Chapter 312
Episode 95: Those Searching for Her (Part 2)
March 21, 1799. After a long-awaited break, Jin, Gili, and Murakan were returning to the Garden of Swords.
Clop, clop, clop!
The rhythmic sound of hooves echoed as the horses pulled the Runcandel steel carriage. Jin often waved to passersby in Caron as he gazed out the window, his mind occupied with the information Misha had shared about Valeria’s hideout.
“Mamitra…”
The outlaw city of Mamitra.
Valeria was currently settled there under the alias Aria Owlheart.
“There’s an inn in Mamitra called the Moonlight Well. It’s where the scum of that lawless den, who call themselves kings, gather.”
“I once carried out a mission there during my cadet days. So Aria Owlheart is in Mamitra?”
“Yes. She often used Mamitra as a base. Around the age of fourteen, she even lived there.”
“Damn, a fourteen-year-old girl living in a den of criminals? That Aria must be no ordinary person. And if she’s staying at the inn where the gang leaders hang out, she must hold some position there, right?”
“I’m not sure about the details, but she’s definitely a sharp blade.”
That was the conversation Jin had with Misha before leaving the tavern.
Jin smiled, imagining his old mentor in Mamitra.
“I figured she’d be there by now. I remember her describing it as a surprisingly romantic city.”
Jin knew Valeria had lived there for two years.
That was why, during his cadet mission to Mamitra, he had asked the tavern staff if anyone went by the name ‘Hister.’
“There must be a reason she’s using Mamitra as a base. She’s not someone who moves without purpose…”
Jin and Valeria had met when they were twenty-five and twenty-three, spending about three years together.
During that time, they often shared deep conversations and glimpsed each other’s inner selves, but Jin didn’t know every detail of Valeria’s past.
“I’m meeting my mentor six years earlier than in my previous life.”
He was curious.
What more could he learn about Valeria? Would they be able to work together again, as before?
Shaking off the sentimental thoughts, Jin took two spirit orbs from his pocket. The first and second were distinguishable by size and color.
“Fascinating, my lord. So those tiny orbs were recording devices,” Gili said, staring at the spirit orbs.
“If Aria can restore the device, I’d like to see it myself. Are we heading straight to Mamitra?”
“Yes, as long as there’s nothing urgent waiting for me at the Garden of Swords.”
The carriage came to a halt.
The guardian knights opened the door, and Petro approached to greet them. He had been waiting at the entrance for Jin’s return.
“Petro.”
“My lord, how was your vacation?”
“I feel like I had a good rest after a long time. How about you? Any news?”
“When you were away, my duties were limited to simple paperwork and room maintenance. It was a quiet time.”
Though he said that, Petro had been busier than ever.
During Jin’s absence, he had overseen the Volta estate, coordinated with Dino to manage knights related to Jin, and invested Jin’s allocated funds into various security projects.
Most importantly, he had been keeping a close eye on the family’s political situation in Jin’s stead.
As a result, Petro had uncovered something unusual.
“Since the lady is absent, there’s no need to report your return separately.”
“Where has she gone?”
“I’m sorry, my lord. That information was unavailable.”
Petro spoke cautiously, aware of the guardian knights nearby.
Jin understood immediately and headed to his room.
Once inside, Petro spoke again.
“My lord, the lady has gone to the Ghost Valley Fortress in Bimant.”
The Ghost Valley Fortress.
The headquarters of the ‘Ghost Corps,’ one of the world’s largest and most notorious mercenary groups, alongside the Black King’s Order.
At this moment, there was only one reason Rosa would visit there.
“She’s meeting Kelliac Ziphl.”
There were very few places where the heads of both families could meet unofficially to ensure mutual safety.
The Ghost Valley Fortress served as a neutral ground, historically used for secret talks between Runcandel and Ziphl.
One reason the Ghost Corps maintained a similar scale to the Black King’s Order, despite accepting far fewer contracts, was that they received annual support from both families in exchange for providing their headquarters as a meeting place.
“How did you find out? That must have been top secret.”
“The family’s secretary owes Miss Luna a favor. Using that as leverage, I uncovered it.”
In other words, Petro had used the secretary as a pawn, expending his only trump card.
Though this was something he should have reported to Jin first, Jin didn’t scold him and waited quietly for Petro’s next words.
He trusted Petro had a reason for acting this way.
And Petro’s source was Joshua.
“I obtained information that the elder council recently discussed rewards for the second squad. I don’t know the details, but right after the decision, the lady visited the Ghost Valley Fortress. I took that as a sign of something serious.”
“Were you able to find out what the reward was for?”
“I’m sorry, my lord. That remains unknown.”
