Chapter 173
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: The Shadow's Confession
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jeong Hoon was with Altear.
Hmm, Im really curious who it could be.
Altear lay in bed, still mulling over the culprits identity.
The tail will show soon enough, but youre going to keep guessing?
Of course. Just because word got out that Ive awakened doesnt mean their tail wont slip.
No. Theyll move.
Altears awakening threw their plans way off course.
They would definitely make another move.
Hmm, itd be funny if they set this up and then didnt show.
They might not. Nothings 100 in this world.
Then you wont get blamed for not catching the culprit because of the master, right?
Even so, I lifted the curse. If they pull any more stunts here, theyve got nothing to say. If they do, we kill them.
I agree. These bastards should lick your toes if you told them to. Right?
Jeong Hoons head throbbed at the mad duos conversation.
Hm? Something wrong? Your face looks awful.
Nothing at all.
Just then, the door slid open, and Roskantor entered.
Patriarch, the meal is ready.
Good. Its been ages since my last proper meal.
Do you really have to eat? We just got a lead on the culprits tail.
Roskantor gazed at Altear with a face full of worry.
It hadnt been long since hed awakened, and now he was about to consume food that might contain somnus.
The image of him vomiting blood nonstop was still burned vividly into Roskantors mind.
Yes. You dont have to eat.
Jeong Hoon sided with Roskantor.
You dont have to eat?
Altear tilted his head.
Yes. Ill test it for somnus myself.
Jeong Hoon would sample the food personally.
Even after the curse lifted and his body recovered, Altears level remained the same.
He couldnt let him ingest somnus in this state.
You, personally?
Yes. So, Roskantor. Lend me your ear for a sec?
Ah, got it.
Jeong Hoon gave Roskantor instructions.
Roskantors eyes widened at the orders.
Altear perked up his ears to eavesdrop, but the whisper was too faint to catch.
You can handle it, right?
Roskantor nodded.
Trust me. Well catch the one who tried to harm the Patriarch for sure.
Yes.
Roskantor left, and soon the food arrived.
A simple liquid meal of mushroom soup and warm milk.
Gulp That soup looks delicious.
Altear couldnt take his eyes off the food.
After three months bedridden, his stomach felt like it was glued to his back.
But Jeong Hoon pulled the food away from Altear and first slurped down the warm milk.
Holy power reacts, revealing the debuff!
Debuff: Drowsiness applied.
Debuff: Sleep applied.
Debuff: Daze applied.
Debuff: Shackles of Illusion applied.
Four debuffs stacked on instantly.
Thats a lot.
Colorless, odorless somnus.
Just a sip of milk, and this many debuffs.
Without holy power, he wouldnt have detected it.
Somnuss weakness was holy power.
More precisely, the consumer needed a high amount of holy power.
Means your Holy Power stat needs to be over 300.
Only then could holy power react and reveal the debuffs.
Of course, the cleanse came separately.
Using Cleanse.
The Unique-grade Cleanse activated, wiping out the four debuffs in an instant.
How is it?
If no somnus, he was ready to devour the soup and milk right away.
But Jeong Hoon shattered his expectations.
It had somnus. Four debuffs just hit me.
What? Really?
Jeong Hoon nodded.
Then Ill drag the culprit back.
No need to come with?
Yes.
Huddin held his breath, awaiting the results.
Huddin, lets eat already.
The archers in the holy site had finished their meals, and it was time for the kitchen staff.
Nah, Ill eat later.
Huh? Why?
Not hungry.
Alright.
The cooks attention quickly turned to his meal.
Preparing mass meals drained stamina, and eating late meant his stomach clung to his back.
Normally, Huddin wouldve rushed to eat too, but today was the day of reckoning.
The day Altears breath would stop.
Worried about traps, he watched the situation closely.
Yet no one suspected Altears food.
They were just thrilled hed awakened.
Blind Assassin.
A class specialized in swapping identities flawlessly and moving undetected.
Huddin used his skill to mask his presence, then dumped all the remaining somnus into the milk.
Heh heh, you dumb archer bastards.
Somnus was a cursed herb known to only a handful even in the Thieves City.
Even Huddin, a seasoned assassin, hadnt known of it until ordered by the Thieves City ruler, Marcus von Banastar.
He still didnt know its source or exact effects.
Patriarch, time to move to the next phase.
Why the Thieves City allied with the Archers City.
To stab them in the back and bring them down.
Hed been thrilled when the Warriors City allied with the Mages City.
It made forming their alliance easier.
Once Altears breath stopped, interim commander Roskantor would honor his will and declare war on the Warriors City.
Then the allied Thieves City would turn and crush the Archers City, ending the plan.
