Trash of the Count's Family Vol 2. Chapter 443: …Can I Take It All? (6)

However, the sun had not yet fully set.

General Mol uttered his words as if casting them aside.

“So. I sensed something was amiss.”

He placed his fork down with a gentle chime, leaning back in his seat. The novice knight persona had vanished without a trace.

He now exuded the aura of a seasoned mercenary—casual, relaxed, and undeniably perilous.

“If this were merely a contingent from the Order of the God of Chaos, the castle’s defenses would not be this formidable.”

Mol had taken the opportunity to survey Moraka Castle and had noticed several inconsistencies.

Not a single clergy member from the Order of the God of Chaos was in sight.

While troops were stationed around the annex and near the main castle, the visible soldiers were only of middle-tier strength.

Yet, the eyes observing him were of an entirely different caliber, some emanating a presence akin to high-ranking holy knights.

“Their vigilance was directed more towards me than towards your group.”

This was precisely why Mol had refrained from acting too boldly. He felt that if he were to truly exert himself, he could conceal his presence and investigate every inch of the castle.

However, he sensed that doing so would immediately trigger a full-scale engagement.

It was pure instinct.

There were individuals within this castle whose strength far surpassed his own capabilities.

Mol acted in accordance with the instincts honed over a considerable period.

“I was aware that the Order of the God of Chaos had betrayed the hunter families. But I had no idea they intended to betray us as well.”

They were genuinely planning to betray the Demon King?

Mol's lips curved into a smile, yet his anger was palpable.

His gaze fixed directly upon Kase.

“But then again, your side was also attempting to betray me, wasn’t that the case?”

A lopsided grin stretched across his lips, tinged with sharp derision.

“That urban legend. The creeping gray sickness. You brought that up deliberately, didn’t you?”

The more Mol pondered his predicament while remaining immobile, the more the sense of déjà vu intensified.

The Second Prince, who even now still seemed timid and withdrawn. Could such a person truly be the one to initially mention an urban legend to a knight he had never encountered before?

It simply didn't add up.

A person's actions possessed a certain logic; they were driven by reasons.

But what if Kase, the eldest brother, had instructed his younger sibling to act in such a manner, and the Second Prince had forced himself to overcome his timidity merely to cast that bait towards Mol?

That scenario made considerably more sense.

A spider's web.

It felt as though he had become ensnared in a meticulously crafted web, transformed into a puppet manipulated by an unseen hand.

“You orchestrated this entire situation, didn’t you?”

Everything had commenced the moment the individual known as Kase had appeared before Terosa.

Clopeh silently raised his wine glass, taking a slow, deliberate sip.

Observing him, Mol continued his monologue—or rather, he articulated his thoughts aloud.

“If you knew that we were responsible for Count Lupe’s demise, then naturally, you would be incensed. Naturally, you would seek retribution.”

“Mm.”

The manager of the New Business Department emitted a low hum.

What Mol had just stated was practically an admission that the Demon King’s faction was indeed responsible for Count Lupe’s death.

“Sir Mol—”

“Why? Did I let slip something I shouldn't have?”

He scoffed, gesturing towards Clopeh.

“This gentleman already initiated all of this, convinced it was our doing. If we were to offer some feeble denial now, we would only make ourselves look foolish.”

Mol spoke with utter nonchalance.

“Indeed. We eliminated Count Lupe because he refused to support the Demon King. Furthermore, his amassed wealth was a source of temptation and desire for us.”

The manager of the New Business Department squeezed his eyes shut, then reopened them, discreetly glancing at Clopeh.

However, neither Clopeh nor Mol displayed any discernible reaction.

How could they both remain so composed?

This thought flickered through the manager’s mind, but Mol interpreted Clopeh’s composure as entirely expected.

A mastermind who had meticulously arranged such a scenario would not easily betray their emotions.

“If it were Count Lupe himself, he might have anticipated his own demise. Especially if he was thorough enough to conceal his sole blood descendant.”

Mol finally understood.

He grasped Kase’s motivations—Kase, who had concluded that the Demon King’s faction was responsible for Count Lupe’s death and resolved to exact revenge.

