The Lord Of Blood Hill-Chapter 36: Misjudgment

Henwell realizes that he's dealing with one of Obiken's shadow guards, likely an assassin. He looks up and asks, "I have one question. Since I'm facing death either way, could you satisfy my curiosity before I die?"
"Ask away! Whether I answer depends on me," the shadow guard replies.
"I believe I've done well. I've never harmed the Count's interests, nor have I put Fabio in harm's way. I've always pushed Fabio to excel. For the Count, having his younger son become more accomplished should be a good thing, right? I'm still young and could help Fabio even more in the future! I want to know why the Count wants me dead."
Seeing that Henwell has guessed his origins, the shadow guard doesn't deny it.
"You're quite capable! But your presence beside Fabio is ill-timed. If the eldest son were still alive, not only would the Count not oppose your actions, but he would also support you. However, with the eldest son gone, the younger son is now the most suitable heir for the Count. And the Count's surname is Rhine, a royal bloodline whose honor cannot be tainted!"
Henwell sighs, "Ah, I see! Now I understand!"
Henwell realizes he overlooked a crucial issue: nobles value their reputation above all else, even more than tangible benefits.
In his past life, his efforts would have at least earned him a heartfelt handshake and a tearful "Teach me, master!"
However, he made the mistake of assuming that strategists would receive the same respect here.
What Henwell failed to grasp is that honor and reputation are paramount for nobles.
So, whether it was advising Fabio to flee during the night raid on the camp and then cleverly returning to claim credit, or using ruthless tactics to inflict heavy casualties on allied forces in the Six Bay Mountain ambush, or making tacit agreements with local nobles during the kingdom's eastern campaign—Henwell saw these as clever strategies.
But to the nobles, these actions were disgraceful breaches of noble conduct. Especially since Fabio carries royal blood and is poised to become one of the few counts in the duchy.
As a powerful count aligned with the royalists, his position will face much scrutiny from other nobles. While these actions may not matter now, they could become fodder for ridicule in the future.
Furthermore, Count Obiken is looking for an heir—just a suitable one, not necessarily an exceptional one.
After all, there's still a duke above, who is the true ruler of the duchy. If his son becomes too outstanding, commanding a significant military force with a cunning and ruthless strategist like Henwell by his side, constantly pushing him upwards, the only place left to aim for would be the duke's position.
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Thus, the Count feels he must make Henwell disappear. He can't allow his son to be placed in such a precarious position. The duchy belongs to the entire Rhine family, and during this critical period of transformation, any shift in power is unacceptable.
Understanding all of this, Henwell reflects with a touch of irony. He had taken a risk, trying to find a shortcut, only to find himself inadvertently pushed to the brink.
Seeing Henwell's wry smile, the shadow guard asks curiously, "What exactly have you figured out?"
Henwell closes his eyes, not bothered to engage with someone he considers less intelligent. The shadow guard seems to sense Henwell's disdain and says menacingly, "I've satisfied your curiosity. Now, you should satisfy mine. If your answers please me, I might consider sparing your life."
Henwell suddenly opens his eyes and laughs, "Ha! So your orders weren't to kill me, huh? Let me guess, you're supposed to send me back to the Kingdom of Billie?"
"Why not the Kingdom of Ika, you bumpkin from Twin Bay Town?"
Henwell is momentarily taken aback but then relaxes. Since Count Obiken has plotted against him, he must have thoroughly investigated Henwell.
Shrugging, Henwell says, "Anywhere works for me! I can live anywhere."
The shadow guard responds, "The Count only said to let you go, but he didn't say you'd leave in one piece. Maybe missing a few parts won't matter to him!"
Henwell quickly changes his tone, "What do you want to know? Why Count Obiken isn't killing me? Why he wants you to kidnap me? Why create a false death and blame the border army?"
Count Obiken isn't killing Henwell because Fabio swore an oath on the Rhine name. Kidnapping Henwell and framing the border army is a ploy to get Fabio into trouble.
Only by causing trouble can Fabio's merits and faults balance out, allowing the Duke to make a big show of leniency. This would lead other nobles to believe that Fabio is reckless and has displeased the Duke, thus preventing them from targeting Fabio in the future. It gives Obiken the chance to gradually maneuver Fabio into the position of heir.
After explaining everything, Henwell tells the shadow guard, "As a parting gift, pass a message to Count Obiken: Protect the Iron Wall Legion, as it will be Fabio's foundation. And here's a word for you: being a shadow guard means knowing many secrets, which is dangerous. Don't let your curiosity get the better of you."
The shadow guard responds irritably, "Worry about yourself first! I'm taking you to the Kingdom of Billie now, and you'd better behave on the way. If you don't, I'll cut out your tongue. Also, for the next ten years, you mustn't set foot in the duchy, or it'll be your grave."
Henwell nods in agreement, though he doesn't take it seriously. Forget ten years; in just six years, he figures he could easily snap this guy's neck.
Over the past few months, Henwell has used up all his body-strengthening potions. Besides the initial fourteen bottles, he managed to acquire over a dozen more through discreet dealings with eastern nobles from Ika. In total, he's used thirty-seven bottles of these potions.
Normally, such a quantity would elevate an ordinary person to the rank of a knight. However, Henwell only feels stronger without experiencing any of the so-called Fighting Spirit.
Henwell has some theories about this. It could be because he's still young, and his meridians or internal organs haven't matured enough to generate Fighting Spirit. Alternatively, it might be his materialistic mindset; he remains skeptical of this seemingly idealistic form of cultivation.
Nonetheless, Henwell is confident in his growth, feeling himself getting stronger every moment. As for the ten-year agreement, he's not concerned. Ten years from now, he'll be an adult and likely have made a name for himself in Billie. Whether he returns or not doesn't matter much. If he needs a powerful ally, coming back to seek support wouldn't be a bad idea.