Chapter 326 - 226: The Fourth Duke?

Having stripped the Mages of anything valuable, Fang Zhen didn’t hold back, taking all the spoils for himself.

Dalia and the others had no issue with this.

It was all spoils of war, and Fang Zhen had single-handedly defeated the three Mages. Not only that, he had protected Dalia and the others, so of course no one would contest his claim to the loot.

The Mages, having outlived their usefulness, were summarily executed.

With the matter concluded, Fang Zhen, Dalia, and the others returned to the meeting room.

The meeting room featured a long table, a fireplace, off-white stone walls, and oil portraits of family ancestors.

Upon returning, Fang Zhen quickly discussed their operational strategy with Dalia and the others, based on the new information they had acquired.

"The situation is better than we expected," Fang Zhen began, getting straight to the point. "We’ve learned something important: Duke Tarrenno doesn’t want land. He’s no good at managing it. He just wants money."

He looked at Dalia. "Does land appeal to you?"

Dalia nodded. "Very much so."

She continued, "Land and wealth both require time and energy to manage before they yield generous returns. I’m much better at that than I am at marching armies into battle. I was the one who managed all the finances and internal affairs of the Ashton Territory, and I’m confident I can manage even larger domains."

"Frankly, I find the incompetence of Duke Tarrenno and Count Henry pitiable. In my hands, that same land wouldn’t just support its farmers and soldiers—it would generate a significant surplus."

She didn’t say it outright, but her tone was laced with contempt for Tarrenno and Henry.

Fang Zhen nodded. He didn’t think her confidence was misplaced.

Dalia had a proven track record. Besides, managing land was like gardening. Some people kill every plant they touch, while others can make anything flourish—and even turn a profit doing it.

"But that’s all contingent on one thing: no constant warfare," Matthew added. "Years of campaigning would drain the coffers of any Lord, no matter how wealthy."

"That’s true," Dalia agreed, her gaze turning to Fang Zhen.

"How I wish you were a nobleman," Dalia said with heartfelt emotion. "Your military skill and personal prowess far exceed my own. If you were a noble, we would have so many more options to achieve our goals. We could actually hold onto Count Henry’s land after taking it."

"Yes, I wish you were a Duke. That would make things much easier," Matthew added with a sigh. "Unfortunately, there are only three Dukes in the entire Kingdom."

"No, there are four Dukes in the Kingdom," Agatha, who had been silent until now, suddenly said.

Seeing the odd looks everyone gave her, Agatha said, "Did I misspeak? Have you all forgotten about the Sword Saint Augustus Clan?"

"According to the laws of the Kingdom, the Augustus Clan should have inherited the title of Duke, at least nominally."

"Oh, I’d almost forgotten," Matthew immediately realized. "You’re right. There’s the Augustus Clan... if they even exist anymore."

"Sword Saint? Augustus?" Fang Zhen was surprised. ’I’ve never heard of him.’

Besides, the information he’d received for his mission had only mentioned three Dukes in the Kingdom.

"It’s understandable that you wouldn’t know, Sir," Matthew quickly explained. "You may not be familiar with the history of the Zambein Kingdom."

"Zambein’s first king, King Joseph, rose from a border tribe to overthrow the previous dynasty and establish the Zambein Kingdom."

"King Joseph had two powerful supporters who served as his right and left hands. One was the Great Mage of the Cristin Clan—the clan’s founder and the Countess’s own ancestor."

"The other was Leonardo Augustus, the last member of the ancient noble Augustus Clan, who had grown dissatisfied with the old dynasty. He was hailed as the strongest warrior of his time, the undisputed Sword Saint."

"History doesn’t record King Joseph’s own martial prowess, but it does note his Extraordinary personal charisma, which drew a host of powerful individuals to his side. The true powerhouses, however, were the ancestor of the Cristin Family and Sword Saint Augustus. It’s said that without those two, King Joseph could never have established the Zambein Kingdom."

"King Joseph, the ancestor of the Cristin Family, and Sword Saint Augustus are known collectively as the Three Founding Heroes of Zambein."

