Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Ladder Political Officer
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Well gripped the heads of the four dead men in both hands, scanning left and right. There were three identical wounds in the exact same spot, without any mess.
No signs of twisting either side to side. It was a perfectly clean thrust in and pull out in one motion.
“I nearly tangled with a dangerous guy.”
As soon as he checked the bodies, he handed over a hefty sum to Lander. The man understood reason, so that amount should be enough to bury the matter.
“Could you do something like this?”
Well asked his younger brother beside him. The kid had been wielding a blade since his snot-nosed days. Among the untrained alley rats, he’d never seen anyone better with a sword.
“Hold on a sec.”
His brother reversed his grip on the dagger. The blade dropped toward one of the skulls. A dull thud echoed as the bone caved in.
“I could pierce it if I tried, but not this clean.”
“Right? Even you can see it’s no ordinary skill.”
“Same spot, consistent force. Not just anyone can pull that off. A guy like me couldn’t do it even in my dreams.”
“With skills like that, no wonder he came back alive from Andun.”
He ordered the bodies cleared away. He’d heard plenty about mercenaries wandering the streets now that the war was over and jobs had dried up. Lander was probably in the same boat.
“Bro.”
A brother came panting from the end of the alley, mumbling something.
“Speak clearly. Unless you want your jaw broken.”
“That guy’s coming.”
“That guy?”
“The one who brought Shan earlier!”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Lander appeared. A familiar man trailed behind him. On closer look, it was the incompetent guild branch chief, Bank.
Well signaled to his brothers around him. Don’t move rashly. He called out to Lander, who approached right up to him.
“Didn’t like the gift I sent?”
“No. I loved it.”
“Then seems like we’ve got no business between us.”
“I came to ask a favor.”
“A favor?”
“I hear you’ve got wide connections. You handle all sorts of things. So, any merchant companies stationed here right now? Or even one passing through soon would work.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Looking to hitch a ride. If they need guards, I can fill in.”
Well let his guard down as he replied.
“For that, I can make an introduction. Easy enough for me.”
“Please do.”
Bank, standing behind Lander, grinned and acted like they knew each other. He was a branch chief wandering outside the guild, but he still held a position, so Well bowed his head in greeting.
“Anything else? Since you’re here, spit it out. If I can help, I will. Call it a gesture to get friendly.”
“Arranging the merchant company is more than enough. Oh, and Mr. Louis’s shop…”
“I’ll pass the word to the brothers. Tell ’em to grab lunch elsewhere.”
That’s when he was wrapping up the talk. One of Lander’s underlings standing behind him acted suspicious.
It was the guy who hung around with Shan a lot. Before he could shout a warning, the man drew a dagger hidden in his clothes.
“Hey…”
He was about to alert Lander. A chill ran through him, and his eyes closed involuntarily. When they opened again, what entered his sight was his own wrist plummeting to the ground. The hand clutching the dagger sprawled on the floor.
Well stared at Lander, mouth agape. He hadn’t seen him draw the sword, let alone swing it.
The underling with the severed wrist looked clueless about what had happened too.
His eyelids closed and opened again, and then the scream erupted. Well pointed at the bleeding man and yelled.
“Grab that bastard!”
Then he immediately told Lander.
“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t order it.”
“I know. Your shocked face was genuine. If it’s acting, I’ll happily fall for it—as payment for the show.”
“What acting? I’m not bold enough to gamble lives like that.”
He rushed to the cursing underling and kicked him in the mouth. He watched the guy writhe, clutching his severed wrist, then jerked his chin. Haul him out of sight.
“Your position seems shaky. Lots of brothers not listening to you.”
“That’s how it is in this line of work. Anyway, it happened right in front of me, so I’ll take responsibility. Money do it?”
“I’ll take it if you offer.”
“Please do. It’ll ease my mind. I don’t want to die to a blind blade.”
He sent a subordinate to fetch the money.
“There’s the Arone Merchant Company we deal with. They’re heading west soon—sound good? You can hash out the exact destination with them.”
“That works.”
Lander received the money. Well eyed the sheathed sword and said.
“It’s a long shot, but just throwing it out there—need a broker? I could sell you for top dollar.”
“Call you if I do later.”
“Mercenaries might be starving, but real talent’s always in demand. Hit me up when you need. I’ll hook you up with a solid crew.”
He extended a hand for a shake, but Lander shook his head lightly. Well wiped his palm on his pants and grinned.
“Won’t walk you out far. Got a pile of bodies to handle.”
* * *
Places where people lived all looked the same. Scheming for positions, sharpening knives behind backs, then heads rolling. Alleys or the Holy City—it was all the same game.
