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So Daniel Cairo thought that maybe Fabius might be the right person.

‘Fabius is one of the best people in Cairo when it comes to his political skills. He knows how to read the trend and make fast and bold choices. Even though he was a key figure in Marquis Benedict’s faction, his ability is clear, and his decision to stay by Roman Dmitry’s side proves he can be trusted.’

The problem was that they needed someone who excelled in diplomacy. In order to perfectly carry out Roman Dmitry’s plan, it was necessary for that person to have the courage to speak without trembling, even when entering the jaws of a beast.

And Fabius met that condition. Aside from simply being capable, Fabius was now looking for a chance to prove his skills.

In the new future, this would be the new trend. Count Fabius openly showed his intention to jump on the bandwagon for a bright future.

‘It isn’t a bad choice since his intention is clear. If each side achieves the goals they want, then the result is a lot better.

Daniel Cairo said,

“The negotiation with Kronos isn’t a matter to be taken lightly. They are similar to magic bombs in a way that we do not know when they will be directed at us, and there is a possibility that they might break the Continental Law of not touching the envoy. We will reject the options they have given, and you will steer them in our direction. Your life could end the moment you utter a statement of refusal, so will you still take such a risk and leave for Kronos as the envoy?”

“I am ready to give up my life for Cairo. I will do my best to carry out the mission perfectly.”

He didn’t hesitate to answer. And so the final decision fell on Roman Dmitry.

Daniel Cairo looked at Roman Dmitry and asked him,

“I think Count Fabius is the right person for this job. What do you think, Roman Dmitry?”

The meeting was over. Roman Dmitry, who was given a day to decide, walked with Count Fabius.

Tak.

And then he stopped walking. In a place far away from people, Roman Dmitry looked at Fabius.

“Tell me what you want.”

A Count and an heir to a noble family—even though the difference in their status was clear, both Roman Dmitry, who treated him normally, and Count Fabius, who listened to him, accepted the situation naturally. Ever since Count Fabius took the lead in punishing the nobles, regardless of their status, they naturally acted like a Lord and a subordinate.

The plan was laid out. Count Fabius lowered his head and said,

“In the last battle, I had the honor of standing as the vanguard for Roman Dmitry. It may be that I am being greedy, but I don’t want our relationship to have an abrupt end. This Fabius wants to live for Roman Dmitry. Please consider my act as an envoy to be an expression of my loyalty to Roman Dmitry.”

There was a rope in front of his eyes, and Count Fabius grabbed it tightly. Knowing all too well the negative prejudice against him, his loyalty was a little different from other people’s.

“I will not deny that I am a defector. No matter how much I prove my abilities and pledge allegiance, the basics will not change that. People say a person who has defected once is likely to do so again. I cannot predict the future either. Unlike the rest of Roman Dmitry’s followers, I cannot ask you to trust me blindly either, but I will take this chance to show you.”

He looked at Roman, and with determined eyes, he put strength into his voice.

“I don’t want to be treated the same way as the people that Mr. Roman Dmitry trusts. However, please use the man named Count Fabius in the future. Anything is fine. I am fine with being used as an envoy this time, and if you order it, I will even hug straws of rice and jump into a pit of fire. I will prove that I am not just a being who follows orders but a useful being who executes them properly. Promise me just one thing in return. Please be my support for wealth and honor, and as long as I get to live by your side, I am ready to do anything.”

Fabius’s proposal was straightforward. Rather than the normal relationship between a Lord and a subordinate, he wanted an exchange. If Roman Dmitry remains in power unless he falls down like Marquis Benedict, Fabius said he would be useful to Dmitry until the end.

‘Count Fabius’s decision is not accidental. He experienced war with me, and in the process, he learned what kind of person I am. He found out that instead of a one-sided feeling towards me, he wanted a relationship with benefits.’

It was ideal and fun. On the fierce battlefield, while Roman Dmitry swung his sword at the enemies, Count Fabius looked at Roman alone—how he behaved, what values he had, and what standards his relationships with those who followed him were formed by.

There were various characters, and they had different reasons for their allegiance. Chris hoped for power beyond Roman Dmitry, Kevin expressed his blind loyalty to the savior of his life, and Henderson longed for Roman Dmitry, who defeated the Blood Fang.

It wasn’t just an emotional exchange. Even Volkan and Pooky, both former mercenaries, were satisfied with the benefits they received from Roman Dmitry, and everyone had their own reasons to follow him.

He was sure of it. Roman Dmitry was at the center of everyone. Count Fabius knew right then how important it was to build a relationship with Roman and how to maintain a relationship that benefited him.

If….. If Roman Dmitry was similar to Benedict, Fabius would have put on a fake face and cried out his loyalty, but Roman was not Benedict. He honestly emphasized a mutually beneficial relationship.

Tak.

“Please accept me.”

