Chapter 425: So Suddenly? (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 425: So Suddenly? (3)
"Aaaah!"
"Ugh!"
The nobles and merchants, unversed in the martial arts, shrieked reflexively. They had mistakenly thought Rata had attacked Jin, and even after seeing Rata’s severed index finger on the ground, they struggled to immediately grasp the situation.
"What is the meaning of this, Rata Prochi!"
"This is the Garden of Swords!"
The eyes of the Guardian Knights, who had leveled their blades at Rata’s throat, flashed dangerously. Though ten swords were pressed against his neck, the knights could feel it.
They knew that if Rata truly intended to, he could easily parry all their blades and move as he pleased.
The Ghost Captain… he’s more dangerous than the rumors suggest. Even after cutting off his own finger with his bare hands, he’s still overwhelming us.
It’s a good thing he cut his own finger. If he had dared to strike the 12th Flagbearer…
The Guardian Knights inwardly shook their heads at the thought.
Actually, nothing much would have happened. The 12th Flagbearer is no ordinary monster himself.
Thick blood dripped from the stump of Rata’s finger. Jin watched the scene without moving a muscle.
What is the meaning of this?
Jin didn't bother asking such a question. He simply waited with an expressionless face for Rata to reveal the reason for his actions.
Consequently, even though Rata was the one who had suddenly drawn a weapon and acted erratically, it was Jin who exuded a more peculiar, overwhelming pressure.
The sheer weight of their presence was on a different level. Setting aside their martial prowess, Jin possessed a dignity that was difficult to put into words…
That was how Rata felt. He wondered why he had realized it so late; Jin clearly possessed something different from the other "stars" he had encountered.
"As you likely know, I shall formally introduce myself again. I am Rata Prochi, the Lord of Ghost Song Castle and the leader of the assassin mercenary group, the Ghost Squad."
The polite tone of his voice left everyone in the room stunned once more.
It was a natural reaction. No one present was a stranger to the rumors surrounding the Ghost Captain. The king of cruel, bloodless killers—that was the public’s image of him.
"I am Jin Runcandel, the 12th Flagbearer of Runcandel."
"The reason I sought you out today, Sir Jin, is to apologize for the rudeness I displayed at the Sword Emperor Castle."
Jin glanced down at the severed finger on the floor.
"And so you cut off your finger?"
"I did."
Losing a single index finger wouldn't cause significant damage to Rata’s martial ability. For an average martial artist, it might be different, but for those who had reached a certain realm, such a disability was no issue at all.
However, Rata cutting his finger signified his intent to pay a price in blood.
"Sheathe your swords."
At Jin’s command, the Guardian Knights withdrew the blades pressed against Rata’s neck.
"Sir Rata."
"Speak."
"There is no grudge between you and me. Therefore, there is no need for you to apologize, and your finger holds no value to me."
Rata’s eyes trembled.
But it wasn't a tremor born of shame or insult. The emotion dwelling in his eyes looked closer to anxiety.
"…Even if I were to cut off a few more?"
Why does he keep trying to cut off his fingers?
Instead of voicing the thought, Jin chose a different response.
"It would be the same even if you cut off an arm."
"Damn it, I should have prepared something else. How can I make up for my mistake? Tell me. I will do my best to accommodate you."
At those words, the people in the hall began exchanging glances. Is that man really the Ghost Captain? That was the general sentiment. Even the Guardian Knights were considerably shocked, though they didn't let it show.
Even Jin couldn't help but feel internally flustered.
Rata Prochi shouldn't be this kind of person. Why is he being so submissive?
The reason Jin was treating Rata so coldly was simple.
He had judged that when dealing with a beast-like individual such as Rata, it was necessary to appear intimidating and unapproachable.
Since hierarchy was paramount to a beast, Jin felt the need to demonstrate that he was clearly superior.
Thus, Jin had expected that he would have to duel Rata once more in the process.
While Jin had essentially been the victor of their duel at the Sword Emperor Castle, the result had technically remained undecided due to the terror attack.
I intended to use his potential outrage at my attitude as an excuse to duel him.
Defeating the Ghost Captain in front of the entire family would certainly be a good look.
After that, they would acknowledge each other’s strength, create a cordial atmosphere, and naturally signal that he enjoyed significant favor from the Ghost Squad.
That was the scenario Jin had hoped for.
But if he acts like this, there’s no need to fight.
Without needing to be put in his place through another duel, Rata was clearly humbling himself for all to see.
Come to think of it, while I was at the Sword Emperor Castle after the attack, Rata was constantly hovering around me. I thought he was going to demand Fey’s release under different conditions, but was he actually looking for a chance to apologize?
Drip, drip. Thick drops of blood from Rata’s finger continued to stain the floor.
"Sir Rata, to be honest, I expected you to challenge me to a rematch."
"I am not that much of a fool. I realized clearly back then that I am not yet of the caliber to face the 12th Flagbearer."
Finally, the crowd began to murmur at those words.
"What does that mean?"
"There were rumors that the two of them dueled during the attack on the Sword Emperor Castle and that the 12th Flagbearer had the upper hand."
