Chapter 505: Blackmail (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 505: Blackmail (4)
Just one second. Or perhaps even less.
If he had been any slower, the ship blueprints would have been irreparably damaged.
Even after confirming that Jin’s flames had died down and the blueprints were safe, no one moved for a long while.
“Just a precaution,” Jin said, his face an emotionless mask as he tucked the blueprints and the device back into his inner coat pocket. “Don't think about breaking your word or stabbing me in the back. Not if you ever want a chance to negotiate for these later on.”
“...You’re quite bold for someone so worried, Sir Jin. Rest assured, that won’t happen.” Zephyrin’s smile vanished, and she suddenly released a surge of killing intent so intense it made the skin crawl. “However, you will have to negotiate with us for those items, one way or another. If you try to swallow them whole and pretend this never happened, then orders be damned. I don’t know what I’ll do, but I promise I’ll tear you into a thousand pieces.”
“Look at her, trying to act tough after tucking her tail between her legs,” Sandra chimed in. “If you kill Mr. Jin, I won’t just tear you into a thousand pieces—I’ll rip you into ten thousand.”
“Bio-golem, human lives are short enough as it is; don’t be in such a hurry to die. Shall I tell you how many semi-immortal beings I’ve sent to hell in my time?”
Jin lightly poked Sandra’s shoulder, a signal to stop provoking Zephyrin.
“I intended to negotiate with Kinzelo anyway, even if you hadn’t insisted,” Jin said. “I’ve secured the blueprints, but my clan lacks the technical expertise to decode or build them.”
It was a weakness that required neither hiding nor sugarcoating.
For a thousand years, Runcandel had endured on the strength of the sword alone.
Their staunch rejection of magic meant Runcandel had contributed almost nothing to the advancements of civilization born from such research. In the meantime, other great powers had achieved all sorts of technological progress and innovation. This was true for Zipple, of course, but also for the Imperial family and even Kinzelo, which had only recently risen to prominence.
The fact that the clan has survived this long solely through martial prowess might be a miracle in itself. Or, looking at it another way… it shows just how extraordinary the phenomenon known as Runcandel truly was.
The overwhelming martial power of the individuals within Runcandel—and the thousand-year grace period that power had bought—was coming to an end.
Every Runcandel present felt this acutely.
Now, Runcandel needed something else. Paradoxically, the fact that Cyron had achieved Creation—a realm unseen since Temar—proved this more clearly than anything else. Even with the appearance of a new Creation Knight, Runcandel could not halt its fundamental decline.
It was time for a change.
And things were already changing, little by little. Among the Flagbearers, some were already attempting or considering that change.
Jin, who had declared the Magic Sword Return; Joshua, who believed in the power of prophecy; and Dipus, who was now convinced of the need for innovation, were the prime examples.
Each of them was lost in their own thoughts.
‘I need to stall for as long as possible before sitting down at the negotiating table with Kinzelo,’ Jin thought. ‘In that time, I have to secure at least some information about the blueprints and the device. Otherwise, I’ll be forced into a losing trade.’
‘Negotiations? There’s no need for that, youngest,’ Joshua mused. ‘Even without Kinzelo’s technology, we already possess the means to produce ships.’
‘Joshua, Mother, and that being called the Prophet… they might already have the means to build them,’ Dipus considered. ‘Protecting the blueprints from the clan, and choosing between the clan and Kinzelo as a partner—both will be difficult battles. I’ll have to deal with Joshua before we return to lighten the load.’
Dipus had not yet given up on killing Joshua.
‘If possible, I’ll kill him before we escape the Sota Desert. Even if I can’t do it now, I’ll create an opportunity once we return to the clan. Without fail. That is the only path forward for the clan.’
Zephyrin’s beaming smile returned, once again masking her agitation. “You’re right. To Runcandel, those items are truly pearls before swine. We won’t be played for fools in the next negotiation. So, enjoy your small victory today, Sir Jin.”
Jin, Murakan, Yona, Joshua, Dipus, Jane, Sandra, and Zephyrin.
Thus began their strange and uncomfortable journey together.
In the sky and on the ground, Zipple and Kinzelo were still locked in fierce combat as the desert dawn drew to a close.
There was nothing pleasant about being protected from one enemy by another. The Runcandels walked with expressionless faces, their hearts heavy, as if a great weight of iron had settled in their chests.
Though they couldn't see them yet, the group could feel the Wraith Squad’s search net gradually tightening around them.
‘Two hours at most,’ Jin calculated. ‘They will definitely find us within that time. I’d like it if we weren’t discovered until we’re out of this desert.’
Zephyrin was strong. Her claim that she could match Murakan in his prime was likely no lie. However, Jin suspected that she, like Murakan, was not in peak condition. It had been that way when they first fought at the Black King Mountain Fortress, and her state would be even worse now, still suffering from the shock of that encounter.
In reality, the current Zephyrin did not possess transcendent martial power on the level of someone like Hedo. Her power was drawn from the Kinzelo Leader, who was in a state requiring absolute stability following the terror attack on the Sword Emperor Castle.
Even if Zephyrin is completely fine, contrary to my thoughts, she can’t handle the entire Wraith Squad alone.
That would be impossible even for Hedo. If anyone in the group was spotted, a signal flare would go up, and the entire Wraith Squad would swarm them.
Furthermore, Zephyrin won’t sacrifice her life to protect us. In the worst-case scenario, she could easily abandon us and the items to flee alone.
