章節 650: CHAPTER 806
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Rakiman Hog opened a dimensional portal with a bracelet to the Red Plutonian tribe's fortress, the Patlok's battleship launching area.
There were over a thousand battleships waiting at the launch area, along with the flames of hell that had fallen together with the fleeing Red Plutonian tribe.
Upon their return, the Red Plutonian tribe had no choice but to face a chaotic situation. The unleashed flames of hell, beyond Jin's control, were spreading indiscriminately, engulfing various parts of the launch area.
"Extinguish the fire, spread out, and activate the emergency shields of the battleships!"
Shimat took command in place of the unconscious Rakiman. He, too, seemed on the verge of collapsing at any moment, but if he were to fall now, it would be the end for the Red Fleet of Patlock.
"Destroy the battleships already on fire, prevent them from attaching to other battleships. And quickly take our Compatriot Rakiman to the infirmary!"
If the formidable Red Plutonian tribe hadn't been exhausted, extinguishing the remnants of flames wouldn't have been such a burdensome task.
But now, there was no other choice. The Red Plutonian tribe wept silently as they destroyed the battleships entangled in flames.
The only fortunate aspect of this misfortune was that the remnants of flames did not possess eternal characteristics.
The Red Plutonian tribe could only succeed in subduing flames after losing about a hundred ships. After all remnants of flames of hell had been extinguished, Shimat and the Red Plutonian tribesmen sat on the floor for a while, their eyes vacant and numb.
So much had been lost in a single battle.
'Why did Jin Runcandel... come out from there? After the evil god war, the temporary alliance on the surface was dissolved, and they were supposed to return to being hostile.'
It was a series of events that Shimat couldn't understand.
The sudden appearance of Jin Runcandel in Kinzelo's branch and Rakiman's decision to confront him in battle.
Shimat had advised Rakiman several times. Even if they encountered Jin Runcandel or any other transcendent being during the hunt, they should retreat for the time being. They weren't as strong as they used to be, while the surface was filled with all sorts of powerful beings.
There was no shortage of time to retreat either. If he could summon the fleet, he could have enough time to use the return technique by sacrificing ordinary warriors or prey in Kinzelo's branch.
"You useless insect... I can not believe we lost the fleet because you were not able to handle one simple task."
Andolin and Ozen, who were nearby, were startled by Shimat's sudden remark and looked at him in surprise.
"Compatriot Shimat?"
Shimat was also surprised by his own words. Without realizing it, he had unintentionally thought of Rakiman as inferior, and that slip of the tongue had come out.
"...It was something I said to myself."
Andolin and Ozen felt uneasy, but they didn't inquire further.
"For now, we need to find out what happened with Jin Runcandel and Kinzelo. Whether there was some kind of deal or if they became allies again."
"We'll investigate and find out during the next mission."
"We need to wake up the other Great battle king as soon as possible. Once the treatment of Compatriot Rakiman is complete, we need to check the other fortresses. We must at least wake up the Great battle king, Compatriot Bakarun and his fortress, or the Compatriot Battle God, to confront Jin Runcandel's brute force."
"Compatriot Bakarun's fortress is probably sealed like ours. But as for the Compatriot battle god... Didn't they suddenly disappear even when we were active?"
"Lately, I've been thinking that the reason the Compatriot Battle God disappeared was because they foresaw this sealing crisis."
It was a sudden topic, but Andolin and Ozen didn't deny it. Shimat had always shown competence, and many times his words, initially ridiculed, had proven to be true.
However, they couldn't wholeheartedly accept the fact that the Battle god of the Red Plutonian tribe had disappeared out of fear of the seal, abandoning their compatriots.
"Among the other Great battle kings, there might be someone who knows the whereabouts of the Compatriot Battle god. Even if they don't know, we can't revive them unless the Great battle king awakens. So we need more than just hunting... We need a more innovative approach."
The danger of hunting had been proven to be overwhelming in this incident. There was no guarantee that a similar problem wouldn't occur again.
