How to Survive Against Villains Chapter 365

Episode 365 – Upheaval (3)

The leader of the Allied Forces?

At Halyans’ sudden question, Arthur fell silent for a mont. Then he shifted his gaze to observe Fenry’s reaction.

How would she respond to soone calling him the leader of the Allied Forces?

‘As expected, she’s impossible to read...’

Fenry’s expression remained calm. Puffing her pipe, she seed uninterested in the conversation altogether.

Instead of answering, Arthur posed a question.

“Are you considering an alliance?”

“That’s right. We want more than re support—we want solid assistance.”

“Assistance? Are you saying you intend to drag an external power into your civil war?”

Demtor was currently torn by a conflict between two factions: one centered around Modin, the Lord of the Ivory Tower, and the other around Gram, the Lord of the Black Tower.

If either side brought in outside forces, the war would no longer be just a civil conflict. It would escalate dramatically.

Thus, this proposal of an alliance was a highly sensitive issue in Demtor.

Halyans responded with a bitter expression.

“The mont we began fighting Gram to win over Aintrier, escalation beca inevitable. It was a matter of who could sway Azonne’s heart.”

“Now that Azonne is dead, it’s quite fortunate for the Ivory Tower, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. We owe a great debt to the World Tree Alliance.”

Azonne had already sided with Gram. If he hadn’t fallen, Modin’s faction likely would’ve collapsed quickly.

When Halyans expressed his gratitude, Arthur shook his head.

“I fought to survive, not to aid the Ivory Tower. You don’t need to concern yourself with it.”

“No! The Alliance has essentially saved us! Even the Tower Master won’t overlook this favor. I an it!”

Halyans desperately tried to bind himself and the Ivory Tower to the World Tree Alliance. He was already convinced that the Alliance would beco one of the major powers in Hell Gri.

“If I can just secure an alliance with the World Tree Alliance here...”

This was the force that had crushed both Azonne and the Cleaners. If he could convince the man before him, he was certain the civil war in Demtor could be won.

I have to secure him.

With desperation in his eyes, he began persuading Arthur.

Arthur, after a pause, finally spoke.

“Are you even qualified?”

“...What?”

“I’m asking if you have the qualifications to take responsibility for the Ivory Tower faction’s future.”

“O-Of course I do!”

Leaving behind those words, Halyans abruptly rose and rushed out.

As he disappeared, Fenry—who had rely observed—turned to Arthur and asked,

“What’s your plan?”

“What do you an?”

“The reason I had to sit here through all this. You must’ve had one.”

“It’s already accomplished.”

“What??”

As Fenry furrowed her brow, Arthur chuckled softly.

“By the way, why didn’t you say anything just now?”

“Say what?”

“I’m practically being handed the title of Allied Forces leader. Aren’t you concerned?”

“You’re planning to form an alliance with that guy?”

“There’s no reason not to.”

“The team sent to track down Pri Root hasn’t returned. No contact in two days—we still don’t know the results. Supporting Demtor in this situation is unwise.”

“I don’t plan to provide imdiate support.”

“Well, I trust you’ll handle it. Do your best, Leader of the Allied Forces.”

“...Sorry, what?”

Fenry brushed ash from her pipe as if it were no big deal.

“Even if we held a vote, you’d end up being the leader anyway. That old guy’s quicker on the uptake than I thought. Impressive.”

The Hunt mbers and the Forest’s Dortas would overwhelmingly support Arthur. And to Fenry, the man who brought in steady profits wasn’t so bad.

Dornef, now lord of Tobaron, might find it troubleso,

but for the sake of Tobaron’s stability, he’d have no choice but to support Arthur—because Tobaron was already filled with Arthur’s people.

The nobles of Tobaron had once followed Lochter, leader of the anti-Kal Allied Forces.

And Lochter was affiliated with the Hunt.

In short, even if Arthur declared “From today onward, I am the leader of the Alliance” at breakfast, there would be little resistance.

Fenry knew this well.

“Are you really doing it? Becoming the leader?”

“Do whatever you feel like.”

While the two bickered quietly, Halyans returned, panting.

“Thank you for waiting.”

In his hands was a small box, which he opened carefully and confidently held out to Arthur.

“What’s this?”

“These are the seals of the Mage Towers.”

Inside the box were three rings, ornately crafted with jewels:

Modin’s ring, Lord of the Ivory Tower.

Ren’s ring, Lord of the Radiant Tower.

Ella’s ring, Lord of the Blue Tower.

After hearing Halyans’ explanation, Arthur looked down at the seals, slightly surprised.

The emblems of Demtor’s Stars were here. It was proof of how earnestly they had tried to win over Azonne.

‘Looks like the situation’s even worse than I thought.’

Since Grand Duke Clarke supported Gram, it was already an uphill battle.

‘That Grand Duke is said to be a 6-star.’

The only 6-star Awakened in Demtor. With his imperial bloodline and overwhelming power, it was no surprise most mages followed him.

If Gram took control, Arthur would be in a very difficult position—because Gram was no ordinary woman.

To restrain her, Modin had to be empowered.

Of course, Arthur wasn’t about to help for free.

After examining the seals, Arthur asked bluntly.

“What will you give in return?”

“...What?”

“Why do you look so surprised? Is there such a thing as support without compensation?”

“N-No! Of course there should be compensation!”

But it was clear Halyans hadn’t thought that far. He bit his lip and hesitated. Taking over for Sub-Tower Master Nagrok had burdened him with many responsibilities.

