"Mmm… that's quite direct."
"In that case, I should be able to sense it, right?"
Aboard the spaceship leaving the Great Jin Empire, Pariston held a magazine in his hand.
It contained a report about the recent unrest within the Kakin royal family rumors of internal power struggles between two princes but the accuracy of the information was questionable.
Pariston murmured to himself.
He already knew Benjamin had been injured
and that Haze was responsible.
He hadn't expected Haze to act so quickly, or so carelessly…
This ant the matter would not escape Beyond's attention.
And with the old man's sharp mind, he certainly would not overlook it.
"It seems… you never intended to hide from him to begin with.
You planned to confront him head-on…"
Pariston closed the magazine and whispered.
He had assud that once Haze reached the Kakin Empire, he would avoid Beyond
partly due to the previous incident involving Xiyu's death,
and partly because Beyond had ties with the royal family.
Once he noticed anything, the Field's family's plans against the royals would beco extrely difficult.
"But that makes sense… it's exactly your personality."
Pariston smiled.
Thinking back on Haze's past deeds, this man… had never bowed to any opponent.
Pariston also understood Beyond well.
The old man looked crude, but he was sharp, cunning, and possessed extraordinary intelligence.
One must never be deceived by his rugged appearance.
For soone to rise to his level, his mind and insight were already far above ordinary people.
And he had lived for so many years…
Even Pariston felt sowhat restrained when dealing with him.
"You two…
Which of you will win?"
…
anwhile, Beyond had arrived at the Kakin Palace to see Benjamin.
The prince's soldiers trembled at the sight of him.
The old man's re presence emitted an invisible pressure overwhelming, far surpassing Benjamin's.
"Hahahahaha!"
Beyond stared intensely at the unconscious Benjamin and burst into loud laughter, his long black beard trembling violently.
Everyone nearby was confused, completely unable to understand what he found so funny.
Several soldiers bristled with anger.
Beyond grinned, exposing a row of teeth as he fixed his gaze on the bedridden First Prince.
"This scent… it should be you.
Without a doubt, I sll it…"
"You're truly remarkable…"
Beyond seed genuinely excited.
Far away, inside a hotel,
Haze lay sideways on a sofa, one leg crossed over the other.
The Grey Lantern still hung from his arm, swaying lazily.
He could clearly sense Beyond's movents.
"Arrogant praise…"
he responded indifferently.
Unfortunately for him, Beyond could not hear his words.
Ignoring the prince's n, Beyond glanced once more at Benjamin, then turned and strode away.
This left the surrounding soldiers utterly baffled, unsure what the old man was planning.
Once outside, Beyond's eyes glead.
Haze was in the capital, preparing to seize the throne.
But there was no need to inform Grey Korrou.
His relationship with the king was rely a mutually beneficial alliance.
What he wanted was to observe Haze
to see what he intended,
how he planned to act,
and whether he had the courage to face him directly.
If Haze targeted only a prince or a queen, it wouldn't affect the overall situation in Kakin.
But if… the target was King Grey Korrou,
that would be a declaration of war.
Beyond was eager to see…
how this newcor difficult even for the old man to handle would move.
Before that, there was no reason to notify Grey Korrou.
Or rather, Beyond did not care at all about the deaths of these princes and queens.
His only concern was successfully reaching the Dark Continent.
…
Elsewhere, the lantern in Haze's hand faded into the mist.
He narrowed his eyes.
As expected
he had been unable to hide it.
There simply wasn't enough ti.
If he'd had sufficient preparation, he could've erased every trace.
But he didn't intend to linger in Kakin long.
Inevitably, Beyond would discover him.
Not only Beyond…
Pariston had already predicted his next destination Kakin and had arrived early to observe.
Both n were cunning.
Beyond likely would not betray him Haze was certain.
Before Netero died, their interests aligned: both sought to reach the Dark Continent.
Previously, Saiyu had recruited Haze, and now that Haze had personally walked into Beyond's territory, the old man's first thought wouldn't be revenge…
but control.
Although Saiyu was his subordinate, in Beyond's eyes, now that Saiyu was dead, he ant nothing.
And what Haze was doing was essentially identical to Beyond's own plan in the Kakin Empire
Everything was ant to force V5 to submit.
So no matter how one viewed it, cooperation between the two would maximize benefits.
Unfortunately…
Haze disliked BYAND.
He followed his heart.
If he disliked soone or sothing no amount of benefit could sway him.
But BEYOND might not think the sa way…
"You'd better not ddle."
"If you want to die… then go ahead."
Haze stared at the ceiling, eyes cold, speaking calmly.
It would be difficult for the Field's family to seize royal power quickly.
The only feasible move was to plant a pawn within the royal family.
Because Kakin was ruled by King Grey Korrou alone his word was absolute.
The only way to seize true control, like in other nations, was to kill Grey Korrou.
Doing so would inevitably trigger a large-scale war with BYAND.
And this was Kakin territory:
with the army and royal forces behind it, not even the entire underworld could change the outco.
Therefore, eliminating Nasubi Grey Korrou was impossible.
The succession battle concerned only descendants, not queens.
As long as Honey Pot could establish herself within the royal family and secure a position,
the Field's family could use her as a foothold to expand their influence in Kakin.
In simple terms: it could only be done gradually never overnight.
And during this period, the most dangerous factor the greatest variable was BIRD.
Pariston had already been driven out…
but BIRD was not soone who could be intimidated.
Whatever he wanted to do, and however he wished to act, depended entirely on his mood.
The reason Haze allowed Pariston to live rather than eliminating him…
was because Pariston was still useful.
After Netero's death, Haze needed Pariston's help to smoothly beco Chairman.
And Pariston understood that.
He could hinder Haze or oppose his rise,
but the years of groundwork Haze had laid in the Association were already solid reality.
Pariston could delay his climb, make things difficult
but he could not change the outco.
Haze would eventually triumph.
The Zodiacs distrusted him,
and most Association mbers disliked him…
But Haze's reputation among the lower ranks…
Haze knew nothing of BYAND's true abilities.
Nor did he understand the full extent of the old man's strength.
But one thing was certain:
He was not stronger than Netero.
If he were stronger than the old Chairman,
Grey Korrou would have already declared his expedition to the Dark Continent.
Haze did not believe he could kill BEYOND
but neither could BEYOND kill him.
At their level, duels and battles were no longer simple.
To take action required a solid motive
and a compelling reason.
(End of Chapter)
Good bye
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