Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 547

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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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Chapter 119. Watch Your Back

Count Mok turned back before departing into the forest, leading the 4th unit.

“Vice Commander!”
“Yes, Commander!”
“I’m entrusting the 3rd unit to your capable hands.”
“You can count on me.”

The 3rd unit consisted of Kale, Vampire warriors, and Knights.

“Guide!”

At Count Mok’s call, Alberu approached him and handed over four maps.
Mok distributed them to each unit commander leading the north, west, east, and south divisions.

“Everyone has memorized the operation sequence, correct?”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”

Count Mok made eye contact with each commander in turn before uttering a single phrase.

“Vice Commander.”

At his call, I raised my hand.
Three sleek-looking Vampires stepped forward.
Mok examined their faces and nodded in approval.

“They are informants who have visited the Dark Forest before.”

He gestured, and the three Vampires took positions beside the commanders of units 1, 2, and 3 respectively.
Alberu then moved to stand beside Count Mok of the 4th unit.
Only then did Mok turn back around.

“Let’s move out.”

The 4th unit, composed of Dark Elves, headed toward the southern approach of the Black Castle.

“We’re departing.”
“Then I’ll see you later.”

The Nobility Candidates leading Teams 1 and 2 immediately showed the map to the Vampire informant and moved at a rapid pace.

“Let’s move out as well.”

Team 3, with Kale Heniatus as its leader, began advancing toward the western side of the Black Castle.
Before departing, Kale Heniatus turned back and his eyes met those of Albert Crossman, who was watching him.

‘See you in a moment.’
‘Yes, Your Highness.’

The two exchanged their intentions through a brief glance.

-I’ll keep watch over Albert Crossman as well.

Kale Heniatus nodded at Erhafen’s voice and moved toward the western side of the Black Castle.

Whoosh—whoosh—
Team 3 began moving in sync with Prince Nar’s pace.

“Everyone should have moved by now.”

The moment Solena’s voice reached him, Kale Heniatus changed direction.

“We’re heading north.”

He, who had been assigned to Team 3’s western flank, began retracing his steps back the way he came.

Whiiing—whiing—
The Ancient Power, Voice of Wind, concealed seamlessly within Duke Fredo’s arm band, swirled around his feet.
Though it was a power ill-suited to Young Prince Nar, not a single Vampire questioned what they witnessed.

Sssssss—
The Vampires silently followed in Kale Heniatus’s wake.

Just over a hundred Vampires moved northward in unison.
Kale Heniatus, standing at their head, advanced as their guide.

Crackle, crackle—
Pushing through branches and undergrowth, I reached the teleportation point where I had originally arrived, then immediately turned my direction northward.
After moving a bit further and beginning to follow the path that Group 1 had taken heading north, I opened my mouth.

“Come out.”

Rustle.
A large tree shook.

Boom!
At the loud sound, I turned my gaze.

“Welcome, Prince Nar.”

Tiger Shaman Gashan greeted me.

Crack. Crack.
Along with the sound of grass being trampled, massive Tiger Tribe Warriors lifted their heads from beneath the tree shadows one by one.

‘Hmm!’

Solena had heard about them, but meeting the gazes of the Tiger Tribe Warriors lying in ambush, her palms grew damp.

‘So it begins now.’

She realized this was the true beginning of the ‘operation,’ and tension coursed through her body.
Anticipation came with it as well.

My mouth opened.

“The Dark Elves’ spirits have headed south following Group 4.”

The spirits wielded by the Dark Elves under Count Mok.
Those spirits were said to devour other spirits.

“So now is our chance.”

A golden spinning top rested in my hand.

‘Just give the order. Chaos, destruction, happiness.’
‘It’s been so long! I was bored waiting in the Dark Forest!’
‘Ugh. It was exhausting hiding to avoid the Dark Elves’ spirits.’

Caw. Caw.
Kale lifted his head.
Three Wind Spirits and crows began to reveal themselves one by one, covering the sky above the Dark Forest.

Kale opened his mouth.

“Operation ‘Hunt’ commences.”

He issued the first order of the operation.