"Deal... We should consider engaging in trade or forming alliances with the surface as well."
"Do you have any factions on the surface that you've considered?"
"Zipfel or the remnants of the Imperial family. During the next hunt, I will personally go out and make contact with them."
***
Meanwhile, the leaders on the surface were receiving a report about the recent events.
"The Red Plutonian tribe, huh?"
Veradin nodded with interest as he examined the report.
"They are presumed to be a subspecies of the Plutonian tribe, possessing combat capabilities strong enough that even ordinary warriors won't die instantly when facing the Plutonian's reign sword, and they possess tremendous technological prowess. Quite intriguing friends, these Red Plutonians."
"I apologize for not being able to gather more detailed information, Lord Patriarch. According to the reports from the Spectre Corps and my mages, we could only approach and confirm their presence when the battle between Jin Runcandel and the Red Plutonian tribe became most intense."
"That's alright. Since they returned alive with information after being active near Jin, it is necessary to give them rewards. The Spectre Corps or the Intelligence Division, which side bought this information?"
"It was my subordinates."
Satrin replied.
"In that case, the Intelligence Division should receive the rewards. I will give all members of the Intelligence Division the opportunity to learn Second-Class vision magic."
"Thank you, lord patriarch. However, before receiving the rewards, there is one more report I need to make."
"What is it?"
"It is not certain, but there have been rumors that something other than our mages was present on the battlefield."
"Something else?"
"Yes, they said it was extremely difficult to sense their presence, so they may be Yona Runcandel or unidentified assassins... but confirmation of their identity was not possible."
"Hmm, it must be one or the other. Either it is from the Vamal Alliance or sent by the remnants of the Imperial family."
"Are there skilled individuals of that level among the remnants of the Imperial family?"
"I don't have much information about them either. That's why we always have to keep the remnants of the Imperial family in mind. They may be crouching down right now because they lack power, but we must assume they can strike at any time."
"Yes, I understand."
"If it is indeed the remnants of the Imperial family, they will undoubtedly try to make contact with the Red Plutonian tribe, so we need to be vigilant. Send people to the Imperial territories offered by the remnants of the Imperial family. We need to put pressure on the remaining high-ranking officials of the Imperial Family there."
"Yes, lord patriarch."
"And I will provide the Spectre Corps with the opportunity to learn Third-Class vision magic."
"...Thank you."
Just as he had done with Kadun, Veradin was intentionally trampling on Octavia. All the key figures of Kelliark were receiving similar treatment.
However, Octavia and the others dared not express their dissatisfaction. Prostrating themselves and showing loyalty was the only way to survive within the clan.
"We should try to make contact and have a conversation with them. The captain of Spectre Corps and the Intelligence Division should continue sending mages to determine their locations."
"Understood."
"Deliver an immediate follow-up article to our subordinate reporters. It should be appropriate to inform the Federation that the Red Plutonian tribe has been resurrected because of Jin and Kinzelo, and it poses a threat to our existence."
"Yes, I will ensure that the news spreads throughout the Federation by the end of today."
"Good. I will go to the Holy Land to see if the shrine maiden can be of any assistance. If we can obtain the technological prowess of the Red Plutonian tribe, we can advance the timing to strike back at our enemies."
Zipfel's meeting came to an end.
And at the same time, the Vermont Imperial Family was holding a similar meeting.
On a deserted island located in the northern seas of the Lutero Magic Federation, remnants of the Vermont Imperial family had ceased their activities and remained hidden since the evil god war.
"Rakiman Hog... It's been a long time since I've heard that name. He's still as arrogant as ever, causing trouble. Shimat must be feeling frustrated."
He spoke as if he knew Rakiman Hog well. The aristocrats sitting beside him nodded as if they were familiar with Rakiman as well.
Airan Vermont, the person who had led the remaining nobles and followers after the execution of the former Emperor Amir Vermont.
He had received the chaos remnant of Yona from Joshua before the evil god war and attempted to assassinate Dante, and even during the evil god war, he had sent majins, including Latz, to kill key figures of the Vamal Alliance.
