[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-reborn-king":3,"chapter-the-reborn-king-the-reborn-king-chapter-436":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Reborn King",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1101043,1437,"Chapter 436: Side Story 2: Defecting to the Empire","the-reborn-king-chapter-436",436,"\u003Cp>\"Oi.\" On the deck of a large merchant ship, a few of the crew walked over to the hooded figure leaning against the railing, looking into the sea, \"We still haven’t been paid.\" The man dangerously squinted at the figure and grabbed his shoulder from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hooded figure’s hand shot out and grabbed the man’s fingers, pushing them backwards and breaking them. \"Do not touch me. I told you you would be paid when we land. I do not have the funds on me.\" Bardas coldly said as he kicked the man over. The crew member looked at him in fear. Clutching his hand, he ran off to report what happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bardas looked back into the sea and clicked his tongue in annoyance. His journey had been long and tedious. Landing in the Gotic Kingdom, he had to wait two weeks before he could get a ship to the Ammary Empire. Even when he could get one, it was only heading to the Commonwealth lands that had been conquered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Listen.\" From behind, the captain of the ship called out to Bardas with an exasperated tone, \"I did you a solid letting you ride without paying. Don’t push your luck.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Teach your men to know their place.\" Bardas scoffed, \"How much longer until we arrive?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We arrive at Torun in a day, but your stop at the Laska Duchy will take five more days.\" Bardas nodded and rested on the railing once again, looking at the distant shore. The captain shook his head and walked off, not bothering with the troublesome client.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Grace.\" Oskar Laska sat in his manor with a soft smile, reading through documents about the situation in Severia. With a sigh, he put the document down and leaned back, looking at the butler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is it?\" Oskar asked without a care. His life, ever since bending the knee to the Empire and betraying the Commonwealth, had been smooth and as peaceful as helping repair a war-torn nation could be. Although he knew he was under constant surveillance, he had been given plenty of freedom. Some of the major laws were changed, such as the abolition of all forms of slavery and the implication of the education reforms, but other than that, it was all relatively the same, other than him taking control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The church had been allowed to remain, but once the Empire took over, the majority of the clergy fled the lands, taking whatever wealth they could with them, and in the gap, the Pantheon swooped in. It had been a troubling time, but after a while, things mellowed out, and Oskar was finally able to relax a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A special guest has arrived. I couldn’t believe it at first, but after meeting him myself and analysing his crest, it appears to be true.\" Oskar leaned forward, resting in his hands, intrigued. \"The man claims to be Bardas Ammorian, the bastard son of Emperor Theodosius of Severia. He wishes to meet you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really?\" Oskar took a deep breath. \"Why has he come?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He says he wishes to meet you to explain. I have him set up in a guest room if you wish to see him.\" Oskar stayed silent for a few minutes before sighing and nodding. Getting up, he followed the butler through the manor to a nearby guest room where Bardas lazily sat on a chair, looking at the ceiling, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Ammorian. This is a surprise.\" Oskar said with a blank tone, waving the butler off. Bardas looked at him and smiled, getting up and resting his hand on his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Duke Laska. Thank you for meeting me.\" His tone was polite as he waited for Oskar to take his seat before doing the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forgive, but let me cut to the chase. Why have you come?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bardas sat silently for a few seconds, his hands curling into fists before uncurling with an exhale. \"You know about the situation in my homeland, at least part of it. It is unfortunate, but my half-brother and I had a little falling out...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t care.\" Oskar cut him off, \"Why are you here?\" Bardas frowned but nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Horace Underwell offered me a job. I believe he wouldn’t turn me down.\" Oskar froze at the mention of Horace’s name before bitterly chuckling and shaking his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You trust that man?\" Oskar laughed even louder, having to calm himself, \"So you sought me out to what. Make a deal, introduce you. And why come here? Why not go to Torun and see the Arch Duchess or any of the other lords of the Empire?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Simple, chances of meeting the lady of Torun are near impossible with her rank, and the only safe transport I could find came here. I had hoped you would be willing to help me, but if that is not the case, I have wasted my time and will find another way.\" Bardas stared into his eyes. Oskar shrugged and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine. If you want to willingly go to Horace, be my guest. I’ll send him word, but there are no promises he will accept.\" Oskar stood up, \"I will have a room set up for you, but as I am busy, I must leave. Don’t go where you’re not allowed, or you will vanish, with no one knowing you even stepped foot into the Empire.\" Oskar didn’t wait for a reply and left the room. When the door closed, Bardas smiled and lay down on the couch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two weeks passed, and Bardas stood outside the Imperial Palace alongside Oskar. Looking at the duke, it was obvious that he was uncomfortable being there. The grand door opened, and Sebastian walked out alongside Horace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sebastian gracefully placed his hand on his chest and bowed to the two. \"His Majesty is expecting you, Lord Ammorian.\" Horace stepped forward next and walked over to Oskar. Like an old friend, he wrapped his arm around his shoulder and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We have so much to discuss, Oskar. It has been a while.\" Looking up at the head butler, Horace nodded, \"I will leave him to you, Sebastian.