Knight Lords: Infinite Simulation and the Path of Light

Chapter 97 The Northern Extinction Plan
"What?!?!?! What did you say?!?!?!?!"

Kubasi was somewhat surprised by Havent's shocked expression, not quite understanding why the other party was reacting so strongly. He could only repeat what he had just said.

Having confirmed the truth of what Coopers had said, Haven's breathing quickened, and his expression shifted constantly. He hadn't expected that his casual action would actually bring him such an unexpected reward.

"So you're saying there was a conspiracy in the North, and your elder brother, Grand Knight Yelvin, was a participant in it, and after the mission failed, he became the scapegoat? And then you chose to launch an attack on Windhelm to rescue your brother?"

Although Kubasi didn't quite understand what "taking the blame" meant, he roughly grasped its meaning based on what Haven had said before and after, and nodded, saying:
"That's about it. Back then, my brother sent his men on several secret missions, including my good brother Abimoya. Later, for some reason, he died in Fallen Leaf Town. I even asked my brother Yelvin what happened, but he didn't answer me at the time."

A few days later, he said he would transfer me to the Gamba Fortress and that I should not return until my term was over. On my way to the Gamba Fortress with my troops, I received news from a messenger that my brother Yelvin had been imprisoned on charges of embezzling military funds and forging orders, and would be executed three days later by a military court.

Listening to the information that Kubasi kept revealing, Haven simply sat down on the ground and began to think.

According to him, this meant that the discussions he, his father, and Earl Morrie had in the study were indeed on the right track. It was indeed a premeditated plan against the North. Moreover, the events that occurred at the key points mentioned by Coopersah closely matched the information he had received when he left. Earl Levin had indeed been attacked by unidentified armed forces outside Fallen Leaf Town, and it now appeared to be the troops led by that man named Abhimoya.

Thinking about this, Haven's heart was a little unsettled. The amount of information was quite enormous, but then it seemed that he had discovered a blind spot in the matter.

"Hey, I just realized something. Even so, why did you kill the Lord of Windhelm? Was the Lord of Windhelm involved in this plan? But then you came to Helgen and killed Baron Oliver. Was he involved too?"

This time it was Cubas's turn to be shocked. Who was this young man? He had deduced who was involved in the incident from just a few words he had spoken.

Looking at Havent, who was waiting for his answer, Coopers hesitated for a long time. Considering his current situation, the best outcome would be a life of seclusion in the wilderness, which would render concealing everything meaningless. With that thought, Coopers stopped worrying and began to recount everything he knew:
Actually, as I gradually came to realize, things probably started in early summer (which translates to roughly mid-June), though it could have been earlier. I don't know exactly when.

Brother Yelvin was my direct superior in the Free Rangers, and I had always followed him. We weren't exactly brothers, but we trusted each other implicitly.

After returning from a patrol mission in the height of summer, I noticed that Brother Ye Liwen wasn't in a good state. However, I didn't think much of it at the time. After asking him a few simple questions, and he saying that everything was fine, I didn't think much of it anymore.

A few days later, Yelvin received another invitation to attend a meeting in Windhelm, so he took Abimoya, Tucson, and Toronto to Windhelm. Of course, I don't know the specifics of the meeting, but after the meeting, only Abimoya and Yelvin returned, while Tucson and Toronto stayed in Windhelm.

I pressed them for details several times, but Brother Yelvin only said that they had an important mission to carry out in Windhelm. However, Tussan and Toronto are only mid-level knights, and I still can't figure out what kind of mission they could be carrying out.

Perhaps these things had been suppressed in Kubasi's heart for too long, causing this steadfast believer in Heronis to live in pain and anxiety every day. So when he finally had the chance to speak, he couldn't wait to pour out all the frustration in his heart. Hevent watched Kubasi ramble on and on without interrupting, but chose to listen silently.

During that period, Brother Ye Liwen seemed to have become a different person. He would often beat and punish his close and trusted subordinates. Many brothers were dismissed from their posts or reassigned to other places for various reasons, big or small. During that time, the brothers were full of complaints. But now that I think about it, it should be that Brother Ye Liwen had already been preparing for that.

Then one day, after I finished a patrol mission, I returned to the barracks and found that Abimoya was gone. I asked Brother Yelvin, and this time he didn't evade my question. After hesitating for a moment, he told me that Abimoya had gone to Falling Leaf Town to carry out a mission. I still remember Brother Yelvin's red eyes and his depressed mood.

Ironically, I didn't notice anything unusual at the time, and just assumed that Brother Yelvin was overworked due to his busy military duties.

While I was still communicating with some of the brothers who had been punished by Brother Yelvin, Abhimaya's body was transported back to the military camp. At that moment, I felt like the sky had fallen. I ran over like a madman, tore off Abhimaya's shroud, and found that Abhimaya had died from a lance piercing wound, with two bright, gaping holes in his chest.

That was the first time I spoke to Brother Yelvin like that. Even though Brother Yelvin's face was covered in tears when he saw Abhimoya's body, I still insisted that Brother Yelvin had killed Abhimoya.

