Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 345: Greedy Nobles and The Group of Greed

Chapter 345: Greedy Nobles and The Group of Greed

Lord Hektor Ravalos sat in his grand study, a room dominated by dark mahogany furniture, thick velvet curtains, and the soft flicker of candlelight. The atmosphere was thick with the scent of aged parchment and wax. Before him, on the large table cluttered with scrolls and maps, stood three figures—his spies—bowing deeply, their eyes cast to the floor.

The tension in the air was palpable. Hektor’s sharp gaze swept over the trio, scrutinizing every twitch and movement. He had summoned them back from their mission in Grafen, expecting detailed reports on the defenses of the rising barony under the leadership of the infamous Lyan Arkanium Evocatore.

"Speak," Hektor commanded, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "What news from Grafen?"

The leader of the spies, a wiry man named Shade, took a step forward, his voice steady despite the palpable intensity in the room. "Lord Hektor, we have completed our mission and gathered the intelligence you requested." He paused, his fingers flexing nervously as he reached into his cloak to retrieve a scroll.

Hektor’s eyes narrowed as he took the scroll from Shade, his fingers brushing against the cool, aged parchment. "And what is it that you’ve learned?"

Shade exchanged a glance with his two companions before continuing, his tone carefully measured. "Grafen is not as strong as the rumors suggest, my lord. The defenses appear impressive at first glance, but once we observed them more closely, we found weaknesses—gaps in the rotations of the patrols, a lack of coordination between the mercenaries and the local militia, and most crucially, reports of internal strife."

Hektor’s brow furrowed as he scanned the contents of the scroll, his sharp mind processing the details. "Internal strife?" he echoed, his tone laced with curiosity.

"Yes, my lord," Shade continued, his voice betraying none of the falsehoods planted in his mind. "There are factions within the castle that are unhappy with Lyan’s rapid rise to power. Some of the nobles and commanders in Grafen do not fully trust him, and there have been whispers of unrest among the mercenary forces. They fear that Lyan’s ambitions will draw the wrath of the kingdom down upon them, and they are beginning to question his leadership."

Hektor leaned back in his chair, a slow smile curling at the corners of his lips. "So, the mighty Lyan is not as invincible as he appears. This is valuable information, indeed." He drummed his fingers on the table thoughtfully, his mind already spinning with possibilities.

Shade continued, sensing that his master was intrigued. "In addition, while Grafen has made use of strange creatures—living statues, undead forces, and insect armies—they are scattered. The coordination between these forces is lacking, and there are vulnerabilities in their deployment. If we strike swiftly and decisively, we can take advantage of these weaknesses before they have a chance to solidify their defenses."

Hektor’s eyes gleamed with cold ambition. "Well done, Shade. This is exactly the kind of information I was hoping for. You’ve exceeded my expectations." He waved a hand dismissively. "You and your companions are dismissed. You will be rewarded handsomely for your service."

The three spies bowed deeply before retreating from the study, leaving Hektor alone with his thoughts. The moment the door closed behind them, his smile widened, a sinister light dancing in his eyes. "So, Lyan... You think you can defy me, rise above your station, and become a threat to my ambitions?" he muttered to himself. "I’ll tear Grafen from your grasp and claim it for myself."

But Hektor was no fool. He knew that even with the weaknesses in Grafen’s defenses, attacking alone would be reckless. He needed allies—other nobles who shared his desire to see Lyan brought low.

Rising from his chair, Hektor strode towards the door, his long cloak sweeping behind him like a shadow. He had already arranged a meeting with two of the surrounding nobles, Lord Verlan and Lady Astoria, both of whom had their eyes on Grafen and the riches that Lyan’s newfound power promised. It was time to set the plan in motion.

Later that evening, in the grand dining hall of Lord Verlan’s estate, Hektor stood at the head of a long, polished table, flanked by his fellow conspirators. Lord Verlan, a stout man with a sharp wit and a love for games of strategy, sat to Hektor’s left, while Lady Astoria, a cunning and elegant woman known for her political maneuvering, occupied the seat to his right.

