Volume 7 Chapter 35-2 By The Way, I Recently Found Out About The Front And Back
"Delay Victor's development even a little... You should be good at that, right?"
Gustav nodded in silent agreement. Truth be told, he had been contemplating revenge against Victor for some time now, only behind closed doors and away from prying eyes. It wasn't just a mission anymore—it was a personal vendetta. Something akin to a cold war.
The task before him remained unchanged, as it always had. What made it easier was the subtle encouragement from the empire's side. The road ahead had been paved, and Gustav felt no hesitation about what needed to be done.
Seeing the quiet resolve in Gustav's eyes, Silvermoon said nothing more than, "Then..." before turning and exiting the room.
Alone in the dim-lit room, Gustav sank onto the bed, his thoughts churning. After a brief pause, he reached for the bell beside him and gave it a sharp ring. The sound echoed through the room, followed by the appearance of an old man.
Gustav's gaze hardened as he addressed the man, his most trusted aide. "Bring them."
"Bring them from the former Rothheim territory."
The old man bowed deeply without a word and exited as silently as he had entered.
Gustav's eyes followed him, his fingers pressing tightly together in thought. His mind flickered to Silvermoon and Prince Ragnar.
(You think you can control me? That's where you're wrong. This country belongs to me. Once I've solidified my base, I'll throw you out without a second thought.)
Gustav knew exactly what was happening. He was being played, manipulated like a pawn in a much larger game. If all went well, he could strike at Victor's power base, and if not? The empire would suffer no real loss. Even if Victor discovered the plot, they could always dispose of Gustav.
But there was no turning back. Not after Randy's humiliating treatment of him. If Gustav backed down now, he'd lose everything. His power, his influence, everything. No, this was his moment. He would make sure that Victor would never see what was coming.
(I won't fight you head-on. I'll find your weakest points and exploit them.)
A low, eerie chuckle escaped Gustav's lips as he leaned back, eyes narrowing in grim satisfaction.
* * *
Above, on the government tower, Silvermoon stood, gazing down at the town below. A shadow appeared behind him, silent and imposing.
"...Everything is proceeding according to your plan."
"I see."
Silvermoon nodded, his gaze lingering on Gustav's now-empty bedroom.
"Do you think the Governor will make his move?"
The voice of the shadow was thick with suspicion. Could he possibly know he's being used?
"He will," Silvermoon replied with a soft chuckle. "He's too invested in this game now. This isn't just a setback for him; it's an opportunity. For Gustav Rothheim, it's a perfect chance to secure his position."
Victor, the once revered hero, was now at odds with the rightful heir. The conflict was a perfect opening to strengthen Gustav's fragile position, Silvermoon explained.
"And regardless of what happens, there will be benefits for Sir Ragnar as well."
Silvermoon's eyes glinted with amusement. "But they don't know the truth, do they? Neither Ragnar nor Rothheim know who's truly pulling the strings."
His voice softened, and for a brief moment, Silvermoon's eyes seemed to reflect the peaceful town below.
"For now, we remain behind the curtain. Let them believe they control things."
The shadow nodded in silence, and without another word, both figures vanished into the shadows. The tower, now empty, echoed faintly with the distant sounds of the town below.
* * *
Back in the public cafetaria, Randy's laughter cut through the room, drawing curious glances from those around him.
"No way! It's the same!"
Randy's voice boomed as he stared at a coin, completely puzzled.
Randy had recently triumphed over Zaif, but the atmosphere around him felt oddly lighter. The household had fled to Cecilia's residence, leaving him to dine alone with his old adventuring party.
They were discussing the oddity of a continent-wide coin—the one coin that had heads and tails almost indistinguishable.
"Look at it closely," Leonard said with a grin, pointing at the coin. "The back has a cross on the left side. Right?"
Randy squinted and flipped the coin over, eyes widening as he nodded. "Oh... right."
For someone who had seen countless coins, Randy's confusion was comical. Serena, the thief, smirked from across the table, clearly amused by his reaction.
"So, what do you think now that you know there's a back to it?" she teased.
Randy shrugged nonchalantly.
"Honestly? I don't see why it matters. It's just a coin."
The rest of the adventuring party exchanged amused glances. It was clear that, for Randy, the bigger picture was always secondary.
"Guess we're still just talking about coins then, huh?" one of them quipped, laughter rising from the table.
Randy furrowed his brows, feeling slightly out of place in the midst of their jest. But to them, his apparent indifference only confirmed what they already knew—that Randy was a force of nature, too focused on his own path to care about anything else.
As the night wore on, the conversation drifted away from coins, but the tension, ever present, simmered beneath the laughter.
Notes:
• Silvermoon - A formal representative of the Empire and Prince Ragnar's private soldier. His appearance is characterized by a silver mask that obscures his face. He speaks formally and is tasked with retrieving Zaif's body and the magic sword [Curseblade].
• Zaif - A former Imperial Army soldier known as the [Black Wolf]. He has a sadistic personality and is described as a troublemaker who tortured prisoners and hurt training partners. He is Randy's opponent in the mock battle.
• Leonard - Male. A member of the [Iron Falcon Steel] adventurer party. He has a calm demeanor and is knowledgeable about coins.
• Serena - Female. A thief and member of the [Iron Falcon Steel] adventurer party. She has a playful personality and engages in lighthearted conversations.
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