Hanna gives a morning greeting with a reverent bow.
Liz and I return the greeting in an awkward manner.
—○█○—
“Hannah, what about the gang?”
“Yes—everyone from the organization appears to be inside. I believe it would be simple to round them up now.”
I asked while looking at the hideout of the traffickers from a distance behind the building, and Hanna gave me the answer I was looking for.
Liz, Yennie, and some of the knights have been assigned to keep an eye on Viscount Reinke and his men.
Viscount Reinke must be shivering with fear at the sight of “her” icy murderous intent after what happened last night.
Let us hope she doesn’t do anything rash.
Gustav, what about the knights?
“Ha! They’re all in place!”
“All right, then go!”
I raised my sword and silently signaled the knights.
The knights all go into the organization’s hideout in a familiar manner.
Because the goal this time is a surprise attack, I’ve told them to keep their armor to a minimum so that the sound of metal doesn’t draw attention to them.
And if done poorly, you risk the lives of the captives.
“Then, let’s go too!”
“Ha!”
“All right.”
Me, Gustav and Hanna, followed the knights into the hideout.
But thanks to the knights who entered first, it appears that they are nearly finished.
“Fumu… They’re all very good, as you’d expect from knights trained by Gustav…”
“Hahaha, thank you very much. But I owe it to His Highness, who bestowed the Order on me…”
Well… I used the resources available to me to create an Order for myself.
It’s for the upcoming fight with my mother, Oscar, and the others.
With that, I took Gustav out of the Royal Order.
The head of the order, Count Reinmayer, was very against it, but because His Majesty the King had given me some tasks directly, I went to him and forced him to agree.
Haha, Count Reinmayer’s resentful expression at the time was a masterpiece, now that I think about it.
His Majesty the King appeared to be amused by the situation as well, which may have played a role in his decision to select the crown prince.
“Gustav…Please be patient a little longer. I’m going to make you the kingdom’s sword…”
“… Good grief, isn’t Your Highness going to give me a lot of work and responsibility?”
“Of course, people should be properly judged.”
“Truly… Your Highness has changed significantly…”
Many people in the kingdom, including Gustav, are denied proper recognition because of their status.
The same is true for the Royal Academy, which I will now attend. Nobility are the only ones who can study there, and regular people can’t even learn how to write.
I want to be king and build a country in which everyone, regardless of status or wealth, can dream big and be happy.
And I want to be happy by sharing it with Liz, my beloved.
“We have brought the human trafficking ring to an end!”
“All of the prisoners have been freed! They are weakened, but their lives are not in danger!”
After hearing the knights’ reports, I nod satisfactorily.
“Your Highness, let us hear the battle cry.”
” Could you please…”
“Umu.”
Gustav and Hanna encourage me, and I raise my sword.
“The trafficking organization has been brought under control. Our victory!”
“”””””Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh””””””
The triumphant knights’ cheers echoed through Mainrich’s streets.