Chapter 426: So Suddenly? (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 426: So Suddenly? (4)
For a long moment, the two men stared at each other in silence.
Did Rata Prochi always have this side to him?
The Ghost Squad and their leader, Ghost Captain Rata Prochi.
To be honest, Jin’s impression of them wasn’t exactly favorable. Not when he was ambushed by the assassins led by Pei, nor when Rata had provoked him afterward. In Jin’s eyes, they had acted like fools on both occasions.
Yet, to think Rata possessed this level of insight… The way he saw through the current political landscape and the flow of events following the terror attack was nothing short of astonishing.
No, wait. No matter how I look at it, he never seemed like the intellectual type. Someone must have fed him this information. Or perhaps someone is pulling his strings.
Jin suppressed his budding admiration and shook his head inwardly.
He had almost let his guard down, nearly blurting out, “Oh, is that so? That’s an unexpectedly excellent assessment.”
Who could it be? Zipple? Kinzelo? No, members of those two groups couldn't have approached Rata. We were all pinned down at the Sword Emperor Castle.
During the fifteen days they stayed at the Sword Emperor Castle, everyone who remained was subjected to an intense investigation, even those who had helped suppress the terrorists. Hairan had failed to find a single spy from Zipple or Kinzelo.
Zephyrin.
Suddenly, the woman suspected of being a Demon Dragon came to mind. It was possible she was the one behind Rata.
Zephyrin’s true identity had yet to be revealed. It wouldn't be strange if she belonged to either Zipple or Kinzelo.
But that might be a leap in logic. Even if Zephyrin approached Rata for some purpose, he wouldn’t take such a submissive stance.
The same applied to anyone else.
It was hard to imagine a man with the Ghost Captain’s pride becoming someone’s pawn and throwing away his reputation. If Jin were to reject Rata and kick him out right now, the weight of the name “Ghost Captain” would instantly plummet into the abyss.
More than a few people had seen Jin and Rata enter the drawing room together. While silencing them wouldn't be difficult, Jin wouldn't even need to bother if he refused the alliance; Rata’s humiliation would be public.
After a moment of deliberation, Jin concluded that Rata had sought him out entirely of his own volition and insight.
“Sir Jin, what are you thinking so deeply about? Was there something strange about my words?”
“No, not strange at all. In fact, you’ve read the situation so accurately that I’m wondering if you truly perceived all of this yourself, Sir Rata.”
“Khahahaha!”
Rata let out a laugh that was both hearty and sharp.
“Well, I suppose that’s understandable from your perspective. My sister and I haven't exactly shown our best sides lately. But Sir Jin, I am also the leader of a group. And a highly respected one at that.”
Rata glanced down at his index finger, which had been reattached without a trace of a scar, and continued.
“Those five hundred subordinates of mine that you had sent to the infirmary—do you know why they followed me here?”
It was a question Jin had been curious about. Five hundred was far too few to be a show of force, and not enough to buy time if trouble arose at the Garden of Swords. Furthermore, it was an ambiguous number for the Ghost Squad’s scale if they were simply offering themselves as new subordinates.
“I don’t know.”
Rata smirked.
“Those five hundred were the ones who refused to back down, no matter how much I tried to dissuade them.”
“Refused to back down from what…?”
“I told them I was going to apologize to you by cutting off my index finger. They insisted on coming with me, saying they had to follow and offer their own fingers to you as well.”
This time, Jin’s eyes couldn't help but widen.
Is he serious?
Rata’s gaze was so intense that it left no room for doubt. Anyone who met his eyes right now would feel the immense pride he possessed.
“Initially, far more of my men wanted to join me. If I had brought them all, Runcandel might have mistaken it for a declaration of war. Anyway, the ones who came simply wouldn't budge, so I had no choice but to bring them.”
“Then if I ordered them to, would they all cut off their fingers?”
“They would.”
“That is a peculiar brand of loyalty.”
“It’s something you won’t see anywhere else. Every single one of them was making a fuss, saying they couldn't stand to see me be the only one losing a finger. Now do you see what kind of captain I am to them?”
“Wasn’t there a way for no one to lose a finger at all?”
“If you, the 12th Flagbearer of Runcandel, allow it, then yes.”
“What I mean is, was there no way to simply not plan such a thing in the first place?”
“If a man commits a sin, he must pay the price. Especially if he wishes to earn the trust of the one he wronged.”
“A moment ago, you said you weren't a man, but a mean and lowly beast.”
“That’s right. Is there a problem?”
Jin shook his head, an indescribable sense of absurdity washing over him.
