Chapter 268
Chapter 268
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 268
Chapter Title: The Emperor's Letter
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The words in the emperor's letter were concise.
-Help the allied forces of the three kingdoms and crush Aier's ambitions.
It was a request to ensure they never even thought of waging war again.
In return, the emperor promised Seo Woojin and his companions unlimited support.
Not only treasure-grade weapons, but anything they desired would be provided.
Of course, this was limited until the Advent War ended, but that didn't matter.
Once the war was over, they would all return to their homes anyway.
'I was planning to get involved in the war anyway...'
Of course, his involvement didn't mean fighting the war directly.
What Seo Woojin was after were the Holy King and the Apostles.
The battle with Kratos had made him realize he was still lacking.
To grow even a little more, he needed to target them.
As a bonus, he could mitigate some of the war's casualties.
'Something I had to do anyway. No reason to refuse when they're offering payment.'
After reading the letter and falling deep into thought for a moment, Seo Woojin nodded.
"Please convey that I understand."
"Understood."
With that reply, No. 36 vanished back into the ceiling.
'I thought he'd go in person.'
He had infiltrated this information guild to hide his identity, but it seemed reports would be sent via other means.
'Not my concern anyway.'
He was curious how No. 36 would deliver the message, but right now, he needed to focus on something else.
The information Johan would bring.
Locating Aier's Holy King and the Apostles hiding somewhere was the top priority.
'Will there actually be intel?'
He knew Johan had impressive skills.
But whether he could uncover top-secret info from another country was uncertain.
'If the intel's lacking, I can just ask Crusiel.'
That would actually be the easier, faster option.
Ask No. 36, still hiding above in the ceiling, and he'd fetch it in minutes.
An organization big enough to infiltrate even a backwater guild like this surely had that capability.
And yet, Seo Woojin waited for Johan.
'If the intel quality exceeds expectations...'
A meaningful smile crept across Seo Woojin's face.
* * *
"Hurry and gather it! Any info linked to Aier, no matter how minor—don't sort by grade, just scrape it all up!"
Johan was usually laid-back, unfitting for an information guild master.
But now, he was frantic, a far cry from his normal self.
It wasn't just because the commission fee was an unimaginable fortune.
Sure, the gold coins piled on the table were impressive, but even more so was...
'The hero who tossed out that amount without batting an eye. And something huge is brewing.'
It made sense that Seo Woojin was curious about Aier's war situation.
That conflict could impact the future Advent War.
But asking about the Holy King's whereabouts and the Apostles' locations at the same time?
'There's something I don't know.'
As guild master, his instincts screamed not to ignore this.
Johan began sorting the intel his subordinates brought.
'Holy King, Holy King... Apostles?'
As he scanned the endless influx of reports, Johan froze.
His mind raced.
'Aier declared war on the Empire.'
But the justification was flimsy at best.
Starting a war now, for such a weak reason? It was incomprehensible.
It had even provoked neighboring countries, leading to attacks on Aier's homeland.
'Unless they were desperate to destroy their own nation, no one would make that call.'
He recalled Seo Woojin's commission.
And with it, an absurd hypothesis formed.
He shot to his feet.
Cold sweat had soaked his back.
"No way...?"
Johan tried to dismiss the thought, but his mind deemed it plausible.
"Guess I'll have to ask directly."
The intel sorting had just finished.
"Here it is."
Pathetically little compared to the chaos of gathering it.
Just a few sheets of paper.
Johan took them with a stiff expression and turned.
"Clean this up and stand by."
He ordered his bewildered subordinates to wait, then left the room.
Calming his pounding heart, he headed to the parlor where Seo Woojin waited.
Even on that short walk, countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
Knock knock.
He knocked and entered to find Seo Woojin wearing a curious expression.
"Is all the intel ready?"
"Here you go."
Johan forced a calm facade as he handed over the documents.
"Faster than expected. Quite the capable guild, huh?"
Seo Woojin smiled, took them, and began reading.
'Oh, not bad.'
His smile deepened.
Honestly, it exceeded expectations.
