The Count's Gun-Shooting Scoundrel-Chapter 63

“Hmm.”
Arthur sorted out his thoughts while washing away the fatigue accumulated on his body with warm water.
The harvest from this battle was significant.
The power he gained from Rumakas was truly immense.
He had summoned the K1 and a shotgun, and it seemed he could even call forth the CheyTac if certain conditions were met.
There was a high possibility that those specific conditions were related to his own power.
If summoning stronger weapons came with increasing strength…
He would be able to fight against Kadrazin.
‘To become stronger...’
A desire to grow stronger surged within him.
Arthur calmed his mind and considered what would happen next.
The fact of Count Yarve’s defeat would surely be ed to the Emperor.
He would undoubtedly send stronger individuals and troops to apply pressure.
Moreover, since he had been falsely accused of being a ‘follower of the devil,’ he might have to fight against the Empire.
‘But why...’
It was then that Arthur’s gaze deepened immeasurably.
Knock, knock.
The door opened with a knock.
Millerf entered and bowed respectfully.
“I apologize for the interruption.”
“No, I was just about to come out.”
Arthur stepped out of the bathtub, wrapped a towel around his lower body, and asked.
“What is it?”
“I came about the Horcamun tribe.”
Arthur sat down in a chair and gestured to the opposite chair.
Millerf sat facing him and continued.
“Are you thinking of absorbing them?”
“What do you think we should do?”
“The Horcamun tribe values honor and justice, and they are skilled in combat. If you can embrace them, they will be a great strength to you, my lord.”
“That’s true, but I’m worried about potential internal problems.”
“Are you referring to discord with the Knight Order?”
Arthur nodded.
Currently, the Phoenix Knights and the Lannister Knights also have an unorganized system. If the Horcamun tribe were to join them now, it could lead to chaos.
To embrace them, a reorganization of the Knight Order was paramount, and above all, the consent of Skevin and the Phoenix Knights would be necessary.
“I will speak with Sir Skevin.”
“Do that. And I have something to ask.”
When Arthur told him about absorbing Mana while fighting Blizan, Millerf’s eyes widened.
“Was there anything special about him?”
“Something special...”
Arthur recalled his battle with Blizan.
Along with an intangible aura, something like a magnetic field seemed to swirl around his fist.
“He used an Aura-like energy. And it looked like his fist was wreathed in electricity.”
“...!”
Millerf’s eyes instantly shot open.
“Did you just say electricity?”
“What’s wrong?”
“If that’s true... I must confirm it myself.”
Millerf dashed outside like someone possessed.
Arthur tilted his head, watching the door Millerf had exited.
It was quite perplexing to see him, usually so calm and composed, so startled.
‘What on earth is it?’
Arthur’s curiosity deepened as well.
He decided to quickly get dressed and go see Blizan.
It was while he was getting dressed.
“Young Master!”
Skevin rushed in.
“You must come out quickly. Unidentified ships have appeared on the eastern coast.”
“What did you say?”
Arthur’s face contorted.
Unidentified ships?
A thought instantly struck him: the Emperor might have sent additional troops, not just Count Yarve.
It seemed too early to be basking in victory.
“Prepare! I’ll go see Count Yarve.”
“Yes, sir.”
Skevin bowed respectfully and rushed out.
***
A moment later.
The sound of emergency trumpets echoed.
Knights, who had been drinking victory toasts in their quarters, were startled and rushed outside.
“What is it?!”
“Enemies again?!”
“Hurry!”
Gathered in the training ground, they stared intently at Skevin.
Drakan also entered the training ground, leading his Knights.
They quickly lined up next to the Phoenix Knights.
Drakan approached Skevin.
“What’s happening?”
“Unidentified ships have appeared on the eastern coast.”
“Hmm.”
Drakan frowned and asked.
“Wouldn’t it be better to get accurate information from Count Yarve before setting out?”
“The Young Master has gone. We will wait here until he returns.”
“Yes, sir.”
Drakan obediently followed Skevin’s orders.
From the start, he had no intention of blindly obeying simply because they were a vassal family.
However, having fought alongside Skevin on the battlefield, he naturally came to respect him.
Above all, he was inwardly surprised by the unwavering loyalty of the Phoenix Knights to the Julius family.
They considered loyalty to the Julius family a matter of course.
That the Count’s family had to exist for them to exist.
On the other hand, the Lannister Knights, while loyal to their family, felt in a corner of their hearts that they were making sacrifices.
He felt the same way.
But seeing Skevin and the Phoenix Knights, he realized he had been mistaken.
It wasn’t just him; the Lannister Knights also felt it and reproached themselves.
Thus, they naturally came to follow Skevin and the Phoenix Knights.
“We march soon! Inspect your weapons!”
As Drakan’s words fell, the Lannister Knights moved busily.
At that moment.
Arthur donned his armor and moved to the underground where Count Yarve was imprisoned.
Upon arriving at the prison, Count Yarve rushed to the bars like a madman, grabbing them and raging.
“Let me out! This isn’t where I belong!”
“He seems fine.”
Arthur had secretly worried that he might be mentally shocked and weakened.
But seeing him so full of vigor, it seemed his worries were unfounded.
“If there’s anything you haven’t told me truthfully, speak now.”
“What more is there to say?!”
