Chapter 588
Jin tapped his fingers anxiously on the table.
Unconsciously, he kept his gaze fixed outside, listening intently for even the slightest sound. The sudden operation to capture Rutherford in the dead of night had lit the outside world with torches.
‘Will everything be alright?’
Rutherford—the puppet of the underground god long entangled with the illegitimate son, Ian. The very man who had brought Ian to his knees and cast him into the abyss for nearly ten years. And that wasn’t all. The Idgal he trafficked was deeply connected to the princes’ rebellion, making him a direct threat to Jin’s throne.
Because Rutherford was so elusive, Jin couldn’t shake the worry that something might have happened to Ian, Xiaosi, Tweller, or any of his people.
“I have to trust them.”
Jin muttered softly, almost scolding himself. If he didn’t believe, then who else would?
After dozens of moments spent guessing and trying to quell his anxiety, a sound from outside suddenly made him spring to his feet.
Swish.
Before the attendants could move, Jin personally opened the door slightly and peered down the corridor. In the distance, Ian and the mages were returning, looking somewhat weary.
“Sir Ian!”
“Your Majesty.”
Ian, caught mid-step, glanced at Jin with a hint of surprise. But then he nodded, as if to reassure him that everything had gone smoothly.
“Apologies for the delay.”
“No, you’re not late. Is everyone safe? Any injuries?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Fortunately, Captain Hale is unharmed, and the other mages completed their mission and returned without issue. Would you like to step outside? It’s quite late, so I intended to give a brief report, but it’s better to show you in person.”
Jin studied Ian carefully and soon noticed the bloodstains on his clothes weren’t his own.
Still, he couldn’t fully relax. Words aside, who knew what wounds might be revealed in daylight? The Agiar Palace was shrouded in darkness that torches couldn’t penetrate, making it impossible to inspect properly—a source of frustration.
“…Lead the way.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The mages looked exhausted but uninjured. Then Jin wondered about the Imperial Guard.
The guards who had supported them from behind wore anxious expressions, clearly concerned for their comrades. Jin quickened his pace and stepped outside the Agiar Castle.
Creak!
Boom!
The massive wooden gates were half-open, and as Jin approached, they swung wide. Imperial Defense officers and soldiers who had fought in the battle gathered in one place, loosening their armor. Xiaosi was consulting with Tweller nearby.
“Beric! Are you alright?”
“Captain Jarrett, are you safe?”
“Ugh, damn it. Another hole in my stomach.”
“Crazy bastard, do you think I did that on purpose?”
Beric’s wound looked deep, but he lay back and gave a thumbs-up as if to say he was fine.
Jarrett, sitting beside him, was also intact. He was dripping sweat, but that was from exhaustion, not injury.
“Your Majesty.”
“Is everyone okay? Any casualties?”
“None, Your Majesty. Some soldiers who fought against Rutherford’s magic swordsmen were slightly injured, but only minor falls—nothing to worry about.”
Xiaosi’s report caught Jin’s attention. There, on the ground, were Rutherford’s captured men, wrists and ankles bound, lying face down.
The magic swordsmen had resisted fiercely and were bloodied and bruised, while the mages were relatively unharmed. Both groups had been bound with Idgal, though.
“The magic swordsmen were Rutherford’s subordinates, and the mages belonged to Luswena’s forces. The mages surrendered relatively easily, likely because they were loyal to Luswena.”
“It seems Luswena’s side tried to withdraw. According to their statements, Luswena’s group intended to return home, while Rutherford’s aimed for Toorun.”
“And the problem lies with the puppeteers…”
All the puppeteers were dead. Soldiers didn’t realize they were puppeteers and cut them down; some fell off cliffs while fleeing, and others bit their own tongues in defiance. The bodies were all recovered, but since none survived, no information could be extracted.
“Understood. Then, what about this one?”
“Yes. That’s Rutherford.”
His head was covered with a cloth tied tightly. When Jin signaled he wanted to see his face, Ian shook his head.
“Not now, Your Majesty.”
“Why not?”
“There was a final resistance below the cliff, in what appears to be the habitat of Laromedia. Rutherford consumed something there that caused hallucinations in his opponents. We need to investigate exactly what the agent was. The most likely cause is his voice, but it could also be his breath or gaze, so we covered him.”
Hale and Beric suspected it was some powder drifting inside the cave, but nothing was certain. For safety, Rutherford had to be thoroughly isolated.
“I see.”
Jin glanced down at the bound, motionless Rutherford before turning away. Many lowered their heads to look at him.
“You’ve all done well. Capturing Rutherford and his men—the core of the Agiar battle—especially the magic swordsmen and mages, is a victory beyond measure. The glory and honor of the Empire shine because of you. I am proud to have you by my side.”
A hush fell as everyone bowed deeply. When Ian tried to lower his posture as well, Jin gently placed a hand on his shoulder and patted it.
“Thank you for returning safely.”
“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”
“Well done. Focus on healing and rest—both body and mind.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The officers ordered the soldiers to withdraw, and Ian approached Jin quietly.
“Your Majesty, Beric was cut by Rutherford’s Idgal.”
