章節 282: Chapter 441
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"Hmm, tomorrow? Why don't you hang out with my daughter a little more?"
"Mother! Am I still a child? Why do you keep saying such strange things..."
Talaris coughed lightly as Syris shot her a sharp look. It was unusual for Syris to speak so sharply.
"Hmm, ahem!, it was just a suggestion. You shouldn't talk to your mother like this, you know?"
"And to avoid situations like today, we should get reinforcements as soon as possible. You can't always protect Tikan, mother."
"You're absolutely right, Lady Syris."
When Jin replied, Syris's eyebrows furrowed strangely.
"It's not that I dislike it. Since we're allies, it's natural to protect each other. But it doesn't mean that my mother or I will always be waiting at the Hidden Palace, so we need alternative options."
Syris spoke, and it became even more apparent that they needed to secure forces to protect Tikan as soon as possible.
'I can't always rely on luck like this.'
The fact that there were no casualties other than damage to equipment and facilities during the attack by Luton and the exiles was almost like divine intervention.
Of course, it was also a result of Jin and his comrades constantly being on guard against enemy invasions. If the Talaris had been a little late or absent, they wouldn't have been able to defend it so perfectly.
In the future, their enemies would surely come prepared, calculating even the possibility of the transfer gate like Luton did.
'Runcandel still can't directly attack, but there will be those like the elder council who try to bring external forces to attack us.'
Moreover, Kinzelo, Zipfel, and Vermont.
At least Kinzelo still maintained a somewhat friendly stance toward Jin, so the possibility of it suddenly turning hostile was low.
'I'm pleased with that fact, but it's not a bad thing in terms of the safety of my comrades.'
On the other hand, Zipfel and Vermont were entirely different.
They could attack Tikan at any moment without warning. Tikan, under the name "Free City," had essentially given up its neutrality that it had maintained for a long time.
'Especially Vermont is likely to see Tikan as a thorn in their side.'
Jin remembered the unpleasant encounter with the emperor. The emperor implied having hidden forces and proposed an alliance, but Jin had sternly rejected it.
Furthermore, since Tikan was also the city of the exiled prince Kashmir. So the Emperor could attack this place at any time.
'It's possible that my enemies within Runcandel and the Emperor might form a temporary alliance.'
It had been only a few days since the death of the exiles, and there had been no significant changes between the Elder Council, Rosa, and Joshua.
'Mother is holding their leash. There may be some kind of dealings going on between Mother and the Elder Council, or Mother may be unable to decide what action to take against the Elder Council.'
It was a dilemma for Rosa.
If she attacked the Elder Council, she would effectively acknowledge that she had purged enforcement knights long ago. Of course, she could bring up the pretext that the Black Sword Association hadn't properly punished the knights who had committed treason years ago, but it was difficult to cover it up like this given the atmosphere of clan..
However, letting it pass without any action was too significant an issue.
Whether it was a purge without a justification or not, it still meant that the Elder Council had not properly carried out the orders of the acting matriarch years ago.
In the end, Rosa had to impose some form of punishment on the Elder Council.
If the punishment was too severe, there would be strong opposition, and if it was too lenient, the authority of the acting matriarch would be weakened.
'The former could lead to a complete split between the Elder Council and Joshua's faction, while the latter could be a violation of the clan's law.'
Jorden had his ambitions, but on the surface, he seemed closer to Joshua's faction. And Rosa was pushing an image of Joshua as a prominent next Patriarch who had already taken control of the Black Knights and the Elder Council at the same time.
Meanwhile, threatening competitors like the 12th flagbearer and the 3rd flagbearer had emerged, so if the Elder Council completely turned against Joshua, it would be a painful blow to that image.
'Even though Mother holds the leash, the Elder Council has more options. The old men could align themselves with elder brother Diphus or elder sister Mary, or even betray Runcandel and align with external forces.'
In other words, the Garden of Swords has once again entered a new phase due to this incident.
In other words, in the midst of the rapidly changing situation, what mattered most was victory.
And for victory, the safety of allies always took precedence.
"I will have two of the Seven Swords of Hidden Palace, Ryu and Hiten, stationed here from now on."
Talaris' pupils widened. She hadn't expected Syris to come up with such a radical suggestion.
Clap! Clap!
Talaris applauded in celebration of the progress they had made, and even Luton joined in, watching her cues. The small beastmen also joined in the applause, and even Murakan got involved, but only Jin and Syris didn't understand the reason.
"Lady Syris, thank you for considering this."
"Sure. I think I need to rest for now."
Syris got up from her seat, and Talaris poked Murakan in the side.
"Eheung, what do you think about it, handsome oppa? It would be a big problem if my future son-in-law marries someone else later, don't you think?"
"Are you threatening the kid?"