[T/L: Changing name Wratch to Latz]
Yet, very little was known about Airan.
Before Amir ascended to the throne, Airan's hereditary rank was barely in the top 30, and there were hardly any occasions for him to be in the spotlight. Furthermore, due to the mysticism of the Vermont Imperial Family, he never revealed himself voluntarily.
However, they were the oldest existences within the Vermont Imperial Family.
In a sense, the aristocrats who had observed the Vermont Imperial Family, which had existed for thousands of years, from the beginning until now, had always regarded Airan Vermont as the true emperor.
Only Airan was considered the sole emperor of the Vermont Empire, and the hundreds of emperors known to the outside world were merely smokescreens to conceal the secret.
Airan and the aristocrats sitting beside him had hidden themselves within the imperial family, changing their names and appearances over the centuries. They were the originators of the mystical nature of the Imperial Family.
"Bibol, you've done well. The harvest is quite substantial."
The aristocrat known as Bibol nodded. He was the one who had secretly observed Jin's battles along with Zipfel's mages.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Finally, an opportunity has come for us to reclaim and revive our empire. The nether forces, including the Red Plutonian tribe, are still obsessed with the resurrection of the Sun God. We must create a scenario where our enemies and those creatures annihilate each other by exploiting that fact."
The eyes of the aristocrats sharpened at Airan's words. They realized that their days of living in hiding under the pretext of mysticism were coming to an end.
"To achieve that, we need to help the Red Plutonian tribe regain their strength... Bibol, go to their fortress immediately and propose a trade. Offer them a significant amount of nutrients. You remember the location of the Patlok Fortress, right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Good. They will undoubtedly accept the trade. However, considering the nature of the Red Plutonian tribe, once they are well-fed, they may lose their senses and stab us in the back, so we need to provide even sweeter bait to prevent that."
"What else should I convey to the Red Plutonian tribe?"
At that question, Airan chuckled and added an afterthought.
"Tell them that if they don't betray us until the end, when the time comes, we will reveal the whereabouts of the Battle god of the Red Plutonian tribe."
[T/L: Wow, this is the biggest plot twist ever in this novel.]
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章節 651: CHAPTER 807
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The Vermont imperial family was hiding in seclusion on an uninhabited island, where there was a passage leading to the netherworld known as the "Middle Layer." This passage was not a direct connection to the real netherworld, hell, but rather a link to the Middle Layer inhabited by beings like Ameris, which existed after the world was split in half.
Neither the imperial family nor the current island owner, the Lutero Federation, created the passage. It was actually built by the Blue Plutonian Tribe during the ancient era when the "War for the Sun God" was at its peak. These passages, created by various factions that held power at the time, still remained scattered throughout the world.
Among the surface forces, only the imperial family knew about the existence of these passages. Due to a memory error caused by the seal, Ameris had forgotten about the existence of the passages.
"Fortunately, the situation we feared did not occur after sensing the awakening of the Great Serpent. If the memories and powers of the Great Serpent were intact, none of the races sealed in the Middle Layer would have survived."
After Bibol left, Airan smiled and spoke.
Based on the fact that the Red Plutonian Tribe is rampaging in the human world, Airan was certain of Ameris's current state. Her power, abilities, and memories were all incomplete.
The Red Plutonian Tribe was no different.
It was true that the battle prowess of Jin was closest to the pinnacle of the human world, but if Rakiman and Red Fleet were in their prime, Jin would not have dominated the battle so one-sidedly. At least they could have offered some resistance.
"Yes, Your Majesty. It is fortunate for us that the Red Plutonian Tribe was cornered immediately after awakening. Even those arrogant and wicked beings cannot reject the hand we extend to them."
"Once we acquire the Red Plutonian Tribe's technology through trade, cloning him will no longer be a dream. Moreover, if we start searching for the Remnants of the Blue Plutonian Tribe from now on, we can awaken Eltiot as well... The Empire will rise again! It will become an eternal empire that no one can destroy!"
