Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Natati Harbor
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***
“What’s the situation?”
At Emperor Ruan’s sharp question, Craisen, the vice-captain of the mage corps, replied in a tense voice.
“They’re coming at us endlessly.”
“What about our casualties?”
“With fighting nonstop day and night, we’re approaching five hundred dead and wounded.”
“Any word from Altros?”
“Not yet…….”
Boom!
“Where the hell is he?”
“We’re looking into it, but…….”
Craisen couldn’t bring himself to say that Altros had gone to Marquis Valtre with only a minimal escort.
He could only hope he’d return soon.
But five days had passed since he left, and there was still no contact.
The monster invasion was serious enough, but he worried something unfortunate might have happened.
He wanted to unleash every informant to track his whereabouts.
Craisen tensed under Ruan’s murderous aura, awaiting his command.
Ruan, staring ahead with chilling eyes, finally spoke.
“Prepare the mage corps.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to wait a little longer?”
“No more waiting!”
Ruan gripped the sword beside the throne and stood.
He fastened it to his waist as he said,
“I’ll handle this myself.”
“Yes, sir!”
As Craisen bowed deeply and moved to leave,
“Your Majesty!”
A knight rushed in, dropped to one knee, and reported.
“Lord Altros has appeared on the battlefield.”
“Hmm, about time he showed up.”
Ruan’s fierce demeanor softened slightly.
Craisen bowed, expecting a change of orders.
After a moment,
Ruan sat back on the throne and said to Craisen,
“Go to Altros with the mage corps. Tell him to wrap everything up within three days.”
“Yes, sir!”
Craisen bowed politely and hurried out.
Ruan turned to the knight who brought the news.
“Did you find out where he went?”
“We confirmed he went to Marquis Valtre.”
“What?”
Ruan’s face twisted.
He couldn’t understand why he’d gone straight back to that man after returning.
Above all, he was deeply displeased that he hadn’t reported to him first.
“Why did he go there!”
“We don’t know the details, but traces of battle were found near the marquis’s estate.”
“……!”
It was an outlandish claim.
A battle against Altros?
Valtre wouldn’t dare touch the emperor’s closest aide unless he’d lost his mind.
Besides, Altros was a grand archmage who had reached 8th class.
No matter how great his hidden forces, Altros was far too powerful an opponent.
This only deepened the mystery.
‘What the hell is going on?’
Ruan had never once doubted Altros.
But this incident shook his trust in him.
“Find out what happened there, even if you have to mobilize everyone.”
“Understood.”
“Don’t let Altros know about this—assign it to them.”
“Yes, sir.”
After the knight left, Ruan tapped the armrest with his index finger, lost in thought.
It was unlikely, but what if Valtre and Altros had joined forces?
It would mean massive losses to their forces and a huge setback to his grand ambitions.
But given Altros’s intense interest in that thing of his, betrayal seemed improbable.
Still, human ambition knew no bounds.
Knowing Altros’s ambitions rivaled his own, Ruan felt he needed to act sooner.
He stood, walked to the wall behind the throne, and placed his palm on a section carved with a flame pattern.
Clunk—
The wall opened, revealing a secret passage.
“This should be interesting too.”
Ruan smirked and stepped inside.
***
The Anscent Kingdom was mobilizing its knight orders on a massive scale.
Pope Vulcan flew into a rage at the report from Boika, the new captain of the holy knight order.
“What? You chased them all the way to the empire and lost them?”
“According to Urai’s report, the Julius Count family seems to have intervened.”
“Julius—as in the family that guarded the gold dragon?”
“Yes.”
“Damn it! We were almost done…….”
Vulcan’s face contorted.
They were at the finish line—just drive out the saintess and find the holy water—only to get tangled with the gold dragon’s guardian family.
That bitch must have spilled everything about the kingdom’s situation and mentioned the dragon’s divine authority as God’s proxy.
“Hmm…….”
Vulcan’s eyes darkened.
Boika watched silently, awaiting orders.
Gazing down at the knight orders assembled below the walls, Vulcan said,
“The day promised with him is approaching. You’ll have to move personally.”
“I’ll capture that wench and burn her at the stake with the saintess in front of everyone.”
Boika’s eyes gleamed coldly.
***
“That’s Natati, the Anscent Kingdom’s port city.”
Aria beamed with joy upon returning to the Anscent Kingdom, her gloom lifted as if she could fly.
Having decided to head to the Anscent Kingdom, Arthur went straight to Rasety of the Ventarr Merchant Group and asked to use their ship.
They were just about to set out for trade with another empire.
With the Ventarr Merchant Group’s help, he and the Devil Squad disguised themselves as merchants, cutting a week-long land journey down to three days by sea.
“How long to the Scollas Sanctuary?”
“About two days.”
“It’ll be close.”
Arthur glanced grimly at the Devil Squad.
