Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 220: First Encounter (2)

Luna found herself unable to immediately respond to the old man who introduced himself as Jinor.

More accurately, she remained frozen in place—unable to comprehend why the one standing before her wasn’t Swen.

"...Why...?"

"?"

Jinor observed Luna’s strange expression.

It was natural for her to be caught off guard by a sudden request for allegiance, but... her reaction felt more like someone facing a completely unexpected visitor.

Perhaps now would be the best time to mention the one who had sent him—Swen.

Noting her hesitance, Jinor cleared his throat before speaking.

"I have heard much about you from Lord Swen."

"!!!!"

Luna, who had been muttering something in a small voice while standing frozen, finally snapped out of it.

"You know Swen?! You mean—you know Swen personally?!"

"L-Lady Luna, please, calm yourself."

Violet, standing beside her, tried to intervene.

But there was no way she could restrain Luna with mere words.

Jinor might have been startled by the way Luna urgently grasped his shoulders, staring at him with desperation.

Yet, despite her agitation, his voice remained calm as he explained.

"We once worked under the same lord. We’ve been through quite a lot together. If I were to go into detail, the story might take quite some time."

"I don’t mind. If you would, please—tell me what happened...!"

"Before that, I would appreciate it if you could answer my request. I cannot explain everything here in this setting."

Jinor’s words finally made Luna realize how she had been acting.

Flushing slightly, she lowered her head in apology.

She had waited for Swen for so long. She had been disappointed that he wasn’t the one who appeared...

But regardless, a formal request for allegiance was a valuable thing.

"Aah... I apologize. You said your name was Jinor, correct?"

"Indeed."

"Since you have offered your aid, I see no reason to refuse.

That said... this is a newly formed nation, and to be honest, we are in no favorable situation.

I am truly grateful for your support, but given that you were once the Chancellor of an empire... I fear I may not be able to provide you with the treatment you deserve.

Would that still be acceptable to you?"

"I am not here to settle for the present—I have come with my eyes on the future."

"..."

Luna nodded and extended her hand to him.

"You may rise, Lord Jinor. I may be lacking in many ways, but I look forward to working with you."

"The honor is mine, my lord."

Jinor bowed respectfully—

And then, he spoke the words Luna wanted to hear the most.

"If I may be so bold... would you be willing to hear this old man’s story?"

"...Please."

With that, Luna, ignoring Violet’s lingering gaze, followed Jinor to a different location.

***

They relocated to a small chamber near the audience hall.

Seated at the table in the multipurpose room, Luna immediately asked the question at the forefront of her mind.

"Lord Jinor, were you—"

"You may speak to me casually, my lord."

"...Then, Lord Jinor, did you come here because Swen told you about me?"

Jinor nodded slowly.

"Yes."

"May I ask what your relationship with him is?"

"Of course. We once served under the same ruler."

"The same ruler...?"

"You are familiar with the Aishus Army, are you not?"

...So it was true.

The rumors had been right—Swen had not been in the Brans Army, but rather in Aishus.

Now that she had confirmed that fact, there was one question she had to ask.

"From what you’re saying, it sounds as if Swen personally told you about me. Is that correct?"

"Yes. I came here on his recommendation."

The moment she heard those words, Luna felt her heart clench again.

Even after being taken away, even after all this time, Swen had still been thinking about them—about their future.

Of course.

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Of course, Swen had never forgotten their promise.

And now, standing before her, Jinor was proof of that.

But—

Luna couldn’t let herself be completely relieved just yet.

Because there was one far more urgent question remaining.

"Then... why did you come alone? Why isn’t Swen with you?"

"..."

If Swen had personally recommended Jinor—if they had both been in Aishus—then wouldn’t it have been natural for them to come together?

But Jinor had come alone.

Luna couldn’t hide the growing unease in her voice as she {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} pressed him for answers.

Jinor, seated across from her, remained silent for a moment, seemingly gathering his thoughts.

Then, at last, he spoke.

"A great deal has happened..."

"You may take your time."

"But to be direct—he could not accompany me."

"...?"

"He is no longer part of the Aishus Army."

"...What?"

"That alone doesn’t explain much—"

And then.

With a grave expression—

Jinor, in a detached and emotionless voice, told her the truth.

"Lord Yuri of Aishus sold Swen to the Serpina Army."

"!!!"

Thud!

Luna shot up from her seat before she even realized it.

Jinor watched her reaction for a moment, as if lost in thought.

"A-Ah... I-I apologize. It’s just that... I don’t understand."