“However, this aspect remains confounding.”

Truly, an excessive number of elements in this situation were perplexing.

He spoke with a light tone.

“How did Count Lupe become aware of the Order of the God of Chaos? No. That is not quite right.”

Mol corrected himself the instant he observed Clopeh’s expression.

“How did you become aware of the Order of the God of Chaos? And regarding the creeping gray sickness?”

How could a mere individual possess knowledge of an operation so clandestine that even the formidable power of the Demon King had failed to detect it?

“You—or rather, who is orchestrating this from behind the scenes?”

Mol posed the question, despite already suspecting the answer.

Aurora.

Count Lupe was long suspected not only of withholding support for the current Demon King but of aiding Aurora, the former Demon King's descendant.

This suspicion was so strong it was almost a certainty, and this fact alone hastened Count Lupe's demise.

Aurora.

If it were that woman, she might have detected the mysterious gray sickness plaguing the Demon World—a malady unknown even to the Demon King—and traced its origins back to the Order of the God of Chaos.

Hadn't information concerning Dark, the clandestine division of the Order of the God of Chaos, already infiltrated the Demon King's stronghold?

Mol could not be entirely sure that Aurora was unaware of this.

He issued an command to Clopeh.

“Answer me.”

Sssss—

A faint wind stirred around him, carrying an eerie and unusual sensation.

—Sniff, sniff!

Cale, feigning abject fear and merely observing, felt the wind's reaction.

—The scent of a divine relic is even stronger! From which god does it hail?

He could sense the thief's escalating excitement.

Then, Clopeh began to speak.

Mol had already resolved that if the answer wasn't "Aurora," Clopeh would face immediate execution.

And Clopeh uttered a single word.

“Hunters.”

......!

For a brief moment, Mol remained utterly still, incapable of any outward reaction.

A smirk played on Cale’s lips.

—Master, even with your head bowed, I can still discern that swindler's grin. Be cautious!

Cale swiftly concealed the smile that had escaped him inadvertently.

Choi Jung Gun.

To apprehend Choi Han’s ancestor, the Five Colored Blood hunters—known to the Wanderers as the Three Emperors—would undoubtedly pursue them into the Demon World.

This was because Choi Jung Gun possessed knowledge of the Transcendent, a prize ardently sought only by the Five Colored Blood.

They are undoubtedly already within the Demon World.

How should they be dealt with?

How could their discovery of Choi Jung Gun be prevented?

The solution lay with the Order of the God of Chaos and the Demon King.

He had already posed as a Wanderer in the presence of the Order of the God of Chaos.

Therefore, shouldn't he now inform the Demon King's faction—the ruling power of the Demon World—about the Wanderers?

Once that transpired, the Demon King's forces would independently address the Wanderers.

Consequently, the Wanderers would be preoccupied and unable to search for Choi Jung Gun.

The Demon King's army would relentlessly pursue them until their expulsion from the Demon World.

“...Hunters?”

“Precisely. Individuals identifying themselves as hunters approached me, furnishing proof and intelligence indicating my father, Count Lupe, was assassinated due to the Demon King's machinations. They also disclosed the activities of the Order of the God of Chaos.”

Mol maintained his intense gaze upon Clopeh as the man spoke with composure.

“Furthermore, they assured me of my succession to Count Lupe's position and lordship.”

Revenge and authority.

These were the promises the hunters had extended to Kase.

To General Mol, this was significantly more compelling than a mining acquisition.

“And they requested only one thing from me.”

Clopeh continued, a suave smile gracing his features.

“Exact your vengeance as you see fit. Simply orchestrate it through the Order of the God of Chaos.”

He gave a slight shrug.

“Why would I possibly decline such an offer?”

With that, Clopeh resumed his enjoyment of his wine.

The manager of the New Business Department and the middle-aged knight shot him hostile glances, yet neither dared to make a move.

“Ha!”

Mol’s demeanor grew menacing.

“Not a single trustworthy soul resides in this place.”

He voiced this observation casually, yet his eyes deepened with each passing moment.

Mol was renowned as the 'Hand Behind the Back' for his unparalleled skill in treachery.

