Chapter 435
Chapter 435
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 435
>Chapter Title: Expedition to the Frontier
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Kang Seol specifically discussed the matter of cooperating with Jian afterward, then relayed it to Mariju.
- Th-this is something I can't decide on my own. Let's at least discuss it with some members of the Silver Lion Society.
And so, two days later, a gathering was formed with about a dozen nobles who formed the core of the Silver Lion Society.
Before it began, Mariju spoke to Kang Seol.
- Most of them are moderate toward the Special Task Force, but there are definitely some who aren't. Threatening them with force won't lead to good results.
In other words, explain it in a way they can understand. Kang Seol realized, absurdly enough, that this was the hardest part.
‘Where do I even start….’
As the meeting began, Para was the first to speak.
“What's the reason for gathering everyone here?”
“I have something to report on the progress of the matter.”
“Speak.”
“We appreciate your hard work. We're listening.”
The nobles particularly loved visible results. It seemed the Special Task Force had scratched that itch for them.
“Part of Jian's memories is bound by a pact.”
“A pact….”
“If he reveals facts to someone who doesn't know them, his head explodes and he dies.”
“Such a horrific thing….”
“Is that true? Are you certain? I know curses and sorceries have similar aspects to pacts.”
“We have a sorcery expert in the Special Task Force. We've confirmed it.”
“We need cross-verification. Pacts vary by type.”
“We have a magic expert in the Special Task Force. We've classified it.”
“…Ahem. Really?”
- We really have a real expert in the Special Task Force. It's real.
- We have an expert in expertise in the Special Task Force. Just take my word for it.
“What about torture? Did you try every possible method?”
Kang Seol glanced at the one who asked such a low-level question.
“Look, even if you torture him, he can't speak or his head explodes….”
“Ah…. Right.”
“Giggle….”
“What kind of lowbrow nonsense is this… seriously….”
The chatter made it painfully clear that the internal relationships in the Silver Lion Society weren't all that beautiful.
“Damn it, we captured a top executive and still got nothing!”
“Watch your words. Thanks to him, we at least found their home base.”
“That was only thanks to Shrullen! We don't have any other captured executives!”
“Still, we must've dealt a solid blow… what do you think?”
Kang Seol answered the question.
“They say we've scratched the council like a claw mark.”
“Haa… what do we do now?”
Para was still wearing bandages, his injury from last time not fully healed.
Scraaape…
He pulled back his chair, stood, looked around, and spoke.
“That's not enough! Everyone here knows it! We can't be satisfied with just that! I want to say things have gone seriously wrong.”
“That's… true.”
“You're right.”
“Para's correct.”
Kang Seol nodded at his words.
Para spoke gravely.
“The Silver Lion Society banded together to reclaim leadership stolen by those criminals, so we must achieve that goal.”
“Not wrong.”
“We have to fulfill the original purpose so no one looks down on us. Para's right.”
Surprisingly, Para was helping Kang Seol.
With a rather impressive expression, he asked,
“You've gathered us because there's a method far worth considering over executing him, right?”
“…Yes.”
Para crossed his legs awkwardly as he sat, acting like a confident noble.
“Speak freely. I'm a pretty open-minded noble.”
“We plan to release Jian.”
“…What? Wh-what? Say that again? Did I hear wrong….”
“We must release Jian.”
At Kang Seol's words, most of the Silver Lion Society nobles jumped up and pointed accusingly.
“Wh-what on earth are you talking about!”
“Releasing a criminal we finally caught! Are you in your right mind?”
“Ridiculous!”
From a rough gauge of the room, over half seemed opposed.
‘Do I have no choice but to push hard?’
As Kang Seol rubbed his chin in thought, he spotted a man deep in contemplation.
‘…Aha.’
Kang Seol casually threw out,
“What do you think, Lord Para?”
“Wh-what?”
“I can't hear the facts directly from Jian, so instead, I'll ask him to guide us to them.”
……Really?”
“Yes. That way, we can break through the pact's recognition barrier, and later remove the weakened pact entirely, or so I'm told.”
Para began acting like a big shot again.
“The detailed location where we'll move with him? Inside the Federation?”
“They say it's outside the governed territories.”
“You don't mean the ungoverned zone?”
“Yes.”
“…My god.”
The ungoverned zone.
In simple terms, the wilds outside the kingdoms affiliated with the Federation.
Northern land teeming with monsters, criminals, and natives.
‘The northern kingdoms were born after forcibly driving the natives there in the first place.’
Heading into that perilous frozen wasteland, guided by a council executive named Jian.
“You're saying the entire Special Task Force is going there based solely on a criminal's word?”
“Precisely half the Special Task Force.”
“…What?”
“We're splitting for two reasons.”
- I'm staying. I plan to make an antidote to resolve the drug's side effects.
