[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
Chapter 259: Godfather of the Red Mist Alliance
It was an unusually cloudy night. Under the black night where both starlight and moonlight were wrapped in clouds, the lights kindled by humans illuminated the streets.
Whoooosh—
The blowing wind carried a mixture of dust, the stench of filth, and the sll of people's sweat.
It was the distinctive odor of back alleys that was hard to encounter in the castle.
And one more thing.
"The scent of blood grows thicker."
I muttered.
"Is it because this is the stronghold of a man who has long ruled the underworld? I can't even imagine how much blood has been spilled on that land."
I was currently on my way to visit the Red Mist Alliance, a second rate major organization that dominated the underworld of the Grunewald Duchy.
"Nagan, Zizek."
The two n who had co out to guide and escort turned to look at .
"What do you two think of the Godfather of Red Mist Alliance?"
"...In one word, he's a brave general and a man with military qualities."
Nagan answered.
"Where exactly that man cos from isn't precisely known. Since he knows how to conduct himself with aristocratic etiquette, so say he's from fallen nobility, others say he was a knight. In any case, he was already reigning as king of the underworld when I was still a boy."
Zizek supplented the explanation.
"From what I know, it was also under the Godfather of Red Mist Alliance's initiative that five organizations, including the Bisakino Brotherhood and the Pawelmoon, were unified together."
"Then the current balance is essentially his design."
I rubbed my chin.
"What is his purpose?"
"...When I received that man's summons before."
Nagan said.
"He said, 'The distance between nobility and the underworld should be neither too far nor too close.'"
"And?"
"He seed quite concerned about what Grunewald's intentions were. If the Black Serpent Duke put his mind to it, Grunewald's underworld would beco a wasteland."
"...Hmm."
I crossed my arms and thought.
'So he's what you'd call a balance theorist.'
The relationship between nobility and the underworld is truly delicate.
Sotis it becos a convenient blade, but there are also many n with rebellious temperants who don't like being used like servants by nobles.
"If Bazalo believes that underworld affairs should be handled among underworld n themselves."
I said.
"He must be quite dissatisfied with the current situation."
Why wouldn't he be?
The Black Society was openly sending Schelde, Huten and the like to cause chaos, and was turning the underworld into a wasteland by spreading drugs that stripped users of their reason.
Moreover, Verdzig, the second young master of Grunewald, had directly killed the Godfather of Pawelmoon who had been recruited by the Black Society and even installed a new Godfather.
"But among the recent events, I haven't heard of the Godfather of Red Mist Alliance stepping forward to do anything."
"That's correct."
Nagan replied.
"He's displeased but takes no action? That ans he can't take action."
I concluded decisively.
"In short, the Godfather of Red Mist Alliance is already an aged lion."
Even if that assessnt seed harsh, it couldn't be helped.
"Even when young and cunning lions from outside invade and sweep through his territory, this man maintains his dignity only by sitting quietly on his throne in aningless silence."
"...That might be so."
Nagan's expression was complex.
"A man who hides his frail body behind the curtain of dignity. That might be what the Godfather of Red Mist Alliance is."
Then what I needed to do also beca clear.
"Today will be the occasion where I throw a lifeline to an old underworld king in distress."
If he dislikes both Verdzig and the Black Society, isn't there no one else for him to reach out to but ?
That ans the great Karzan has absolutely no need to take a humble approach.
* * *
Godfather of Red Mist Alliance Bazalo.
Befitting the rumors that he was from fallen nobility, rather than an underworld boss, he was a man with a neatly grood appearance more like a noble or head butler.
'Quite tall and distinguished.'
It's a slightly strange thought, but if Head Butler Count Aiden had plunged into the underworld, I wondered if he might have aged with this kind of feeling.
You could call him an elegantly aged gentleman of the night.
However, Bazalo had several scars crossing his wrinkles, making it easy to guess that this man's life had been marked by blood and blade.
'He's a man fully qualified to reign as king of a vast underworld.'
Contrary to how I had disparaged this man in front of Nagan, when actually face to face, I ca to have a certain degree of respect for him.
'Whatever his past actions, he's also a nearly perfected underworld warrior.'
Around the early to middle stages of the 7th tier? Perhaps he might have even reached the middle stage.
However, from his body whose age was hard to guess, he was an aged master who seed to have lost much of the steel-like vigor of his youth.
