Reborn As Noble

Chapter 1196: The Shadow Ghost ( 1196 )

Marcellus glanced at Aelius with a serious face.

Cedric put down the document in his hand.

Heres, who had just finished reading and stamped the document, looked at where Aelius sat.

”What do you mean?” Marcellus leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

”Ah~ Brother Marcellus, Brother Cedric. We all went to the Noble Academy before. And if I’m not mistaken...” Aelius smirked. ”You two were special talent students. Which meant you had special access to everything you required...” Aelius paused and leaned back in his chair. ”...including the vast knowledge inside the royal library in the Human Kingdom back then.”

Marcellus glanced at Cedric before smiling. ”Yeah, we did. But do you think a special student back then had extra time to go there? Hmm? Especially when Father put both of us on secret missions before, to keep an eye on those so-called summoned heroes, and not to mention we were busy helping them back then.”

Cedric continued. ”Mm. What Brother Marcellus said is true. We had to keep watching over those summoned heroes, help them with quests, leveling, gaining experience, and all that. That means we didn’t have extra time for reading or checking the vast knowledge inside the library.”

Marcellus reached for his wine glass and took a sip. ”Our mission back then was to ensure those so-called summoned heroes didn’t cause trouble for the people, especially for our nation now, Armand. We had to make sure everything they did didn’t create problems for our people or our kingdom’s stability.”

Cedric nodded. ”Yeah. But in the end, they caused huge trouble for everyone. They blindly sided with the Saints of the Three Gods and tried to kill Liana and Gloria, causing trouble for our little brother, Javier.”

Heres smirked. ”Glad that little brother Javier killed all of those troublemakers back then.”

”Mm...” Marcellus nodded. ”If I were around at that time, I’d have crushed those fuckers without giving them a chance to even lift a finger.”

Cedric smiled. ”Well... the past is the past. They’re no longer in this world, and we, Armand, are already an independent sovereign nation, no longer under the Human Kingdom.”

”Yeah, but still... the problem isn’t over. Trouble keeps coming over and over, all related to the Human Kingdom.” Marcellus exhaled while swirling his wine.

”True. Arjam, Tybalt, and now Mathrias. Problems that we have to step into and fix, whether we like it or not.”

Cedric glanced at Aelius. ”But that wasn’t the main point, was it? You’re trying to divert the conversation.”

Aelius chuckled and shook his head. ”I never tried to divert anything. You all are the ones who suddenly brought up something unrelated.”

Heres exhaled. ”So? What is it you want to talk about? Don’t make us wait or try to be subtle about it.”

Marcellus stretched his arms and leaned back in his chair. ”Go ahead. Tell us. Since you’ve got us curious now.”

Aelius smiled. ”It’s better if we talk about it when no one else is around. I don’t want anyone overhearing.”

Marcellus glanced at Cedric and Heres before nodding. ”Very well. I guess it’s better if we talk about it when we’re having dinner later.”

”Yeah,” Cedric nodded. ”I agree.”

Heres smiled. ”Well... it’s been so long since we’ve had drinks together. Sure, why not.”

”Good. I’ll tell you about it tonight, after dinner.”

”Mm... we’ll talk about it at my house,” Marcellus said while reaching for another document. ”For now, let’s finish this paperwork so we can get it over with.”

Meanwhile.

Mathrias Region.

Mathrias Estate.

The Mathrias guards, who had been under the influence of the manipulation relic earlier, were now gathered in the courtyard, surrounded by Javier’s puppet knights. They sat in groups, their expressions weary and confused.

Garius stood with both hands clasped behind his back. Francesca was beside him, Alf and Erinette stood nearby, and the Armand Special Elite Units formed a perimeter around them.

Rolland and Sylvia stood behind Garius, their heads bowed in shame.

”Rolland...”

”Y... yes... Your Majesty...”

”Look at all your estate guards. They were supposed to be the best, chosen to protect their lord, and yet they were easily manipulated by a curse relic.” Garius’s tone was stern. ”As a lord and ruler of your own region, you should have carefully checked everyone’s backgrounds, ensured their loyalty, and monitored their well-being.”

Garius glanced over his shoulder toward Rolland, who stood behind him, looking down at the ground. ”And yet you failed to notice the infiltration and manipulation happening right under your nose.”

Rolland and Sylvia fell silent, unable to form any words to defend themselves.

Garius shook his head and let out a long exhale before turning his glance toward the Mathrias guards, who were now sitting on the ground, exhausted and weakened from the mind manipulation and control.

He turned his gaze toward Francesca.

”Honey?”

Francesca, leaning lightly on his shoulder, glanced up at him with a calm smile. ”Yes, dear?”

Garius smiled. ”Could you help with...” But before he could finish his words, a soft, shimmering white light began to spread across the courtyard, glowing like stardust as it enveloped the estate. The light pulsed gently, washing over everything with a soothing, purifying warmth.

Francesca smiled. ”Yes, dear? What is it you want me to do~?”

Garius chuckled and shook his head. ”Nothing, honey... nothing...”

”Aw~” Francesca pursed her lips, her eyes gleaming as she looked into Garius’s eyes. ”Just tell me~”

Garius smiled. ”You already did it before I even asked.”

”Mm~” Francesca smiled and glanced at the Mathrias guards, who now looked calm and refreshed after the light washed over them. ”I didn’t do anything, you know~” She looked into Garius’s eyes. ”I just hate filth, and you know that~”

Just as Garius was about to say something, the whirling sound of several mana helicopters grew louder in the distance, approaching the estate.

The Armand Special Elite Guards surrounding Garius and Francesca prepared their mana rifles, while the battle maids moved to cover their king and queen, their eyes fixed on the sky.

Garius smiled and glanced at everyone. ”At ease. They’re our units.”

Everyone nodded, relaxing slightly but remaining wary, their hands still resting on their mana rifles.

Rolland and Sylvia glanced up at the sky with wide eyes, watching as several iron flying machines descended slowly in the distance, landing in another open courtyard. As they touched down, another group of soldiers emerged, clad in the same sleek tactical gear, full-face masks, advanced mana rifles, sidearms, and specialized blades, all moving with disciplined precision.

Alf smiled faintly. ”Your Majesty.”

”Mm... I know, Alf. Our new special elite units, The Shadow Ghost. Equipped with Javier’s latest upgrades in tactical gear, mana rifles, sidearms, and specialized blades, along with other advanced equipment. They’re the best among the best, chosen by us and enhanced by Javier.”

( End Of Chapter )