Chapter 1686: Chapter 1686
"The items for this game are just little trinkets. Don't you think adding a few variables will make our duel much more interesting?"
The king chuckled, setting the flag down. While no change was visible to the naked eye, the spiritual aura emanating from the board had grown noticeably stronger.
"Ladies, you be the judge. Can this possibly be considered fair?"
Jenkins directed his question to the three princesses. The youngest made to speak, but the eldest stopped her.
"Jenkins, we are merely observers. It is not our place to comment on fairness."
Yani Stuart said this, but she had already allied herself with Dolores. Though she had, for some reason, chosen not to enter the game board, she had no intention of abandoning their pact.
The eldest princess then turned to her father with a smile.
"But Viscount Williamette has a point. To make the evening more entertaining, perhaps you should let us all know how these fascinating items work."
"You'll charm away all the girls in my family sooner or later."
"Very well, I'll explain these so-called items. Though I am not an Enchanter, I am aware that in their world, certain special, magical artifacts exist—items that can last for ages. In this match, we can both use such artifacts to influence the game. However, only one item may be used per turn. Furthermore, the declared purpose of an item need not be its true function, but the claim must be logical, and its inherent power must exceed the power you declare."
"What kind of bizarre war game is this?"
Jenkins muttered to himself, nodding to show he understood Salsi II's rules. But then another thought struck him. His status as an Enchanter was supposed to be a secret. Queen Isabella had even risked her own life in a scheme just to find out if he was one. If he were to produce one of those numbered artifacts now, the king's men in Ruen might not recognize it, but the three princesses right here certainly would...
Salsi II was well aware of his predicament, but the old king merely smiled, saying nothing. Jenkins knew this was a deliberate trap. No matter what he chose, it would put him at a disadvantage.
"If I win, Dolores will follow my instructions and ensure my secret is kept."
He spoke in a low voice, but the room was sealed and deathly quiet, save for the cacophony from within the game board. Everyone heard him, and the faces of the three princesses shifted.
"Dolores, being the intelligent young woman she is, grasped the situation quickly. First, she sent for Princess Wendy Stuart and Princess Pruis Stuart, who are on her side. Then, she woke Angelina Stuart, who was living in the same residence, to get an update on the current state of affairs in Ruen. At the same time, she began to summon everyone in the city loyal to her."
After Jenkins finished, Salsi II asked:
"So, will you be using an item?"
As he spoke, he reached into his pocket and produced a monocle. He intended to place it on the edge of the board, just as Salsi II had done, but the spot was currently occupied by a cat that had plopped itself down.
he called softly, scooping up the very reluctant, protesting cat. He gave its rump a gentle pat. In response, Chocolate kicked at him with a hind leg in clear annoyance, then turned to meet his gaze. Its large amber eyes watched as Jenkins gave it a conspiratorial wink.
The cat meowed languidly, then felt Jenkins give it a surprisingly heavy, rice-grain-sized piece of wood. His cane could grow, so it could certainly shrink, and he had adjusted it to a size the cat could carry.
Jenkins set it on the floor. Chocolate wrapped its tail around the "grain of rice" and circled his legs twice. Seeing that everyone's attention was fixed on the game board, it sauntered over to the window and slipped out. Its destination, of course, was Alexia.
"My monocle will allow Dolores, Wendy, and Pruis to pierce through the fog, making it easier for them to uncover hidden secrets and perceive the city's movements."
With that, he placed the monocle beside the board. The moment it touched the surface, Jenkins felt a strange power emanate from the game, binding the monocle to it. It was no longer a separate object, but part of a whole.
"It seems you're a quick study."
Salsi II remarked, then joined the others at the table in turning his gaze back to the unfolding events on the board.
In faraway Ruen, the sudden appearance of princes and princesses shattered the seemingly tranquil night, filling it with a new clamor. But just as Salsi II and Jenkins had predicted, the Stuarts, now pieces on a grand board, quickly grasped the situation and sprang into action.
Jenkins's side had only three players, and Dolores and the two princesses acted on his cues, their actions aligning with their own ways of thinking. But the princes and princesses controlled by Salsi II knew full well that if they united behind the eldest prince, even if their father defeated Williamette, the crown would never be theirs.
