He Became the Only Ally of the Abandoned Warrior-Chapter 56

Half of the reason she had come to the capital was to see Lin, and the other half was to make moves against the Crown Princess.

This wasn’t just Ravin’s plan; it was their plan.

"What’s your objective, Lin?"

Ravin’s question was filled with both concern and caution.

Concern for Lin and wariness about the scheme he was plotting.

Lin shrugged his shoulders and calmly replied.

"To prevent Reinhold from intervening."

Lin then conveyed his instructions to both Ravin and Lucy.

"We know all too well what kind of person Lina Sien is."

"Of course."

"Provoke her impatience, one of her greatest weaknesses."

"She has so many flaws, they’re like a cluster of grapes."

Even Lin, who had once been in love with Lina, couldn’t deny this fact.

In any case, Ravin agreed to the plan.

"Lucy."

"Yes?"

"Whatever happens next, whoever tells you to stop is the culprit."

"Huh?"

Lucy tilted her head in confusion, and Ravin chuckled as he chimed in.

"That’s Lin’s way of giving cryptic instructions when things are too complicated to explain."

"Oh, I see."

Whatever the case, Lucy only needed to faithfully follow Lin’s orders.

As Lucy memorized the instructions, Ravin pressed Lin further.

"So you’re saying that no matter what happens, it’s all part of your plan?"

"That’s right."

"No matter what happens?"

"No matter what happens."

"Does that include you getting hurt?"

Lin briefly reflected on Mr. Lee’s memories from his past life and shook his head.

Strictly speaking, it didn’t seem like he would get hurt.

"I won’t get hurt. And besides, I have the charm you gave me."

Lin tapped the pouch containing the necklace with the ponytail, causing Ravin’s face to flush red.

In contrast, shadows fell under Lucy’s eyes.

"Good. I’ll head out right away."

"Now?"

"No point in dragging it out. It’s not like I’m meeting Lina because I like her. The sooner I finish this job, the better."

As expected, Ravin was reliable.

He pulled out goggles from his inventory and put them on, while Lin opened the window to the room.

"Aren’t you going out through the door?"

Lucy asked, to which Ravin smiled and disappeared like a mirage.

"That’s what an unofficial visit looks like."

Without a trace of movement, Ravin vanished from his previous position as if someone had pressed a delete button, leaving Lin and Lucy impressed.

"Ravin’s skills are really something."

"Yes, not even that elf could match his stealth."

Now that Ravin had left, it was time for them to get to work.

"Are you going to keep moving, Lin?"

"Of course."

The main event was in two days, and the imperial palace was a place full of many rooms and hidden spaces.

The timing and location were perfect.

"Today’s goal is a 100% map clear."

He intended to scour every nook and cranny, gathering all the items he could find.

That’s the attitude of a true player.

The Crown Princess was reading a book on imperial governance.

It was a very thick book, but she was nearly done with it after only three days.

Even in Filthy Alley, she had never let go of her books.

Her belief that amassing knowledge would undoubtedly place her above others in terms of power and influence had always been firm.

The more she read, the more Lina Sien wanted to boast about the knowledge she gained to Reinhold.

However, Reinhold had temporarily returned to his family estate to search for a way to restore the sacred shield, "The Unscarred Rock," an item granted to him by the goddess.

Their reunion wouldn’t happen until the Grand Conference in two days.

Indeed, this revealed an important fact.

If Lin had just closed his eyes and pushed through, he could have met Tigrea today.

Since Reinhold had returned home, the magician had no reason to remain by his side and was expected to stay in his room until the conference.

"Sigh, if only I could send him a letter…."

Lina Sien’s sigh wasn’t just about simple longing.

She needed to discuss the important matters they had to address, including the progress of the Grand Conference.

Among these, the timing of her engagement to Reinhold was especially crucial.

Reinhold’s engagement to Lucy had only ended yesterday.

Even Reinhold hadn’t expected the Hero to return alive, so he assumed the engagement had been automatically annulled with Lucy’s death and had been too preoccupied with the demon outbreak to pay it any mind.