Especially now—One word from him could change Demtor’s fate.

No wonder he was overwheld.

Arthur offered a gentle prompt.

“There are two things I’d like.”

“P-Please, tell !”

Relief brightened Halyans’ face as Arthur took the initiative.

Instead of answering right away, Arthur pulled out a book from his robe.

Halyans tilted his head as he looked at it. It was a list of major rchant guilds based in Aintrier.

“What’s this?”

“A list of guilds that will disappear within the next few days.”

“What? Disappear? Who on earth—”

“Demtor’s mages.”

“I’ve already prepared the justification. These are the guilds that helped assassinate Lord Nagrok alongside Azonne.”

Fenry had already completed the setup. All that remained was to unleash the hounds.

Arthur glanced at the hound in front of him.

“These people will soon be ruined by the hands of mages. Will three days be enough?”

Halyans closed his mouth and looked back at the open list.

There were dozens of nas.

As a high elder of the Ivory Tower—a hub for intelligence—Halyans instantly understood who these guilds were.

Most were major suppliers for Azonne’s castle. So were slavers specializing in other races. Others managed Aintrier’s entire distribution network.

In short, they had thrived under Azonne’s protection.

“They’re the ones who grew rich selling witches into slavery, aren’t they?”

“You know your stuff.”

Closing the book, Halyans looked at Arthur.

“You’re saying this isn’t Demtor’s revenge, but the Alliance’s?”

“We’re simply putting new wine in new wineskins. The new master can’t directly strike down the forr suppliers, can he?”

“Which ans...”

“The Alliance already has a solid claim as Aintrier’s rightful rulers.”

With majority support secured.

As Arthur gave a quiet smile, Halyans sighed and nodded.

“...Will this be enough for the first condition?”

“It will.”

“You’ll have your desired results in three days.”

The operation was already prepared. The justification was solid. Believing the rumors, the mages would even welco it as a righteous act of revenge.

“And the second condition?”

“I will take ownership of all the seals in that box.”

“You understand what that ans?”

“These are the Seals of the Stars, aren’t they? Sending them here implies the rights they carry are also being entrusted to .”

By possessing those seals, Arthur would be owed a favor by their original owners—Modin, Ren, and Ella.

He was now indebting them all at once.

“Did I get anything wrong?”

“You’re truly remarkable.”

Halyans let out a dry laugh and nodded.

He couldn’t match Arthur in strength or negotiation.

Fortunately, he could fulfill both of Arthur’s requests.

“Then about the alliance...”

“Fenry, do you have one of those Ivory Tower contracts?”

“I do, but it’s for Black Rose VIP clients.”

The contracts crafted by the Ivory Tower contained magical constraints—a tool ant to eliminate mistrust, and one that Halyans would trust.

“Just give one.”

“Two thousand gold.”

Arthur smacked his lips and looked at Halyans.

Blinking at the stares from both, Halyans finally realized what was happening. Fenry exhaled smoke at his face.

“Old man, are you backing out of the alliance?”

“...Huh? What?”

“Two thousand gold.”

“A-Ah! Just a mont!”

Halyans scrambled through his robes and handed over the money.

The contract was made of black paper. After examining it, Halyans nodded. It was indeed one crafted by an Elder of the Ivory Tower.

“The standard price is five hundred gold...”

At that, Arthur awkwardly smiled and accepted it.

Damn Dark Elf.

Trying to extort him even now—what an incredible elf she was.

Arthur dropped a single drop of blood onto the paper and began writing the oath of alliance with Demtor. It outlined firm mutual aid and the dispatch of reinforcents when the Ivory Tower faction faced danger.

“Is this sufficient?”

“Well... There’s sothing missing.”

A specific tifra for support.

But Arthur couldn’t easily commit to that.

“I can’t give a clear ti yet.”

“If reinforcents don’t arrive, this alliance could be a poison. Gram may try to finish things before they get here.”

“She would have—if Azonne and the Cleaners were still alive.”

“What?”

“Gram, Lord of the Black Tower, is cautious by nature. Azonne’s death is a major variable for her. Rather than react hastily to an alliance, she’ll likely assess our strength first. We’ll have ti before she moves.”

“Then we need to show her undeniable proof of the alliance...”

“Isn’t that right here?”

Arthur signed the contract and handed it to Halyans.

“This is proof of trust. I’ll give it to you first. Announce it to Demtor imdiately. The Ivory Tower should be safe for a while.”

“Th-Thank you!”

Bowing his head, Halyans looked over the contract again.

But then he stopped and furrowed his brow, glancing at Arthur.

“Th-This is wrong!”

“What is?”

“The na... It’s wrong! Here!”

The na of the Allied Forces’ leader was not Alex Marcia.

When Arthur saw it, he smiled bitterly.

“I couldn’t use an alias. Ivory Tower contracts are magically bound.”

“What...?”

“That’s my real na.”

Halyans stared at him in disbelief, then looked back down at the contract.

[Leader of the World Tree Allied Forces – Arthur Clayton]

Arthur rose quietly and gave Halyans a respectful nod.

“Allow to reintroduce myself. I am Arthur Clayton, leader of the World Tree Allied Forces.”

“Arthur... A-Arthur?”

As realization dawned, Halyans’ eyes widened. Arthur responded with a subtle smile.

“And I bear the Divine Na—Divine Hunter.”