Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Paon's Display of Supremacy
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Adrian's command was truly out of the blue, but Ordin carried it out without a word of complaint.
Prime Minister Adrian... a man whose power was second to none save for His Imperial Majesty the Emperor.
There was no need to court suspicion by voicing idle questions.
"Ian Lichtenauer. Second son of Paon Lichtenauer, master of the Lichtenauer Clan, once derisively called a half-wit. Lately, he's earned some praise for pulling himself together... but nothing else particularly worth noting."
"No, no. That can't be right."
Denying Ordin's report, Adrian issued an order.
"While you're on the Southern Continent, dig deeper into Second Young Lord Ian. This prickling at the back of my neck... I've never ignored it and come out unscathed."
Twenty-odd years had passed since the fall of the Alexandros Empire.
Over those long years, Adrian had faced constant life-threatening threats from countless rebels pining for Lucas and the fallen empire. He knew the signs all too well.
It was but a fleeting instant, yet Adrian had felt it clearly.
From Ian—a chilling sensation identical to the one he'd sensed during assassination attempts on his own life.
It was that very aura martial artists dubbed killing intent.
'A direct scion of the Lichtenauer Martial Clan directing killing intent at me... This didn't happen without reason.'
The most obvious culprit sprang to mind immediately.
Paon Lichtenauer's awareness of the other continents' ambitions was practically an open secret among the world's rulers.
Ian knowing of it and letting his hostility toward Adrian seep through.
'Reason enough to investigate. For Paon Lichtenauer—that monster—to confide his true thoughts to such a degree. The half-wit rumors were obviously false... He might even be a prodigy exceeding expectations.'
Small variables could snowball into massive rifts.
Adrian had no intention of overlooking a single one.
'But that alone doesn't add up. Ian should be hostile to envoys from the other continents too, not just me.'
Yet Ian had reverted to his serene demeanor as if nothing had occurred.
'If there's some grudge aimed solely at the Dufer Empire...'
For instance, having mastered Lucas's martial arts.
Such a motive would make perfect sense.
'...Am I letting paranoia get the better of me?'
Pfft!
Adrian let slip an involuntary chuckle.
As if such a thing were possible.
Twenty-odd years.
In all that time, not a single soul who had learned that cursed Lucas's martial arts had escaped eradication.
'Good grief. Tormented by those vermin for so long, and now even I'm spinning wild delusions.'
He'd have to request a vacation from His Majesty once this mission wrapped up.
As Adrian sipped his wine, banishing his fancies—
"Apologies for the wait!!"
The evening's star had arrived.
"Master of the Lichtenauer Martial Clan, the great martial artist who achieved the legendary feat of dragon-slaying!!"
Tonight's protagonist, commanding the undivided attention of the masses.
"Patriarch Paon Lichtenauer makes his entrance!!"
Those nursing their wine.
Those catching up with long-lost contacts.
Even those whose sole purpose was to confront Paon.
Every gaze in the hall converged on a single point.
To behold the Martial King.
...Thud!
Soft yet profoundly resonant footsteps echoed in every ear.
This was the grand banquet hall of the Lichtenauer Clan.
A colossal space ample enough to house most of the clan's strike squads alongside hordes of envoys from every nation.
Under normal circumstances, a lone set of footsteps would go unheard.
Thud!
Yet these rang out vividly, as if the walker were striding right beside them.
How long did those crisp echoes persist?
Under the weight of countless stares, Paon ascended to the head seat with unshakeable poise.
"I extend my heartfelt thanks to the distinguished guests from afar who honored my invitation despite the arduous journey. As it's merely the first day, I'd urge you to savor the feast at leisure, but..."
Not a shout, nor aided by magic.
Paon merely murmured as if confiding in a neighbor, yet his voice filled the vast hall.
"It appears many here have scant interest in the meal. With your pressing duties, perhaps we should dispense with the formalities. Without delay, let the main event commence."
Snap!
Rumble...
With a casual flick of his fingers, massive carts began parading in from one side of the hall.
When some twenty behemoths had rolled forth, the envoys' eyes ignited with fervor.
"As forewarned, these are the Earth Dragon's byproducts. Most of you seem eager to bid..."
Whoosh!
The shrouding cloths were yanked away in unison, revealing the carts brimming with treasures that glittered radiantly beneath the chandelier glow.
"Ooooooh...!!"
Even those primarily there to gauge Paon's condition forgot their agendas in that instant, succumbing to pure wonder.
And small wonder—these were dragon remnants of legend.
Beholding artifacts like Siegfried's famed blade Snowwhite, known only through scant relics, naturally drew awed gasps.
As the envoys' exclamations ebbed, Paon's voice resumed.
"As you can see, our Southern Continent dwarves' workmanship has preserved them in near-pristine condition. Inspect at your leisure, and submit your delegations' proposed terms for impartial review."
Paon's words barely concluded before envoys clamored for the floor.
What offers would sway the Lichtenauer Clan most? Which items were scarcest? Knowledge was power.
Amid the din, a hand rose from the Khan Empire contingent, and the marketplace buzz fell silent.
"Marquis Paon, if I may, could this one pose a question?"
A goateed man sought the floor.
'As expected—that snake wouldn't stay quiet.'
Ian knew the voice's owner instantly.