We had a heated argument in Brother Yelvin's tent. I asked Brother Yelvin what Abimora had gone to do in Fallen Leaf Town and why we hadn't seen the order from the Inspectorate to send troops.

Yelvin's expression changed several times as he listened to my question, but in the end he didn't tell me why, or what Abimoya, Tucson, and Toronto had gone to do.

Later, I started to get angry with Brother Yelvin because of Abhimaya. I stopped actively looking for him and even increased the frequency of my patrols to avoid seeing him. Now that I think about it, Brother Yelvin must have been lonely and sad in his final moments.

At this point, the burly Knight of Courage was already in tears, like a child who had been away from home for many years and only realized the boundless tolerance and protection his parents had given him long after their deaths.

Haven sighed deeply as he looked at Kubasi. People always regret things after they've happened, regretting that they didn't do this or that. But they don't realize that there's no going back. Every move is made and there's no going back. All you can do is adjust your strategy based on the current situation.

Kubasi cried for a while before calming down and continuing in a hoarse voice.

Later, after a patrol mission, I was summoned to the camp by Yelvin's personal guards. At that time, Yelvin's condition was already very bad; he looked very listless. However, I didn't pay attention to it at the time, feeling that he had brought it all on himself. Yelvin pushed a transfer order on the table to me, which was to send me to Gamba Fortress. Looking at the transfer order, I started arguing with Yelvin again. In the end, Yelvin only said one sentence.

"If you still consider me your older brother, then obey my orders and leave now. You're my last brother. I don't want you to get hurt."

Later, under Yelvin's expectant gaze, I accepted it. Although I had many questions, I didn't ask any more questions because of Yelvin's expression. Afterwards, I led my troops to Gamba Fortress. However, I sent my personal guard captain to Windhelm to investigate what had happened recently.

But before we even reached Gamba Fortress, we received the verdict from the military court against Brother Yelvin. At the same time, the captain of the Royal Guard who had gone to Windhelm to investigate the situation returned and told me that Santu and Toronto had disappeared the day after Brother Yelvin left. He had asked a close colleague and learned that the two had gone north.

At the time, I didn't know what I was thinking. I just felt that something big was going on, so I led the troops back to Windhelm. In the Windhelm prison, I met Brother Yelvin. Brother Yelvin was very surprised by my sudden return, and then he became quite angry. He told me to leave immediately. I wanted Brother Yelvin to tell me what had happened.

Unfortunately, Brother Yelvin just kept telling me to leave. Later, I went to the Windhelm City Lord's Mansion to see Viscount Ulriel, hoping to find out what had happened.

Later, I finally met that stupid dog Ulriel, that damned guy, who insisted that Brother Yelvin had embezzled military funds multiple times during his term and had repeatedly issued orders to arbitrarily move evidence.

Under my persistent questioning about the evidence, that idiot Ulriel said he had a lot of evidence that Brother Yelvin smuggled goods from Helgen to the North. At one point, I suspected that they coveted the control of Brother Yelvin's army and wanted him to join them, but Brother Yelvin refused, so they framed him.

My later conversation with Ulriel made me realize that things weren't like that at all.

That damned idiot told me that it wasn't impossible for me to save Brother Yelvin if I wanted to. He said that Brother Yelvin only had some unfinished tasks, and if I was willing to do the work that Brother Yelvin hadn't finished, then it wouldn't be impossible for them to let Brother Yelvin go during the next trial.

Although I had my doubts at the time, I chose to believe that swine in order to keep Brother Yeliwen alive. When I returned from Fallen Leaf Town, Brother Yeliwen had already been executed by the execution team. I angrily went to find that swine, but to my surprise, the swine said that Brother Yeliwen had originally committed a capital crime and that he had never promised me anything.

At that moment, I clearly understood that these damned guys never intended to keep their promises from the beginning; they were just using us from the start. Brother Yelvin was used and then killed, Abimoya died in Windhelm, and Santu and Toronto disappeared without a trace. Looking at that stupid pig's mocking smile, I silently left.

As you know, that very night, I led my men in an attack on the Windhelm City Lord's Mansion. My thinking was that only by making a big enough fuss could the inspectors sent by His Majesty investigate everything more thoroughly. However, I overestimated my abilities. I never imagined that in just half a month, both I and my men would be wiped out.

As he spoke, Kubasi's face was filled with desolation, and his eyes stared blankly at the night sky, as if he were recalling the last moments he spent with Ye Liwen or the happy times they had shared.

However, on the other hand, although Kubasi's story was very sympathetic and tear-jerking, Haven still noticed some problematic points. He stroked his chin thoughtfully and asked Kubasi:
"Although I don't want to interrupt you right now, it's a sad moment. But there are still a few questions I don't quite understand."

From your recollection, it's clear that you and your brother Ye Liwen may indeed have been targeted, well, by these nobles.
But how did you determine that these calculations were related to the North? While I don't mean any offense to you, Brother Ye Liwen, well, he was in that final period...

