Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 548

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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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Andrei couldn’t believe what lay before his eyes.

“B-but you were unconscious—”

He couldn’t finish his sentence.

‘Why is Duke Fredo here!’

Just this morning, Prince Nar himself had said the Duke was unconscious and in critical condition—so dire that no one but the healers could even approach him.
So how could Duke Fredo now be standing before Andrei, looking perfectly fine?

“You said you were unconscious!”

Andrei’s words held no deference toward the Duke.
The shock was simply too great.
The entire unit felt the same way. None of them could speak properly.

A smile played at the corners of Fredo’s lips.

“Yes, that’s right. I was unconscious, and I’ve just awakened.”
“That makes no sense!”

If he’d only just awakened, how could he be here?
Andrei stared at Fredo in utter disbelief.
Then his eyes met the Duke’s gaze. Something in that look silenced him involuntarily, and in its place came Fredo’s calm voice.

“You’re right—it makes no sense. But you will believe me. Because I’m the one saying it.”

The Duke’s expression grew cold and severe.
As the languid indifference melted away from his features, what remained was a face devoid of warmth—sharp, impassive, glacial.

“It would be wise for you, Andrei, to accept this situation without question or comment. For your own sake.”

*Gulp.*
Andrei swallowed involuntarily.
He wanted to step back, but the ropes binding him made even that impossible.

He quickly surveyed Duke Fredo approaching him and the surroundings with practiced efficiency.
Only now did the situation begin to crystallize in his mind.

He was a Sword Master.
It was not a rank one could achieve through mere training alone.
He had endured countless battles—great and small—and his mind swiftly arrived at its conclusion.

“…Duke. Have you allied yourself with Kale Heniatus?”

The moment the Tiger Tribe appeared before Andrei, the answer was already clear.
It was common knowledge that the Tiger Tribe dwelled in these Dark Forest lands and remained under Kale’s command.

“Heh heh.”

Andrei’s laughter escaped unbidden.

“I see now. There’s no way that old fool Count Mok could have devised such a strategy.”

He recalled the moment when he had agreed to Count Mok’s proposal before this scheme unfolded.

‘I intend to use Nar Von Izelern. So you’ll gain nothing by siding with Duke Fredo in this matter.’
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘It means Nar Von Izelern is my informant. Quite useful to exploit.’

His gaze shifted from Nar toward Duke Fredo.

“So you orchestrated this scheme by using your own son.”

Andrei’s shoulders trembled.
Absurdity and futility washed over him, and laughter spilled forth.

“Krkrkr, hahaha—”

But that laughter could not continue.

“Gack!”

His throat was instantly seized in the iron grip of a Vampire’s hand.

“A loud noise would be problematic.”

He could see Solena, who gripped his throat while flashing a sinister smile. Duke Fredo’s loyal subordinate. She had controlled Andrei’s breath.

“Solena. Release him.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”

Solena loosened her grip on his throat and withdrew her hand.
Thud—!
The recoil sent Andrei’s bound body tilting sideways until it struck the ground.

“Ugh!”

As Andrei lay on his side, he glimpsed a pair of shoes passing before his eyes.
When he lifted his head, Prince Nar stood gazing down at him.
But soon Nar turned away and moved forward.

“You—you bastards—!”

Andrei’s mouth opened without his consent.
He cried out.

“What do you intend to do with us!”

Even as he spoke, he surveyed his surroundings.
Kale Heniatus.
If Duke Fredo had allied with him, then his presence had to be somewhere here.

Then he saw shoes stop before him.

“Be quiet.”

He lifted his head. Prince Nar looked down at him with dispassionate eyes.
The Kale he had been searching for stood right before him, yet he did not recognize him.
All he could perceive was the boy he had once deemed innocent—now transformed into something new and sinister.
The boy spoke in an emotionless voice.

“Make noise again, and you’ll be the first to die.”

The young prince’s eyes curved with amusement.

“Is it proper to make such a racket in someone else’s courtyard?”

He turned his head away.

“Father. Shall we go?”

Duke Fredo donned his helmet once more.

“Yes, let’s. Is it the second group next?”
“That is correct, Your Grace.”

With Solena’s affirmation, the Vampires began moving past the first group’s members toward where the second group awaited.

‘What becomes of us?’

Andrei’s pupils trembled at their callous departure.
He soon found the answer to his unspoken question, and his shoulders quivered all the more violently for it.

“Even a Sword Master would struggle to break free from these bonds, I’m told.”

A colossal shadow fell across him.
Andrei could see the elderly Tiger Shaman gazing down at him with a smile.