“Rutherford’s Idgal?”
“Beric is incredibly resilient and a key asset, but since the bleeding continues, it may take longer for him to recover this time. Captain Jarrett’s condition isn’t good either.”
“Damn. I heard Varsabe is also in critical condition.”
“Your Majesty, I apologize, but the Imperial Guard is quite fatigued. The mages are tired as well, but the psychological burden on the guards, who suffered heavy losses, is hard to fathom. Perhaps we should extend our stay longer than planned.”
“Agreed. Prepare to ensure supplies are sufficient.”
“Yes. Also, during our stay, we need to investigate the Laromedia habitat. Previously, someone in the central district of Bariel used a puppet resembling Your Majesty for some mischief. This is a good opportunity to uncover the truth.”
“Will you entrust this to Astana?”
“Katimako advised us about Laromedia, so it might be good to assign it to her, but it’s uncertain. Most of Astana’s commanding puppeteers have died, so it may not be feasible.”
“Understood. I will speak with King Astana at dawn.”
“A wise decision. The magic swordsmen will be executed at an appropriate time, but we should wait before deciding the fate of the mages. Luswena’s side may respond first.”
“Should we send a message separately?”
“I will follow Your Majesty’s wishes. Either way should be fine.”
Jin hesitated briefly, thinking of Eldert—the sly, arrogant teal serpent who succeeded Eriphoni. The more information he received, the more he schemed.
In times like this, silence is better to sow confusion. Let him spin his wild theories alone.
“I will not send anything.”
“Understood. I will inform them accordingly. Since Idgal differs from magical power, the magic sealing stones won’t fully suppress Rutherford. I will personally oversee his containment.”
After all, he was the one who created Idgal. Keeping other mages close to monitor him would be too risky.
As Jin and Ian assessed the situation and exchanged orders, dawn broke. Gradually, the faces of those hidden in darkness became visible.
“The sun’s up.”
“Haah, why does a day feel so long?”
“Because we couldn’t sleep. Come on, let’s get some rest.”
“This is why leaving home is such a pain! Hahaha!”
“But if I’d stayed home, how could I have earned the Empire’s honor and glory? Oh, it’s tough!”
The soldiers blinked wearily, exhausted and worn out. Jin glanced at Ian, wondering if any hidden wounds might show in the light.
But it was just his imagination. Ian’s green eyes shone clearer than ever, and his expression was more relaxed than it had been in a long time, relieved to have crossed a great mountain.
“Your Majesty, you should get some rest too. The day is finally over.”
The Agiar castle had fallen, and capturing Rutherford had taken only a day—but it felt endless.
“…Yes. I can finally rest easy.”
Jin nodded and looked around once more.
Everyone was alive.
Three days since the occupation of Agiar in Bariel.
Though the war had shattered homes and the country was on the brink of collapse, the sun rose steadily each day. Thanks to Bariel’s promise not to harm civilians, people lived lives close to normal.
“Is all this laundry? That’s quite a lot today.”
“We had two training sessions yesterday.”
“Understood. Leave it here.”
“Here’s a tip. I’ll put your name on the list, so take some wheat during the next supply run.”
“Thank you! I’ll work hard.”
“Oh, and could you gather some people who can sew? We have a lot of mending to do as a group.”
“Of course. How many do you need?”
“About thirty.”
The residents of Agiar lent their manpower in exchange for a modest fee or priority access to supplies, while Bariel was busy consolidating control over the city, clearing out pockets of resistance one by one.
The battle lines between Burgos and Bariel had long since been drawn and settled. Now, a subtle tension simmered beneath the surface—between those opposed to Bariel and those loyal to him—engaged in an invisible, silent struggle.
“But I saw some of the other soldiers heading toward the castle earlier. Is something going on?”
A resident who ran the laundromat asked casually as she folded clothes. In times like these, even the smallest piece of information was a valuable asset.
The soldier sniffled dismissively and chewed on some dried meat.
“There’s an execution for the magic swordsmen from Rutherford.”
“Oh, that’s today?”
“Yeah. At least we get a break from training. Though we already had two sessions yesterday.”
“It’s not a public execution, then?”
“They’re doing interrogations too, I heard. Anyway, thanks for the info.”
“Of course. I’ll keep you posted.”
With a rare moment of downtime, the soldier slipped into a back-alley tavern. Only those clueless about the situation trailed behind the soldiers, following them toward Agiar Castle.
But the castle gates remained firmly shut. What was happening inside was anyone’s guess.
Creak.
The double doors closed with a heavy groan, and soldiers formed a long line on either side, bracing for any unexpected developments.
Ian sat on the dais, his cold gaze fixed downward. Before him, a row of masked men knelt in a straight line.
“Remove their masks.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ian propped his chin on one hand, watching leisurely as the men blinked against the sudden light, disoriented.
Among them, Rutherford stared up at Ian with a vacant expression. Ian returned a cold smile.
“Not much better in the light, are you?”
“…”
“Rutherford. We’re about to begin the interrogation. If you don’t answer honestly, you won’t die peacefully. Choose wisely. Your subordinates will have a chance to speak as well. If there’s anything you want to say, now’s the time.”