The Returnee's Hidden Strategy Stream - Chapter 62

Chapter 62

“When war begins, Edlen will become a forward base for the great Holy Kingdom. I will dedicate my life to returning the Raven Kingdom to the embrace of God.”

“Excellent mindset. When I said we would frame Mayor William as a spy for the Holy Kingdom, I was a little concerned, but fortunately, it’s proceeding smoothly.”

“Thanks to Brook, who has an inferiority complex towards his brother, things have worked out easily. He will be a puppet and keep his position until the plan is executed.”

…

The projected image continued to unfold before everyone’s eyes.

The citizens in the square could only be shocked by what they were seeing.

“…What the hell is this? A forward base?”

“Are you saying that Brook and Barres really framed Mayor William?”

“This is crazy…”

As each conversation was revealed, the truth became clearer.

Next came the story of Liventia .

“By the way, I received a report yesterday. Is it true that William’s daughter escaped from Edlen?”

“Yes. But that was also part of the plan. If we had tried to touch his daughter as well, William would have fought to the end, giving up on the future of the city.”

“You mean he accepted it, knowing his future?”

“William is a wise man. He knew early on that if he didn’t sacrifice himself, the entire city would be in danger. But for that man, the safety of the city is nothing compared to his daughter’s life.”

“Mayor William had a daughter?”

“I think I heard a rumor at the city hall. They said she was sickly and stayed in her room.”

“So she survived the execution? Is that even possible?”

Information about Liventia was scarce and inaccurate. It was a result of William’s decision, made early on because he sensed something amiss.

“I will definitely get my hands on the traces of the Spirit King.”

With those final words, the projected light faded.

Silence descended upon the square, accompanied by shock.

After a moment’s pause, Vice Captain Leon turned her gaze to the citizens.

“As you have seen, the charges against William Norton in the past were fabricated. Shamefully, the incompetence of the Royal Knights who were in charge of the investigation at the time failed to uncover the truth and resulted in the victimization of an innocent man.”

There was a sense of guilt in her clear voice. As someone who upheld justice, she felt the most anger towards herself.

“The knight who led the investigation at the time was expelled, but I was also there. Therefore, as a survivor and as a member of the victim’s family, I would like to apologize directly to Lady Liventia .”

She turned her gaze to the stairs.

Thump-

A young woman with blond hair and an old man with white hair appeared.

The citizen’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“…What?”

“Is that real?”

“No way…”

Their reactions were natural.

Neither Liventia nor Lia had revealed their faces to the public before.

Her training as a pickpocket had always been under the condition of never being caught. And she had only targeted corrupt nobles and the wealthy.

“……!”

The two people in the defendant’s seat stood up almost simultaneously.

Brook looked at his niece with fearful eyes.

Barres, on the other hand, focused on Liventia’s fingers.

The most important Norton ring was missing.

“…….”

Lia also calmly met the two’s gaze.

The only emotion she felt was anger.

She had no desire to speak to the only remaining member of her family.

“Lady Liventia.”

Leon knelt on one knee, bowing her head.

It was an attitude reserved for royalty, and its weight was considerable.

“Because of our shortcomings, you have suffered an irreparable wound. On behalf of the Royal Knights, I apologize.”

“…I heard from my friend that it wasn’t your fault. The knight who led the investigation was also expelled, right?”

“Yes. He was expelled for abuse of power. He should have received a much harsher punishment, but due to his family connections, the incident was downplayed. I will use my name to ensure that the mistakes made during the investigation into William’s case are properly punished.”

“…….”

-Wow;

-Justice GOAT

-She’s fighting against her own family for this;

-As expected of Leon.

It wasn’t an exaggeration.

The firm resolve in her voice was unmistakable. It naturally overlapped with the words of the Black Dragon, who had described himself as a symbol of justice.

“Black Dragon.”

At that moment, someone approached Hanbit, who was among the citizens. Turning his head,

he saw Henry, his face hidden.

“I’m glad I arrived early. The city gates have already been secured by the Royal Knights.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Was the plan conveyed properly?”

“Yes. I delivered all your letters to the Vice Captain. She agreed it was a good plan.”

Henry, who had been traveling to another city, had switched places with a disguised subordinate and secretly traveled to the capital. Thanks to Leon, who still remembered him, he had managed to make contact. The projection magic tool and the petition, which served as key evidence, immediately made the situation clear. Afterwards, the letters he sent through Cowen’s guild network guided the entire process.

“Is everything going according to plan?”

“Yes. Everyone is doing well, and Barres doesn’t seem to suspect anything.”

“That’s good.”

Everything happening in the courtroom was part of the plan. The order of the evidence, Leon’s intervention, and Liventia’s appearance were all unfolding as planned.

All that remained was the ending.