"Not necessarily. Anyway, about tomorrow. The Black King's leader said he would meet you, right?"
"I plan to go and see. There's also someone peculiar I need to investigate in the Black King mercenaries."
"Someone peculiar?"
"A rookie mercenary named Zephyrin, but Murakan and Ms. Cuicantelle think there's a high chance she's a Demon Dragon."
The leader of Kinzelo who is presumed to be a demon and Plutonian-type golems, the sealed Smarion Proch beneath the Ghost Castle, and the demon dragon, following the Majins and Emperor, who proposed an alliance.
"The times have indeed changed. In my younger days, such strange things didn't wander around like this. And your greatest enemy, the 2nd flagbearer, seems to have someone like the Prophet, right?These are dangerous times."
Talaris shrugged wearily, as if she were tired.
She had been aware of most of the information Jin had acquired recently.
"Among them, there's something that I can guess about Smarion Proch."
"What is it?"
"The power of chaos."
"What is that?"
Jin's pupils narrowed.
"It's a strange power that occasionally appears in the world, like what your youngest sister, Yona Runcandel, has within her."
-Haven't you ever thought it was unfair?
-What? Was it just me watching over you? I told you earlier, when you're bathing or doing things like that...
-Not that. You have been treated as a murder doll all along. Since you were so young. It was terrible and absurd even considering that you are a pure-blood Runcandel.
-Is that bad?
-It's bad.
-Haven't you ever committed a murder, youngest?
-That's not the issue.
-Hehe, I was born like this from the beginning. So, there's no need to be sad.
-Born like this, what is that supposed to mean...
Jin was reminded of the conversation he had with Yona in the past. She hadn't honestly told him what kind of power she was born with since then. She had only muttered that "Even you have a secret, youngest."
"Not only elder sister Yona, but even Bubare and Margiella Ivelianos from Kinzelo have special powers. Does that mean it's the power of chaos?"
"Yes. It could be innate, or it may be acquired. I don't know the details, but one thing for sure is that the owner of that power can be consumed by chaos at any time."
"Consumed, you mean..."
Jin remembered the sealed Smarion Proch.
"It means turning into a monster like Smarion Proch. I've also faced people who changed after being tainted by chaos in my younger days."
Talaris paused for a moment. It was because unwanted memories that she didn't want to recall resurfaced.
Talaris suppressed the bitter and painful memories that rose for a while and then spoke.
"On the other hand, I've seen people who gracefully ended their lives without being consumed by chaos. Based on my experience, it seems that transforming into a monster is related to the owner's will and the size of the chaos they possess."
"Madame Talaris."
"Speak."
"Could it be that my father is also related to that power called chaos?"
That was a secret known to only a very few.
Talaris had no intention of revealing that much at first, but now that it had come to this, she saw no need to deny it.
"Yes. Chiron has been fighting that power for a long time too. How did you find out about it?"
"Sir Lata told me about a conversation between my father and Smarion Proch. I inferred it from that conversation."
Jin couldn't help but feel deeply disturbed.
The idea that Chiron and Smarion shared 'the same issue' had been a foreseen problem since the moment he first encountered Smarion in the Ghost Castle.
But could it be that the issue wasn't unique to just Chiron and Smarion?
'Elder sister Yona and my father, too. Could they suddenly become monsters at some point...?'
Just imagining such a scenario tore apart his heart. Given the immense power they possessed, it seemed unlikely that the size of the chaos they held was small.
Jin thought that it must be different from people like Bubare and Margiella.
"Chiron acquired it, and Yona's is innate. That's what I heard directly from your father."
"So that's why my father is obsessed with the Black Sea."
"Yes, but even if he's a close friend, Chiron didn't tell me everything about his chaos, so I have nothing more to say."
"This alone is enough."
"The important thing is that Smarion Proch must be eliminated. Once chaos consumes a person, it only grows stronger over time."
The sealed Smarion's power was becoming stronger and stronger. He needed to be removed before he became something unbearable.
"By the way, handsome oppa, you seem to be clueless about the power of chaos. It seems like something you should know the most about, right? Why this power disturbs the balance of the world, what its foundation is. Don't you know anything about it?"
All eyes turned to Murakan. He shook his head as if he didn't know.
"I don't know. Maybe it disappeared from my memory. I don't even know if I never knew it in the first place. I hate to admit it, but... It seems like a question worth asking once I meet my sister."
Huff! Murakan let out a frustrated sigh, then added.
"Kid, before you meet the Black King mercenaries, let's make a brief stop at the Tabernacle."
章節 283: Chapter 442
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The next day, Luton headed to the Holy Kingdom, while Jin and Murakan came to the Mila Kingdom.
This was to visit the top-secret tavern of Grace Schilz (Misha) known as 'Tabernacle.'
