Chapter 312: Those Searching for Her (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 312: Those Searching for Her (2)
March 21, 1799. After a long-awaited vacation, Jin, Gilly, and Murakan were finally returning to the Garden of Swords.
Clop, clop, clop!
The rhythmic pounding of hooves pulling the Runcandel steel carriage echoed briskly down the road. Jin occasionally waved to the pedestrians of Kalon visible through the window, his mind already elsewhere—on the location of Valeria’s hideout that Misha had shared.
Mamit…
The lawless city, Mamit.
Valeria was currently established there under the alias Aria Owlheart.
—If you go to Mamit, there’s an inn called the Moonlight Well. It’s a place where the leaders of that den of human filth reside, calling themselves kings.
—I carried out a mission there during my cadet days. Is Aria Owlheart there?
—Yes. She often uses Mamit as a base. When she was fourteen, she lived there permanently.
—Are you insane? A fourteen-year-old human girl lived in a den of criminals like that? That Aria girl is certainly no ordinary person. And if she’s at the inn where the bosses stay, does that mean she holds a position of power there?
—Well, I didn’t look into it that deeply, but she is a child forged like a well-tempered sword.
That was the conversation they’d had before leaving Misha’s bar, the Veil.
Jin smiled faintly, imagining his former master holding her own in Mamit.
I had a feeling she’d be in Mamit around this time. I remember her describing it as a more romantic city than one would expect.
As far as Jin knew, Valeria had lived there for two years.
That was why, when he had gone to Mamit on a mission during his cadet days, he had asked a tavern worker if they knew anyone using the name "Hister."
Master must have a reason for using Mamit as one of her bases. She isn’t someone who moves without a purpose…
In his past life, Jin and Valeria had met when they were twenty-five and twenty-three, respectively, and had spent about three years together. During that time, the two often shared deep conversations and caught glimpses of each other's inner selves, but Jin never learned every detail of Valeria’s past.
I’m meeting Master six years earlier than in my previous life.
He was curious.
He wondered what more he would learn about Valeria this time and if they could be together just as they were in his past life.
After a moment of reflection, Jin gave his head a light shake. The reunion was a story that only he knew; there was no point in getting sentimental before they even met.
Jin pulled two Spirit Energy Orbs from his robe. The first and second could be distinguished by their size and color.
“It’s fascinating, Young Master. To think those small beads are recording devices,” Gilly said, looking at the orbs.
“If that Aria girl really can restore the device, I’d like to see it for myself. Are you going straight to Mamit?” Murakan asked.
“I’ll go immediately,” Jin replied. “Provided there’s nothing urgent I need to handle at the Garden of Swords.”
The carriage came to a halt.
As the Guardian Knights opened the door, Petro approached and bowed. He had been waiting at the entrance of the Garden of Swords for Jin’s return.
“Petro.”
“Young Master, how was your vacation?”
“I feel like I’ve had a proper rest for the first time in a while. Anything happen while I was gone?”
“While you were away, my only duties were simple paperwork and room maintenance. I spent my time quite leisurely.”
Petro said that, but he had actually been incredibly busy. During Jin’s absence, he had overseen the Volta estate, consulted with Dino to manage news articles about Jin, and invested the Flagbearer funds allocated to Jin into various secure businesses.
Above all, he had been preoccupied with monitoring the family’s political climate on Jin’s behalf.
As a result, Petro had discovered one peculiar point.
“Since Madam Rosa is currently away, there is no need for you to report your return separately.”
“Where did she go?”
“My apologies, Young Master. I was unable to find that out.”
Petro spoke while remaining mindful of the Guardian Knights standing near the carriage. Jin understood his meaning immediately and headed for his room.
Once they were inside, Petro continued.
“Young Master, Madam Rosa has gone to Ghost Song Castle in Viment.”
Ghost Song Castle.
The headquarters of the Ghost Band, a group notorious as the world’s largest and most infamous mercenary collective, second only to the Black King Corps.
There was only one reason for Rosa to visit that place at this time.
“She went to meet Kelliark Zipple.”
There were few places in the world where the heads of the two families could meet unofficially while guaranteeing each other's safety. Ghost Song Castle served as a sort of neutral zone and had long been used as a secret meeting place for Runcandel and Zipple.
One of the reasons the Ghost Band could maintain a scale comparable to the Black King Corps despite accepting far fewer commissions was the fixed annual subsidy they received from both families for providing their headquarters as a meeting hall.
“How did you find out? It must have been top secret.”
“The family’s Chief Archivist owed a debt to Lady Luna. I used that to find out.”
In other words, Petro had played the only card he had that could move the Chief Archivist. Normally, such an action should have been reported to Jin beforehand, but Jin didn’t scold him. He quietly waited for Petro’s next words, trusting he had a good reason for acting on his own.
And the basis for Petro’s judgment was Joshua.
“I obtained information that the Elder Council recently discussed a reward for the 2nd Flagbearer. I don’t know the details, but Madam Rosa headed for Ghost Song Castle immediately after the reward was decided. Therefore, I judged it to be a matter of great importance.”
“You couldn’t find out what the achievement was?”
