The Hidden Gate Unseals
Same time.
The man who had come to see Duke Amur dropped to one knee.
"Still the same?"
"Yes, he's only staying quietly in his office."
"Hmm, that's strange. Very strange."
Count Alteon was a man of great ambition, and his preparations were always meticulous.
He was famous for considering even the worst-case scenarios and preparing countermeasures before executing even the smallest tasks.
The current situation was no different. He must have secured a way to survive in advance.
Definitely.
That was why they were waiting.
To see what choice he would make.
How he would react to the punishment.
"So he's not moving at all, is that it? The chance he's noticed our surveillance?"
"Less than 10 percent."
Ten percent.
A low probability, but not one they could dismiss entirely.
"Get up and report everything he does, from waking to sleeping."
"Yes. Count Alteon sleeps on the bed in the corner of his office. When he wakes, he washes up, eats breakfast there, then handles his work. He eats lunch, returns to work, eats dinner, works more, then lies down to sleep. Five minutes later, he's definitely asleep."
"And that's it?"
"Yes."
"Every day so far? Just like that?"
"Yes."
Duke Amur furrowed his brow.
He's onto us.
There was no reason for Count Alteon to spend his days like that.
He knows he's being watched.
That's why he's playing dead.
Out of fear of punishment.
Because he doesn't know what form it will take.
"But he still doesn't know the severity of the punishment."
"You mean..."
"He's probably caught on to the surveillance."
"But I..."
"I know. It's not your fault, don't worry."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Heh, but it seems he hasn't realized that the severity of his punishment depends on his own choices. A bad decision could cost him his life..."
"..."
"From your expression, you have something to say."
"N-no, I don't."
"It's fine. Speak."
The man hesitated before opening his mouth.
"Why not just... take him out quietly."
"You're suggesting we kill him?"
"Yes."
"If he dies inside the castle, it alone would tarnish the honor of our Hemil Empire. Moreover, His Majesty ordered us to handle this as discreetly as possible, and failing that would be unacceptable."
"Pardon...?"
"For now, this is known only to me. If Count Alteon dies, the other nobles won't know why and will grow anxious. Rumors will spread naturally. Someone's killing Hemil Empire nobles, they'll say. Can you imagine what happens then?"
"..."
"I'm saying that just killing him in the castle could lead to unpredictable consequences. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I hadn't considered that."
"It's fine. That's why we're waiting. If he repents his crimes, he'll come to me on his own. If he tries to flee..."
Outside the castle, not inside.
They could make it look like a monster attack.
But he wasn't moving.
As the one who had to pronounce judgment, Duke Amur had no choice but to watch him a little longer.
"Now, go back to surveilling him."
"Understood."
Once the man left, Duke Amur, alone, rested his chin on his hand.
Nothing slipped through, right?
There absolutely wouldn't be.
They'd watched him thoroughly.
Yet a corner of his chest felt uneasy.
"Hoo."
He shook his head to clear his mind.
It's fine.
They'd catch him the moment he tried anything foolish.
He believed that.
And so time passed.
Five hours later.
As dinnertime arrived, Count Alteon's eyes gleamed.
Finally, finally...!
Just then, a tray of food was brought in.
"Ahem."
He hurriedly sat at the table.
He scanned the food quickly.
Two plates of well-cooked crab on the left.
Crab means door. Plates mean ten minutes.
In other words, head outside the castle in twenty minutes.
Finally...!
Tension surged into Count Alteon's shoulders.
No, can't do that.
He had to act as calm as possible.
They're watching.
Forcing the tension from his body, it melted away.
His heart still pounded wildly.
Without showing it outwardly, he finished his meal, then feigned a bored expression as he spoke.
"Whew, I've been cooped up inside too long. It's stuffy."
"Shall I prepare your things?"
"Do it. Time to get some fresh air."
"Outside the castle...?"
"Yes."
"Understood, my lord."
As the butler left the office, the two men secretly watching Count Alteon signaled each other.
One vanished, rushing to Duke Amur.
"Your Grace, a report."
"Speak."
"Count Alteon says he's going out for air."
"Outside the castle?"
"Yes, outside."
"Certain?"
"Yes."
"Any other signs? Contacts?"
"None detected."
Duke Amur narrowed his brow at the report.
Hmm, troubling.
He's been holed up in his office for days without moving.
Suddenly going outside the castle felt suspicious.
Should they keep watching...?
What if he'd made contact while evading their eyes?
Did he have to make the harsh call after all?
"Your Grace, what should we do?"
Duke Amur steeled his resolve.
"If he seems to meet someone in a crowded area, subdue and bring him with all the eyes watching. If he heads to a remote spot outside... dispose of him immediately."
"Understood."