"Even so, could the gap be so wide that the Ghost Captain would say such a thing?"
Since many martial artists had bet on Rata’s superiority over Jin during the duel, the "Ghost Captain" was originally considered a more significant figure than the "12th Flagbearer of Runcandel."
"In that case, Sir Rata, instead of apologizing, you should be repaying your debt. Do you remember?"
—Are you suggesting we make a bet on this duel?
—Isn't there someone you need to find through me?
—I should get a blood oath from you before I kill you.
—A blood oath or whatever else. If you win, I will grant whatever you desire. You can take my life or humiliate me in any way you wish while keeping me alive. However, if I win… the Ghost Squad must carry out one request for me.
Jin spoke as he recalled their conversation.
"Of course, I remember."
"To carry out my request, Sir Rata, you must become even stronger than you are now. This is no time to be cutting off your fingers. However, I doubt whether you are truly capable of handling my request. Guardian Knight, fetch the Medical Director to my room immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
Crackle!
Jin then used ice-type sealing magic to preserve Rata’s severed finger.
"Follow me."
As they left the reception hall and headed toward his quarters, a powerful vibration suddenly shook the Garden of Swords. It wasn't a natural phenomenon like an earthquake but the kind of tremor that occurred when someone exerted an immense amount of power.
Furthermore, the sky began to turn a pitch-black darkness.
Rata had experienced this phenomenon once before—when Murakan revealed his power at the Sword Emperor Castle.
"This is your Guardian Dragon…"
"Ah, it seems it has begun. You don't need to worry about it."
Rata was curious about what had begun, but he didn't ask. Jin clearly didn't want him to.
While walking to the room, Jin pondered Rata’s state of mind.
I hope he isn't doing this without a good reason.
The Medical Director, summoned by the Guardian Knight, had already arrived and was waiting in the room. He reattached Rata’s finger in an instant and vanished just as quickly.
"…Thank you."
"No need. Let’s hear it. Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"The Rata I remember harbored significant hostility toward me and was an incredibly reckless man. That’s why you challenged me to a duel and nearly brought disgrace upon yourself."
"Ahem! That was…"
"Tell me the reason for this sudden change in attitude. If you don’t have a convincing explanation, I will not accept the spoils of my victory from you."
Rata’s eyes widened. Then, as if he had made up his mind, he nodded and spoke.
"I have been utterly won over by the man known as Jin Runcandel."
Jin nearly spat out the tea Gilly had just served.
"Won over by me? That's not a convincing explanation. You did all this for such a trivial reason?"
Jin narrowed his eyes, his voice trailing off as a hint of anger appeared on his face for the first time.
"The elders of my family must have commissioned the Ghost Squad to assassinate me. In that case, you should be trying to make up for your failure and carry out the mission again. Does it make sense for you to try and side with me?"
Honestly, if Rata was such an idiot that he acted this way simply because he had been "won over," Jin had no intention of accepting him as an ally.
"It wouldn't make sense if I were a member of a prestigious martial family like you. But Sir Jin, I am merely a mercenary who lives by the blade. It doesn't matter if I act like a base and lowly beast. Especially in times like these."
"Times like these? Continue."
"I dueled you, and we experienced the terror at the Sword Emperor Castle together. Afterward, I stayed at the castle for about fifteen days and watched how the incident unfolded. As a result, I reached a conclusion."
"What conclusion?"
"That if the Ghost Squad is to survive, we can no longer remain neutral."
—An alliance? The Ghost Squad does not join hands with any faction. We only have requests and clients. Jin Runcandel, I challenge you to a duel.
This statement directly contradicted what Rata had said at the banquet, as well as the values the Ghost Squad had upheld as a mercenary group.
"That day was special. It was the moment I realized my own arrogance through our duel, and the terror attack gave me the certainty that the wars and power struggles of the future would unfold in a way completely different from anything I had ever known."
Tunnels and monsters, bio-golems, giant ships, mages with mutated bodies, and a demon who displayed overwhelming martial prowess while regenerating from any wound.
As Rata said, the terrorism Kinzelo committed that day shattered the common sense of most people.
"And yet, the Imperial Family did not protect Hairan afterward, even though that mad group destroyed the Sword Emperor Castle. It was as if even the castle where Sir Ron resides was of little use to them."
"Couldn't it just be that the Emperor thought it was a good opportunity to keep Hairan in check?"
"To think only that, the power Sir Ron possesses is too immense. The Imperial Family must have had their own preparations, which is why they were willing to discard Hairan. If the Imperial Family is that prepared, I can only imagine what Zipple or Runcandel must have. And Kinzelo has already shown the power they possess."
Ever since that day, Rata had a premonition that a 'new era' had begun.
An era had dawned where it was too dangerous to continue living purely as martial artists or as a simple mercenary group. If even Ron Hairan could be treated as disposable, the Ghost Squad would be no different.
Therefore, he decided he must choose wisely who would seize hegemony in this new era and form a strong alliance with them.
"In that sense, I am certain that you, Sir Jin, will eventually become the master of Runcandel. That is why I came to join your side. Is that explanation convincing enough?"