s you. You must still have connections with the great swordsmen and envoys, right?”
“Of course. I didn’t want to, but…”
They were the ones he didn’t get along with among his past colleagues.
However, the Knight King moved diligently as written in ＜Witch Len’s Diary＞.
＜2. You must prepare for [him]. Gather information about powerful forces, important items, and capable allies.＞
He kept in touch with his colleagues as well as the trends on the continent.
He thought that his family’s power was enough, but it seemed that [his] thoughts were different.
Anyway, Jooyeon’s eyes lit up at the Knight King’s words.
“Then contact them. Right now.”
The Knight King tilted his head.
“Why him?”
Jooyeon laughed instead of answering.