Episode 112
Chapter 36: Allies on Each Side (2)
The Secret Palace.
A towering, colossal spire rising from the middle of the Western Continent’s sea.
This was the place Jin had decided to entrust with resolving the current crisis. Ordinary people couldn’t even approach the Secret Palace, but since Kashmir ran the massive intelligence agency known as the Seven-Colored Bird, he had contacts even on the Secret Palace’s side.
Alisa, seeing Kashmir’s urgent expression once more, nodded.
“I’ll open a portal to Manji Island in the Western Continent. Luckily, there’s a Seven-Colored Bird informant stationed there.”
Manji Island was the only gateway to the Secret Palace. Attempting to enter from any other space would be considered an intrusion, triggering an immediate death order from the palace lord and his elite warriors.
Of course, passing through Manji Island didn’t guarantee entry. Only those with established connections—like Kashmir—or those who paid a hefty price could gain access.
“Hopefully, the informant we sent to the Secret Palace about three years ago will come through now. Did that guy establish a hotline with the palace? Was his name Lucas?”
That was the key question.
Whether the informant on Manji Island was in good standing with the Secret Palace enough to open a path at this early hour.
“I haven’t received a direct report on that. We should call the Seven-Colored Bird leaders and confirm.”
“No time for that. If the informant’s slacking off, maybe shouting insults at the palace lord from the middle of Manji Island will get someone’s attention.”
As Alisa hurried toward the portal, Kashmir explained the situation to a pale-faced Gilly.
“You killed a pureblood Ziphl? And now you’re asking the Secret Palace for help? My lord, why do you always walk such a razor’s edge? My aura is sealed—I can’t even assist you.”
“Jin’s guts seem to have swollen so much they’re about to burst every time.”
“Quikantel, I swear, your lord’s recklessness is driving me crazy. What do we do? According to Kashmir, the mages from the Magic Tower will be descending soon!”
Gilly nervously bit her fingers while Enya, Latri, and Yuria gently patted her back.
“Still, Gilly, don’t worry too much. Your lord isn’t someone who dies easily. And I’m here. If that so-called palace lord doesn’t help, I’ll just wipe them all out myself. What’s the worst that could happen? Getting on the Ziphl’s wanted list once more.”
Though she said it confidently, Quikantel was worried too.
If the Ziphl’s elite mages came in force, even she wouldn’t be able to handle it. And if she revealed her true form to the Ziphl, the deaths of Andrei and Buretta would come under scrutiny again, making things even more complicated.
“…Don’t worry, Gilly. I will persuade the palace lord and go to assist Lord Jin and Murakan myself!”
Shortly after, when the portal to Manji Island was ready, Kashmir left the mansion with a grave expression.
Most people in the world would never set foot on Manji Island even once in their lifetime.
But those who had visited even once could never forget it, always longing for the place.
A warm, small island, home to tiny, adorable wild animals; about ten kind-hearted families who had been granted permission by the Secret Palace to settle there; and the dreamlike silhouette of the Secret Palace visible far across the open sea…
Lucas Manfran, the Seven-Colored Bird’s “public” informant dispatched here three years ago, sat in a rocking chair on the beach, sipping a cocktail as he gazed at the dawn sea.
His skin was deeply tanned, and he wore a loose, flamboyant shirt. He looked more like a traveler on vacation than an informant.
“I never imagined I’d have this kind of leisure back at headquarters. Heh, this is the sweetest honey of all.”
He only exchanged brief letters with headquarters once every three months. The Seven-Colored Bird’s leaders feared that frequent contact might provoke the Secret Palace lord’s wrath.
Also, since Lucas was a public informant whose identity was known to the Secret Palace, there was no need for secretive communications that might raise suspicion.
“Lucas! Lucas Manfran!”
Startled by a familiar yet fading voice calling him, Lucas set down his drink. After a brief moment of disbelief, he jumped up to greet his superior.
“K-Kashmir? What brings you here at this hour…?”
The instant their eyes met, a flood of worst-case scenarios ran through Lucas’s mind.
Being reprimanded for negligence, salary cuts, or worst of all, being ordered back to headquarters, ending his blissful days here…
But contrary to Lucas’s worries, Kashmir didn’t care about any of that. Instead, he asked urgently:
“I need to meet the palace lord! Right now! Have you established a hotline with the palace? Please say yes. Time is critical.”
Lucas’s confused expression quickly shifted into a triumphant smile.
‘A raise! Maybe even a promotion!’
The true master of the Seven-Colored Bird, who once seemed so distant, was personally here demanding the hotline be opened.
And Lucas could immediately carry out his superior’s orders.
“Of course, Lord Kashmir. I can escort you to the Secret Palace at once.”
“Oh… really…?”
“Yes. It took me three years of hard work to establish this hotline. I’m glad I can be of help at such a crucial moment.”
Lucas beamed with pride.