He was on his knees. He bowed his head and let go of his pride. The more he looked at him, the more he liked him. The appearance of having a solid foundation to lead someone—this was the answer he had been searching for.

“Count Fabius.”

He raised his head. Seeing him look up, Roman Dmitry showed an unwavering gaze.

“From now on, you are one of my people, and you will enjoy everything you want.”

A few days later, after completing all the preparations, Count Fabius joined the delegation and headed for the Kronos Empire. They were running out of time. There was a time limit of ten days, so it was a bit of a forced march, but the delegation had no choice but to hurry.

While moving, a member of the delegation and a noble who followed the King asked,

“Count Fabius. How on earth can you survive betraying someone you love? I honestly don’t understand. Even if you sometimes fail, you have to succeed dozens of times to be recognized, and Roman Dmitry isn’t the type to tolerate failure. Most of all, didn’t you survive by moving to another powerful side this time too?”

It was an honest question, to which Fabius answered with a smile,

“There is something that people misunderstand. There is romance in betrayal.”

“Romance?”

“Yes. The so-called renegades tend to stick around without a solid spine and only seek gain. Such beings have no right to swear allegiance. Those in power already have people who have devoted themselves to them, but how can they survive if there are no such people among them?”

Driving his horse and looking through the plains, he thought of Roman Dmitry.

“That is why I always give my heart. Despite knowing that a man named Fabius was a traitor, he asked me to prove my worth so he wouldn’t abandon me. It is a simple thing. There are people willing to risk their lives. If a person dares to make a decision that even the most loyal people would hesitate to make, but that person has a past of being a traitor, would the part about him being a traitor be the only thing you decide to listen to? For that one reason alone?”

“….no, I will probably keep him by my side and use him.”

“That’s right. You will use him. That one chance is how a traitor becomes a follower.”

Actually, their relationship wasn’t completely sincere. It was true that he was sincerely carrying out the orders, but that was what the other person wanted.

However, Roman was different. For the first time, he didn’t put on a mask and speak of loyalty, and Fabius mustered up the courage to speak about a mutually beneficial relationship.

‘I also don’t like this life of betrayal. If Marquis Benedict had stayed in power for the rest of his life, I would have stuck with him. The reason I live a life of betrayal is that there has been no one to whom I wanted to give my loyalty to. And Roman Dmitry is someone who is different from the others I had experienced with.’

It could be a hasty thought, but Count Fabius thought that he might have found someone to serve for the rest of his life.

The Capital of the Empire.

They had arrived in Alexander. Count Fabius, who was visiting the Empire for the first time, was shocked as he looked at the castle’s gate.

‘… is this an empire?’

There was a huge castle, and the scenery inside was shocking. The magnificent buildings, which couldn’t be seen in Cairo, and the strong-looking guards on the other side of the roads gave him goosebumps.

He scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes, and this proved just how powerful the empire was. It was so different from Cairo. Daniel Cairo was swayed by the nobles, but Kronos was a nation that respected the Emperor like a God.

“Follow me.”

They passed through the gate, escorted by a knight. The pattern on his forearm proved that he was a member of the 7th Knight Troops, and yet the force this man held was unique. Every time their eyes met, it felt so intense that he gasped for breath.

Even if Count Fabius wasn’t a great swordsman, he could at least guess whether or not the other person was a strong being. He was sure of it—the Imperial Knights were stronger than Count Nicholas. He couldn’t be certain if the existence called Cairo’s First Sword could rival this man.

‘I have now entered an extraordinary world.’

His mouth felt dry. He hadn’t even met the Twelve Swords of the Continent yet. If he had been tasked to be his guide, then he was surely just a gatekeeper, but that alone completely overwhelmed Count Fabius.

And the reason why the envoy of Cairo was now in Kronos popped into his mind. Roman Dmitry took Gustavo’s life, the leader of the 10th unit of the Knights of Kronos, but such a result didn’t even seem to bother Kronos.

He took a step. As he entered the palace, which was the pinnacle of splendor, he passed through endless corridors before stopping in front of a huge door.

“Your Majesty, the Emperor, the envoy has arrived.”

The door didn’t open right away. It was the Emperor’s place. Even though the knight was simply looking at the door as he spoke, he bowed his head to the door and showed respect.

Even though Count Fabius was loyal to a different nation, he bowed to the huge door and didn’t dare look up until the Emperor’s voice could be heard from the other side.

It was then….

Creak.

The door opened.

Count Fabius, who finally entered the room, trembled at the presence in front of him. It was the Emperor of the Empire. The sight of him looking down from the highest point made Count Fabius gulp.

‘… the moment I slip my words, I will die right here.’

His instincts warned him.

A giant who shouldn’t be touched—that was what Count Fabius thought of the Emperor of Kronos, whom he was meeting for the first time.