Lander opened the pouch from Well. It held as much as he’d gotten from the shop. When he was in the military, he’d never thought about money—what it was, its value.
Rise at set times, report for set duties, move according to the enemy’s movements. No room to worry about cash.
Even after returning from the front lines, he’d stayed indifferent to money. No, he’d had chances—multiple times—to learn fund flows and own capital.
But he’d ignored them. That’s when he realized what the powers colluding with capital wanted from him. What would follow after wealth accumulation.
“I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself.”
Lander stopped and turned. Bank, who’d followed from the shop, stood with arms crossed.
“The Blue Lion sent a handwritten letter after ages. Thought something big was up. The message was simple: Don’t freak if you see a ghost. And help if the ghost looks troubled.”
Blue Lion. A name he hadn’t heard in a while. Lander studied Bank’s face closely. Was there a face like that among the emperor’s inner circle?
“At first, I was baffled. Our Blue Lion’s too young for senility. Busy stirring up bloodbaths, so why send a cryptic note like that…? Now I get it.”
Bank finished speaking and pulled gloves from his pocket, slipping them on. They shimmered like fish scales.
“Haven’t loosened up in a while. Mind teaching me a move?”
He leaped back after speaking. Lander toyed with his scabbard. Just outside sword range. One step closer, and he could’ve struck.
“You seem to know me well.”
“Pretty well, yeah. Surprising you don’t even deny it. Shouldn’t you play dumb first—say it ain’t so?”
“No point denying when you wouldn’t buy it. You seemed convinced the moment you mentioned Blue Lion. Plus, Husk’s already dead, so nothing to hide.”
Lander stepped forward. Bank retreated a step.
“Facing you in person, the pressure’s on another level. They said Sir Husk’s ‘presence’ can’t be grasped without experiencing it. Spot on.”
Mid-sentence, Bank moved. No mind games—he charged straight in.
Weight shift, acceleration, balance. Top-tier movement. Rare even in the military.
A fist flew at his face. Lander blocked with the scabbard. No killing intent—just an honest spar, like training.
He parried the persistent face strikes with the scabbard. Bank’s punches grew lively, his face lighting up like a kid lost in fun.
Lander raised the scabbard to clip Bank’s jaw as he rushed in. Bank crossed his arms to block and staggered back. Lander saw him wince and shake his stinging hands.
“How long we doing this?”
Lander lowered the scabbard.
“Thought I’d land a punch on the Imperial Knights’ commander’s mug, but no dice. Even with these gloves, it throbs.”
Bank removed the gloves. The exchange was over.
“Sir Husk really is a monster. Or should I say Lander now? Anyway, I didn’t believe the funeral news. Couldn’t picture your death.”
“Everyone dies eventually.”
“True for people. But by my standards, you’re way beyond human. Anyway, seeing you again like this—it’s tear-jerkingly great.”
“Have we met before?”
He racked his memory—no such face. Man in his late thirties. Voice was new too.
“No wonder you don’t recognize. We always hid our faces around the commander.”
Bank pulled something from his clothes and tossed it. Lander caught it and instantly recalled where they’d crossed paths.
He examined the silver badge in his palm. Beneath the imperial lion emblem, magical runes were engraved. For identity verification.
“‘Ladder Political Officer.’ Never thought I’d see your face after death.”
The emperor’s personal agents. He’d glimpsed them in the audience chamber a few times.
Sometimes one, sometimes three. Only the emperor knew the exact number of Ladder Political Officers.
“Never dreamed I’d chat barefaced with the commander. Dying might not be all bad after all.”
He handed back the badge.
“Why’s someone who guards the emperor out here?”
“Various reasons. Want details?”
“Let’s skip the deep talk. A mere free citizen has no right to the emperor’s affairs.”
“A mere free citizen. With that much power, ‘citizen’ feels off.”
“Husk’s dead. No power left.”
“You really gave it all up? Status, honor?”
Lander met Bank’s eyes.
“If I wanted it, I’d have taken it.”
“The Blue Lion would break a sweat hearing that. Sir Husk is the only one our emperor fears.”
Bank slung an arm over his shoulder.
“Come on. Can’t waste a chance to drink with an old hero. I know a spot with killer booze.”
He shrugged off Bank’s arm.
“Want to, but I’ve got prior plans. Someone to meet tomorrow, so early night. Plus, I’m sleepy.”
“Still love your sleep, huh. Fine. After your appointment, we’ll talk. You must be curious how the empire’s faring.”
Bank turned to leave with a wave. Lander briefly pictured the emperor’s face, then walked on.