But that smile vanished in an instant, and the Tiger Shaman Gashan opened his mouth.

“Move them all.”

The Tiger Tribe warriors approached the first group’s members.

‘…This cannot be!’

Andrei watched the scene unfold with a hollow expression.
To accomplish nothing and have it all end so pathetically!
Captured by enemies and betrayed by his own allies!

‘Why won’t these cursed bonds come loose!’

The rope did not loosen.
Once I understood the full situation, I grasped the secret of this rope.

‘…A Dragon.’

It must be a rope created by the Dragon that dwells beside Kale Heniatus.
I lifted my head.
The platinum-haired Elf who should have been in the tree had vanished without a trace.

“Well then, shall we depart as well, Commander?”

My body was lifted effortlessly by the Tiger Tribe Warrior’s hands.
Caw, caw.
Ravens circled above the Dark Forest, their gaze sweeping across the entire woodland.

‘We’re finished.’

Andrei bowed his head deeply.
Now he had to concern himself with survival.

* * *

Count Mok concealed himself within the forest’s shadow and spoke.

“Is this the place?”

The answer came from the figure standing beside him.

“Yes, that is correct.”

At Albert Crossman’s affirmation, I nodded and turned my gaze northward once more.
Having arrived near the southern reaches of the Black Castle, I furrowed my brow.

“…I despise admitting this to an enemy, but it is magnificent.”

Admiration lay beneath those words.

‘Indeed. Truly impressive.’

Alberu was no different.
He adjusted the mask covering half his face—from the bridge of his nose to his forehead—while his gaze fixed upon the Black Castle before him.

‘So this was the Last Dragon Lord’s castle?’

The moment the information I had heard from Kale Heniatus surfaced in my mind piece by piece, Count Mok muttered under his breath.

“So the Roan Kingdom truly amounts to nothing without Kale Heniatus! They didn’t even inherit the nobility, yet they built such a castle for a mere boy of twenty! Remarkable!”

Count Mok’s face twisted.
Anyone could see the jealousy seething within him toward Kale Heniatus.

“Hmph! That castle is more magnificent than Albert Crossman’s own palace. Does the Crown Prince know of this and simply allow it? The kingdom’s state is truly pathetic.”

My eyes grew cold as I regarded him.

‘…This bastard.’

Unaware of my gaze, Count Mok sneered at the Black Castle.

“Hmph. In the end, Kale Heniatus will do nothing today and lose everything.”

Kekeke.
A sinister laugh spilled from his lips.

“It would be a waste to destroy it.”

Perhaps I should claim it for myself?
Greed overflowed in Count Mok’s eyes.
Naturally, I was fully aware of this.

‘…A madman.’

My gaze upon Count Mok grew even colder.
Unaware of this, Count Mok opened his mouth.

“Has there been contact from the other groups?”
“Not yet—”

Beep!
Alberu was about to respond when a faint signal tone emanated from his pocket.
However, it was loud enough for Mok beside Alberu and several Dark Elves at the front to hear.

Alberu’s expression hardened as he looked at Mok.

“They’ve arrived.”

Beep, beep!
Two more signal tones followed.

“It seems the remaining three teams have arrived as well.”
“Yes.”
“Retrieve the communication crystal.”

Alberu immediately pulled out the communication crystal from his pocket.

“This isn’t an emergency signal, is it?”

At Mok’s subtle inquiry, Alberu shook his head firmly.

“Team Leader 1 arrived first, followed by Teams 3 and 2 in order.”
“I see.”

Mok swallowed a sigh of relief internally.

‘Thank goodness.’

Though he maintained an outward composure, his nerves were taut—this operation held significant weight for his future.
Because of this, he had harbored considerable worry that something might go wrong with the other teams during their approach.

Fortunately, everyone had safely reached their designated positions.

‘Now for the next phase.’

Mok turned his gaze toward Bob, the informant, and praised Prince Nar.

“The information your master provided has proven most valuable.”

Unlike when he had previously received the map from Prince Nar in front of the Endable White Castle while keeping it hidden from others, he openly accepted the map from Nar upon arriving at the Dark Forest.
Furthermore, he deployed Vampire informants.

‘Everyone here is my ally, after all.’

He didn’t bother explaining everything to those except Andrei, but he made it clear that he and Prince Nar moved together.
To the extent that they shared information with one another.

‘That way, they’ll understand that my influence extends even to House of Izerun.’

Count Mok concealed his sinister thoughts and issued instructions to Bob.