“If it’s revealed that you’ve hidden anything or given false information, I will kill you without mercy.”
“With everything shattered, what do I have to hide, and what gain would I get from deceiving you?!”
Count Yarve yelled and screamed.
“You’re noisy.”
Arthur reached out a hand towards him.
“Cough!”
Count Yarve, clinging to the bars, had his neck seized by Arthur.
Arthur glared at him with cold eyes.
“Do you not understand your current situation?”
“My, my throat...”
“If you want to live, stay silent.”
Arthur shoved him backward.
“Ugh.”
Count Yarve fell backward, landing hard on his rear. Then he clutched his throat, gasping.
It was while Arthur was staring intently at him.
“...!”
He sensed a presence behind him.
It was a very faint presence, one only Arthur, with his enhanced senses, could detect.
‘A little rat was lurking.’
He asked Count Yarve with a faint smile.
“Unidentified ships have appeared. If you know anything, speak.”
“Ships?”
Count Yarve’s eyes widened.
Judging by his reaction, he seemed to know nothing at all.
“You know nothing.”
As Arthur showed a disappointed expression, Count Yarve suddenly burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! The Emperor must have sent reinforcements!”
“It seems the Emperor already knew you would be defeated. Otherwise, how could troops arrive so quickly?”
“Shut up!”
“You foolish bastard, you’re the same.”
Arthur turned around.
A masked man suddenly appeared in front and lunged with a dagger.
It flew like lightning.
Having anticipated a surprise attack, Arthur, far from being flustered, smiled as if it were laughable.
His reaction, in turn, flustered the man who had attempted the ambush.
‘What the...?’
The attack missed.
As the man quickly changed direction to launch another attack, Arthur’s fist flew out.
“Damn it!”
He quickly threw himself sideways.
Arthur, as if expecting it, delivered a kick.
Thwack!
The man was struck in the shoulder and fell.
Just as Arthur swiftly rushed to subdue him and pull off his mask, the man quickly threw something onto the floor.
Bang!
A dense fog instantly spread.
But Arthur showed no sign of surprise. Instead, he chuckled faintly and silently watched the door visible beyond the fog.
A moment later.
The fog dissipated, and the man was nowhere to be seen.
Count Yarve, who had been staring blankly, quickly snapped out of it and shouted.
“See?! That must be a Knight the Emperor sent to rescue me!”
He continued, his face full of anticipation.
“Now Grada territory will turn into a sea of fire! Wahahaha!”
“Do you really think so?”
“What do you mean?”
Count Yarve stopped laughing and stared intently at Arthur.
“Did he really come to save you? Why you, who lost the territory war? Because you’re an indispensable vassal?”
“...!”
Count Yarve’s eyes instantly widened, and he roared.
“Shut up! What do you, a mere nobody, know?! Stop babbling.”
“Seeing you lose your temper, it seems you’re starting to grasp the situation. Then you’ll also know your impending fate, so just stay quiet.”
Arthur shook his head with a pathetic expression and exited the place.
Emerging from the dungeon, he glanced towards the 11 o’clock direction before heading to the training ground.
The fact that he didn’t flee, despite confirming Arthur was stronger, meant he was looking for another opportunity.
He must have come either to kill or to rescue; if it was the latter, he was a fellow ill-suited for the task.
‘This is getting interesting.’
Arthur grinned and left the area.
Entering the training ground, Knights who had finished their preparations for departure were waiting.
Behind them, Britanniker and the Giant Wolves were also visible.
But the Devil’s Corps was nowhere to be seen.
‘Where is everyone?’
It was then that Arthur tilted his head.
Bwoooooong—.
The sound of emergency trumpets was heard.
‘Already?’
Arthur dashed to the castle gate.
Upon arriving at the gate, a guard quickly pointed towards the eastern mountain range.
“Look there!”
Arthur looked in that direction.
It was the Devil’s Corps.
They were riding Britanniker, with a group of people following behind them.
There seemed to be over a hundred people.
“What is it?”
It was then that a question appeared on Arthur’s face.
Hectro, who had been on guard duty with the Knight Order on the castle wall, came running.
“Count, it’s the Kanlana Count’s family!”
“What?!”
“Look at the flag.”
Among the group, a flag emblazoned with a crossbow and arrows was fluttering.
Dark, who was leading them, shot an arrow into the sky.
Bang! Bang!
Fireworks exploded.
It was a signal indicating an urgent situation.
The guard vigorously blew the emergency trumpet and immediately moved to respond.
The Knight Order waiting in the training ground rushed over all at once.
A moment later.
An unidentified group appeared from the eastern mountain range.
They pursued the Kanlana Count’s family Knights, showering them with arrows.
They were undoubtedly another contingent deployed by the Kanlana Count’s family.
The situation roughly formed in his mind.
They had been attacked, like the Hexa family, and fled here.
The problem was that they hadn't come alone; they had brought enemies with them.
“Damn it!”
Arthur whistled and rushed out of the castle.
Hiiiiing—!
Khan came galloping powerfully from somewhere.
Arthur quickly mounted Khan and summoned the K1. Then, aiming forward, he shouted loudly.
“Dark!”
As soon as Dark spotted Arthur and saw a weapon summoned in his right hand, he yelled at the top of his lungs.
“Everyone scatter!”