Chapter 183: Was It You? (3)
Chapter 183: Was It You? (3)
‘Ho….’
Patrick scanned his surroundings.
Though their numbers were few and their equipment looked worn, the caliber of these knights seemed formidable. They appeared to be at least 4-star level. Furthermore, the knight who had guided them here was clearly a high-ranking 7-star.
And this man, who held such individuals in perfect submission with a single word, was none other than…
“It’s been a while. Is this the first time we’ve met since Arcana?”
“Indeed. You remember me?”
“Of course. You were Siperio Paison Yuzef, right?”
“…It is Sierion Baisus Yuzef.”
“Ah, sorry. Your name is just too long.”
Sierion Baisus Yuzef.
A rising powerhouse who had appeared at Arcana as a prince of the Yuzef Kingdom and defeated Antorius, a master from the Holy Kingdom. Though he had been largely overshadowed by the final clash between Patrick and Garcia, he was nonetheless a supreme swordsman capable of forging a blade of light with an Aura Blade. And now…
“I’ve heard the rumors. So, you’ve become king?”
“That is how it turned out.”
“Should I offer my congratulations?”
“If it is a congratulation from the famous Double Dragon, I shall accept it with pleasure.”
“…….”
Patrick wore a peculiar expression.
In truth, he remembered this guy vividly. Back at Arcana, amidst all the fledglings who were barely worth comparing, this man was the only one who remained in Patrick’s memory as a true martial artist.
That evaluation wasn't based solely on the level of his power. This man was…
‘Different. He’s definitely different.’
It was hard to define exactly. However, this man named Sierion possessed something that set him apart from ordinary people. In Patrick’s experience, one should never underestimate such an individual, even if they lacked the strength to wring a chicken’s neck.
This was because they carried out actions that defied common sense with utter nonchalance.
Just look at him now. The Yuzef Kingdom was currently in the middle of a civil war. Yet Sierion, the central figure of that conflict, had left his kingdom to be here. Was this a sane thing to do?
‘He’s a lunatic.’
Coming from Patrick, that was a bit rich… but it wasn't exactly wrong.
Sierion offered a gentle smile and gestured for Patrick to take a seat.
“Why don’t you sit? I’ve prepared a place just for you.”
“Just for me, huh?”
Patrick let out a short laugh.
Present at this gathering were Isabella, a member of royalty, and Riman Sierra, a talent carrying the future of the Tower of Truth. Even Matthew, despite the constant nagging he received from Patrick, was the precious son of the Elvador Merchant Group.
Yet, only one seat had been prepared. By offering that single seat to Patrick, Sierion’s intention was clear.
‘You want to talk one-on-one? Fine by me.’
Patrick sat down boldly across from him. Behind him, his companions stood ready, their eyes fixed on Sierion. Their gazes warned that they wouldn't stand idle if he tried any foul play, prompting Sierion to chuckle.
“First, I must treat my guest. I heard you enjoy your drink?”
“Well, a little.”
Hearing this, Patrick’s companions looked incredulous. How could a man who seemed likely to bleed alcohol instead of blood if pricked with a needle act so modest?
Sierion spoke with a bright smile.
“That’s good to hear. It makes my preparations worthwhile.”
“Ho, I take it you’ve prepared something good?”
“I have prepared the finest vintage in the world.”
“Quite the boast.”
“You’ll understand once you taste it.”
Sierion signaled to his knight. The man brought forward a heavily sealed box. When the lock was undone and the lid opened, a bottle wrapped in luxurious black silk was revealed.
“You’ve kept it with great care.”
“Because it is that precious.”
“Just how expensive is it?”
“At the very least… it would be worth as much as a sizable Great Territory.”
“…Huh?”
Patrick was momentarily taken aback.
Come on, that was an exaggeration. No matter how expensive alcohol was, it was still just alcohol. How could it be worth an entire territory?
But the moment the black silk was removed and the label was revealed…
“Black Rose!”
A shocked voice erupted from behind Patrick. It was Riman Sierra, shouting in a tone completely unlike his usual composed self.
“You recognize it?”
“Is it truly authentic? Is this really the Black Rose?”
“Of course. I am not foolish enough to bring out a fake here.”
“My god….”
Seeing Riman’s shock, Patrick asked, “What is it?”
Riman stared at the bottle with the face of a researcher looking at a rare specimen.
“It is a national treasure said to have been gifted to the first Emperor of the Roman Empire by the Dragon Lord himself.”
“The Roman Empire?”
Then this wine was at least a thousand years old. No, if it was the first Emperor, it might be over fifteen hundred years old.
Riman spoke with genuine awe.
“It is a legendary wine that even the successive Emperors of the Roman Empire were said to drink only on national holidays. You cannot put a price on this.”
