The Count's Gun-Shooting Scoundrel-Chapter 50

A moment later.
Skevin appeared at the castle entrance, leading the Knight Order.
“What’s going on!”
“Look over there!”
A watchman pointed to where the cloud of dust was rising.
“Damn it!”
Skevin’s face hardened.
Hellot shouted to the knights.
“All units, prepare for battle!”
“Sir!”
The knights quickly dispersed.
‘Where is the Young Master?’
Just as Skevin was looking around for Arthur.
Arthur descended from the sky with Millerf.
Before stepping outside the castle, Arthur spoke to Skevin.
“No one is to come outside until my command is given.”
“What do you mean by that?”
As Skevin made a puzzled expression, Millerf, following behind Arthur, said.
“It’s the House of Baron Hexa.”
“...?”
Skevin’s eyes widened.
The moment Arthur spotted them, Millerf had cast his Hawkeye magic to check their banner first.
A shield-shaped banner was fluttering in the wind.
And alongside the cavalrymen, the black hair of a man riding without a helmet was also fluttering.
A shield and black hair!
It was the House of Baron Hexa.
Seeing their disheveled state, it was clear that something must have happened.
“The lord said he would meet them, so let’s wait.”
“Could they have been attacked?”
“We’ll know when we meet them.”
Millerf’s face hardened.
Arthur stepped outside the castle and waited for them to approach.
A short while later.
The furiously galloping horses slowed down and came to a halt.
Then, the man with the fluttering black hair dismounted and approached Arthur.
Millerf, standing behind Arthur, saw the man and whispered.
“That is Hextro, the eldest son of the House of Baron Hexa.”
“Mm.”
Arthur nodded.
Hextro stopped about five meters away. Then he respectfully knelt on one knee and bowed his head.
“I am Hextro Hexa, the eldest son of the Hexa family. I wish to see the head of the House of Count Julius.”
“State your reason.”
“A week ago, our family was framed as followers of the devil and attacked by neighboring estates.”
‘As expected.’
Arthur frowned.
“My father and the rest of my family were killed, and I am the only one who survived to come here. Please let me meet the family head. I will explain the details to him.”
“You can tell me.”
At Arthur’s words, Hextro raised his head.
Judging by his similar age, he seemed to be the son of Count Malcolm.
But he had heard that the eldest son, Wesley, had died in a monster attack.
Then that meant he was either Aild or Arthur...
The aura he gave off was extraordinary.
He knew what kind of people both of them were. They were individuals who could never possess such an aura.
‘Who in the world is he?’
Hextro looked at Arthur with eyes full of doubt.
When their eyes met, he found himself lowering his gaze.
‘An aura of this level...’
It was on par with his own Defen Knight Commander who had come with him.
‘Aild? It can’t be. I heard he’s a shut-in who never leaves his room. Then could it be?’
He thought of Skevin Maximus, the commander of the Phoenix Knights.
But there was no way he was this young, and seeing his black hair and golden eyes, he was clearly of the Julius bloodline.
It seemed Count Malcolm had a hidden child.
“I apologize, but could you please tell me your identity?”
“Arthur Julius.”
“Arthur...!”
In an instant, Hextro’s eyes flew open.
‘The Scoundrel of Grada?’
That was absurd.
“I-Is that true?”
“It is. So tell me what happened.”
“May I not speak directly to the Countess?”
“No!”
Arthur cut him off flatly.
As Hextro’s face darkened, Millerf spoke up.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Ah, Lord Millerf.”
Hextro bowed his head respectfully to Millerf.
“You have endured much on your long journey. Young Master Arthur is the head of the family, so you may speak.”
“What?”
Hextro wore a shocked expression.
‘He’s the head of the family?’
“Yes, he is the head of the Count’s family.”
Madeline’s voice was heard from behind.
She stood next to Arthur and continued.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Countess, I apologize for not visiting sooner.”
“Yes, from what I overheard, it seems something terrible has happened to the Hexa family. Tell the family head everything.”
“Understood. A week ago...”
Hextro looked at Arthur and recounted everything that had happened.
