The Returned Lord Is a Genius of Gun Law - Chapter 15

chapter 15

The Emperor’s Palace

The Returning Lord: GUN Law Genius, Episode 15

Episode 15

Amir.

The capital of the Amir Empire, the most powerful nation on the Amir Continent, Amir was undeniably the continent’s center, with a population exceeding two million within its metropolitan area.

While this might seem modest compared to Earth’s megacities with populations in the tens of millions, Amir’s status as the continental hub remained unchanged. It was a place where all the cultures and advancements of Amir and Earth converged in one place.

At the heart of this vast city stood another small city, composed of magnificent buildings constructed solely for one person:

The Imperial Palace.

The residence of the Amir Empire’s rightful sovereign, the Emperor, and his royal family.

Though the empire had transitioned to a constitutional monarchy after the war, the palace’s political standing remained equal to that of the Parliament building in the New City district.

And then…

“…I see.”

In the Solar Palace, the Emperor’s residence—arguably the most important place in the imperial palace—secret meetings with influential nobles continued as usual.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Moreover, considering the value of the magic stone mine Crocus recently discovered… Baron Crocus has certainly proven his worth.”

The noble who had an audience with the Emperor today was none other than Pavel Armandy, the third son of the Earl Armandy family.

Normally, someone without a title like him would never have been granted a private audience with the Emperor, but today was different. The Emperor had shown particular interest in what Pavel, as the witness to Crocus and Primrose’s great duel, had to report.

“Yet you said Primrose discovered the mine first. Crocus merely claimed it was on his own territory.”

The Emperor, after hearing Pavel’s entire story, wore a dismissive expression.

“Can simply finding something on your own land truly prove its value?”

“……”

Pavel could not answer. He could have argued, but challenging the Emperor was not wise.

“Hmm, you may leave now.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Without further comment, Pavel retreated from the throne room and left the Emperor’s quarters.

But instead of returning home, he took a different path.

After walking for about five minutes, he arrived at another building within the palace.

Unlike the majestic Sun Palace, this was a modest palace adorned with a warm garden and charming decorations. Pavel approached it with measured steps.

“Enter.”

When Pavel presented the imperial decree granted by the palace’s master to the guard at the gate, the guard lowered his spear, which had been blocking the way, and stepped aside respectfully.

Pavel didn’t pause, continuing into the palace.

Soon, he knelt on one knee before the woman waiting for him in a chair, lowering his head.

“I pay my respects to Her Highness the Princess.”

At these words, the first princess, Isabella von Zaren Amir, nodded silently and gazed intently at Pavel as he raised his head.

Soon, Pavel understood her intent and spoke.

“I had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor. He inquired about Baron Eugene Crocus, whom I mentioned to Your Highness previously.”

Eugene Crocus.

The moment that name left Pavel’s lips, Isabella’s eyes changed.

Soon, a faint voice emerged from her lips.

“What did he say?”

“He didn’t seem particularly interested. Still, he’s the first lord from Earth. Honestly, I expected Your Majesty to at least say a few words.”

As Pavel, initially stiff but now scratching his head in awkwardness, spoke, Isabella nodded and continued. “What about the other royals?”

“Similar. They either didn’t know of his existence at all, or if they did, they showed no interest. They seem to view him as just another new lord in the borderlands.”

“I see.”

After hearing Pavel’s explanation, Isabella nodded calmly. But her eyes, unlike before, were now filled with hope.

It was then that the princess spoke. “So… we’re the only ones who recognize his true value.”

“That is correct, Your Highness.”

Pavel, responding to her words, also wore a smile.

“A lord from Earth… having been born and raised there, he must know it better than anyone. I don’t know why the Crocus lineage reached that far, but we don’t need to know that. What matters is that he’ll be a great help to Her Highness the Princess.”

“Indeed,” Isabella nodded and opened her mouth.

“If it’s him, he’ll be able to revive those things.”

Beruf, the chief butler of Baron Crocus’s household, was banished for embezzling the domain’s funds.

Under normal circumstances, he would have deserved execution without complaint, but his life was spared in exchange for returning most of the embezzled wealth.

Of course, he wasn’t sent away with any kindness.

Sizzle!

“Ugh…”

A red-hot iron pressed against the former butler’s forehead, and a horrific scream tore from his gagged mouth, accompanied by the stench of burning flesh.

Seconds later, a dark crimson brand was seared into his forehead—the mark of a criminal in the domain.

“Ugh…”

With that brand on his forehead, he’s as good as dead.

Amidst the horrific screams and the smell of burning flesh, Yujin watched the entire process from beginning to end.

To him, it was nothing more than another gruesome sight he had witnessed countless times before.

This kind of punishment was abolished long ago on Earth due to human rights issues.

With the brand of a criminal burned onto his forehead, he would likely never find work, let alone a place to sleep, no matter where he went.

