Chapter 235
Chapter 235
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 235
Chapter Title: The Northern Count's Intrusion
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Around the time Count Siden was touring Sahā Village.
Leyzon had finally completed Hanok's hero-grade quest.
"Finally, finally done! Lord Leyzon!"
Hanok was so thrilled he bounced around on the floor in joy.
The 16th Ascension he'd dreamed of.
Achieving it filled Hanok with uncontainable delight.
He'd been moping around after repeated failures just days ago, but now he'd regained his cheer.
Leyzon felt a quiet swell of pride watching Hanok celebrate.
He was the one who'd raised Hanok this far.
'A well-trained Sword-Tooth Clan warrior—not worth trading for ten regular fighters.'
A hero-grade Sword-Tooth Clan warrior at that.
And Hanok even had Haron as support.
Haron had grown steadily too, reaching Corruption Level 6 before long.
'Maybe it's because there's a level gap with me, his master, that his growth has been slow.'
Unlike Hanok, Haron's growth had lagged.
Undead growth slowed dramatically the wider the level gap with their master.
That must've been why Haron hadn't advanced much despite all the dungeon runs.
'What to do.'
Haron was Leyzon's undead too.
Besides, Leyzon had turned several others into undead up to now.
He couldn't let their growth stall forever.
Leyzon pondered deeply for a while before lifting his head.
'Keep the master-servant link but make their experience gain independent?'
Leyzon had one undead completely unbound by Corruption levels.
Carmen, born from an Earth Beast.
She'd left to gather more Earth Beasts beyond the empire.
Carmen had no tie to Corruption levels at all.
She didn't even have the concept.
'If I make undead the same way as Earth Beasts...'
They could grow regardless of levels.
Leyzon's eyes began to gleam.
'Gravekeeper talents.'
Pyran's talents had no limits, letting her grow freely.
That's why he'd been hunting Gravekeepers to uncover that secret.
Maybe undead could be solved the same way.
Another reason to hunt more Gravekeepers.
It might unlock undead potential too.
The thought excited Leyzon.
'That flame-headed punk—I need to push him harder.'
He was eager to hound Rockroden.
"Hanok."
But one more crucial matter had arisen.
"Let's head to the imperial palace."
Time to visit for Hanok's hero-grade recognition.
Srrrk―
Just then, Leyzon's messenger letter arrived.
He opened it to find it from Crow.
His eyes sharpened as he read.
Someone had bitten the bait scattered by the Eastern Aristocrat Faction.
Perhaps even the Puppet Troupe Leader himself.
"Hanok, we need to swing by Sahā Village first."
Time to reel in the catch.
Disaster was poised to blanket Sahā Village once more.
The night everyone in Sahā Village slept.
One man moved stealthily.
Count Siden of the Northern Aristocrat Faction.
Oblivious to his peril, he infiltrated the Steel Wolf Guild building.
Counts typically delegated such rough work.
But Count Siden was bold.
He trusted his own eyes over others' reports.
That was Count Siden.
Above all, he had faith in his skills.
A 16-Ascension Bronze hero-grade pioneer.
Not for nothing had he wandered as a knight.
No match for the famed Sword Saint, but no sham knight either.
His shabby garb hid top-grade gear.
Full stealth skill set and equipment to boot.
Confidence was inevitable.
'Quiet.'
The night's hush amplified it.
The Steel Wolf building felt eerily still inside.
A far cry from the daytime bustle.
'With a building this massive, it's no surprise.'
It rivaled a noble's manor.
Nobles controlled their domains' resources.
A structure like this meant Steel Wolf raked in vast wealth.
'No guards in sight despite the size.'
As a guild hall, maybe no need.
Worked in his favor for easy movement.
Count Siden glided down corridors in his concealing robe.
Gather as much intel as possible.
He'd checked most rooms that seemed key.
Nothing major yet.
'Ideally, intel on Abyss.'
No obvious info hubs.
'Steel Wolf Guild Master's office is this way.'
The guild master was likely asleep by now.
As he approached to peek, light leaked from the office.
Still working this late?
He crept closer silently. Sure enough, someone labored away.
Count Siden felt a twinge of pity.
