Chapter 252: The Feat of a Reserve Flagbearer (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 252: The Feat of a Reserve Flagbearer (1)
No one expected to hear that name. The moment the brilliant blonde hair was revealed from beneath the hood and the striking, heavily made-up face was exposed, everyone had naturally assumed the introduction was for Barmul.
But then he said Jin Runcandel.
The square fell deathly silent in an instant. People doubted their own ears, waiting for Jin to continue.
‘Jin Runcandel?’
‘He’s not Barmul, but Jin Runcandel? The Reserve Flagbearer of Runcandel?’
The reporters were busy exchanging bewildered and astonished looks.
The Runcandel delegation, who had been paying their respects on one side of the square, looked as if their eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.
‘That crazy bastard… He didn't give me a single hint and just expects me to play along?!’
Even Luna hadn't been told in advance.
However, she believed that if her youngest brother had started this, it was because he had a plan. Though she nearly let a string of curses fly, she didn't forget her decision to become her youngest brother's 'sword.'
The most reliable sword, one he could wield whenever and however he pleased. Since that was her role, she chose not to panic. Instead, she focused on reading her brother’s intentions and moving accordingly.
Beside her, Joshua’s face had turned a deep, furious red as he glared at Jin.
‘Jin, you bastard. You’ve finally gone and done it.’
In Joshua’s mind, revealing his identity now was a suicidal act.
How much had Zipple sacrificed in their determination to eliminate ‘Barmul’? They had discarded their family’s prestige and image, even going so far as to fabricate an assassin. It meant they would kill him by any means necessary. The damage Zipple had sustained was far too great for them to simply let this slide.
Grit!
Joshua ground his teeth, the veins in his neck bulging. He felt he knew exactly why his damn youngest brother was revealing his identity at this specific moment.
‘You’re certain that I won’t let you die, even if it means breaking family law. You’re relying on that precious contract of yours…!’
Solderet’s power—the very power Joshua coveted so desperately.
If Jin died, Joshua would never be able to seize the contract. Therefore, Joshua concluded that Jin was holding the contract hostage to drag him into this mess.
Even if others recognized him, it was the greatest taboo for a Reserve Flagbearer to reveal their own identity. The same applied to anyone from the Garden of Swords who helped a Reserve Flagbearer. It was a law designed to prevent the pathetic act of a Reserve Flagbearer building their reputation by hiding behind the Runcandel name.
It was a law well-known even to outsiders.
But what if a Reserve Flagbearer and a Flagbearer broke the rules simultaneously in a place with so many witnesses?
Strict law dictated that both should be killed or exiled from the family. However, the Flagbearer in question was Joshua, the man all but confirmed to be the next Patriarch.
‘There is no way Mother would truly punish me. And that cunning brat knows that if I am not punished, he remains safe as well.’
The Black Panther, Rosa Runcandel, would protect Joshua at any cost. And no matter how much Rosa might want to, she would have no justification to punish only Jin.
What infuriated Joshua was that he understood his youngest brother’s scheme perfectly but had no choice but to play along.
‘I’ll dance to your tune for now, but you won’t be able to run wild like this forever.’
Having finished his calculations, Joshua calmed his agitation.
“Guardian Knights, prepare for battle,” Joshua issued the command in a low voice to the knights standing behind him. He intended to protect Jin the moment Zipple launched an attack.
“Understood.”
“Understood.”
The Guardian Knights whispered their disciplined responses, sharpening their senses.
Meanwhile, Jin cast a subtle glance toward Joshua, who was barely managing to maintain his composure.
For a brief moment, their gazes met.
Jin’s lips curled into a slight smirk as he thought to himself:
‘You’re trying so hard to keep a straight face, but I know exactly what you're thinking, Joshua. You must be burning up inside, knowing you have no choice but to help me. You’re no match for me.’
Maintaining his smile, Jin continued his address to the crowd.
“As you all know, I am a Reserve Flagbearer of Runcandel. I began my activities as a Reserve Flagbearer in 1795 and have used several aliases. Today, I stand before you under the name of Barmul.”
“Are you truly Jin Runcandel?! We were told that Jin Runcandel has black hair and black eyes!” a reporter shouted.
In response, Jin pulled a handkerchief from his breast pocket and wiped his face and hair.
With every stroke, the makeup vanished, and the golden locks regained their original black hue.
While Barmul’s appearance had been described in newsletters worldwide as having ‘brilliant blonde hair and a beautiful face,’ Jin Runcandel’s detailed appearance had remained largely unknown even after the Single-log Bridge Party. However, the fact that the youngest son of Runcandel had black hair and black eyes was common knowledge.
As the crowd let out reflexive gasps, a few people recognized Jin’s face.
“That… that’s Jin Gray!”
“Whoa! Jin Gray, the winner of the Cosmos Arena!”
Some of the nobles from the Bellado Principality who had come to pay their respects were among them. The one who shouted excitedly about the winner was a noble who had won a tidy sum betting on Jin back then.