Perhaps there was a chance in the black market on the opposite side of the empire, but it was clear he wouldn’t be able to use even a teleportation array to get there.

Given his advanced age, it was safe to assume he was destined to wander aimlessly until he died alone.

Of course, that didn’t mean he felt any pity.

After all, his opponent was clearly connected to the assassins who had tried to kill him.

“Ugh…”

If you take another’s life, you must stake your own.

After a moment, Eugene watched Beruf leave the territory, weeping bitterly as if realizing his fate. He turned to Leon, the captain of the knights.

“How is the knights’ training progressing?”

“They are currently mastering the basic stances you taught us, my lord. At this rate, they should be proficient in all stances by the end of the week.”

“Good. We’ll begin firearm training next week. Don’t forget that you’ll be teaching the soldiers.”

“Of course, my lord.”

Though a trace of displeasure remained in Leon’s lowered eyes, Eugene chose not to comment.

In time, he’ll see how useful firearms are.

While it’s said that true craftsmen don’t discriminate against their tools, it’s also true that the best craftsmen recognize the value of superior tools.

It was self-evident that they, as human weapons whose entire bodies were as deadly as any weapon, would surely realize this truth.

“My Lord,” the Knight Commander Leon spoke, “if you’ll permit me to say so, wouldn’t it be beneficial for you to train a little as well?”

“You mean learn swordsmanship? I would have refused that, of course.”

“Ah, that’s not what I meant.”

At Eugene’s frown, Leon quickly shook his head and continued, “I was referring not to swords, but to Aura.”

“Aura?”

“While it may be difficult to achieve significant results due to your late start, cultivating Aura would at least grant you a more robust physique than you have now.”

“Hmm.”

Surprised by Leon’s suggestion, which differed from what he’d expected, Eugene stroked his chin.

Aura.

The energy the Amirs wielded, a branch of magic, was primarily used by those who handled weapons, such as knights and soldiers. It was a combat-specialized power that enhanced physical strength and endurance and sharpened the senses simply by accumulating it in the body.

Naturally, the world’s great powers coveted this power for military use, but humans couldn’t wield magic. This was why Eugene, despite knowing of magic and aura, had never attempted to learn them until now.

But… that’s different now.

To be of Amir blood, not human, meant he could potentially possess the magic that only Amir humans could wield. It meant he could also wield the superhuman power used by Amir’s gifted individuals, known as knights and mages.

“We’ll discuss that later.”

“Understood, Lord.”

But that wasn’t his immediate concern.

What mattered more was establishing the new butler.

His gaze fell upon the young man standing in the corner, shoulders slumped, waiting for him.

“Butler.”

“Yes, my lord!”

“What was your name again?”

“Crawford, my lord.”

The young man’s voice trembled with fear, which was slightly irritating, but Eugene decided to overlook it for now.

Apart from the just-banished Veruf, Crawford was the most experienced butler in the territory, so it was understandable.

“I expect you to do better than your predecessor. Don’t end up like him.”

“I, I will keep that in mind, my lord!”

Crawford’s face turned deathly pale, as if he had just remembered what had happened to the previous steward.

“So, what is it?”

Clucking inwardly at the trembling steward, Eugene asked what business had brought him here.

“It’s about the development of the magic stone mine…”

“You’re not going to tell me we’re short on funds, are you?”

“Of course not. The gold coins we’ve recovered should be enough to proceed. It’s more that…”

Crawford paused, his face contorting with embarrassment, and fidgeted. Finally, he slowly opened his mouth.

“We’ve recently received reports of elves being sighted near the mine.”

“Elves?”

Elves.

The elves are one of the non-human intelligent races that primarily inhabit the forests of the Amir Continent.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Did they attack?”

“No, but… they’ve been visiting the mine regularly and saying strange things to the soldiers and the villagers.”

“Strange things?”

“Th-those words are too blasphemous for me to say…”

Eugene frowned at the new steward, who hesitated mid-sentence. “If you’re going to waste my time, you’d better say it quickly.”

“Ah, understood. I-I will relay exactly what the elves said.”

Before the lord’s icy voice, Crawford shrank like a mouse before a cat. In a voice as quiet as a dead mouse, he slowly began to speak.

“…Rise up against the oppression of the Empire and the lords, workers!”

“Housekeeper, what are you saying?”

“What you have to lose is the chains on your ankles, and what you have to gain is everything else. Workers, unite…”

“Are you declaring rebellion right now?”

“I-I didn’t say that! I’m just repeating what the elves said!”

The housekeeper waved his hands and made excuses under the glare of the Knight Commander and the Guard Captain, but his words didn’t reach Eugene’s ears.

These troublesome bastards have shown up.

It seemed they’d acquired one of the legacies left behind by the fallen Soviet Union.