Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 546

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Hundreds of warriors stood arrayed before the White Palace.
As I gazed upon those Kale Heniatus had indicated, delight kindled in my eyes.

‘Excellent.’

The warriors’ aura, their palpable tension, their fervent anticipation for battle—all of it set the very air ablaze with heat.

“Yes. I shall place my trust in all of you.”

Not a single warrior cried out or responded to my words.
They simply fixed me with unwavering gazes.
And I answered that gaze.

“All of you, march forth.”

Snap!
In an instant, hundreds of warriors dropped to one knee and bowed their heads before me.

Chuckle.
I laughed softly at the sight, then turned and walked toward the interior of the White Palace.

“I shall not witness your departure.”

The warriors’ heads rose. They watched my retreating figure as I walked into the palace.
My voice pierced the ears of every warrior.

“But I shall prepare a toast in celebration of your return.”

I will not witness your departure.
But I shall prepare a toast for those who return.

The warriors’ eyes blazed with fervor.
A toast. I was affirming their victory.
And that toast would carry rewards—nobility, power, wealth, honor, and countless other treasures.

“Go well.”

As White Star’s final words echoed, the palace doors began to close slowly.
Creak—Thud!
He never once looked back at the warriors, and the doors shut firmly behind him.

“Everyone, rise.”

At Count Mok’s command, the warriors pushed themselves to their feet.
Count Mok turned to observe them, his gaze sweeping across their ranks.

A low chuckle rumbled in his chest.

He smiled inwardly at the sight before him.

Hundreds of warriors.
The number was not insignificant.

But one hollow castle deep within the forest.
More than enough military strength to topple a single private fortress, not a city.

‘And their quality is exceptional.’

Forty-eight Nobility Candidates, each an extraordinarily skilled warrior.
And the loyal subordinates they had brought to this war were equally formidable.

‘My own warriors are more than adequate.’

The Dark Elf Warriors that Count Mok had brought were all exceptionally talented fighters.
It could not have been otherwise.

‘This time, they’ll earn their place too.’

Count Mok intended to have his subordinates distinguish themselves in this “Black Castle Destruction” operation, securing at least a Baron’s title for them.

His gaze shifted.
Mok’s eyes flicked toward the figure beside him.

‘Only then can I outmaneuver the others.’

Count Hubesa, who should have appeared in black armor at such a battle, wore casual clothes today with her lips pressed firmly shut.
Moreover, Priest Gersei bore no expression, as if absorbed in deep contemplation.

‘Perhaps because I seem to be taking the lead, he must have much on his mind.’

The corners of the Elderly Dark Elf’s mouth lifted.

“Count.”

Then came the voice of a charming yet useful business partner.

“Yes, Prince Nar.”

A young boy whose splendid silver-white uniform suited him quite well was gazing at Mok.

‘Still, he’s young. Inexperienced.’

Even bringing Prince Nar to this war, there was little he could accomplish.

‘I’ll take it all for myself.’

He intended to direct all the credit to a handful of useful Nobility Candidates who had chosen to follow him and his Loyal Subordinates.

‘Of course, I’ll have to make use of those Vampires he brought as well.’

A sneer flashed across Mok’s eyes as he regarded the Vampire Knights and Warriors that Nar had brought, then vanished.

‘He brought his elite forces, claiming to avenge Duke Fredo.’

I’ll put them to good use.
I’ll place you in dangerous positions where you cannot earn merit.
Count Mok made his decision regarding the Vampires’ deployment, then gazed once more at the young boy who sought stable recognition as a leader and vengeance for his father.
The boy opened his mouth as his eyes met Mok’s.

“Everyone is waiting for you, Count Mok.”

Count Mok barely managed to suppress the corners of his mouth from rising.

Everyone is waiting for me.
They await only my command.
How intoxicating these words are.

“And Count Mok. Here it is.”

Count Mok accepted the map that Prince Nar swiftly extended toward him, concealed from the eyes of others.
He recalled the conversation they had shared before.

‘…Duke Fredo possessed information about the Northern Alliance?’

At his words, Prince Nar shook his head.

‘To be precise, during the Northern Alliance conflict, vampire informants infiltrated the Paern Kingdom and brought back several pieces of intelligence.’
‘And that information was stolen from the office of Clophe Seka, the Guardian Knight?’
‘Yes. Therefore, the authenticity of the information has been verified.’
‘What is this information?’

