What? I Actually Reincarnated As Stepping Stone In Another World?



"This is madness! I never anticipated David's strength to reach such unparalleled heights!" Arthur exclaimed, his disbelief robbing him of his composure.

It all seemed surreal, akin to a dream.

Nevertheless, he was acutely aware that the voice's proclamation held unwavering truth.

"Curse it all! If events unfold as described, I'll need to extensively revise my entire strategy!"

"It's highly probable that the southern region will bear the brunt of the initial thrust in this war." Arthur muttered to himself, and just then, the voice once again addressed him.

"Don't be taken aback just yet, for I have even more astounding news!" The voice exclaimed, deepening Arthur's sense of unease.

"What is it? Don't delay; tell me at once!" Arthur implored the voice, prompting it to divulge with an air of apprehension.

"Another piece of news is that the Savaran emperor has dispatched millions of troops to the northern regions, targeting areas where the defense is relatively weaker!" As the voice elaborated, Arthur's shock deepened, evident from the crease that appeared on his forehead.

"Are you implying that Emperor Savaran has altered his strategy, bypassing a direct confrontation with David and instead redirecting his assault towards the northern regions?" Arthur listened intently, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

"Exactly! Based on the most recent intelligence, those millions of troops are en route to the North, and the surveillance networks of the three prominent clans only picked up their movement when they were already closing in on the North!" The voice paused, allowing Arthur to absorb the gravity of the situation.

Lowering his head, Arthur rested his chin in thought, grappling with the puzzle embedded within the revelation.

"How could an army of that magnitude mobilize without any prior detection?" He inquired tentatively and puzzled over the methods employed by Emperor Savaran.

This peculiar situation raised both curiosity and confusion in Arthur's mind regarding the methods at play.

In response to Arthur's query, the voice hesitated momentarily, grappling with whether to offer an explanation.

"Why the silence?" Arthur inquired, his tone reflecting a touch of irritation.

After a deep breath, the voice cautiously addressed Arthur.

"I can share the information with you, but I implore you not to disclose it to anyone, as my existence might be at risk if you do." The voice's words conveyed hesitancy and apprehension.

Arching an eyebrow, Arthur folded his arms across his chest.

"Go ahead and tell me. Rest assured, I'm not foolish enough to jeopardize your well-being." Arthur reassured it, exuding confidence.

With a slight exhale, the voice chose to place trust in Arthur's words.

"Young Master Arthur, are you acquainted with the Light Eaters organization?" The voice's inquiry prompted Arthur's eyes to widen and his heart to race with intensity.

"What are you implying?" Arthur's palms clenched, and a fine sheen of sweat formed on his forehead.

The shift in Arthur's demeanor didn't go unnoticed by the voice, which deduced that Arthur might indeed possess knowledge about the matter.

"Based on intelligence gleaned by the Asvold family's network, indications suggest that the organization maintains some form of connection with the Savaran Empire," the voice revealed.

"Connected? How is that possible? Wasn't that organization eradicated?" Arthur pondered inwardly, grappling with the implications and struggling to formulate a response.

However, before he could delve further, a sudden embrace enveloped him.

"Arthur!" The figure embracing him was none other than Lucia, her hold from behind pressing her face against his back.

"Lucia?" Arthur's surprise was palpable, as he was caught off guard.

He swiftly disengaged from the voice's discourse, pivoting his body so that Lucia could shift her embrace, her arms now encircling him from the front.

"Are you finished?" Arthur instinctively inquired as he assessed Lucia's empty hands, which presumably had held something dispatched to the carriage by the palace maid.

"Hehehe! Indeed!" Lucia's response was accompanied by a gentle smile, her head finding a resting place against his broad chest.

Arthur exhaled softly, his fingers tenderly tousling her hair.

"Perfect, then," he acknowledged, though Lucia couldn't help but perceive an undertone of something amiss.

"Is something on your mind, Arthur?" Lucia released her hold, her curiosity prompting her to ask.

In response, Arthur shook his head, offering a faint smile.

"Don't worry, everything's fine," he reassured Lucia in a soothing tone.

As Lucia peered into Arthur's eyes, she detected no trace of deceit, prompting her to offer a nod.

"Well, if you're alright, then I'm content," Lucia responded, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

In the exchange of smiles and conversation about their next steps, their interaction was suddenly interrupted by the approach of a bodyguard.

"Reporting, Your Highness Princess, and Young Master Arthur," the bodyguard addressed them with deference.

Observing this, Lucia regarded him with mild interest, her expression unchanged.

"Is there an issue?" Lucia queried calmly, while Arthur also remained silent, his attention focused on the information the guard was about to deliver.

Having inferred a few possibilities, Arthur surmised that the guard's message likely aligned with his conjectures.

