Chapter 493: Everyone Had a Plan (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 493: Everyone Had a Plan (4)
It wasn't just aura; a vast and pure mana pulsed alongside it.
“It’s a battle!”
As soon as Dipus spoke, the vibrations grew more violent. An explosion then erupted from the middle floors of the Tower of White Night, and a flash of light surged outward.
It was a type of explosion the group had witnessed countless times. Brilliant colors, the kind that never appeared in a fight between mere knights or ordinary mages, continued to illuminate the sky around the tower.
“That’s not a fight between Kinzelo and Zipple.”
Though there was no brotherly love between them, the three Runcandel brothers present all practiced the same sword.
“It’s Joshua. He and the Black Knight have engaged Zipple mages.”
Even without seeing it directly, Jin and Dipus could instantly recognize the uniquely destructive aura of the Runcandel sword style. Furthermore, the brothers recognized the owners of the mana.
The Wraith Squad.
It was definitely them—the strongest magic unit of the Zipple Clan, whom both brothers had encountered before—fighting Joshua.
“I’m not sure if he was caught infiltrating or if he walked into a trap. I suspect the latter.”
Either way, it was a difficult situation for their group.
‘Judging by the scale, there don’t seem to be many other mages in the 2nd Magic Tower. But now that Joshua and a Black Knight have been exposed, reinforcements will come—from Drakka!’
This was Zipple’s home turf. There was no way they lacked the forces to send reinforcements, especially when they had managed to dispatch some all the way to the underground shipyard in the Sota Desert.
Moreover, the 2nd Magic Tower was far more important than the shipyard. The shipyard was merely bait, a resource thrown out to gauge the capabilities of external forces. The 2nd Magic Tower, however, likely held the real prize: the ship blueprints.
‘But… something’s strange. The mana I’m sensing belongs to maybe two or three members of the Wraith Squad. Four at the very most. Why would they only station that many?’
If Zipple had anticipated an intrusion and set a trap to catch the biggest fish among their enemies—if they intended to annihilate them all, even at the risk of total war—then this was the perfect opportunity. The Tower of White Night should have been teeming with a much larger force, not just two to four members of the Wraith Squad. It wouldn't have been strange for Kelliark Zipple himself or someone like Octavia to be lying in wait.
And yet, only a handful of Wraith Squad members were present.
‘Is it not a trap?’
It was impossible to grasp the full context in an instant. However, the time had come to make a decision.
‘If it’s an obvious trap, the right move is to flee, even if it means giving up the blueprints. In that case, Zipple wouldn't have left the blueprints in the 2nd Magic Tower anyway. Besides, even with me, Murakan, and Brother Dipus, we couldn’t escape a Zipple Clan that has focused its full strength.’
But what if it wasn't a trap?
What if the reason only a few Wraith Squad members were guarding the tower was simply due to a confluence of unforeseen circumstances—in other words, a result of Zipple’s own complacency and mistakes? What if Joshua had already secured the blueprints, and the battle had broken out during his escape?
It had been this way ever since they arrived in the Sota Desert. Jin felt like his head was going to explode. It was difficult to even estimate how many variables they had encountered and how many more unexpected situations they would face.
Only one thing was certain.
‘If not today, the chance to obtain Zipple’s ship blueprints will never come again.’
The mere fact that Runcandel had struck not only the shipyard but also the 2nd Magic Tower would cause Zipple to drastically tighten security, regardless of the outcome. They were the world’s greatest magic clan; they were not a family that would make the same mistake twice.
Jin soon reached a conclusion.
“…I don’t think it’s a trap, Brother Dipus. If they had intended to lure us in from the start, there would be more troops.”
“I agree, but… damn, it’s driving me crazy. If it’s not a trap, why did that idiot Joshua get caught and make things so complicated?”
Crrack!
The middle floor of the 2nd Magic Tower exploded again, and debris rained down. The battle was growing more intense.
“This is a moment that requires a gamble,” Jin said, catching his breath before he continued. “Even if it’s not a trap, reinforcements will arrive soon, so retreating is the rational choice. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that Joshua has already secured the blueprints.”
Dipus nodded. “I see what you’re getting at.”
“Brother, if you wish, you can return now—”
“Youngest, what are you talking about? Deciding to kill Joshua in the first place was a gamble. You think I’d consider backing out now?”
“I was just saying.”
“Besides, maybe this is an opportunity. If he has the blueprints, we can just kill him and take them after he escapes. Joshua will definitely be wounded from fighting the Wraith Squad, so we might actually achieve both our goals more easily. And if we don't get those blueprints today, we never will.”
Dipus was already thinking the same thing as Jin. As he said, that would be the best possible outcome.