“No, well done. There’s clearly a connection between those two facts.”
Jin immediately drew that conclusion.
Joshua had accomplished something.
And the result was significant enough for Rosa to personally propose a deal to Ziphl.
Otherwise, there would be no reason for her sudden visit to the Ghost Valley Fortress.
“Barton Vichena. Mother wouldn’t have gone to see Kelliac for his sake. If that were the case, she would have met him before assigning me this mission.”
What could Joshua’s achievement be?
Petro had uncovered the secret meeting between Rosa and Kelliac by using the secretary.
But he couldn’t grasp the nature of Joshua’s accomplishment.
That meant Joshua’s feat was even more important than the secret talks between the family heads.
Just as Jin was about to ponder this, heavy footsteps approached from outside.
“Junior! Junior, are you here!?”
A rough voice.
It was Jed.
Jin swallowed a smile the moment he saw him.
“Looks like you succeeded in improving the Decisive Technique: Falling Blossom.”
Jin, Petro, and Gili bowed their heads.
“Uncle.”
“You brat, you should’ve told me you were going on vacation!”
“I didn’t think you’d be upset, uncle.”
“It’s not about being upset—hmph! Never mind. Your absence brought shame upon this uncle.”
“Did something happen?”
“Those damn old men in the backroom won’t believe a word I say. Heh, follow me. Today’s the day I’ll put those old geezers in their place.”
Back in the intermediate class days, this was unimaginable.
But Jin found Jed’s excitement strangely familiar.
“Yes, let’s go, uncle.”
Jed led the way to the training grounds, unaware that his nephew had already calculated how to use him.
Swish!
As soon as they arrived, Jed drew his sword.
“Look at this. I’ve developed a decisive technique that rivals the one you showed me—the Dark King’s Sword Waterfall.”
“Uncle, I have something to say first.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve changed my mind. Uncle, just name the improved Falling Blossom technique after you.”
Jed’s eyes narrowed.
“Why the sudden change?”
“I suddenly felt I don’t want to show the elders much of my abilities. No matter how much I flaunt what I have, they won’t acknowledge me anyway.”
“What are you talking about? I’ve already told the old men. Once you return, I’ll prove that the family’s decisive techniques have advanced thanks to you and recommend you for a reward. I’ve even mentioned the Sixth Decisive Technique: Lightning Flash.”
“Sixth Decisive Technique: Lightning Flash? What do you mean? Did the Fourth Squad tell the elders about the other sword I have?”
“Is that a problem?”
Jin shook his head and sighed.
“Uncle, as a knight, I don’t have many cards to survive in this harsh family. I need to keep them hidden and only use them at critical moments.”
“I see… I suppose that makes sense.”
“Besides, the elders don’t like me anyway, so I don’t see the point in sharing what I have with them.”
“But, Junior, don’t you think about pride? If you don’t prove it, I’ll be lying out of pride.”
“Just credit the improvement of the Fourth Decisive Technique: Falling Blossom to you. I won’t prove anything about the Sixth Decisive Technique: Lightning Flash. I won’t display the Dark King’s Sword Waterfall in front of them either.”
Jin’s firm stance made Jed feel a sudden tightness in his chest.
He didn’t understand why his attitude had changed so abruptly, but on reflection, it wasn’t wrong.
“Did something happen during your vacation? Why the sudden change?”
At that thought, a realization flashed through Jed’s mind.
“This guy… he wants something from me…!”
Now that he thought about it, Jin’s lips seemed to be curling into a faint smile.
“Junior.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Do you want to make a deal with me?”
Jin shook his head—very deliberately, with an almost shameless smirk.
“You little brat. Speak plainly. If what you want is reasonable, I’ll grant it.”
“Yes, then I will speak. What great achievement did my eldest brother accomplish that caused Mother to head to the Valley of Screams?”
Zed’s eyes widened.
“What? You just returned, and you already know about this?”
“Please tell me.”
“If you don’t, you’ll be shaming this uncle of yours beyond repair.”
“I’m a rider of Runcandel too. If something so important happened to our family, I don’t want to be left out.”
Annoying, but not wrong this time.
Zed sighed.
“Little one, even I don’t know exactly what Joshua’s achievement was.”
“I see. I’ve asked too much. I apologize. I’ll be on my way.”
Jin bowed his head and turned sharply, but Zed gritted his teeth.
“Hey, hey, you brat!”
“Yes, Uncle?”
He stepped forward.
Jin met Zed’s gaze with certainty.
“What I’m about to tell you, you must never, under any circumstances, speak of it carelessly.”
“I swear.”
“Have you ever heard of the Hister family?”
At Zed’s words, Jin nearly choked on his own breath.