The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

Chapter 120: Capture

To all the knights in the castle, I am Finne von Kleinert, the envoy of His Majesty the Emperor.

Finne addresses everyone from the castles main gate.

A loudspeaker is placed at her side. It was originally meant for the people in the castle to make an announcement to the city but they took it and directed it at the castle.

We have rescued many of your lords that were taken hostages. We are currently moving out to rescue the rest of the hostages so please, lay down your swords! There is no longer any reason for you to fight us!

There is no response to Finnes voice.

Still, Finne continues calling out to them.

I know that you were forced to fight us because your lords have been taken. By the authority His Majesty vested in me, you will not be subjected to any punishment. Please, listen to my voice. There is no need for you to fight the battle that goes against your pride like this anymore. Im sure that the one everyone wants to protect certainly is not Duke Kruger!

Announcing such a thing in a loud voice will obviously reveal their location.

The knights gathered at Finnes location.

Their armors all bear Duke Krugers sigil.

Lynfia and the Narbe Ritters hold up their swords but Finne tells them to stand down.

If you say that you will continue to fight then I will not stop youbut you must come at us with a resolve. If you are going to take that step then consider carefully the meaning of turning your blade against the Emperors envoy. The only ones who deserve to fight against my knights are those whose justice is not clouded with doubt.

Being questioned about their resolve and sense of justice, the knights suddenly stopped.

Not all of them are bad. Most of them simply serve under Duke Kruger as a knight.

They were only fighting because they were following orders not because of their own will. After all, If they start thinking about such things, they will be punished.

However, when they are told to their faces to think about their actions, they cant help but consider it.

Meanwhile, more knights rush to the scene.

Earl Talnath! My Lord!!

OH! You guys!

The group of knights that rushed over was the knights of those who have been taken hostages.

When they confirm the safety of their lords, they cry and kneel down on the spot.

Seeing them apologize to their lords over and over again, doubt started to rise up in the mind of Duke Krugers knights.

We might be able to persuade them now. Finne-sama.

Understood.

When Lynfia whispered that to Finne, Finne began to persuade the knights.

Everyone simply fought at the command of your lord. You will not bear any sin if you lay down your swords and cooperate with us now. However, if you still wish to point your blade at us then that sin will extend to your family as well. After all, you will be turning your blades against the Empire if you continue to fight us.

Lynfia was surprised at Finnes tone which was stronger than she thought she is capable of.

It is not like Finne to include a threat into her persuasion.

Then, Lynfia remembers Sebass words.

He said that she is similar to Arnold-sama. Remembering that, Lynfia smiles.

I see. She might really be similar to him huh.

That prince would probably resort to threatening without batting an eye.

After all, that is the most effective in this situation.

They didnt continue to fight because they like it. They only follow Duke Kruger to protect themselves and their important families.

However, Duke Kruger has already lost his control over them.

People like that tend to flock to the strong.

W, will we really not receive any punishment!?

Yes, you will not. No matter what terrible thing you have done, you will not bear any sin. However, that is only as long as those things were committed under Duke Krugers order.

The knights were frightened by Finnes words.

The knights are aware that what Duke Kruger did was evil. Of course, they also understand that they lent their hands toward that. 

Finne was aware of it. Still, the reason she said that the knights will not bear any sin is Duke Krugers personality. Judging by his attitude, she thinks that he would never leave any important task to the low-level knights.

Then, Duke Krugers knights who had been silent for a while began to kneel.

-we will follow His Majestys envoy.

Thank you for showing me your courage. Now, could you tell me where the rest of the hostages are being held?

That is..

The knights look at each other.

It is not that they are reluctant to provide the information.

It is because they dont know.

We only know that they were taken to the castles basement. Since us knights are not allowed to get close to it, we dont know specifically where they are.

The basement

Hearing that, unpleasant feeling welled up inside Lynfia.

The children who were kidnapped were also held in the basement of Bassaus castle. Moreover, it is clear that Duke Kruger is conducting some kind of experiment on them.

Knowing that, Lynfias expression distorted with that bad feeling.

After all, this is the headquarter of the mastermind behind the incident.

Finne-sama. It is hard for me to say this but I think it is better to delay our investigation into the basement.

Why?

If it is only being guarded by the knights then we can protect you but at worst, a Demon might appear. If that happens, we will not have enough power to fight it. I think it is better for us to wait until we can take complete control of the castle first.

.you think that this is the same as Bassau?

We cant say that the possibility of that doesnt exist. At worst, this entire castle might disappear. We should wait until our group upstairs finishes their business first.

I agree. We should be prepared in case something comes out of that basement as well. If there is no one to defend against it then it will be impossible for Leonard-sama to withdraw after all.

Sebas gave his advice from a strategic point of view.

Finne is a little lost. She already put their group in danger because of her own selfishness so she cant insist on doing something even more dangerous when the two advised against it.

I understand. I will keep persuading the knights here.

