New World - A New Beginning

Chapter 73: One Step Ahead

HUGO LIECH'S POV:

"Master Hugo, there's a package for you," said Rachel, the maid personally tasked with assisting me in my daily life.

"Leave it at the door," I responded as I rolled up the sleeves of my red robe, finalizing my dressing as I walked towards the massive oak doors.

"Would you like anything else?"

"I only need something if I ask for it, Rachel."

"Very well, master Hugo," said the maid, her footsteps disappearing into the hallway.

I opened the towering doors, a simple box standing before me. I dragged the mysterious package into my room, closing the doors behind me as I eyed the object suspiciously. It wasn't unusual to receive marriage proposals from peasants attempting to sell their daughter for wealth, but this kind of thing was rare.

I opened the unidentified package, two items catching my eye as I picked up a simple envelope.

"Another marriage proposal?" I grunted, tearing off the seal to double-check my suspicions. My eyebrows raised in surprise, realizing the contents of the letter had nothing to do with marriage:

'Hugo Liech,

Here's a small update on the current operation that your personal guard, Drav Liech, is leading.

Don't worry, you can come and thank me in the forest right outside the main gates. Say anything, and you know what'll happen to your family, you wouldn't want the news of Asthia Darck's kidnapping to go public, would you?'

My eyes widened in horror at the contents of the letter, gritting my teeth in anger as I slowly read the signed name at the bottom of the page.

Darck.

"Fuck!" I roared, crushing the piece of parchment as I looked at the second item sent to me. A simple identification card was present, one that I had seen on multiple occasions.

I picked up Drav's adventurer card, reading it as the urge to suddenly vomit rose within me. A mark was engraved in the card in the upper right-hand corner, a symbol engraved after the confirmed death of an adventurer.

The card slammed onto the floor, my entire body sweating in a boiling rage as I realized what this meant for the Liech family. My attempts at saving myself from the brutalities of war had failed miserably, and now the worst possible individual was aware of my plan.

The Dwarves had promised to shelter me in the very corner of their territory, away from the frontlines, if I managed to deliver the dragon princess to them. Even my senile father wasn't aware of what I had committed, but it didn't matter.

Everyone around me was useless. Humanity was clearly unable to fight a two-front war, and yet they all refused to take action! We have the help of the Dragonkin, they said...

Those beasts were naive creatures who had been isolated from civilization for too long! What good would they be in a drawn-out war against two superpowers?

I marched out of my room, my nails digging into my palms as blood dripped from my clenched fists.

"Rachel!" I bellowed, the sheepish maid appearing behind a corner.

"Yes, master Hugo?"

"Tell all the guards and adventurers that we own to meet me in the garden in thirty minutes!"

"A-all of them? Why would-" she stuttered, confused by the sudden order.

"Just shut up and do as you're told!" I roared, the girl simply nodding as she ran off to fill out the order.

Do you think you've won, Darck? This entire time, you've been dancing in the palm of my hand.

A small grin appeared on my face as I made my way down the stairs and onto the bustling streets of Eloria.

"You two, with me," I ordered, the pair of adventurers tasked with watching over the entrance of the mansion obediently following me.

You want to meet face-to-face one last time, Darck? This would be the encounter that would ultimately break you. If all of those deaths weren't enough, then I'd make sure to shatter your very soul.

I paced through the winding avenues, making my way towards the central market. The chances of my target being present were extremely high at this time of day, my eyes darting through the crowd in hopes of finding them.

A flash of green suddenly caught my eyes, my face being consumed with pleasure.

I approached the girl, masking my intentions with an innocent front.

"Hey there," I said, smiling gently.

"Hi, Hugo!" she responded excitedly, her social easiness completely different from her brother. I had attempted to get closer with the little girl for this sole reason, and now all I had to do was verify one more factor.

"Where are your parents?"

"I'm with uncle Art, today! I'm waiting for him to finish buying something."

I stood up, looking down at the girl as I gestured towards the two guards by my side. She was completely undefended. If her parents were around, I would've probably had to call off my improvised plan due to both of them being extremely powerful binders that even I would have difficulties taking down, but Alan Serlon was a completely different matter.

"Take her."

The muffled screams of the girl filled my ears as the two adventurers grabbed her, restraining any kind of resistance. I looked at the horrified crowd.

"We're taking this girl for suspected treason against Imania," I announced, swiftly leaving the scene before Alan could return.

"Treason?" mumbled one of the witnesses, clearly unconvinced.

"Just leave it. What can we do against them?" hushed another, turning around as both men exited the scene.

A wild grin spread across my face, the uncontested levels of power exciting me to my very core. The very mention of the name Liech commanded obedience from the general public, and the only family that had the power to stand up to me was the direct royal family.

I returned to the garden, the hundreds of battle-ready adventurers awaiting my orders.

"I've received news that an enemy is camping out in the forest right outside Eloria!" I roared, showing Drav's identification proving his death. "They have massacred our troops, and now we fight back!"

A cheer erupted from the troops, all of them believing my words as if I were a god.

Do you think you have the upper-hand, Darck? Did you think I wouldn't identify you the few times we crossed paths at the Academy? That filthy aura that had humiliated me in my first domain, there was no way I'd forget it.

Did you think I would only remember your mask?

My mouth arched upwards in a sadistic smile. You were simply a puppet dancing in the palm of my hand. Killing my troops was all in vain, and now you'd be plagued by even more death.

I wonder if that would finally break your soul, Darck.

Or should I say, Jay Cadmium?