But something was off.
Shouldnt there be a reaction by now?
No death rattle yet, despite the time.
As doubt sprouted in Huddins mind.
Hilla! Hilla!
Roskantor burst into the kitchen, face pale as death.
Whats wrong?
Hilla approached him.
His shout drew every cooks gaze.
The Patriarch The Patriarch.
Roskantor couldnt continue.
He bowed his head, tears falling.
Hillas face hardened, sensing the gravity.
What happened to the Patriarch?! Something wrong?!
Hes gone.
Pardon?
Ruler of the Archers City.
News of Altear von Askenstones death.
Crash.
Cooks dropped their utensils in shock.
The entire kitchen fell into stunned silence.
Cough! Cough!
He passed?
What the hell?
Crazy.
Roskantor clutched his face.
He drank the milk and suddenly lost consciousness. Then his breathing stopped.
Waaah! Patriarch.
Hilla collapsed, sobbing.
Her wails set off the other cooks tears.
Huddin, watching from afar, wiped his eyes too.
Tough old geezer, finally croaked.
Not tears of sorrow, but joy.
Relief at escaping these archer bastards.
Huddin slipped quietly out of the kitchen.
Just report back to the Thieves City, and his mission ended.
Where you headed?
But a stranger stood at the kitchen entrance.
A hideous-looking foreigner, no less.
Funny foreigner. You say that to someone grieving?
Why grieve? Shouldnt you celebrate killing the Patriarch?
What bullshit is that?
Huddin tilted his head.
No use playing poker face. I know you tried to kill the Patriarch with somnus.
No clue what youre talking about.
Huddin stared at the foreigner, feigning ignorance.
But inside, he panicked.
Howd he know about somnus? Wait.
He even knew Huddin tried to kill the Patriarch.
Huddin heightened his senses, scanning around.
Sharp senses were essential for assassins.
Fuck
The death rattles hed heard before leaving the kitchen vanished clean.
Huddin realized hed fallen into a trap.
Oh, you caught on?
The foreigner smirked, impressed.
Heh heh. Youre the one who botched the job.
Huddin bit down on the poison pill in his mouth.
Prepared for failure, ready to suicide anytime.
If exposed as from the Thieves City, the Patriarchs grand plan would crumble.
But as he eyed the foreigner, his mind blanked.
Strength drained from his body, vision blacked out.
Using Brainwash.
Jeong Hoon had waited for Huddin to exit the kitchen.
Almost too late.
Just a slight taunt, and hed noticed fast, attempting suicide.
Luckily, Jeong Hoons brainwash foiled it.
Jeong Hoon approached him.
You will never suicide. From now on, answer every question fully. Got it?
Yes.
Huddin nodded.
Good. Where are you from?
The Thieves City. Im the Shadow of Patriarch Marcus von Banastar.
Shadow?
Yes A group operating in the shadows. The Shadows devote their lives to the Patriarch and carry out any order.
Jeong Hoons lips curled slyly.
The Thieves City had a shady side unlike others.
And Marcus von Banastar, who took the throne four years ago, was far worse than predecessors.
This plot to topple the Archers City proved it.
Why the hell would I ally with you?
Altear had rejected the Thieves Citys initial alliance offer.
Its the late Patriarchs will. To check the Warriors City scum.
I see.
But hed invoked the late Patriarch to seal the alliance.
The previous one had despised the Warriors City, after all.
Why target the Archers City?
Because of Irirna von Askenstone.
Irirna von Askenstone?
Yes. The Archers City Patriarchs granddaughter.
So you tried to assassinate the Patriarch over one woman?
Yes. Then, when the Archers City starts a war, we strike back and topple them.
Ridiculous.
He knew they were vile, but a woman as the motive?
Total scum. Cant you just crush that Marcus guy yourself, master?
Sounds good. Worst case, rally these folks and march in.
Mukho and Anima fumed too.
Looks like I wont even need to step in.
As Jeong Hoon finished, the kitchen door burst open.
Roskantor and Hilla glared at Huddin with murderous eyes.
You dog! What the fuck?!
Youre dead meat! Say it with me!
They were ready to pounce.
Jeong Hoon raised a hand to stop them.
Wait a moment.
Why? We caught the culprit! Just drag him off!
Is he the only one?
Huh?
You think the Archers City got breached by just this guy? Even if hes great at hiding presence, howd he tamper with food undetected for over two years?
No way.
That wasnt all.
War was in the works.
Meaning an accomplice had influence over Altear.
Jeong Hoon eyed Huddin again.
Theres an accomplice here, right?
Yes.
Huddin nodded.
Who is it?
At Jeong Hoons question, Huddin slowly opened his mouth.