"I apologize for intruding upon your time, Princess and Young Master Arthur, but it is my duty to inform you that the Emperor has summoned both of you to return to the palace," the guard conveyed to them.

Lucia's brow furrowed slightly, her dissatisfaction apparent.

"Why exactly have we been summoned? What could be so pressing?" Lucia grumbled, vexed that her time with Arthur had been interrupted at a critical juncture.

However, Arthur, already privy to the situation, gently clasped Lucia's hand, seeking to soothe her and offering a reassuring smile.

"Emperor Alex isn't likely to act arbitrarily. There must be a substantial reason behind this summons," Arthur remarked, his tone rational and composed, aimed at calming Lucia's potential agitation.

He held concern that Lucia's frustration might trigger outbursts of anger that could disturb her original soul, still slumbering within her.

Absorbing Arthur's gentle and rational explanation, Lucia found herself compelled to quell her annoyance, nodding in reluctant agreement.

"Very well, lead the way," she acquiesced languidly to the guard.

"Of course," the guard responded promptly, guiding the pair toward the awaiting carriage.

...

Meanwhile, within an opulent palace crafted from solid stone and fortified walls, a man of striking handsomeness and robust build rested his eyes upon an enormous throne forged from gold and intricately carved bones.

Before long, a guard bearing a prominent scar across his visage approached the figure, bowing his head in deference.

"Greetings, Emperor," the guard saluted the imposing figure seated upon the throne.

At the sound of the greeting, the man's eyes parted, and he directed an indifferent gaze toward the guard.

"Has news of Don's intrusion into the southern territory reached us?" The man's countenance remained impassive, devoid of emotion.

Moreover, his aura exuded a commanding and profound demeanor, radiating an aura of regality.

The guard did not presume to be assertive. He promptly withdrew a white scroll from his pocket.

"Deliver your report, Emperor! It appears that the incursion into the southern territory has been reported," the guard conveyed with a hint of hesitation.

"Is the news of this incident already circulating?" He queried the guard with a tinge of curiosity, not expecting the war's outcome to have been disseminated.

The guard nodded, albeit with a trace of uncertainty painted on his features, as if grappling with how to articulate the situation.

"Haven't you read it?" The man's gaze turned frosty as he appraised the guard.

Startled, the guard sucked in a breath, taken aback by the intensity of the man's lethal stare.

"Emperor, it's not a matter of my willingness. It's just that the news bears unforeseen developments," the guard sighed before regarding the man with an expression that seemed to seek understanding.

Upon hearing this, a hint of a furrow tugged at the man's brow as he issued a clear command.

"Explain without delay!" His tone took on an edge of severity, leaving the guard little room for further hesitation.

"Our assault on the southern territory has yielded unexpected results—it was a failure." The guard's voice fell to a hush, and a hush descended upon the throne room.

The man's own countenance registered a flicker of surprise, and he drew a deep breath.

"Are you speaking the truth?" The man fixed a penetrating gaze on the guard.

"Of course, Your Majesty! How would I dare to commit such a grievous falsehood?" The guard inclined his head, his tone respectfully earnest.

Hesitating briefly, the man's expression conveyed uncertainty, his fingers absently touching his chin as he seemingly sought a solution.

"How then could our forces and Don be defeated?" He inquired, directing his attention back to the guard.

This question, however, left the guard momentarily at a loss.

His gaze drifted toward the scroll in his possession, anxiety mingling with dread.

Observing the guard's evident unease, the man prodded once more, seeking a comprehensive explanation.

"Emperor... Our troops and General Don were utterly annihilated," the guard confessed, his voice carrying an undertone of fear and desolation.

Upon hearing this, the man abruptly rose from his throne seat, regarding the guard with a mixture of astonishment and incredulity.

"What do you mean by that?!"

The man's furious gaze bore into the guard, struggling to digest the staggering news.

Witnessing this, the guard hastily lowered his head in trepidation.

"Forgive me, Emperor! But this truly is the information I've received from our sources!" The guard trembled with fear, repeatedly prostrating himself before the man.

"Dammit! Leave!" The man erupted in fury, prompting the guard to flee the throne room in terror.

"Frustrating! How could this plan falter?!" The man's hands slammed onto the armrests of his throne as anger etched across his visage.

"Curse you, David! Never could I have anticipated your power to be this formidable!" He muttered through clenched teeth, malice seeping into his voice as he leaned against the backrest of his throne.

"At this rate, the Savaran Empire's stance teeters on the precipice of ruinous defeat!" The man's teeth ground together, his thoughts revolving around whether to recall his forces currently en route to the Northern region.

The dread of encountering a similar fate as Don and his troops plagued his mind.

However, a sudden realization crossed his mind, and a mocking smile curled his lips.

"Ah, I nearly overlooked them..."

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I'm really dizzy! All my chapters are messed up, and I need to organize everything hey~