'A man like an old tree that has long endured wind and rain, with deep scars carved into both body and spirit.'
...However, this eting is not one for mutual respect.
"Godfather of Red Mist Alliance."
Having finished our mutual exploration through exchanged glances, I extended my hand.
"I am Karzan."
"We finally et, Karzan."
We shook hands while gauging each other's strength, carefully controlling our grip so as not to beco pointless provocation.
"Sit down. I haven't prepared traps, ambushes, or poison."
I chuckled at his natural use of informal speech.
"Is that so?"
Since he was a man accustod to receiving respect from others in terms of status and age, I decided to let this slide.
"Godfather of Red Mist Alliance. I heard you wanted to see through Nagan."
Instead, I sat in the chair with a deliberately arrogant posture, crossing my legs as I spoke.
"Let's make this clear now. You didn't arrange this eting thinking to interrogate or question , did you?"
"Quite direct. You're a man with no restraint in word and deed, just as I heard."
"Is that so? The rumors describing seem to have been quite accurate."
I chuckled.
"...Strange thing. Even seeing you right before my eyes, you don't seem strong enough to defeat Schelde."
Of course, speaking of my pure realm, I hadn't yet reached the 7th tier, or even the latter half of the 6th tier. It wasn't strange that I appeared to be of low caliber.
"Being defeated by those who don't understand the enemy's essence—that's the law of the underworld, isn't it? You've supposedly survived quite long in this world, so I wonder why you don't understand such principles."
"What? Hahahaha!"
The Godfather of Red Mist Alliance, having received instruction from a young pup, burst into laughter.
"Your tongue is certainly sharp enough. Let's end this useless battle of wills and get to the main point."
I replied simply.
"Let's do that."
"I've been hearing about your activities for a long ti. The more I pondered them, the more puzzling aspects there were."
I leaned forward.
"Let hear what that is."
"Was it perhaps Venion's plan to specifically make Zizek's group your subordinates and recruit the Bisakino Brotherhood against Huten?"
"Ah, the question goes back that far."
It felt sowhat unfamiliar to too, hearing about such old events.
"To conclude first, that's not the case."
"Then whose will was it?"
"Young Master Allenvert's will."
"...!"
Bazalo asked with a sowhat surprised face.
"Absurd. Are you saying that before being Venion's retainer, you were Young Master Allenvert's man?"
vI shrugged my shoulders.
"If you won't believe even when I tell you the truth, there's no reason to continue this conversation."
Perhaps because I lied so boldly, even I was slightly confused.
"...That young master is also a figure shrouded in mystery. If he's skilled enough to defeat Young Lady Siena Valkenhain, his abilities surely wouldn't lag behind his brothers. Is it really true that he was in seclusion for seven years? I suspect he was quietly building his strength."
"Too many questions without giving anything in return."
I replied in informal speech.
"Godfather of Red Mist Alliance, are you trying to interrogate ? Know your place."
"What?"
"Have you been revered by others for so long that arrogance has beco ingrained in your body?"
Suddenly the seasonal feeling of the room changed to winter.
aning the atmosphere beca damn cold.
"Absurd. Do you have the confidence to escape alive from here?"
Though killing intent mixed with Bazalo's smile, I paid no heed.
"Is that question based on faith in your own skills, or faith in the ambushes hidden in the ceiling and on both sides of the room?"
I asked back, reciting the presence I had detected with my mana sense one by one.
"There are also two outside the window, and five hidden on the building's roof. You're a quite well-prepared man."
"..."
I looked at Bazalo, whose eyes showed interest, and said.
"Shall we test it? The price won't be small."
"Excellent."
Bazalo praised .
"Acting boldly while coldly assessing the situation in your head? I've reigned in this underworld for a long ti, but it hasn't been easy to et a man like you."
"Then you should treat with an attitude befitting Young Master Allenvert's confidant, Venion's retainer, and the power behind the Bisakino Brotherhood."
"Yes, I'll acknowledge it. You have sufficient qualification to take offense at my high-handed attitude."
Bazalo snapped his fingers.
Then people with no traces of martial arts training brought expensive liquor and valuable food.
"...Let formally welco you again. I'll treat you as my guest, so bring Nagan and Zizek to share a al together."
Why did Bazalo's presence, having abandoned his arrogance, seem even more imposing than before?