"During the timeframe you mentioned, they kept transferring some of your close associates away. Embezzling military funds is hard to say, but is it possible that the transfer orders were made privately?"

Unexpectedly, Havent's words were like a thorn in the side of a tiger, and Kubasi, who was lying on the ground, suddenly sat up.

"You're talking nonsense! Brother Ye Liwen couldn't possibly be that kind of person. When I breached the Windblown City's main fortress, I found some documents in that idiot Volriel's office, and some of the information pointed to Haier and that idiot."

Seeing the agitated Kubasi Haven, he quickly placed his hands in front of his chest to indicate that he meant no harm.

Looking at Havent, Cubas suddenly realized that the other man was his savior.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Will. I! I just got emotional."

Haven quickly waved his hand to indicate that it was alright, and reached out to press on Cubas's shoulder, signaling the latter to continue lying down.

"It's alright, Commander Kubasa. I was just asking out of curiosity. So, what did you find in Windhelm?"

After lying down again to calm himself down, Kubasi smiled apologetically at Havent and the others before continuing:

"I didn't find anything special at that stupid pig Ulriel's place, except for a few letters exchanged with that fat pig Helgen."

They mentioned coordinating the corresponding plans several times. In addition, Ulriel had previously said that Ye Liwen's brother had some military supplies sold through Helgen's route, so I concluded that this matter must also be related to that fat pig.

Later, I led my troops in a raid on Helgen, and then found Baron Oliver at the Goya Baths. That cowardly idiot revealed at the last moment some of the plans that Brother Yelvin had participated in.

I found documents in Oliver's office in the Helgen administration building. There were many records inside, including numerous correspondence between Baron Oliver and Ulriel, as well as some correspondence with other people.

Inside, however, were clearly recorded plans concerning the Northern Territory.

Hearing this, Haven became a little unsettled. He immediately recalled the assassination attempt he had suffered before leaving and the things he had discussed with his father and Earl Morrie in the study. Now it seemed that it was indeed a premeditated and targeted plan to destroy the North.

Looking at the current outcome, it can only be said that everything was a twist of fate, as if it were all preordained. If he hadn't happened to have the ability to anticipate events, the Northern Territory would have inevitably suffered a heavy blow in this round of planning.

"Commander Kubasa, although it may be a bit presumptuous of you to ask this, I would still like to ask you if you have those documents with you? I would like to take a look."

Kubasi looked at Havent, who was looking at him with a serious and pleading expression, and was still puzzled as to why this young man was so concerned about this matter.

But in this situation, he can neither see His Majesty nor the military tribunal. This information is like a piece of waste paper to him.

Thinking of this, Kubasi slightly turned his body to the side, reached for the magic pouch at his waist, and then a thick stack of papers appeared in his hand, which he handed to Havent.

“Mr. Will, although I don’t know why you are so concerned about this matter, I am deeply indebted to you for saving my life, and I have no way to repay you. It’s no problem for you to take a look at these scraps of paper. But I hope you will destroy them after you have read them. Let’s just let this matter pass.”

Looking at Cubas lying on the ground, seemingly devoid of interest in the world, Haven gently patted the latter's chest. Sometimes, the connections and destinies between people seem preordained by fate.

Three heavily wounded warriors lay quietly by the campfire, basking in its warmth. Lori, who hadn't eaten earlier, picked up a large bowl of meat soup and began to devour it.

Havent gently picked up Serena, who was sleeping with her head on his shoulder, and placed her in the tent next to him. By the light of the magic lantern in the tent, he read the information given by Kubasi.

With the soft rustling of the pages, Haven's expression grew increasingly grim and unpleasant. By the time he reached the last page, his brow was so furrowed it could have crushed an ant.

"This is really interesting. It seems that things aren't so peaceful around our Emperor Frederick."

As expected, old man Morrie was right; it turns out there's more than one group interested in us.

However, it's unclear who among the imperial ministers participated, and who exactly this Prince Raven is.

The magical lantern, emitting a pale yellow glow, illuminated half of Haven's face, leaving everyone wondering what the heir to the Highland Ridge was thinking.

After finishing his meal, Lori washed and put the bowl back, then went to Kubasi again. The latter's high-ranking Courage Knight physique had already caused the scar on his chest to begin to scab over.

Lori reached out and gently touched the edge of Cubas' wound, then looked at the latter.

"Mr. Cubasi, does your wound still hurt? Would you like to drink a little more medicine?"

Kubasi, who had been lying on the ground in a daze, turned his head when he heard Lori's voice. Kubasi also felt a great liking for this child who had always been very enthusiastic and helpful to him.

"It's alright, Lori, thank you. It's good enough that you're alive now."

Upon hearing Cubas's words, Lorry scratched his head shyly. Just as he was about to say something more to Cubas, a series of loud hoofbeats approached.

A few breaths later, the entire tent was surrounded by layers upon layers of cavalry.

"Haha!!!! Vistakya, well done! Your judgment was definitely correct!!!"

(End of this chapter)