Then, after securing the Hero, who had survived through many trials, the Hero made an official announcement of the engagement's annulment as soon as she arrived at the imperial palace.

Despite being a brute who only relied on strength, the Hero had handled that part well.

But then, Lucy immediately killed the knight who had struck the porter, further irritating the Crown Princess.

Anyway, Reinhold was now free from any marital obligations.

It was only natural that she, who had been cultivating a romantic atmosphere with him for some time, should set a date for their engagement ceremony.

Knock knock.

A knock on the window interrupted Lina Sien from her many thoughts.

However, the knock came from the window.

‘Is it Reinhold’s raven?’

Hoping it was a messenger pigeon, the Crown Princess looked up and instead found Ravin hanging from the large window, grinning widely as he took off his goggles.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Our dignified Crown Princess screamed and fell backward.

She even gave Ravin a full view up her skirt.

The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.

"Wow, is that a thong?"

Always prepared, it seems.

Ravin was impressed.

"I’ve learned something."

He was genuinely sincere.

Hearing the scream, attendants and knights rushed in, but not wanting to show herself in such an undignified state, Lina Sien dismissed them all, saying it was nothing.

"How are you still alive?"

The Crown Princess hurriedly let the thief inside, not wanting anyone to see, and asked without offering him a seat.

Ravin’s grin vanished in response.

"You go straight for the sore spot."

"A sore spot?"

"More than just a sore spot, since I barely survived."

With exaggerated gestures, Ravin crossed his arms and put on a disgruntled expression.

"Your single order led to the death of all our comrades, with whom I’d been together for over ten years. Even Lee…."

"Lee?"

"Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten."

From Ravin’s reaction, Lina Sien realized she didn’t know about Lee, or rather, Lin.

A bit clumsy, isn’t she?

Then again, she probably never imagined Lee could have survived.

Realizing she had a useful card in her hand, the Crown Princess relaxed and responded more confidently.

"So, what? Have you come to avenge Lee?"

"I’d like to, but the world doesn’t work that way."

"So?"

"Who would have thought you were a woman with royal blood? I thought you were just a country noble at best."

She delighted in his frustration.

Yes, this is how it should be.

You should feel powerless and frustrated, realizing you can’t resist my status and cunning.

And knowing this well, Ravin closed his eyes tightly and spat out in a defeated tone.

"I admit it. I, Ravin the Thief, always won in battle, but in the end, the war was won by you, Lina Sien."

It was a statement that didn’t simply involve rolling over like a dog but suggested that he had once been her formidable opponent, yet she had still emerged victorious.

If Lin had heard it, he would have recalled how often this phrase was used in his past life and would have been impressed.

This declaration of defeat greatly pleased Lina Sien.

"Ha, a loser. I’d heard that you’d become the ruler of Valtorcroix. I was looking forward to our meeting. So, what brings you here? It’s not just to reminisce about the old days, is it?"

Even a rotten fish retains some of its former greatness. The fact that someone who had once troubled her in Filthy Alley was now a proper city ruler raised the Crown Princess’s respect for Ravin.

"Valtorcroix is in a precarious state, with two of the three guilds collapsed. We need powerful protection."

"And you’re willing to bow your head to your enemy for that protection?"

Ravin gritted his teeth at her sarcasm.

"From the moment the Holy Nation discovered the alley, extermination was inevitable. The Empire and the Holy Nation were merely the ones who carried it out. And does the world care about cleaning up a dirty alley? If anything, it would applaud."

"You understand well. Indeed, it was the greatest mercy I could offer as a member of the royal family."

This truly provoked Ravin.

He was furious and humiliated.

Everything—the destruction of the alley by this woman and the fact that his composure was shaken by her.

"You should have kept Lee alive. He was the one who followed you to the end."

The Crown Princess found Ravin pitiful.

Both he and Arsil were too sentimental to be of any use beyond being foot soldiers.

But just then, Lina Sien realized she needed a commander of her own.