Of course, if they had known that the blueprints were no longer in the 2nd Magic Tower’s vault, neither of them would have made such a decision.
“Let’s go, Youngest. Lord Murakan. Let’s save him, then kill him ourselves. Before Zipple’s reinforcements arrive.”
Of course, Zipple’s reinforcements weren't their only concern.
‘Kinzelo… it bothers me that they’ve been so quiet since the shipyard attack.’
Either they were moving slowly, blocked by a barrier Jin hadn't deactivated, or they were still biding their time despite the escalating situation.
Jin glanced back for a moment. In the distant Sota Desert, a battle was now unfolding between Kinzelo and Zipple, not just in the underground shipyard, but on the surface as well.
‘They’re likely biding their time. But Kinzelo hasn't gotten what they wanted yet, either. If they had, their demolition team would have started retreating.’
The three of them reached the tower entrance in an instant. Debris and piles of stone from the battle on the middle floors were scattered everywhere, but as expected, no other mages or guards were in sight.
Upon entering, a vast interior unfolded before them. Whether due to soundproofing magic or some other reason, surprisingly little of the battle’s noise and vibrations could be felt inside. It was a testament to the tower's sturdy construction. An ordinary building, no matter how large, would have crumbled to dust the moment Joshua and the Wraith Squad began their clash.
“Not a single bug in sight. At this point, isn't it basically abandoned?” Murakan said, tilting his head.
Jin and Dipus were just as puzzled, even seeing it with their own eyes. They couldn't have guessed that the magic tower was empty solely due to Sandra Zipple’s whims and madness.
In the center was a massive spiral staircase. An elevator stood in the middle, but it was out of order.
They ran up the stairs.
The tower was much taller than it appeared from the outside. Even running at full speed, it felt as though the middle floor, where Joshua and the Wraith Squad were fighting, wasn't getting any closer. It was a sign of how anxious Jin and Dipus were, worried that the blueprints might be destroyed in the battle.
Fortunately, the group soon felt the vibrations of combat again—a signal that they had finally reached the middle floors.
They pushed open the grand, tightly closed steel doors.
Swoosh!
The Wraith Squad lived up to their reputation. Even in the midst of a fierce battle, they sensed the doors opening and immediately fired mana beams toward Jin’s group.
Clang—!
Dipus deflected the beams with the blade of his greatsword, Volgar. The Wraith Squad mages didn't panic; they simply adjusted their formation to account for the new enemies.
The moment they surveyed the battlefield, Jin and Dipus couldn't help but grit their teeth.
‘Damn, there are four of them.’
They had estimated between two and four, and of course, it had to be four. Until their arrival, Joshua and Jane had been fighting four members of the Wraith Squad alone.
Jin’s group approached Joshua. He was breathing heavily but wasn't seriously injured.
The problem was Black Knight Jane.
While not critically wounded, she was bleeding heavily from numerous gashes all over her body. Some were deep enough to turn fatal at any moment. Against four members of the Wraith Squad, even a Black Knight had to risk her life, especially when it wasn't a two-on-four fight.
Above all, this was Zipple territory, and they were inside a magic tower. It was entirely possible for the Wraith Squad to be using special devices or the tower’s energy to cast magic far stronger than their usual capacity. It was obvious without even checking that Jane’s wounds were sustained while protecting Joshua.
Of course, as a Black Knight, it was her duty to protect the family’s next Patriarch, but the Joshua here wasn't the real one.
‘Does the Black Knight not know this Joshua is a clone? Dammit. One of the family’s greatest assets is being sacrificed to protect a mere body double.’
Jin’s blood boiled. He wanted to slit Joshua’s throat right then and there—the real one’s throat, not the clone’s.
However, even in his anger, Jin didn't miss one crucial fact.
‘Joshua hasn't obtained the blueprints yet. No matter how cowardly he is, Brother Dipus’s assessment wasn’t entirely wrong. If he had them, he would have told the Black Knight to escape with the blueprints while he held them off.’
Though hidden by a mask, Joshua likely wore a face that was both flustered and relieved. Flustered because his attempt to monopolize the information had been exposed and because Jin’s group had arrived sooner than expected. Yet, he was relieved because their arrival allowed him to turn the tide of the battle.
“4th Flagbearer, 12th Flagbearer.”
“Hey, this brat still isn't greeting me? What, you can’t see me? Huh? Want me to poke your eyes out?”
“…And Lord Murakan. I will explain the situation later—”
“No need, 2nd Flagbearer,” Jin cut Joshua off and drew his sword. “Instead, tell me the location of the blueprints immediately. I’ll warn you now: if you refuse, I may summarily execute you for obstructing the mission. You know very well that I don’t make empty threats.”