The members of the imperial family did not hide their excited voices.
Throughout the long ages, from ancient times until now, they had endured humiliation akin to eternity in order to survive and seize opportunities. During those long years, they had never once dominated the world as overwhelming conquerors.
In ancient times, they were treated as insects by the likes of the Red Plutonian Tribe and the Blue Plutonian Tribe. Even after the "Great Seal," while the birth and destruction of civilizations occurred repeatedly on the surface, they barely survived the imminent threat of extinction.
Then, at long last, they established Vermont. However, as the current history of humanity attests, Vermont has never attained a position worthy of the name "Empire."
That was because monsters like Runcandel and Zipfel existed. Zipfel emerged and immediately threatened the empire's existence, and just when they could no longer hold on, Runcandel appeared.
And for a thousand years since then.
The empire had walked a tightrope, watching the moves of both sides, and now only the ancient beings of the imperial family barely concealed themselves.
That's why the desires of Vermont's imperial family were singular.
Complete and secure survival.
The power to reign alone in the world was the most important means to achieve that goal. The imperial family had no interest in the resurrection of the Sun God.
On the contrary, they were in a position where it must be prevented at all costs. If the Sun God were to be resurrected, they would once again have to live a life like insects, bound by their predetermined fate.
"As soon as Bibol returns, we will start searching for the Remnants of the Blue Plutonian Tribe. Check the various regional passages. Our enemies, especially Runcandel, will soon become aware of the existence of the Remnants of the Blue Plutonian Tribe, as they have access to Ameris and the abilities of the Record Mage. We must secure them before anyone else."
"Understood, Your Majesty!"
"Once our trade with the Red Plutonian Tribe is finalized, the situation on the surface will change rapidly. The Red Plutonian Tribe will soar like crazy... In the midst of this swift transformation, we will remain at the center until the end. Surviving until the end is something that has always been our speciality."
As the members of the imperial family dispersed, Airan remained alone in the conference room, gazing out the window as the cool breeze was blowing.
***
October 8, 1803.
It had been exactly a week since Jin drove out the Red Plutonian Tribe, who had attacked the 3rd Branch of Kinzelo. Since that day, there had been no sightings of the Red Plutonian Tribe in the human world. At least, that's what the Vamel Alliance and Zipfel knew.
In fact, the Red Plutonian Tribe had already concluded their trade with Airan, where he personally met Rakiman and Shimat. They had only refrained from hunting in the human world, but everything else had been settled.
And both the Red Plutonian Tribe and the imperial family had already gained significant benefits from each other. The Red Plutonian Tribe had swiftly opened their second fortress by consuming the blood of the humans and ancient remnants sent by Airan, while the imperial family had received their technology and were cultivating their weaponry.
All of this had happened under the radar of the watchful eyes of the major forces. It was a privilege of those who had seized control of the Middle Layer.
"Veradin is making quite a bold move since becoming the patriarch."
Jin spoke while scanning through the special reports.
Every day, the news articles poured in. Veradin becomes the patriarch, the background of Kelliark's rebellion, the underworld, the emergence of Ameris and the Red Plutonian Tribe, and Jin awakening them.
All of these stories were being made public.
"The reporters from Zipfel are consistently spreading the narrative that the young master is threatening world peace by awakening the underworld beings."
Jin nodded in agreement with Kashmir's words.
"It feels like they are trying to create a pretext for war. They're saying that since I posed a threat to the world first, Zipfel's actions against Runcandel and the Vamel Alliance are in self-defense."
"They must have something to believe in, even after witnessing the power of the young master, the battle god, and the strength of our alliance. It must be related to the Demon's God's Orb or the abilities associated with Zipfel's holy land."
Naturally, Jin wanted to delay the war as much as possible. He wanted to complete the Golden Fleet, bring his brethren out from Laprarosa, and have Murakan return.
