I Became a Level -99 Vicious Lord

(Commander Cain… Where are you? I miss you today, more than ever.)

Crown Prince Louis Blanc looked towards the eastern sky every day, longing for Otto.

As the war grew more intense, the prince’s longing for Otto deepened.

And no wonder, for the prince had been exhausted from fighting the rebel forces for the past month.

He had engaged in numerous battles, suffered significant losses in troops, and witnessed the horrors of a gruesome war that was hard to bear.

As the war continued, it felt as if even his soul was growing weary day by day.

Moreover, the power balance was so tight that it seemed the situation called for a ceasefire rather than continued warfare.

(When will you come? You said you would be back in a week. Your presence is desperately needed. If only you returned, I wouldn’t even consider a ceasefire…)

So Crown Prince Louis Blanc anxiously awaited Otto’s arrival.

If only Otto was by his side.

He firmly believed that with the Black Legion and Commander Cain, they could sweep away the rebel forces completely…

However, contrary to the prince’s hopes, Otto was not in the camp of the Crown Prince’s troops but in the rebel camp.

“What? Otto de Scuderia of Lota has come to see me?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“But he was supposed to have died a month ago.”

News of Otto’s death had already reached the ears of Duke Alex.

So, to hear that the person presumed dead had come to request a meeting left Duke Alex bewildered.

“Due to internal circumstances, Otto had to fake his death temporarily.”

“Internal circumstances?”

“There was an incident where he was almost assassinated by Knight Camille.”

“What?”

Duke Alex was skeptical.

“Camille? Noble Knight Camille tried to assassinate the King?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Are you asking me to believe that?”

Knight Camille’s reputation extended not only to this remote area but throughout the continent.

So it was natural for Duke Alex to doubt the report.

He couldn’t fathom any reason Camille, would want become ‘the King Slayer’ tarnishing his name and honor.

“It seemed like there were some circumstances.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Let him in. I will meet him in person and hear his story.”

Although Duke Alex found Otto’s sudden visit puzzling, he decided to meet him and hear what he had to say.

***

“I greet Duke Alex, Your Excellency.”

As soon as Otto met Duke Alex, he knelt on one knee and paid his respects.

(Oh?!)

Duke Alex was very pleased to see Otto in such a humble state.

To see a king of a country―not yet, but soon―lowering himself before the king of a neighboring country? It was an act that acknowledged the superiority of the Kingdom of Roshan over Lota.

(You have a good understanding of the situation. To lower yourself even after ascending to the throne.)

Duke Alex’s gaze towards Otto softened a little.

“Are you Otto de Scuderia, the King of Lota?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Well, what brings you to see me?”

“I have come to seek an alliance.”

“An alliance…?”

“Our kingdom of Lota is small, while Roshan is a large kingdom. As a small kingdom, we simply wish to form an alliance with a larger one. In the future, we hope to serve Roshan as our lord.”

“I see.”

“Please do not reject my request.”

“What is the reason?”

“We simply wish to survive.”

“To survive, huh…”

Duke Alex nodded.

“Well, as Lota, you must fear your homeland.”

“Y-yes.”

Otto spoke, his voice filled with fear, just at the thought.

“In my opinion, Roshan’s civil war will eventually end with Your Highness’s victory.”

“Of course it will. Soon, you will see the prince’s head displayed on the city walls.”

In truth, Duke Alex had no confidence in winning the war.

However, he couldn’t show any weakness to Otto, who had come to him first, so he pretended to believe in victory.

(Well, well, that’s something.)

Otto could clearly see through Duke Alex’s true thoughts and inwardly smiled.

The power balance between the rebel forces and the pacifying forces was so tight that it was difficult for either side to gain the upper hand without a significant event.

As a result, discussions about a ceasefire were already underway between the rebel forces and the pacifying forces.

But to hang the prince’s life on the city walls? Such a display of power was unprecedented.

“That’s why I earnestly hope that Your Grace will show mercy to Lota after ascending to the throne.”

“Am I frightening?”

“..I am afraid.”

Otto lowered his body even further, as if he were terrified just thinking about it.

“Can’t you grant us mercy?”

“Haha!”

Duke Alex laughed upon seeing Otto’s behavior.

“Of course, granting mercy is not a difficult task. However, mercy should not be given indiscriminately. Humans are inherently ungrateful creatures. If they receive mercy without any cost…”

Sly and cunning, Duke Alex began laying the groundwork as Otto came out with a submissive posture.

But Otto was even more cunning and crafty than Duke Alex.

“The grace bestowed upon us by Duke Alex, I will never take it for granted.”

“Hmm?”

“I will fulfill my obligations.”

“Obligations…”

“Duke Alex, as soon as you can ascend to the throne, we, the Iota, will assist you. I hope you will extend a helping hand to us.”

“Extend a helping hand… How do you propose I do that?”

