Chapter 200 – Chapter 5: Rose Sabel – 5
A few more days passed.
The day to meet Uncle Joseph has finally arrived.
Operation Chief Klaus came to the ‘appointed location’ with 20 troops under his command.
He looked around and asked with anticipation in his voice.
“Are you saying that Joseph is really here?”
“Yes. It will happen. Obviously.”
“Sounds like fun.”
Contrary to the reaction of the staff, the rebel soldiers looked suspicious.
Such a reaction was natural.
The place we decided to meet was… No one, nothing. It was a narrow and gloomy back alley that could barely accommodate two people.
But what if Joseph, known as the queen’s aide, came to a place like this alone?
Who can really believe it?
But… I knew.
Uncle Joseph is an upright man.
He is an infinitely generous and warm person to his family and friends.
Marie said that in her letters she wrote down memories of Brisden that only her uncle and herself knew.
From that, Uncle Joseph would have realized that Marie wrote this letter.
He wouldn’t have any doubts about the request she left at the end of her letter, saying, “I want to meet alone.”
Because I know my uncle very well. I believed that it would definitely happen.
That’s why we created this plan.
It is said that when this plan was first announced, controversy arose among rebel leaders.
It was such an absurd operation that people thought I was actually a double agent.
But Klaus said he would believe my words and carry them out.
“Okay then, let’s get started.”
Klaus ordered his soldiers to set up an ambush. They immediately scattered somewhere around and disappeared.
And we decided to hide and watch the situation.
“…”
Now, Marie is the only person at the meeting place.
The guy stood on the road without saying anything and waited for Uncle Joseph.
When the sun, which was floating in the middle of the sky, slowly lowered and caught on the edge of the red castle.
Finally, a shadow appeared in a back alley where no one used to go.
A tall height that can be seen at a glance.
Two swords hanging at the waist.
Jeobeok- Jeobeok-.
And the rough gait that has become ingrained in one’s body without one’s knowledge while walking through countless battlefields.
I remembered the sound of those footsteps.
Uncle Joseph.
He is my uncle.
Longing and joy are mixed together in my heart.
I wanted to call my uncle and run out of this place right away.
My cold head made it impossible to move my mouth and buttocks.
… Because I didn’t come to see my uncle.
“Hey!”
My uncle waved his hand as he entered the alley.
It was a voice that he already recognized Marie from far away.
The sound of loud laughter echoes through the back alleys.
Haha! Marie!”
“Uncle…”
“I read the letter. Yes, it’s been a really long time!”
The corner of Klaus’ mouth, who was watching the meeting place with me, went up.
It seemed like it was confirmed that that man was definitely Joseph.
The uncle gradually approaches Marie. After waiting for it to get deeper into the alley.
Chuck.
Klaus gave instructions with his finger.
Then rebel soldiers appeared one by one and began blocking both ends of the road.
“… Hmm?”
The big smile disappeared from Uncle Joseph’s face when he sensed a suspicious presence.
Then, he placed his hands on the twin swords wrapped around his waist and looked behind him.
“Oh my.”
From where my uncle came in, to the other side where Marie was standing.
Both sides were filled with 10 armed men.
“Rebel? Haha. I thought it could never be like that-.”
Even though the situation was completely surrounded, my uncle smiled leisurely.
Marie lowered her head as if she felt guilty.
“Sorry… Uncle.”
“No, you don’t have to apologize. I’m not sure, but it looks like you have a very big problem. It’s because I was foolish enough to not notice.”
Clap-.
My uncle pulled the sword from its scabbard.
“Marie, stay close behind me. I’ll finish it soon.”
Klaus, who was watching, asked as if it was strange.
“I’m sure he doesn’t plan on taking on 20 people by himself, right?”
“I think that’s the plan.”
“If this continues, it will be difficult to capture Joseph alive.”
“No. It is not a ‘capture’ issue.”
I clenched my teeth.
“We may be ‘annihilated.'”
When I see my uncle taking out a knife with a relaxed expression…
He really seemed confident that he could defeat twenty soldiers single-handedly.
None of the soldiers here, including Klaus, know my uncle’s skills.
But I know how dangerous those dual swords are.
Five assassins sent by the king to kill Tia.
I have seen Uncle Joseph blows off his head with a calm face.
That man’s smile… It is by no means bragging.
“Ritz-kun, you’re kidding, right?”
To be honest, I didn’t think Uncle Joseph would be caught easily from the beginning.
So I already thought of something else.
I don’t want to use this method, but it’s better than causing unnecessary unrest.
“Chief of Staff. Grab my brother and threaten him. Then you will be captured alive.”
“Hoo-. Did you say Marie? “Your brother.”
“Yes.”
“It sure seems like he cares about Miss Marie. Well, if it takes less effort, it might be a good idea to give it a try.”
Klaus stood up and pulled out his dagger from his belt.
“But- Ritsu-kun. I saw it again. How can you so casually use your family as bait and prey? It’s very cruel.”
“…”
“Ah, that’s a compliment. “I really like you like that.”
He smiled and walked out into the alley.
Uncle Joseph pointed his sword at the approaching soldiers and took a step back.
First of all, it seemed like the purpose was to take care of Marie’s safety.
But soon I realized that Marie didn’t have her back.