“Then please proceed with the rest of the plan. Please stay by Lia’s side.”

“Yes, I’m sorry to put such a heavy burden on you.”

Swish-

Having finished their conversation, Henry stepped out and revealed his face. Then, he strode confidently towards the courtroom.

“Are you really Liventia?”

Meanwhile, Barres narrowed his eyes and asked.

Brook, his body trembling, simply avoided his gaze.

“There seems to be no need for an explanation.”

“That won’t do. Are you going to claim that every young woman of that age is Liventia ? Show me the proof.”

“Proof? I’ll show you.”

Lia reached into her bag in response to his continued questioning. She took out a gold ring with a red jewel and held it up close to Barres’ face.

“Can you still deny it?”

“…Hmm.”

Barres carefully examined the ring. Once he confirmed that it was indeed the real Norton ring, his expression changed instantly.

“So you’ve decided to reveal yourself. Have you become so bored with your hidden life?”

-This bastard?

-His smile is so disgusting;

-You’re dead.

With a sneer, Barres spoke in a mocking tone.

But Lia calmly put the ring on her finger.

“No matter how you try to act, you’re finished.”

“Is that so? I don’t see any danger coming my way yet.”

“Danger often strikes unexpectedly.”

At that moment, Henry entered the courtroom. He was carrying a bundle of documents and a pendant.

“……!”

Brook’s eyes widened once again at the sight of it.

Ignoring his reaction, Henry approached Leon.

“Here is the evidence of all the crimes committed by Brook and Barres.”

“I will examine it.”

Leon took the evidence and carefully examined its contents. A magic pendant that recorded voices was loud enough for the entire square to hear.

『This is the last time. Brook, lure William out of his mansion around midnight. I’ll set up the evidence I prepared around the mansion.』

『I will definitely succeed. This is a plan I prepared, and there are some useful things that…』

『No need.』

Barres and Brook’s conversation echoed clearly.

After listening quietly, Leon stopped the magic item and turned to them.

“There seems to be no need for further argument.”

“Hic!”

“…….”

Brook gasped, and Barres stared silently.

Leon placed her hand on the hilt of her sword and continued, “As Vice Captain of the Royal Knights, I have certain powers granted by His Majesty. One of those powers is the ability to execute immediate judgment.”

The duties of a royal knight were never trivial. For this reason, the captain and vice captain were granted the authority to handle situations. It meant that she could strike down her enemies with her sword without any consequences.

“Brook Norton, Barres Loberger. I ask you both: do you admit to the crimes you committed against William Norton and Liventia Norton?”

“Th, that…”

Brook was still unable to comprehend the situation.

‘That bishop, the one he’s been relying on from the Holy Kingdom. The evidence I gave him is now in Leon’s hands. I wonder if this was all part of his plan. Or maybe he’s waiting for a chance to rescue me. Or maybe he’s abandoned me.’

A myriad of thoughts raced through his mind, making his head spin.

‘Somewhere… somewhere…’

His mind clouded, he frantically scanned the square. He was certain that someone was watching this situation.

“…Ah!”

After searching tirelessly, Brook finally spotted the bishop’s face in the crowd.

Overjoyed, he was about to rush towards him when…

Swish-

Hanbit silently raised a finger to his lips.

“……!”

A silent command.

Brook thought it was a secret order from the bishop. He was certain there was a plan.

Calming his turbulent mind, Brook sat back down and straightened his posture.

-What’s he doing?

-Shhhh

-Does he really believe Black Dragon’s the bishop?

-Of course he does, he even recited scriptures;

“You must really want to catch me.”

Barres looked around the courtroom with his snake-like eyes.

His stalling tactics didn’t work on Leon.

“There’s no point in wasting time. Any futile resistance will only lead to greater punishment.”

Thud-

With her words, a group of knights and soldiers entered the square. It was a large number for apprehending just one person.

“This is quite a show of force.”

Barres leisurely surveyed the troops.

“Is bowing your head all it takes?”

“You should apologize to Lady Liventia . If you admit your crimes, you will be transported to the capital for further investigation. I will also be involved in the judgment, so I suggest you don’t get your hopes up.”

“The Vice Captain is quite powerful.”

The influence she could exert on a trial in the capital was substantial. Barres genuinely admired it and had already made up his mind.

“I have only one answer.”

He looked at Lia and slowly bowed. From a distance, it looked like he was truly repenting.

But Barres was not that kind of man.

“Apologize? What a joke.”

Bang-!

Suddenly, a loud explosion and black smoke filled the air.

It was a massive explosion that enveloped the entire courtroom.

And that wasn’t the end of it.

Thud-

Dozens of armed forces, hidden in various places around the square and outskirts, emerged simultaneously and attacked the courtroom.

As expected, Hanbit also jumped into the fray.

———