Ur's words to Kang Seol last night. He said the home base meant more than just their funding source.
And he'd repeatedly said he wanted to learn more about the component called Atromil.
Kang Seol explained to the gathered nobles what Atromil was, mentioned cases of those addicted dying suddenly, and emphasized the danger.
“Hom… no, now named Atromil. We know that too. The Federation's alchemists are working on it even now….”
“There might be a time issue, so we're stepping in ourselves.”
“…You have confidence? Over the Federation's alchemists?”
“…Of course.”
Para snapped his fingers.
Snap-!
“Right, what's the other reason?”
“Through information exchange between inside and outside, we'll find those still hiding in the Federation.”
“Meaning the current Investigative Bureau's forces are insufficient?”
Kang Seol smiled faintly.
Answering with a smile was a rather stylish move.
Para smirked in response, looking very satisfied.
“As expected, they're lacking.”
“Indeed… considering the Special Task Force's achievements, it's reassuring to have some stay behind. And… no.”
The words he'd just swallowed were probably arguing against sending Kang Seol's full forces outside the Federation.
Para, acting the capable noble, tossed out a question.
“Anything else to say?”
“In exactly one month, the contract between the Silver Lion Society and the Special Task Force ends. From then on, everything will proceed by my judgment alone, and wiping out the entire council to proclaim the Silver Lion Society's prestige won't be my goal. Whether it's the Hom issue or Federation matters.”
A signal not to interfere with him.
One noble spoke up.
“But you're employed by us….”
“I'm not in a position to take orders.”
“…Planning to take the money and bail? Like that….”
“I assert that this haphazard approach so far won't catch them or uncover their goal.”
…….
“We plan to take Jian to the ungoverned zone in a few days. I expect a wise decision.”
Clank…
As he closed the door and left, heated arguments erupted inside among the nobles.
Kang Seol waited quietly until their opinions settled.
‘Para turned out more helpful than expected.’
He seemed eager for a key position in the Silver Lion Society but fidgeted, not wanting to show it.
Kang Seol had luckily caught that and used it as a persuasion tool, chuckling at his good fortune.
‘A bit clumsy, but not a bad vibe.’
Thinking back, it was fortunate he hadn't smashed Para's head when he first showed up. Who knew they'd communicate like this?
Of course, Para was probably just pretending.
Anyway, quite some time passed before a subordinate found Kang Seol.
“Chairman Kang Seol, the Silver Lion Society elders request you.”
“Tell them I'm coming right away.”
“Yes….”
When Kang Seol returned to the meeting room, the Silver Lion Society members eyed each other in a strange configuration.
The nobles looked a bit sulky, displeased with Para's leading actions and Kang Seol's proposal.
And more of them were supporting Mariju and Para.
Para spoke first.
“We have conditions.”
“Let's hear them.”
He'd expected conditions. No matter how foolish, releasing a criminal without restraints made no sense.
“One month from now, can we renew the contract with the Special Task Force?”
“…If the terms are right.”
Kang Seol had proven his value, and he'd demand higher terms.
“One more thing: we're forming an expedition force.”
“…It's inconvenient and ineffective.”
“You won't lead it. Just serve as a liaison.”
“If I don't control it… it's to monitor me.”
“No, we'll attach real monitors separately. You there, Sindio.”
Swoosh…
A bespectacled mage approached, exuding the fragrance of a mature woman. And with it, a powerful aura of mana.
‘…Impressive.’
Kang Seol looked at Para in surprise the moment he saw her.
“She's the Silver Lion Society's champion. No need to hide. Sindio will assist you on the journey and monitor simultaneously.”
“The expedition is to check Sindio's safety.”
“Something like that.”
A double surveillance system.
Not a bad idea.
Kang Seol said coolly,
“I won't intervene in Sindio's life or the expedition's safety.”
Sindio replied curtly.
“I'll protect myself.”
Para nodded.
“That settles it.”
Kang Seol grinned and extended a hand to Para.
“With someone as communicative as Lord Para, this is a valuable experience today.”
Para, beaming ear-to-ear at the praise, shook hands eagerly.
“I'm always open. I've just spread my wings. Here's to good cooperation ahead!”
Mariju shot Kang Seol a sneaky glance.
* * *
(New)[Post by ‘CousinKomodoKingLizard’]
[Posted: Just now]
[Title: Crazy, anyone see the expedition recruitment post?]
Are they a mega-corp? Giving rewards like that for barely anything?
- Take it down! Competition will rise!
- Just follow along and they give treasure lololol
- Technically it's time-consuming. Can't progress meanwhile.
- I'm inherently unprogressive, so it tempts me.