“… Marie?”
When Joseph looked back, he saw Marie being held by Klaus.
Holding her shoulders tightly. Holding a sharp dagger under Marie’s neck.
The rebel army’s staff greets you with a smile.
“Nice to meet you. ‘Two Swords’ Joseph.”
“Hmm…”
“How about we avoid bloodshed? “You also hate seeing blood, right?”
Haha! Maybe it’s because I’ve been to so many battlefields, but I’ve become insensitive to the color red.”
“Is that so? Then I wonder if it would be okay to see this girl’s blood.”
A sharp blade stuck to Marie’s pure white neck.
The girl felt her cool touch and her shoulders trembled with fear.
“…”
The smile finally disappeared from his face.
Uncle Joseph’s unsmiling face… Was it this scary?
Taeng- Tang-!
The knife fell from both of my uncle’s hands.
… And it’s something I’ve never heard of before.
He asked in a very creepy voice.
“Who is it?”
“‘Who’? What does it mean?”
“The person who called me here.”
Uncle Joseph glared at Marie.
“Marie, answer me. Who are you? Who told you to do this? “This is not something rebels or something like that would do!”
But Marie didn’t answer.
Shedding tears mixed with guilt and fear. She was sobbing, pressing her lips to her sorrow.
Klaus ordered.
“Catch it.”
There was no resistance.
Uncle Joseph’s hands were tied, and he was captured by the soldiers.
It looked like a criminal being dragged to the gallows.
* * *
After bringing Uncle Joseph to the hideout, everyone called him a hero.
The rebels were in a very difficult situation due to the recent series of attacks by nobles. Especially since the Queen took the throne, she is said to have taken to the throne ‘as if she knew everything’.
I wouldn’t know if it had been done all at once. The rebels’ situation was that the morale of the soldiers was sinking due to the gradually strangling attack method.
But suddenly I appeared and captured ‘the queen’s closest associate.’ Without shedding a single drop of blood.
For the rebels, it was exhilarating revenge and a great war lesson.
The excited soldiers praised me as a hero and offered me a drink.
I didn’t want to drink, so I ignored everyone, but I still enjoyed the festival atmosphere.
Wow-!!
While eating food in a noisy restaurant, I suddenly heard a painful scream.
It was not a treatment room where the injured were gathered.
It was Uncle Joseph’s scream.
The rebels needed to get some more information, so they tied up his uncle and began interrogating him.
The word was ‘interrogation’, but in reality it was no different from torture.
I was concerned about Mari’s request, so I asked her to please do it first. It was doubtful whether she would be properly protected.
The soldiers drank while happily listening to their uncle’s screams. He then spat and swore at the torture room.
“…”
How much time has passed?
In this windowless hideout, you are often confused whether it is day or night.
It was a deep time when the soldiers who drank alcohol fell asleep one by one, and a quiet air filled the hallways.
“Ritz-kun. Can we talk for a moment?”
Klaus came to see me.
“Yes. What’s going on?”
“Joseph is not opening his mouth. “He is a man full of unnecessary loyalty.”
I’ve been harassing my uncle for a long time, but it seems there was no result.
“I guess so. Because that’s the kind of person he is.”
“It looks like Ritsu-kun knows Joseph very well. “Wouldn’t there be a way for you?”
“…”
Meet Uncle Joseph in person.
It’s embarrassing.
In fact, I deliberately did not meet my uncle. No, it would be closer to say that I was trying to prevent my uncle from even guessing about my identity.
It’s not because I don’t have the courage to face my uncle or because I feel guilty.
Posao’s abilities. It was only because of that.
I noticed it early on.
Suddenly, the nobles began to tighten the stranglehold on the rebels as if they knew everything.
It was undoubtedly because Posao was chasing the rebels using this ability I possess – the ability to read ‘memory illusions’.
That’s why I didn’t reveal myself until the end.
Unless Posao gets the slightest clue about me. Because everything we’ve done so far will be in vain.
“… All right. “Let me go.”
“Thank you, Ritsu-kun.”
“Instead, please let us be alone.”
“Uhm-.”
Klaus thought for a moment and then nodded.
“Of course.”
Although I was reluctant to show myself in front of my uncle.
It can’t be helped.
Because I had to find out the ‘secret passage’.
Klaus opened the door to the torture chamber.
Clap!
The thick iron door opened.
“Heo-eok- heo-eok-.”
A small room with a humid and musty smell of sweat.
I saw a terrible scene in front of me.
Uncle Joseph, bleeding all over his body, struggling to breathe.
His uncle was tied to his chair and had his head down.
I couldn’t say anything because my appearance was so terrible.
To get to this point… You didn’t say anything?
“Then try your best.”
Klaus tapped my shoulder and left the torture room, closing the iron door.
Bang!
In the quiet silence.
I opened my mouth with difficulty.
“… Uncle.”
Uncle Joseph heard my voice and slowly raised his head.
My bruised and swollen eyelids opened. The unfocused eyes barely look up at me.
What should I say? I held my breath and waited.
My uncle, who was staring blankly, lowered his head again and took a deep breath.
“Ritz… Okay… “Okay then.”
With a tired smile, as if he already knew everything.
“Also… He was alive.”
It welcomed me.