“We take down Team 1 first.”

Team 1’s captain was said to be Andrei, the swordsman regarded as the finest among the Nobility Candidates.

“Move out.”

At his command, the Vampires and Tiger Tribe Warriors headed north.
Their movements were both discreet and swift.

Team 3 began to follow in Team 1’s footsteps.

* * *

Team 1 captain, swordsman Andrei.

“Captain. It’s to the left.”
“Got it.”

He turned left following the Vampire informant’s words, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

‘It’s almost time!’

He was considered the strongest among the Nobility Candidates.
Of course, his skills paled compared to the Ancient Nobles, but had he joined another organization, he would have received the highest treatment.

After all, he was a Swordmaster.

Whoooosh—
His blade vibrated with power.
Faint aura smoke swirled around it.

“Congratulations.”

He glanced briefly at the voice coming from directly behind him.
Another Nobility Candidate was grinning with a smile dripping with flattery.

“What are you talking about?”

Andrei turned to face the one who had spoken to me with a stern expression, as if to say: what nonsense during an operation?
Yet the speaker’s smile only deepened despite that cold gaze.

“Come now. You know exactly what I mean.”
“Ahem.”

Andrei cleared his throat and looked away.

“…Let us save such frivolous talk for later.”
“But we’re alone now, aren’t we?”

At those words, Andrei glanced at the Vampire informant. With this one present, using the phrase “alone” was premature.

“Ah.”

Only then did the Nobility Candidate fall silent.
Yet he flashed Andrei a sinister smile.
That was not all.

Not only Andrei’s subordinates, but all twenty-four Nobility Candidates under his command wore bright expressions.

‘Heh heh. I understand that sentiment well enough.’

Andrei understood their feelings perfectly.

Operation ‘Destroy the Black Castle’.
A plan to destroy the castle without Kale Heniatus and the core forces, and take the personnel inside as hostages.

‘It won’t be easy.’

Even without Kale Heniatus and the key forces, it was highly likely that Kale Heniatus had left the castle empty because he had taken corresponding precautions.
Therefore, the operation’s difficulty was expected to fall into the upper tier of the three levels: low, middle, and high.

‘However, it’s not a task dangerous enough to be fatal.’

That brightened the expressions of Team 1’s members.
Andrei in particular felt his anticipation soaring.
If this operation succeeded.

‘If it succeeds, I’ll receive a noble title at the very least.’

Since I’m commanding Team 1.
Of course, that’s why I temporarily came under Count Mok’s command, but I had no intention of staying under him indefinitely.
Andrei composed his expression and opened his mouth.

“Everyone, stay sharp!”
“Yes, sir!”

He issued orders to the informant.

“Increase our pace.”

He intended to reach the rendezvous point quickly and surround the Black Castle.
Andrei’s enthusiasm overflowed with unbridled energy.

“Yes. I’ll increase our speed!”

The informant rushed forward, map in hand.
Andrei followed lightly behind him.

*Crack!*

At that moment, the informant’s body tumbled forward.

“Something!”

Andrei looked at the informant in shock.

“My, my feet—!”

The informant, face twisted in alarm, remained sprawled on the ground while clutching at his ankles.

“…What?”

Andrei’s eyes widened.
Rising from the earth itself, a golden rope coiled tightly around the Vampire informant’s ankles.

“A rope?”

Was this a trap device planted by Kale Heniatus?
The moment doubt crept in, a chill ran down his spine.

‘No.’

He felt something constricting him from all directions.
Then he understood.

‘This is no mere trap!’

He tore his gaze away from the Vampire still sprawled on the ground, clutching at his legs.
In that instant, he caught sight of something descending onto his arm.

Andrei had been charging forward too rapidly to notice its presence.
It had settled upon the back of his hand in absolute silence, without sensation or sound.

“…Powder?”

Golden powder now swirled around him and his unit.
Its volume increased at an alarming rate.

‘Danger! This is dangerous!’

The moment Andrei sensed this, he opened his mouth immediately.

“…Dodge! Fall back!”