Prince Nar spoke to Count Mok in a low voice at last.

‘A map of the Heniatus Territory. I also found the coordinates of the Dark Forest marked upon it.’

Crackle—
Count Mok unfolded the map in his hands without hesitation.

‘Indeed, it is genuine.’

The map bore the seal of the Paern Kingdom and Clophe’s seal.
The authenticity of the map rose.
His mouth opened.

“Prepare the teleportation formation!”

Hundreds of warriors.
The mages and priests in gray robes positioned behind them began to move in unison at his command.
Mok cried out in a firm voice as he watched them.

“The coordinates are in my hands, so have the teleportation officer come to confirm them!”

He deliberately spoke openly before everyone.

“All the intelligence regarding this Black Castle destruction operation is in my hands!”

Then he leaned close to Prince Nar and whispered softly.

“Trust only me, Prince Nar.”

The young prince stared at him intently.

“I’ll make sure you get your share.”

Only then did the young prince smile with satisfaction.
Count Mok swallowed back a scoff that nearly escaped his lips as he watched Prince Nar.

‘Hmph. Even pretending to be virtuous, this one is just like me.’

Had he been truly virtuous, had he been filled with courage, he would have been difficult to handle.
But knowing that beneath the surface, Prince Nar harbored the same hunger for gain that dwelt within Count Mok himself, Count Mok found him far more manageable.

‘Of course, I must remain vigilant.’

After all, he was Duke Fredo’s son.

“Commander.”

A Dark Mage approached Count Mok.
Count Mok’s mood brightened considerably at being addressed as commander, though his expression remained stern as he faced the Dark Mage.

“Do you need coordinates?”
“Yes, Commander.”
“Examine this map.”

The Dark Mage checked the coordinates on the map Count Mok indicated, then glanced at him cautiously before speaking with care.

“Commander, you’re remarkable. I’m simply in awe of how you’ve gathered all this information.”
“Hmm.”
“I envy such foresight.”
“…A critical battle looms. Stay focused.”
“Yes, sir!”

The Black Mage read Count Mok’s expression—pleased by the flattery yet feigning indifference—and answered with vigor.
If this operation succeeded, Count Mok stood a high chance of surpassing Count Hubesa.
Since the man he needed to impress seemed pleased with his words, the Black Mage felt his own spirits lift.

“Then I’ll activate the teleportation circle at once!”
“Yes. Move to the exact coordinates!”
“Yes, sir!”

Count Mok bowed politely to me and watched the departing Black Mage with a stern gaze before turning his head to regard the assembled warriors with a solemn expression.
The young boy observed Count Mok and thought to himself.

‘What a ridiculous display.’

Kale clenched his jaw firmly to suppress any smile as he watched the delighted Count Mok.
To others, he appeared merely a tense young boy.

Boom— boom-boom— boom-
Kale watched the massive teleportation circle emit an ever-brighter radiance in sync with the priests’ drumming, his sharp eyes narrowing.

‘There’s definitely something off about this.’

The drums the priests beat seemed ordinary, but surely one of them was an artifact from the Demon Realm.

“Prince Nar.”

He turned his gaze toward the sudden voice calling his name.

“Count Hubesa.”

Kale approached the woman who had called him. Confirming that Mok was occupied, she spoke to the approaching Prince Nar in a low voice.

“…Well. I’m not sure I should say this, but since you’re connected to Duke Fredo…”

She appeared to be wrestling with her thoughts. Yet despite her hesitation, the words that finally escaped her lips carried unmistakable weight.

“Be careful. Combat holds countless variables—you cannot predict them all.”

My expression shifted subtly. But Hubesa interpreted it as tension and continued speaking with measured calm.

“Your life rests in your hands. And the lives of your subordinates rest in yours as well. That is what it means to be a leader. Do you understand?”
“I understand.”

As I answered with composure, Solena’s voice reached me from behind.

“Deputy Commander!”

Hubesa’s gaze lingered on Solena for a moment before she turned back to me.

