Chapter 96 : Chapter 96

Chapter 096 : White Night Tactics

Joel paused mid-step while descending the stairs.

The words Henry had just spoken lingered in his mind.

‘Fighting together with our lives on the line?’

A scoff escaped him.

When he glanced back, the amusement had already faded from his face.

‘Don’t make me laugh.’

Sword Master Eugene.

The mentor and father-like figure who taught him the duties and honor of a knight.

He had proven his convictions with his own death.

‘…’

Joel clenched his fist tightly.

No matter how noble, death is death.

Whether a sublime sacrifice or a meaningless end, the fact that it marks the end of life remains unchanged.

Step, step.

He resumed descending the stairs.

His footsteps felt heavy.

Those left behind bear their own burdens.

The sorrow of loss is shared by all, but the emptiness and pain were Joel’s alone.

‘They don’t know that weight.’

The Easton Guard.

The seasoned swordsman Jayden and the greenhorns.

He acknowledged their contributions weren’t small.

They were surprisingly capable.

Henry and Ayan had even been personally chosen as disciples by the sage Roland.

‘But you don’t know what it means to put your life on the line.’

To them, the battlefield might be a stage for proving themselves, but for him, it was about carrying on Eugene’s life and convictions.

Their approaches couldn’t be the same.

‘I must carry on Sir Eugene’s sword’s will.’

·

·

·

The night deepened.

Swoosh—

The sound of waves was particularly fierce tonight.

The surging waves seemed to crash directly against the passage walls.

A hidden underground passage between the main hall and the annexes.

Within the deep, long passage, multiple footsteps echoed, mingling with the intermittent sound of waves.

“The carts have been moved already, right?”

Adeline asked.

Her voice, low and clear, emerged from beneath the deeply drawn hood of her robe.

“Of course, my lady.”

Bolero, walking beside Adeline, answered.

He raised his large, thick thumb to his chin.

“Five carts. All set without issue.”

“I recall six carts being full last time. The supply is decreasing, and five might not be enough. I’d prefer to avoid unnecessary effort.”

“Last week was because of the ale barrels. It’ll be fine today. They seem to deliver liquor every other week. If needed, I’ll just put in a bit more effort. Haha.”

Adeline’s expression remained stern.

A few jesting words couldn’t ease her tension, nor should they.

Here at the Litania Order, she was responsible for hundreds of people.

Adeline knew well.

A single small action, a fleeting choice, could determine their life or death.

Swipe.

Adeline lightly touched her forehead.

Her migraines had worsened lately.

‘Come to think of it, I barely slept last night.’

It had been like that since arriving at the Order.

Even closing her eyes didn’t stop the thoughts.

The worries and anxieties before sleep followed her into her dreams.

‘Bolero.’

Adeline glanced at the giant beside her.

He was one of the many things keeping her nights long.

Only a select few knew of this secret deal.

Her closest aides, Roland and Joel, the Order’s head priest Moras, and a few priests he trusted most.

Since it involved solving the Order’s food shortage, it couldn’t be kept entirely secret from them, as they needed assistance.

To involve Bolero, who had only recently joined, in something kept hidden even from Jayden and Ramba?

It went against the principles Adeline had upheld.

The only reason for the exception was one.

‘Bihen Benkou.’

It was all because of her connection to him.

His status as a renowned Martial Priest of Solari and Moras’s trust didn’t sway her decision much.

The fact that he was a Solari priest, under conditions similar to Jayden’s, was what finalized it.

‘…’

A memory surfaced.

Something her father, the Duke of Conwell, once said.

Leave the skills to your subordinates and see what they cannot.

That, he said, was the sole virtue of a lord.

‘Am I doing well?’

She wasn’t sure if bending her principles for personal feelings was the right choice as a lord.

The dissonance deepened, and the name ‘Bihen Benkou’ grew strangely vivid.

Was it because he, too, had faced countless choices at crossroads? Or…

‘Get it together, Adel.’

Adeline shook her head vigorously.

She fanned her flushed cheeks.

A lord is not someone who leans on others.

She must not crave others’ understanding.

‘…’

Adeline bit her lip.

Even that felt unattainable, making her feel distant.

Splash—!

Swoosh—

As they exited the passage, the fierce sound of waves struck their ears.

The harsh sea breeze whipped at the hems of their robes.

“Everyone, be careful! The path is slippery!”

Bolero shouted to Adeline and the priests following.

His booming voice was quickly drowned by the roaring waves.

The passage’s end led to a narrow path beside a high coastal cliff.

The path, carved from earth and stone, wound along the cliff, with the sea directly below.

The narrow trail, barely wide enough for a cart, was wet from the previous day’s rain and covered in moss, perfect for slipping.

“My lady, let me carry you. The path seems dangerous…”

“No, I’m fine. I’ll walk on my own. Don’t worry.”

“Ahem, alright… If you insist.”

Bolero nodded.

Joel, walking just behind, spoke softly to him.

“Bolero. Despite the situation, the lady will soon be the master of Conwell. To suggest carrying a noble of such standing? It’s improper.”

“Haha. My apologies. I got carried away and was rude. But, just to brag, I carried Bihen Benkou up an ice wall. You can trust me.”

“That’s not what I meant. She’s a woman, after all…”

“No need to worry about that. There’s no man safer for women than me.”

Joel frowned.

What’s he talking about?

Meanwhile, the group safely descended to the base of the cliff.

From below, the Litania Order loomed high atop the cliff like it pierced the sky.

