Chapter Sixty: Who Is the Grand Duke of the Eastern Realm?

Half an hour later, Roy set down the file with a grim expression. Irene, whose curiosity had long been piqued, picked it up. Her own expression shifted rapidly, and finally, anger ignited on her sharp, noble features, her beautiful eyes flashing with cold light.

Indeed, these so-called lords were nothing but tumors festering within the kingdom. Their existence inflicted more harm upon the Dawn Kingdom than any benefit they brought. With a sufficiently large knight order, or even a dedicated civilian army for warfare, one could still govern a vast realm. Whether ruled by lords or managed by bureaucrats, both serve the same purpose—yet the latter are far more obedient.

Roy heaved a deep sigh, his face tinged with shame. “This time, the fault lies with our Hunter Guild. Had we been more cautious with such matters in the past, things would not have deteriorated so gravely.”

He then rose and bowed to Qin Le, declaring with righteous resolve, “The Hunter Guild is willing to assist the kingdom in eradicating the cultists unconditionally. We ask for no compensation, only the annihilation of those heretics.”

Qin Le was taken aback, as were the diplomat Wen Bi and the professional spy Fishhead behind him.

This President Roy was not simple—a masterful move, retreating to advance. Matters concerning cultists, coupled with yesterday’s attack, had united the various factions in a common goal: to first purge the cult lurking in the shadows, lest none sleep soundly.

Yet Roy, President of the Hunter Guild, was the first to offer unconditional cooperation, appearing to yield but actually taking sides—without paying any price.

“President Roy, please don’t say that,” Qin Le recovered and stood. “No one could have foreseen such events. If we all stand united, we can rid ourselves of these cultists who disrupt the order.”

“Indeed, Your Grace. The Hunter Guild is willing to go through fire and water,” Roy replied, his face full of emotion.

Their expressions now were as false as could be, but the consensus between them was genuine.

After another ten minutes, Roy and Qin Le finally concluded their performance.

“Your Grace, it’s getting late. We shall take our leave.” Roy gathered the documents and exited, with Irene accompanying him.

Now armed with intelligence, they needed to return immediately to the guild, assign tasks, and request reinforcements from branches across the land to rally monster hunters against the cultists.

Once Irene and Roy left, diplomat Wen Bi smiled and said, “Major, it seems we were outmaneuvered in this negotiation.”

Qin Le leaned back in his chair. “It’s only a temporary setback, nothing of consequence. There will be plenty of opportunities to gain in the future. For now, the priority is to eliminate the cult and foster a relatively stable environment.”

Any benefits gained from this exchange were but the icing on the cake—their true aim was to eradicate cultists who threatened Xuan Law. As long as this was achieved, Xuan Law would willingly pay any price.

“How are things with Count Daina?”

“According to his message, he intends to meet you tonight,” Wen Bi replied.

Qin Le raised his brow. “Must it be me?”

He had planned to continue his conversation tonight with that sly elf, hoping to extract more information and perhaps discover a safe, swift way to ascend ranks.

Wen Bi shook his head slightly. “No, you understand the social structure here. They don’t trust the embassy, but they’re far more inclined to believe you.”

...

At the palace gates, a carriage rolled out, bearing Irene and Roy.

Irene leaned against the window, her right hand supporting her chin. “President Roy, you certainly have no shame. Not only have you shirked all responsibility, but you’ve also dragged in a helper.”

The discovery of so many cultists in the capital could not have happened overnight. The cult must have taken root for decades. For such a long span, the Hunter Guild had failed to notice, and Roy, as president, had to shoulder some of the blame.

Roy’s expression remained calm. “I merely did what I should. If the problem goes unresolved, my responsibility only grows. Compared to the Grand Duke, I’ve played but a minor trick to gain a little advantage.”

“He’s using us as pawns.” Irene’s face was cold.

Though she disliked scheming, that didn’t mean she was oblivious—on the contrary, she was more perceptive than most.

The papers contained an astonishing amount of detailed intelligence. While they didn’t directly name the cultists, the evidence pointed to the bureaucrats' involvement in countless affairs over the years.

And the force behind the bureaucrats was not the king, but the Crown Prince—her talentless, conceited, and useless elder brother.

Whether true or not, it merited investigation.

“No, he isn’t using us as pawns,” Roy shook his head, pointing to the first line of the document in his hand.

“As stated here, all information was gathered through cooperation between Xuan Law and the Royal Knight Order, but its authenticity cannot be fully guaranteed.”

In truth, Roy knew most of it was accurate—he had glimpsed signs before, but the nobles and bureaucrats’ obstruction prevented any thorough investigation.

“My intuition tells me this intelligence is real, or at least largely so,” Irene said.

She hadn’t verified it yet, but the process would be simple. Most of the information couldn’t have been fabricated; a cursory check would confirm its truth.

“That is what’s most terrifying,” Roy sighed, recalling recent events; a chill crept over him.

“The Eastern Duke isn’t using us as pawns—he merely compiled the facts and handed them over. It is we who willingly act as his pawns. Even His Majesty the King, I suspect, has unknowingly become his piece. All of us, without realizing, have become his chessmen.”

Roy was no fool. As President of the Hunter Guild, he had sensed something amiss, but it was too late. He was already on the board, a piece belonging to that enigmatic Eastern Grand Duke.

The most frightening part: he was willing, unable to resist.

Knowing full well he was a chess piece, he felt no urge to rebel; instead, a strange sense of security settled over him. Roy even wondered if he was being controlled by some power—how else could he feel this way?

But on second thought, it seemed unlikely. If the Duke possessed such power, he could have crushed the cultists outright.

“Such terrifying intellect,” Roy lamented.

“I detest this feeling,” Irene’s face was like frost.

She knew this was impotent rage. No matter how furious she became, she would ultimately act according to the Eastern Duke’s will.

In short, she could protest all she liked, but her actions would be honest.

...

The Crown Prince’s mansion—a lavish noble estate.

In a pitch-black room, the Crown Prince stared at the woman in black robes before him, his face twisted in despair, his voice hoarse. “Are you insane? Have you even listened to a word I’ve said? I’ve repeated it countless times—do you not care about the black-haired humans at all, or can you simply not see their existence?”

He nearly roared with fury, full of regret—why had he ever chosen to cooperate with this band of lunatics?

He’d warned them to pay attention to the black-haired humans, but this woman acted like a fool, utterly ignoring the Eastern Grand Duke!

And earlier, she’d claimed that in a few days his father would kick the bucket. The Crown Prince had been so delighted, he opened a treasured vintage and drank several glasses.

Yet today, there was no sign that his father was dying—in fact, the old man seemed healthier than ever.

The seductive woman remained serene on the sofa, unfazed by his rage.

“Your Highness, there is no need to panic. As long as you—”

“Enough!” the Crown Prince cut her off, furious. He’d heard that line at least ten times.

“Now, answer me one question: do you know the Eastern Grand Duke? Do you know those suspected high-humans with black hair?”

“The Eastern Grand Duke... Who is that? He’s not in the script.”