“Once we arrive, scout the soldiers’ positions first. Secure horses and food.”
He locked eyes with Dark and continued.
“When you’re ready, return to the ship, pick up Aria and Millerph, and head to the outskirts. Rendezvous with me there.”
“Aren’t you coming with us?”
“I have something to check.”
After issuing orders, Arthur moved with Aria to where Millerph was.
At the stern, they saw his back as he stood alone gazing at the sea.
“Mister!”
Aria approached Millerph and stood beside him.
Millerph smiled faintly and stroked her hair.
“The Seven Priests haven’t changed from past to present.”
“Stop that. Don’t call me one of the Seven Priests.”
As Aria pouted, Millerph gave a kind smile and turned to Arthur.
“I’m sorry for causing you worry every time.”
His voice was filled with regret.
“Don’t apologize—it’s not just about treating you.”
“I’m always grateful.”
“Stay here calmly until the others return.”
“Are you going somewhere too, my lord?”
“There’s something bothering me I need to check.”
Seeing Arthur’s darkening expression as he spoke, it seemed more than a simple matter.
It pained Millerph that he couldn’t accompany him to help.
“Don’t push yourself, no matter what.”
Arthur nodded and turned to Aria.
“Don’t leave the ship until Dark arrives.”
“Got it. And if there’s something to check, try ‘Holliks’ tavern. Every sailor who comes here stops by at least once.”
Moments later.
Bwoooong—
The ship’s horn blared, announcing their arrival at the harbor.
Arthur disembarked with the Devil Squad and split up.
The harbor bustled with people from every nation, merchants lining the left side of the road.
“Silks for sale!”
“Spices here!”
“Shellfish, cheap!”
The merchants’ cries never stopped.
Arthur, his black hair hidden under a cloth, scanned the buildings.
People milled between them, but not the type he sought.
After searching a while, one sign caught his eye.
Holliks.
The place Aria mentioned.
As she said, people in varied attire came and went from the entrance.
And those leaving were drunk, spilling all sorts of talk.
“The artisans are gearing up for war!”
“You know Ruan was originally a bastard?”
“Who said?”
“Heard it somewhere. And Valtre…….”
Not very reliable, but maybe the info he wanted was there.
He decided to go in.
Inside the rowdy tavern, groups drank and chatted animatedly, reminding him of Kanrak’s old hideout.
Arthur sat calmly at the bar and said to the middle-aged owner,
“Got any White Shark?”
“Oho, looking for the good stuff.”
The man smirked, fetched a white bottle from the display, and set it before Arthur.
“50 junis.”
The Anscent Kingdom used the empire’s currency, junis.
Equivalent to five gold coins—a month’s wage for commoners, a noble’s drink.
Spotting Arthur as nobility, the man turned friendly, scenting profit.
“Anything you need, just say. Holliks can do it all.”
“Anything?”
“Of course. Money talks, heh heh.”
Arthur poured from the bottle into an empty glass and drank.
He refilled and asked,
“Information for sale too?”
“Naturally.”
“Not the cheap stuff—something really valuable?”
“It’ll cost a pretty penny. You okay with that?”
“If it’s about ten bottles’ worth, no problem.”
The man’s eyes lit up.
500 junis—fifty gold coins.
A fortune.
Not for trivial info.
He pondered carefully, then nodded to a burly man at the far end.
The man approached and whispered,
“Follow me.”
Arthur placed five gold coins on the table, then left with him.
The man led him down an alley beside the tavern.
At a dead end, he glanced around and tapped the wall rhythmically.
A door appeared and opened.
He gestured politely inside.
“After you.”
“Not coming along?”
“I’ll wait here until you’re out.”
Arthur nodded and entered.
A white door faced him.
Likely someone waited beyond.
As he gripped the handle, presences stirred.
‘One, two…… five in total.’
Five assassins in hiding, Dark’s level.
Few would survive them.
The tighter security, the more promising the info.
He pushed the door open.
In the small five-pyeong room sat a white-haired elder at a table.
Eyes closed, he welcomed Arthur.
“A special guest.”
“I want information.”
“First, unwrap that cloth around your head. You look stifled.”
“Can you handle it?”
At Arthur’s provocative retort, the elder smiled.
“I don’t buy rumors that black hair marks a demon king’s follower. No worries.”
“……!”
Arthur’s gaze turned icy.
“How’d you know?”
“You coming here isn’t coincidence. Everything proceeds by His will.”
“Who?”
The elder opened his eyes with a faint smile.
“Karen, of course. His will reaches us through the saintess.”
“What’re you talking about?”
Arthur tilted his head, and the elder added,
“I’ll confirm shortly.”
As he spoke, killing intent surged—men appearing from all sides, swords swinging.
The ones he’d sensed earlier.
Arthur’s eyes chilled.
“Draw steel on me, and there’ll be no mercy.”
He swiftly drew his dagger and swung.