The Reincarnated Martial God Brings Down the Heavens

Chapter 144 – Marquis Laksir (2)

Marquis Laksir hired people to gather information about his target.

“Hiring workers in the heart of the capital under the name of Baron Ancelot?”

“Yes. However, the individual in question has yet to leave Marquis Milon’s residence.”

“Is that so?”

Marquis Laksir stroked his mustache briefly before gazing out the window.

“Well then, we’ll just have to make him come out on his own.”

He muttered as if talking to himself.

“What action should we take?”

“Doesn’t our march happen to need people as well?”

The knight under his command bowed quietly. He knew the drill. Marquis Laksir had a preference for speaking indirectly.

“I’ll personally take a squad of ten knights to the center of the capital and ask around.”

“You’ll do it yourself?”

“Pardon my boldness, but I believe that without practice, I won’t improve my judgment of people.”

“An undeniable point. Very well, I’ll leave it to you.”

“You can count on me.”

Marquis Laksir nodded.

“Should, by any chance, disputes arise with others, don’t press too hard. I’ll be heading out shortly as well.”

“Understood.”

After a short bow, the knight exited swiftly.

‘Black Swan has been mine, from the very beginning.’

Marquis Laksir’s plan had already taken shape in his mind. He had found a simple way to snatch Black Swan.

***

Ancelot strode forward briskly.

“Wait!”

Narakas quickly blocked his path.

“What?”

“Wh-What are you planning to do?”

“What do you think? They’re practically begging to be killed, so I’ll give them what they want.”

“……!”

Narakas’s face turned pale. By now, he was familiar enough with his temper.

“Th-This is the capital of the kingdom.”

“……?”

Ancelot tilted his head, puzzled.

“So?”

“The king is practically next door.”

“And?”

“Hey, you bastard! Are you seriously thinking of causing trouble in a place like that?”

Ancelot’s head tilted further in defiance.

“Bastard?”

“……!”

Narakas stiffened for a moment, then hurriedly continued in protest.

“I-I get it, I do. But don’t forget the bigger picture. The Black Swan should be your top priority right now. We need chefs, farmers, and even essential personnel for security. There are so many people we need. If word spreads that the lord is a reckless fool, who would go through the trouble of coming all the way out here?”

After listening silently, Ancelot finally asked back.

“Let me ask you one thing. Forget the residents of the territory for a moment. As a knight, would you want to serve a master younger and weaker than you? Someone who isn’t part of your family’s long-standing duty but a complete stranger?”

“……!”

Narakas’s eyes widened.

“Right, you’re not a knight. Then let me phrase it differently.”

“Huh……?”

“Would you trust a leader who just stands by idly while their subordinates get beaten up somewhere?”

“……No.”

“Exactly.”

Step, step, step.

Ancelot brushed past Narakas.

“Humans, you see, always want to follow someone stronger and more charismatic than themselves. They long for a leader who will guide them.”

“……Ha……”

Narakas closed his eyes tightly.

“Well, I tried.”

And in his heart, he offered a silent prayer for the fools ahead.

“Hey, you.”

“……?”

Ancelot came to a stop.

He had already made his way to the center of the commotion. Before the excitement could fully register on the children’s faces, he spoke.

“Don’t be childish. If you have a problem with our business, prove it with your skills.”

“……What?”

“Are you all bark, no bite? Come at me.”

“……!”

Seeing Ancelot beckon with a flick of his hand, the knights of the Laksir March widened their eyes in surprise.

The leader of the mission, Minae, narrowed his eyes at the peculiar sight.

“What’s that crazy bitch babbling about?”

“Not a girl, a guy.”

“You’re a man?”

“And the leader of the people you’re picking a fight with.”

“……?”

While the knights exchanged puzzled looks, Minae pushed his way through and stepped forward.

“Baron Ancelot, correct?”

“……!”

One by one, the knights’ eyes widened in shock.

“Th-That reckless prince……?”

A hush fell over them as one knight jabbed his comrade in the side.

As if not to call me a ‘prince’.

“Your beauty is just as the rumors say. So, you’re Baron Ancelot.”

“And who are you?”

“I’m Baron Minae.”

Of course, Ancelot wasn’t interested in him. His gaze remained fixed on the green-haired figure beyond.

The wrinkled old man watched intently, as if he’d found an amusing spectacle.

The problem.

‘If things take a turn for the worse, he’ll slip away without a second thought.’

Looking into a person’s past reveals much about their present and future. This man had stolen treasure and left his country without a shred of regret.

You could say he was exceptional at crisis management—or, less charitably, a cunning opportunist.

‘So, I’ll end this quickly and capture him.’

As Ancelot cleared his thoughts, he smiled.

“You started this.”

“What nonsense is he muttering on his own—”

Bam!

Baron Minae’s words were cut short.

Ancelot’s figure disappeared in an instant. A gust of wind whooshed past.

“Argh!”

“……!”

One of Minae’s subordinates was suddenly slammed head first into the ground.

“Wh-What is this……?”

Before he could get the word ‘speed’ out, Ancelot had already closed in on the next target.

“Hah!”

