The district chiefs words and actions irritated Azadine.
Despite being a proud clan mber, the district chief dismissed the ssengers work and placed trade for the rchant guild above all else. He also excluded Azadine from the matter, despite him being a ssenger, and tried to handle it by himself, electing to not tell Azadine anything until this mont. Even when the information was given, the district chief acted as if he was being generous. Azadine was not pleased by this.
He was telling Azadine because Aldis had made a request to him. That was the reality of his attitude, was it not? However, he wasnt the type of person who would be understanding if Azadine lost his temper. Besides, he needed the intel anyway.
Tarki, who youre taking around with you, is the most powerful heir since Young Master Kozel lost his inheritance rights. Saying that who knows if that has any aning right now. Since he already knows about the relationship between the Korasar Peddlers Guild and the Aragasa, how about we kill him?
Hes a gold coin petitioner.
He could still betray us despite being a gold coin petitioner.
Are you doubting the Emperors Voice now? A gold coin petitioner can never betray the Aragasa. If that was possible, the Kings Church would have used the gold coins it confiscated to set up a trap for us.
Simply being in possession of a gold coin didnt an you could make a petition. The petitioner must be sincere and desperate in their wish for the spell of a petition to trigger. In exchange, a part of their soul beca fuel for the Emperors Voice.
I dont doubt the Emperors Voice. Despite his awful character, Tarki wont dare to attack us directly. However, couldnt he reveal the Guilds identity by mistake? He may not intend to betray us, but his incompetence could weigh us down.
I understand the reason for your concern. Well eliminate him if needed, though I dont think thats the case for now. Theres plenty we need to learn about him at the earliest, like from where he confiscated the gold coins or hired the rcenaries.
OkayI got it. Ill leave this to you. But keep in mind, youll take responsibility for any trouble that happens.
In his tone, the district chief made it clear that Azadine would be held responsible for any information that Tarki may leak.
Seriously, this old man.
Azadine was annoyed but kept it inside. To begin with, there was no point in getting angry at soone who wouldnt even understand why he was getting angry.
I understand. Once again, thank you for arranging the carriage.
Azadine left once he finished the conversation with the district chief. They had both made sacrifices to reconcile their relationship. However, this relationship of theirs didnt have a strong or close foundation, to begin with.
The longer they stayed together, the worse their relationship would beco. Azadine chose to leave the place as soon as possible.
Young Master Kozel was castrated and lost his inheritance rights.
Rumors of this were spreading quickly. At first, the rumors simply spoke of what happened to Kozel. Still, as the details beca more apparent, things finally beca certain.
Kozel and his n were plundering a village searching for the Heavenly Kings Book. They then encountered people of the ssenger Clan, who castrated them after a clash.
These kinds of rumors were circulating among the refugees.
The people of the ssenger Clan castrated him?
Yeah, apparently, they even cut his eyes out.
That ans he wont be able to go around ssing with others. Sounds great to .
Oho. Youre going to get in trouble. What if soone hears you?
Isnt Salasma slowly getting more and more dangerous? I heard even the rivers about to dry up?
Tarki was going on his way while atop his horse. The chattering of the people they passed was loud enough that even he could hear it.
Hm, the ssenger Clan, huh?
Tarki turned and took a glance at the carriage following him from behind. The Korasar Peddlers Guild carriage slowly followed him, and Azadine was fast asleep inside it.
Did Brother hurt Kozel? Should I ask him? No, no. What if he gets angry at for asking unnecessary questions? Im too scared.
As a child of an aristocratic family, Tarki had always looked down on other people. After he t Azadine, he realized that the world was vast and there were too many strong people in it.
To be honest, he was scared. Once he learned the truth about the Korasar Peddlers Guild being made up of the ssenger Clan, that fear grew more and more.
He always thought of them as re rchants who were nothing special, and now he learned that they were made up of a group of assassins? If thats the case, then where and how many of the people of the ssenger Clan were scattered all over the world?
I shouldnt go around carelessly. Who knows when they might kill without anyone knowing?
Tarki moved forward with a renewed sense of reality.
This is it. Weve reached Salasma.
diam shook Azadin awake.
Ah, I see. I was dismissed, so the Emperors Voice is gone.
Azadine stretched out his body and got up. One of the Emperors Voices functions included keeping ssengers from becoming ambushed by providing them with information regarding the current ti and location.
Its quite uncomfortable to suddenly not have it after so long. How long did I sleep?
For about two hours, I guess? We werent that far.
The camp that Azadine and his party had stayed at last night was not far from the gates of Salasma. Azadine exited the wagon and spoke to Tarki.
Lets go et your Mother. We need to find out where she got those gold coins and why she hired those rcenaries.
Okay, its this way.
Tarki led the party up a hill towards his mothers residence. Azadine began following him up the hill.
At the top of the hill, they had a good view of all of Salasmas neighboring towns and villages. Refugees could be seen encamped in all of the vacant areas, such as the plaza near the gate, the marker square in front of the village, and other similar places. It was also easy to fight out why they were there.