Aier's war status with the three-kingdom alliance wasn't crucial.
What mattered were the Holy King and Apostles' locations.
Surprisingly, the papers detailed them precisely.
'Can't confirm accuracy without checking myself, but...'
At least it didn't seem fabricated.
Seo Woojin nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. Is the commission fee on the table enough?"
He gestured to the gold coins.
"More than enough—overflowing, haha."
Johan laughed in response.
But it felt slightly awkward.
Seo Woojin noticed but didn't comment.
'He suspects the Holy King might be a Demon King's follower?'
The hints were there.
If he pieced them together properly...
'He could even guess the Holy King's true nature.'
Johan's expression suggested he'd reached a near-correct conclusion.
'Pass.'
The intel quality was solid, but Johan's ability to think that far in such short time was impressive.
"That wraps up the commission. Shall we talk about something else?"
Seo Woojin spoke up.
"...Something else?"
Johan's face grew strange.
What else was there to discuss beyond the job?
Smiling at the puzzled Johan, Seo Woojin raised a finger.
"Let's get rid of the ears first."
"Huh? What do you—"
As Johan blinked in confusion, chaos energy leaked from Seo Woojin's fingertip.
The tiny clump shot upward, slamming into No. 36's head where he hid.
Thwack!
With a small thud, No. 36 lost consciousness.
He wouldn't wake for at least an hour.
Stunned by the sudden action, Johan widened his eyes.
He moved to call his men, assuming Seo Woojin was attacking the guild.
But naturally, Seo Woojin was faster.
"I'm not here to harm you. Just sit."
Boom!
Immense pressure crushed Johan's shoulders.
An overwhelming intimidation he couldn't resist.
Johan unwittingly sank back into his chair.
"W-Why are you doing this?"
His voice trembled like aspen leaves in fear.
But his eyes were different.
Even in terror, they scanned the room for escape routes.
Seeing those cool, composed eyes, Seo Woojin realized the fear was an act.
'Pretty bold personality too.'
He liked him even more.
"You're Johan, right?"
Seo Woojin spread his hands to show no hostility, asking casually.
"Y-Yes."
Johan nodded quickly.
Even then, his hand inched toward the sword at his waist.
Smiling at the sight, Seo Woojin continued.
"Want to work with me?"
Johan's eyes bulged.
Forgetting his act, he struggled to grasp the meaning.
"Your skills impress me."
It wasn't flattery.
Seo Woojin strongly felt the need for his own intelligence network.
Crusiel worked for now, but he couldn't predict how long Empire relations would stay friendly.
They still suspected him and dug into his background; post-Advent War, betrayal was possible.
An independent network, free of imperial influence, would be ideal.
And Johan and his guild fit the bill.
"...Can I hear the details?"
Dropping the act, he asked in a heavy tone.
Gone was the simple country bumpkin; now he exuded the aura befitting a guild master.
"Did you suspect the Holy King's identity?"
"Yes."
Cold sweat earlier confirmed it.
As Johan nodded, Seo Woojin stated his goal.
"I'm planning to hunt those types. I need intel for that."
"You could just commission us like this."
No need for the guild; a word to the Empire would bring better info faster.
Why partner up?
Johan couldn't buy it.
"True, but..."
Seo Woojin scratched his head, pondering how to explain convincingly.
He decided on blunt honesty.
"I don't trust the Empire. More accurately, I don't trust any nations in this world."
Johan's eyes narrowed.
"Does that mean 'hunt the dog once the rabbit's caught'?"
Rabbit dead, dog cooked.
Seo Woojin smiled in lieu of words.
"Surely that won't happen..."
"Are you certain?"
He cut off Johan's skeptical words.
With a cold expression, he replied.
"From my experiences so far, it's entirely possible."
If his power had been even slightly less, the emperor and Empire would've collared him.
He might even be dead.
Having gone through that multiple times, Seo Woojin didn't trust them.
They cooperated under the guise of deals, but trust? Never.
"For potential contingencies, I need preparations. That's why I need you."