He briefly recalled the expressions on the faces of Rata’s subordinates when Murakan led them away. They had all looked like they didn’t have a care in the world, even though they might soon lose a part of their bodies, just like their leader.
Rata Prochi, you’re no simple man.
If everything he said was true, Rata was fit to be a great leader. No matter how exceptional his martial prowess was, there had to be a reason he had gained complete control of the Ghost Squad at such a young age.
“I have one question, Sir Rata.”
“What is it?”
“Why did you act like a third-rate thug at the Sword Emperor Castle banquet?”
To Jin, the Rata Prochi of today and the one from that day felt like completely different people.
“I am a competent and excellent leader in most situations, but occasionally, my personality gets the better of me. For instance, when my only flesh and blood is being held hostage.”
“Your sister is being treated well enough to meet the strictest wartime prisoner protocols.”
“Well, I’m grateful for that, but she’s a tough girl. As long as she’s alive, the level of treatment doesn't really matter. And also… I can get like that when I lose one of my most precious subordinates.”
Jin remembered the day Pei had ambushed him.
Was his name Grimol?
The man who had troubled Jin the most—perhaps the only one—among the Ghost Squad assassins. His swordsmanship had been far superior to Pei’s.
“I sent him off without pain. The final sword art the assassin named Grimol displayed was brilliant, even to my eyes. He tried to save Pei Prochi until the very end.”
“……I’ve been wondering how he met his end. It seems he earned a more honorable death than most mercenaries. We were together for a long time, but Grimol was always a man better suited to be a knight than an assassin.”
Rata closed his eyes tightly, appearing to mourn Grimol for a moment.
“Looking back, I paid a heavy price for underestimating you then, as well. I never should have accepted that commission in the first place. Or if I did, I should have led the team myself with my best assassins. That is why I intend to make the right choice this time, without making another mistake. Please, help me.”
A deep sincerity permeated his calm tone.
Of course, just because he sounded sincere now didn't mean he could take back the reckless words he had spat out not long ago.
However, Jin knew well that anyone could make a mistake.
“Sir Rata Prochi.”
“Speak.”
“If you truly wish to form an alliance with me, then show me I can trust you. I cannot get in the same boat as someone who offers only verbal apologies or meaningless bloodshed like cutting off a finger.”
Rata finally smiled, looking like a man who had shed a stifling suit of armor.
“What is it you want? What would you like me to show you?”
“The Ghost Squad and I first met as assassins and their target.”
Rata’s eyes narrowed.
“For that ill-fated relationship to become a true bond, shouldn't the heads of those who ordered my death be placed before me?”
Assassinate the Runcandel Elders.
That was, naturally, one of the worst commissions an assassin group could receive.
“It would have been better if you had taken their heads on your own initiative, before I had to ask. I know why you didn't, Sir Rata.”
As if caught off guard, Rata flinched and gave an awkward smile.
“It’s because you didn't want to take the gamble. If you brought me the Elders’ heads and I still refused the alliance, you would have nowhere left to go.”
“……I’m realizing it once again, but you truly are an extraordinary person.”
“Furthermore, even if I had welcomed you with open arms after you brought me their heads, you must have doubted whether a mere 12th Flagbearer could protect the Ghost Squad from Runcandel’s retaliation.”
Creak.
Jin stood up from his chair. He then slowly walked behind Rata, who remained seated, unable to rise.
A few seconds later, Jin’s hand came to rest lightly on Rata’s shoulder. To Rata, that simple touch felt as chilling as the Reaper’s scythe.
“If you truly believe in me—if you are certain that I will become the one to conquer Runcandel—then take the gamble, Rata Prochi.”
His voice was ice-cold, sending a shiver down Rata’s spine.
“I will give you one week.”
Jin removed his hand from Rata’s shoulder.
“Bring me the heads of those who tried to kill me within that time. Don't think about testing the waters. I’m telling you to commit. I will take responsibility for the aftermath. Do you understand?”
Rata nodded heavily.
12th Flagbearer, this is a development I hadn't expected…
Of course, Rata sincerely believed that Jin would one day become the Patriarch of Runcandel. However, he didn't think Jin possessed that much power within the clan right now. His plan was to first join hands and then gradually help Jin expand his influence.
But now, he was being forced to make an enemy of the current Runcandel establishment within a single week.
I was planning to stand on the 12th Flagbearer’s side anyway, but this… this truly leaves me no way back.
Show me I can trust you.
As Rata chewed over Jin’s words, Jin spoke again.
“If their heads do not arrive by the deadline, I will assume you have joined forces with someone else. And we will become enemies once again.”
“That won’t happen…”
“I hope you make a wise choice.”