Chapter 116
As ti flowed on.
“I’m sorry, so sorry! We were blind and dared to commit such disrespect!”
“Please... just spare our lives.”
The bald n, covered in blood, knelt down, their foreheads hitting the ground.
The Chief Instructor, though restrained by mana, was not so weak as to be defeated by such petty criminals.
He stomped on the back of the hand of the prisoner kneeling at the front.
“Argh! Please... I beg you...”
But the prisoner could only beg for rcy, unable to muster any resistance.
It was inevitable.
The violence displayed by the Chief Instructor was terror incarnate.
The first one who approached with a wooden sword was now gasping for breath, his belly skewered by his own weapon.
“What’s the matter, pretty boy?”
At the Chief Instructor’s mocking laughter, the bald n trembled like baby birds.
“We’re sorry!”
“Just, please let us live...”
The Chief Instructor clicked his tongue as if their pitiful state had killed his buzz.
He would have liked to tear them apart, but he couldn’t give the Special Task Force Commander any reason to fault him.
“So you’ll stay quiet and buried without making a sound, right?”
“Heh, hehe, of course!”
The apparent leader among the bald n laughed obsequiously, banging his forehead against the stone floor.
The Chief Instructor shook off the blood caked on his hand with a sneer.
“Phew, I’m finally feeling a bit relieved.”
“It shows.”
Yan recalled the Chief Instructor’s fight with the bald n, his tongue flicking out.
The chilling smile as he sared blood on his hands was vivid.
It was enough to send a shiver down even his own spine.
“By the way, I just rembered, what was that letter you gave to the Royal Knights?”
“A joker to hit the Special Task Force Commander with.”
“A joker?”
The Chief Instructor frowned.
But Yan seed uninterested in answering, beginning to prepare for sleep.
The Chief Instructor chuckled at Yan’s behavior.
Until recently, he could have forced the information out, but after learning Yan was the son of the man he once followed, he hesitated.
‘Well, he’s a ticulous one, he must have a plan.’
If that joker card fails, he has his own thods in place.
The Chief Instructor murmured as he lay on the stone floor.
“It’s been a while since I’ve slept on stone.”
He clicked his tongue as if the idea displeased him.
Yan also lay down on the stone floor and closed his eyes.
The stone floor, devoid of blankets or comforters, was cold and hard.
Just as he was about to fall asleep.
“Shall I tell you about your father?”
The Chief Instructor suddenly started talking about ‘the father.’
Yan’s eyes snapped open.
The Chief Instructor smiled slyly at Yan’s reaction.
“I thought you’d resent him, but it seems not?”
“?”
“Aren’t you angry, thinking that while you suffered and rolled in the dirt at the training camp, your father led a comfortable life as the leader of the revolutionaries?”
“No, not really.”
The Chief Instructor quietly watched Yan, then turned his head towards the ceiling and continued.
“The Commander-in-Chief, that is, your father, was a man of many words.”
“That’s unexpected.”
“What is?”
“I thought the commander leading the rebel revolutionaries would be silent and ruthless.”
The Chief Instructor laughed.
“Quite the opposite. He was talkative and kind-hearted. Anyway, your father was a remarkable man. Unlike the usual chatterboxes, he was firm in his beliefs, strong, and above all, he had a special aura that put everyone at ease.”
“Really?”
“I was influenced by that aura and followed your father.”
Yan looked at the Chief Instructor with newfound respect.
He hadn’t expected such embarrassing words from him.
He continued, his eyes lost in the past.
“Your father saved many people with his conviction to rescue those persecuted and discriminated against. Among them were elves, dwarves like old Owen you’ve seen, and even beastkin.”
“Is that so?”
Yan’s eyes sparkled.
To think his father had the charisma to draw in such exclusive and reclusive races.
“Your father’s utopia was a world where everyone could be happy. A world where no one cried and everyone could smile. But that’s not easy to achieve.”
The Chief Instructor snorted.
“Your father clashed with the empire’s institutions at every turn, but he always retreated to minimize casualties. Eventually, so factions, tired of waiting, began to revolt.”
Yan nodded gravely.
If what the Chief Instructor said was true, discontent was bound to build up.
The utopia his father envisioned was abstract, and the road to creating an environnt close to it was long.
Even if it ant clashing with the empire, they had to push forward to shorten that ti.
Endless retreats would only lead to frustration and fractures.
“Then, not long after, the hardliners crossed the line. They took control of the revolutionary forces with their military organization, claiming the Commander-in-Chief’s moderate approach couldn’t achieve their cause, spouting nonsense about their so-called principles.”
“And then?”
That was the mont.
Crack!
The Chief Instructor ground his teeth with such force they could have broken.
“Those bastards staged a coup not for the cause, but for the White Fla Gem the Commander-in-Chief had accidentally acquired.”
“The White Fla Gem? That actually exists?”
The White Fla Gem.
A treasure from a fairy tale widely known in the empire.
A tale for children, about a hero who sealed a fire dragon capable of burning the entire continent within a small bead.
Yan had thought it was a far-fetched story made up by soone.
“It exists.”
The Chief Instructor affird the existence of the White Fla Gem without a mont’s hesitation.
“Then, is my father...?”
“No, he’s alive. Imprisoned by them, but alive.”
“Where exactly is he imprisoned?”
“No one knows, probably not even old Owen. I’ve tried everything to find him since that day, but all in vain. However...”
The Chief Instructor ground his teeth, speaking as if spitting out the words.
“Arnia. He’s definitely within that region. Still haven’t found him... but still.”
Yan’s eyes glead.
Finally, the chance to find his long-lost family seed within reach.
Suddenly, sothing flashed through Yan’s mind.
And without realizing it, he began to speak.
