Reborn As Noble Chapter 1261: A Puddle of Terror ( 1261 )

The golden knight seized Mulkas by the fabric of his shirt, drawing close to whisper in a chilling, menacing tone.

"How about you witness true might? The kind that safeguards, not oppresses. The kind that champions justice, not avarice. The kind that doesn't prey on the defenseless or shatter the faith of those who trusted you."

Mulkas attempted to flee, but his fractured legs gave way, causing him to crumple, completely immobilized. Javier, gripping his collar, hauled him out of the room.

Once outside, Mulkas was compelled to observe. Unseen forces unleashed devastation upon his forces. Mana projectiles blazed across the sky, obliterating every tower, every defense, every position occupied by his soldiers. The whirring symphony of attack mana helicopters, imperceptible to the eye, filled the air as they executed pinpoint strikes throughout the conflict zone.

Javier let out a low chuckle, sheathing both his pistols at his waist and interlacing his fingers behind his back.

"If my memory serves me, you uttered something earlier... Hmm... Allow me to recall... 'Establish a formidable private army within the Human Kingdom'? Was that the phrase?"

Mulkas's eyes dilated with sheer dread.

"Ah~ Cease that expression." Javier grinned. "Did I not instruct you to cease making that face? You are... Hmm... what was it again... Ah~ General of the New... what exactly was it?" Javier stroked his chin before emitting a soft, derisive laugh. "New Mathrias... Army?"

He then turned his gaze upon Mulkas, who had incontinently soiled himself in abject terror.

"Had you not betrayed your liege, you would have been granted accolades. You would have earned reverence. You would have known a life of ease. But you elected avarice. You chose perfidy. And now... you face retribution."

"P... Please... show mercy... I shall surrender all the gold I possess! Every last coin! Just grant me my life!"

"Chi chi chi." Javier wagged a finger, lowering himself to meet Mulkas's gaze.

"Do not misunderstand. All the wealth within that chamber is already mine. You ought to grasp by now that in times of conflict, the victor claims all. Your gold, your troops, your lands, your very existence. It all capitulates to the one triumphant. And you, my treacherous friend, have unequivocally fallen."

Javier rose and gestured expansively with both hands towards the battlefield, effectively presenting the scene as a grand spectacle.

"Behold those spectacular detonations. Magnificent, are they not? The shrieks, the pandemonium, the complete obliteration of your so-called 'New Mathrias Army'... Yet, not a solitary observer will be capable of identifying the aggressor, the arcane energies employed, or the origin of the assaults. To the outside world, it shall appear as naught but divine retribution."

Javier emitted a soft chuckle.

"I possess more than sufficient might to subjugate any dominion I desire. To dismantle any realm that impedes my progress. With my innovations, my valiant knights, my formidable armaments, I could bring entire empires to their knees and reshape the world according to my sovereign will."

He paused, his tone shifting to one of unwavering seriousness.

"And yet, I have never once contemplated such an action. It has never been my aspiration. The notion of ruling through intimidation and destruction repels me. For unlike you and the other power-mad simpletons, I hold peace in high regard. I cherish liberty. I value the moments I have to savor my existence, to be with my kin, to innovate and create unfettered by the chains of perpetual warfare."

He pivoted to face Mulkas, his voice now imbued with icy resolve.

"But due to the machinations of individuals such as yourself, and all the other rapacious nobles who perceive treachery and conquest as the sole pathways to dominion, I am compelled to intervene, to set aside my tranquil existence and rectify the chaos that you and your ilk have wrought. You leave me no alternative but to dispatch you, much like the rabid canines you resemble."

Javier smirked, a frigid glint animating his eyes.

"However... fret not~" He crouched low before Mulkas, his voice descending into a derisive whisper. "I am not the entity you ought to dread."

"W... What do you imply?" Mulkas stammered, his visage ashen with dread.

"My progenitor is the one you should truly fear~" Javier erupted into a dark, resonant laugh. "Ah~ I ponder what fate shall befall you upon encountering him. But... well... that is no longer my concern. So long as I deliver you alive and intact, I shall remain secure from his 'practice duels'... which I profoundly detest."

He straightened, casting a downward glance at the quivering general.

"Oho~ Nay, nay, nay~" Javier elevated a minute object between his fingertips, a minuscule obsidian pellet. "Ah~ This is the venom you intended to ingest by fracturing your tooth, was it not? A last resort, concealed within your molar. An ultimate stratagem for oathbreakers seeking to evade capture."

Mulkas's eyes widened in stark horror. He swiftly probed his mouth with a digit, only to discover the capsule conspicuously absent.

"Chi chi chi~" Javier wiggled his finger in a teasing manner. "I am quite knowledgeable about these sorts of dark magic and clandestine techniques. It would be quite impossible for me not to be, given my reputation as a genius inventor; I must thoroughly understand my adversaries."

He shifted closer, his tone becoming sharp and serious.

"Oh, and a small addition: I am also aware that you were the one providing intelligence and aid to... whom was it again? Hanarak? Or perhaps I should address you as... the Head Butler of the Mathrias family?"

Javier let out another smirk, his voice laced with mockery.

"Ah, there’s no need for you to elucidate anything regarding him. I am already in possession of all the necessary details and facts about him. Furthermore, I am privy to the information about the clandestine team of assassins you dispatched... the very group sent to the Beastkin Kingdom with the objective of abducting Rolland’s youngest son. Rest assured, I am fully informed."

He leaned in, his demeanor a mixture of playful ridicule and chilling confidence.

"Now, now, don’t misinterpret my intentions. Initially, our knowledge of this matter was quite limited. However, you overlooked a critical element: the Beastkin Nation stands as an ally to Armand. Moreover, they possess the capability for instantaneous communication... a feat made possible, I might add, by my provision of mana radios. While these are a slightly modified version compared to our own, their effectiveness remains undiminished. Consequently, any suspicious activities involving humans..." Javier paused, his voice gaining an edge, "...will invariably be reported to Armand without delay."

Mulkas’s eyes narrowed, and he eventually emitted a low, sardonic chuckle.

"Eheh... eheheh..."

"Oh? What provokes such mirth?" Javier inquired, his tone dripping with feigned curiosity.

"You are unaware... of the sheer terror that Hanarak’s Assassin House instills~"

"Ah..." Javier raised the gloved hand of his golden knight armor and deliberately tapped the chin of his helmet.

"Hmm... Based on my current understanding, Hanarak’s Assassin House does not even hold the top rank."

He stooped down, his gaze meeting Mulkas’s directly.

"Have you ever encountered the name Alf? Or, to be more precise, the most formidable assassin across the entire continent? Hmm? Oh... Allow me to hazard a guess... your intelligence is rather dated... or perhaps, you’re simply lacking in intellect? Have you heard of the Shadow House?"

Javier’s grin widened as he observed a flicker of intensified dread clouding Mulkas’s features.

"Oho~ Are you suggesting that you were unaware that the Shadow House pledges its allegiance to... ARMAND? Is that truly the case?"

He erupted in a mocking peal of laughter.

"The Shadow House, recognized as the most dreaded and esteemed assassin syndicate on this continent, answers directly to my father. And Alf, the individual at their helm, also serves as the head butler of the Armand Estate. Therefore, I implore you, General... who should be the one gripped by fear? Hanarak, or the Shadow House?"

Javier’s laughter grew boisterous.

"Do you genuinely believe that your insignificant Hanarak House can contend with those who have faithfully served my lineage for countless generations? Your naivety exceeds even my initial estimations."