The night after the mission's success, Luc and Damien stood before Berth in his private chambers. The room was dimly lit, the flickering flames from the torches casting ominous shadows on the walls. Berth, seated in his grand chair, drummed his fingers against the armrest, his cold gaze fixed on the two men kneeling before him.
"Well?" Berth's voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge of impatience.
Luc hesitated before speaking. "Leader… we underestimated Reyon."
Berth's fingers stilled. "Explain."
Damien took a deep breath. "During the mission, Baron Vellus had hired a seventh-circle mage using his entire fortune as a last line of defense. We expected Reyon to struggle, even with our assistance, but…" he paused, his voice faltering slightly.
"But?" Berth's eyes narrowed.
Luc continued, "He defeated the mage with just two spells. Water and lightning magic, both imbued with some strange power we couldn't understand. Even though the opponent was a newly advanced seventh-circle mage, the fact that Reyon handled him so easily means that at full strength, he might already be on the level of a seasoned seventh-circle magician."
Berth leaned forward, intrigued. "So, he's that strong?"
A tense silence filled the room. Then, a scoff came from the corner.
Cyrus, Berth's most trusted enforcer and one of the most powerful magicians under his command, stepped forward. His imposing figure loomed over the two kneeling men, his arms crossed. His voice was filled with irritation. "You bastards. Do you honestly think that child can rival me? Have you gone blind?" His golden eyes burned with annoyance. "An eighteen-year-old reaching that level would make him a genius comparable to Min Hee."
Berth exhaled slowly, a calculating glint in his eyes. "That's exactly what bothers me." He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Reyon's magic is… suspicious. Even though we checked his background, we found nothing remarkable. He was just a normal orphan, no connections, no noble lineage, nothing that could explain his rapid growth."
Luc and Damien exchanged uneasy glances.
Berth leaned back in his chair. "Keep an eye on him. Things are not as simple as they seem."
Cyrus's scowl deepened, but he said nothing. Berth shifted his focus back to Luc and Damien. "Have you recovered all the treasures from that bastard Baron Vellus?"
"Yes, Leader," Damien confirmed. "We secured everything."
"Good." Berth waved a hand dismissively. "Go. I'll summon you when I need you."
The two men bowed and left the chamber, their minds weighed down by Berth's unsettling words.
Reyon's Suspicion
Meanwhile, Reyon sat in his room, staring at the flickering candlelight on his desk. The words of Baron Vellus echoed in his mind.
"Berth and I had a deal! He used me to fund his operations! Now that I'm exposed, he wants to eliminate me to cover his tracks!"
Reyon clenched his fists. I knew something about Berth was suspicious.
In his past life, when the Classers were on the brink of destruction, Berth was the first to flee, abandoning everyone. Even before that, many corrupt nobles had secretly given him tribute. Now it was becoming clear—Berth wasn't just a leader of rebels. He was a man playing a dangerous game, manipulating both the corrupt and the revolutionaries for his own gain.
I need proof, Reyon thought. Before I kill him, I have to make him a criminal in the eyes of everyone.
But that wasn't the biggest problem.
Berth wasn't working alone.
Someone powerful was protecting him from behind the scenes. And there was only one man influential enough to shield someone like Berth—Duke Callius.
If Berth is truly being backed by Duke Callius, then killing him won't be enough. The Duke must be taken down first.
Reyon frowned. But how? The Duke had an iron grip on the nobility, his influence spanning the kingdom. A direct confrontation would be suicidal.
As he mulled over his options, a name surfaced in his mind.
Emily…
Something about her had seemed familiar from the moment they met. Now, he finally remembered why.
Emily isn't just an ordinary noblewoman. She's Princess Julie—the royal who disguised herself to gather evidence against Duke Callius.
A plan began to form in Reyon's mind. If I can approach her… if I can convince her that we have a common enemy, then I might be able to use her resources to expose the Duke.
But another problem arose.
How do I gain her trust? Approaching her directly would only make her suspicious. The princess had spent years hiding her true identity, carefully avoiding anyone who could threaten her mission. If Reyon suddenly inserted himself into her affairs, she might see him as a threat rather than an ally.
He leaned back, deep in thought. I need a reason—something that would make her come to me instead.
A slow smile formed on his lips. If I expose a piece of Duke Callius's corruption myself, she'll have no choice but to take notice.
It was risky. But if it worked, he would have an invaluable ally against both Berth and the Duke.