Even as I shouted the warning, I threw my body backward, desperate to escape.
Golden dust.
Though I couldn’t discern its true nature, my senses screamed danger—a warning that cut through even my newly acquired Swordmaster threshold. This situation was dire.

But it was already too late.

“Gahhk!”
“Ugh! My entire body!”
“Argh!”

The dust coalesced in an instant, expanding and swelling with terrible purpose.
Then it constricted around the bodies of my entire unit.

“No, this can’t be!”
“I can’t move my body!”

The luminous golden cord was far more than mere rope—its binding force was extraordinary.
Everyone struggled to even twist their bodies against its grip.

“Tch! Such power!”

Before Andrei could even draw his blade, his entire body was ensnared by the cord.
It happened too quickly to evade.

‘A trap?’

No.
I quickly dismissed the assumption that this cord was a trap Kale Heniatus had laid.

‘Someone attacked us.’

The cord targeted and bound only my unit with surgical precision.
Such accuracy was only possible if someone was watching this place right now.
And there was one undeniable truth.

‘They’re strong.’

Though I became the leader of the first unit because I am a Swordmaster, most of the members under my command were considerably strong individuals.
Moreover, there was even a Mage among them, yet I deceived them all and subdued them in an instant.

Andrei broke into a cold sweat.
He swallowed his fear and raised his voice as he spoke.

“Who are you?! Who dares launch such an ambush?!”

He looked around frantically while raising his voice.
Even as he did, his hands struggled desperately to slip free from the rope and reach for his sword hilt.
If only I could draw my blade! If I could just manage that, I could sever these ropes with my aura.

That was when it happened.

“Where are you looking?”

A strange voice reached Andrei’s ears.

“Look up.”

Flinch.
Andrei’s shoulders tensed, and then he slowly lifted his gaze.
There, perched upon a thick branch of a tree, sat an Elf.

A beautiful Elf with platinum blonde hair smiled.

“You entered the Dragon’s Nest—do you truly wish to leave alive?”

What?
The Dragon’s Nest?
Though Andrei was facing an Elf, the moment his eyes met theirs, his entire body felt chilled as if plunged into ice water.

It was at that moment.

“Hmm. What a shame.”

A voice came from behind.
Andrei slowly turned his head.
It was a familiar voice.

‘Who was that?’

The owner of the voice came to mind moments later.
The tone was so different that I was momentarily confused, but the memory surfaced.

‘…Prince Nar Von Izelern!’

An ally!
Before the question of why Nar was here could even form, I turned my head sharply in excitement at meeting an ally, abandoning the slow rotation I had maintained.
There stood Nar, approaching with a smile.
His mouth opened.
But the voice that reached Andrei’s ears was cold—not the pure, courageous tone of a young prince seeking vengeance for his father, but something far more sinister.

“How unfortunate.”

Nar expressed his regret.
The young prince’s gaze shifted toward the platinum-haired Elf perched upon a tree branch.

“What will you do if I strike first?”

…What?
For a moment, Andrei doubted his own ears.
Yet that doubt swiftly transformed into a terrible certainty.

Nar smiled at him.

“I should have captured you first.”

Grrrrr—
In that instant, Unit 1 heard the roar of ferocious beasts filling the space around them.
Rustle. Rustle.
But what emerged from the undergrowth was far more terrifying than any beast—Tiger Tribe Warriors in their berserk state.
They surrounded them completely, their forms twisted by frenzy.

“What is the meaning of this!”

Andrei turned back to Nar, his voice rising in shock.

“Prince Nar! What in the name of all that is holy are you doing! Have you betrayed us?!”

But Nar did not answer.
Instead, someone else spoke.

“Betrayal? What a disheartening thing to say.”
“…Who are you!”

At that moment, one of the Vampire Knights standing behind Kale stepped forward.
The Vampires bowed their heads, parting to make way for him.

The Knight removed the helmet he had been wearing.

“You should recognize my face, shouldn’t you?”
“…Uh, ah!”

Andrei was taken aback, unable to form words.

“H-how are you here!”

A thin smile crossed his lips.
Duke Fredo was smiling as he watched the scene unfold.

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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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