The second man gasped but was still better off than the first. He, at least, managed to place his hand on his sword’s hilt.

But,

Crack!

That was it.

Ancelot’s foot struck the man’s jaw with a fierce upward kick.

Crunch!

“Ugh…… His jaw’s completely dislocated.”

Harun, who had been holding back his anger, now looked at the scene with pity.

Smash! Thud!

The third man fell unconscious, struck square on the crown of his head with the flat of Ancelot’s blade.

He wasn’t even given the opportunity to scream.

Shiiing!

The fourth and fifth men charged forward, swords drawn and confident.

However,

Slash! Slash! Slash!

“H-Hiiieekk!”

Their pants shredded into strips, leaving them scrambling to cover their exposed skin with their hands.

And just then.

“Grab him!”

Ancelot’s booming voice echoed. His outstretched finger pointed precisely at the green-haired man attempting to sneak away.

“……!”

Even the man himself froze in shock at being called out so directly.

“You there, old man. Don’t you dare move an inch. I have business with you, too.”

“D-Damn it!”

Of course, the old man wasn’t the type to listen. Instead, he hastened his steps.

But then,

Whoosh!

“Didn’t you hear him? He said to stay put.”

“……!”

The old man’s retreat was cut short by the imposing presence of Jan, who now stood in his path.

“Y-You insolent brat! Move aside, now!”

“Old man, do you think your age is something to boast about?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The old man stiffened at the young boy’s words. He definitely was a child.

So how could the killing intent pouring from his one eye be so overwhelming?

‘This kid…… If he wanted to, he could kill a person without hesitation.’

The old man had a gift. That gift was called ‘survival instincts’. And at this moment, the old man’s survival instincts were screaming in alarm.

“Gah!”

“……!”

The last of Minae’s men collapsed, foaming at the mouth, leaving only Baron Minae himself standing.

“Jan! Keep an eye on him.”

“……Leave it to me.”

The child named Jan nodded grimly.

“Wh-What do you want with me? I’m Marquis Laksir’s family!”

“And?”

“I-If you harm me, the marquis will make sure you don’t leave unscathed……”

The old man’s voice grew fainter as Jan’s killing intent intensified.

“Good. Let the world know.”

“K-Know what……?”

“What happens…… When you mess with the Ancelot Barony.”

“……!”

The old man’s eyes widened in terror. And then.

“Stop this at once, Baron Ancelot!”

The old man heard a voice he couldn’t have dreamed of hearing.

“M-My lord!”

The old man’s face lit up with relief at the familiar voice. Having made his way through the crowd, Marquis Laksir had appeared, and was quickly heading towards them.

Behind him were several heavily armed knights.

‘We picked out knights who were considered capable, even in the march, but……’

However, he couldn’t believe it even after seeing it with his own eyes. He was a mere boy in his teens.

However, even nine knights weren’t able to lift a finger against that one child.

This could mean only one thing:

‘……He’s far stronger than the rumors suggest.’

As someone who had raised the knights himself, the marquis knew. The knights of his family weren’t weak.

In other words, the opponent was just that strong in comparison.

‘Even so, nothing changes.’

The overall framework of his plan remained the same, although he needed to alter the details a little bit.

“There seemed to be a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?”

“I apologize for my subordinates’ excessive zeal, Baron.”

To everyone’s astonishment, Marquis Laksir bowed respectfully to Ancelot.

“……!”

The murmurs among the crowd reached a fever pitch. A marquis bowing to a baron was an unprecedented sight.

But the real shock came next.

“I think my subordinates misunderstood my wishes. I ordered them to help your people in recruiting……”

“What are you talking about?”

“……Allow me to be direct. Baron Ancelot, won’t you join my house as a vassal?”

“……!”

Gasps erupted all around.

The high nobles all had their own vassal families. It wasn’t anything special. Humans, since ancient times, have loved to band together and relished the idea of ruling over others.

And so, groups, organizations, and nations were born. In the same vein, becoming a vassal meant becoming part of a noble’s ‘family’.

The lord cared for their vassals as though they were children, and in return, the vassals followed their lord as if they were parents.

Of course, not just anyone could join their family. After all, these people believed that even humans had ‘ranks’.

However.

‘Trying to take credit for someone else’s achievements, are you?’

From Ancelot’s perspective, there was no way he could view this kindly. Because he could clearly see what Marquis Laksir was after.

“All the necessary manpower will be supported by the Laksir March. Not only that, but money and daily necessities will be provided as well. Just so you know, the Laksir March has only six vassal families across this vast kingdom……”

Ancelot interrupted before he could finish.

“Honestly, Marquis Foltaine, who suggested I become like his son, was a true gentleman. This? This bastard’s just a thug pretending to be a noble.”

“……!”

For a moment, Marquis Laksir thought he’d misheard.

“A…… Thug? Bastard?”

He was a man often referred to as a gentleman. Naturally, this was the first time in his life he’d been called a thug.

That aside, his opponent’s intentions were made very clear.

“So…… You’re going to choose punishment?”

At those words, Ancelot brushed his hair back and replied nonchalantly.

“How could a tiger lower itself to serve under a mere dog?”

“……!”

* * *