“…Seriously?”
“Yes. As far as I knew, the last bottle was consumed by the Emperor of the Benator Empire two hundred years ago….”
Damn, Patrick thought. He’d assumed it was a boast, but it really was an insanely expensive drink. At this point, it wasn't just wine; it was a cultural heritage site. No, it wouldn't be strange to call it an ancient relic. And that wine…
“It just so happened that one last bottle remained in our country,” Sierion said as he popped the cork.
Pop!
“Ah… no.”
Riman let out a pained moan, but Sierion calmly filled the glass in front of him.
“No matter how good the wine, it only has meaning if it is drunk.”
“Do you know what kind of wine that is… No, beyond just wine, do you realize how precious a cultural asset it is…?”
Matthew sighed as he watched Riman mutter in a daze.
‘Tsk tsk, your mental discipline is still lacking.’
Being with Patrick Schneider meant completely departing from the common sense and order of the world. You couldn't afford to be surprised by every little thing. No matter how precious that wine was, Patrick’s reaction would probably just be to drool—wait, what?
Only then did Matthew look at Patrick and show a surprised expression.
Normally, Patrick would be staring greedily at the Black Rose, drooling like a dog that had caught the scent of roasting meat. But now…
“…….”
He was calm. Like a seasoned gambler at a high-stakes table, not a single muscle in his face twitched. His focus was entirely concentrated on Sierion.
‘What is it? Why is he acting like that?’
Matthew had spent three years with Patrick, but he had never seen him like this. Was the situation really that serious? More so than the Arcana finals or when they were surrounded in the Caesar Kingdom?
Finally, the glass was filled and pushed forward. Sierion spoke.
“I opened the national treasury to bring this for you. Please, have a drink.”
Patrick lifted the glass and looked at the contents. It was pitch black, but upon closer inspection, it seemed to give off a faint violet radiance.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Patrick raised the glass.
From behind, Riman spoke up. “First, you must fully appreciate the color and the aroma….”
But before he could finish, Patrick tossed the drink back in a single gulp.
“Whoa!”
“You… you…!”
“Crazy….”
Riman was horrified. The knights of the Yuzef Kingdom were equally appalled. To drink such a precious vintage like that! It was a wine that should have been savored sip by sip after fully appreciating its scent and color, etched into one’s memory forever. To just gulp it down?
‘What a waste.’
‘Damn it.’
Patrick, having downed a national treasure in one go, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and spoke.
“It’s an excellent wine.”
It was a pitifully brief review for a man who had just downed the world’s finest vintage.
“I am glad it pleases you.”
Sierion, however, didn't seem offended in the least. Perhaps it was Sierion’s composure that rubbed Patrick the wrong way? Patrick continued with a smirk.
“If there’s one flaw…”
“What is it?”
“It’s that my drinking companion isn't exactly a sane fellow.”
“…….”
“Thanks to that, the wine tastes like swill.”
Schwing! Clang!
The sound of swords being drawn echoed from all sides. The knights of the Yuzef Kingdom drew their blades in unison, and simultaneously, Matthew and Isabella behind Patrick drew theirs as well.
April didn't draw her sword, but her gaze was locked onto the middle-aged knight who had guided them. Her eyes made it clear she would react the moment he so much as twitched a finger. The middle-aged knight glared back at her just as intensely.
It was a hair-trigger situation.
“Wait… wait, everyone calm down. Calm down.”
Riman Sierra, the only one who had refrained from drawing a weapon, stepped in. Though he was traveling with Patrick, as a member of the Tower of Truth, he couldn't afford to draw his weapon recklessly here. He tried his best to de-escalate the situation.
“Everyone, please calm down. This is the Caesar Kingdom. If you engage in combat in a foreign land, it could be seen as a grave diplomatic provocation.”
It was a logically sound argument. However, for a knight, there were things more important than logic.
A knight of the Yuzef Kingdom spoke with a resolute expression, his sword leveled.
“The Double Dragon has dared to insult our Highness.”
‘Damn it.’
Riman cursed inwardly. No knight would tolerate their lord being insulted. It wasn't just that they couldn't tolerate it; they must not tolerate it.
The knight slowly closed the distance.
“There must be a price for this insult.”
“Move aside, Magic Swordsman!”
The one who stopped the bloodshot-eyed knights was…
“Everyone, stop.”
It was Sierion himself. At his word, the knights halted and suppressed their killing intent. Sierion looked at Patrick with a bitter smile.
“It is a shame the wine tastes foul to you.”
“Hmm….”
“Shall we walk for a bit? I wish to speak with you alone.”
“If you want.”
Patrick and Sierion stood up. April moved to follow Patrick, but…
“Wait.”
“Young Master.”
“Stay here.”