"After the Kingdom was founded, for their immense contributions, the ancestor of the Cristin Family and Sword Saint Augustus were made the only two Dukes not of Royal blood."

"Oh?" Fang Zhen glanced at Dalia.

’So the Cristin Clan was once that prominent.’

’No wonder Dalia said she had connections among the Kingdom’s high nobility, even if they wouldn’t necessarily help her.’

’Of course she could. Her ancestor was one of the Kingdom’s founders and had even been a Duke.’

Dalia proudly lifted her chin.

She couldn’t help it. Her ancestors had brought true glory to their line. Even in its decline, the Cristin family name still carried more weight than that of any ordinary minor noble.

"Alas," Matthew sighed. "It’s a pity the Cristin Clan eventually fell into decline. Due to political struggles, the title was repeatedly reduced until, by the Countess’s father’s generation, it was merely that of a Viscount."

Dalia’s expression immediately fell.

’Yes, the fall was just too great. How could anything compare to what they once were?’

"And the Augustus Clan?" Fang Zhen asked.

"The Augustus Clan’s case is a bit special," Matthew said. "By Leonardo Augustus’s generation, the line had dwindled to a single heir. After being made a Duke, Sword Saint Augustus didn’t start a family. Instead, he left a letter saying he was leaving to pursue the secrets of the Martial Arts, and then he mysteriously vanished."

Matthew sighed wistfully. "King Joseph was quite surprised, but he respected the Sword Saint’s quest. He made a vow that the Kingdom would forever reserve a ducal seat for a descendant of Augustus to inherit."

"Later, the Cristin Clan’s ducal title was stripped away. To this day, there are only three de facto Dukes in the Kingdom, all of them descendants of King Joseph. As for a descendant of Augustus, one has never appeared," Matthew said.

"Legally speaking, however, the Kingdom has four ducal titles," Matthew lamented. "It’s just that the fourth Duke has never materialized. The title waits, enshrined in the laws King Joseph established, for an heir of Augustus. The current King, it seems, either finds it a nuisance or has simply forgotten about the Sword Saint’s clan, as he’s never amended the law."

Fang Zhen couldn’t help but shake his head as he listened.

’How tragic. An entire ducal family, simply forgotten.’

’But then again, no matter how glorious you are at your peak, who will truly remember or care about you a few decades or a century later?’

Agatha nodded. "That’s why I said that, strictly speaking, the Kingdom has four Dukes."

"But ever since Sword Saint Augustus disappeared, leaving only that letter, his story has become a Legend passed from generation to generation. The family’s Double-headed Eagle Badge has never been seen in the Zambein Kingdom again."

Fang Zhen’s eyebrows shot up.

’Double-headed Eagle Badge?’

An idea suddenly sparked in his mind. He cleared his throat and stood up, drawing the gazes of Agatha and the others.

"When you mention the Double-headed Eagle Badge, are you talking about this?"

A shimmering image materialized in Fang Zhen’s hand, and in the next moment, a badge made of a strange, bronze-like metal rested on his palm.

The badge was emblazoned with the image of a fierce-looking, two-headed bird. It resembled a vulture, its long neck splitting into two, each ending in a head crowned with a white gemstone diadem.

The creature’s feathers were black. Below its body were two talons. The left talon clutched a peculiar scepter, its top resembling an Angel’s feathered wings and its handle like that of a warhammer. The right talon gripped a round, ovular object that looked something like a landmine, on top of which sat a cross-shaped metal frame.

Upon seeing the badge, Agatha, Matthew, and Dalia froze, their bodies going rigid as their eyes filled with utter shock.

They looked as if they had been struck by lightning.

A tremor ran through everyone but Fang Zhen, as if a bolt of lightning had struck them from the heavens.

After a long moment, Agatha was the first to react, her gaze fixed on Fang Zhen with an expression of pure disbelief.

"By Tade! You... could you be a descendant of Sword Saint Augustus?"

"Are you... the one we were just talking about? The fourth Duke of the Kingdom, who can inherit the title?"