Chapter 99. Ready to Pull the Trigger

“Where is Enoch?”

“He left with the search party about 10 minutes ago.”

“Did he leave any indication of where he was going?”

“No, he didn’t…”

Hubert looked troubled as he spoke. I nodded to indicate I understood.

Of all times to miss Enoch…

Biting my lip anxiously, I glanced at the grandfather clock in the hallway.

The time my father was supposed to meet the Atreos agent was around 8:40. I knew this because, in the vision of the future, he kept checking his pocket watch.

‘It’s 8:12 now… Should I go look for Enoch? No, I might be too late if I do that.’

Time was tight. The longer I hesitated, the higher the chance of missing my father.

I made a quick decision. First, I gathered all the available forces from the Gunner Corps remaining at the estate.

Soon, knights assembled in the front yard of the main building, and I explained my plan to them.

“We’re heading to the bridge over the Reden River north of Schleswig. We have intelligence that Victor Lopez will meet an Atreos agent under that bridge.”

“What…?! An Atreos agent…?”

“Why would he…?”

“Isn’t Mr. Lopez a Foreign Ministry official? Then, could it be…?”

As someone’s speculation ignited a spark, shock spread among the knights.

I raised a hand to quiet the murmuring knights and continued in a calm tone.

“The meeting time is around 8:40. We need to pursue them immediately. Additionally, Sir Novara, Sir Asti, and Sir Luga, please split up and find Enoch in the east, west, and south, respectively. Inform him that we are heading to the bridge.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Yes!”

“Understood.”

The three I named were among the top ten riders in the Gunner Corps. Given my limited riding skills, it was far more efficient to send them as messengers than for me to search for Enoch.

“Jasmine, did you bring my gun?”

“Yes, here…”

I donned the protective gear Jasmine handed me and took the gun, fastening it to my belt.

I never thought I’d use the pistol Enoch gifted me for this… but fortunately, I had a knack for shooting. At least I wouldn’t be sitting idle, doing nothing.

Soon, the stableman brought my horse, and I was the first to mount. Though my riding skills were still clumsy, I could manage short distances quickly.

The knights mounted their horses and awaited my command. Gripping the reins, I glanced back and gave the order.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

“Let’s move out!”

The ground shook as about twenty horses galloped forward.

There were now only about 20 minutes left until my father’s rendezvous with the Atreos agent.

* * *

In a pub located in a deserted alley in the commercial district north of Schleswig, Victor Lopez, who had been hiding, slowly stood up.

Leaving a tip on the table, he cautiously walked out, looking around.

He had successfully evaded the Security Bureau clerk who came to the Foreign Ministry and had managed to escape without being detected by anyone so far, likely thanks to sheer luck.

Being able to obtain top-secret information despite his low-ranking position was also a stroke of luck.

Tonight, the goddess of fortune was clearly on his side. With a sly smile, Victor quickened his pace. The darkened streets were perfect for moving stealthily.

He had a good feeling about this.

All he had to do was meet the Atreos agent and leave Freuden with him. He felt a strong certainty that this plan would succeed.

The Atreos side had promised to set up a base for him, so there was nothing to worry about. It was a pity he had to leave Anthony behind in Freuden… but he could always have another heir. He decided to let go of any lingering attachments.

‘Getting in touch with that Atreos agent was a stroke of luck…’

The escape plan had been in place for a long time. Specifically, since the Lopez family lost their title and fell from grace.

According to the original plan, Anthony was supposed to come along, but evading the Security Bureau clerk made it impossible to bring him.

‘Margot, that foolish woman…’

He never imagined the old witch who supplied the drug 13 years ago would still be alive. He believed the cleanup had been thorough.

‘No matter. I never intended to bring her along anyway, and Anthony has half her blood, so he’s a failure.’

In Atreos, he could find a much better woman than Margot. It would be best to have at least two children. For that, he needed a young and healthy bride.

The Atreos royal family had promised a huge reward for the top-secret information he was handing over… he could buy as many women as he wanted.

Victor’s lips curled up in satisfaction.

But one thing nagged at him…

‘…I obtained the top-secret information too easily.’

Even though he used the stealth artifact created by Atreos’s excellent magical engineers… it was almost too easy.

‘Could this be a trap set by someone?’

The thought crossed his mind but was quickly dismissed.

Whatever the case, he had succeeded. Once he joined the Atreos agent, everything would be smooth sailing.

Driven by excitement, Victor quickened his pace. He arrived at the rendezvous point around 8:35.

‘Is the Atreos agent not here yet?’

In the dark shadows under the bridge, he kept checking his pocket watch.

As night approached, the shimmering water of the Reden River, illuminated by the dim streetlights, was beautiful.

He would never see this scenery again after leaving Freuden… but he didn’t care much. Victor was no patriot.

‘It’s now 8:40…’

They should be here soon…

As he fiddled with his pocket watch and turned his head to the left, a strange figure appeared from the darkness. Dressed entirely in black and wearing a mask, the man walked towards him fluidly.

‘Oh… finally!’

Just as Victor’s face lit up and he was about to approach the man.

“Stop, Father. If you move any further, I’ll shoot.”

Another presence was felt behind him.

It was a familiar voice.

The Atreos agent, who had been approaching Victor, halted warily and didn’t move.

Victor, momentarily frozen in shock, slowly turned around. The person who appeared behind him was, as he feared…

“…Eleanor?”

His daughter, whom he hadn’t seen since she became the Grand Duchess.

And a considerable number of knights standing protectively by her side.

* * *

Perhaps because we had been rushing, we arrived near the Reden Bridge earlier than expected.

I decided to hide nearby with the knights for the time being.

There was a construction site by the riverbank, and we hid behind the piled-up materials.

The riverbank was dimly lit by scattered streetlights, much darker than the bustling streets, making it easy to hide without being noticed.

How much time had passed?

It felt like about 4-5 minutes. I was about to check the time on my pocket watch when I sensed movement ahead. My father was descending the sloped riverbank quickly.

He was holding a thick yellow-brown envelope close to his chest, likely the top-secret information he had stolen from the Foreign Ministry.

And he was alone, just as I had seen in the vision.

‘As expected… he’s trying to escape without Anthony.’

His selfishness in getting married and starting a family had ultimately made everyone unhappy. I watched my father with cold eyes. If I had to shoot him, I was ready to pull the trigger.

‘He knows how many people have died because of Atreos… this crazy man.’

By the time my father checked his pocket watch for the sixth time, a strange figure appeared from the darkness.

A man in a black mask.

The Atreos agent.

‘Finally, he’s here.’

I tightened my grip on the gun and took a deep breath. If we attacked at the right moment, we could capture both my father and the Atreos agent.

I signaled the knights, and they nodded in understanding. Knowing the gravity of the situation, their usual playful demeanor was gone, replaced by serious expressions.

As their leader, I had to make the first move. I stood up and approached my father from behind.

Surprisingly, I was calm. Despite being tasked with leading knights and aiming a gun at someone for the first time in my life, I felt no fear.

Maybe it was because I was half-crazed with anger.

I couldn’t see anything but my goal.

The only important thing was not letting my father escape.

‘I won’t let you live a good life in Atreos. Never.’

From about six steps away, I raised my gun and aimed at my father.

“Stop, Father. If you move any further, I’ll shoot.”

It was a merciless warning.