At Patrick’s command, she wore a disappointed expression but remained in her place.
Sierion and Patrick walked a short distance away from the group. Once they were far enough, Sierion was the first to speak.
“My apologies. I gave them instructions beforehand, but they are men of fierce loyalty.”
“Doesn't matter. More importantly…”
Patrick looked at Sierion with sharp eyes.
“Stop beating around the bush and get to the point.”
Sierion let out a small sigh and spoke.
“Patrick Schneider.”
“Speak.”
“Please, become my man.”
“…….”
Well, he had a feeling it would come to this. Coming all this way to treat him to incredibly expensive wine like some lord obsessed with recruiting a legendary strategist, and his tolerant attitude regardless of what Patrick said…
He had guessed it. He had expected this. Therefore, Patrick’s answer was already decided.
“I refuse.”
“…….”
“Is that all you wanted?”
As Patrick turned to leave, Sierion hurriedly grabbed him. He spoke with desperation.
“Please, just hear me out.”
“Nothing will change even if I listen.”
“Even so…”
“…….”
“I beg of you.”
At Sierion’s repeated pleas, Patrick scratched his head and spoke gruffly.
“I’ll listen for as long as it takes to pay for that wine I just drank.”
“Thank you.”
Sierion had essentially used a national treasure just to buy a few moments of Patrick’s time. But he didn't think the price was high at all. He began to explain his thoughts calmly.
“As a fellow native of the East, you must know that the four kingdoms of the Eastern Region are being thoroughly exploited.”
“I know.”
A breakwater to hold back the Great Forest. A buffer zone that protected humanity with blood. How could he not know? It was to change that reality that Patrick had planned the pioneering of the Great Forest.
However, Sierion’s plan seemed to be of a different nature.
“I intend to change this reality.”
“How?”
“First, I had to become the king of my country.”
“You succeeded. Congratulations again.”
“And after this, I will unify the four Eastern kingdoms.”
“You have ambitious dreams.”
“Then, I will conquer the three central kingdoms: Caesar, Magellan, and Harbor.”
“…….”
“Finally, I will bring down the Benator Empire and the Saint Louis Holy Church State.”
Continental unification. Sierion was declaring his intent to unify the entire continent with his own hands.
Even after hearing such a far-fetched claim, Patrick didn't laugh. Instead, he pointed out the core of the issue.
“What does you swallowing the continent and ascending as Emperor have to do with the suffering the people of the four Eastern kingdoms are currently facing?”
“Unification is merely a necessary step in the process. After unification, I intend to distribute the burden that the East currently bears equally across the continent.”
“…Keep talking.”
Seeing Patrick show a hint of interest, Sierion continued.
“To begin with, the existence of the Great Forest is a common calamity that threatens all of humanity. The current reality, where the weakest nations on the continent must hold it back with their blood, is wrong. All of humanity across the continent should join forces to face it.”
“…….”
Patrick remained silent. Sierion looked him straight in the eye as he continued his explanation.
“If the continent is unified and an absolute authority like the former Roman Empire is established, everyone can work together to hold back the Great Forest. If that happens, people will no longer have to pay the price with blood and death as they do now. Or at the very least, that price will be minimized.”
“…….”
“For that, I need power. The power to unify the continent. An overwhelming power that can minimize bloodshed during that process.”
“…….”
“I’ve thought this since I first saw you at Arcana. You are the person I need most.”
“…….”
“Patrick Schneider. Please, lend me your strength. Not for my sake. For the sake of the suffering weak in the East, for a better future, lend me your strength.”
As he spoke, Sierion bowed his head to Patrick. Even if it was an unofficial setting, a king of a nation had bowed his head to Patrick. Patrick was well aware of the weight of such a gesture.
After a long silence, Patrick looked at the top of Sierion’s head and finally spoke.
“Your words are quite plausible.”
Sierion raised his head and looked at Patrick with burning eyes.
“If I turn out to be a man of mere words, you may take my head with your sword at any time.”
He was likely sincere. There wasn't a hint of falsehood in those eyes.
‘Right. There are people like this.’
The ones who get things done. The ones who attempt things others call impossible or insane, and somehow, doggedly, make them happen. In fact, the Radiant Dragon Hero Jincheon was exactly that kind of man.
And in the future, the world usually called such people…
‘Heroes.’
Patrick let out a deep sigh.
Fine. His desire to save people was good, and his resolve was firm. Above all, Patrick liked the way he, as a monarch, lowered himself to recruit talent. Yes, it was all good. It was all fine, but…
“Let me ask you one thing.”
“What is it?”
“A man as great as you, who harbors such a grand cause for the people and seeks to practice justice…”
“……."
“Why did you lay your hands on dark magic?”
Sierion’s expression crumpled instantly.