(New)[Post by ‘UncleKomodoKingLizard’]
[Posted: Just now]
[Title: Not at all; zero temptation]
Ungoverned zone is savage territory full of barbarians and monsters nationwide; rewards only for those who survive guarding themselves…
- Wipe your drool.
- Slurp… Busted?
- It's a big expedition after ages lol, total festival now.
(New)[Post by ‘WhyCarryTotemAround’]
[Posted: Just now]
[Title: Silver Lion whatever]
Nobles got big hearts;
But I'm kinda against cuz it treats lives lightly.
People come before treasure, not treasure before people?
- In Pandea, treasure came first then people.
- Ah! ㅇㅋ Gotta apply hard~
- Ah I can't apply cuz temp level cut…
- How do natives even know temp level cuts?
- This too is part of our unity.
(New)[Post by ‘MomWentToInterview’]
[Posted: Just now]
[Title: Why so few Tio slots….]
Giant guilds will snag 'em all again. Special Task Force Chairman! You watching? Heard it's first-come-first-served. Bump Tio a bit pls.
- Bump Tio a bit and I'm sold.
- I was job-hunting even before transfer. Give me a chance!
- Here too chasing elites' tails…
- So you're complaining?
- Not at all! Too good! Oh, so ecstatic~ So delicious~
* * *
Kang Seol watched Jian, who had been released the very next day looking perfectly fine.
“See, you need good friends. Got it, kiddo?”
As Jian chummily addressed Tansia, she tightly grabbed Kang Seol's hand.
Jian touched the pouch of bone dust at his waist and gazed at the sky.
“The pact saved my life. Heh heh… but you sure it's okay? Releasing me.”
“Cut the nonsense and focus on guiding properly.”
“Oh, of course.”
Han So-mi spoke to Kang Seol with a glum expression.
“I wanted to go too….”
“But you got posted to the capital, so isn't that good?”
“It is, but… thanks to this, super fast promotion.”
Han So-mi was staying in the Federation. She might join later, but that was uncertain.
“But who's staying here?”
Thud…
Thud…
“…No way?”
“Me, woman.”
Jamad stood before Han So-mi.
A height too tall to look up at comfortably.
……Is there really no other way? Is Pandea doomed tomorrow or something?”
“Jamad will protect you in any situation.”
Someone capable of striking hidden council members in the city had to remain.
No need to overthink—Jamad was perfect.
No matter who came, they'd be crushed by Jamad, and he could easily protect Han So-mi.
Ur agreed it was convenient that way.
“Ha… haha… reliable. So our mission with Jamad is….”
“Find and annihilate those remaining in the Federation.”
“Inside-outside coordination. Joint investigation! Not? Sounds fun!”
Ur spoke to Kang Seol.
“I'll join Jamad once I finish sorting Atromil and the antidote.”
“Right.”
Sindio, dispatched as Kang Seol's guard and monitor, urged him on.
“The expedition follows you as it's formed. Seems adequately assembled.”
“Fast.”
“I only hope they handle things precisely. Then… shall we go?”
Kang Seol's group began moving via Castreng. Their destination wasn't the Federation's central capital but the edge of the governed territories, crossing the Federation's south.
Traversing the Federation at tremendous speed, they finally reached the bloodless land: the ungoverned zone.
“Beyond here, you need just cause to enter.”
Swoosh…
A scroll stamped by the Investigative Bureau was handed to the guard.
“…Verified. Safe travels.”
He wasn't sure how things had come to this, but so far, it was going well.
- If not stopped, in three years, the north will be laid waste. Then Pandea next.
Jian's warning from that dawn.
Kang Seol stared at the back of his head.
“Haa… nice air.”
“No time to relax. Hurry.”
“Weren't you not interfering?”
“I'm not interfering with you, Lord Kang Seol.”
“Got a mom now.”
“Wh-who's your mom!”
“Rushing won't make my feet faster. More importantly, Kang Seol.”
Jian's eyes fixed on him.
“You might regret it. Okay with trusting my word? You have to follow because of the pact?”
“No regrets, yet.”
“…Come to think, you're not Silver Lion Society. Not even northern. What was it you wanted?”
“…The truth of this matter.”
“Ah… right.”
Jian gazed at the chilling land with decadent eyes and said,
“I'll definitely… make you meet them.”
At that moment, something appeared in Kang Seol's message window.
[The next adventure begins.]
[The thirty-sixth adventure begins.]
[Adventure 36. Kokoro Cried]
……
An utterly ordinary start to a new adventure. But the following messages darkened his face.
[You have experience completing a great march first.]
[The vanguard privilege activates.]
[This adventure has a high probability of leading to a great march.]
The moment Kang Seol read the messages, he spat an unspeakable curse.
“…Fuck.”
Tansia, eyes wide in shock, backed away from Kang Seol and clung to Karen, pointing at him.
“Bad word!”
“Shh… don't learn that stuff.”