Reborn As Noble

Chapter 525: A Silver Opportunity ( 525 )

Garius smiled faintly as he leaned back in his chair.

“This move… it creates an opportunity.”

Alf tilted his head slightly.

“Do you refer to the first small town, my lord?”

Garius nodded.

“If my estimation is correct, Javier will secure the second town, establish a base there, and leave the first town behind. No soldiers. No puppet knights. Just his flag and banner planted in plain view.”

He tapped his finger lightly on the desk.

“That means there’s no true occupation—just symbolic claim.”

Alf’s gaze sharpened.

“Then it becomes neutral ground.”

“More than that,” Garius said, voice calm. “It becomes a doorway.”

He looked toward the map again.

“With no troops defending it, and only a personal banner claiming ownership… it offers a narrative.”

Alf blinked.

Realization hit.

“…An opening for the Beastkin Kingdom to enter the war—without being accused of interference.”

Garius smiled wider.

“Exactly.”

He stood slowly, walking toward the map wall again, fingers tracing the route from Beastkin territory into the dwarven borderlands.

“Javier will officially declare war against the Beastkin Kingdom.”

Alf stiffened.

“My lord—?”

“It’s a political maneuver,” Garius continued. “A mock declaration. He’ll sign the scroll using his own blackened Armand banner—distinct from our family crest.

On paper, he becomes a rogue warlord acting without the Count’s authority.”

“And in response…” Alf murmured.

“The Beastkin Kingdom sends troops to take the town, claiming they’re defending their borders or retaliating against aggression.”

“It creates a path.

A clean, legal excuse for the Beastkin Kingdom to enter the region—without directly joining the war between the Human and Dwarven Kingdoms… or the conflict between Halflings and Dwarves.”

He turned, eyes gleaming with subtle pride.

“A narrow gap between diplomatic lines. And that brat carved it open.”

Alf nodded once, voice low and serious.

“…We should thank him for this, my lord.”

“Yes.” Garius’s tone was clear. “He knew how to make an opening for us.”

“He’ll officially declare war on the Beastkin Kingdom… under his own banner. Not as Armand. Not as the Human Kingdom’s vassal.”

Alf’s eyes flickered.

“Then the Beastkin King will have the perfect reason to retaliate.”

“Exactly,” Garius confirmed. “On paper, it becomes ‘King Lioness vs. Lord Javier De Armand.’ Not nations. Not alliances. Just a personal conflict.”

He stepped closer to the map again and tapped the first small town.

“This town—once marked with Javier’s flag—will be ‘conquered’ by Beastkin forces in response to his declaration.”

Alf completed the logic smoothly.

“And with that… Beastkin troops gain legal occupation rights inside dwarven territory—without violating any war treaty.”

Garius smiled faintly.

“No political risk. No formal alliance. No declaration against the Human King.”

He looked down at the chess-like map in front of him.

“Just one brat creating the excuse everyone else needed.”

Garius returned to his desk, pulling out a fresh sheet of parchment.

He dipped his quill into a sealed ink vial, then began writing with precise, steady strokes.

The message was for King Lioness of the Beastkin Kingdom.

Official.

Coded.

And urgent.

When the letter was finished, Garius rolled it tightly, sealed it with molten wax, and pressed the Armand sigil into it—deep and clear.

“Alf.”

“Yes, my lord?”

Garius stood and handed over the letter.

“Tell our fastest Pekko messenger to deliver this to King Lioness—directly.”

Alf accepted the scroll with both hands, bowing slightly.

“As you command, my lord.”

He turned at once, leaving the room.

Garius remained standing behind his desk, eyes on the map once more.

The next phase had begun.

And everything was falling into place.

Meanwhile, in Gilikan town.

Javier stood at the edge of the roof, holding the mana talkie to his ear again.

Nothing.

The signal still refused to connect.

He sighed, tapping the side of the device once before slipping it back into his belt pouch.

“…Still nothing.”

The wind was calm. Below him, the dwarves had just finished reinforcing the foundation of one of the repaired buildings. Smoke from cooking fires drifted gently across the town square.

Javier climbed down slowly and stepped inside one of the newly rebuilt structures—simple, but clean. A fresh wooden floor. A functional wall. A window that actually opened.

He sat down on the edge of a sturdy beam facing the window.

Resting his chin on one hand, he stared out at the afternoon sky.

If I was in Father’s place… what would I do?

He thought quietly, eyes tracing the horizon.

Father always hated wasting time. He’d use anything—even bait—to create an opening. Whether people liked it or not, he’d find the most efficient way forward.

Javier leaned back slightly, exhaling through his nose.

Well, the first small town I took is wide open now. I didn’t leave puppet knights there. Just raised the new Armand banner and flag. If anyone goes there, they’ll see it.

But it has no use. No survivors. Just ruins.

Still…

He narrowed his eyes.

If I ask the Beastkin Kingdom for help directly, that’ll drag them into this war. Not just against the halflings—but against the Human Kingdom too.

And with the way King Edmund is right now…

Javier clicked his tongue softly.

He crossed one leg over the other, still watching the sky.

But… if I provoke them—personally. As Lord Javier. Not as Count Armand’s son. Not as a noble of the Human Kingdom. Then…

He closed his eyes, smiling faintly.

That would give them an excuse.

A reason to retaliate.

And if they “take” the first town in response to my declaration…

Javier opened one eye lazily.

Then they’d have legal standing to move deeper into dwarven territory without officially joining this mess.

He stretched slightly and sat upright again.

Hah… this is exactly the kind of stunt Father would pull.

Then he stood, brushing dust off his cloak.

Alright.

I’ll write it.

A fake war declaration.

He smirked to himself.

Lord Javier De Armand versus the Beastkin Kingdom.

He glanced toward the open banner waving silently over the town square.

This might actually work.

After a moment of thought, Javier reached into his magic storage again.

With a soft pulse of mana, a small mechanical drone unfolded in his palm.

Sleek, lightweight, and enchanted for long-range travel, a one-way drone. Meant for single delivery only.

Javier crouched down and opened the drone’s belly hatch.

Inside, he carefully inserted a scroll.

Not just any scroll, a sealed declaration, stamped with his personal crest.

The wax bore his new mark: black Armand flag, golden emblem.

Official Declaration of War.

From Lord Javier De Armand

To His Majesty, King Lioness of the Beastkin Kingdom

He closed the hatch gently, then activated the flight command.

The drone’s wings flared to life with a quiet hum.

Javier stood and gave the drone a push.

it lifted off and darted into the sky, vanishing above the treeline within seconds.

He crossed his arms and watched the horizon.

“…Let’s hope they don’t misunderstand my intention.”

The wind blew softly across the rooftops.

“Well… I already slipped in a second letter.”

His eyes narrowed.

“That one explains the real plan.”

He turned away and walked back inside the building.

Now all he could do was wait.

( End Of Chapter )

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