‘The Arnian Uprising!’
The event that had captured the Chief Instructor and the entire revolutionary force.
Could it be that it was all to rescue his father!
He had been there himself, recalling the Chief Instructor of the ti.
Fighting madly against the Southern Sun Duke, tears of blood streaming down his face.
‘In my previous life, I thought it was hatred for the emperor that caused it...’
A chill ran down his spine.
‘Could it have been a rampage caused by the misfortune that befell my father?’
At last, the pieces of the puzzle that had been questions began to fit together.
Why the Chief Instructor faced the duke and didn’t flee, choosing to die there.
Why the revolutionaries were found and dealt with there.
Why the rcenary Amur didn’t care about the remaining revolutionaries and caused the train derailnt.
‘The puzzle is finally coming together!’
Yan spoke up.
“What’s the na of the one who staged the coup?”
“Enoch, the na of the bastard leading the corrupted revolutionaries now.”
Yan’s eyebrows twisted.
It was a na he had never heard in either his past or present life.
* * *
At the Mansion of Count Zion.
In that grand abode, Count Zion, as was his custom, had summoned his vassals to deliberate on the affairs of his domain and conduct etings.
“Are there no further matters or policies to propose?”
“Yes, my lord. This should suffice.”
“Thanks to your lordship’s sagacious leadership, the domain’s people sing your praises more with each passing day. Hahaha.”
Count Zion waved off the flattery of his vassals, who were all too eager to gild his image.
“You give too much credit. What have I done? It’s mostly due to the excellent proposals you’ve all brought forth.”
“We are grateful.”
“We will continue to work tirelessly for your lordship!”
The vassals, recognizing Count Zion’s appreciation for their hard work, reaffird their loyalty once more.
“Thank you. Without you, the people of our domain could not enjoy such prosperity. Hahaha.”
Rising from his seat, Count Zion patted each of their shoulders as he made his way out, receiving their loyal gazes.
Once outside, Count Zion let out a deep sigh.
“This act is quite exhausting.”
“Are you alright, my lord?”
Wiping the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief offered by the captain of the guard, Count Zion promptly headed to the reception room where a guest awaited.
Creak.
Entering the room, Count Zion greeted his visitor with a genial smile.
“Oh my, had I known a busy mber of the Special Task Force was coming, I would have concluded the eting earlier.”
“Not at all. I’ve just arrived myself.”
The one who responded was Bax, an officer sent by the commander of the Special Task Force.
He lifted a briefcase from beside him and placed it on the table.
“The commander asked to deliver this item to you, as promised.”
At Bax’s words, Count Zion laughed heartily and took his seat.
“Oh, do convey my thanks. And would you care for so tea?”
“Yes, anything will do.”
Count Zion pressed the bell on the table.
Ding!
A maid waiting by the door entered and bowed politely.
“Please bring us two cups of today’s finest tea.”
“Yes, my lord.”
As the maid left, Count Zion leaned back in his chair with a smile.
“The commander must be in quite a hurry, sending a close aide instead of just the item.”
“The date for the upcoming hearing hasn’t been set, and the commander is eager to hear the answer.”
Count Zion’s smile widened slightly.
“The hearing will be held on the day the crown prince has chosen. Is that satisfactory?”
“Thank you. The commander will be pleased to hear of Count Zion’s decision.”
“Haha, one must give when one receives. That’s the essence of trade, isn’t it?”
As they conversed, the maid returned with the tea and set the cups before Count Zion and Bax before bowing and exiting.
Count Zion took a sip from the cup before him.
Seeing Bax bow respectfully, Count Zion’s smile grew.
“It’s late; you should stay at the mansion tonight.”
Bax looked troubled at the suggestion.
“I... I’m sorry, but I must report back to the commander as soon as possible...”
“Oh, co now. It would be rude to refuse the host’s invitation, wouldn’t it? Besides, I’ve accommodated the date the commander desired; surely you can accommodate this small request.”
“Yes... yes, of course. The commander will understand.”
Bax mopped his brow and nodded, knowing it would be unwise to refuse Count Zion’s hospitality after his request had been granted.
Ding!
“Show our guest to his room.”
Count Zion called the maid, who then led Bax to the guest quarters.
With Bax gone, Count Zion rose and made his way to his study.
Upon arriving, he sat down and rummaged through a drawer, pulling out a letter.
“Hmm.”
He recalled the mont he received this letter.
“This is the letter sent by the Chief Instructor and Yan, whom you accused.”
It was delivered by Kyle, one of the Royal Knights’ Seven, known for their attempt to arrest them.
‘Ha, who would have thought they’d ask the Royal Knights to deliver this.’
The content of the letter was simple.
-Count Zion, let’s et face to face. You won’t regret it.
Despite its brevity, Count Zion couldn’t help but chuckle.
‘A face-to-face eting, he says. The madman.’
There was no significant relationship between himself and this Yan, so the letter must have been sent by the Chief Instructor.
Even in dire straits, the man was stubborn, not begging for rcy but instead proposing a eting without regret...
Then a thought struck him.
‘I wonder if the Chief Instructor would still hold his head high when facing ?’
His title as the second in command of the Special Task Force was as good as gone.
If they t as a sinner and a savior who could erase that sin...
Would he bark if I commanded him to, like a dog?
He was curious.
Count Zion called for the captain of the guard.
“Have you found it, my lord?”
“Where are the Chief Instructor and his disciple being held?”
“I’ve heard it’s Fargo Prison.”
“Fargo...”
Duke Sion smiled thinly.
“Captain, it seems we must make a trip there.”
He was already looking forward to seeing how the Chief Instructor’s expression would crumple without his intervention.
Reviews
All reviews (0)