The waiter recognized the two immediately but gave them the same answer as the last time they visited.
"The master is not here at the moment."
"She wasn't here even when we came a few months ago. When will she return?"
"The master has never returned since the two of you visited last time."
It was common for Misha to be absent for a month or two. She was not only a representative of Solderet but also had many hideouts besides the Tabernacle. It was natural for her to have busy days.
However, it was almost unheard of for her not to visit the Tabernacle even when the seasons changed.
"Did she leave a separate message for us?"
"No, she didn't. It's been so long since we had a case like this, and we were worried about the master."
"When she returns, please make sure to let her know to contact us here."
Jin took out a piece of paper with the address and a small purse of gold coins, and the waiter nodded with a dignified attitude.
Until evening, the two traveled through several transfer gates multiple times, visiting the other hideouts Misha had informed them about. Once again, they couldn't find her anywhere.
"Haha, they say even dung can be used for medicine!"
Murakan seemed content just not to meet her.
"You seem to like it quite a bit. You should worry about her a bit."
"What's there to worry about? It's not a big deal if the dragon leaves its place for a few months. It's not like it's been decades. She's probably just gossiping somewhere."
"I have a strange feeling about this."
Jin said, and Murakan snorted.
"A strange feeling? That's good. It might not be so bad if she gets beaten to death by some powerful human. But the problem is that there are probably very few people in the world who can beat her like that."
As Murakan said, it was fine to say that there was no one who could catch Misha.
During the thousand years that Murakan had been asleep, Misha had never been caught, even while battling with the Spectre Corps.
"True, but..."
Jin had so many things he wanted to hear from Misha as soon as possible.
Things like Temar's tomb, Kinzelo's leader, Demon Dragon, Chaos, Valeria, and more. While Misha couldn't explain everything clearly, she could provide some clues.
Especially when it came to Valeria and her "Record Device Restoration," only she could give the most appropriate explanations.
"Don't worry, let's go find the Black King mercenaries."
***
Black King Mountain Hideout was located in the 'Bise Kingdom,' a unprotected territory in the central continent.
The Bise Kingdom was a minor country that did not belong to any of the prominent three factions, now four (Zipfel, Runcandel, Vermont, Kinzelo). Although the royal family and the army were maintained, in reality, no one considered the master of the Bise Kingdom to be the royal family.
It was a common belief that the Black King mercenaries and its leader were the true masters of the Bise Kingdom.
It was a natural consensus. The Black King mercenaries had enough power to destroy the Bise Kingdom with just a part of its 3rd division.
It was widely believed that the Black King mercenaries did not take over the kingdom just to maintain their identity as a "mercenary group."
"Well, these guys are quite something."
"What do you mean?"
"Usually, when a military organization like this establishes itself in a small country, they tend to take control of the royal family and exploit and oppress the civilians."
The Black King mercenaries were far from that. They provided substantial support to both the royal family and the civilians, to the extent that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they were actually nurturing the Bise Kingdom.
As a result, the Bise Kingdom was perceived as a pleasant country to live in, and immigration applications never stopped. It was a place bustling with the footsteps of academy professors, scholars, and students due to the well-preserved ancient ruins and artifacts.
"It is contrary to the typical image associated with mercenaries who are obsessed with money."
"These seemingly kind and cute guys, indeed. If they become uncooperative, we can gently persuade them."
"Kind, huh? We'll see about that."
Jin responded with a smirk.
"Why? Is there a problem?"
"The fact that the Black King mercenaries manage and take responsibility for the Bise Kingdom is not because they are kind-hearted philanthropists. This Bise Kingdom here is a hostage storage facility for the Black King mercenaries."
As Jin said, the Black King mercenaries were using the Kingdom of Bise as a hostage storage facility and as the best shield to maintain 'neutrality'.
In order for any major faction to forcibly subdue and absorb the Black King mercenaries, they would have to trample over the Bise Kingdom. It will lead to deaths of numerous residents and the destruction of ancient ruins would be inevitable.
When Jin explained this, Murakan's eyes widened.
"I see... So, they're playing the role of villains while maintaining their image and interests at the same time? They're truly clever and cunning. I don't particularly like the name 'Black King' though."
Of course, the Black King mercenaries could maintain their neutrality without the Bise Kingdom, but having more options at their disposal was always preferable.
"Well, no hostages have been killed since I was born. We are almost there. You should transform."
Fwoosh, meow!
Murakan transformed into a cat, and landed on Jin's shoulder. Jin has altered his face and dyed it with red fur using Golden Snow tribe cosmetics, making him unrecognizable to the gatekeepers and civilians of the Bise Kingdom.
However, Jin was convinced that someone within the Black King mercenaries would recognize him if he moved around the Bise Kingdom in this form.
