Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: The Loyal Assassin
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"Just kill him."
Jackal turned his head resolutely.
The more Arthur saw him act like that, the stronger his desire grew to make the man one of his own.
Arthur highly valued the fact that even after the war ended in defeat, he hadn't fled but had infiltrated this place to rescue Yarve.
His skills were exceptional too—nobody but Arthur had detected him.
Above all, Arthur was even more drawn to how he refused to betray Yarve despite the offer of his life.
"I'll give you more time to think."
Arthur glanced at Yarve as he continued.
"Even if you haven't lived a meaningful life, you should at least die meaningfully."
"What bullshit are you spouting? I saved that beast bastard when he was half-dead and raised him to act human! He couldn't repay that debt even if he died for it! So give up on swaying him!"
Yarve shouted furiously, then yelled at Jackal as well.
"Hey! Am I wrong? Answer me!"
Jackal kept his mouth firmly shut and said nothing.
"A supposed bodyguard knight who doesn't protect his lord but gets caught with him instead? You fucking idiot! If you've got a mouth, say something!"
"Shut up! This guy's infiltrated here to save you!"
Arthur looked at him with eyes full of contempt.
"Gasp!"
Yarve flinched in shock when his eyes met Arthur's and staggered back.
"Bark one more time."
Arthur glared at him chillingly before shifting his gaze to Jackal.
"Look at me."
"Don't you have anything else to say?"
The moment Jackal met Arthur's eyes, his gaze shook violently.
A golden aura rose from him.
"Th-this is..."
It was a phenomenon that appeared in those who had reached the Sword Master realm.
Arthur locked eyes with Jackal and said.
"If you're a warrior, you'll revere strength. I'll become your true light. And I'll make you a stronger warrior."
Jackal steadied his wavering heart and replied.
"You might find this laughable, but though I'm an assassin, I value the knightly code."
"Become my comrade—not a slave, not a subordinate."
"What? A comrade?"
Jackal faltered for a moment, and Yarve bellowed.
"What nonsense is this? Hey! Get a grip! Don't fall for his lies!"
"I did warn you."
Arthur summoned a Sig Sauer in his left hand and aimed it at Yarve.
Yarve's eyes bulged as he bared his teeth.
"Yeah! Kill me! If I die, this place will turn into a sea of fire."
"Stop barking."
Bang!
"Argh!"
Yarve collapsed, clutching his thigh. Blood poured from the spot where the bullet had pierced through his aura.
"What the hell are you doing!"
Jackal, who had stayed composed until now, exploded in anger and stood up.
He unleashed thick killing intent, pressing down on Arthur.
Arthur scoffed dismissively.
"You know you can't do anything to me with your skills."
"That doesn't mean I can just watch my lord get hurt."
Jackal snapped the ropes binding his hands and thrust his arm toward Arthur with full force.
Whoosh!
Something like a shuriken shot from his hand like lightning.
"Useless."
Arthur didn't even look as he extended his arm sideways and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The shuriken ricocheted away.
Arthur glanced at Yarve and said.
"He's too good for the likes of you."
"P-pl-please... spare me..."
Yarve barely whispered in a voice like he was on the verge of death, his face drained of color.
Realizing how dire his condition was, Jackal asked urgently.
"You're not thinking of just leaving him like this, are you?"
"Considering what he's done up to now, dying a miserable death doesn't sound so bad."
Arthur looked at Jackal with a cold smile.
"Y-you..."
Jackal was utterly bewildered by this new side of him.
Arthur smiled faintly and asked.
"Didn't you say you value the knightly code?"
"Why bring that up all of a sudden...?"
"You want to uphold your beliefs and save that guy too."
Arthur gave him a meaningful look as he continued.
"Prove it."
"Prove what, how?"
Jackal stared at Arthur with a serious expression.
'This is going more smoothly than expected.'
Arthur smirked inwardly and decided to execute the plan he'd thought up in his office before coming down here.
He pulled out the war reparations document Yarve had signed from his pocket.
"Go to Nibon Territory."
"What?"
Jackal's eyes widened.
"Show your knightly spirit. Prove that even an assassin by nature can hold to the code of chivalry. How about it? You save that guy too."
"You think this will...?"
Jackal ground his teeth and glared.
"Ugh... spare... me..."
Yarve's screams continued from the next room.
To save him, Jackal had no choice but to accept Arthur's offer. And in doing so, prove his beliefs.
More than that, demanding the war reparations required a code or passphrase set by Yarve Count and Knight Wyman.
Only they knew it.
But Jackal, always at Yarve Count's side like his shadow, knew the details—and the code.
In the end, no one else could do it.
"Please... sp-spare..."
Yarve's voice cut off.
His presence had weakened to the point of being barely detectable, and his ragged breathing was so faint it required straining to hear.
Jackal nodded frantically.
"I'll do it! So hurry and give him first aid."
"Loyal to the end."
Arthur entered the room where Yarve was confined.
He took out a potion from his pocket and sprinkled it on Yarve's thigh.
