Chapter 381: Who is the Real Runcandel? (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 381: Who is the Real Runcandel? (1)
Because the Varia Central Teleport Gate had completely collapsed, Jin didn’t reach Kahlon until late at night.
“Y-Young Master! Young Master Jin…!”
The first person to come running out to meet him was his butler, Petro.
Ever since Mary had brought the matter of Temar’s tomb to light during the clan meeting, Petro had been waiting at the Huphester Central Teleport Gate every single day for Jin’s return.
It had already been ten days since Mary’s outburst on September 15th. During those ten days, Petro’s heart had been scorched black with worry.
“I knew you’d be the first one to find me this time, too.”
Unlike Petro, who was fidgeting and breaking out in a cold sweat, Jin offered a calm smile. However, because he was covered in the blood of Ghost Division assassins, he looked utterly haggard in Petro’s eyes.
“Are you hurt anywhere?! Someone! Call the medical team immediately and bring warm towels!”
“The medical team isn’t necessary.”
“Young Master, and that large sack… what on earth is that?”
“Ah, this.”
Thud!
Jin dropped the robe he had been carrying over his shoulder like a sack. As Petro reflexively checked what was inside, his face instantly turned ashen.
“This per… son. Isn’t this Fey Prochi of the Ghost Division?”
Inside the sack lay Fey, still unconscious with her hands and feet bound.
“She’s a prisoner for negotiations.”
Jin had kept Fey alive because she was an immensely valuable captive. Simply killing her would have only deepened the Ghost Division’s grudge; keeping her alive made her useful.
“Does this mean the Ghost Division attacked you, Young Master?”
Petro clenched his fists, his teeth grinding.
“Yes. Rata Prochi sent his younger sister and ten assassins. And as you can see, I captured Fey alive.”
“…This is the Elder Council’s doing.”
Petro instantly deduced who had hired them. The only ones who would commission the Ghost Division at a time like this were the Elder Council.
Jin nodded.
“I expected the Elder Council to make a move after Lady Mary exposed the information she received from you. However, I didn’t think they would act so quickly, so I failed to prepare. I am sorry.”
“There was nothing for you to prepare. It’s fine. Where is Gilly?”
At the mention of Gilly’s name, Petro’s expression darkened.
“She is currently in detention.”
A flash of murderous intent flickered in Jin’s eyes. He quickly regained his composure.
“Where? It’s not the underground prison, is it? If it were, Murakan wouldn’t have stayed quiet.”
“Indeed. When her detention was first discussed, Lord Murakan destroyed a portion of the Garden of Swords. The Guardian Knights had their hands full trying to restrain him.”
“They didn’t take any action against Murakan, did they?”
“That is correct.”
Despite destroying part of the Garden of Swords, and despite being the one who likely knew the most about Jin besides Gilly, Murakan had received no particular punishment.
“If Gilly hadn’t stopped him, something irreversible might have happened.”
It was only because he hadn’t overstepped the bounds of respect afforded to him as the ‘family’s ancient guardian deity.’ Had he crossed that line, not even Murakan would have been safe.
“A small mercy, then.”
“And I heard Gilly was detained in one of the Elder Council’s secret residences instead of a prison. Chairman Homin promised she would be treated humanely, so you needn’t worry too much.”
Gilly was being detained because she had accompanied Jin to Temar’s tomb. Furthermore, as Jin’s nanny, she likely knew more about him than anyone else, making it only natural for the Elder Council to interrogate her.
‘Temar’s Tomb’ was a piece of information to which Runcandel could only react with extreme sensitivity.
I regretted not having Murakan with me in the Wantaramo Forest, but it was a good thing I left him at the estate. Because he was here, no one could treat Gilly too recklessly. It would have been dangerous if they had crossed the line.
Moreover, Chairman Homin, Telot, had once again looked out for Gilly with his keen intuition. While it was beyond his power to prevent the detention entirely, he had shown Jin as much consideration as he possibly could.
“It seems I’ll have a lot to do the moment I get back.”
Jin wiped the dried blood from his face with a towel a servant had brought.
It was time to stain himself with fresh blood.
“Let’s go.”
He traveled to the Garden of Swords in a steel carriage. The other Guardian Knights who had been at the teleport gate had already rushed ahead to announce his return.
Clang…!
The sound of the latch on the main gate of the Garden of Swords being released felt unusually heavy.
As expected, the atmosphere at the very entrance was ominous. Hundreds of Guardian Knights were lined up in an imposing formation, with the Elder Council and the Flagbearers standing before them.
As Jin stepped out of the carriage, four blades pressed against his neck. They were the swords of the Enforcement Knights.
“12th Flagbearer, disarm yourself.”
At the low voices of the Enforcement Knights, Jin let out a short laugh.
“I feel like a traitor.”
“I said, disarm yourself.”
“And if I refuse?”
“We will have no choice but to follow the laws of the clan.”
“Elder Council Head!”
