Chapter 89
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: The Train Keeps Going (2)
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3.
Seen off by a throng of people, Karron left the city.
He thought he would finally be alone, but
What are you two doing here?
A man and a woman stood beside Karron.
One was
My training is not yet over! Karron Leston. You are a great warrior. I will learn the pride of a warrior by your side!
Of course, it was the giant, Utulla. The other was
I just came out with you. I have to head east from here.
The tiger-kin, Adina.
Both were people Karron had saved from Leandro.
Adina quietly looked at Karron. Then, without warning, she bowed deeply.
Hey, hey, what are you doing?
Karron was flustered by the sudden bow, but Adina spoke as if it were nothing.
Bowing to a benefactor is a custom of our tribe.
Come to think of it, I heard Margrave Leandros body was damaged
Of course, I did it. The piece of trash. He wont find peace even in death.
You follow your customs well, huh?
Upholding the traditions of the tiger-kin is how we maintain our identity, Karron Leston.
Still, Adina was one of the key people who had helped end this operation quickly.
Hadnt Rebellio asked her to stay in the city for a while, promising a huge reward?
But it seemed she had left that reward behind to come out of the city.
Thank you, Karron Leston. If it werent for you I would have lived a life where I couldnt even take my own.
Adina, who had stood up, spoke to Karron with a gentle smile.
She then took a horn from her bosom and handed it directly to Karron.
I had a hard time finding this. Those pieces of trash. To think theyd shove this sacred horn into a warehouse. This, Karron, is a token of our pact. If you ever come to the Eastern Great Forest, blow this horn. Then our tiger-kin will come to repay our debt to you.
You said its a sacred horn. Is it okay to give it to me?
Adina smiled brightly and nodded.
We can always lend it to a benefactor. Since you helped me, I will help you. Well see each other again anyway so lets keep the farewells short. Well then, Ill be on my way.
Take care.
And so, another bond was forged.
Perhaps because she had received good treatment from the priest, Adina ran off into the distance in the blink of an eye.
The tiger-like fur visible on her back was likely not an illusion.
Karron watched until Adina disappeared from view, then turned his head to Utulla.
So, youre saying youre going to follow me?
Utulla thumped his chest twice.
Unlike Adina, I have nothing to give you! Therefore, I will help you in your great task. I am certain I can grow stronger by following you! A great battle awaits us, Karron Leston!
What if I dont want you to?
Warriors grow stronger together. So if we are together, we can claim victory in more battles.
It felt like a strange lump had just attached itself to him.
Were all giants like this?
Karron sighed and asked Utulla.
Are your people also uh, um. This ignorant no, this straightforward?
Utulla shook his head as if it were obvious.
Of course not! I am just exceptionally warrior-like.
Right. If everyone was like you, the tribe wouldnt function properly.
Hm? I do not understand what you mean.
Its nothing.
This guy was definitely an oddball, even among giants.
Even if he could control his size, would taking Utulla along be helpful for the mission?
He felt it would just draw unnecessary attention.
So Karron said in a suggestive tone.
By the way, you need a mercenary ID to go south with me. Im actually going under a false identity myself.
Saying that, Karron took a bronze-colored medal from his pocket.
Theres no way a giant would have a mercenary tag
Oh! I have one too! A mercenary tag is essential for a giant stepping out into the world for the first time!
Utulla took his own mercenary tag from his pocket.
A silver mercenary tag.
It was a tag proving he was a Class 2 mercenary. Karrons, on the other hand, was a bronze tag given to Class 3 mercenaries.
Utulla glanced back and forth between his tag and Karrons, then tilted his large head and said.
Hmm, the color seems a bit different, Karron! Is yours a different kind of tag? It must be a tag given only to greater warriors!
Where on earth did you get that?
The Mercenary Guild sometimes comes to our tribes village to issue tags.
Wow, look at the sales skills on those Mercenary Guild guys.
Is this qualification enough?
His attempt to shake the guy off using identity as an excuse had failed.
Karron once again considered letting Utulla join him.
Skills?
His skills were certainly reliable.
The destructive power coming from that overwhelming physique could not be ignored.
Then what were the downsides?
None.
There were none.
He looked like hed be obedient, and while he seemed a bit foolish, that wasnt a lack of intelligence but a part of his innate personality.
Conclusion.
Ill take him.
There was no harm in taking him.
It was a confidential mission, but there seemed to be no need to tell him the details.
Having finally made his decision, Karron slowly nodded.
But he couldnt show that he was readily agreeing.
With the air of granting a favor
Alright. For now, you can come with
Just then.
Whoosh-!
Guhaaack.
Utulla fiercely hugged Karron, then lifted him with all his might and said.
Thank you! You are the first companion of my life! Karron Leston! It is an honor to be with a great warrior like you! When I return to my village, I will be able to proudly tell stories about you!
Guhaaaack. Let go!
What? I cant hear you!
Let go
Karrons consciousness was truly fading.
And so, the giant Utulla joined Karrons party.