“As expected, right on time, my lady.”

A sharp voice cut through the sea breeze.

A figure in a black cloak emerged from behind a rock.

They gave Adeline a brief bow, as if it were routine.

“Deputy Leader.”

“Wow. Normally, people would look worn out by now, but somehow, my lady’s face never loses its glow. Are you secretly getting support from elsewhere? Or is this the majesty of noble blood?”

Jewelina asked, widening her eyes.

Even her light jest felt like part of a psychological game.

“Just sweating a lot. The descent is tough.”

“Aha.”

Adeline was no pushover.

Her deft response showed her seasoned composure.

“Same as last time. Sixty sacks of grain, fifteen sacks of dried meat, all packed full. I especially threw in some salted herring this time. A gift for our Imperial kin. Put some thought into it.”

Jewelina said, tapping the stacked wooden crates.

Adeline gave a faint smile.

This time, there was no pretense.

“Thank you, as always, Deputy Leader.”

“It’s only natural.”

“Even with our contract, I didn’t expect you to put in this much effort.”

The two had joined hands just before the Talrug Canyon subjugation.

Adeline had demanded Jewelina focus her support solely on her.

In return, she’d overlook all of Gunbel Trading Company’s trade activities in Conwell.

For Jewelina, it was less a deal and more like yielding to noble pressure.

Of course, Jewelina had her own calculations.

“Well, that’s part of it…”

Jewelina shrugged.

“But I made a promise.”

“A promise?”

It was the same day.

Before meeting Adeline in Canchester, Jewelina, through Bihen’s arrangement, had seen the Imperial refugees.

The slash-and-burn farmers of Ludglen.

“…I promised to help. Not as Gunbel Trading Company, but as Jewelina Gunbel, in my name.”

Jewelina turned her head toward the sea, trailing off.

Her face lacked its usual playfulness or ease.

Adeline couldn’t press further.

The glimpse of Jewelina’s true feelings in that brief moment felt unfamiliar, leaving her speechless.

The area was a rocky beach, making it hard for carts to move.

Jewelina’s men joined in to carry the crates to the path’s entrance where the carts waited.

“Careful, take it slow!”

Bolero led the unloading like a seasoned foreman.

He strode ahead, carrying an extra crate on his shoulder compared to the others.

Jewelina watched him from a distance, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

“That man’s impressive the more I see him. Bihen holds him in high regard, right? To catch the eye of someone so particular so quickly, he’s no ordinary person.”

Adeline quietly studied Jewelina’s profile.

She knew about Bihen and Bolero’s relationship down to the details.

That wasn’t something you’d pick up by chance.

‘Unless she has spies planted.’

Adeline vaguely knew Jewelina was deeply interested in Bihen—bordering on obsession.

Even so, to say it so openly?

The Jewelina Adeline knew wasn’t foolish enough to let such words slip carelessly.

Perhaps this was another calculated move, a subtle probe.

“Seems a lot of our information is leaking out. Even surrounded by the Archduke, all sorts of stories are spreading.”

“…Oh, well, he’s so famous that since he appeared in Conwell with Bihen, those Wild Dogs and Sewer Rats have been tracking his every move. Give them a little extra, and they spill everything.”

Jewelina said casually, her lips curving slightly.

Time passed.

The sound of waves and Bolero’s booming voice alternated for a while.

Soon, Joel approached to report.

“My lady, the unloading is complete.”

“Good work, Joel.”

Joel gave a formal bow and turned.

Adeline followed, taking a step.

“Thank you again, Deputy Leader. I promise to settle all accounts once this is over.”

“If that happens, I couldn’t ask for more.”

A brief glance passed between them.

There was an inexplicable distance in their seemingly casual exchange.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

Adeline turned first.

To her back, Jewelina raised her voice.

“I hope this is our last deal.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Oh, don’t look so serious. Just that I hope this all ends soon and we don’t have to meet like this… That’s all.”

Splash—!

Swoosh—

The white foam scattering in the air gleamed transparently under the moonlight.

Beneath the waves, the two women exchanged brief bows.

·

·

·

“Deputy Leader, are you sure about this?”

Maserin, watching from a distance, approached and asked.

Jewelina gazed at the cliff below the Litania Order for a while.

Adeline’s group looked like tiny black dots, climbing the cliff face like ants, making her chuckle unconsciously.

“Maserin, isn’t she impressive? Adeline, I mean.”

“Pardon?”

“Born so noble, yet because of that fate, or something inevitable, she goes through such hardship…”

Maserin was used to Jewelina’s way of speaking.

Cutting to the chase, she asked.

“The next scheduled meeting is on the day the Imperial official notified us about. Their chief of staff will likely be there too.”

“What are you getting at?”

Maserin took a short breath.

“This was practically our last chance. Shouldn’t we have postponed the meeting? Or at least given a heads-up.”

“Wow, Maserin, you sound like a different person. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you speak up so boldly.”

“…”

“It’s because you don’t want Bihen to get in trouble, right? You owe him your life, after all.”

“N-Not exactly…”

Maserin lowered her head.

Jewelina grinned at her.

“I’m not so different from you. But you know, Maserin? The moment you let sympathy take hold, you’re done in this business. There’s no worse disease for a merchant.”

“…Deputy Leader.”

“But what about taking a gamble?”

“Huh?”

A fierce sea breeze swept through.

The tangled sound of waves was wild and loud.

“All the cards we hold…”

Jewelina toyed with a small six-sided die in her hand.

“On Bihen.”

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