Free Web NovelChapter 163: The Trap
Hajin stood in the middle of the Royal Vault, his eyes fixed on the King. He felt completely confused and highly suspicious of the old man’s sudden offer.
Just a few minutes ago, the King had handed him a noble title alongside a piece of land in front of the entire court, which was already a massive headache. Now, he was being offered a private deal in a sealed vault.
’What does he actually want from me?’ he thought, keeping his hands in his pockets while his mana continued to circulate quietly through his body.
He knew he had to be careful. The King was a ruthless ruler who had survived decades of palace politics and assassinations. Getting on his bad side right now would be incredibly stupid, especially since the old man had just hinted at knowing about his mother’s power.
"What kind of deal are you talking about?" He asked, keeping his voice completely flat.
The King let out a short chuckle, turning his back before walking slowly down the aisle of glowing crystals.
"The kingdom of Elurus has stood for hundreds of years," the King began, his tone shifting into something much more serious. "It was built on the strength of the royal family alongside the cooperation of the Great Families. We maintain order, we protect our borders, and we ensure the survival of our people against the endless waves of anomalies."
Hajin just listened, feeling a bit annoyed by the sudden history lesson. He really didn’t care about the kingdom’s history or how the nobles justified their power.
"But leadership is never that simple," the King continued, stopping to run a hand over a dusty weapon rack. "The Great Families have grown complacent. They spend their days bickering over minor territories and hoarding resources, completely forgetting that true power comes from absolute control. They believe they can dictate terms to the crown because they command the largest guilds."
The King turned back to face him, his eyes completely cold.
"I cannot allow that kind of weakness to rot my kingdom from the inside," he said, taking a slow step toward Hajin. "I need someone who is completely outside their political web. Someone who doesn’t care about their bloodlines or their accumulated wealth. Someone who possesses the raw, terrifying power to put them in their place."
’He wants me to do his dirty work,’ he thought, the realization hitting him immediately. ’He gave me that noble title just to throw me into the political ring, and now he expects me to be his attack dog against the Great Families.’
He frowned, shifting his weight slightly. He really hated being used as a pawn, but flatly refusing the King right now was not an option.
"And what exactly do you want me to do?" he asked.
The King smiled, the grandfatherly warmth returning to his face.
"I want you to be my sword," he declared, taking another step forward. "I am officially granting you the title of Royal Executioner."
He stared at him in complete disbelief.
"Executioner?" he repeated, completely caught off guard. freēwēbnovel.com
"Yes," the King nodded, crossing his arms. "As the Royal Executioner, you will answer to no one but me. You will have the authority to bypass the council, the city guards, and even the laws of the Great Families. Your only duty will be to eliminate any threat to the crown, whether it is a catastrophe-level anomaly or a traitorous noble."
The King gestured to the massive vault around them.
"In return, this vault is open to you. The royal treasury will fund your needs, and my personal guard will ensure your companions are treated with the highest respect," he explained, his eyes locking onto Hajin’s face. "You will have more power and freedom than any other Ranker in history."
Hajin stood there in silence, his mind racing while he processed the offer. The benefits were absolutely massive, but the catch was just as big. Becoming the Royal Executioner meant painting a giant target on his own back. Every single noble and high-ranking official in the capital would view him as a direct threat to their lives.
He looked at the King, realizing exactly what the old man was up to. If the King knew about his mother’s power, then it was incredibly obvious he wanted to keep that power entirely for himself.
Maybe he just wanted a loyal attack dog, or maybe he was planning something much worse down the line. Either way, stepping into the King’s trap voluntarily was practically suicide.
’It is way too risky,’ he thought, letting out a slow breath.
"I appreciate the offer, Your Majesty," he said, giving a respectful bow. "But I must decline. I also do not think I am suited for the noble title or the land you granted me earlier, so I would like to respectfully return those as well."
The vault went completely quiet.
The King just stood there, staring at him for a long moment. He didn’t look angry, he just looked incredibly calm.
"I see," he finally said, giving a slow nod. "I understand your hesitation. You are a free Ranker, and I am not going to force you to accept the position of Executioner against your will."
He felt a small wave of relief wash over him, but the King wasn’t finished.
"However," he continued, crossing his arms. "As for the noble title and the territory, it is far too late to change that. I have already declared it before the entire royal court."
The King took a step closer, his expression turning serious.
"Publicly refusing a royal decree after it has been announced will only cause major problems for you," he explained smoothly. "It would be seen as a direct insult to the crown, which would give your enemies the perfect excuse to hunt you down legally. You are Lord Hajin now, whether you want to be or not."
He frowned, his hands tightening in his pockets. The King was right, and it was obvious the old man had orchestrated the public announcement specifically to trap him into the nobility. He had dodged the executioner title, but he was still caught in the political web.
"I understand," he muttered, keeping his face blank.
"Good," the King smiled warmly again, gesturing toward the endless rows of treasures. "Now go ahead and pick your three items. You have definitely earned them."
He let out a quiet sigh and started walking down the aisle of glowing crystals. The system chat was currently scrolling rapidly in the corner of his vision, and it was obvious his viewers were heavily annoyed with him for getting dragged into such a messy political situation.
’This really sucks,’ he thought, swiping a hand through the air to minimize the chat window.
He decided to ignore them for now while he focused on the massive rows of weapons, armors, and strange artifacts lining the vault. He honestly had no idea what he was going to pick, especially since he didn’t even use standard weapons.
He was just about to reach out and inspect a glowing blue longsword when a sudden system notification completely blocked his vision.
[Notice: Items linked to the Goddess of Reincarnation detected nearby.]
He immediately froze, his eyes widening as he read the floating text.