The man vanished with his reply.
"Hoo."
Duke Amur sank deeper into his chair and closed his eyes.
Meanwhile.
Count Alteon, heading outside the castle, strolled leisurely through the bustling streets as if truly just airing out.
The two surveillance agents from Duke Amur exchanged nods.
It's fine, for now.
Then he bumped into someone, and their eyes sharpened.
Something?
Expecting some special action, they focused intently on his every move, but nothing seemed off.
A false alarm? But their instincts were right.
Something had been slipped into Count Alteon's hand. A small item from the shoulder bump.
Its meaning was clear: eliminate the watchers.
Of course, the watchers didn't know.
"...!"
They couldn't react properly to the sudden presence behind them.
Slash.
The blade sank into their throats in an instant.
"Guh, guk..."
Right after the two watchers died pointlessly.
Count Alteon bumped into someone else.
This time, a folded paper came into his hand.
[Elimination Complete.]
Joy flashed in his eyes.
Yes, it's done...!
His final bastion to save his life.
Time to put it into action.
"I have a quick stop. Return to the castle first."
"Pardon? Are you sure you'll be alright alone?"
"I'm fine."
"At least take an escort knight..."
"I said I'm fine."
The butler bowed at the count's firm tone.
"A-alright."
"Go on."
Count Alteon quickened his pace alone.
He arrived at a remote forest.
"You're here."
"Yes."
There, he met a unfamiliar middle-aged man.
"You saved my life, so time to uphold your promise."
"Of course. But first, one thing."
"What?"
"You're taking me too, right? That's certain?"
"Certain."
"And treating me the best there?"
"Of course."
"The contract?"
"We'll draw it up when we arrive."
"No, now. Here."
The middle-aged man frowned.
"Sigh, fine. Let's do it."
The contract was simple.
Guarantee Count Alteon's safety.
Give him the highest treatment.
Never let his life be in danger.
If broken, death.
"Good. Now let's go."
Count Alteon fiddled with the item in his bosom.
Warp Seal Release Scroll.
Who knew he'd use this luckily found scroll like this.
◈ Ancient warp gates are currently sealed. A seal release scroll is required to unseal them, and this scroll becomes fully bound upon certain actions.
◈ Bound item — cannot be stolen.
With the contract signed...
Once they left this place, everything would be perfect.
"Hurry."
"Right."
They needed to move fast now. Duke Amur must have noticed the watchers were gone.
*
Duke Amur opened his closed eyes.
No report.
They were supposed to report at set intervals, so no word meant something had happened.
"Rack."
Mist rose, forming a human shape.
Secret Guard Captain Rack.
"You called."
"Trouble. Find Count Alteon and kill him."
"Understood."
Rack dissolved into mist again.
His skills were reliable.
He could trust him, but time was the issue.
Not too late, I hope?
From the situation, he'd chosen exile.
Where to? Weibra Empire?
He couldn't understand why.
He'd take losses, but negotiating with Weibra nobles could reclaim control over his life.
Would Count Alteon not know that?
That made it more confusing.
I'm curious about your choice.
Time passed like that.
"Your Grace!"
"What is it?"
"Th-that..."
An unexpected event shook the Forma Continent.
*
As the sun set, hunting Dark Knights grew harder.
Still, they could manage three or four, so they advanced cautiously.
"Two over there."
"Okay."
He fired an arrow to lure one.
Grrrrr...!
The remaining one charged late.
"I'll stick an Armor Knight on it, handle one."
While Sung Min-woo, his spirit, and ten Armor Knights handled the latecomer.
Mu-hyuk, Ye-rin, Doran, and the rest surrounded the first.
Mu-hyuk drew its attention up front, while the summons around unleashed attacks.
"Haaah!"
Sung Min-woo bore the brunt.
"How far?!"
"Almost!"
"Ugh...!"
They finished one and helped Sung Min-woo.
"Hoo. Break time for me."
"Good work."
"For the exp, this is nothing."
While Sung Min-woo rested, they finished the last Dark Knight, but darkness deepened.
"Whew, already dark, and Dark Knights are black—hard to spot movement."
"Call it here for today?"
Ye-rin nodded vigorously beside him.
"Yeah, yeah. Rest!"
"Alright."
"Hehe, thank goodness. Honestly, it was tough."
"They're pretty strong, huh?"
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"Not pretty—they're insanely strong."
"That so?"
As Mu-hyuk faltered, Ye-rin leaned in.
"Of course, the exp's not bad..."
As Ye-rin started her gentle scolding.
The seal on the hidden warp gate has been released.
The path to the continent opens.
'Powers Hidden in Each Continent'
Ye-rin shut her mouth at the sudden hologram, and Mu-hyuk froze in shock.