Chapter 122
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Akanthus (1)
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Morvati Black Market, in one of the taverns.
"Have you heard of the artifact called Akanthus's Fang?"
"Akanthus? Oh... about ten years ago, right? It went up for auction somewhere and ended up killing a bunch of people, didn't it?"
"Oh, you remember that?"
"Man, that thing caused all sorts of trouble for my trading partners back then..."
"Ah~! Yeah, that happened, didn't it."
A conversation between two information brokers drifted into the ears of a nearby man.
"Mind if I join you?"
The man approached the two brokers whose talk had piqued his interest.
Being the Black Market, they naturally eyed him with suspicion first.
"Innkeeper! One turkey here. The biggest one you've got."
Before they could say a word, the man tossed a silver coin to the owner and took a seat.
"Ahem."
"Ahem. No reason we can't."
It wasn't some earth-shattering secret anyway, so they quickly relaxed their expressions.
"I couldn't help overhearing you mention some artifact. Mind if I ask about it?"
"No big deal. Word's been spreading through the underground circles since yesterday anyway."
"Besides, info on a cursed artifact isn't exactly valuable stuff."
If it had been truly useful intelligence, they wouldn't be chatting about it in a place like this.
That's why the man had asked to join so casually.
"I see. Last I heard, the Ariclotos Church had reclaimed it. Is this one from their vaults?"
"That's just a rumor, isn't it? They might not have actually taken it."
"Or... someone might have pulled it out."
Either way, they grumbled that they hoped the artifact wouldn't cause another incident.
The man enjoyed his turkey when it arrived, had a leisurely meal, and bid the brokers farewell.
"It was fun."
"See you next time."
"Thanks for the meal!"
Stepping out of the tavern with relaxed strides, the man's demeanor shifted in an instant—he hurried toward the heart of the Black Market with urgent steps.
Unlike the lively entrance where deals were being struck amid the clamor, the deeper in you went, the more the eerie buildings came into view.
Pedestrians all concealed their faces with wide-brimmed hats or masks, and the man followed suit, pulling his hood low as he navigated the twisting alleys.
He soon arrived at a basement in one of the alleys.
"His blade has reemerged into the world."
"We just confirmed it ourselves."
"Is the intel solid?"
"Yes. But it seems deliberately spread—everywhere except our sector."
"That's why we were late to catch it."
"We need to figure out their intent first. Start tracing the source."
In the basement, dozens of eyes gleamed with feral intensity.
It was the look of beasts who knew their long-awaited chance had come.
"They said a late-night guest would come. So this is it."
Early morning. Tearthin, captain of the Blackguard Knights, visited Jun's room.
Jun, already up and sipping coffee, welcomed him.
"Coffee?"
"Please."
Tearthin took a sip of the coffee Jun prepared and widened his eyes.
"Not bad. Not too bitter, and it leaves a light fragrance lingering at the nose."
"Thank you."
Jun bowed slightly and pointed to the letter on the table.
"It arrived at dawn, right?"
"Yes. Just as you predicted—they slipped it under the door secretly."
"Thanks for leaving it alone."
"Bait to hook a big fish, isn't it?"
So, what was in that letter?
Tearthin looked at Jun with a questioning expression.
Jun caught the gaze and began explaining the letter right away.
"The sword one of my mercenaries is using is an artifact called 'Akanthus's Fang.'"
"Ah. I heard about that one back when I was vice-captain. But isn't it possessed by an evil spirit?"
"Correct. My member has a way to handle that on his own, so he's using it."
"I see..."
But what did that sword have to do with this letter?
Jun explained promptly.
"The group that sent this calls themselves Requiem. Founded long ago by Basai, the original owner of 'Akanthus's Fang.'"
"So the sword holds symbolic value. That's why they're after it and sent this polite invitation?"
"Exactly. And..."
[A concert has been prepared for the one who inherits His will. For the flowers of vengeance, Akanthus's Requiem.]
"...they're showing their affection for the sword with this formal invite."
"Hmm... I see. They're trying to make covert contact with the Black Market's intel networks this way. But will your member hand over the sword that easily?"
"I've got that covered separately."
"Understood. I'll leave that side to you, then. We'll handle things our way here."
In the midst of this, Jun suddenly thought of Aiden.
The kid who always looked up to knights with starry eyes.
It was about time his hands started itching for action.
"Hm. Sir Tearthin, mind if I ask a favor?"
"What is it?"
"My comrade Aiden has a deep admiration for knights."
"Ah."
Tearthin immediately grasped what Jun meant.