4.
In the office of Azure Sea Castle.
Halo was reading the report Peil had brought.
Margrave Leandro gave the order to attack the imperial prince, and accordingly, Karron executed him on the spot. Whirlwinds surged on site, and even knights who had overloaded their mana cores could not stop Karron
The report, sent directly by Rebellio, was filled with one shocking story after another.
The summary execution of a margrave in charge of a border city.
It was undoubtedly an act that would bring about a massive political firestorm.
But Halo couldnt care less about such things.
It wasnt enough for him to oppress the Empires people; he filled his belly with those who fled for their lives. He deserved to die.
Countless people witnessed the moment Prince Rebellio was attacked.
And the true culprit behind the attack?
Unfortunately, they say he was not caught.
This smells fishy, too.
When the madman of the Imperial Palace met the madman of the ducal family, it would have been stranger if the incident had ended quietly.
Halo lightly tapped his fingers on the desk.
What caught Halos interest in this report wasnt the death of a maggot like Margrave Leandro.
It was that Karron had cut down the knights while creating whirlwinds.
The only technique in the Sea Wolf Sword Style that creates whirlwinds is the Sixth Form, Raging Torrent.
I never saw him training the Sixth Form separately.
He was well aware that his Sea-Conquering Art had reached the 6th Star, but swordsmanship was separate from the Sea-Conquering Art.
Raging Torrent is a difficult technique to use.
It tests ones ability to manage mana, and even the slightest instability can easily lead to failure.
It was such a complex sword art that there were knights who could never fully master the Sixth Form, Raging Torrent.
However, the report stated that Karron had created six whirlwinds.
Has he already reached the pinnacle of the Sixth Form?
With 6-Star mana, six was the limit.
Those who first learn Raging Torrent struggle to create even one properly.
But his grandson, as if mocking them, seemed to have already mastered the Sixth Form.
Its completely beyond common sense.
At Halos words, Peil bowed his head and replied.
To think my son would cause such an incident again. I apologize on his behalf, My Lord.
There is no need for you to apologize. And I have no intention of holding Karron responsible for this. I only wish to reprimand his decision to involve the Zion Kingdom. It was too risky a judgment.
It could have been seen as borrowing the power of a foreign nation, but that much didnt matter.
After all, no one would be able to find evidence that the Leston Ducal Family had moved the Zion Kingdom.
But in the end, Karron produced results.
The process is important. But once a sword is drawn, the result becomes more important than the process.
Halo slowly rose from his seat.
And looking at Peil, he said.
So, have you spoken with Karron?
Peils expression turned troubled.
I tried to speak with him, but by the time I contacted him, he had already left Leven.
He must not have wanted to hear his fathers nagging.
It seems so.
Heh heh.
At those words, Halo showed a rare smile.
From not listening to his father, to causing trouble as he pleased.
Was he not the very definition of a rogue?
That boy truly never leaves a place quietly.
This incident will once again shake the Empire.
The incident at the Imperial Palace four years ago was slowly fading from peoples memories, but now Karrons name will be on their lips once more.
Cleaning up the mess is always the parents job. Peil. You take care of it for the time being.
Yes, My Lord.
And think of a way to bring Leven under our familys influence.
I will keep that in mind.
Good, you may leave.
Peil bowed respectfully to Halo and left the office with quiet steps.
Creeak.
Once the door closed, Halo slowly walked to the sofa and sat down. He drank a glass of water, then let out a light breath.
With this incident as a catalyst, the secret slave trades within the Empire would quickly disappear.
Halo pushed a cup in front of an empty chair and filled it with liquor.
Be satisfied with this, Kain. My grandson has done his part.
He poured liquor into his own cup as well, then quietly took a sip.
Then, he thought about the situation in the south, where Karron was headed.
A land ravaged by war.
A place filled with chaos and screams, where those who have lost their humanity roam.
Through this mission, his grandson will come to understand clearly what war is.
Karron must witness all of those horrors.
Because the one chosen by Guillotine must eventually head to the battlefield.
It was a fate that only Karron himself could bear.
Halo tilted his cup, thinking of another major figure in the south.
Kerua Akte.
One of Kains loyal retainers.
Karrons current mission would likely conclude with an encounter with him.
It will be a good experience, Karron.
The last time Halo saw Kerua was ten years ago.
Kerua, whom he had encountered near the Southern Great Forest, had already reached the realm of the 8th Star.
A martial artist of that caliber would not have died of old age or sickness.
It had been a while since he fell from the Leston Ducal Familys sight, but he didnt think Kerua would have walked a wicked path.
Kerua was not a foolish man.
Kerua. Ironically, Karron seems to resemble Kain in some ways. I wonder what you will think.
Halo sometimes saw a glimpse of Kain in Karron.
An indescribable, strange aurahe often thought that aura was very similar to Kains.
What would Kerua think when he saw such a Karron?
This will be interesting.
All he had to do was wait here quietly.
As always, quietly.