Raul didn’t feel any killing intent himself. But the man who was with him had said so, and Raul couldn’t afford to doubt him. After all, this man was one of the kingdom’s strongest. Furrowing his brow, Raul asked, “What do you think of his strength?” “I’m not exactly sure.” “You couldn’t gauge his strength?” Raul asked again, surprised, and the man shook his head slightly, as if he found the thought unsettling. “There was something off.” “Off? What do you mean by that?” “His movements, his breathing... Everything about him seemed unordinary. But just by looking, you wouldn’t think he’s that strong.” “So, how strong is he exactly?” Raul pressed. After thinking for a moment, the man finally responded. “The rumors about him making a name for himself during the war seem to be true.” “Hmmm...” Raul murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “This brat, notorious for being a wild troublemaker, has such remarkable skill? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?” “No, I’m certain. He’s more than capable of holding his own in a war. Even if his body or mana isn’t overwhelming, his technique is refined enough to make up for it.” Raul sighed slightly at those words. ‘Should I have crushed him earlier, even if it meant taking a risk? His reputation hasn’t grown too large yet; we could’ve handled it.’ If he had killed Ghislain, the nobles aligned with the Crown Prince would have caused an uproar, but Raul could’ve framed it as a legitimate duel. He felt confident he could manage the fallout. Even the Duke of Delphine would have understood, especially if Raul and his companion had made the same decision together. After all, they both had that level of trust from the Duke. Raul finally let out a frustrated groan. “Maybe I should have killed him today.” The masked man remained silent for a moment before speaking. “I also considered it for a moment. His accomplishments are too impressive for someone his age.” “So why didn’t you do it? I would’ve handled the aftermath,” Raul said. “...I couldn’t find an opening for a clean strike. No, it’s more accurate to say that while there was an opening, I didn’t feel confident about it. Now that I think about it, it felt like he was intentionally showing a weak point.” “What?” Raul asked, clearly baffled by this statement. The man continued speaking calmly. “If I hadn’t been able to kill him in one blow, the Marquis of Branford’s forces would have intervened. Then we would’ve gained nothing but chaos. That’s why I hesitated. Causing a scene wouldn’t have done us any favors.” “You weren’t sure you could kill him in one strike? You?” Raul still couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Yes.” Raul couldn’t wrap his mind around it. He didn’t want to believe it. “That’s ridiculous. At his age, how could he possibly have that kind of skill? Are you sure you didn’t misjudge him?” “Perhaps. It could have been an illusion created by his aura and confidence. But swinging a sword without certainty is foolish.” Raul furrowed his brow, still visibly displeased. “Even if not in one strike, couldn’t you have killed him before the others intervened?” The masked man took a moment to reflect before responding slowly. “Ten times.” “Ten times?” “If my assessment is accurate, I would’ve had to strike at least ten times to kill him. But with that level of skill, he would have immediately fled into the banquet hall after the first attack.” “That would have definitely complicated things...” “Exactly. So let it go for now. There will be another chance.” Raul clicked his tongue in frustration. “Would an assassination be possible?” The masked man narrowed his eyes and gave Raul a cold look, speaking in a low, biting tone. “You’re not suggesting I should do it myself, are you?” “Of course not. Wasting talent like yours on something like that would be absurd. I was just asking if it could be done.” “...Depending on the assassin’s skill, it might succeed. But there’s no need to provoke him unnecessarily. You know that.” “I don’t intend to mess things up by trying to kill him now. I was just speaking out of frustration,” Raul admitted. Ghislain had gained a lot of attention from the capital’s nobles after healing the Marquis’s daughter. Any assassination attempt that left traces would only cause problems. For now, it was better to maintain the current balance while working behind the scenes to win over the nobles of the capital. “Tsk, I should have killed him before he joined the Crown Prince’s faction. I was too complacent. I didn’t expect the northern conquest, which I thought would be the easiest, to be delayed the most.” “Harold also got outmaneuvered, so he’ll be more careful now. He’s competent enough to handle it.” “He’d better be.” Raul’s voice was cold, and a smirk crept across his lips. If Harold had managed to secure the northern lands before Ghislain made a name for himself, things wouldn’t have turned out this messy. It was a point of regret. Raul clicked his tongue before continuing. “I’ll need to warn Harold. Ghislain Peridum is no ordinary noble. He’s strong enough to be considered on par with the captain of a knight order.” “The strongest in the north.” “...What are you talking about now? The strongest in the north?” “I’m talking about Ghislain Peridum’s combat ability. Tell Harold to consider him at the same level as Rayfold, the captain of the knight order.” Raul’s eyes widened in surprise at this. “Isn’t that too generous of an evaluation? He’s too young to be compared to a knight commander.” “Consider it a warrior’s intuition. I know you dislike hearing things like that.” “Hmm...” Raul rubbed his chin and let out a small chuckle. “Well, there’s no harm in preparing thoroughly. I’ll pass on the message.” “It won’t matter much once we start moving in earnest, though. After all, wars aren’t fought alone.” “Coming from the man known as a one-man army, that sounds a bit odd,” Raul said, his tone teasing. The masked man quietly responded. “There’s another person like me in the royal family, isn’t there? As long as he and I keep each other in check, the outcome of the war will be in the hands of others.” After a brief silence, the man added with a touch of weariness. “I’m so tired of all this.” With that, the masked man fell silent. After Raul left, the banquet continued in high spirits for some time. The nobles of the Crown Prince’s faction were in a great mood after seeing a young upstart reject the Duke’s offer so blatantly. Gathering in small groups, they drank and sang praises of Ghislain’s boldness. As the night deepened, the