“There’s no mistake. That’s the young king I saw in the Mitel Kingdom.”
Similarly, members of the ‘Black King Corps,’ a mercenary group that had visited the Holy Kingdom as part of a condolence delegation, recognized Jin.
“I knew Lord Jin would make waves in the world someday! He was extraordinary even at the Single-log Bridge Party. Hahaha!”
Johnsina Perel of the Dragon King Knights also burst into hearty laughter upon seeing Jin. Other knights from various families who had attended the Single-log Bridge Party and were now in the Holy Kingdom showed similar reactions.
Since the memorial rite was the final step of the mourning process, delegations from across the world were gathered in the square.
Furthermore, hearing the name ‘Jin Gray’ from the Bellado nobles, the reporters recalled another incident.
Kidad of the Reverse Flow.
The mysterious swordsman who killed him had also left behind the name Jin Gray.
The reporters’ instincts were screaming. This was the scoop of a lifetime, one that dwarfed the Holy King’s assassination or Zipple’s political meddling.
They had to ask questions immediately.
In their judgment, it wouldn't be strange if Jin died right here, right now. Zipple’s mages would soon swarm the square to capture him, and the reporters doubted that the knights of Runcandel and Huphester would lift a finger to help.
“Lord Jin! Was it also you who killed Kidad Hall?!”
“Why have you come out here today at the risk of your life?! Are you not afraid of Zipple?”
“Please tell us why you helped the Holy Kingdom, even at the cost of breaking the laws of a Reserve Flagbearer! Did you receive orders from your family?!”
“What is your relationship with Lady Rani of the Holy Kingdom?!”
Suddenly, the reporters began screaming frantically.
Though the warriors of Runcandel and Huphester were watching with sharp eyes, the reporters judged that if they didn't ask now, they would never get another chance. The moment Zipple’s mages arrived, the square would turn into a scene of carnage. They needed to get at least one answer before that happened and flee.
Jin felt a momentary surge of disgust as he watched the reporters raising their voices like starving ghouls. He had long known how persistent they could be, but he hadn't expected them to lose their dignity to this extent in a square of mourning.
“All of you, shut up. I will not be taking questions,” Jin shouted, infusing his voice with power.
The reporters flinched and fell silent.
“I didn't come here to satisfy your curiosity. From this moment on, any reporter who speaks out of turn without my permission will never hold a pen again.”
The fierce killing intent in Jin’s eyes made it clear that he wasn't making an empty threat.
Once the reporters were quiet, Jin reined in his killing intent and spoke again.
“As a Reserve Flagbearer, I have traveled many lands to build my own interests and reputation for when I eventually become a Flagbearer. During my travels, I witnessed Zipple’s biological experiments in Colon and discovered that not only Zipple but also a terrorist organization called Kinzelo was involved.”
The reporters were busy scribbling down Jin’s words verbatim.
“I was unaware that the Holy Kingdom had been infiltrated by Zipple and Kinzelo, but it seems their alliance was broken because of me. As a result, the two factions engaged in all sorts of secret feuds within the Holy Kingdom, and I felt a slight sense of responsibility for that.”
Rani wore a devastated expression as she listened to Jin’s calm voice.
“I also saw it as an opportunity. What better achievement could there be for a Reserve Flagbearer than exposing the corruption of a nation and screwing over Runcandel’s rival family?”
This was the persona he had decided on beforehand—that he had helped the Holy Kingdom not to repay a debt to Rani, but for his own personal gain.
“Therefore, I went to Kinzelo’s territory, rescued the citizens of the Holy Kingdom, and handed them over to Lady Rani. My only agreement with Lady Rani was that she would later testify to my achievements to my main family, but Zipple has thwarted me at the last second. I have never killed Karl Zipple. Doing so would bring me nothing but loss.”
As Jin spoke with a shrug, gasps erupted from all around.
“In other words, I have come here to prevent my alias, Barmul, from being branded as Karl Zipple’s assassin. Furthermore, exposing the atrocities of Zipple and Kinzelo is entirely my own achievement, not the family’s. I hope you all remember this. Because…”
Jin suddenly pointed a finger toward one side of the square.
“Those people are about to attack me. Let’s hope we all see each other again alive.”
There stood Zipple’s mages, hidden under robes. They had just finished chanting and were aiming their offensive spells.
“Guardian Knights, protect the Reserve Flagbearer!”
Just as Joshua was about to shout those words, Luna’s voice rang out first.
“Runcandel Guardian Knights, and all knights of Huphester, protect the civilians! I will personally behead anyone who tries to help the Reserve Flagbearer!”
As soon as he heard Luna’s command, Jin smiled inwardly with satisfaction. She had read his intentions perfectly.
Shhhhiing—!
Five beams of mana shot toward Jin.
And Jin, lightly cutting through the beams, leaped down from the platform.