"Don’t you see me as too heartless?"

"What do you mean?"

The negotiator, filled with vanity, immediately revealed her only card.

"Lee is alive."

"What…?"

"I offered him the position of head steward, but he refused, so I stabbed him with a small silver dagger, just enough to make him pretend to be dead."

"Where is he?"

"Who knows? But at least he’s not within your sight and somewhere in mine."

"Tell me where Lee is. Then I’ll be your eyes and ears."

The leader of the Thieves’ Guild and ruler of a commercial city becoming her eyes and ears was quite an enticing offer.

"You’re getting ahead of yourself. Show me enough loyalty as my eyes and ears, and then I’ll tell you where Lee is."

"Ugh."

"Don’t get any foolish ideas. If you do, I might just have to finish what I should have done five years ago."

"You’ll kill Lee?"

"Oh, was that something I should have done five years ago too?"

Ravin decided to acknowledge it.

Even though he held all the information, Lina Sien had successfully pushed his buttons.

"Fine, but protecting Valtorcroix is part of the deal."

"Of course. I’d be in trouble if the home base of my eyes and ears fell."

"…Keep your promise."

Ravin deliberately walked slowly and heavily towards the window.

Ask me, Lina Sien.

You’re always greedy and never satisfied, aren’t you?

"Wait."

Yes!

As he turned back with a hardened expression, the Crown Princess concealed her mouth with a fan, adopting a haughty stance.

"I’d like to test whether you’re really useful as my eyes and ears."

In short, she wanted some valuable information right away.

This was the moment Ravin and Lin had been waiting for.

Ravin took a deep breath and quickly whispered two pieces of information.

"The Hero, Lucyana Estelle, for some reason, is infatuated with the porter. As you know, she’s even letting him stay in her room."

"Yes, that’s a well-known scandal after yesterday’s incident."

How fitting that the lowly Hero would fall for a mere porter.

They’re made for each other.

"But the Hero is quite bothered by her former engagement to Sir Reinhold. With songs of romantic cities echoing throughout the Empire, she’s worried the porter might get upset."

"Hmph, I don’t care for that song either."

That’s nothing special.

But then Ravin’s next words made Lina Sien quickly change her attitude.

"So she wants to kill Sir Reinhold."

"What?!"

"She nearly did in the Zuramon Archipelago, but the porter stopped her. So, if you want to tame Lucyana, you need the leash that is the porter."

"That vile creature dares…!"

She had to summon Reinhold immediately.

What if that crazy woman stormed into the Central Noble Reinhold’s mansion with a sword?

At least she needed to bring him to the palace, where she could prevent any reckless actions.

How could Reinhold hole up in his mansion, oblivious to the situation?

"Oh, and Sir Reinhold is now completely single as of yesterday. Noble families are swarming him with matchmaking and marriage proposals."

That was the final blow.

"Is that… true?"

Lina Sien asked in a voice dripping with coldness.

"Just today, just before I came to see you, five carriages carrying noble ladies entered Reinhold’s mansion."

"And Reinhold didn’t even inform me of this…?"

The Crown Princess trembled with fury, no longer paying any attention to Ravin.

"How dare… How dare Reinhold do this when I, Lina Sien Carloon, am supposed to be his fiancée!"

"You’re not officially engaged yet."

"What?!"

"You’re only a fiancée after an engagement is declared, right?"

"What does a lowly creature like you know about proper etiquette!"

"Of course, I don’t. But your eyes and ears just gave you two pieces of vital information, didn’t they?"

Ravin leaped to the window and opened it.

"Hurry and take care of this, and make sure to protect Valtorcroix. And leave Lee alone."

Silently leaping away, Ravin made his final farewell.

"I’ll be in touch regularly."

After Ravin disappeared, Lina Sien opened her book on imperial governance with trembling hands.

Where was I? Ah, yes, the chapter on political marriages and power relations….

Snap.

"Damn it!!"

Unable to contain her anger, the Crown Princess slammed her fist into the book.