Chapter 126
Chapter 126
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: The Former Alliance Leader (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"So, you're saying you came here just because the braised short ribs smelled so damn good?"
The two men had removed their masks.
They bowed deeply, revealing the shiny black crowns of their heads.
"Y-Yes, that's right."
"The short ribs smelled too good..."
The Grand Elder seated at the table let out a chuckle.
He gave a subtle nod, signaling for someone else to handle it.
Then, the Imperial Tax Agency head, an expert in interrogating people, spoke up.
"I see. But why the masks?"
"And you even brought rope. Planning to kidnap the chef or something?"
The two black-haired men exchanged glances.
What do we do now, senior brother...?
Yeah, that faint mana emanating from them... They're all seasoned Swordmasters.
Their brown eyes twitched nervously.
A Swordmaster was on par with one of the top ten masters in the Eastern martial world.
And here were three of them casually dining in this manor.
Not to mention, who the hell was this old man giving orders to such experts so effortlessly?
He didn't radiate any mana at all, but they couldn't let their guard down.
There was an old Eastern saying for times like this.
"Always beware of children, women, and the elderly."
Could he be some former Martial Alliance Leader who lost his internal energy in an accident?
Or maybe he's reached a realm like Master, where he can completely conceal his power.
As the two exchanged telepathic messages,
the black bob-haired knight commander had already strode up to them.
"How long are you two just gonna stare at each other? I said explain yourselves."
Her cat-like sharp eyes pierced the Eastern experts.
They gulped hard and hastily resumed their act.
"S-Sorry!!"
The men dropped to their knees with a thud that nearly shattered bone, shouting loudly.
They bowed their heads in unison.
"T-The truth is, we were so hungry we came to steal some food!"
"The rope was just to tie stuff up and carry it away."
Shifting from kidnappers to mere thieves to lighten their crime.
Immediately kowtowing in apology afterward.
That was how these disciples of the Sword Sage had survived as transcendents beyond mere mortals.
"We were scouting houses worth robbing, and suddenly this place smelled like home cooking from back east, so we came."
"We had no idea people of your stature would be staying here!!"
The men confessed loudly in their broken imperial tongue.
But Greta still eyed them suspiciously, her gaze narrowed.
"Captain Greta, what do you make of these young men?"
"Still suspicious. Their outfits are too meticulous for amateur thieves."
Even without a pat-down, Captain Greta had pegged them as pros.
Her sharp eyes spotted the various blades hidden beneath their black clothes in an instant.
"We should investigate them properly."
"Hmm—."
Grand Elder Dark crossed his arms alone.
He eyed the clear-eyed men with interest—they didn't seem like typical thieves.
"An investigation... that would be the safe bet."
Having passed sixty, the Grand Elder could discern good from evil just by looking into someone's eyes.
For now, he beckoned the thieves slowly.
"Eat first. At least that part about missing home cooking might be true."
"......"
Serving food to criminals right in front of them?
The Sword Sage's disciples all wore stunned expressions.
But the high-ranking officials accompanying the Grand Elder showed no doubt.
They simply released the thieves as he commanded.
Just like sect leaders obeying the Alliance Leader.
Senior brother, looks like we've stumbled into someone really important.
The Warden's the Princess's closest aide, and even the Vice Warden hangs with heavyweights... Our mistake.
They rose awkwardly.
And cautiously glanced at the homeowner, Clea.
"Sit down. Don't make a mess at the entrance."
These were men rated among the Eastern top ten masters.
Yet for some reason, they felt compelled to obey the sharp-eyed Vice Warden.
"Y-Yes... But where...?"
"Sit with my little siblings over there."
Scratching the backs of their heads, the two Eastern masters shuffled over.
They plopped down on a low children's table.
Facing the chubby twins sitting on either side.
"Hi, thief uncles."
"Just eat the braised ribs quietly and go. These adults here are scary."
The innocent girl, Connie, greeted them brightly.
The slightly more mature Chris warned them coldly.
"R-Right. Got it..."
Sitting at the squat table made the Grand Elder and officials at the high table look even more imposing.
Damn, seating us next to kids? It's like they're daring us to try something stupid.
Even if we grabbed the kids as hostages right now, they could handle us no problem. Senior brother.
Of course, they had zero intention of touching the children.
The only reason they'd come to this distant land was to retrieve the Heavenly Jade.
Not to kill or invade.
"Here, dig in. Connie and Chris too."
"Thanks, sis!! Aren't you eating with us?"
The cute little sister asked, and the sensible big brother patted her shoulder.
"Sis is gonna eat with the Warden. We just gotta eat quick and get out."
"......"
Clea cleared her throat at Chris's razor-sharp insight.
She lightly flicked her little brother's head.
"Don't worry about it. Just eat."
"Heh... she's embarrassed."
