Page 369 of The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen

Wolfgang Rui began explaining the operation as they traversed the frozen Western sea.

"Before we proceed with the beast subjugation, let me outline the plan."

"..."

"We’ll divide into two groups."

"..."

"One group will handle the beast, while the other will eliminate the pirates occupying the uninhabited island."

Darbav frowned, interrupting Wolfgang.

"Why should we deal with pirates? The Emperor’s command was clear—to subjugate the beast."

Wolfgang, as if expecting the question, responded smoothly.

"The pirates will interfere with the subjugation."

"And what does that have to do with Desmund?"

"The beast and the pirates are in a symbiotic relationship. The beast dominates a portion of the sea, forcing other ships into pirate-controlled waters. If we start subjugating the beast, the pirates will undoubtedly intervene. They have multiple Aura users, which will complicate matters."

"Ridiculous."

Darbav’s skepticism drew a smirk from Wolfgang, who couldn’t resist a sarcastic jab.

"This arrangement has His Highness’s blessing. Please don’t let it upset you too much."

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Darbav continued walking across the ice. Despite Wolfgang’s backing by the ? NоvеⅠight ? (Read more on our source) Crown Prince, his disrespect toward a Duke was intolerable.

"And who will handle the beast?"

Wolfgang bowed slightly, replying confidently.

"The beast subjugation team will consist of the Wolfgang knights, Your Grace Darbav, the Belian Duke, and His Highness. The pirate suppression team will include hired mercenaries and Desmund’s steward."

Darbav stopped in his tracks and pointed toward the horizon.

"Is it there?"

Wolfgang looked at the blank expanse of sea and hesitated before answering with a nervous glance at Darbav.

"What do you mean...?"

"What’s out there on the sea?"

"The beast."

"That’s what I’m asking, Marquis."

Wolfgang’s uncertainty turned to alarm as he saw Darbav stretch and speak in a low, deliberate tone.

"An age-old debate for the ages: who’s stronger, a Sword Master or an Archmage?"

The conversational tone caught everyone off guard, but Darbav chuckled quietly and continued.

"Isn’t it a ridiculous question? Both are monsters, yet people argue over who’s more powerful."

Turning to the Crown Prince, Darbav asked, "What do you think, Your Highness? Is the Empire’s Sword, Lowen, the strongest?"

The Crown Prince’s silence prompted Darbav to lower his lips into a faint frown before addressing Wolfgang.

"What about you, Marquis? Do you believe Sword Masters are stronger?"

Wolfgang, like the Crown Prince, remained mute.

With a hint of disappointment, Darbav answered his own question.

"Simple war principles make the answer obvious. In battle, you aim for the mage in the rear before worrying about the swordsman in the front."

"..."

"Naturally..."

A distant rumble filled the air.

"...an Archmage is the strongest."

As Darbav finished his sentence, a massive shadow fell across the sea’s surface. Wolfgang, pale, looked skyward, his jaw slack.

"When faced with an unsolvable problem, the first question to ask isn’t how to solve it but whether you have enough strength to tackle it."

A smile crept across Darbav’s face.

"Meteo is always the answer."

The sound of plans shattering was almost audible. Wolfgang stood dumbfounded, watching as meteors descended upon the sea.

The Crown Prince glared at Darbav with wide eyes, frustration and disbelief evident.

"Your Grace!"

"What is it?"

"Why aren’t you following the Marquis’s plan? Don’t you realize the damage this will cause the West?"

"And why should that concern me?"

"..."

"Desmund agreed to accompany Wolfgang, but we never vowed to obey His Highness."

"What did you say...?"

"As per your plan, I’ll head for the pirates. The beast will be handled by my capable steward. Rest assured and follow along."

"But the Duke should—"

"This one spell is enough for me."

Darvab pointed to the sky.

"Meteo. Meteo. Meteo. Meteo. Meteo. Meteo. Meteo. Meteo."

All eyes widened, including Wolfgang’s and the Crown Prince’s.

"You’re sabotaging the operation—!"

"Your Grace, what are you doing?!"

Ignoring the outbursts, Darbav aimed another volley of meteors at the horizon.

"Meteo is always right."

"..."

"No matter what anyone says... Meteo is the most efficient and peaceful solution."

With those words, Darbav unleashed countless meteors across the sky, grinning with satisfaction as the destructive magic rained down.

"That felt refreshing."

The shattered ice bobbed along the waves, littered with countless dead fish.

I glanced back at the group, my voice playful.

"As expected of the Desmund patriarch."

"..."

"To inflict such widespread damage with one spell... Incredible! I should’ve learned magic."

"Shut up," Wolfgang snapped, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Unless you want more than your mouth ripped open."

"Oh my."

"Don’t flaunt Desmund’s backing too much."

"It seems stronger than yours, though."

"..."

The Crown Prince glared daggers at me, likely debating whether he could turn this mess into an opportunity. At the same time, he seemed to consider another solution: killing me.

Clenching his fists, he muttered, "Why does Desmund never cooperate?"

"..."

"Plans only work when everyone aligns with them."

"Perhaps we’re too brilliant."

"Shut your mouth."

"By the way, I wonder what the beast looks like. Don’t you, Duke Belian?"

The Duke flinched at my sudden question but nodded stiffly.

"Yes..."

She recalled her late father’s words.

"Do you know which family in the Empire is the scariest?"

"Yes. As the next head of the family, I should know who to be cautious of."

"Ha-ha-ha! Really? So, which family do you think holds the most power?"

"I’d say the House of Histania. They’re closely tied to the Emperor and the Empire’s Sword."

"True, Histania is intimidating. But there’s a family far scarier."

"Which one?"

"Desmund."

"Why would Desmund be frightening?"

"They see nothing once they lose control."

"..."

"If you provoke them, they’ll devour you whole, leaving nothing behind."

The Belian Duke shuddered, holding her tongue.

"Father wasn’t wrong."

I turned to the Crown Prince and asked slyly, "Why do you dislike Desmund so much, Your Highness?"

"The weakening of imperial authority is the start of rebellion."

"Is that so?"

"..."

"Is that why you wanted the patriarch dead?"

"...!"

The Crown Prince’s face paled, his sharp glare piercing me. I shrugged with a faint smile.

"If you’re making things up, be prepared to stake your life on it."

"Did you think we wouldn’t notice?"

"...Ricardo."

"It seemed suspicious from the start. Ever since the young lady’s incident, the Emperor has worked tirelessly to suppress Desmund’s influence."

"..."

"Yet now, the Emperor offers to return what he took, asking Desmund to deal with the beast. While the beast is a long-standing menace to the Empire, it doesn’t warrant such grand compensation."

"..."

I chuckled as the Crown Prince’s expression turned ghostly.

"You should worry about what happens after you return to the capital."

"..."

"You won’t know where the next strike will come from."

"And..."

"Enjoy the gift we’ve prepared once this hunt is over."

Before he could retort, a white foam bubbled from the sea. I steadied myself.

"The beast is coming."

From the depths of fantasy, it emerged: a massive octopus-like creature.

The Kraken.

— Gwoooooooong!!!

The Crown Prince trembled as he watched the Kraken’s colossal tentacles crush small ships effortlessly.

I pushed the terrified prince behind me and spoke firmly.

"Step back."

— Rumble...

"Thunder."

The subjugation began.

In the Western underground auction house, cries of despair echoed.

"A...ah..."

[Slave: Beastfolk]

"This can’t be...!"

Elicia, ever jubilant, danced with joy at the thought of recruiting new followers.