C426 - So suddenly? (4)
The two looked at each other in silence for a while.
Does Lata Proch really have this side?
The Phantom Legion rcenaries and their leader, Lata Proch.
The truth was that Jin didn't have a favorable opinion of them.
He was attacked by the executioners of the Phantom Legion rcenaries, led by Fey...
And later, when Lata confronted him, Jin felt that both were fools.
But for Lata to have that level of insight...
It was amazing that he saw through the situation and the flow of events after the terrorist attack.
No, no.
It's impossible for Lata to be so smart.
Soone must be giving him information or controlling him.
Jin suppressed his admiration and shook his head internally.
Oh, really? It's unexpectedly excellent judgnt.
Jin was about to say it out loud.
Who could it be?
Zipple?
Kinzelo?
No...
Individuals from those two groups couldn't have approached Lata.
Because we were all confined in the Sword Emperor's Castle.
Most of them had undergone intense investigations during their stay at the Sword Emperor's Castle for about two weeks, even though they had helped suppress the terrorist attack.
The Hairans hadn't discovered any involvent of Zipple and Kinzelo.
"Zephyrin."
Jin suddenly thought of the woman who is presud to be a Demon Dragon.
Maybe she was behind Lata.
Zephyrin's true identity had not yet been revealed.
Therefore, it wouldn't be too surprising if she was affiliated with Zipple or Kinzelo.
But that would be too much.
Even if Zephyrin approached Lata with so purpose, it's impossible for Lata to adopt this submissive attitude.
Regardless of whether it was Zephyrin or soone else, it seed unlikely that a figure of Lata's stature would beco a pawn for soone and abandon his reputation.
At this mont, if Jin rejected Lata and sent him away, the weight of the title "Leader of the Phantom Legion" would plumt imdiately.
It wasn't just a couple of people who had seen them in the reception room.
Of course, it wouldn't be difficult to make them seal their lips, but there was no need to cover for Lata if Jin didn't form an alliance with him.
After a mont of contemplation, Jin concluded that Lata had co to him of his own will and insight.
"Jin-nim, what are you thinking? Is there sothing strange in my words?"
"No, there's nothing strange. In fact, you have read the situation too accurately, and I find it incredible that you have figured all that out on your own."
"Hahaha!"
Lata burst into a sincere but sharp laughter.
"Well, that may seem so from your perspective. My little sister and I haven't shown ourselves in a good light so far. But, Jin-nim, I am also the leader of a significant group. And a very respected one."
Lata looked at the perfectly reattached index finger, which showed no trace of a cut.
"Do you know why my five hundred subordinates followed ?"
It was a bewildering question.
Five hundred were far from enough to showcase his prestige or buy ti when problems arose against the Garden of Swords.
Moreover, considering the size of the Phantom Legion rcenaries, it seed like an ambiguous number to be brought with the intention of saying:
"Please accept us as subordinates."
"I don't know."
Lata smirked.
"They were the five hundred who never backed down even if I had reduced them."
"What...?"
"When I said I would cut off my fingers as an apology to Jin-nim, those guys followed by force and said they would also offer their fingers to you, Jin-nim."
This ti, Jin's pupils had to widen.
Is this serious?
There was no doubt in Lata's eyes.
Anyone who t Lata's gaze now could feel his pride.
"At first, many more subordinates said they would co with . Runcandel might have mistaken it for a declaration of war if I had brought all those guys. Anyway, the ones who ca with insisted a lot and didn't back down, so I had no choice but to bring them."
"So, if I tell them to, will they all cut off their index fingers?"
"That's right."
"What peculiar loyalty."
"It's sothing rarely seen elsewhere. They even said they couldn't bear to see alone lose a finger. Now you know how respected I am, right?"
"Is there no way for all of them to keep their fingers intact?"
"It might be possible if the Twelfth Flagbearer of Runcandel allows it."
"I ant, wasn't there a way that you didn't even think or try in the first place?"
"If soone commits a sin, they must pay the price. Even more so if you want to approach your future partner."
"But you just said you're not a person but rather a despicable and low beast."
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
It was difficult to express it in words, so Jin simply shook his head and felt a sense of astonishnt.
Then he rembered the expressions of Lata's subordinates that Murakan had taken away.
They all seed to have expressionless faces, even though they were about to lose a part of their bodies, just like their lord.