It wasn't a big ask.
From Tearthin's perspective, unaware of the Third Prince's involvement, this mission wasn't particularly heavy or dangerous.
'Not a bad deal for me either.'
Sure, he had some pride and arrogance as a knight, but the Blackguard relied heavily on connections within Blackout.
Chasing criminals meant needing collaborators now and then, and he judged the White Whale Mercenary Corps could be reliable allies for that.
'Still on the 5th floor, but with that insane growth rate...'
Tearthin nodded easily, and just like that, Aiden—who wasn't even present—got assigned to the mission.
Of course, Aiden was thrilled at Jun's proposal but soon wore a worried look as he asked Jun,
"Senior... are you sure it's okay without me?"
"Yeah. This is an intel op—no real chance for you to shine anyway. Better learn from the Blackguards."
"I never dreamed such a chance would come. Me, working with knights..."
It was a natural sentiment for Aiden, who had grown up idolizing knights from afar.
But to avoid seeming like a headache to the Blackguard members, Jun decided to send Eleanor along to save Tearthin's face.
"Eleanor, if it's not too much, keep an eye on Aiden."
"No trouble. Got it."
"Thank you, Priestess Eleanor."
With that, the two left with Tearthin.
Jun turned to Maya, now alone with him.
Maya clutched her sword, eyeing him warily.
"Leader. I heard taking back what you gave is the worst thing in the world."
"No need for that... I'm not telling you to give up the sword."
"Then why not explain it properly?"
"It's complicated to explain right now."
"Something you can't say in front of others? So... you do want to take my sword! And you're not even honest about it!!"
Agh.
Jun pinched his forehead, sighed lightly, and said,
"We're going to kill a noble."
"...?"
"That's why I couldn't say it."
"...???"
"Actually, this sword has a hidden secret."
"Wh-what is it?"
"It's set gear."
"Set gear?"
"Yeah. Meant to be used with another piece."
Jun knew Akanthus's Fang well because, back as 'Lee Jung-jun,' it was a staple for his hunter character.
"The set for Akanthus's Fang is 'Vengeance Dagger.'"
"Do I have to use it with that?"
"Not necessarily. It's great on its own. But... its true nature is a skillbook."
"...???"
Jun explained step by step to Maya's baffled expression.
"Basai, the owner of both weapons, commissioned a great mage to seal his secret techniques into them."
"So...?"
"Basai left word that if he died, the organization's next leader should be whoever mastered the techniques."
But over time, Requiem lost both weapons on missions.
They eventually recovered the 'Vengeance Dagger' after a long hunt, but 'Akanthus's Fang' remained lost.
"And then I showed up."
"Right. A golden opportunity for Requiem."
"So this invite is a death threat to take it from us?"
"No."
Given the White Whale Mercenary Corps' reputation, that was impossible.
As an assassination group doubling as info brokers, they surely knew about them.
They weren't foolish enough to draw blades against those who'd met the Emperor.
"This invite is a signal for a duel."
"Ah, a fair and square match."
Of course, 'fair and square' had no place in this contest.
Jun knew exactly how this quest scenario ended from his 'Lee Jung-jun' days.
"But how does that connect to killing a noble?"
Unfortunately, Jun couldn't answer Maya's question.
A nocturnal visitor arrived first.
"Pleased to meet you. Chails, head of Requiem."
"Good to meet you, Charles."
"My name is Chails, not Charles."
"Ah, my mistake."
Late into the night, with dawn still hours away, a guest appeared on the terrace where Jun and Maya waited.
Chails, Requiem's leader.
He pointed at Maya's sword, 'Akanthus's Fang,' and said,
"Coming here with that sword means you know about Him, right? If not, just say so. I'll buy it for a good price."
"Basai."
"Hmph... so you do."
Had he hoped for an easy buyout?
Chails let out a groan and continued,
"There will be a trial to inherit Basai's legacy. Do you accept?"
"Yes."
"Then here's your target. Bring me a lock of this person's hair."
The paper Chails handed over was a photo of a noble-looking man.
Jun, who had received it, quietly passed over a prepared photo of his own.
"Your target."
"MacGray Trading Company head..."
"Not a tough opponent. Right?"
"Seems so. Time limit: three days."
"Got it."
"See you then."
The man who called himself Chails vanished like a shadow. Jun showed the photo to Maya.
"This noble is who you're killing."
"...????"
Maya tilted her head, wondering if her imperial tongue was still rusty.
Was it not 'cut his hair,' but 'cut his throat'?