Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Immortal's Messenger
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“From what we’ve learned from Pelpero.”
Sein spoke to the family head while standing in the grand hall.
Today was the family head meeting concerning Pelpero.
Since they couldn’t reach a conclusion in their private discussion, they had called Sein and restarted the meeting.
“Even compiling the testimonies from Ballak Demorus and Sebu Entro, it’s certain that Pelpero was the last to see Kolan Demorus.”
Sein continued.
“The culprit is an Immortal.”
Murmurs erupted.
The grand hall grew noisy at Sein’s words.
They had already suspected the culprit was an Immortal, but hearing it spoken aloud was an entirely different matter.
Especially considering the location was the Demorus grand hall, right in front of the family head.
“Sein Demorus, can you take responsibility for this?”
The weight of it was beyond imagination.
“It’s not certain yet…”
“Elder Herdin.”
Sein addressed the one who had spoken.
“Are you saying I would utter falsehoods?”
“That’s not what I…”
“Can you take responsibility for your words, Elder Herdin? For what you just said.”
Herdin bit his lip and fell silent at Sein’s retort.
“Everything I say comes from Pelpero himself, and verifying its truth is the family head’s duty.”
Silence fell at Sein’s words.
He was not wrong.
“But is that man really Pelpero?”
Even so, someone spoke up.
“Sein Demorus hasn’t even shown us the suspect, so we can’t even be sure he’s Pelpero Immortal.”
If it had been an elder supporting Kolan, Sein might have cut him off.
But the one speaking now was from the family head’s faction, one who had declared strict neutrality.
“Pelpero Immortal, a demonkin!”
And for good reason.
“We’re not ignoring Sein Demorus’s rights as a successor candidate, but we must at least allow an intelligence team to be dispatched to confirm his identity first.”
This was what they wanted.
“Very well.”
And this was Sein’s answer.
“However, the interrogation must proceed under my supervision or that of my people, and remember that any demands require my approval.”
“…….”
The mood sank.
No one could easily open their mouth.
“Oh, and there’s something I haven’t mentioned.”
At that moment, Sein spoke up.
“The one who kidnapped Kolan Demorus…”
This one sentence would stir even greater waves.
“Is the great name, Rotem.”
“……!”
There was no turning back now.
Rotem was one of the great names boasted by the Immortals, a figure with enough status to represent them.
“Sein Demorus!”
Finally, Herdin spoke again.
“If that’s true, then all the more…!”
“Enough.”
Then Tezera raised his hand.
“Sein Demorus, can you take responsibility for your words?”
“As I said, I’m merely relaying what I heard from Pelpero.”
Tezera nodded.
“Sein Demorus will take custody of Pelpero and conduct the interrogation. The intelligence team is permitted to dispatch and verify the suspect.”
“We receive the family head’s command.”
He had received the family head’s trust and confirmation.
It meant entrusting everything related to Pelpero to Sein.
And depending on the results.
“You will be held accountable, Sein Demorus.”
Whether it would be merit or fault would be decided.
“We receive the family head’s command.”
Sein said with a smile.
*
*
*
“It’s Pelpero.”
The dispatched intelligence team confirmed Pelpero’s identity.
Though demonization was progressing, he still retained a human appearance, making it possible.
‘Impressive.’
Sein was surprised once again.
By the Demorus intelligence capabilities.
“His cells and mana signature match perfectly.”
They already had all of Pelpero Immortal’s information on file, allowing for comparison and verification.
All attention was focused on the citadel of Bitoong.
Even after that, they held a family head meeting where elders argued for transferring Pelpero’s custody to the main house.
-Enough.
The family head restricted further remarks.
There was a reason.
-Zegar and Tampia have acknowledged Sein’s rights.
The acknowledgment from other successor candidates, the demands from their support factions.
Though there was a difference in support compared to Kolan’s faction, with the justification on Sein’s side, the family head had raised his hand for Sein again.
-If anyone brings it up again, they will be severely punished.
There were no more requests.
“Can you share the information obtained so far?”
“As you can see…”
Sein said.
“He’s in this state, so he doesn’t remember much. But don’t worry. I don’t think my interrogation skills will lose to the intelligence team.”
“If you need any assistance, please let us know.”
“Then get out.”
The intelligence team withdrew at Sein’s words.
Only Sein and Pelpero remained.
“…At first, I thought you had some other agenda.”
Pelpero said to Sein, now alone.
“But I just can’t figure it out.”
Sein watched Pelpero continue.
“If you only wanted to eliminate Kolan Demorus, there were other ways. For merit, there were even more methods.”