"It seems you're not a straightforward man, Lata Proch."
If everything Lata had said was true, then he was an extraordinary leader.
Regardless of how excellent Lata's battle skills might be, it was no small feat to completely control the Phantom Legion rcenaries at such a young age.
"I have one more question, Lata-nim."
"What is it?"
"Why did you behave so despicably in the banquet hall of the Sword Emperor's Castle?"
Jin felt that today's Lata and the Lata back then were completely different people.
"I am competent and an excellent leader in most situations, but occasionally, an imperfect aspect of my personality shows, like when my only family mber, my relative, was taken hostage."
"Your little sister is being treated quite well according to the strictest treaties on prisoners of war."
"Well, I appreciate the treatnt, but since she's a tough girl, I don't mind if they treat her to the point of keeping her alive. And besides... this can also happen when I lose one of my most precious subordinates."
Jin rembered the day Fey had attacked him.
"Wasn't he called Grimol?"
He was the only one among the assassins of the Phantom Legion rcenaries who had overwheld him.
He wielded a sword much better than Fey's.
"I dispatched him without much pain. He was willing to sacrifice himself to the end to save Fey Proch."
"...I always wondered what his end would be like, but he had an honorable death for a rcenary. We spent a lot of ti together, but Grimol was more suited to be a knight than an assassin."
Lata closed his eyes and seed to mourn Grimol for a mont.
"Looking back, it was my own arrogance that led to the consequences because I underestimated you, Jin-nim. I shouldn't have accepted the commission in the first place, or if I did, I should have gathered the best assassins, including myself. So, this ti, I won't make any mistakes and will try to make the best decision. Please help ."
There was a sense of sincerity in his calm tone.
Of course, appearing sincere now didn't an he could retract the reckless comnts he had made before.
But Jin knew that everyone could make mistakes.
"Lata Proch-nim."
"Please speak."
"If you truly want to form an alliance with , you must show trust. re apologies and offering aningless fingers won't allow you to beco my ally."
Finally, Lata smiled as if he had shed his stiff clothes.
"What do you want to do? What can I show you?"
"The Phantom Legion rcenaries and I first t as targets for elimination and assassins."
Lata's eyes narrowed upon hearing this.
"To change that bad relationship into an alliance, shouldn't you bring at least the heads of those who ordered to be killed?"
Assassinating the mbers of Runcandel's council of elders.
That was undoubtedly one of the worst assignnts a group of assassins could receive.
"I know the reason why you didn't take action before we spoke."
Like being pierced by a needle, Lata shivered and awkwardly smiled.
Probably because you don't want to take risks. If you had brought the heads of the elders, and I hadn't accepted you as an ally, then there would be no turning back."
"...I'm starting to feel it again. You really are extraordinary, sir."
"Also, even if I welcod you with open arms after bringing the heads of those elders, you would still doubt whether the Twelfth Flagbearer could protect the Phantom Legion rcenaries from Runcandel's retaliation."
Jin stood up from the chair.
Then, he moved slowly behind Lata.
Lata remained seated and couldn't get up.
A few seconds later, Jin's hand lightly touched Lata's shoulder.
Lata felt a chill, as if it were the scythe of a Reaper.
"If you truly believe in , if you're sure that I will beco the patriarch of Runcandel. Then take the risk, Lata Proch."
Jin's voice was as cold as ice, sending shivers down his spine.
"I'll give you a week," Jin said as he withdrew his hand from Lata's shoulder.
"In that ti fra, bring the heads of those who tried to kill . Don't make mistakes; I want the job done properly. I will take responsibility for the aftermath. Understand?"
Lata nodded heavily.
'Twelfth Flagbearer, this is an unexpected turn of events...'
Certainly, Lata believed that Jin would eventually beco the patriarch of the Runcandel Family.
However, he didn't believe that Jin had significant power within Runcandel at the mont.
That's why his plan had been to first join forces and then gradually help Jin gain power within his clan.
But now, a situation had arisen where he needed to beco enemies with the 'existing Runcandel' within a week.
'I planned to join the Twelfth Flagbearer, but this is completely unexpected.'
Show your trust.
As Lata pondered Jin's recent words in his mind, Jin spoke again.
"If the deadline passes, and there is no contact from you, I will conclude that you have allied with another faction, Mr. Lata. That ans we will be enemies again."
"Mmm..."
"Please make a wise choice."
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