I Stole The Duke - Chapter 80

“We salute Your Grace. Guardian!”

As Michalis arrived at the predetermined location, fifteen members of the Azure Knights, along with Iadis, emerged from the shadows in unison.

“Well done coming all this way.”

It was the first time the entire Azure Knight Order, the elite force of House Ascher, had assembled within the capital city of Wespa.

“Operation begins in thirty minutes. Split into pairs and move to the designated zones.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The Azure Knights, briefly revealed in full strength, scattered into the night without a trace.

.
.
.

Thirty minutes later.

The assassin guild Gold Typhon, located in District 7 of Wespa, was completely surrounded by the Azure Knights.

“Commence the operation.”

As soon as the formation was secured, the operation to purge the guild began.

Bang!

Michalis and ten Azure Knights stormed the entrance of the tavern in an instant.

Crash!

At the front of the charge, Michalis dashed forward and, with a single hand braced against the counter, drove his boot straight into an employee’s solar plexus.

“Guh!”

It happened so quickly that the man didn’t even have time to hit the alarm.

“……”

The blade of a sword, gleaming cold and blue, was instantly at the throat of the man, now crumpled into the shelves.

“This operation is being conducted under the authority of His Majesty the Emperor. From this moment forward, all persons within this establishment are considered criminal suspects. If you believe this to be unjust, you have the right to legal counsel during formal interrogation. If unable to appoint a lawyer, you may obtain testimony from three verified witnesses to defend yourself.”

Puelini who had entered alongside Michalis, recited the law as he used his large frame to block the entrance.

“I-I’m just an employee—urk!”

The man’s pathetic excuse was cut off by Michalis’s elbow, knocking him out cold.

“Arrest everyone without exception. They’re all being transported to the Imperial Palace.”

As soon as the employee collapsed, Michalis turned on his heel and made for the stairs.

“We’re just customers here, I tell you!”

Startled patrons jumped to their feet, panicked by the sudden invasion.

“Make your case in court.”

The Azure Knights swept through the first-floor hall in seconds. Whether the people were actual customers or assassins pretending to be, everyone was restrained with binding ropes.

“Break-in! N-no, it’s a raid!”

For a guild that was illegal by nature, nothing was more terrifying than imperial law enforcement. Upon spotting the uniforms of the Azure Knights, the guild members abandoned all pretense and tried to flee for their lives.

Bang!

Michalis turned the handle and immediately kicked the door in. It was a small, windowless room. The warmth in the air suggested someone had just been there.

Shing.

In the tight space, the longsword proved too cumbersome. Michalis sheathed it and drew his secondary dagger instead.

‘Die!’

Clang!

As soon as he stepped into the room, a poisoned dagger met his in a split-second clash. The enemy’s blade, coated with deadly venom, snapped in two and embedded itself in the wall.

“Tch!”

The man hissed and flung a splash of venom as he retreated.

Crash! Hiss!

Michalis spun and kicked the man square in the face. The venom melted through his white cloak like acid on fabric.

‘What kind of monster is this…?’

Cornered, the man swallowed a groan. Every attempt at throwing hidden weapons was blocked effortlessly.

Slice. Thud.

As he hurled his last poisoned dart, his arm was severed and fell to the floor.

“Aaaaagh!”

For Michalis, a man who held no empathy for killers, there was no mercy in his sword.

“They’re too strong! Fall back!”

These were low-level killers, scum who lived by the knife. They were no match for elite knights. The infamous Gold Typhon Guild was being dismantled in moments.

“Damn it!”

Those who leapt from the windows in desperation were immediately captured by Azure Knights waiting outside the perimeter.

“Oh, this is the kill record ledger—and here’s the guild member registry.”

Iadis, who had entered more leisurely, calmly uncovered the secret compartments and collected various documents with ease.

“Your Grace, we’ve discovered what appears to be a hidden escape tunnel. A few individuals likely managed to flee.”

An hour later, Vice Commander Alejandro reported to Michalis.

“We won’t pursue them in the dark. We’ll switch to public warrants by morning.”

Every elite knight was invaluable. Pursuing desperate fugitives in the night posed too much risk of ambush.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Escort them directly to the Imperial Palace.”

Having completed the raid, Michalis mounted his black horse.

“……”

A long line of bound captives, including those who had merely been posing as tavern patrons, followed behind him like a string of beads.

“Master! Something terrible has happened—you must come quickly!”

“What is the meaning of this, butler?”

Count Espensen frowned as his butler burst into the room without knocking, interrupting his leisurely preparations for court.

“Sir, if you’d just look… out the window…”

“What about it?”

Though ready to scold the man for his impudence, the butler’s expression gave him pause.