“Go well, then. I shall visit the Seca Estate from time to time to check on your father’s condition.”
“Thank you, Count Hubesa. But I can only accept your kind intentions.”
“…Why?”
“My father’s condition has grown far more grave. No one save the healers may approach him.”

I spoke with as much sorrow as I could muster.

“I barely managed to greet him this morning. Had I arrived even slightly later, he would have been undergoing treatment, and I would not have been able to see him at all. Of course, I cannot know whether my father even heard my voice.”

Hubesa sensed the heart of the young boy who had come here after offering his respects to his unconscious father.

“If I visit, I would only be a hindrance. I shall not go. Take heart.”

I bowed respectfully and turned toward where Solena was calling me.
Count Hubesa watched me go, then shifted her gaze to where I was heading.
There, a massive teleportation circle stood ready for activation.

All the warriors had already taken their positions on the circle, awaiting the transfer.
I took my place as well.

“We must hurry.”
“My apologies.”

At Count Mok’s sharp word, I lowered my head.

“No. Don’t be nervous.”
“Yes, Commander.”

Count Mok glanced subtly at Kale Heniatus’s complexion before whispering in a low voice.

“And you said a guide would be waiting when we arrive?”

A guide to lead them through the Dark Forest.

“Yes. I sent someone ahead to work as a guide. He previously served as an informant, so he knows the geography of that region intimately.”
“Good.”

A satisfied smile played at the corners of Count Mok’s lips, and he raised his voice at the Black Mage’s signal.

“Move out!”

Boom— boom-boom— boom—
The drums reached their crescendo.
Whoosh!
With a brilliant flash of light, hundreds of Endable warriors surged toward the Dark Forest.

* * *

The Dark Forest.
Though the forest had no visible boundary, it was divided into inner and outer regions, with powerful monsters teeming throughout the interior.

At the boundary separating these two areas, brilliant light erupted, and clusters of radiance began to bloom across the landscape.

Whooooom—!
As the light clusters faded, hundreds of warriors materialized throughout the forest.

At their center, Commander Count Mok drew a deep breath.

“Certainly a forest with a distinctly different atmosphere.”

The Dark Forest—one of the realms deemed an enigma.
A terrifying forest where monsters from both the Eastern and Western Continents appeared, their mutations intermingled.

Count Mok’s gaze turned forward.

“Welcome, Commander.”

A Dark Elf hybrid wearing a mask bowed respectfully to him.

“Prince Nar. Is this man your guide?”
“Yes, sir.”

The masked Dark Elf hybrid bowed again, this time to the young boy standing beside Count Mok.

“I am honored to meet you, Young Master.”

Kale Heniatus observed the man greeting him, then turned to Count Mok and spoke.

“He is one of my most trusted subordinates and exceptionally knowledgeable about the geography of this place.”

Naturally, this guide could not help but be intimately familiar with the terrain.
The guide introduced himself with movements that possessed an undeniable elegance.

“I am Bob, who served as Prince Nar’s attendant and informant.”

Albert Crossman, now Bob. He could not help but be thoroughly versed in the geography of the Roan Kingdom.
In his possession was also the map of the Dark Forest that Kale Heniatus had entrusted to him.

Count Mok stepped forward and surveyed the surrounding forest in all directions before speaking.

“From all four directions—north, south, east, and west—we will encircle the Black Castle. And we will destroy and bring down Kale Heniatus’s sanctuary.”

The warriors’ eyes gleamed at his resolute words.
Kale Heniatus stared intently at Count Mok’s back.

Welcome. Is this your first time in the Dark Forest?

The corner of his mouth rose slightly before vanishing in an instant.
At that moment, a familiar voice echoed in Kale Heniatus’s mind.

-It has been a while. You unlucky bastard, playing the little one must be exhausting.

Golden dust scattered faintly through the Dark Forest, spreading imperceptibly so that enemies would not notice.
The golden light, reminiscent of the Ancient Dragon Erhafen, began to covertly blanket the forest.
Count Mok cried out.

“Deploy all units according to plan! Team 1 northward! Team 2 eastward! Team 3 westward, and the final Team 4 advances toward the Black Castle from the south with me! Move out! We’re racing against time!”

Kale Heniatus watched silently as Count Mok’s figure disappeared into the depths—not a tiger’s den, but a dragon’s lair—walking willingly into the jaws of danger.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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