Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Defying the Red Yaksha
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Though Ian had lived for many long years bearing the stigma of being half-mad, he was undeniably direct blood of the Lichtenauer line.
Any ordinary person would have pretended to yield to Ian's mediation and backed off.
However.
"...Kahaha! Young Lord Ian, what do you think this means right now?"
The one gripping Ralph's arm now was no ordinary man—Manus.
If Ian was direct Lichtenauer blood, then Manus was the eldest son of the Kalia Warrior Clan, a man whose position as heir was all but assured.
There was no reason for him to shrink back.
"Just what I said, isn't it? Oh, was it too difficult a phrase that needs explaining?"
One corner of Manus's mouth twisted up at Ian's mocking words.
A sign that he was starting to feel displeased.
"Hmmm, this is tricky. Young Lord Ian, seems like holing up in your room for so long has left you clueless... Ralph and I are cousins. As the elder of the family line, I have a duty to discipline a rude little brother. Got it?"
Manus leaned his face in close to Ian's.
"Family business, you see. So, mind your own business and... let go of this hand while I'm asking nicely?"
He'd been keeping an eye on Ian lately, thinking the changes he'd shown might help surpass Alex.
But in the end, to Manus, Ian was still just a cripple.
A fool who'd wasted years shut away in his room, now flailing belatedly to act like a proper person.
To Manus, Ian was nothing more than a tool.
A tool to swallow up the martial clan.
But even a tool like that had its uses for now, so some degree of relations needed maintaining.
Thus, Manus suppressed his temper and issued a warning to Ian.
But Ian ignored the threat, still holding that hand firm.
"In that case, you should let go all the more. Until the report to the Patriarch is done, Ralph is a member of the Latent Dragon Squad before he's family of the Kalia Warrior Clan. Don't lay a hand on my squad member under the pretense of private talk."
Manus's eyes began to redden at Ian's rebuttal.
"...Ha. This guy's got a talent for making easy paths hard. Can't even discern that much? Last warning—let go of this hand."
A sign that his anger was starting to boil over.
"Think because you're Marquis Paon's son, I'll just tuck tail and stay quiet? You don't know my moniker...?"
"Who wouldn't?"
Ian smirked and cut Manus off.
"The prodigy eldest son of the Kalia Warrior Clan, Manus Kalia—moniker Red Yaksha. Oh, I'm feeling just why that nickname stuck right now. Baring your fangs like a mad dog without regard for context... whoever coined it was spot on, hilariously so."
At Ian's words, the faces of those watching this spectacle with keen interest paled white.
Manus Kalia's official moniker was Red Lion.
A name praising his fiery red hair like a flowing mane and his lion-like valor in battle.
But the "Red Yaksha" Ian had just uttered was a derogatory slur mocking Manus's brutality and cruelty.
In other words, a blatant declaration of hostility.
"Ha, hahaha. Now I see... Young Lord Ian, you must want to have a go at me, huh?"
Knowing full well the meaning, Manus glared at Ian, his lips trembling.
"Fine. If that's your wish... I won't say no."
No matter how valuable Ian was as a tool, there was no reason to yield a step after such an insult.
Manus had never let anyone who defied him go unscathed.
The moment he released Ralph's shoulder and moved toward Ian—
"Quite the entertaining sight. A good brawl wouldn't be bad... but shouldn't you pick the time and place?"
A warrior clad head to toe in reddish garments had approached unnoticed, placing hands on both Ian's and Manus's shoulders.
A warrior of indistinct gender, exuding a unique aura.
Someone Ian knew well.
"Even if direct blood or a rising star mentioned as heir, causing a ruckus outside the sparring grounds violates clan law severely. If it's something to settle with fists, get formal permission first."
It was Alsar, warrior of Paon's personal guard, the Crimson Dragon Squad.
"......"
Smack!
Manus, who had been glaring murderously at Ian, grudgingly shook off Alsar's hand.
No matter how brazenly Manus flew, even he couldn't trifle with the Crimson Dragon Squad.
Not just their individual prowess, but because they were mad dogs who obeyed only the Patriarch—making enemies of them was no gain.
"Latent Dragon Squad Captain, Ian. Got time to loiter here? You know the Patriarch awaits your report."
"Ah, my apologies. I'm a bit late."
As if the tense standoff moments ago had vanished from his mind, Ian casually followed behind Alsar.
Ralph and the rest of the Latent Dragon Squad trailed after Ian.
Did they judge what just happened as an insult to them?
"Kuk, kukuk! Go on, rampage as your heart desires. If you think that'll change the fixed outcome... that's a massive delusion."
Watching the departing Latent Dragon Squad, Manus muttered coldly, words of unclear meaning.
For this colossal clan to run smoothly without issue, countless rules and laws had been established.
No matter that Ian was direct blood, he couldn't rampage freely ignoring those rules.
"Can't wait. Let's see if later... you can wear that smug look just like now."
He anticipated it. The moment that arrogant expression crumpled pathetically.
Having glared long in the direction Ian and Ralph vanished, just as Manus turned to return to the Kalia Warrior Clan—
...Throb!
"...?"
Suddenly, pain from his arm made Manus glance down unwittingly.
And he saw it.
