Chapter 262
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 262
Chapter Title: New Member
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A branch office might sound like it would be swarming with troops, but that wasn't always the case.
These days, the Heavenly Origin Sect was moving openly, but before that, they had operated so covertly that even the Imperial Family hadn't noticed.
Even the Emperor had realized too late, judging that it was impossible to respond, and so he was acting alone.
Accordingly, their branches weren't particularly conspicuous.
'This one especially gives off that vibe.'
It was a place storing items capable of shaking the mind of a level 8 user, no less.
Why would such a location be left so carelessly guarded? The reason lay in the information sent by Count Mordenaen.
'About ten years ago, a freak presumed to be Duke Randel appeared in the field.'
That was precisely when the Heavenly Origin Sect had failed to control Duke Randel's mind.
A level 7 sect member in charge of managing the relics at the time, driven by hubris, had unleashed Randel into a rampage and fought him, only to be defeated.
Afterward, the sect completely concealed the item's identity and entrusted it to their most unassuming branch.
'Hide a tree in the forest, as the saying goes. Thanks to that, things got easier for me.'
Jun maximized the suppression of his presence with [Fog of Silence]. Infused with [Soul Drain], it even absorbed surrounding mana for perfect camouflage. Unless he blatantly unleashed killing intent right in front of them, detection would be nearly impossible.
Right in front of him lay an elderly man reclining on a sickbed.
But appearances could be deceiving.
This old man was a level 5 powerhouse.
'Farewell.'
Even such a powerhouse had fallen victim to the sedative Jun had mixed into [Fog of Silence] using [Potion Brewing].
A summoned blade of wind sent the old man's head tumbling to the floor with a thud.
Now, all that remained was to collect the legacies of his three children.
'Over there.'
In one corner of the bedroom where the old man usually stayed.
A massive safe came into view.
Jun summoned [Iron Fist] to shove the safe aside, then dripped the old man's blood onto the magic circle secretly etched beneath it.
A hidden space revealed itself.
Inside were three items neatly arranged.
A journal that looked well-handled by human hands.
A pocket capable of holding photographs.
And finally, a necklace with someone's ring dangling from it.
'These scream of backstory, no matter how you look at them.'
As he was storing the items in his dimensional bracelet.
[Ah... it's you again.]
A voice with mismatched pitch, like a clown's, echoed out.
"......"
His thoughts nearly froze for a moment, but Jun stayed silent and turned toward the source.
There, the old man's severed head on the floor was staring straight at him.
The voice of 'that bastard' emanated from it.
"Were you watching?"
[Yes... I've heard things have been going awry lately with matters involving you. And sure enough, here you are again?]