Chapter 484: Siblings Unite (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 484: Siblings Unite (1)
“Hmph! So, Sir Valkas, you thought the Young Master would win from the start, yet you told me to bet on Lady Mary? You even lied, saying that anyone who saw her sword firsthand would have no choice but to bet on her…?”
Clack! Casimir set his glass down firmly. Murakan and Valkas were snickering, slapping him on the back.
“I haven't been part of Tikan for very long. I had to get on Lord Murakan’s good side, didn't I? Phew, please try to understand.”
“I’m telling you, this schmuck has a certain charm in his idiocy. Hey, you always bet on the kid, even if it looks like he might lose. Was it right to just blow two thousand gold coins because you thought the opponent had a chance? Huh?”
Kwahahaha! Seeing the two of them roaring with laughter, Casimir’s brow furrowed.
“Wait, Lord Murakan! You were the one who instructed Sir Valkas and me to bet on Lady Mary!”
“Uh-oh, listen to him, raising his voice now. Have you lost your mind? Huh? Are you trying to get out of paying up just because you lost the bet? You, the second-richest man in Tikan?”
“When did I ever raise my voice! And this isn't about the money!”
“There he goes again, right now. I can’t let this stand. Oh, you’re dodging? Dodging? You really dodged? Get over here! Hey!”
As Murakan and Casimir began chasing each other around like children playing tag, laughter erupted from all sides.
“What a harmonious sight,” Mary remarked, watching the scene unfold.
After the duel and the unique, Cosmos-style awards ceremony had concluded, Jin, his companions, Mary, and the pirates were holding a small after-party to celebrate Jin’s victory.
Jin sat beside her, stroking the secret manual Cyron had written himself. He still looked as dazed as when he first received it.
Father must have been truly interested in Mary.
He simply couldn't imagine it—that cold, towering man sitting down to write a book for someone. Even when he tried to force the image into his mind, he could only picture his father’s back.
“Is Tikan always like this?”
“It seems so.”
“It’s a world apart from the gloomy Garden of Swords. By the way, you can't take your eyes off that thing. Do you like it that much?”
When Jin turned his head and smiled, Mary burst into a fit of laughter, unable to contain herself.
“To think my cold-blooded little brother could make such a dopey face. I thought your only charm was acting like a lunatic, but this isn't half bad either.”
Composing his expression, Jin carefully tucked the manual into his robes.
“If you want, Sister, I can do it some more. What kind of face should I make?”
“It’s no fun when you say it so matter-of-factly. It’s only entertaining when you’re genuinely embarrassed.”
Clink. The two clinked their glasses together.
“Little brother.”
“Yes, Sister.”
“The great powers that didn't go to the Gaifa Archipelago are currently gathered near a desert called Sota. Have you heard of it?”
Mary was finally bringing up the information she had promised to share if he defeated her.
[Myaaa!]
Before Jin could even answer, Shuri—who had been purring contentedly between them after Jin summoned her for Mary—let out a sharp cry.
As if to show she knew the place, Shuri stretched, stood up, and used her front claws to sketch the location of the Sota Desert on the floor. Mary let out a cry of admiration.
“Ha! Every time I see her, I can't help but want her for myself. Yes, Shuri. That’s the place. A desert located near the center of the Lutero Magic Federation.”
The center of the Lutero Magic Federation held not only the Sota Desert but also the capital of the Federation and the headquarters of Zipple: Drakka.
The elite forces of the three great powers were gathered in that very vicinity.
“What is happening in that desert?”
“New Kozecs are being constructed.”
It was a possibility Jin had dreaded from the moment Mary first mentioned Zipple.
It’s just like the ship Midore summoned with Myuron using the cube.
The key point was not a new ‘Kozec,’ but the plural: ‘Kozecs.’
“...They’ve built a facility in the Sota Desert and are mass-producing them. Giant flying ships like the Kozec.”
“Yeah. Who would have imagined they could actually mass-produce those things?”
“And so, we have to go and destroy that production site.”
“Exactly.”
It was a top-tier mission among top-tier missions.
In the heart of enemy territory. Striking a secret facility right next to their headquarters meant that only a very small number of people—those capable of returning alive—could be deployed.
Jin’s mind immediately began racing, running all sorts of calculations for the strike. The conclusions he reached were so grim he couldn't help but grit his teeth.
“When did the family find out that Zipple was operating a flying-ship shipyard?”
“It seems they’ve known about the shipyard’s operation for a while. However, they only learned the exact location shortly after you took down the Black King Mountain Fortress.”
“You just said that besides our family, Kinzelo and the Imperial family are also on standby near the Sota Desert. Does that mean our family’s intelligence was slower than theirs?”
“No, that’s not it. They all obtained the information around the same time, which is why they hurriedly sent their highest-ranking figures to the Sota Desert instead of the Gaifa Archipelago. And while I’m certain about Kinzelo, I’m not so sure about the Imperial family. They might not have sent anyone to Sota.”
“Runcandel, Kinzelo, and the Imperial family all obtained the same information at the same time. This is… clearly a trap.”