\" Sebastian nodded and turned, leading Bardas deeper into the Palace as Horace led Oskar to a different part, wanting to talk to the closest thing he could describe as a friend. Oskar was incredibly uncomfortable the whole time, but said nothing, following Horace’s wishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is there anything I must take care of before His Majesty?\" Unlike his usual confident, near-arrogant tone, Bardas spoke carefully as he looked around. He was deep within the lion’s den, and whilst he and Horace had used each other previously, it was only that. Right now, he was still an enemy of the Empire, as he never officially lost his title in Severia. He knew the rumours and didn’t doubt that Alfred might kill him because he felt like it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Know your place and speak only the truth.\" Sebastian coldly said, \"Your life is in his hands, no one else’s.\" Bardas nodded the rest of their journey in silence. Arriving at the throne room, the Guards at the door opened the doors and let the two in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end of the room, sat atop his throne, Bardas saw Alfred, leaning on his right fist with a bored expression. His blue gem-like eyes scanned the two, focusing on Bardas. Looking to the left of Alfred, he saw who could only be the Empress, silently but arrogantly judging him. By Alfred, right, another man, who looked similar to Alfred, stood. With blond hair that was like Alfred’s golden and blue eyes, he stared at him with a cold, wary gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’The Emperor, empress and Prime Minister. Should I be proud they place so much importance on me?’Bardas said to himself, suppressing his chuckle. Stopping just before the guards at the bottom of the throne, Bardas swiftly fell to his knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I greet the Ammary Emperor.\" Bardas cooly spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rise.\" Alfred’s bored tone echoed in the throne hall. Waiting a second before he rose, Bardas looked up into his eyes before averting his gaze slightly. \"I can take a guess, having heard from Horace, but why have you come?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bardas smiled and lowered his head, \"I wish to defect, Your Grace.\" Bardas reached to his side, for his inner pocket, the guards moving slightly, ready to see a hidden weapon. Only when they saw a thin scroll did they stop. Issac moved quickly and stepped down from beside the throne, taking the scroll from Bardas. Handing it over to Alfred, Bardas spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Obviously, I have no intentions of staying for free and believe that for your future ambition, this will be necessary.\" Alfred unfolded the scroll land read through it a dry chuckle escaping his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re a legitamised bastard.\" Chuckling once again, he shook his head, \"So this is what made you think you could take the throne.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s as you say.\" The room went silent as Alfred looked down at the letter. His mind spun as the only sound that could be heard was the tapping of his armrest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two things.\" Bardas felt a wave of joy flood through him at those words, \"First and expectidly, I want all information on the Severia Empire, the Church and their allies that you have. If I later find out you hid anything, I will execute you and hand your head over to Julius and Constance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. I already expected this.\" Bardas paused for a second, \"But as Julius is taking over, the things I say may change under his rule.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is fine.\" Alfred waved off the concern, already expecting that, \"Secondly. I heard about your role in Severia before Theodosius lost the throne. Were you the one who carried out Julius’ assassination?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Your Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And did you really kill him?\" Bardas stared at Alfred for a few seconds before smiling gleefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. I sent him to Constacne after facing his death. There, I do not know what deal they made, but it resulted in Julius being disfigured. My guess is that in return for absolute loyalty to Constance and the Church, the church would use everything to assist in his fight for the Throne. Making him a Blessed One as well was an easy course of action to take after his fake death.\" Bardas looked into Alfred’s eyes, \"After all, Your Majesty, you did die and resurrect before. Why couldn’t Julius?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alfred rolled his eyes and tapped his armrest again. \"Do you know how they faked the Moon Crystal test?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unfortunately, not. I was not privy to Julius’s and Constance’s dealings.\" Alfred clicked his tongue and fell silent again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A room will be prepared for you. You shall be confined to it until I give the order. In the meantime, I will let Horace speak to you to decide if you are truthful.\" Looking to the butler, Alfred smiled, \"Please see our guest out, Sebastian.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resting his hand on his heart, Sebastian led Bardas out, leaving the three in the throne room. \"Can we trust him?\" Isra asked, looking up at Issac.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grabbing his chin, Issac took a deep breath and shook his head, \"My information tells me he is an arrogant, self-centred person who only has loyalty to himself. It would be foolish to trust him.\" Looking down at the spot Bardas was previously in, Issac sighed, \"But he is useful and currently, his best interests are cosying up to His Majesty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do not like it. I don’t doubt he and his Half Brothers have bad blood, but what stops him from getting vital information here and handing it over to them?\" Isra stood up and patted down her dress. Looking down at Alfred, her eyes pleaded for him to make the right choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tapping the armrest once more, he stared into the open air. \"He knows things that are useful to us. For now, we leave it to Horace. But your fears aren’t unfounded, Isra. If he becomes a threat, I won’t hesitate.\" Alfred stood up and stretched his arms, \"For now, we will keep him under surveillance and see if what he said is true.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2029,"2026-06-03T11:17:48.775Z","2026-06-03T11:17:51.401Z",1,"novelbin.me","cefde2a062ebdae0de5e8969241c42033320e6daf64f7779c4b6193c15fba5ee","the-reborn-king-chapter-437","the-reborn-king-chapter-435",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-king-cover.jpg"]