"Impressive treasures indeed. The craftsmanship impeccable, fully vindicating Agena's acclaim for Southern metallurgy. However..."
Without awaiting permission, the man strode to a cart and hefted a scale.
"Isn't the quantity rather... meager?"
He scrutinized it before casually discarding it, his tone laced with provocation.
The clan's martial artists bristled at his effrontery, but Paon's gesture halted them.
"Hmm. And you are?"
"Viscount Zidanta of the Khan Empire, Your Excellency. I came at the Grand Duke's behest upon your Agena proclamation."
After terse self-introduction, Zidanta pressed on.
"An Earth Dragon spanning Southern legends into Agena's myths. Such a monumental feat, yet so paltry a yield? For bodily remnants, it's disappointingly scant. Surely an explanation is in order."
"You arrogant...!!"
His rehearsed arrogance twisted the squad leaders' faces beet-red.
Factions aside, they were all Lichtenauers.
Such slights against their patriarch were fraying their forbearance to the breaking point.
Oblivious or indifferent to the mood, Zidanta continued.
"Dragon byproducts are far too perilous for any one faction to hoard. Releasing a mere fraction like this... One can't help suspecting it's mere posturing for the other continents, with ulterior motives afoot."
"Makes sense, hearing it laid out."
"The South's a lone kingdom—no call for such surplus might."
The other envoys, swayed by naked greed, murmured agreement to his audacious claim.
'No—they know it's nonsense.'
They were merely herding the mood toward avarice.
Ian could only scoff inwardly at the spectacle.
After the clan had slain Agena's monstrous Earth Dragon threat, pulling them from the brink—no gratitude, just demands for a bigger share. Absurdity beyond fury.
'Kaidu's handiwork. Provoke Paon into a show of force?'
Slay Zidanta in the fray, and they'd gain invasion pretext on one vermin's corpse. No loss for them.
"...Subduing the Earth Dragon involved not just our clan, but vital aid from the Mudflow and Golden Heaven calamitous forces. Monopolizing at their exclusion would burden us intolerably—it was a necessity."
"Whaaat...?!"
Zidanta overplayed shock at Paon's reply.
"Heavens above. Bestowing such priceless remnants on those filthy monsters? Your Excellency's boundless magnanimity leaves this Zidanta speechless."
No soul here could out-sneer him.
"Yet... even granting that, the amount remains woefully inadequate. Word has it over thirty carts went to the Magic Tower alone. Allocating less than a single tower's share to this multitude of delegations... I fear suspicions of the Lichtenauer Clan's true aims are unavoidable."
Toward Paon—Southern Marquis and Martial King—such brazen disregard.
True motives aside, what envoy behaved thus?
Yet every delegation present, Ian included, understood.
'That's the Khan Empire mindset in a nutshell.'
Agena's longest-reigning empire.
Forged in myriad martial arts and resplendent culture.
That hubris warped into the conviction that all other continents groveled beneath them.
Empowering a petty viscount to affront a marquis so.
"You insolent cur!!"
But the Lichtenauer squad leaders' own arrogance ranked second to none.
Tolerating even an imperial proxy viscount had reached its limit.
As they surged forward, Karounas behind Zidanta gripped his hilt, assuming stance.
Tension teetered on the knife's edge.
"...Kaidu must be woefully ignorant of me and the Lichtenauers."
Paon's voice resonated in every ear across the hall.
"...Wh-what did you say?"
Zidanta balked, ears deceiving him.
Kaidu Ballak.
One of the Four Heroes, enthroned as Khan's Grand Duke.
To invoke that august name like a stray mongrel...!!
Forgetting his own slights, Zidanta's visage mottled with rage.
"Gladly. Kaidu Ballak—that greenhorn knows naught of me or the Lichtenauers."
"You...!!"
Zidanta and Karounas lunged to erupt.
...Thoom!
"...Eh?"
The instant they bolted upright, their knees buckled of their own accord.
As though crushed from above.
"Khan Empire, Khan Empire... You've long seethed that our Lichtenauer Clan claimed the Martial Clan mantle. Yet no other continent bestows it on Khan's vaunted houses. Know why?"
Strolling leisurely, Paon closed in on Zidanta and Karounas.
With each step, their sensed pressure redoubled.
"Simple. No Khan house eclipses we Lichtenauers. Thus the Martial Clan title—and Martial King laurels—remain ours alone."
"Guh... ughh...!!"
Zidanta and Karounas flailed to rise, but their knees refused to yield.
"Dissatisfied with the scant Earth Dragon yield?"
Paon murmured, clasping Zidanta's shoulder with deceptive gentleness.
The gesture targeted Zidanta alone, yet the whisper pierced every ear crystal-clear.
"Utterly presumptuous. For vermin like you to complain at all is laughable. Cart-seekers abound without you. We suffer no loss—you do. And."
Pat, pat!
Paon patted Zidanta's shoulder lightly en route to his throne.
"I decreed it so; none can demand accountability. If grievance burns... Come seize them."
Chin raised in hauteur, Paon scanned the assembly.
"The fallout? Your own affair. Did you fancy our clan impotent sans these trinkets? To so underestimate the Lichtenauers... Unbelievable."
Tap, tap!
Paon's fingers drummed the armrest twice; the binding force evaporated.
"Huff, huff!"
"Well? Answered to your satisfaction?"