Episode 224
Chapter 72: The News That Came Through, The News We Must Find (5)

“Of course, that’s only once you’ve fully become one of my people. Until then, you’re a prisoner. I’ll treat you with some measure of humanity, so don’t give me any reason to be disappointed.”

Jin’s words hung in the air.

In truth, Julian was nothing more than a captive brought in after defeating the enemy. Although he had already spilled a fair amount of information, he was far from being considered Jin’s ally.

Julian himself knew he should be grateful just to have his life spared. His offer to save the guardian dragon was more a sign of his desire to side with Jin than anything else.

Until now, Julian had never even imagined Joshua’s downfall.

His entire family had been slaughtered, and the village where he lived had vanished without a trace. Yet, in Huepester, no one spoke of it, and no organization sought to uncover the truth.

Because it was the work of Runcandel.

As far as Julian knew, Joshua was the next head of the Runcandel family, ruling without rivals.

And that wasn’t all.

There were rumors of cloning through a prophet, hunting down contractors, and easily subduing and imprisoning their dragons.

Since he was twelve, Julian had been forcibly subjugated by Joshua. To him, Joshua was a godlike figure, utterly unchallengeable and terrifying beyond words.

But with Jin, Julian saw hope for the first time.

Not only had Jin defeated the incarnation of Feitel that had possessed him, but he had also killed another Runcandel—the clone of Joshua.

Somehow, Julian felt that Jin could help him end this horrific and miserable servitude.

“…Understood.”

“Let’s build trust slowly. Unlike Kuzan, you don’t have much reason or motivation to side with me. Alisa?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Please keep an eye on this one. Don’t let him out of the basement until we’re sure it’s safe.”

“Understood.”

They couldn’t just release someone with the power to cause mass destruction at will. Jin planned to keep Julian in the basement for the time being.

“Oh, and if you ever crave a sandwich again, just say the word.”

As they left the basement together, Julian’s mind spun.

“So the cloning was real. And there’s a prophet involved…”

Kuzan looked troubled as well.

“Looks like you didn’t know about the prophet.”

“Sorry.”

“No need to apologize. Starting tonight, you’ll have dinner with Julian in the basement every evening. Find out everything he knows about Joshua’s forces, then compare it with the information you have and make a chart.”

Joshua must know Julian is still alive. After all, the guardian dragon Julian holds hasn’t shown any unusual changes.

So, when they move to eliminate or check Joshua’s forces, they must exclude any names that come from Julian. Otherwise, if Joshua learns of Julian’s betrayal, he wouldn’t spare the dragon.

Kuzan nodded, understanding the plan.

“I’ll organize the information carefully so it looks like Julian hasn’t confessed anything.”

“Good. Take some rest until dinner. You can visit Veris if you want. We’ll properly hear your story after Veris recovers.”

“Thank you.”

“And soon, after consulting with Lord Kashimir, we’ll decide your affiliation. You’ll probably join the Seven-Colored Birds, but there won’t be any privileges, so make sure to attend the basic training diligently.”

“Master.”

“Yes?”

“Even if Veris can no longer use magic someday… I will do my best to fulfill both our duties.”

Kuzan and Veris had lived their entire lives as tools called hunting dogs.

They deeply believed that if they lost their ‘usefulness,’ they wouldn’t survive. So they couldn’t help but worry that Jin might abandon Veris.

Now, Kuzan had decided to become Jin’s tool. Of course, Jin was not the kind of person to see humans as mere tools.

“So please don’t discard Veris or treat him as worthless.”

“…I’m sorry, but that’s true.”

“If the negotiations with the saints of Vankela go well, there will be additional treatment. Even if not, there are many places where Veris can be useful. Don’t worry. Anyway, come to Lord Kashimir’s office around noon tomorrow. Gilly will pick your room.”

As Jin turned and walked off to meet other comrades, Kuzan bowed deeply, sincerely.

Just then, Quikantel, passing by the corridor, grabbed Kuzan by the back of the neck and pulled him up.

“What are you doing in the hallway? At this rate, you’ll be setting up an altar soon.”

Jin, who had been trying to ignore Kuzan’s bow, gave an awkward smile. Kuzan, embarrassed, headed to the treatment room where Veris was.

“Lord Quikantel.”

“Did you find something?”

“Yes, I’ll go and report.”

At Lord Kashimir’s office, the others had gathered.

When Jin explained the information obtained from Julian, even Kashimir, Quikantel, and Latri couldn’t hide their shock.

“Cloning humans using humans as material… it’s horrifying. Humans aren’t cookie dough.”

Latri shrugged, and Quikantel shook his head.

“What kind of man is your brother? Runcandel uses magicians to curse you, and now cloning? And this prophet can even enforce contracts?”

