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Volume 6 Chapter 2 Part 14

「In that case, why don’t you go to Elam? As long as you have the money, you’d be able to live in that city without any issues. All you’d have to do then is to wait until the time would be right for you to make your move. 」

「Father… 」

Juzel slowly shook his head.

「The peace of Elam is nothing but a sham. If I went there, I’m sure that I’d be captured and framed for being the main perpetrator behind 「The Tragedy of the Grand Cathedral」. Even if it was not true, no one would dare to question it if it was announced that the Rossini family was the mastermind behind the assassination of the two Archdukes. It would definitely be a convenient excuse for the one who’s want to bury the truth about that event in the shadows. 」

「Juzel…」

Pederico’s hands, which he was still holding on his son’s shoulders began to tremble, as did his voice.

「It doesn’t matter where, just run away from here. I’ve already lost Salvador and Doni. If I lose you now as well, then my life will become completely meaningless! 」

「My life would also become meaningless if I survived at the cost of abandoning you, father. In that case, I think you should be the one to flee to the continent. You still have your ambitions, while I never had any of my own. You should save yourself, while I will take care of everything that needs cleaning up here. 」

Pederico’s expression changed once again when he heard his son’s words.

「The anger of the citizens of Sistina will not subside unless they kill me. If I flee, then their anger might instead be directed towards the citizens of the downtown area or those who live in the territories that were under our direct control. 」

「That’s… I… I guess that’s true. 」

Juzel admitted with a pained expression on his face.

That was certainly a possibility, the one that Juzel wanted to avoid at all costs. If there is one thing that the Rossini family could still protect despite how hopeless their current situation was, then it was definitely those who remained loyal to them.

Juzel closed his eyes and became lost in his thoughts for a moment. The truth is that he already knew what the answer to their current problem was, but he didn’t want to say it out loud. His father’s hands were still placed firmly on his shoulders, almost as if he wanted to be absolutely sure that Juzel won’t disappear on him without a trace.

Juzel took a deep breath, and then he continued speaking.

「Father… the conditions for them accepting our surrender are most likely going to be your life and the Crest of the Rossini family along with the Crests of all of our subordinate Lords. I am not going to beg them to spare my life, but instead, I will try to prove that I can still be useful to them. 」

「That might not be the best thing to do. There is always a possibility that Theo Cornero might decide that you’re too dangerous to be left alive. 」

「That might be the case. But if the alternative is going to be me having to run away for the rest of my life, then I am willing to take my bet on the supposed decency of Theo Cornero. If he really wants to do what he claims and bring order back to Sistina as soon as possible, then he must’ve already realized that he cannot do that if he completely wipes out the Rossini family and our influence. However, while I see why that might be the best thing for us to do, then I cannot guarantee that the citizens of downtown Laxia and the inhabitants of our territories will think the same. They most likely would’ve tried to resist the rule of the new Lord of the island, but if I were to become his subordinate Lord, then maybe they’d feel more at ease with accepting Theo Cornero’s rule. And if they won’t be willing to do it on their own, then I’ll just need to convince them. 」

「Theo Cornero himself might be willing to accept such a solution. However, the residents of the island who took part in his rebellion will definitely not forgive the Rossini family and anyone who sided with them. 」
「Then it would seem that I really have no choice but to believe in Theo Cornero’s heroism. And since his army of rebels is well-led, then I think it is unlikely for them to suddenly turn against their own hero and devolve into a mob because of one decision he’d make.

Juzel calmly expressed his thoughts to his father. He really was hoping that Pederico would see why that would be the only way for them, but he was still afraid of the worst possible scenario coming to pass. If that really happens, then he’ll have no choice but to be executed along with his father.

「The reason for why I wanted to bet on Theo Cornero was not just to survive. If I become his subordinate Lord, then I’ll still have a chance to demonstrate my capabilities as a rightful Lord, and maybe one day I’ll even be able to clear the Rossini family’s name. 」

Juzel stated his intentions firmly.

「Do you really think that Theo Cornero will accept your subordination? 」

His father looked at him with pleading eyes, but there was no way for Juzel to know the answer to that question.

「I’m not saying this based on my intuition. I’m making a judgment based on the information I’ve gathered about him. I am confident that this is what he’ll do. 」

「I see…」

Pederico looked slightly relieved when he heard that.

「Your judgment has always been accurate. In that case, I can die in peace. The most important thing is that you’ll get to live, but from that day on, you have to keep on living no matter what, you hear me? It won’t be easy though. 」

「I’ll keep those words firmly engraved in my heart. 」

Jiuzel replied and hugged his father.

He’s going to sacrifice his fathers life so that he himself could survive. Juzel felt angry and sad at having made such a proposal in the first place. Tears filled his eyes, and his arms naturally tightened as he held his father. In his memory, his father was always big and strong. However, right now he looked small and frail now, almost as if he was on the verge of breaking down.

It was only half a day later that Theo Cornero’s army arrived at the city of Laxia.

* * *

「The dwellers of the slums began rioting against the Rossinis. 」

「The downtown area looked quite noisy as well. 」

The werewolf twins returned from scouting the city of Laxia and reported back to Siluca.

Under normal circumstances, scouting and intelligence gathering would’ve been Irvin’s job, however, he was poisoned in a fight with an Assassin of the Rossini family and is now teetering the thin line between life and death.

If the twins hadn’t given their Werewolf blood to Irvin, his life would have already ended. It is said that Werewolf blood has powerful regenerative abilities, but if the person who’s going to receive that blood is not going to be compatible with it, it’ll be as deadly as the worst of poisons, and will kill the recipient before the process of transformation into a Werewolf could even begin. The twins made a sudden decision and bet on the possibility of Irvin being strong enough to survive, and so far it looks like their bet was right on the money.

(Irvin won’t die in a place like this.)

That was Siluca’s firm belief.

「Let’s call on the slum dwellers to stop their riots and convince them to go back to their homes. If they refuse to comply, we’ll have to neutralize them and put an end to their riots. Also, make sure to give strict orders to our soldiers, telling them not to engage in any looting or violence, and inform them that those who’ll fail to do so will be severely punished. 」
Up until now the Rossini family was firmly in control of Laxia, but now that they started loosing that control, it was natural for the people to want to retaliate against them. But if they were to use the same violence as Rossini’s against the slum dwellers, then the cycle of hatred would just continue to repeat itself.

「Understood! 」

Theo gave orders to the people in a clear voice, and they responded enthusiastically.

「After conquering the slums, let’s head straight for the downtown. 」