“I have an army of 5,000. I hope that with this army, we can be of some assistance to Duke Alex.”

At that moment…

(5,000!)

Duke Alex’s eyes changed.

The current rebel forces have about 20,000 troops.

The suppressing forces had a similar number of troops, so there wasn’t much difference.

But if they could secure an additional 5,000 troops in this tight balance of power…

(With 5,000 soldiers… It would be enough to break the tight balance of power. It’s definitely enough.)

Even if they tear up the ceasefire agreement they had been laboriously drafting, it would be fine to do it now.

“Can you truly provide such a force?”

“Of course.”

“If that’s the case… I willingly offer mercy to Iota. At least for the next 20 years, I can guarantee your safety.”

…He said that, but Duke Alex’s outward appearance and his true intentions were completely different.

(Hehehe. It’s just an empty promise. Once I’ve ascended to the throne, I can break it. Yeah, I’ll leave you alone for about five years. But asking for more than that would be too much. Heh heh.)

Duke Alex had no intention of keeping his promise.

In recent times, the rapidly growing Iota had become an increasingly threatening force to the Roshan Kingdom.

Just like Crown Prince Louis Blanc, Duke Alex also had no plans to leave Iota alone after the civil war ended.

(What a liar.)

Otto was well aware of this fact, so he silently mocked Duke Alex.

“Seeing your sincerity, I will give you the opportunity to assist us.”

“Is that really true?”

“Of course.”

“We are grateful for your grace!”

Otto bowed his head deeply towards Duke Alex.

“We will wholeheartedly assist Duke Alex!”

“Don’t disappoint me! Haha!”

In this way, the Kingdom of Iota formed an alliance with Duke Alex’s rebel forces and faced off against the suppressing forces led by the crown prince.

***

Duke Alex was by no means an easygoing person.

“You will lead the vanguard. I will give you the opportunity to make a name for yourself.”

Duke Alex intended to utilize Otto’s army from the Kingdom of Lota.

Why? Because he wanted to preserve the strength of the rebel forces.

It was a judgment that yielded a win-win effect for Duke Alex.

The most dangerous place in war is undoubtedly the frontline.

If Otto’s army were deployed to the frontline, it goes without saying that they would suffer significant losses.

On the other hand, rebel forces would suffer relatively less damage, allowing them to fully preserve their strength.

For Duke Alex, who planned to invade Lota in the future, there was no better scenario than this.

However, Otto saw through Duke Alex’s intentions and didn’t easily fall for his tactics.

“Your Highness, I am grateful for the opportunity to make a name for myself. However, I cannot do it.”

“What do you mean?”

Duke Alex narrowed his eyes.

“Are you saying that you don’t want to use your army as the vanguard? Even when I’m giving you the chance to make a name for yourself?”

“My desire to use my army as the vanguard is as solid as a rock. But there is a problem.”

“What problem?”

“If our army from the Kingdom of Lota appears, will the crown prince willingly engage in battle?”

“……!”

“Unless the crown prince is a fool, when our army from Lota appears, he will strategically establish defensive lines in advantageous positions and prepare to withstand the attack.”

“That, that…”

Duke Alex became tongue-tied in the face of Otto’s reasoning.

“Your Highness, the existence of our Kingdom of Lota must remain a secret until the battle begins. Only then can we lull the crown prince into a false sense of security.”

“Hmm!”

“You should lead your army and confront the crown prince’s army first. Then, I will lead the army from Lota and attack the crown prince’s rear.”

“Hmph.”

Duke Alex sighed as if he had a bitter taste in his mouth.

However, he couldn’t refute Otto’s words or stubbornly insist on his own way.

Why? Because not only was Otto’s strategy flawless, but it was also logically the right decision.

“You’re right. I will follow your opinion.”

“Your wise judgment is commendable.”

“As for the detailed plan of the operation, we will discuss it slowly.”

“Very well.”

“Oh, but there’s one thing.”

Duke Alex asked Otto, as if something had come to mind.

“Why did you almost get assassinated by someone like the noble knight Camille? What was the reason for faking your death?”

“That is…”

Otto responded as if he had been waiting for this question.

“In truth, the knight Camille is not a noble person at all.”

“Huh?”

“That guy wears a mask, pretending to be a noble knight, but his true nature is even darker than darkness itself.”

“What do you mean? The noble knight Camille is deceitful?”

“That man… is the word…”

Seizing the opportunity, Otto began to fabricate various horrifying and malicious crimes and accusations against Camille.

In the process, he even managed to create a plausible excuse for faking his own death. It was a way to punish the despicable Camille and create a convincing cover story for his own supposed death.

At the same time…

(…Is Your Highness badmouthing me somewhere?)

Unaware of anything, Camille suddenly felt an intense itching in his ear, and he was certain that the culprit was Otto.

In this world, there was no one other than Otto who would dare to insult Camille, who had led a noble life.