For him, betrayal was akin to a game.

But this situation—

They intend to betray me? To betray the Demon King? From all sides?

He had been aware from the outset that neither the Order of the God of Chaos nor those hunter scoundrels were reliable.

Their alliance was solely for the purpose of confronting the heavenly and divine realms.

And yet—

Right here in the Demon World, they plot to stab us in the back?

His gaze shifted pointedly toward Clopeh.

“Do you harbor a desire for death?”

Clopeh responded without hesitation.

“Your assessment lacks depth.”

Both the New Business Department manager and the middle-aged knight flinched, their attention drawn to Mol.

Mol, however, maintained his composure.

“Then again. The reason you are revealing all of this so openly is because you have no intention of dying.”

Mol articulated the conclusion he had reached.

“It appears the Order of the God of Chaos has resolved to eliminate not only us but your faction as well.”

“Indeed.”

Clopeh affirmed with a smile.

“General Mol, I believe you will need to offer us some protection.”

“Why?”

In response to the query, Clopeh glanced sideways.

Mol's gaze followed, and he saw the Second Brother hesitantly rising from his seat.

Cale discreetly retrieved a piece of parchment from within his attire and placed it upon the dining table.

—Master, your acting skills are truly remarkable!

Mol intently studied the parchment in silence, then directed a sharp glance at the middle-aged knight. The knight promptly retrieved it and presented it to him.

Fwrip—

Mol unhesitatingly unfurled the parchment.

“...!”

His surprise was evident upon seeing the map of Moraka Castle laid out, with even the Pope’s exact location meticulously marked. # Nоvеlight #

“You were curious about the conversation between myself and Young Master Jimon, weren't you?” Clopeh’s steady voice cut through the air.

“Young Master Jimon and the inhabitants of this castle are aligned with us.”

“...Aligned with us?”

“Indeed. Your side, and our group here. Together, we form our collective.”

Casting his gaze upon Clopeh, General Mol was instantly reminded of the high-ranking officials within the Demon King’s castle and the cunning nobles who navigated political landscapes.

A man capable of setting aside personal vendettas and aspirations for power, shifting his stance fluidly based on prevailing priorities.

“Shouldn't mutual survival be our goal?” Clopeh expressed his willingness to cooperate for the sake of living.

However, Mol couldn't help but let out a cynical laugh.

“Ultimately, I will be the one confronting the Order of the God of Chaos alone, even with the Pope present. The instant I transmit this comprehensive intelligence to the Demon King’s castle and Lord Dioriel's domain, war will inevitably erupt between the Order of the God of Chaos and the Demon King’s castle.”

“......”

“And when that conflict unfolds, all your objectives will be achieved.”

“So, you find that displeasing?”

Despite Clopeh's smiling inquiry, Mol resolutely shook his head.

“No.”

In the current unfolding circumstances—

Mol determined the most advantageous course of action available to him.

“It is now my turn to act.”

He issued a directive to the manager of the New Business Department, the mage.

“Instruct Terosa to dispatch every available soldier here without delay. They must arrive before midnight.”

“...Understood!”

Dioriel currently housed a substantial contingent of security forces, given that the city was precisely at the cusp of selecting its new lord.

“Furthermore, transmit a request to the Demon King’s castle. Inform them to teleport the Third Army to this location.”

A large-scale, long-distance teleportation maneuver.

It would incur significant costs and demand immense effort, yet General Mol of the Third Army made the decision without a shred of hesitation.

Now that the Demon King’s castle was inextricably involved in this grand scheme, any concern for discretion or subsequent repercussions was rendered futile.

He placed the map upon the table and addressed Clopeh,

“If their intention is to betray us tonight, then we shall strike first.”

His resolve was firm: then he would eliminate them tonight.

“If the enemy intends to stab us in the back, we will retaliate with a swift stab of our own.”

Mol offered Clopeh a smile brimming with confidence.

“Remain here and await developments. I shall ensure your survival through this night.”

Beyond tonight, who could possibly foresee the ensuing events.

A predatory smirk crept onto Mol’s lips.

Clopeh, still wearing his enigmatic smile, inquired,

“Are you planning to pursue the Pope?”