Therefore, while Sarrot Stuart, thinking along the same lines as his father, attempted to rally all his siblings, only four of them ultimately arrived at his residence.
From their vantage point in Nolan, the observers could easily follow every move within the game. The board itself was remarkably advanced, capable of displaying the actions of different characters simultaneously, each from their own perspective.
For the first half-hour, Salsi II was the only one in the Nolan parlor who spoke. He continuously commented on his children's performance, analyzing their motives and speculating on the game's next moves.
The half-hour turn concluded swiftly. In the first round, both sides had done little more than gather their retinues and followers. For now, no one had detected anything unusual in the city.
"Shall we begin the second round?"
the king at the table said, looking to be in high spirits and a fine mood.
"Williamette, you may choose this time. Will you go first, or shall I?"
"Very well. While assembling his allies, Sarrot also dispatched a few servants to scout the city. Now, those servants will report their findings, allowing the group to plan their next move. Following that, Sarrot will personally go to meet with General Arken, the commander of the Ruen city guard. At the same time, he will send his younger brother into the royal palace in an attempt to seize control of it first."
"You certainly know your children well,"
Jenkins remarked. Salsi II paid him no mind, continuing to issue separate instructions for his other children. His orders lacked any clear objective, simply directing the Stuarts to take over various city departments. It seemed a very conventional strategy, and Jenkins had expected him to have Sarrot contact the Northern Garrison Legion lying in wait outside the city.
Jenkins hadn't forgotten that Salsi II had a double in Ruen, one who shared memories with the original. He was certain this duplicate would stir up some trouble during the game.
"So, will you be using an item this turn?"
Jenkins asked, seeing that Salsi II had laid out a plan for each of his children.
As he spoke, the king reached into his pocket again, this time producing a ring. Instead of a diamond or gemstone, it bore a flat face like a signet. It was likely the personal seal of some great figure, but judging from its aura, it was also a numbered artifact: B-11-3-5820, the Ring of Ancient Secrecy. Jenkins secretly surmised that the king must have brought every portable artifact from the royal palace. "This is the ring used by the founding emperor of the ancient Sicari Empire," the king explained, "representing the legitimacy of their rule. Even though that vast human empire has long since crumbled, its achievement in unifying the human world is indelible. Therefore, the bearer of this ring will find it easier to persuade others to swear fealty, and those around them will be less inclined to betrayal."
Jenkins had no idea what the ring's true function was, but it wasn't unheard of to know an artifact's number without knowing its purpose. Clearly, the game board had accepted Salsi II's description. The effect would naturally be bestowed upon Sarrot Stuart. While Sarrot himself would likely feel no different, his actions tonight were now certain to proceed smoothly.
Salsi II reminded him politely. Jenkins hesitated, his eyes on the board, before turning to the eldest princess.
"Could you bring us some tea, Princess Yani?"
The princess, of course, nodded her assent. As she opened the door, Chocolate deftly slipped through the gap. The cat scurried under the table, then pawed at Jenkins's trousers until it could scramble onto his lap. Settling into its favorite spot, it meowed, demanding to be petted. It seemed the mission was a success.
"Do not order my daughter about as if she were a servant."
"Should the two of us fetch the tea ourselves? Or would you prefer the actual servants to witness this game?"
Jenkins retorted. When the king fell silent, he turned his attention back to the board.
"Having gathered some initial intelligence, Dolores and Wendy will now plan their next move. Though she has been away from Ruen for a long time, Dolores is no stranger to the city's inner workings. She knows she lacks the manpower to take control of the various city departments one by one. Therefore, she must go directly to the person who can solve her problem—she will take her sisters to see Duke Rodbyre."
"You actually knew Duke Rodbyre was in Ruen?"
Salsi II exclaimed in surprise. Duke Rodbyre was the same man Jenkins had spotted conversing with the king's double that night. Chapters fırst released on N0velFire.ɴet
"Yes. Dolores has a formidable intelligence network."
Jenkins attributed the information to this supposed network. Just then, Princess Yani returned with a tea tray. Her two younger sisters immediately began to help, pouring tea for the two men at the table.