A month ago, a large-scale operation to root out followers of the devil had begun.
Then, suddenly, those with black hair were also declared followers of the devil, and a ruthless massacre began.
The effects of this had reached his barony.
The lords of neighboring estates, with whom they had always maintained friendly relations, joined forces and launched an attack.
The barony resisted them with all its might but could not overcome the numerical disadvantage.
Baron Hambaro had remained in the estate to the end, fighting the enemies, while he had fled here with his family.
Madeline looked towards the Hexa family’s Defen Knights and asked.
“Is Lady Angel alright?”
“My mother and my younger sister...”
The rims of Hextro’s eyes turned crimson as tears welled up.
He fought back his surging anger and continued.
“They were ambushed while we were fleeing and all lost their lives.”
His tightly clenched fists could be seen trembling.
“I see.”
Arthur wore a look of pity.
“You must escape before they come for you. I came here to deliver this warning.”
“What will you do now?”
“I plan to go and inform Count Kanlana of this as well.”
“You intend to take that many people on a ship?”
Madeline frowned.
“If the House of Count Julius will take us in, I plan to select just a few to go with me.”
Arthur asked Madeline.
“What should I do?”
“You are the head of the House of Count Julius. I will follow your decision.”
“Understood.”
Arthur turned and shouted loudly towards the half-open castle gate.
“They are guests of the Count’s family! Welcome them with respect!”
Kwoong!
The castle gate swung wide open, revealing the Phoenix Knights who were on standby.
Seeing them, Hextro’s eyes shot open.
“H-How can this be...”
Every single one of them had a powerful aura that surpassed even the commander of the Defen Knights.
Above all, the man in their midst, exuding a profound aura, was on a completely different level from any knight he had faced before.
‘Could that man be...’
“Skevin!”
As Arthur’s word fell, the man approached and bowed his head respectfully.
“You called.”
“Prepare a place for them to stay. And make sure they do not run into those guys.”
“Yes, sir.”
Skevin looked at Hextro and said.
“Please follow me.”
“Are you, by any chance, Skevin Maximus?”
“I am.”
“As expected of the House of Count Julius...”
Hextro’s face brightened.
It was known to the world that the Count’s family was barely maintaining its lineage.
But his father’s thoughts had been different.
He believed that a place even the Emperor of the Empire could not touch carelessly must have some hidden power.
That was why he had sent him here.
He had said that even if the family fell, as long as he survived, he could one day rebuild it.
Until he arrived at Grada Estate, he had been half in doubt—no, he hadn't believed it.
But the moment he saw the Phoenix Knights and Skevin, he realized his father’s judgment had been correct.
‘Father!’
Fat tears rolled down Hextro’s cheeks.
Skevin couldn’t know the exact meaning of the tears he shed, but he could tell one thing for sure.
He did not regret coming here.
As Hextro entered the castle with Skevin, he couldn't control his pounding heart.
Most of the knights were at the level of Sword Expert, similar to the commander of the Defen Knights.
The only other place that possessed a Knight Order of such strength was the Central Guardian Knights, composed of the Emperor’s royal guards.
In terms of numbers, they couldn't compare to the Central Guardian Knights, but in terms of individual strength, they were by no means inferior.
‘Truly incredible.’
Hextro and the Defen Knights moved with Skevin to the knights' barracks.
Once they were gone, Arthur said to Hellot.
“Maintain strict security.”
“Sir?”
Hellot tilted his head.
Arthur looked towards the knights' barracks and continued.
“It’s not that I don’t trust them. But given the circumstances, it’s better to be cautious. And for now, our true strength must not be known to the world.”
“I understand what you mean.”
“Do it so they don’t notice.”
“Yes, sir.”
Hellot bowed his head respectfully and gave orders to the knights.
Arthur shifted his gaze to Millerf.
“We need to hurry.”
***
“What happened?”
“We killed the baroness and her daughter, but we lost the son.”
“Stupid bastard.”
Kalov slit the knight’s throat with the blade of his hand, which was wreathed in a dark red aura.
“Keuk.”
The knight’s eyes shot open as he collapsed with a thud.