nobles, starting with the prince and the higher-ranking members, began to depart, and the banquet came to a natural conclusion. “Hoo... What a tiring day,” Ghislain muttered, loosening his collar as he shook his head. Moments like these always reminded him that dealing with people was more exhausting than physical combat. Forcing himself to smile at everyone sent shivers down his spine. It just wasn’t in his nature. As he tried to make his escape, Rosalyn approached him. “You worked hard today.” “Yeah, well... I can’t deny that. But it wasn’t too bad.” “Hehe, it’s not every day that someone becomes the center of attention at a banquet.” “True. I didn’t realize I was this popular.” After turning down Raul’s offer, the nobles hadn’t left Ghislain alone for a moment. The connections he built tonight would certainly prove useful in the future, but for now, he just wanted to go home and rest. Just as he was about to politely excuse himself, Rosalyn asked him a question. “What is your goal, Baron?” “Pardon?” “I’m curious to know what you’re aiming for.” “Honestly... it’s nothing special. Like everyone else, I just want to live well,” Ghislain replied, brushing off the question. Who could he possibly reveal his true ambitions to? That his goal was to wipe out the Duke of Delphine’s household and reduce everything to rubble. That he had returned from the future to find and destroy the forces behind them. That countless people would die in the process. ‘If I said that, people would think Ghislain Peridum had gone mad.’ Perhaps history would remember him as a warmonger or a butcher. There was no point in speaking of such a bloody future out loud. There was no one he could confide in, no one he could rely on. The only one he trusted was himself. Even the Crown Prince’s faction was merely a tool to achieve his goal. As Ghislain began to drift into thought, Rosalyn smiled faintly and countered his claim. “That’s a simple goal. But the things you’ve done don’t seem quite so ordinary.” “Well, I just like to get things done quickly. Everything I’ve done so far is just to strengthen my estate, nothing more.” “Hmmm...” Rosalyn narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced by his words. Ghislain felt a little uneasy. He didn’t like the way she seemed to be trying to read his true intentions. “I’m quite tired, so I’ll be taking my leave now. I’ll see you next time,” Ghislain said, eager to end the conversation. As he turned to go, Rosalyn spoke in a soft, yet pointed tone. “Don’t forget that I’m your sponsor. If you ever need help, just ask.” “Thank you, but I doubt you’ll need to trouble yourself on my behalf,” Ghislain replied, drawing a clear line between them. He understood Rosalyn’s goodwill and was grateful for it. But this was as far as it went. As his plans unfolded, he would have to act more aggressively, and it was likely that he would become a threat even to the royal family. ‘Only by reaching that level can I stand a chance against the Duke of Delphine.’ He didn’t want the Marquis of Branford or Rosalyn meddling in his affairs when the time came. Gratitude ended here. It was better to take what was needed from each other and walk separate paths. He didn’t want to drag her down into the chaos and risk getting her killed. “Well then, I’ll be off. I enjoyed tonight.” As Ghislain walked away, Rosalyn let out a small sigh. She had helped him because she, too, had her own ambitions. Thanks to him, she had found a new lease on life. No matter what she did, it never felt like enough to repay him. She had hoped to stay by his side and continue supporting him, but he had cut ties so cleanly. Turning away, Rosalyn headed back to her room. It seemed sleep wouldn’t come easily tonight. The moment Ghislain entered the carriage to head back, he let out a sigh, his mind filled with regret. ‘This is frustrating.’ As the masked man had suspected, Ghislain had indeed considered killing Raul right there. He could have dealt with the aftermath later. No, he should have killed Raul without worrying about the consequences. ‘No matter what the cost, it would have been worth it.’ The Duke of Delphine had risen to power largely thanks to Raul’s schemes. Countless interests had already shifted into the Duke’s hands, and lords across the kingdom were increasingly backing him. Even the chaos stirring in the kingdom was being orchestrated by Raul behind the scenes. ‘If it weren’t for that man...’ Ghislain clenched his teeth, thinking of the masked man. Several times during their conversation, Ghislain had tried to kill Raul. But each time, the masked man had subtly interrupted his flow of movement. Amazingly, the man could sense Ghislain’s minute shifts and counter them in real-time, even emanating faint killing intent of his own as a warning. Because of that, Ghislain hadn’t been able to strike. ‘He’s every bit as skilled as the rumors say. No, even more so.’ Ghislain’s mana control and perception were on par with what they had been when he was the Mercenary King. There were few in the entire kingdom who could interfere with his breathing technique. A grandmaster of magic or a swordmaster of the highest caliber. ‘There are only two swordmasters in all of Rutania.’ One served as the captain of the royal knights, always at the king’s side. And the other... The Duke of Delphine’s closest confidant and most loyal sword, widely recognized as the kingdom’s greatest warrior. ‘The kingdom’s finest blade, Swordmaster Count Balzac.’ Ghislain covered his face with his hand and let out a quiet laugh. It wasn’t a laugh of amusement, but one to suppress the seething anger within him. He had let his enemies walk away, and his blood was boiling with frustration. ‘If only I had regained my full strength from my past life...’ If he had, he would have found a way to cut them all down. The thought gnawed at him, making his frustration grow. ‘What’s done is done. Forget it. For now, all I can do is grow stronger and gather more allies.’ Ever since he had returned to the past, he hadn’t wasted a single moment. He had done his best, and this was his current limit. It just wasn’t enough to face Count Balzac head-on. “Haa...” Ghislain suppressed his bloodlust, forcing it down into his chest. He vowed to himself that one day, he would release all this pent-up anger and humiliation. ‘Next time... it won’t end so quietly.’ The two of them would inevitably meet again. When he and the Duke’s household clashed with everything on the line. That would be the moment when they would truly determine who was the strongest in the kingdom.