Chapter 431: Elders in Crisis (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 431: Elders in Crisis (5)
The elders didn’t take Jorden’s words seriously. They assumed he was merely asserting his authority without any real substance, as he was prone to doing from time to time.
“Haha, who would dare to weed us out, Elder Council Head?”
“Of course, such a thing would never happen. Regardless, we are all prepared to follow your will.”
“Indeed! If you wish it, I am even prepared to return to active duty this instant…”
As the elders habitually played along, Jorden’s gaze turned icy. He was sick and tired of these hollow responses, which were devoid of even a shred of sincerity.
“Is that so? It seems you all understand my intentions well. There is no need for you to return to active duty. However, as I just said… as of this moment, we are at war with the 2nd and 12th Flagbearers.”
Only then did the elders realize something was terribly wrong.
“Elder Council Head, when you say war…?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. We will begin by dismantling the 12th Flagbearer’s power base.”
“And how do you intend to do that?”
“Tikan Free City.”
The elders’ expressions froze the moment the name left Jorden’s lips.
“That is the 12th Flagbearer’s most vital stronghold, and the people within are the comrades he relies on most.”
“Are you saying you intend to strike Tikan?”
“I am.”
“B-but, Elder Council Head. Have you perhaps forgotten one fact?”
“Tikan is currently a place no Runcandel can recklessly intrude upon, Elder Council Head.”
*
—Deceive you? Perish the thought. I was simply lucky. In truth, I had already formed a connection with Sir Casimir the moment I arrived in Tikan.
—Fine. Regardless, you have passed the test. As of today, no Runcandel shall set foot on Tikan soil without your permission. Even if that Runcandel is I, Cyron Runcandel.
—Thank you, Father.
*
This was the conversation between Jin and Cyron when Jin had briefly returned to the clan after breaking a taboo during his time as a reserve flagbearer.
Back then, Jin had passed Cyron’s test and secured the freedom of his base. Since then, no matter what trouble Jin caused, the Runcandel Clan had never directly attacked Tikan. Even when a warrant for his arrest was issued toward the end of his reserve period, the Guardian Knights could not personally enter the city.
The Patriarch’s command was absolute. Since Cyron had never rescinded that order, Tikan remained a land that no Runcandel—save for Jin—could touch.
“That is true,” Jorden said. “However, it does not mean there is no way. We simply need to send those who are not Runcandels.”
The elders’ eyes widened once more.
“Elder Council Head, while that isn't technically incorrect… isn't that just a play on words? The Patriarch’s command likely also forbids a Runcandel from hiring a third party to strike Tikan.”
“He is right, Elder Council Head. Furthermore, we have all seen firsthand what happens when one recklessly uses outside forces against the 12th Flagbearer.”
The air seemed to grow cold as the elders recalled the moment Jin had brought them a sack filled with the severed heads of their fallen colleagues.
“It seems everyone finds fighting the 12th Flagbearer burdensome. Well, it is as you say. Having those under my command strike Tikan is nothing more than a play on words to circumvent the Patriarch’s order. But how many times has the 12th Flagbearer mocked us with such wordplay in the past?”
Jorden was right.
During his time as a reserve flagbearer, Jin had broken the rules multiple times, yet each time he had used his silver tongue to walk away with rewards instead of punishment.
“We must do the same. We have reached a point where a head-on confrontation offers no solution. I have made myself clear: there are no more safe battles. Those who are afraid may leave, but you must also lay down your titles as Runcandel Elders.”
In that moment, most of the elders were reminded of the Jorden of their youth. Even before leading the Black Sword Council, Jorden had organized assassination squads to eliminate those who opposed him. In his early years as the Head of the Black Sword Council, he had continued a bloody purge that lasted for several years.
In other words, choosing to lay down their titles and leave meant that, one day, their heads would inevitably fall to the blades of the Black Sword Council.
“I understand the 12th Flagbearer… has yet to experience many deaths among those close to him. As the Elder Council Head of the clan, I shall enlighten him to that pain.”
Jorden continued.
“…Elder Council Head, then. Whom do you intend to send to Tikan?”
*
A nameless desert in the eastern part of the Kascal Principality.
While Jorden and the elders were plotting to strike Tikan, Jin was tracking the escaped elders of the Ghost Band alongside some of his comrades.
“I never imagined the Seigal family would have a secret fortress in such a remote land. Nor did I know the escaped elders were still colluding with them,” Lata said as he sat down beside Jin.
In disguise, Jin was sipping tea in a restaurant in a nearby village.
The Seigal family. Once the leading family of the Ghost Band, they had been all but slaughtered and ruined by Smarion Prochi in the past. However, having ruled the Ghost Band for generations, the family had hidden their last remaining strength in this desolate, small desert.