And if possible, he wanted to start the war after he himself became the genesis knight. A war fought under those conditions would be overwhelming, devoid of bloodshed, madness, and unnecessary killing.
If he could completely overpower his enemies, he could tidy up the world without unnecessary death and destruction.
In other words, he could fight while safeguarding the lives of ordinary people to the greatest extent possible.
At present, that was an impossible task, and Jin had to fight a highly disadvantageous battle beyond that. The only force that thought about the civilians, both on the surface and nether, was the Vamel Alliance.
"Veradin knows exactly what I am most concerned about. The deaths of my companions and innocent people. If the war starts quickly, I will lose a lot, even if we achieve victory."
Nightmares that Jin had personally experienced in the evil god war.
In fact, in the war between the major factions, there would be even more sacrifices than that. The entire world would become a battlefield, and after the fighting ended, the victors would be faced with a desolate landscape that would never be the same again.
It frustrated Jin.
The burden he felt as a regressor.
Jin recalled the words Ron had left for him through Dante right before he died.
-You have done nothing wrong. That's what he told both you and me.
'Yes... While it's possible that none of this is my fault, it doesn't mean I can turn a blind eye to it. Whatever happens from now on, I can only move forward while doing what I have to do. I must become the best in the world.'
The efforts to become the best in the world.
That was the only thing pushing aside Jin's agony as a regressor. Like someone shaking off a nightmare, Jin adjusted his expression and met the gaze of his comapnions.
"The war will start soon. There will definitely be localized battles, if not a full-scale war. Even if it's not Veradin, there is a high possibility that the Red Plutonian Tribe will engage in more aggressive activities in the human world after recovering from their losses. After defeating them, Valeria investigated the 3rd Branch of Kinzelo, and not only Zipfel but also remnants of the imperial family sent people there."
"There were reports that Zipfel has been constantly searching for remnants of the imperial family."
Cuicantelle pointed to the reports.
"Not only Zipfel, but we have also been tracking them ever since the fake Yona incident. We've used all possible means, including Valeria's record magic. But so far, we haven't managed to catch a single trace of them, so we can't exclude the possibility that they are hiding somewhere other than the surface."
"I agree with you, Ms. Cuicantelle. Those mystics must possess hidden abilities. If it's related to the nether, it could be an opportunity for them."
"From what I know, there are no such secrets within the imperial family... but well, considering how Airan Vermont suddenly inherited power after Amir's death, it's possible that the former emperor was just a figurehead from the start."
In addition to Zipfel and the imperial family, Kinzelo was also a problem.
[Zephyrin, it's almost certain that the Demon Dragon is one of my heads. When Zephyrin wakes up in the future, she will likely regain some of her memories and power from that time. It won't be complete, but her lost self will return to some extent. In any case, it's clear that she is not one of those heads who were trying to prevent the resurrection of the Sun God.]
"Hopefully, she can regain some of her power and abilities from that time. Or we can hope that Zephyrin's unconscious state is unrelated to Ms. Ameris."
[If it's the latter, it would be even better, but it's best not to have high expectations.]
As Ameris said those words, the communication device installed in the conference room emitted a blue light and resonated.
{Young patriarch! Urgent report!}
As soon as Jin received the call, he heard Luet's urgent voice.
"Speak, Head butler."
{The Red Plutonian Tribe has attacked Zipfel.}
"...What did you say? Not Kinzelo, but Zipfel?"
{Six hours ago, Zipfel's 2nd-class Magic Tower located in Ramatan was bombarded by the Red Plutonian Tribe's fleet. Zipfel is currently in a state of war.}
Runcandel and the Vamel Alliance had naturally thought that the Red Plutonian Tribe would target Kinzelo once they resumed their activities on the surface.
However, they had boldly attacked Zipfel, and it was an unexpected development for everyone except the imperial family.
"For them to resume their activities so quickly... it seems like they received help from someone."
Jin replied with narrowed eyes. If it wasn't the work of Zipfel's own rogue faction, the remnants of the imperial family were the most likely suspects.
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