Jin was certain. Zipple had intentionally leaked the information about the shipyard. Otherwise, it was impossible for Runcandel, Kinzelo, and the Imperial family to have sent people at the exact same time.
“You sound just like Brother Dipus.”
“He probably also said it’s a trap we have to walk into, even knowing what it is.”
Mary nodded. A trap they had no choice but to fall into—it was exactly as he said.
Attacking a shipyard in the desert right next to Drakka is insane. Even if we pour in our best personnel, succeed, and return, the only gain for the family and the other powers is depleting Zipple’s resources and slightly delaying the mass production of the Kozecs.
Of course, building flying ships required astronomical resources and manpower, but it wasn't worth the top personnel of every faction—Zipple excluded—betting their lives. As long as the technology wasn't lost, Zipple could simply build another shipyard elsewhere.
However, they couldn't just sit by and watch the mass-produced Kozecs be built. In this matter, Zipple was essentially winning against the other powers from the very start.
If they had already lost… they had to find a way to lose as gracefully as possible. That way, they wouldn't fall for the same trick next time.
Or, even if the family lost, Jin had to find a way for him to gain the maximum benefit. Only then could he utilize those gains when the family eventually became his.
What does Zipple want? Why did they suddenly leak information about the shipyard at this time? To lure the top personnel of each faction to the heart of the Lutero Magic Federation and pick them off one by one? No, that violates the grand premise that there will be no all-out war as long as Father is alive.
If the highest-ranking Flagbearers died at the shipyard, it would immediately lead to an all-out war.
Also, if they intended to fight properly, instead of revealing the shipyard's location, they would have finished building the ships and launched a surprise preemptive strike.
Then what was their intention…?
Suddenly, a word flashed through his mind.
Verification.
Are they trying to verify the power of the representatives from each faction who attack the shipyard? To see what special abilities they have?
The Sota Desert was near the Federation’s capital, Drakka. And for the past thousand years, Drakka, situated in the center of the Federation, had never been successfully targeted by external terrorists. Even for Runcandel, forming an infiltration team that could penetrate all the security networks leading to Drakka was nearly impossible.
Attacking the secret shipyard right next to it wouldn't be much different. If one of the factions—Runcandel, Kinzelo, or the Imperial family—succeeds in infiltrating the shipyard, Zipple will have confirmed the extent of their rival's capabilities.
Kinzelo had their Leader and Bubar, the Imperial family had their demons and creators, and Runcandel had Joshua and… the Prophet. Among them, the only one Zipple might not yet be aware of was the Prophet.
A sharp intuition pierced his mind.
Zipple found out that Joshua has an ally with special abilities, and they want to know what that power is!
That was why they had spread a sweet poison that their enemies had no choice but to swallow, even knowing the risk. They had set a trap that was impossible to avoid.
Of course, it could be a leap in logic. But if not that, he couldn't think of any other reason why Zipple would leak the location of their secret shipyard.
And there’s a high probability that I don't exist in Zipple’s calculations. I went to the Gaifa Archipelago instead of infiltrating the Sota Desert. Furthermore, they would have judged it impossible for Joshua and me, who are enemies, to carry out a mission together.
A faint smile finally spread across Jin’s lips, which had been grim the whole time.
Once again, he was the variable.
“By the way, Sister.”
“Yeah?”
“Why aren't you going to the Sota Desert yourself? Why are you handing this to me? Is it because of the training you mentioned earlier?”
“That’s part of it, but if I had won this duel, I was planning to go myself. Having the stronger person go would increase the chances of Brother Dipus not getting hurt.”
Joshua and Dipus—those two were the Flagbearers currently infiltrated and on standby in the Sota Desert.
Mary stood up, draining the last of her glass.
“It’s time for the loser to depart. This is a letter from Brother Dipus. The infiltration route is marked, so just follow it. Please make sure that man doesn't die, for my sake.”
“Sister, wait a moment.”
“Hmm? Ah, what? You want to thank me for the manual? Hehe, say it five times.”
“No, not that. Well, of course, I am incredibly grateful. But look at this.”
What caught Mary’s tilting head was a Green Rose, its two stems twisted into one.
“Actually, right before you arrived, Sister Yona was here in Tikan. She even confirmed you were coming in on the ship, but she said she was too busy to see you and told me to give you this.”
At Jin’s well-intentioned lie, Mary’s eyes sparkled.
“Oh, really? Yona, that girl did?”
“Yes.”
“Khaha! So Yona has a cute and lovely side to her! Maybe she wasn't busy, just embarrassed? Good, I like it. I shall respond to her kindness. My next challenge is Samil!”
“Sister Mary?”
“Cosmos!” Mary ran to the railing and shouted the pirate’s name.
“Aye, Great Captain!”
“Weigh anchor! The next destination has just been decided!”
Immediately, the pirates scattered across the deck moved in perfect unison, raising the anchor and preparing for the voyage.
Mary put her black eyepatch back on and stepped onto the railing. Before leaping off, she turned back and shouted.
“Come back safe with Brother Dipus. Without getting hurt! Got it?!”
Jin gave a small smile and nodded his head.