Among Eze’s numerous subordinates, Constantine Wilkes was a rather unique one.
Unlike most knights born into noble families, he had once been a mercenary.
During a certain battle, after being saved by Eze, he swore his loyalty to him.
With the establishment of the Hero’s exclusive Holy War Knights, he was exceptionally promoted to become the commander of the order.
Unlike those noble lords who prized their sense of honor, Constantine’s methods were far more “pragmatic.”
Stealth, assassination, backstabbing—so long as it achieved the goal, he didn’t care.
Coupled with a cold, almost pathological composure and combat prowess strong enough to exchange blows with Lia, he became Eze’s most trusted enforcer, often assigned to those black operations that could not be exposed.
The birdcall Eze had just heard came from a specially customized Whistle, used as a secret signal.
At this moment, after confirming no one was around, Constantine lowered his hood, revealing short gray hair and an expressionless face.
“Lady Lia’s team has arrived at Tafia. I’m one of the accompanying personnel. Using the pretext of capturing bandits, I temporarily detached from the team to meet with you, Boss.”
Eze raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Oh? Lia has come to Tafia? What’s she here for?”
Constantine recounted everything that had happened in the camp over the past few days to Eze in detail.
Including Lia’s plan to attack the demon tribe’s homeland, the conflict between Heidy and Lia, and the current state of the knights.
After listening, Eze rubbed his temple with a speechless expression.
“I knew it. Why is she still lingering on the Anlin Plains instead of retreating… tsk.”
“What do we do about this?”
Eze snorted coldly.
“Hmph, what to do? Do you think she has gathered the necessary troops and supplies? No? Then how does she plan to launch an attack? Let her be.”
Teaching people by words won’t work.
Teaching people through experience, even once, they learn.
Lia is stubborn as ever? Then let reality give her a good beating so she learns her lesson next time.
Better than messing things up every day, causing trouble for herself and endangering the entire knights order and even humanity.
Constantine nodded and glanced at the wall of a nearby restaurant, lowering his voice.
“The person who was just walking with you—if I’m not mistaken, that should be the Grand Witch Virlian, right?”
During the earlier battle on the Anlin Plains, cautious Constantine was one of the few officers who remained uninjured, fighting until the very last moment.
He even dragged back a seriously wounded Eze, so of course he had seen Virlian’s true face.
“Yes, that’s her.”
“What happened?”
Eze sighed.
“It’s a long story… In short, Virlian, the demon tribe leader, is indeed dead. She’s no longer an enemy and is now helping me. I’ll tell you the details when there’s a chance.”
“Since you say so, I understand.”
Constantine thought for a moment, then said with some relief:
“Good thing it was me who came, not Kelis Tina.”
“…Indeed. If it had been her, she probably would’ve rushed in with guns blazing without hesitation.”
Thinking of the girl who called him ‘Master,’ Eze could only smile wryly.
“How’s Kelis now?”
“She woke up a couple of days ago and is fine. But after learning you left without her, she made a big fuss and is still clashing with Lady Lia.”
“I knew it would be like that…”
Eze felt a headache coming on.
When he fled, he had considered bringing his trusted subordinates along but gave up after much thought.
He didn’t want to involve them.
Though he was the Hero, he wasn’t from this world.
He was truly alone, with nothing.
But his subordinates were different.
Take Kelis as an example: born into a marquis family in the Empire, with a very high status.
If she left with him, her family might be implicated.
Better to let her go a little crazy for a few days; she should calm down eventually.
There was still one thing to arrange.
Eze exhaled lightly and said seriously:
“Constantine, you know I’m no longer the Hero.”
“Yes, I know.”
“If I want to pull some people from the knights to do something, is that still possible?”
“Of course.”
The mercenary replied expressionlessly, then bowed slightly.
“The Contract is signed with Eze, not Hero Eze. So you are still my boss and employer. There are quite a few others who think the same.”
Their loyalty was to Eze, not Hero Eze.
At least Constantine and Kelis’s direct subordinates certainly thought so.
Even if Eze stopped being the Hero, or actually went over to the demon tribe and became a leader there, they would only hesitate briefly, curse, then follow him.
As for the official captain Lia…
Who the hell is she?
Even those knights who were not absolutely loyal to Eze had no good impressions of her.
Once back at the Holy Capital, it was predictable that the knight order would fall apart.
Eze blushed a little, feeling awkward about expressing himself so bluntly to a man.
The thought was a bit unsettling.
But anyway, Eze now had a clear understanding.
“In that case, when you return, organize a squad and stand by in the eastern part of Tafia City, ready to act at any moment. Remember, not too many, but only the elite.”
“Understood. But what do you plan to do?”
Eze crossed his arms and shook his head gently.
“It’s too soon to say. Just preparing for something.”
Just then, from the nearby window came a soft knocking: knock, knock, knock.
“Sir, sir, how are you? Your companion is worried. Let me check on you.”
Probably a waiter sent by Virlian. Eze had been “escaping” for too long.
“I’m fine, just a bit of an upset stomach!”
He jumped onto the windowsill, called inside a couple of times, then turned to Constantine.
“That’s enough for now. You should hurry back to Lia.”
Constantine nodded, pulling his hood back up.
It was a habit from his mercenary days—he preferred wearing a hood over a helmet, even if the latter offered better defense.
“Understood. Also, please be careful. Lady Lia has already reported your detachment to the Holy Capital.”
“Oh? When did that happen?”
“Around five days ago, after Lady Heidy’s second departure for Tafia. You’ve made enemies among the nobles before, and some of them may take this chance to go after you.”
Eze had been thinking about this for some time. He nodded.
“Of course. I’ll be careful. See you later.”
“Mm.”
With that, Constantine’s figure seemed to vanish into thin air in the alley.
Eze jumped down from the window, clutching his stomach as he awkwardly staggered out of the restroom and returned to his seat under Virlian’s concerned gaze.
“How are you? You were gone so long…”
“I’m fine, probably caught a chill last night.”
As for Virlian, there was no need to hide Constantine’s existence completely, but no need to reveal everything either.
So Eze decided to keep it under wraps for now.
It was a habit developed from two years of political intrigue.
Even though he now cared a lot about Virlian, he still couldn’t fully trust her.
He somewhat despised this part of himself but was helpless to change it.
***
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