Chapter 151: Two Long Nights, One Short Night (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 151: Two Long Nights, One Short Night (3)
A faint light emanated from between Jin’s hands. The object was curved like a scimitar, roughly two and a half spans long, with a tip as sharp as an awl.
Even when gripped firmly, it was too large to be fully enclosed by a fist. It felt heavy, radiating a strange, biting chill.
‘The Silver Dragon’s Claw…! He actually had that? But how?!’
Oul swallowed hard, a rare instinctive reaction. Even Yona, who had been glaring at him, had eyes clouded with bewilderment and fury.
“Don’t you dare dismiss me! How on earth did Jin get his hands on something that precious? There is no way the main family would have handed that over to a reserve flagbearer, especially not the youngest! Besides, even the Runcandel vaults shouldn't possess one!”
If Runcandel had truly held a Silver Dragon’s Claw, they would have used it long ago as a bargaining chip with the Nameless.
Oul shook his head, looking as if he were admitting defeat.
“I swear upon my name, it was not me. As you know, there are only two Silver Dragon’s Claws in our secret vault. And unlike that one, both of ours are shattered.”
A dragon’s claw was a dream material for blacksmiths and artifact creators. Equipment crafted from a dragon’s corpse retained a trace of the authority of the god that the dragon served.
Thus, every part of a dragon—scales, teeth, bones, and organs—was treated as a priceless treasure.
They were as rare as stars in the sky. Despite the fact that, with the exception of a few high-ranking species, the efficiency of such materials often failed to justify their exorbitant cost, they remained the ultimate luxury.
The demand for equipment processed from dragon remains was insatiable.
However, to the Nameless, a ‘Silver Dragon’s Claw’ held a value far beyond that of a mere rare material. This was a secret known to very few, even among the merchant princes who dealt in dragon remains.
“Then how did the youngest…?”
“We shall have to find out. For now, it seems I have won the bet. Since your brother has revealed that item, this assassination is a failure.”
“Ugh.”
“It may be frustrating, but you have lost. Surely you do not believe that sating your anger by killing them is more valuable than a Silver Dragon’s Claw? Even you must understand that much…”
“…I know that! But it’s not over yet. What if the youngest doesn’t give it to us?”
“He wouldn't have brought it out if that were the case. Let us go.”
Jin approached the window and held the Silver Dragon’s Claw high, ensuring it could be seen clearly.
‘I didn’t kick Dante and Veradin out of the city, but I saved them in the end. So, I win the bet, Nameless King.’
After standing there for about thirty seconds, he turned around to find Yona and Oul standing in the room, having arrived soundlessly. Had he not anticipated this, his heart would have leaped out of his chest.
‘This gives me goosebumps every time. How do they suppress their presence so perfectly?’
Yet, it wasn't exactly the same as when he first arrived in Samil.
He had ‘felt’ them, however briefly, the moment the two of them descended from the roof of the opposite building and moved through the street. Had he not opened his Mind’s Eye, he wouldn't have noticed even that much.
Jin composed his expression and offered a greeting.
“It is an honor to meet you, 85th Nameless King. And it has been a while, Sister Yona.”
As he greeted them while feigning ignorance of their secret observation, Yona hid behind Oul and cleared her throat awkwardly. She seemed fidgety, unable to meet Jin’s eyes.
“Where did you obtain the Silver Dragon’s Claw?” Oul asked bluntly.
Jin reflexively glanced at Veradin and Dante.
‘As I thought, he paralyzed them. To make sure they can’t overhear us, just like last time.’
A chill ran down his spine, but he had no reason to be intimidated now.
“I cannot tell you that. Please simply understand it as a gift from a Silver Dragon I happened to encounter during my travels as a reserve flagbearer.”
Despite the somewhat bold answer, Oul did not lose his temper. Instead, his eyes gleamed with interest.
“It seems you didn't just receive it, but also heard how we use it.”
“Indeed. I was told that if I showed this, I could survive at least once against the assassins of the Nameless, no matter the circumstances…”
— The assassins of the Nameless have regarded our clan’s claws as more than just sacred relics since ancient times.
— Why?
— If used correctly, they can assassinate targets that are otherwise impossible to kill. They have a unique processing method that allows them to freeze a target’s time for the blink of an eye.
— For assassins of that caliber, that would be more than enough. If that’s the case, there’s no one they couldn't kill. Is interfering with another person’s time really that simple?
— Originally, it’s something that can only be done in extremely limited circumstances, even if Olta himself were to descend. It seems their processing method requires a significant sacrifice as well.
In short, the Silver Dragon’s Claw was a tool that bought the assassins of the Nameless a ‘moment.’
‘For assassins on the level of Sister Yona or the Nameless King, that moment would be absolute. Not just for assassination, but in a direct fight as well.’
Even someone like Luna or Talaris might not be able to defeat a Nameless King who possessed four or five Silver Dragon’s Claws.
Especially if they were unaware that the Nameless could use such a thing. If the method was assassination rather than a fair fight, the outcome was a foregone conclusion.
Of course, creating the ‘opportunity for assassination’ while possessing the claw was a separate matter.
