Bad Born Blood - Chapter 48



Only Noblemtl

048

“With your insight, you would have roughly figured out what kind of people I and Ju-Pye are. You would have also had Giselle’s advice.”

Nikolaos spoke as if he was having a blast.

I had my doubts. It didn’t seem likely that Nikolaos would lose to Jupe in the battle for the throne.

Compared to Jupe, Nicholas is cool-headed and intelligent. He is also eloquent, so he will be able to win over his relatives and vassals to his side.

“Please continue speaking.”

I sat down in front of Nicholas and crossed my legs.

“If that guy Jupe becomes the head of the household, I’ll probably die.”

“I have become the head of a household, so why would I risk my life and kill my brother?”

In reality, Arthur, who had been fighting with Heilas for the position of the head of the household, was alive and well. His situation was just a little shabby.

“If one person’s power is overwhelmingly strong, there’s no need to eliminate the rival. However, the difference between me and Jupe isn’t that big. No matter who becomes the head of the household, it’s obvious that the other person will be an obstacle when leading the household.”

I was convinced after listening to the story.

“Especially if Jupe wins. It seems like you’re better at strategy than Jupe.”

“It’s good that we can communicate well. If I become the head of the household, I can spare Jupe. But Jupe won’t spare me.”

It was a difference in power. Jupe’s ability was not enough to have Nikolaos as a subordinate. However, Nikolaos had the ability to have Jupe as a subordinate.

“The most important thing is… … why do you think you’re being pushed by Jupe? Even after listening to Giselle, and even from my perspective, it doesn’t seem like Jupe will be able to take control of the family.”

“Right now, it may seem like I have the advantage because I’ve persuaded many people. There are definitely more ‘sure’ people on my side than Jupe. However, when it comes to selecting the head of the household, there will be more forces supporting Jupe.”

“Do you have any special popularity with Jupe?”

“It’s a complex reason. There are relatives who want someone with a military background, and those who want the simple-minded Jupe rather than the scheming me… … and there are those who don’t want a strong head of the family due to their backlash against my father, the current head of the family. For these and other reasons, those who are currently neutral will eventually support Jupe.”

Different experiences and knowledge lead us to see the same situation differently.

Nicholas was good at politics. So his perspective was different from mine and Giselle’s. He saw the fluid neutral forces as being on Jupe’s side.

‘There’s something to learn.’

Nicholas’ rise as a bureaucrat was not without reason. He knew how to read the map of power.

“So what do you want from me?”

“It’s simple. Pretend to be at odds with me and build up your reputation and popularity within the family.”

I laughed out loud, a chill running down my spine. Nikolaos really is a clever man.

“So you’re saying that the higher my position gets, the weaker Jupe becomes?”

“The relatives who want a military head of the household will be more inclined to you. The more you oppose me, the more people who hate me will support you. If you take away Jupe’s support base and divide it among yourself, I, who have a solid base of swing voters, can become the head of the household.”

Within two days of meeting me, Nikolaos had planned and put into action his own victory, even at the risk of putting his son in danger.

‘As Giselle said, Nikolaos looks a lot like Heilas.’

Nikolaos was a snake-like man. But I liked Nikolaos more than Jupe. He was not careless even in favorable situations and was thoroughly prepared. Nikolaos, not Jupe, was the one who deserved to win.

“… … And then what if I become strong enough to surpass the position of the head of the household?”

“If you really wanted to do that, you wouldn’t be asking me this question. And even if you were to become the head of the family… … you wouldn’t kill me. What Master Lucas Custoria needs to run the family is an aide like me. Don’t you? You have the ability to handle me.”

“That’s funny. I’m not being sarcastic, I’m being serious. Back when I was rummaging through trash cans, I thought all the nobles lived without worries.”

“Everyone has their own set of troubles. Okay, let me make it simple. This is the deal between you and me. No matter who becomes the head of the household, we won’t kill each other. We both have the ability to make up for each other’s shortcomings. And in the meantime, I’ll support you if you need anything. For now, I’m also in the lowest ranks of high-ranking officials.”

It’s an attractive proposition.

“As you know, I have a working relationship with Giselle.”

“Don’t worry about Giselle. Even if you support Giselle, it will be difficult for her to become the head of the household. Giselle is not our rival, so there is no reason to eliminate her. If you want to keep your loyalty, you can tell Giselle everything you just discussed with me.”

He had no intention of telling Giselle. Nicholas’s proposal was not a ‘request for support’. It was simply a request to take away Jupe’s power.

Even without Nikolaos’s suggestion, I would have been the first to absorb Jupe’s forces. It was inevitable because of our military backgrounds.

‘What Nicholas fears most is my cooperation with Jupe. It’s me supporting Jupe.’

Otherwise, Nikolaos is not hostile to me. Things may change later, but for now, that’s how it is.

“This is not an alliance, it’s a deal, brother. It’s only going to last as long as our interests are aligned.”

“Haha, in the world I live in, that’s usually called an alliance. People here only act based on self-interest.”

Nikolaos stood up after finishing his business. It had been exactly four minutes and fifty seconds since we started talking. As soon as he left the room, he started yelling at me and swearing.

People will think that Nikolaos and I had a huge fight.