"A general from our army was taken hostage by Serpina’s forces.

In the process of negotiating the hostage’s release... Swen, who had been acting as an envoy, was handed over in exchange."

"......Excuse me?"

Then...

That impossible rumor... was true?

The claim that Aishus had sold off their own envoy wasn’t just Serpina’s propaganda—

It had actually happened?

Luna clenched her fists.

Or rather, without even realizing it, her hands had curled tightly, her nails pressing into her palms.

Rage.

A storm of indescribable, overwhelming rage began to consume her.

Never in her life had she felt such fury toward another person.

"How... could they... How could they trade away their own envoy just to reclaim a hostage?"

"And more than that—"

"How could they do that to my Swen?!"

She wanted—no, needed—to let out the fury burning inside her.

But first, there was something she absolutely had to know.

"...Lord Jinor, may I ask you a question?"

"Of course, my lord."

"Why... Why did Yuri... betray Swen?"

Luna couldn’t comprehend it.

It was inconceivable.

She hadn’t believed the rumors at first. It was foolish to trust anything unverified, especially when it came to war and politics.

But if this was true, there had to be a reason.

Had Serpina blackmailed Yuri? That vile witch was more than capable of using underhanded schemes.

Not that it would ever excuse what had been done to Swen.

Jinor, as if understanding Luna’s turmoil, nodded solemnly.

"To Lord Yuri, the hostage was more precious than anything."

"...What? Then... it wasn’t blackmail?"

Jinor nodded again.

"Lord Yuri handed Swen over to Serpina of her own free will.

Though the offer came from Serpina’s forces... she accepted it willingly."

"...Someone precious...?"

Luna’s strength suddenly left her.

Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto her seat.

She had done it to protect someone precious to her?

That was her reason for... handing over Swen?

For treating her strategist—the one person she treasured most—in such a way?

Her blood ran cold.

Her mind, sharper and clearer than ever, settled into icy stillness.

This feeling—

It was the same feeling she had when she lost her sister to Serpina.

Until now, Luna had only one sworn enemy.

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Serpina von Eingart.

The worst tyrant to plague the continent.

A monster who had massacred her entire imperial family just so she could seize the throne.

Her sister had died for no other reason than being connected to the imperial lineage.

Not even a body had been left to bury.

That was why Luna had nothing yet still chose to rise up—because she could never allow someone like that to rule the world.

But now—

From this moment on, Serpina was not the only name on her list of enemies.

"She took Swen... My Swen... as if he was nothing...!"

"She never even appreciated the fact that Swen was by her side!"

"I—I who... I who wanted him by my side more than anyone else... and yet... I couldn’t...!"

Baranga Yuri Aishus.

The ruler of Aishus.

A noble queen, a brilliant general, a leader beloved by her people—

None of that mattered.

Because she was the one who had handed Swen over to that witch Serpina.

Luna repeated her name in her mind.

Over and over.

She would never forget it.

More than Lyn, who had tried to steal Swen away—

Luna despised Yuri even more.

Because Yuri had done something even worse—she had sold Swen, as if he were nothing more than a bargaining chip.

It didn’t matter who the hostage was.

To Luna, Swen was more important than anyone else.

She would never—

Never forgive this.

At that moment—

Luna engraved another name into her heart.

Another name that must be cleansed with blood.

***

"It seems I’ve stirred a hornet’s nest."

Jinor sighed.

Perhaps he shouldn’t have spoken about it.

But he knew that eventually, this truth would have come to light.

For now, all he could do was wait.

He had no doubt that Luna—Swen’s chosen ruler—would regain her composure before long.

And just as he expected—

Luna eventually steadied herself.

Then, rising from her seat, she bowed deeply to him.

"I... apologize."

Jinor immediately stood and bowed as well.

"There is no need to apologize, my lord.

A ruler does not need to bow before her retainers."

"..."

A brief storm had passed.

"You must have been through quite a lot."

Jinor spoke as if he understood.

Luna lowered her gaze.

"...Yes."

"Well, I’m sure you have your reasons.

Just as I had mine when I came here to serve you.

You don’t need to explain everything to me."

Luna finally managed to rein in her emotions.

Even when she tried to maintain her composure...

Whenever the conversation turned to Swen, she always found herself losing control.

She had never forgotten.

Never forgotten the debt she owed him—

For the day he burned himself just to hold back Brans’ forces and save them all.

But for now—

This was not the time to be swept up in emotion.

She needed to hear more.

Even if the truth that awaited was unbearable.

"Then... Lord Jinor... Where is Swen now?"