The boy gazed fondly at his indifferent sister backing off.
His sister, once isolated by severe misanthropy, was slowly regaining her humanity.
It was a heartwarming sight.
"......"
The Sword Sage's two disciples felt their resolve waver at the warm family scene.
No matter that it was to prevent the Heavenly Jade from rampaging and turning the Empire to ruins...
Kidnapping a dutiful girl who cooked for her siblings still pricked at their consciences.
"Why isn't anyone eating?"
As if reading their shaken hearts, the Grand Elder asked leisurely.
Like a kindly father from a storybook.
"It's gonna get cold."
"A-Ah, understood."
The senior disciple picked up his fork first.
The junior followed, stabbing into the golden-brown braised ribs.
What the—why's it so tender, senior brother?
The meat's practically melting off the fork? Like Western pudding dessert.
The thieves marveled at the masterfully cooked dish.
After months of hard rations on the ship from the East, Clea's cooking was lethally good.
Before they knew it...
"Sis, the thief uncles ate all our share too!"
"Real petty thieves, huh? How starved do you gotta be to polish off a whole pot...?"
They'd devoured four full servings in one go.
"They must have a story."
"Yeah. Even our soldiers don't eat like that after winter training."
Even the Tax Agency head and Imperial Knight Commander looked at them with pity.
Flushed under the sympathetic stares, the Sword Sage's disciples blushed.
Faces smeared with braising sauce.
"Don't worry, there's more."
Fortunately, Clea was generous.
Having raised her brothers alone honed her cooking skills—she refilled the pot in seconds.
"Um... a bit more rice too?"
"No rice. Someone specifically said they wanted it."
Clea quelled the martial masters with an icy glare.
She handed them bread instead.
"Wrap it in this."
"......Thank you."
The disciples took big bites of panini-wrapped ribs—it was delicious too.
They eagerly enjoyed the lavish meal after so long.
But.
Their bliss couldn't last.
Just as they'd said upon entering...
Thirty minutes later, the Warden actually showed up.
"Huh, the door's open?"
I stepped into Clea's house, hat tucked under my arm from the uniform.
Inside bustled with the folks I'd planned to dine with today.
"Well, if it isn't the Warden."
The Tax Agency head stood first, offering a handshake.
Since teaming up with the Grand Elder, he'd treated me like a son.
"Heard a lot about you. Especially that time you beat Captain Stillman—impressive."
The refined Imperial Knight Commander rose and clasped my hand.
"Must be nice being Warden, with a dutiful Vice Warden cooking whatever you want."
Captain Greta chimed in playfully, brushing dust off my shoulder.
"Everyone, sit. Sorry if I'm killing the vibe."
I grinned casually, greeting the VIPs.
The scene was fully visible to the Sword Sage's disciples sitting with the kids.
"......Senior brother."
"Yeah, that's no ordinary Warden."
The two gulped in unison.
"I've seen him before. Back when he stood behind the child Emperor in the palace, giving orders—the Prime Minister."
"Exactly. Now it makes sense how one man controls Myoran."
The remote prison Warden was the Empire's shadow mastermind.
The Eastern men's jaws dropped as the puzzle clicked.
"So, who are those guys?"
I pointed at the slack-jawed Easterners staring blankly at me.
The Grand Elder replied leisurely.
"They claim they're petty thieves. Masks, reinforced rope, and all."
"Oh?"
I approached the sauce-smeared men slowly.
As my shadow fell over them, the disciples began to tremble.
D-Don't worry, junior. Even the Empire's puppetmaster doesn't know our faces.
R-Right... Just keep our heads down and we'll be fine.
The Eastern masters bowed their heads, hiding their faces.
But it was useless in front of me.
"Hey, aren't these the Eastern Alliance's elite operatives?"
After all, I'd met them in the previous loop when Myoran went berserk.
"……………?"
The Sword Sage's disciples snapped their heads up.
They gawked at me like wide-eyed puppies.
"The ones the Alliance hires for dirty jobs on the sly. Kidnapping and intimidation experts."
"Uh, uh......"
Kidnapping. Intimidation.
The harsh words silenced the harmonious table.
"What did you say?"
A dark shadow fell over the Grand Elder's face.
Like an ancient statue from myth.
"Did you say 'kidnapping' right in front of us?"
Captain Greta, guardian of the capital's peace.
"Meaning they planned to tie up the Vice Warden and kids with that rope."
The Imperial Knight Commander, protector of the entire Empire.
"Trying to haul off our model taxpayers? Can't have that."
Even the Tax Agency head, who cherished the Empire's citizens.
The pillars of this vast nation glared chillingly at the two youths.
Crushed by the overwhelming killing intent, the disciples shook violently.
Dropping their forks to the floor.
"Spare us! We'll tell you anything."