Jin suddenly shouted. His thunderous voice, saturated with energy, tore through the silence of the garden.
It was an unthinkable act.
For the youngest of the family, the 12th Flagbearer, to address the Elder Council Head with such irreverence.
A thick vein immediately bulged on Jorden’s forehead. The other elders were so aghast their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
Wow, look at that crazy bastard. He’s my brother, but he’s truly, magnificently insane.
Among the Flagbearers, only Mary clenched her fist, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. The rest simply stared at Jin, doubting their own ears. Even Luntia, who usually acted as if everything in the world was a bother, was blinking in surprise.
“Y-You…!”
“The world is ending! How dare the 12th Flagbearer address the family’s Elder Council Head with such insolence!”
The elders, finally coming to their senses, barked out rebukes while glancing at Jorden for his reaction. Jorden seemed to be in considerable shock, as he was still staring at Jin with a dazed expression.
The Enforcement Knights remained expressionless, their blades still pressed against Jin’s throat.
“…Pfft! Cough, cough.”
In the end, Mary couldn’t hold back her laughter and let out a series of fake coughs. She had been quite angry with Jin for not showing up at the meeting, but this youngest brother of hers always provided such great entertainment that she couldn't bring herself to hate him.
“You’re not going to kill me here anyway, so why don’t we take it a bit easier?”
“What did you say…?”
“The family must have a lot it wants to hear from me. Without me, how will you find the Founder’s tomb? How will you restore the family’s ancient glory?”
Jorden’s brow furrowed. He was now barely holding onto his reason, glaring at Jin with murderous eyes.
“Is that what you’re relying on to act so brazenly, 12th Flagbearer?”
Contrary to the killing intent in his eyes, Jorden’s tone was remarkably refined.
“Yes.”
“You must not value your life. Whether the information you gave the 7th Flagbearer is actually valuable remains to be seen.”
“It seems you, Elder Council Head, are the one who doesn’t value your honor.”
Every word Jin spoke scraped harshly against Jorden’s nerves. The bulging vein on his forehead looked as if it might burst at any moment.
“You dare speak of honor to me?”
“Why shouldn’t I? In fact, I mentioned honor because I wanted to help you, Elder Council Head. You brought out the Enforcement Knights from the Black Sword Council to put blades to my throat…”
Tap, tap.
Jin tapped the blades of the Enforcement Knights with his finger as he continued.
“This. If you let this slide without drawing blood, it will be an utter disgrace. It’s not as if only one or two people are watching. You won’t be able to suppress the rumors, either.”
Standing beside him, Petro felt as if his lifespan was being shortened by several years with every word Jin uttered. Cold sweat poured down his pale face.
But Jin was certain.
The Elder Council Head will not kill me.
It wasn't that he couldn't. Jorden could very well lose his temper at the provocation and order the Enforcement Knights to take Jin’s head.
However, while possible, there was absolutely no benefit in it for him. In fact, he would suffer massive losses. Not only would he lose his means to keep Joshua in check, but if another faction were to benefit from Temar’s tomb in the future, there would be hell to pay.
Furthermore, there was no guarantee Jorden could kill Jin just because he wanted to.
Even if the Elder Council Head snaps and orders the Enforcement Knights to kill me, there’s a high probability Mother will stop him.
From Rosa’s perspective, Jin couldn't be allowed to die yet—not unless she possessed more information about Temar’s tomb than he did.
Jorden losing his mind, or Rosa stopping him—neither was a 100% certainty, but Jin was confident. He glanced up slightly toward the inner sanctum of the Garden of Swords, smirking as he fixed his gaze on Rosa’s office.
Silence fell.
The situation could only be described as an unprecedented crisis.
“…Your arrogance and insolence know no bounds. To think that someone like you can raise the flag of Runcandel… the times truly have changed.”
When Jorden had decided to pressure the newly returned Jin with the Enforcement Knights, he certainly hadn't expected this scenario. The outcome he had wanted was for Jin to recognize the gravity of the situation and seek help from others to de-escalate. If Jin had offered a deal to the other Flagbearers or Telot to get the Elder Council to back off, Jorden had intended to use that as a pretext to identify exactly who Jin’s potential allies were.
He hadn't expected Jin to come out swinging like this. Just like everyone else who had ever dealt with Jin.
Therefore, Jorden was forced to make a choice. If he backed down now, it would be exactly as Jin had said: a public humiliation.
“Adapting to change isn’t easy, is it, Elder Council Head?”
“Yes. You are right. By the way, you still haven’t disarmed yourself.”
Jorden shook his head and added in a low voice, “Sever the boy’s arms.”
Slash—!
The moment Jorden’s command fell, the Enforcement Knights severed both of Jin’s arms without a moment’s hesitation.
Thud, thud.
The severed limbs hit the ground with a dull sound.
Jin didn’t even glance at his fallen arms. He took a step closer to Jorden.
“Are you finished?”