The river has dried up a lot.
The volu of water of the Kora River that flowed through Korasar had decreased substantially. The extent of it ant the harbors built to support waterborne transport were becoming useless as the water level dropped to the point where the riverbed beca exposed.
The highlands were ho to the nobility, affluent rchants, and professionals like judges and clerks. The neighborhoods around them, however, were filled with beggars.
Oh, Sir, please give a di.
My children are starving to death.
Aside from those beggars, there were also people holding large banners while passionately shouting about the apocalypse.
The age of Jupiter will descend upon us soon! When Jupiter enters the ecliptic path, the demons trapped under the Netherstorm will awaken, bringing the end of the world with them! Repent! Live by the three virtues, and extend a helping hand to the less fortunate!
The situation was ssy as beggars and doomsday theorists filled the streets. diam didnt hide her obvious disgust towards the man who rambled on about the end of the world.
What a piece of trash.
What?
Azadine was curious.
That person didnt have a divine revelation about the worlds end. He just wants the world to end because he has nothing to his na, and his future is uncertain. But he knows that if he simply wishes for the destruction of the world, hell be cursed at, so he uses prophecy and divine revelation as an excuse. Hes an extrely incompetent person with a rotten spirit.
Hmm. Youre too hard on people. Everyone has their monts of weakness and stupidity. So if we dont forgive the frailty of mankind, nothing can begin.
Ohhh, is that so? Then why dont you start by forgiving Arael?
.
Azadine was speechless.
You know what, it just occurred to that humans arent perfect, so I dont think its particularly wrong to hate soone.
Looks like you suddenly went back on your word, doesnt it?
No, its not like that. Arael doesnt even want to forgive her. Dont you find it a bit ridiculous for to forgive her all on my own?
I guess youre right, huh? Well, just as you said, humans are indeed imperfect.
diam said that and laughed.
You know what, Ill forgive you for any of your wrongdoings. Youre thankful, right?
Hey, thats in the future, so why are you already acting like youve forgiven ?
Azadine and his party elbowed their way through the crowds and made it to the mansion that served as Tarkis mothers residence with great difficulty. However
Large wooden boards served as blockades for the front of the mansion, and ard soldiers stood guard in front. That wasnt the case for only this mansion. The entrances of all the neighboring mansions were also barricaded, with pharmacists and priests passing through. It was as if there was a plague.
Huh? What is this? Hey! Whats going on here?
Tarki approached the soldier guarding the mansion in a state of panic.
Sir Tarki!?
Th-the thing is.
Your mother has gone missing.
What?
Tarki was shocked.
Wh-what do you an my mother is missing? Wh-what do I do?
As soon as Tarki began panicking, diam nodded.
Its possible your mother has embarked on a journey to find a new life because of the despair she felt from her foolish son who was so dependent on her.
Thats enough, diam. Dont provoke him so much when hes already agitated.
But its true that he never left his mothers embrace, right?
.
Tarki wasnt one who usually stayed quiet, but it seed he was so shocked that he could not even reply.
What about the children you sent to your mother? Were they safe at that point?
Azadine had rescued children subjected to abuse and murder by a baker. He had then arranged for them to be sent to Baroness Nord with the assistance of the Korasar Peddlers Guild. He was curious about their location.
Le-lets ask the servants first.
Tarki asked the servants around him.
Theyve been sent for training as servants.
Really? In that case we must save Baroness Nord at all costs.
Azadine was a man who had an unwavering conviction toward both grace and grudges. If Baroness Nord had offered refuge to the children, he would go to any lengths to rescue her.
Okay now, first of all, lets calm down, go inside and investigate.
In-inside?
Yes. Tell the soldiers well look into it.
After Azadine made the demand, Tarki walked up to the soldiers.
Hey you, Ill investigate the matter personally myself. With my own n!
Are you sure youll be okay?
Thats none of your business! Get out of the way!
With Tarkis insistence, the soldiers granted him entry.
When Azadine entered the mansion alongside Tarki, he saw that the mansion was clean and organized. The hall on the first floor had also been set up for swordsmanship training.
This is?
My mother enjoys refining her sword skills. Even in my case, she was the one I learned swordsmanship from.
Really?
It was relatively common for aristocratic won to take up swordsmanship as a pasti. Nobles with many children wouldnt allow their children to remain idle until they found suitable marriages. Sending their children to the Kings Church or enlisting them in the Rescue Knights was also a frequent practice among nobles. Thus, won naturally cultivated an interest in sword training as well.
In other words, the Baroness obviously knew how to wield a sword. There should have been signs of resistance if she was captured or ambushed, but nothing like that was visible.
Was there such a difference in their skills that she was subdued without bloodshed? Or did they sneak up on her in her sleep and capture her without even giving her a chance to wake up?
Azadine examined the training hall and scanned the surroundings for clues.
Ismail! diam! You guys, start looking for clues as well.
The party then spread out to search the area.
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