“Darling…”

The countess’s hands, which had been adjusting her husband’s cravat, suddenly froze.

“What on earth…”

Startled by what he saw, Count Espensen strode quickly to the window.

“Why is Duke Ascher…?”

The Azure Knight Order, flying the banner of House Ascher, had completely surrounded the Espensen estate. The Espensen family’s knights, startled and disorganized, rushed outside to form a standoff.

“Duke Ascher! What is the meaning of this outrageous display?!”

Flanked by his two sons—both royal guards—Count Espensen stood at the estate’s front gates. The air between the two forces was so tense, it felt like a war could break out at any moment.

“Count Espensen.”

Michalis urged his steed forward, the massive black horse trampling the morning dew beneath its hooves. It came to a stop just short of the count’s face.

“Are you attempting to instigate a military conflict between our houses?”

The count, struggling to suppress his rage, glared up at Michalis.

“I, Michalis Ascher, Lord of Flencia, hereby declare a territorial war against Count Biern Espensen, lord of Eslona.”

His voice was cold and emotionless, almost as if reciting a fact.

“What?!”

For a moment, Count Espensen thought he must have misheard.

“…Territorial war…”

His second son whispered the words, snapping the count back to reality.

“That’s impossible!”

It was like being struck by lightning.

“A territorial war cannot be waged without imperial approval!”

Who in their right mind would challenge House Ascher, a family armed with heavy weaponry? This couldn’t be allowed to happen.

“If it’s permission you seek—here it is.”

Iadis, dismounting swiftly, handed the count a golden envelope bearing the emperor’s seal—personally obtained by Michalis at the cost of waking the emperor in the dead of night.

Rustle.

“…!”

With trembling hands, Count Espensen opened the envelope.

{ Imperial Authorization for Territorial War }

It has been confirmed that a member of House Espensen orchestrated an assassination attempt on the Duchess of House Ascher.

As such, a conflict between the houses is deemed unavoidable. I hereby recognize the legitimacy of a territorial war between the parties.

—Year 321 of the Imperial Calendar, June 22
His Majesty, Siegfried de Wespéra, the 12th Emperor

The emperor’s large, hastily scribbled signature leapt off the page.

Michalis had become the blade, and the emperor had given it legal force.
This was the second agreement born of their recent negotiation.

“A-assassination? This is absurd! A baseless accusation!”

Count Espensen couldn’t believe what he was reading.

“If you think it’s false, then ask your daughter.”

“My daughter is only eighteen! How could you lay such a heavy crime at the feet of a child?!”

He couldn’t believe it. The emperor and Duke Ascher were clearly colluding. There was no way his innocent daughter could have been involved in such a crime.

‘When did they become so close…?’

Pale-faced, the count took an involuntary step back. He had been working on building rapport with Duke Ascher—but clearly, the emperor had other plans. This was a betrayal. The emperor was using Michalis to bring down the Espensen family.

‘How could the empire equate some illegitimate orphan with a founding noble house?’

Count Espensen’s mind reeled with injustice.

“……”

“Count. Now that you’ve confirmed the imperial decree, it’s time to choose the format of the territorial war.”

Michalis was unmoved by the count’s protests.

“There’s no precedent for this! No formal declaration, no warning!”

“If you need preparation time, you may choose between a siege, a cavalry battle, or a representative duel. What will it be?”

Michalis asked again, his expression unreadable as he watched the tragedy, he’d set in motion unfold.

“Father, let me fight.”

The count’s eldest son, Karl, stepped forward.

“I will fight as well.”

His second son, Victor, moved to stand beside Karl.

“……”

Count Espensen closed his eyes tightly. The decision was already made. There was only one viable answer.

“…We’ll settle this through a three-man representative duel.”

To wage a siege against a house like Ascher, which had access to cannon production, would be suicidal. Summoning their knights for a cavalry battle would be costly and just as hopeless. There was no other choice.

“Then I’ll allow time for both sides to select their champions.”

Having secured the outcome he wanted, Michalis turned his horse away.

“Father!”

“Honey!”

As Michalis retreated, the countess, Freya, and the third son, Martin, ran up to the count.

“What’s happening?!”

Freya was utterly confused—she had never experienced anything like this.

“Go back to your room, Freya… This isn’t something your eyes need to see.”

Even now, Count Espensen couldn’t imagine that Freya might have actually ordered the assassination. He was convinced this was all manipulation—some political trick between the emperor and Duke Ascher.

‘It can’t be. Not this fast…’

Michalis had only been granted investigative power two days ago. He couldn’t possibly have traced an assassin back to Freya that quickly.

‘There’s no way… unless they knew everything from the beginning.’

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