Pelpero said.
“But I truly don’t get it.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Are you really planning to start a war?”
Sein had said that day.
-Peace has lasted too long.
So he intended to wage war.
He had thought it was just talk.
“Do you not know what happens if war breaks out?”
Pelpero.
“Beyond what you can imagine…”
“Shut up.”
Sein said, picking at his ear.
“What do you want me to do?”
“…….”
“Just do as you’re told. No more useless chatter.”
A smirk.
Only then did Pelpero show a smile.
“You… you’re truly the worst madman I’ve ever seen.”
“…….”
“Do as you like. As long as you help me with my revenge.”
“That’s exactly what I want.”
Sein’s hand touched Pelpero.
“Urk!”
Pelpero grimaced in pain from Sein’s power.
But now he seemed somewhat accustomed, not losing consciousness.
“So your last memory…”
Sein said.
“…is being captured by the white-masked figure?”
According to Pelpero, he had participated in the holy sword operation, and when he opened his eyes, he was in the grasp of the white mask.
When he awoke again, demonization was underway.
‘Power of the saint, and power of the demonkin.’
The place he awoke next was where Kolan had gone.
-Rotem.
He had thought he was finally rescued by the Immortal family.
“Dig as much as you want.”
Pelpero grinned through the pain.
“Rotem. If I can just tear that bastard apart.”
Rotem had experimented on the demonized Pelpero.
*
*
*
It was a stretch of days with little change.
Experiments on the demonized Pelpero and stabilizing him.
Occasional visits from the intelligence team to compile information gathered so far.
Family head meetings, or times when Kolan’s support faction approached Sein—though they couldn’t say it to the family head.
-If there’s anything you desire, let us know.
And finally, change arrived.
Rumble rumble rumble.
A carriage heading to the main house.
The red carriage signified one thing.
-Immortal.
The Immortal family’s envoy was finally entering the Demorus main house.
Whoooosh.
The sharp auras of the Demorus forces welcomed them, and the Immortal family quietly withdrew their presence.
They were the three great underworld families, but this was ultimately the Demorus stronghold.
They had no desire to bear the consequences of needless posturing.
“We won’t welcome you.”
“We don’t expect it.”
With brief greetings, the Immortal envoys proceeded toward the grand hall.
Over the past dozen years, cases of envoys from other families entering the main house could be counted on one hand.
Though disputes between the three great underworld families were constant, a certain peace had been maintained, with each guarding their own territory like wary beasts.
“The Immortal envoys have arrived.”
Finally, the doors of the grand hall opened.
Hummmm!
The Immortal envoys showed no sign of tension, but their eyes held resolve.
On both sides of the hall they entered stood the Demorus retainers.
Gulp.
In front of them, the successor candidates.
“Come in, dogs of Immortal.”
Tezera was there.
Thud!
At Tezera’s words, the Immortal envoys knelt and paid their respects.
Tezera was too colossal a presence to flaunt pride against.
Though he now stayed holed up in the family, rarely venturing out.
“We pay respects to the great family head of Demorus.”
In the past, when he roamed outside, Tezera was a legend in his own right.
Blood scattered to form an ocean of gore.
Bones piled to form towers.
Tezera Demorus.
He was known by another name as well.
-Death.
The Death of Tezera.
That was the moniker Tezera bore.
“Our gratitude for… the hospitality.”
Even without Tezera exuding any aura, the Immortal envoys spoke tensely.
“Countless glories to Demorus, the great…”
“Enough.”
Tezera cut off the Immortal envoy.
“To the point.”
No courtesy could be found.
Yet no one could point it out.
“We have heard that the traitor of the Immortal family, Pelpero Immortal, has sought asylum in Demorus.”
Not detention, but asylum.
One could feel how lowly and cautious the Immortal envoys positioned themselves.
“Furthermore.”
Gulp.
The Immortal envoys swallowed dryly.
“Unintentionally…, one of Demorus’s successor candidates, Kolan Demorus, has entrusted his safety to the Immortal family.”
“How dare you—!”
A voice erupted from the elders’ side then.
“Entrusted? You bastards…”
“Enough.”
Tezera suppressed the elders.
His eyes and voice seemed to say.
-One more word, and you die.
With his numerous precedents, the elders fell silent.
“Continue.”
“Th-therefore… Immortal proposes…”
The envoy said.
“…an exchange of the detainees…”
At that moment.
Swoosh.
Finally, Tezera rose from his chair.
It was as if a great mountain crumbled, resounding with thunder.