“That is correct. If you hand that over to me, your death shall be rescinded.”
“Wouldn't it be more efficient to kill me, take it, and then silence everyone? I heard from the Silver Dragon that this is one of the greatest secrets of the Nameless.”
“Had you not been a Runcandel, and had those two been ordinary individuals, I might have considered it.”
“I’ve always resented the background I was born with, but today is the first time I feel truly grateful for it.”
Jin held out the claw of the Silver Dragon, Quicantel, to Oul.
“Before I offer this to the Nameless King, there is one thing I wish to ask.”
“Speak.”
“I am curious why real assassins, not just cadets, targeted me so intensely. I want to know if Sister Yona was checking me as a fellow Runcandel, or if the Nameless King was testing me.”
Oul looked down at Jin with a faint, knowing smile. The reason Jin was asking something they both already knew was obvious.
‘I’ve been outmaneuvered twice in three days by this audacious brat. He wants me to explicitly state that there was a bet between Yona and me.’
It was a subtle threat.
If Oul didn't give a proper answer, Jin would tell Yona that Oul had visited him. It was also a reminder not to forget the favor Oul had promised to grant him.
“Yona and I made a bet regarding you. I bet that you would survive, and she bet the opposite. Since I have won the bet thanks to you and even gained a Silver Dragon’s Claw, I shall grant you a reward.”
“Thank you.”
“Then I shall take my leave. I’m sure the two siblings have much to discuss after being apart for so long. Come find me at the Nameless Hall when you are finished.”
“Does this mean I no longer have to fear assassination from the Nameless?”
“No assassin of the Nameless, including Yona and myself, shall harm you. This shall remain in effect for ten years after you leave this city. Unless you or your clan invades us, this decision will not be overturned.”
This time, Jin’s eyes widened.
‘Ten years…!’
Jin had never expected to be removed from the Nameless’s hit list for such a long period.
‘What a windfall. I won’t have to worry about the Nameless when I go to war with my siblings later.’
It was a laughingstock for flagbearers to use outside assassins to keep each other in check.
However, Jin believed that Joshua, Myu, or Anne would be more than willing to commission the Nameless. By then, they would want him dead by any means necessary.
Once Oul left the inn room, Yona began to act fidgety.
She twirled her hair with her finger, alternating between a smile and a melancholy expression.
“Heh… Little brother.”
“Yes, Sister.”
Jin’s voice was laced with a cold edge.
Yona grew frantic.
“Th-that… I didn't have any intention of sabotaging you. Really. I actually wanted to help you grow.”
“Is that why you sent dozens of real assassins? While monitoring me every single day?”
“It’s true, though…”
“From my perspective, there isn't much room to interpret your actions any other way.”
“By the way, who are those two?”
Yona glanced at the paralyzed Dante and Veradin with curiosity. She still didn't know their identities.
“Veradin Zipple and Dante Hairan.”
“Heh, I see.”
“You failed to kill me yourself, Sister. And since the Nameless King has guaranteed my safety, you can’t kill me now either. So, I suppose you’ll just report to the clan that I’m associating with them.”
“Uh, why do you think I’d do that? If I did, you’d likely die or be severely punished.”
“Because you hate me, Sister. If you didn't, you wouldn't have sent assassins in such an organized manner. Our meeting doesn't even violate the laws for reserve flagbearers, so why did you do it?”
His anger was genuine.
Jin didn't know what kind of person Yona really was.
But since he had been subjected to assassination threats far beyond the normal level from the moment he arrived in Samil because of her, he couldn't just let it slide. Even if he had to demand the Ten Thousand Poison Liquor from her.
“I just wanted to play with you. I even wrote that in the note…”
“So you treated me like a toy.”
“No! That’s not it at all!”
Yona suddenly screamed.
‘I can’t get a read on her at all. What is it? Did she really think she was just playing with me?’
When Yona’s eyes began to well up with tears, Jin couldn't help but feel a sense of injustice.
“Wait, you’re the one who tried to kill me. Why are you the one crying, Sister?”
“I don’t know. What am I supposed to do if the tears just come?”
“Aren't you the top assassin of the Nameless? How did you even pass emotional control training…?”
“I never received that. They said I was so good at killing people that I didn't need it. That’s what Mother said when she first introduced me to Lord Oul.”
Jin froze, his eyes darkening rapidly.
‘What…?’
Yona was twelve years old back then.
Even for a Runcandel, that was far too young to be treated as a mere killing doll. Especially by her own mother…
There were things Jin couldn't possibly know.
The first time Yona killed someone was when she was eight years old—one of her cousins who had visited the Storm Castle.
Furthermore, Yona was never assigned a nanny, and even during the two years she spent at the main estate after leaving the Storm Castle, she never once participated as a cadet.
Even during her time at the Storm Castle, she had never shared a single meal with her other siblings.
It was because of Cyron’s strict orders. While the succession war was important, he had to prevent his other children from being slaughtered by Yona before they even left the Storm Castle.
Sniff, sniff, heh.
As he watched his sister alternate between sobbing and giggling, Jin felt something more than just a chill.
He felt a heavy, massive weight pressing down on his chest.