“My apologies, Young Master. I was unable to grasp that.”
“No, you did well. It’s clear there’s a direct link between those two events.”
Jin immediately reached a conclusion.
Joshua had achieved something.
And it was so groundbreaking that Rosa herself had to personally propose a deal to Zipple. Otherwise, there was no reason for her to visit Ghost Song Castle so suddenly.
Barton Vichena. Mother wouldn't have sought out Kelliark because of him. If that were the case, she would have met him before giving me the mission.
What could Joshua’s achievement be?
Petro had used the Chief Archivist to discover the top-secret meeting between Rosa and Kelliark. However, he had failed to uncover Joshua’s achievement and reward.
That meant Joshua’s recent accomplishment was an even more sensitive issue than a secret meeting between the heads of the two families.
Just as he began to ponder, heavy footsteps approached from outside.
“Youngest! Is the Youngest here?!”
A boisterous voice. It was Zed.
The moment Jin saw him, he had to suppress a laugh.
It looks like he succeeded in improving the Decisive Technique, Falling Petals.
Jin, Petro, and Gilly bowed their heads.
“Uncle.”
“You brat! If you were going on vacation, you should have told me before you left!”
“I didn’t realize you would feel so neglected, Uncle.”
“It’s not that I’m neglected, it’s—hmpf! Never mind. Because you were gone, your uncle’s reputation has been dragged through the mud.”
“Did something happen?”
“Those damn old fogeys in the back room won’t believe a word I say! Hehe, follow me. Today is the day I finally put those old farts in their place.”
It was an unimaginable sight back when he was in the Intermediate Class. Jin felt a strange sense of familiarity seeing Zed so excited.
“Yes, let’s go, Uncle.”
Zed led the way to the training ground like a thrilled young boy, completely unaware that his nephew had already finished calculating how to use him.
Shring!
As soon as they arrived at the training ground, Zed drew his sword.
“Now, watch closely. Your uncle has developed a Decisive Technique that is in no way inferior to that Pluto Sword Waterfall you showed me.”
“Uncle, before that, there’s something I’d like to say.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve had a change of heart. You should just put your own name on the improved Falling Petals.”
Zed’s eyes widened. “Why all of a sudden?”
“I just feel like I don’t want to show my abilities to the other Elders. Even if I show them what I have, I don’t think they’ll acknowledge me anyway.”
“What are you talking about? I’ve already been bragging to those old farts! I told them that once you returned, I’d prove the family’s Decisive Technique has evolved thanks to you and that you should be rewarded! Besides, I already mentioned the 6th Decisive Technique, Lightning Flash!”
“Lightning Flash? What do you mean? Did the 4th Flagbearer tell the Elders about my other swords?”
“Is that a problem?”
Jin shook his head and let out a sigh. “Uncle, as a Flagbearer, I don’t have many cards to survive in this harsh family. I need to keep them hidden and use them one by one at critical moments.”
“That… hmmm. I suppose you could think that way.”
“Besides, the Elders already look down on me. I wonder if there’s any reason to share what I have with them.”
“But Youngest, your uncle has his pride to consider! If you don’t prove it, I’ll look like a liar who couldn’t back up his own words!”
“Then attribute the improvement of the 4th Decisive Technique, Falling Petals, solely to your own merit, Uncle. I will not prove anything regarding the 6th Decisive Technique, Lightning Flash. Nor will I ever perform the Pluto Sword Waterfall in front of them.”
At Jin’s stubborn refusal, Zed felt a sudden tightness in his chest. He couldn't understand why the boy's attitude had changed so abruptly, but when he thought about it, Jin wasn't wrong.
Did something happen during his vacation? Why is he suddenly…
As his thoughts reached that point, a realization flashed through Zed’s mind.
This brat, he wants something from me…!
Come to think of it, Jin had a faint, subtle smirk on his lips.
“Youngest.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Do you want to make a deal with me?”
Jin shook his head with an expression of practiced nonchalance. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You little rascal. Speak plainly. If what you want is within reasonable bounds, I’ll grant it.”
“Very well, then I shall tell you. The 2nd Flagbearer, my eldest brother—exactly what achievement did he accomplish that made Mother head to Ghost Song Castle?”
Zed’s eyes grew wide. “What? You just got back! How the hell did you find out about that?”
“Please tell me.”
“It seems you’re intent on dragging my reputation through the gutter if I don’t tell you.”
“I am a Flagbearer of Runcandel. When such a significant event occurs in the family, I do not wish to be left in the dark.”
It was annoying, but once again, he wasn't wrong. Zed let out a long sigh.
“Youngest, even I do not know the exact details of Joshua’s achievement.”
“I see. I’ve made too difficult a request. My apologies. I shall take my leave.”
As Jin bowed politely and turned to walk away, Zed gritted his teeth.
“Hey, hey! You brat!”
“Yes, Uncle?”
He took the bait.
Jin met Zed’s gaze, certain of his victory.
“What I’m about to tell you must absolutely never be spoken of carelessly.”
“I swear it.”
“By any chance…”
Zed leaned in closer.
“Have you ever heard of a family called Hister?”
At his uncle’s words, Jin nearly choked.