A vivid red handprint etched on his arm.
Exactly where Ian had gripped him.
"...!"
Even if Manus hadn't circulated aura and took it bare-handed... to think mere grip strength from the likes of Ian would mark his skin.
"...Interesting. Very interesting."
Though Manus laughed repeatedly as if amused, his eyes were colder than midwinter ice.
"Now it feels like a proper elite strike team."
On the way to the audience chamber, Alsar suddenly said to Ian.
"Haha, still a long way to go. Just got lucky."
"No, luck alone couldn't produce these results."
When Ian spoke modestly, Alsar lightly denied it.
"The clan's people aren't fools. If it was just luck, no one would pay the Latent Dragon Squad this much attention."
Indeed.
Each time Ian and the Latent Dragon Squad returned from a mission, the gazes upon them shifted.
The scene just now was the same.
'First Sophia, now even Manus... the little stars are starting to take notice one by one. Has there ever been a strike team growing this fast?'
Having blazed through his youth alongside Paon, Alsar could assert it confidently.
No unit had piled up achievements this quickly, without a single failure.
"Anyway, I don't dislike you all. Plenty will envy you... but I believe you'll overcome it."
With those brief words of encouragement, Alsar lightly patted Ian's shoulder.
They had arrived before the Patriarch's chambers.
"Haha, thank you."
Ian and the Latent Dragon Squad gave a light bow to Alsar's words and entered the Patriarch's chambers.
"Fascinating. Is this how adults see it?"
Perhaps because he was once part of the Crimson Dragon Squad that opened the clan's golden age with Paon.
Still a small breeze, but Alsar didn't dislike Ian and the Latent Dragon Squad, who were slowly stirring winds through the clan.
"Come in. Gave you an easy mission, but ended up making you suffer again unintentionally."
Upon arriving at the audience chamber, Paon—who had been in conference with other strike team captains on break—greeted the Latent Dragon Squad with his usual listless expression.
"Greetings, Patriarch!"
They'd trembled tensely at first, but now with experience, they carried themselves with some poise.
Confirming the members kneel properly and pay respects to Paon, Ian began reporting on Shurton as squad representative, methodically summarizing events.
"Fortunately, we secured most requests from the various foreign delegations. The profits from them amount to roughly..."
"Hmm..."
But Paon merely nodded briefly or reacted lightly to Ian's report.
As expected.
Paon had little interest in foreign requests. They flooded in yearly anyway.
"Ah, also. To Viscount Sozen of Pang Kingdom, I took the liberty on my own judgment to make one proposal. Twisting their request to subjugate the Eastern Continent bandits—not punish them, but ally..."
Paon began showing reactions from when Ian spoke of his dealings with Viscount Sozen of Pang Kingdom.
"What insolence! Pang Kingdom may be small, but deciding such a grave matter alone! Captain Ian, that's overstepping!"
The other strike captains around Paon exclaimed in shock, scolding Ian.
No matter that he'd seemed to pull himself together lately... this was too far.
To unilaterally stir something that could spark war across the Eastern Continent.
As the captains pressed Ian harder, Paon raised a hand to silence them.
"Ho, bolstering Pang Kingdom's power to escape Khan Empire's pressure... Indeed. If it works, new trade routes with Pang open up. But won't we lose the massive Khan Empire market we've built? Surely you thought of countermeasures for such a pivotal move?"
From Paon's perspective, unaware of the bandits' ties to Yeo and Lucas, Ian's plan might sound pie-in-the-sky like the other captains thought.
Yet Paon didn't assume Ian acted thoughtlessly; he only asked about solutions to the concerns.
"Absolutely unbreakable. Mage Tower artifacts are premium anywhere in Agena. If we let Pang trade slip, the Empire side will grow anxious instead."
So long as they could crush Pang anytime like now, fine—but if Pang became untouchable, the Empire's deterrence would hit its limit.
"Hmm... fine. This isn't an immediate matter anyway. Commendable effort for the clan. I'll set up a contact with Viscount Sozen's house. Told the royal trade overseer to discreetly approach Pang."
He questioned Ian briefly, but since it wasn't pressing, Paon decided to close the matter thus.
'Well, hard to care much about something years—or decades—away.'
But Ian was certain.
At earliest in a year, at latest three, Viscount Sozen would contact him.
Thus, Ian moved on from Pang without further mention.
"Finally, the list of rewards from His Highness Demure."
Swoosh!
As Ian handed over the thick parchment, Paon eyed him amusedly and asked.
"Hmm, seems no good stuff this time? Not listing them out. Did the royals give us the cold shoulder or something?"
Already knowing cause and effect, yet phrasing it so—perhaps wanting an official answer from Ian's mouth here with captains present.
'Always so cunning.'
Ian gladly played along.
"No, the opposite."
Meeting Paon's eyes squarely, Ian declared boldly.
"The royals' most precious gift isn't on that list. Compared to it, those are mere trinkets."
"Ho, intriguing. Tell me, Captain Ian—what do you think is the most precious thing the royals gave?"
Ian met Paon's gaze, answering with utter conviction.
"Mending the strained relations with the royals, sparked by Princess Isabel Aslan. That's the greatest gain from my trip to Shurton."