The table was adorned with a lavish feast, but the mood in the room was far from celebratory. The three nobles sat in a tense silence, their eyes locked on the maps of Grafen spread across the table.

"Lord Hektor," Verlan began, his voice low and calculating, "you’ve called us here to discuss the matter of Grafen. I assume you have information that will make this venture worth our time?"

Hektor smirked, leaning forward slightly as he spoke. "Indeed, I do. My spies have returned from Grafen with news that will change the course of our plans. Lyan’s defenses are not as strong as they appear. The living statues and undead may seem formidable, but they are poorly coordinated. His forces are spread thin, and his mercenaries are beginning to question his leadership."

Lady Astoria raised an eyebrow, her sharp eyes narrowing with interest. "Poor coordination, you say? That’s an oversight I didn’t expect from someone with Lyan’s reputation. Are you certain of this?"

Hektor nodded confidently. "Absolutely. My spies were thorough in their observations. Grafen is in a fragile state, and there are factions within the city that are already beginning to turn against him. If we act swiftly, we can take advantage of the unrest and claim Grafen for ourselves."

Lord Verlan stroked his chin thoughtfully, his eyes scanning the map before him. "It sounds promising, but we would still be facing those summoned creatures—living statues, undead forces, and whatever other monstrosities Lyan has at his disposal. How do you propose we deal with them?"

Hektor’s smile widened. "I’ve already considered that. We will not face them head-on. Instead, we’ll use the internal strife to our advantage. We’ll send covert operatives into Grafen to sow further discord, weaken Lyan’s forces from within, and then strike when they are at their most vulnerable. The living statues and undead will be of little use if his human forces are in disarray."

Lady Astoria tapped a finger against her chin, her eyes gleaming with cold calculation. "It’s a sound plan. But I’ve also had my own spies inside Grafen, and they’ve been keeping an eye on Lyan’s castle. There are... points of entry that we can exploit. Secret passages, back doors—places where we can send our forces to infiltrate without being detected. With the right timing, we could cripple his defenses before he even knows what’s happening."

Hektor’s eyes flickered with interest. "Secret passages? This is news to me. Tell me more."

Astoria leaned forward, a small, satisfied smile playing at her lips. "Grafen was once a seat of an old noble family before Lyan took over. Like many of the older castles, it was built with hidden escape routes and secret chambers. My spies have identified several of these routes. With a small, well-trained force, we could infiltrate the castle and sabotage his defenses from within."

Verlan grinned, clearly pleased with the direction the conversation was taking. "I like the sound of this. We don’t need to engage his monsters head-on. We simply slip in, disable his forces from within, and then march our armies through the gates while he’s scrambling to regain control."

Hektor’s smile deepened, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "Exactly. Lyan may have gathered a powerful army, but he is not invulnerable. He’s made enemies within his own ranks, and we will exploit that weakness."

Lady Astoria’s voice turned colder, more calculating. "Of course, we must be careful. If we move too openly, we risk alerting the crown, and Erich will not tolerate an open rebellion against one of his vassals. We need to ensure that our actions are framed as a response to Grafen’s instability, not an act of aggression."

Hektor nodded, his fingers tracing the edges of the map. "That’s why we’ll use intermediaries—disguised mercenaries, hired raiders. We’ll create the appearance of chaos, make it look as though Lyan’s leadership has led to rebellion. When the kingdom looks at Grafen, they’ll see a barony in disarray, a failing lord who cannot control his own lands."

Verlan leaned back in his chair, his smile widening. "And when we step in to restore order, we’ll be seen as heroes—nobles who saved Grafen from its own destruction."

Hektor’s voice was filled with dark satisfaction as he concluded, "Precisely. And once Grafen falls, the lands and wealth will be ours to divide."

The three nobles exchanged a glance, each one calculating the power and influence they would gain from Lyan’s downfall. The plan was set, the pieces were in motion, and now all that remained was to execute it.

Hektor raised his glass, the dark wine swirling within. "To the fall of Grafen," he said, his voice filled with grim determination.

Lord Verlan and Lady Astoria raised their glasses in unison, their smiles reflecting the same ruthless ambition.

"To the fall of Grafen,"