“The moment the Vice Commander contacts us, connect him immediately.”
“Yes. Understood—”

Whirrrrr—
A signal tone different from before.

“It’s Prince Nar, sir.”
“Put him through.”

Immediately, one of the Black Mages standing among the Dark Elves stepped forward and connected the communication crystal in Alberu’s hands.
Alberu held the communication crystal in both hands and turned the screen toward Count Mok.

—Commander.

Prince Nar’s face appeared.

—I have arrived.

Shhhhhhh—
In that instant, the trees surrounding the Black Castle rustled their leaves in the wind.
Count Mok’s eyes turned toward the northeast.

Everyone had hidden themselves so well that they were completely out of sight.

“Vice Commander.”
—Yes.

Count Mok spoke to Prince Nar with an unusually serious expression.

“Begin.”
-Understood.

Determination resonated in Prince Nar’s voice.

-We Vampires shall breach the path first.

Count Mok nearly let out a scoff at those words.

‘He’s still so young, truly.’

He had granted the first strike against the Black Castle to the Third Division led by Prince Nar.
The reasoning was simple.

A chance for vengeance and a chance for recognition.
Those two things.

An opportunity to lead the charge in avenging his father, and if he were to topple the Black Castle from the vanguard, he would be acknowledged as the next leader of House of Izerun.

‘Yet there is little to gain from being first in such matters.’

Rather, it was better to wait from behind and seize the sweetest fruit for oneself.
Count Mok thought how easy it was to manipulate one so young and opened his mouth.
Yet his expression, contrary to his true thoughts, remained grave.

“Yes. Once you breach the path, I shall follow with our assault immediately.”
-Yes.
“Duke Fredo will be delighted by your courage when he awakens.”
-Thank you for your words. Then I shall begin at once.

With those words, the communication channel severed.

Count Mok’s heart raced.
Now an opportunity to achieve a great merit unfurled before him.

He raised his hand.
The moment the hidden Dark Elves fixed their gaze upon his hand, Count Mok’s mouth opened.

“The moment Unit 3 moves, activate the spirits. We’ll relay our commands through them.”

Uuuuu—
Soft cries began to emanate from various points around him.
The Dark Elves were summoning spirits that devoured other spirits.

As Alberu observed every detail of the sight before him.

“It’s begun!”

With Count Mok’s commanding voice, a colossal mana sphere rose from the western direction.

‘Count, there is a shield installed on the Black Castle. We believe it to be a shield spell that can withstand impacts up to a certain level. We Vampires will use magic scrolls to dismantle it.’
‘Is that so?’
‘Yes. That moment will mark the beginning of our assault.’

Then, a voice rang out from the western forest.

“Go!”

It was unmistakably Prince Nar’s voice.
Count Mok rose to his feet.

“Prepare yourselves.”

The moment those words left his lips.

Uuuuung—
The colossal mana sphere swelled even larger.

‘This is extraordinary!’

To think one could summon such a mana sphere with merely a magic scroll!
Mok was astounded.
Yet in that moment, he came to appreciate anew the vast wealth of House of Izerun.
And contempt welled up within him toward Prince Nar, who had poured such immense resources into this mana sphere.

‘A foolish wretch, squandering his efforts for others’ benefit.’

Count Mok’s lips curved upward.
Then, he heard the voice of his informant Bob.

“Shall we go?”

He didn’t even turn his head.

Creeeeak—
Because the gates of the Black Castle were opening.

“No. It seems the enemies have just noticed our invasion. So for now, we wait.”
“…Is that so? We’re waiting?”

Hm?
Count Mok faltered at the tone in Bob’s voice.
That was the moment.

“Gack!”
“Commander!”
“Count!”

Count Mok felt his body lift off the ground as a strangled cry escaped his lips.

“Gack, cough. You bastard, what is this, gack!”

His throat constricted, choking off his breath.
His eyes widened as he beheld the one gripping his neck.
Bob, his informant, was staring directly at him.

“Where do you get off speaking informally? You’re just an old man, not our young master.”

As Count Mok’s face flushed from suffocation, he could see the Dark Elf hybrid smiling at him.

“Only our young master is permitted to speak informally with me. I am a loyal servant who serves only our young master.”

In that moment, Count Mok could see the Black Castle fully opened beyond the Dark Elf hybrid’s shoulder.
The expression on Count Mok’s face, as he desperately clawed at the hands strangling him, turned ashen.

“Gack, cough— Choi Han—!”

The black castle gate swung open, and Choi Han, the knight of Kale Heniatus, stepped forth from within.

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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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