Jin glanced back for a moment, intending to check on the battle between Zipple and the Gruneil in the sky behind them.
Zephyrin let out a smirk. “You seem anxious. Don’t get your hopes up; the Gruneil won’t be finishing off Zipple and joining this escort.”
“This isn’t a crisis that requires more help from the enemy. I was simply confirming that your ship’s power has grown stronger than before.”
“Honestly, Sir Jin, if you drowned, your mouth would be the only thing left floating.”
“You’re just a form of insurance, and insurance doesn’t talk. If you don’t want Murakan or Sandra cursing you out again for no reason, just follow quietly.”
“Fine, then.”
Exiting the Sota Desert in the direction opposite the Kuta Forest would lead to the Romin Forest. Beyond that lay the central border of the Lutero Magic Federation.
The border was guarded by Zipple, five autonomous districts, and eight autonomous nations. Breaking through them all would lead to the Lutero West Sea, and they would have to travel quite a distance farther to reach neutral waters.
Escaping through the heart of the Federation was practically impossible. They had managed to infiltrate relatively easily via a route created by the Prophet, but that path could no longer be used for their escape. The group had to assume that the infiltration routes and tunnels were already being discovered, one by one. Consequently, their pace was slow, and the burden of unpredictable danger was heavy.
Huff, huff…
Amidst the whistling sandstorm, one person’s ragged breathing grew increasingly prominent.
It was the Black Knight, Jane.
She had sustained the most severe injuries in the battle against Hedo. Even for a Black Knight, she could not endure continuous blood loss and mana backflow without showing any signs of it.
“Sir Jane. Are you alright?”
She nodded, but her entire body was trembling like a leaf.
Squelch, squelch. With every step she took, blood overflowed from her boots.
When Jin carefully pulled back the cloak covering her body, he saw her ribs exposed through her torn infiltration suit and bandages.
‘Ha…!’
Black blood poured from between the pale white bones.
The only reason she was still walking was because she was a Black Knight of Runcandel. Anyone else would have already lost consciousness and died.
“...We need to apply new bandages.”
“Ugh.”
Though the bandages were imbued with healing magic, they were merely a temporary measure.
She could sense her impending death. Everyone else felt it, too. For once, even Jin could not hide his grim expression.
Even if she followed Joshua, she is a Black Helmet of the clan… one who has been more devoted than anyone. Must she die like this?
If they didn't get her out of here soon, Jane would surely die. But they simply could not move any faster. While the group changed her bandages, Sandra handed Jane a painkiller.
“I take this whenever I have side effects from my experiments. You’ll feel a bit better if you swallow it. It’s the most effective painkiller in the world. I don’t want you to be in pain, because it makes Mr. Jin sad. That’ll get in the way of our date.”
Jin stared intently at the painkiller. As he watched, a thought occurred to him that made him momentarily loathe himself.
“What a tear-jerking scene,” Zephyrin drawled. “Does anyone have a handkerchief? But since death seems unavoidable, wouldn’t it be better to just put her out of her misery? From an escape efficiency standpoint, that seems like the better option.”
As she spoke, Zephyrin pointed toward the distance. The entrance to the Romin Forest was visible.
“That forest has been completely surrounded since the shipyard attack began. A blockade so dense that no one can slip through unnoticed—except perhaps for your youngest sister. A forced breakthrough is essential, but you don’t actually think that’s possible while carrying a patient, do you?”
It was a statement that required no verification. Excluding teleportation and flight, the only escape routes were toward the Kuta Forest and the Romin Forest. There was no way Zipple would leave those areas poorly guarded.
At least the Wraith Squad hasn't found us yet, so we're fine for now.
Jin locked eyes with Zephyrin. “It would have been difficult without you. That is your role, Zephyrin.”
“Hah?”
“You will break through to the right and draw their attention. We will slip out of the desert after the blockade converges on you.”
“Wouldn’t it be more rational for us all to break through to the border together, and then I act as a decoy? Once a commotion starts, the Wraith Squad will come. Are you really going to use me as a decoy here, just for the chance that the Black Knight might live?”
Jin did not answer.
“You know it’s impossible for everyone to make it back alive, don’t you? You’re being too greedy, Sir Jin. That Black Knight is already a half-corpse.”
“Shut up and go. The decision is mine to make, not yours.”
Jin’s refusal to give up on Jane’s life wasn’t just a matter of sentiment. Zephyrin—and Sandra, who secretly agreed with her though she didn't show it—could not know the truth behind his decision.
“And why are you so worried about me? This isn’t a losing deal for you, either.”
At those words, Zephyrin shrugged. “Well, I suppose I’ll obey. As you say, it’s not a bad deal for me. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but you look like you won’t back down no matter what I say. The life of a Black Knight… I thought you were cold-blooded, but you do have a childish side.”
From Zephyrin’s perspective, it was actually a better scenario for Jin’s group to fall into danger while she was acting as a decoy. While escorting them, she had no opportunity to act. But she judged that if Jin’s group tried to evade Zipple’s pursuit without her, the possibility of her stealing the items back would increase.
She wasn't the only Kinzelo member in the area, after all.
Furthermore, even after becoming a decoy, she could easily escape capture and return to Jin. For Zephyrin, the best outcome would be finding Jin in a dire situation when she returned.
“See you at the border. Take good care of the goods.”