The combined intelligence networks of the Seven-Colored Bird and the Ghost Band showed efficiency beyond expectations. Less than three days after forming their blood alliance, they had located this desert.
“Has it been confirmed that the traitors leaked the secrets of Ghost Song Castle?”
Lata nodded heavily.
“Yes. However, we haven’t confirmed whether the information was given to Viment, Zipple, Kinzelo, or some other force.”
“We can find that out starting now. What is the scale of the Seigal family’s remaining forces in the fortress?”
“Excluding vassals and servants, the number of combatants isn't very high. However, there are a few significant figures, including the brothers Rox and Rax Seigal, who were known as prodigies before my father became the Patriarch. The traitorous elders aren't pushovers, either.”
Rox and Rax Seigal. Jin had seen their names a few times in books on war history. They were individuals who would have easily become the heads of the Ghost Band if not for Smarion. Though they had lived in hiding for a long time, they would still be formidable experts as long as they hadn't completely abandoned the sword.
“If you wait here, my subordinates and I will go and take care of them.”
“No, I’m going with you,” Jin replied. “It’s a good chance to assess our allies’ strength and work on our coordination.”
Fey set up a perimeter with the other members, while Jin, Lata, and a few of the section leaders prepared to strike the fortress.
“There may be important documents, so be as careful as possible not to destroy the interior. If possible, suppress them quickly and quietly.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
“And if there are civilians, they are to be classified as targets for rescue. You are not to kill them recklessly just because they are in the way.”
Unlike prestigious martial families, imperial houses, or noble clans, mercenaries usually handled things differently. If civilians—especially those who offered no profit—were discovered during a mission, they were often killed to simplify matters.
But the Ghost Band was no longer just a mercenary group. Since they had come under Jin’s command, they needed to follow the ways of a Great House.
“I will keep that in mind.”
A short while later, Fey signaled that the perimeter was established. Jin, Lata, and the section leaders slipped into the darkened desert.
The Seigal family’s final stronghold was an underground fortress. They had accumulated wealth here by distributing drugs and various black-market goods, dreaming of ousting the Prochi siblings and reclaiming control of the Ghost Band alongside the traitorous elders.
In the middle of the soft sand, their feet met a particularly hard surface. It was the entrance. As they brushed away the sand to inspect the door, a voice rang out from below.
“Who is it?”
As it was a secret fortress, no sentries were posted outside, but someone was always stationed beneath the door.
Before the man could ask for their identities again, a section leader plunged a poison-tipped needle through the door.
Thwack!
A small noise and a brief tremor came from beyond the door, then quickly subsided. It was the sound of the gatekeeper dying. Immediately after, another section leader used one of the Ghost Band’s unique, silent-detonating explosives to blow the lock.
True to their reputation as one of the world’s top two mercenary groups, they were specialists in infiltration.
Upon entering, a vast space was revealed, resembling a giant ant nest. The group immediately encountered remnants of the Seigal family.
“Inva—!”
“It’s an invasion!”
Not a single one of them could finish their warning. Their heads fell to the swords of Jin and the Ghost Band, leaving them unable to even utter a final scream.
Jin spared only one person, giving him a brief moment to speak.
“P-please spare me. I’m j-just a hired mercenary.”
“Where are the Seigal brothers?”
“In the innermost room in the center… please.”
Jin had no direct grudge against him, the man had cooperatively revealed the Seigal brothers’ location, he wouldn't be much of a threat in the future, and he truly was just a hired mercenary.
But Jin did not spare him.
While his principle was to avoid unnecessary slaughter, Jin was not so soft as to show mercy to an enemy soldier in his own base.
Stab!
As Jin ended his life, the section leaders following him nodded inwardly.
‘I was worried he might be soft since he talked about rescuing civilians.’
‘As if our Captain would swear loyalty to a fool. I won't have to worry about the future.’
Jin flicked the blood from his blade and signaled to the section leaders.
“We’ll split up from here. Lata and I will handle the Seigal brothers. Section leaders, search the rest of the area.”
“Understood.”
The section leaders dispersed. Jin and Lata moved quickly and stealthily toward the Seigal brothers’ quarters. As both possessed exceptionally superior skills, most of the enemies they encountered died without even realizing they were there.
Finally reaching the last room, they came face-to-face with the Seigal brothers, who stood armed and ready.
“Lata Prochi, you bastard…!”
“How did you find this place?”
Lata didn’t answer, simply spinning his twin swords lightly.
“Fine, it seems it ends like this. But do you think you can face us alone?”
“Come!”
They had completely dismissed the man standing beside Lata as a threat.
Consequently, Rox Seigal focused all his attention on Lata’s movements, only to suffer the humiliation of having his legs instantly severed.