"You test people in a nasty way."
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Fine, let's eat first and then talk business."
Co to think of it now—
I was also slightly irritable because I was hungry.
* * *
Perhaps overwheld by Bazalo's presence, Nagan and Zizek ate more quietly than usual.
"Polite to the point of being demure. Since when did you eat so daintily?"
"Ahem."
Well, from Zizek's perspective, Bazalo was a big shot among big shots who looked down even on the boss of the Bisakino Brotherhood where he had belonged.
In fact, even I would have found it difficult to handle this man's aura until recently, so it wasn't strange that Zizek was acting like a coward.
"...Karzan."
Bazalo, who had been cutting at and drinking wine with aristocratic gestures, spoke up.
"Putting together your story."
I urged him with my eyes to continue.
"In short, the entire underworld is now caught up in the succession struggle between Young Masters Allenvert and Verdzig."
"That's about right."
"Whether to align with the Black Society or with one of the two young masters. If we choose the forr, it's a disgrace of handing over our ho territory to a foreign underworld—we'd have nothing to say even if we cut our own wrists and retired."
I continued his words.
"If we choose the latter, the balance between the legitimate world and underworld collapses, and the entire underworld splits in half."
"That's how it is when summarized."
Bazalo nodded.
"It seems quite humiliating to have to align with anyone."
At my question, Bazalo sighed.
"If it were just a matter of wounded pride, I as the leader could endure it. The problem is that whichever side we choose will cause great humiliation and backlash among the underworld n."
"While acknowledging the difference in power, there's no need to think only in the binary structure of domination and submission."
I said.
"Haven't you maintained the balance of this underworld in that way, boss?"
Bazalo nodded.
"That's right."
"I think there's no need to distinguish too much between the legitimate world and underworld."
Bazalo raised his eyebrows.
"What do you an?"
"Let give you an example."
Then Bazalo picked up his wine cup.
"...I'll have a drink first."
Perhaps he needed to soften his mind a bit with a cup of wine.
I waited patiently for Bazalo and then opened my mouth.
"In the past, in the face of the great power called the Empire, surrounding nations conducted diplomacy by receiving the emperor's investiture, or being completely subjugated, or gathering opposition forces to form confrontational angles."
I recalled my tutor's lessons from the past.
"For them, the question of which Imperial faction to attach themselves to would have been directly connected to survival. And—"
I used my knife like a brush to draw pictures in the air.
"From the perspective of young masters who had to defeat their brothers and seize the imperial throne, the question of how many allies they could draw to their side was inevitably of great importance. That ans the young masters and the kings of small nations needed each other."
"..."
"In this way, kings of small nations often participated in the Empire's succession wars, beca the emperor's loyal retainers, and as a result gained great authority."
Bazalo nodded as if he understood my aning.
"That would have been so."
"It's the sa now. Since this is an important ti for deciding the next master of the duchy, vassals and retainers are also fiercely choosing sides behind the scenes."
The recruitnt within the duchy was being energetically handled by my mother, Lusatia.
"Boss, these are never others' stories for the residents of the underworld either. You know this better than anyone."
I pointed at Bazalo.
"Yet if only you maintain lofty neutrality during such a fierce ti, who would generously understand your bat-like behavior?"
"..."
The Godfather of Red Mist Alliance closed his eyes and replied.
"They'd split my belly first to fill the loyal retainers' storehouses."
"Exactly. Though tis change, history repeats itself."
Therefore.
"If you want to protect the balance of the underworld as the king of the underworld, you must first firm up your own course and solidly defend your own position."
"Karzan, you're quite eloquent."
Bazalo opened his eyes.
"Then I need to accurately judge 'which side I should align with.'"
"Wise words."
"Then how do you plan to persuade ? The reason I should side with Young Master Allenvert rather than Young Master Verdzig."
What a sly old fox.
Even while being convinced by my words, he's trying to extract favorable conditions for himself.
"Hahaha."
I laughed and replied.
"That's not too difficult."
* * *
Georg Grunewald was blankly staring at the pond in the night garden.
"Your Highness."
Head Butler Count Aiden said.
"You seem quite tense."
"...Do I look that way?"
The Duke unconsciously touched the corner of his mouth.
"Understand . Even I find it hard to suppress my emotions tonight."
...He was waiting for Lusatia in the garden full of mories for just the two of them.
[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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