Finne, who declared their course of action, addressed the knights in the castle again.

With the hope that she can end this battle even if it is only a second earlier.

-

Hurry up!

Kruger who escaped to the top floor of the castle stopped running.

What Kruger is urging for is the newly developed drugs that he and Zandra created in their joint research.

He is rushing an old researcher for such a drug so that he can take it himself.

Please wait a little bit longer!

The purification of this drug takes time. Moreover, Kruger never expected to use it on himself.

To create this drug, they have suffered many failures.

This new drug couldnt be said to be safe. Still, Kruger chose to use it for it in order to survive.

However, there are people who stood in Krugers way.

HAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Breaking through the locked door, Leo rolls into the room.

The knights turn their swords towards Leo but Leo instantly cuts them down without giving them any chance to resist.

Your Highness! Its dangerous!

Lars advises Leo who advanced forward by himself but Leo pays no mind to him.

That is because Leos intuition is telling him.

It will be bad if Kruger can get his hand on that drug. Everything will come to waste if he drinks it.

Listening to his intuition, Leo pushes in even further.

He dashed into the group of knights and cut them all down alone by himself.

Amazing.

A soldier of Narbe Ritter mutters as he fights another knight outside the room.

Even from the perspective of the elites of the Narbe Ritter, Leos skill really stood out.

He advanced at the enemy by himself and wiped them all out alone.

Isnt he the same as that rumored Princess General?

With such an impression, the Narbe Ritters rushed into the room and fought off any knight who tried to approach Leo.

On the other hand, Leo only stares at Duke Kruger.

He avoids all the blades that come at him from all directions using only his reflex. Up until now, Leo would never take such a risky action. He would look for a safe way to win and would never leave everything to his intuition.

However, this time Leo leaves everything to it. Of course, he didnt abandon thinking altogether.

He doesnt think about it deeply, he only calmly predicts the next movement of his opponents and leaves his body to his reflex as he slashes at the enemy knights.

He optimally moves his body with the best judgment his mind can make.

It is a fighting style in the situation where he has to fight multiple enemies. It was the way Lize carried herself during the battle and Leo learned it during the Southern incident.

His way of fighting that prioritized breaking through his enemies as quickly as possible was far beyond Krugers imagination.

Even if he heard that Leo is good at martial arts, he thought that he is only a good swordsman. That was the only information available to Kruger. However, right now, the current Leo has an atmosphere like he could be a match for a thousand men.

Judging that the drug wont be completed in time, he picks up the newly developed drug that is in the middle of refining.

It is not yet complete sir!

I dont care!

Turning into a monster here would be far better than getting captured here.

His action came from such a way of thinking.

It was close to a gamble.  It was quite a brave decision on Krugers part.

However, Leo who saw that also followed his intuition and made his own gamble. He abandoned his own defense just as Kruger abandoned his safety.

He had been helped many times in order to get this far. Many people have offered him their help. If it all comes to naught here then he has no right to face the people who are waiting for him at the capital.

With such determination, Leo grips his sword and holds it up while being surrounded by enemy knights.

LIKE HELL I WOULD LET YOU!!!!

Yelling so, he threw his sword at Kruger.

The sword headed straight to Kruger and cut off the arm that Kruger was using to hold the drug.

UWAAAAAAA!!!

Kruger let out a scream but this doesnt mean that Leo is out of danger.

Surrounded by fully armed knights, Leo is completely unarmed.

He can avoid the incoming swords but he wouldnt be able to keep this up without anything to block them.

A blade approaches Leos chest.

Im done for, Leo thought.

However, that blade never reached Leo.

Good grief, you really are a troubling man.

It was Lars who intercepted the blade and said that to Leo.

Thank you..Colonel.

No, our job is to protect you.

Lars smiles as he says so. Then, he looks at the still screaming Kruger.

Capture him. Dont forget to take care of his wound.

Yes, sir!

This is all thanks to you, Your Highness. that was splendid.

My body just moved on its own, thats all.

Leo humbly says so.

However, his face is full of pride.

The man who could be said to be the mastermind of the incident was caught and he was able to stop him from using his last resort.

Oi, you. What is this drug?

HII!? Pl, please..

Whatever, just answer the question!

Th, that is a vampire drug! We take the blood of a vampire to make a drug that can turn a human into a vampire!

Hearing that, Leo frowns.

Since the word vampire came out, he cant help but associate it with the eastern monster outbreak.

Were you behind the eastern incident as well.

Uuu.fu, Hahaha..I only procured the blood thendont start pointlessly throw out accusations now

So if we trace the route you got that blood from, we can find the real culprit right.

Do you have enough leeway to do that I wonder.?

What..?

While we were developing this drug, we also created a curious medicineI think you should be able to witness its result soon.

The moment Kruger said that.

Many screams can be heard from the lower floors of the castle.

The Southern battle is not yet over.

TLN: Nice cliff right?