“I won’t forget this favor. If your talks with the palace lord go well, you can expect great things.”
“I’m just doing my duty as an informant. Please wait a moment—I’ll contact the palace now.”
Ping…!
Bang! Bang!
Lucas pulled out fireworks from his coat and set them off.
“Fireworks? Is this the signal?”
“Yes. And don’t be surprised in a moment. Something… huge and warm, like a giant bundle, will envelop us. When we open our eyes again, we’ll be inside the Secret Palace.”
“What? What do you mean by that…?!”
Suddenly—whoosh!
As Lucas said, a massive silhouette engulfed them. It looked like a giant mouth, but it moved so fast they couldn’t make out the details.
‘Something just swallowed me—what?!’
Pfft!
The mouth spat out Lucas and Kashmir.
When Kashmir opened his eyes again, the warm sea breeze of Manji Island was gone, replaced by a bone-chilling cold that seeped into every fiber of his body.
They were inside the Secret Palace.
Walls of shimmering blue and white crystal surrounded them.
Even the floor was made of crystal that radiated cold, sending a strange chill up anyone who touched it.
‘What kind of place is this…?!’
Suppressing his surprise, Kashmir instinctively scanned his surroundings. Lucas, who had also been spat out from the strange creature’s mouth, stood beside him.
Ahead of them was a woman.
“Sweetheart, I told you not to call me at dawn unless it’s really important.”
Her voice carried a strange mix of affection and icy coldness as she spoke, reclining sideways on a bed, a long pipe in her mouth, looking down at the two men.
Her name was Thalaris Endorma.
The 51st palace lord of the Secret Palace, a 10-star knight known worldwide by the moniker “The Abyssal Spider.”
“Besides, you brought a guest without my permission… Heh, my dear, you’ve grown quite bold in just a few days apart. Trying to show off your fearlessness, are you?”
Hotline?
Lucas had indeed established a “hot” line with Thalaris Endorma, the palace lord.
“Darling… I’m sorry for the sudden call and bringing a guest without permission, but this is Lord Kashmir, the one who pays my salary. He insisted on meeting you, so I brought him here.”
Kashmir was horrified as he took in the scene.
‘I’d heard rumors about Thalaris Endorma’s wild string of lovers, but even our informant? And Lucas never reported this to us?’
But Kashmir quickly understood why.
Strictly speaking, Thalaris and Lucas were not “lovers.”
Lucas was just one of many consorts. It was common knowledge that any of her consorts who carelessly spread rumors about their relationship would quietly disappear.
“Hmph… Well, you must have your reasons, dear. You can leave now. Prepare to be scolded later.”
With a wave of her hand, another giant mouth suddenly appeared and swallowed Lucas, who vanished instantly.
Even Kashmir, on high alert, couldn’t react in time. Left alone with Thalaris, he felt the overwhelming presence she naturally exuded while lounging comfortably—an aura rivaling even Sir Shiron Runkandel.
‘Stay sharp…! I’m a knight who’s spoken his mind even in front of Sir Shiron!’
Kashmir gritted his teeth, but Thalaris shook her head.
“Kashmir Bimont. Ah, I suppose you won’t be using the Bimont name anymore. Anyway, you’re married and not even my type. What on earth made you think you could come find me?”
Kashmir flinched.
“…My apologies for the late introduction, 51st Lord of the Hidden Palace. I am Kashimir, a warrior serving as a steward in the free city of Tikan. The reason I have come to you so abruptly—”
“Ah, spare me the sob story. Just get to the point. Only answer what I ask. What exactly do you expect me to believe?”
You came looking for me, didn’t you?
When Talaris asked sharply, his voice charged with energy, Kashimir’s pupils flickered. He hadn’t yet summoned his aura and was hit head-on by Talaris’s overwhelming presence.
‘My breath… it’s choking me. Is this the intimidation of a ten-star knight?’
“I’m here because there’s a problem, and I need your help.”
But Kashimir knew that no amount of explanation would be of any use. So, without further ado, he pulled a single flower from within his robes.
“The only daughter of the Hidden Palace’s lord entrusted this flower to a boy who is now on the brink of death.”
“Ha!”
Talaris let out a baffled laugh.
Three hours had passed since Myuron’s death.
Meanwhile, Jin, Murakan, and the surviving Colon natives who had been waiting for Kashimir—
‘Damn it…’
They looked up at the six dragons suddenly darkening the skies above Colon, witnessing the deepening gloom of the pre-dawn sky.
Unfortunately, Jin and his group, along with the Colon natives, had not yet left the site where Myuron had died.
The Colon natives had just begun a ritual to retrieve the sacred relic. It so happened that Myuron had died on the very ground where the old Colon natives’ altar once stood.
“The natives are performing some kind of ritual. It doesn’t seem to be under the Tower Lord’s orders, Deputy Tower Lord.”
“Find the Tower Lord! Capture every single human in the area—no one is to be left free!”