“.......”

The smile abruptly disappeared from Mol’s countenance.

“The Hand Behind the Back is not the type to simply endure an enemy’s assault merely to survive, is he?”

Clopeh spoke with the certainty of stating an undeniable truth.

“If it were you, you would undoubtedly strike at the enemy’s vulnerable flank. Without question.”

“Ha!”

Mol emitted a short, sharp exclamation.

“This little—!”

In the end, he conceded the point.

“You genuinely understand my nature quite profoundly, don't you?”

The Demon King's eight formidable blades.

Mol, commander of the Third Army amongst the eight unified forces.

In such a critical juncture, he harbored no inclination towards mere defensive posturing.

The Order of the God of Chaos had audaciously attempted to betray him; his intention was to utterly crush them.

Gray sickness.

If this affliction was indeed real, then he possessed an even more compelling reason to annihilate the Order of the God of Chaos, and the most effective strategy was to target the very head of the serpent—the Pope.

The instant he received the map pinpointing the Pope’s location, the conclusion had become glaringly obvious to Mol.

Clopeh inclined his head slightly towards the smiling Mol.

“Then I entrust the execution of this plan to you.”

“Mm.”

Mol gave a brief nod, accepting the profound responsibility with effortless grace.

—Human, human, how did all these intricate threads become so inextricably interwoven?

Raon’s voice, laced with genuine astonishment, resonated as he communicated with Cale.

—Everything has become entwined in such a peculiar fashion! But human, this turn of events bodes well for us, does it not?

That assessment was undeniably correct.

Tonight—

The Order of the God of Chaos remained blissfully unaware that their adversaries possessed knowledge of the gray sickness, nor that they had formed an unlikely alliance with Young Master Jimon.

Consequently, they would advance, underestimating the formidable strength of their opponents.

Simultaneously, the Demon King’s forces would endeavor to dismantle this very castle using hastily assembled troops, lacking adequate preparation time.

Locate Choi Jung Soo, discover a cure for the Team Leader’s affliction, and halt the spread of the gray sickness.

Following this, their only remaining task would be to observe from the sidelines as the Demon King’s army and the Order of the God of Chaos engaged in a brutal, self-destructive conflict, allowing them to discreetly slip away amidst the chaos.

Effortless.

Compared to the myriad challenges previously surmounted, the impending events of tonight appeared astonishingly simple.

—Human, but if the troops evacuate the lord’s castle, doesn't that leave it unguarded?

Raon posed the question with unbridled enthusiasm.

—Later, it will be incredibly easy to infiltrate the lord’s castle and pilfer the secret vault!

As anticipated, Raon truly was an exceptionally intelligent young dragon.

Worthy of a great dragon’s lineage.

*****

And so, the night descended.

Moraka Castle settled into a profound silence, more serene than it had ever been.

An unnatural, profound silence permeated the air.

Yet, deep within the main castle of Moraka—

“I am placing my trust in you.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

The highest-ranking holy knight stood, prepared to execute the command to eliminate the enemy.

Simultaneously—

“General Mol, reports indicate the troops will soon enter through the forest.”

Mol, donning his armor for the first time in a considerable period, already had his weapon in hand.

As he stretched his neck and loosened his joints, he stated emotionlessly,

“The instant the troops begin their assault on Moraka Castle, I will personally target the Pope.”

The blade of the Demon King had been honed with the sole purpose of dispatching the Pope.

And at long last—

“Human, it’s that uniform again! It feels like ages!”

Clad in the rugged Dark uniform, Cale approached the window alongside the average ten-year-olds.

“Have a safe journey.”

Clopeh bid them farewell.

“It truly has been a while.”

Cale turned upon hearing the voice beside him.

Team Leader Sui Khan offered a languid smile.

“Indeed, it has.”

It had been an exceptionally long time since he had joined forces with Team Leader Sui Khan in the search for Choi Jung Soo.

And then—

Rustle.

“Choi Han, the atmosphere feels peculiar.”

Upon hearing the Heavenly Demon’s words as he gazed up at Moraka Castle, Choi Han quietly inclined his head in agreement.