Kalov looked at the men who had been with him in the pursuit and asked.
“So where did the bastard flee to?”
One of the men answered in a barely audible voice.
“It seemed he was heading towards Grada Estate.”
“Grada? Well, they are followers of the devil too.”
Kalov licked his lips and thought for a moment, then beckoned to a robed man with his finger.
He asked the man in a grim voice.
“Have you come up with a good idea?”
“Count Yarve will attack Grada Estate anyway.”
“So?”
“How about we strike the House of Count Kanlana? If we get rid of them too, we might catch His Majesty the Emperor’s eye.”
“That’s true, but the others were supposed to go.”
“They will fail.”
“Why are you so...!”
The man gave a sly smile.
The House of Count Kanlana had Helm Del.
As long as that bastard and the Del Knights were there, reaching the mainland would not be easy.
But that was true for them as well.
“Tell me the plan.”
“When his attention is focused on one place, we use that opening to land on the opposite side.”
“The chances of being discovered are still high.”
“What if only one ship goes? Will he really send his Knight Order? He’ll be too busy dealing with the enemy in front of him.”
“I see what you’re thinking.”
“Pick out just 30 men. The most vicious ones.”
“Keke, it’s been a while since I’ll get to enjoy myself to the fullest.”
As the man walked over to where the mercenaries were gathered, Kalov moved to where the knight orders from each estate were assembled.
The knight orders from each estate, dispatched to uphold the Emperor’s command, looked at Kalov.
Kalov asked the man who was the leader of the alliance.
“Have you cleaned up neatly?”
“We killed every last black-haired person.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Then may we return to our estates?”
“You may return. But know that this is not the end, and you must move immediately when I issue a summons.”
“Understood. In return, you should understand one thing as well. We are not following you, but the orders of His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Of course. If not for the Emperor’s command, would you noble knights have even deigned to associate with a lowly person like me? You have a long journey ahead, so please be on your way.”
Kalov bowed his head respectfully in farewell.
They looked at Kalov with contemptuous eyes and then left the area.
Watching them retreat into the distance, Kalov smirked.
“Stupid bastards, not even knowing that I hold your lives in my hands. Anyway, I wonder if our dear Count is preparing well. If he fails again this time, it will be hard for him to survive...”
***
At that same time.
Hazan arrived at Nibon Estate.
Yarve greeted Hazan, who had entered his office, with a warm welcome.
“Welcome.”
“I am honored that you have summoned me.”
Hazan bowed from the waist as respectfully as he could.
Yarve curled the corners of his mouth up and sat down facing him.
“How many did you bring?”
“A total of 200 men.”
“What?”
He had expected him to bring at least 500, and he couldn't hide his disappointment at the mere 200.
At the same time, anger welled up, feeling as if he had been deceived.
Hazan was not at all flustered, even seeing Yarve’s face contort.
“You will change your mind once you hear me out.”
“Speak.”
“Of the 200, 50 are Sword Experts, and the rest are true beasts in human skin.”
“True beasts?”
“They only eat human flesh.”
“...!”
In an instant, Yarve’s eyes flashed.
He had heard information a few years ago about people who only ate human flesh.
But they had suddenly vanished one day.
“Where did those bastards come from?”
“They had nowhere to go, so I took them in. I believed that a day would come when they would be useful.”
“You truly are an incredible bastard. To even think of keeping men like that.”
Yarve was extremely pleased.
He would put the knight orders sent from each estate on the front line to face them, and while they were occupied, he would have these beast-like men infiltrate the Count’s estate.
Imagining them fainting in shock, the corners of his mouth curled up on their own.
He couldn't miss such an entertaining spectacle.
“Good, I will command this one myself.”
“When do we march?”
Yarve thought for a moment, then grinned.
“There’s no need to wait here, is there? It would be fine for us to go there first, right?”
“Whatever you say is fine with me, Count, keke.”
“We march in three days.”
“Then please allow us to drink to our heart’s content for two days.”
“You can drink every last drop of liquor in the castle. However!”
In that moment, a murderous intent filled Yarve’s eyes.
“Devour every last one of those bastards from the House of Count Julius.”