“Luka! No matter how talented you are, it will be difficult to be recognized as a Custorian if you ignore your brothers!”

He’s a really good actor. I could barely hold back from applauding his passionate performance.

* * *

My stay at my parents’ house was coming to an end. It had only been three days, but it felt like I had been here for a week.

From now on, I will often come to Kustoria’s mansion. Most of the time, I will come with Haylas.

Anyway, today I will return to the guard with Heilas. My nominal home is the Custoria Mansion. But I already miss my small room in the training camp dormitory.

“How was it, Luca?”

Heilas didn’t ask me any details about what happened in the mansion. He just watched me, Nikolaos, Giselle, and Jupe do whatever they wanted. It was good for me, the adopted son, because I didn’t have to protect my own child.

“I think we’ll all get along well since we’re all such nice people.”

“The jokes have increased.”

Heilas boarded the air vehicle with a smile. Behind us, we could see relatives and servants coming out to see us off.

As soon as the destination was set, the lower propulsion system of the aerial vehicle began to move. The vehicle slowly rose into the air, gaining speed and soon moving away from the mansion.

OMG.

Heilas, who had been projecting a hologram, started working on the pending tasks in front of me. He must have been working on them at home too.

The workload of the captain of the guards is beyond imagination no matter how many times you see it. An ordinary person would not be able to endure it.

Keying.

I felt the propulsion moving under the air vehicle. There was no reason to change direction in the middle.

I looked up and out the window. The air vehicle was leaving Akbaran.

“Don’t panic, Luca. It was planned.”

Heilas stood up, closing all the holograms.

“Did you have other plans?”

“The aerial vehicle we’re on right now has probably been hacked. It’s going to crash soon, so let’s prepare for that first. Think of it as starting the mission now.”

I had a hard time understanding what he was saying, but my excitement froze at the word mission.

As soon as Heilas finished speaking, the aerial vehicle accelerated. It increased its speed fiercely as if it would not leave any fuel. The surrounding scenery quickly passed by, and in a few dozen seconds, the capital city of Akbaran appeared small enough to be covered with the palm of one’s hand.

Rattling.

Heilas opened the storage compartment of the air vehicle. He threw the pistol and knife that were inside the storage compartment at me.

I armed myself silently and waited for Heilas’s words and orders. My mind grew cold as I realized that this was an emergency.

“Let me explain it simply. We are about to be attacked by terrorists. We will receive support from Akbaran in ten minutes, so we just have to hold out until then.”

“Okay. Should we prepare to descent?”

The air vehicle also had an emergency parachute.

“No, then you’ll definitely become a target. It’s safer inside the air vehicle. But it’s dangerous to go to the enemy’s waiting position, so let’s land before then.”

Heilas calmly walked up to the control computer. I didn’t know the captain of the guard was familiar with electronic warfare. As expected, someone in that position should know how to do anything…

Kwajik!

… … As soon as I thought that, he used a physical solution.

Heilas’s arm pierced the computer screen. A bundle of important components and wires came out of his hand. Electricity shot out everywhere, sparks igniting inside.

Wheein, wheein.

The alarm rang deafeningly. The air vehicle was falling. This was what Heilas called a landing.

… … I opened my eyes slightly wide. The captain of the guards didn’t always act in such a refined manner.

“It’s funny to see you surprised.”

“I’m not having fun.”

I held on to the handrails on the walls and ceiling to steady myself.

The propulsion system of the aerial vehicle, which had lost control, moved erratically. The aerial vehicle was spinning in all directions like a spinning ball, pulled by gravity.

Every time the aerial vehicle rotated, my body tilted back and forth.

Of course, the inside of the car was a mess. Unsecured objects were flying around and hitting my body. I covered my face with one hand and frowned.

Gulp.

A pink liquid was seeping out of the joints of the inner walls, hardening and coating the walls. It was a shock-absorbing gel.

“Luka, I have a question for you during the break. What do you think about the current situation?”

Heilas said while sitting on his chair. It was amazing how he could sit and balance inside the rotating interior. Was there glue on his butt? I was more curious about that, but my thoughts moved on to Heilas’ question.

“You have become the bait yourself, Captain.”

The answer came quickly.

Heilas is that kind of man. He doesn’t just send his children and subordinates to the brink of death. If necessary, he could even sacrifice himself.

“That’s right. This incident will gain Barbara’s trust within Nemesis. She created a situation where she could attack the captain of the guard.”

It was Barbara’s story again. Honestly, whether she was a friend or foe, I wanted to punch that woman in the face hard. I didn’t want to kill her. I would be satisfied if her nose was crushed and flattened.

Sweet fantasy is over. Let’s go back to the harsh reality.

The gel-coated windows were hazy, but I could tell the ground was getting closer.

Key- Eeeeeing!

It’s falling hard. It’s literally crashing down!

No matter how much I was a country, I couldn’t help but close my eyes for a moment. I hoped that when I opened my eyes, my limbs and internal organs would be in their proper places. A corpse that had fallen to death? I’ve seen it before. It’s really horrible. People become rags. It’s not a metaphor, it’s real.

Kwaaaaang-!!

A rending noise spread. The explosion lasted only a moment.