'Murka and members of 3rd division couldn't forget this appearance.'
When it was revealed that the black cat Jin had when he left for the Storm Castle was indeed Murakan, the story became a topic of discussion within the Black King mercenaries for quite some time. After all, they couldn't believe that the "Young Emperor" was simply carrying an ordinary cat with him.
The city was frequented by outsiders, so Jin and Murakan didn't attract too much attention. Jin roamed the vicinity of the lively city while observing the advertisement boards and bulletins hanging around.
He was subtly emitting an aura that those below 6-star level couldn't sense.
Before long, as expected, Jin felt a mercenary approaching him.
"... That cat. Don't tell me it's you."
He seemed unsure, but the mercenary soon became convinced that the feline before him was none other than Jin Runcandel, whom he had directly escorted on a protection mission long ago.
"Sir Latam."
Jin spoke first before the mercenary could say more. The mercenary looked surprised and could only stare at Jin in shock. He hadn't expected Jin to remember his name.
"I didn't know you remembered my name. I am ashamed of myself for not recognizing you right away, sir."
Latam hurriedly answered with a silent bow.
"I remember you as the one who often stood by Sir Murka's side at that time. It's good to see you."
As they shook hands, Latam realized the accuracy of the rumors circulating about Jin in recent times. He was also secretly impressed by the immense power emanating from Jin's grip.
"You didn't just come here for nothing, did you? Do you have business with our leader?"
Latam explicitly mentioned the leader without referring to any other higher-ups, so it showed how he evaluated Jin's stature.
"Yes."
"Fortunately, the leader is at the mountain fort. I'll guide you there personally. However, please understand that there is another guest who arrived before you."
The 12th flagbearer of Runcandel is in a position where he can meet the leader at any time without prior notice. However, Jin couldn't meet the leader while disregarding other guest.
Jin gleaned one piece of information from Latam's words.
'The other guest is someone of higher rank than me.'
And he was correct.
Currently, there was a guest of higher status than Jin within the Black King Mountain Hideout. Therefore, Jin had to wait until that person's business was concluded.
'Who could it be?'
There weren't too many people who immediately came to mind. Jin didn't mind this peculiar encounter, as long as it was not a very uncomfortable encounter.
"Of course, I understand."
"Thank you, please follow me."
Following Latam, Jin arrived at the Black King Mountain Hideout, and it was close to midnight.
While it didn't exude an overwhelmingly powerful aura like the Ghost Castle, there was a unique energy in the rugged mountain range where the fortress was situated.
The visitors who came to the Black King Mountain Hideout were not guided or escorted. If you couldn't traverse the mountains on your own, you'd have to be carried by someone, appearing rather pitiful.
Traveling by dragon or airship was the only way to maintain dignity. However, there were only a handful of people in the world who could soar through the skies over the Black King Mountain Hideout.
Finally, when Jin saw the spectacular view of Black King Mountain Hideout, he couldn't help but be impressed. The deeply carved mountainsides gave the impression of giants having dug them out, and on top of these were massive and dark castles lined up. There also appear to be fortified walls.
It seemed as though they were prepared for the invasion of dragons. Rows of massive mana cannons pointed towards the sky, and various magical devices and traps writhed like serpents.
'The Garden of Swords looks quite simple when I see something like this.'
Jin thought to himself as he marveled at the formidable defenses of the Black King Mountain Hideout.
As they entered the central castle, a line of mercenaries standing in formation saluted. The news of Jin's visit had already spread throughout the mountain hideout before he even started climbing the mountain.
"Welcome, Sir Jin Runcandel! It's good to see you again."
Murka greeted Jin. As they made their way to the reception room, Jin occasionally looked for Zephyrin.
Just as Jin was curious, he heard Zephyrin's unique lively voice coming from in front of him. It was right in front of the Black King leader's reception room.
"I'm sorry, Second Captain!"
"Sorry? That's it? Do you know how much trouble you will be in when the 3rd captain finds out? Huh? What were you thinking, showing such disrespect in front of the leader's guests!"
"I didn't know!"
"No, and the leader didn't even call for you, so why did you come to greet the guest? Do you have any shame? Moreover, why on earth would you want to meet the 1st flagbearer of Runcandel...?"
"You will hit me in my head!"
"Oh, my head. Hey, can someone please get her out of my sight!"
Just like when he first saw her at the Sword Emperor Castle, Zephyrin was once again causing trouble and was visibly flustered.
"Oh... I... Haaah! I'm sorry, Sir Jin. I am showing such rudeness again."
"It's alright."
"What do you think you are doing, huh? Zephyrin! Come here right now!"
Zephyrin ran in a hurry and Jin could not help but smile.
Jin and Murakan couldn't take their eyes off the massive axe-sword strapped to her back, which seemed larger than her body.
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