abcnovels
Chapter 158
Chapter 158
Chapter 158
Regressor of the Fallen Family
Atop his galloping horse, Logan strived to calm his pounding heart. This surge of excitement was not a remnant of the war’s aftermath.
“The biggest hurdle has been overcome.”
After regressing to an earlier time, he had finally surmounted the daunting mountain that initially seemed insurmountable. The fierce war had left him with over a hundred knights and a thousand-strong crossbow cavalry, forces he wouldn’t have dared to imagine three and a half years ago.
Even more so, his brother, Victor, Eileen, and others who would become superhuman talents in the future were all unharmed. But most importantly, having defeated Duke Yordan, he could almost grasp the realm beyond the wall that once seemed so elusive—the realm beyond human limits, an achievement he couldn’t have even dreamed of in his past life.
The unexpected talent he acquired upon regression had added a ray of hope to an otherwise grim future.
“I can do this!”
According to his previous life’s memories, a war with the empire would break out in six or seven years. He now had sufficient power to start planning for it. And for that purpose…
“Those in the capital must be dealt with precisely.”
“Just a little more! A bit faster!”
His dire resolve wasn’t entirely conveyed. His subordinates wondered,
“Why is he doing this?”
“Just focus. Oh no, danger! Don’t doze off!”
“If you nod off, you’ll tumble off! Be careful!”
Despite the relief that the war’s end should have brought, McLaine’s knights had raced their horses relentlessly. The fatigue from the battlefield couldn’t be alleviated with brief rests and power naps, resulting in deepening shadows under the knights’ eyes. The crossbow cavalry behind them, despite their lighter armor, had their eyes half-closed from exhaustion.
Overcoming these adversities without a single man falling behind, McLaine’s speedy advance halted only when they arrived at the fields revealing the walls of the capital, Grand.
“Who is that army?”
“What’s with them?”
“They’re quite numerous, aren’t they?”
From a distance where Grand’s majestic walls were still far away, a force of over 5,000 appeared too significant to merely pass by unnoticed. McLaine’s elites murmured with stern faces.
“It’s allied forces! Don’t tense up and approach slowly!”
Recognizing the elaborate floral banner leading the group with his superhuman vision, Logan smiled.
“I thought it would take weeks more. You’ve worked hard.”
“Welcome, ‘son-in-law.’ I’ve heard of your victory. We tried, but instead of reinforcements, we ended up being a welcoming party. My face is rather red.”
“No, ‘father-in-law,’ I appreciate you coming out to meet us like this.”
Two men embraced warmly upon dismounting their horses. Eileen blushed slightly, but the simple gesture alone reaffirmed the ties between McLaine and the Floyd family to the surrounding nobility.
“No, this is nothing. We couldn’t contribute much to the big fight.”
“No, the troops you’ve gathered here are of great help already.”
“What? Even now…?”
“Yes. May I take command to deal with the remnants of the factions left in the capital?”
“Oh…! Of course.”
In that instant, the power McLaine brought into the capital tripled. The capital’s Royal Knights, charged with stopping the influx of refugees, couldn’t halt the entry of the sizable new force.
“No, more precisely, the captain of the Royal Knights personally stepped forward to welcome them.
“Welcome to the capital, Young Lord McLaine!”
“I am Logan, Captain. Thank you for the hospitality.”
“Ah, ahaha. My apologies for my ignorance. Young lord Logan, the Third Prince awaits you. Shall I guide you straight to the Lord of the Sword’s manor?”
A man with a mustache and a middle age showed a deferential demeanor, but Logan felt a twist in his expression. The man was top-tier, fitting of his position as the captain of the Royal Knights, yet in Logan’s eyes, his ranking was plummeting.
‘Coming out after a future king is determined, clinging to that core faction? Count Francisco Romero, such a waste of potential.’
Yet, Logan did not show his discontent and sought understanding from the captain to continue his intended actions.
“Before I meet Prince Rogers, may I search for any ‘traitors’ that might still be in hiding, with your cooperation?”
“What? Traitors? Well, uh… yes, of course.”
The captain’s eyes flickered, but he remained flexible. Logan’s implicit message was clear: this operation had the Sword Sage’s approval, and Francisco couldn’t question it further.
However, Francisco would soon regret not stopping Logan as the events unfolded.
“Draw out all humans inside. Gather them together, and I shall judge them myself.”
Following Logan’s order to immediately search the estates of the Dukes Douglas and Valdermaine, as well as the territories of former border nobles, was a declaration to wipe out all the surviving main players of the factions without leaving a trace.
The observing nobles turned pale at this drastic proclamation. High-ranking nobility’s heirs often lived more in their residences in the capital than their rural lands. Logan’s words implied he would eradicate the roots of the factions that opposed him.
But there could be no opposition. These were the words of the leading figure of the McLaine family who led the war to victory. Among the nobles who remained in the capital, nearly all the highest-ranking ones were cooperating with him.
“Royal Knights will guide you! Catch them all! Killing resistors on the spot is permissible!”
Logan’s command made all witnesses aware that a new era had come.