He'd pulled all-nighters leading his own group.
Running an organization was grueling.
'No intel here.'
Time for other suspicious spots.
Count Siden scoured the Steel Wolf building diligently after.
He held his breath when sleepy guild members passed.
After checking nearly every room...
He reached one at last.
A room radiating an eerie aura.
Count Siden stroked his chin slowly.
'Why's this one so isolated from the others?'
Unlike corridor rooms, it sat alone at the hall's end.
The vibe was distinctly off.
His instincts screamed.
Here.
Something vital lurked here.
Count Siden swallowed hard.
Then quietly pushed the door open.
Creeeak―
Count Siden entered.
The room felt stark and impersonal despite its cleanliness.
Luxuriously furnished.
Every item screamed high value.
Piles of documents cluttered the desk.
His eyes flashed.
He darted to the desk soundlessly.
It felt like crucial files.
Count Siden flipped open the neatly bound dossier.
His face hardened gradually.
"What is this."
Every detail shocked him.
The entire Northern Aristocrat Faction's info was meticulously documented.
As if an insider had spilled everything.
His pupils trembled wildly.
Even intel he himself didn't know was there.
Count Siden swallowed.
If Abyss had this...
'The Eastern Aristocrat Faction knows all our internals.'
Dangerous.
Way too dangerous.
He had to rush back to Duke Kaiden.
'Start an internal sweep.'
Stem the leak somehow.
As he hurried for the door...
Clank―
The door locked suddenly.
Chill!
Count Siden's hairs stood on end.
Caught?
He'd been cautious every step.
Checked for traps constantly.
Why lock now?
His head swiveled jerkily to the dossier.
Why had he zeroed in on Northern Aristocrat Faction files at this exact moment?
As if baited from the start.
Maybe shown deliberately.
Your secrets are leaking, and we knew you sneaked in.
Dizziness hit Count Siden.
'Break through head-on.'
He drew his sword and lunged at the window.
Planning to shatter it and flee.
Thud!
Instead, he bounced off, tumbling to the floor.
Shock filled his eyes.
Even rusty, he was a 16-Ascension Bronze hero-grade pioneer.
Bouncing off a window? Absurd.
"Wh-what."
He scrambled up and slashed the window.
Clang!
His sword rebounded again.
Eyes bulging.
This room was wrong.
A trap from the beginning.
No holding back now.
White aura bloomed on his blade.
Thud!
The surroundings warped.
Space twisted wildly; furniture shifted.
Temple, corridor, basement.
Count Siden paled.
The room seemed to mock him.
Desperate gamble.
He activated his SSS-grade skill and charged the wall.
Sword swung.
The wall receded; he cleaved empty air.
Flustered.
Space stretched and shrank at will.
Toyed with him.
"This!"
Enraged, he slashed wildly.
Space expanded and contracted, untouchable.
Count Siden unleashed everything.
Even AoE skills indiscriminately.
Only stamina drained; nothing changed.
"Huff, haa."
Sweat soaked his tense body.
Breath ragged, heart pounding.
Trap closing in.
As exhaustion set in...
Rumble rumble rumble!
The chaotic space constricted toward him.
"Wha—?!"
He slashed desperately.
Too late; walls pinned him immobile.
Crushed.
Thud thud thud!
Relentless pressure.
"Aaaargh!"
Count Siden strained to push back.
Thud!
The walls halted.
Immobilized, he gasped.
Never imagined death by crushing walls.
Sweat poured.
Someone watched this spectacle.
He knew it was Abyss.
"Mercy, please spare me. I'll atone for my intrusion, I beg your mercy!"
Insect wingbeats buzzed from somewhere.
Where?
As he scanned, an ant perched on his head.
Wearing a diamond crown.
"One seems mistaken, so this One came to enlighten."
"Wh-what are you."
"Lord Leyzon is a Necromancer. No reason to spare you."
Count Siden blanched.
"Just make you undead."
"No, no!"
Too late to protest.
Walls stirred again.
"Please, please no! One more chance, just one!"
Rumble!
No mercy.
"Pleeeeease!"
Finally, Count Siden's last scream echoed as the walls crushed him utterly.