A clear green light glowed from the wound.
"Don't forget—you're alive because of him."
"Ugh..."
Yarve groaned before losing consciousness.
Arthur checked his condition and stepped back out to tell Jackal.
"You have to keep your promise."
"Don't worry. I always keep my word."
"You'd better."
Arthur grinned and unlocked the shackles.
Jackal stepped outside and held out his hand. Arthur handed him the war reparations document.
"Two weeks should be enough?"
Jackal thought carefully, then answered firmly.
"Plenty."
"Good."
"If I come back and find even a hair out of place on the Count, you'll regret it."
"A man's word is his bond."
"What does that mean?"
"Engrave it in your mind. It means once words leave your mouth, you must keep them."
"A man's word... is his bond..."
Jackal's eyes deepened.
***
Shortly after, Jackal set off for Nibon Territory.
From the ramparts, Arthur watched his retreating figure galloping away on horseback, a faint smile on his lips.
He was certain Jackal wouldn't run.
On the contrary, he'd likely return sooner than promised to save his lord.
But even if Jackal completed the mission, it was a problem.
It would prove his convictions, and Arthur would have to release Yarve.
There was a reason for his obsession with Jackal.
The man's words and actions had drawn him in, but the more he saw, the more he reminded him of someone.
Kim In-cheol, the youngest on his Tier 1 team and a fellow Korean.
He'd handled reconnaissance and scouting, and like Jackal, had unshakeable convictions.
Arthur felt a lump of guilt for failing to protect him.
That was why every time he looked at Jackal, In-cheol's face seemed to overlap with his.
"Hmm..."
As Arthur recalled old memories with In-cheol, he sensed a presence behind him.
"You're here, my lord."
Millerph approached and bowed politely.
Arthur shook off thoughts of In-cheol and asked.
"Did you come because you're curious why I let him go?"
"No, my lord. It's something else. And I trust you."
"I refuse blind loyalty."
"That won't happen."
Arthur nodded and turned around.
"I trust you too."
"Thank you."
Millerph smiled faintly.
"I have something to discuss anyway. Read this."
Arthur pulled a copy of the war reparations document from his pocket and handed it over.
Millerph unfolded and examined it.
"Gasp!"
"What surprises you so much?"
"I never even thought of that angle..."
"If all goes according to plan, we'll solve the iron shortage and have plenty for territory operations."
"We can't rule out the chance he'll bring forces with him. A person's heart can change dozens of times a day."
"In my eyes, he's not the type."
Arthur's face was filled with trust in Jackal.
Millerph grew intensely curious about the source of that faith.
Then, something clicked.
"Did you set conditions involving Yarve?"
"Yeah."
"If he's released, the Julius Family's strength will be exposed to the world. I'd like to hear why you made that decision."
The trusting gaze from moments ago was gone, replaced by doubt.
Arthur looked toward Dark, who was leading the Devil Squad out of the castle for reconnaissance, and replied.
"He said even a born assassin can value the knightly code."
"It could be a ploy to deceive you."
"Maybe. But seeing how he treated Yarve and the way he looked at me, it didn't feel like a lie."
"Hmm..."
Hearing that, Millerph realized he'd been too complacent about Yarve.
Arthur was only 18, a wastrel just months ago.
Inheriting Tehran couldn't mean he could read people perfectly.
As worry clouded Millerph's face, Arthur chuckled and said.
"Just watch."
"Aren't you trusting him too much?"
"I trust him."
"That enemy? He was the bodyguard knight of the enemy commander."
"I trust the man Jackal, beyond his affiliations. So trust me. Do you think I'd be foolish enough to put this place in danger?"
Millerph bowed his head at Arthur's resolute eyes.
"Understood."
"Tell me why you came."
"I came to discuss the iron supply and Yarve Count. I'll skip the iron and talk about Yarve."
Millerph's face grew serious.
Arthur turned to survey the territory.
Children laughed and played happily in the familiar scenery.
Millerph stepped beside him and looked at the same sight.
"It's peaceful."
"I want to keep seeing this."
"I have no doubt you'll make it so, my lord."
"I think so too."
Arthur's expression turned grave.
"A few days ago, I asked an acquaintance for info on Yarve Count."
"Something came up, I see."
"We found out who's backing Yarve Count."
"He has a backer?"
It was out of the blue.
A minister loyal to the Emperor having a backer?
An ominous feeling arose that things would get complicated.
Arthur looked at Millerph with a stern face.
Millerph met his eyes seriously.
"Valtre Marquis."
"We're already at odds with the Emperor anyway. Whoever it is won't change much, right?"
"He's the Emperor Ruan's half-brother."
"..."
"The one man in the Oscar Empire who could have been our ally is now our enemy."
"Damn! Things are getting tangled."
As Arthur frowned, he recalled Yarve's earlier snarling words.
He headed for the stairs, and Millerph asked urgently.
"Where are you going?"
Arthur shouted as he descended swiftly.
"I have something to check!"