“Ugh, it’s creepy. I’ve thought this before, but he’s so sinister I can’t believe he’s your blood.”

Enya, who had almost become a victim of the ‘Demon God Stone,’ shuddered at the mention of ‘contract enforcement.’

“Do the dragons have any idea?”

“Demons.”

“Sounds like demons.”

Quikantel and Latri answered simultaneously.

“If it’s a demon lord-class demon, it’s not impossible—except for contract enforcement. But since Ziphl and Kinzello tried to transfer contracts with the Demon God Stone, demons might have some method.”

“Demons, huh…”

The Holy Kingdom War.

In the war where Runcandel and Ziphl united their forces, the demons suffered devastating losses and were defeated. They were now busy rebuilding and couldn’t intervene much in the mortal world.

“Or maybe the witch Helluram. That woman wouldn’t hesitate to do anything—cloning humans, transferring contracts. It’s entirely possible.”

“Whether demons or Helluram, we need to figure out how Joshua is connected to them and what his goal is. But…”

Jin trailed off.

“Realistically, it seems difficult. It’s too dangerous to send in the Seven-Colored Birds. I’m starting to think it’s not just Joshua, but people tied to the family as a whole.”

“That’s very possible, Master. With someone like Joshua by his side, I doubt the core Runcandel members are completely unaware.”

Everyone nodded.

If Runcandel were truly incompetent, they wouldn’t be fighting Ziphl for world dominance.

“Whether Runcandel is pretending not to know about Joshua’s alliance with the prophet or is fully supporting him—that’s the key.”

Kashimir spoke gravely.

“If it’s the latter, I wonder what Temar would think seeing his descendants.”

“This issue shouldn’t be approached recklessly before I become a full rider.”

They could face an uncontrollable backlash.

It was impossible to ask Shiron for help. Even with a witness, it wasn’t enough, and asking for help in the ‘Hierarchy War’ could lead to unknown consequences.

“Since Ziphl and Kinzello have considerable hidden power, our family might as well. Maybe Joshua’s misdeeds are why he has our mother’s full support.”

Having become a prospective rider and uncovered many secrets of the great powers, Jin knew Ziphl was using every dirty trick to become the sole god, and Kinzello was doing much the same.

Bement hadn’t clashed directly with Jin yet but seemed to be playing both sides.

In the meantime, Runcandel wouldn’t be unprepared.

-Not at all! If you wanted, you could have caught up with your eldest sister. But, youngest, do you know what kind of world you haven’t experienced? What lurks above?

-Despite having a father, why do you think Runcandel hasn’t surpassed Ziphl? Why do you think your father is disappointed but hasn’t cast you out? It’s because, even if he’s not satisfied with you, he knows that I’m the one guarding against enemies more than anyone else in the Garden of Swords.

Suddenly, Jin recalled the words Joshua had spoken in the Cheongsae Archipelago.

Ziphl and Kinzello actually want the same thing.

To be the sole ruler of the world.

‘The main family can’t be unaware of what I know. Joshua’s meaning was that he’s the one most wary of Ziphl and Kinzello.’

If Runcandel doesn’t deny the existence of the ‘prophet,’ it’s part of that.

‘Or maybe there’s something I don’t know.’

After a moment of thought, Jin looked at his comrades with resolve.

“It seems the five years my father gave me aren’t up yet. I’ll have to plan to return to the family a bit sooner.”

It was almost three years since he became a prospective rider.

And there were limits to the information he could uncover as a prospective rider, especially regarding Runcandel, which was off-limits.

“When do you plan to return?”

“Early in the 99th year would be best.”

“It’s October of ’97 now… so there’s about a year left.”

“I need to wrap up everything I have to gain and build a reputation that won’t give the family any reason for gossip. As for that woman who claims to be a prophet or whatever, I’ll make sure to confront her openly as a knight when the time comes.”

By now, Murakane’s strength had far surpassed the level required to become a knight of Runcandel. He could build his fame anytime he wanted, under whatever name he chose.

But he wasn’t ready to return just yet—not until he was prepared to face Joshua’s ‘foundation’ in battle.

Ten active Black Knights.

The elders, his own knights, and the warriors of Huepester who were loyal to him. Even without counting the prophet, that was the visible force arrayed against him.

Jin would have to fight them all as soon as he became a knight.

“I just hope Murakane can regain at least half of his old power before you come back. Then I’d feel a lot more confident sending you off.”

“He left with a firm resolve to find my sister, so I’m sure he’ll come back changed in some way.”

Murakane had said he needed roughly two months to find his sister.

But a month later, Jin and his companions caught wind of some news that was believed to be connected to Murakane.