Episode 392
Chapter 118: What Can’t Be Hidden, Even If You Try (Part 2)
Just as Siron had said, this wasn’t something that could be concealed no matter how hard they tried.
They locked down the entire Huepester region, controlled all the media, and strictly prohibited anyone who had been on standby at the family estate during the “Demon Swordsman Declaration” from entering or leaving.
Yet, right in the heart of the Garden of Swords, following the blaze of cursed flames, the Dog of the Underworld’s Reign Sword, the War Sword, and a dozen or so other decisive battle techniques erupted all at once.
A fight of that scale, taking place in the center of the city of Karon, was impossible for the residents to ignore.
It wasn’t a skirmish that could be covered up.
Through informants embedded among the city’s residents and various factions, the chaos Jin had unleashed quickly spread beyond the Garden of Swords, rippling out across the world.
The rumors spread like thunder—fast and fierce.
No matter how much you try to block or hide it, the waves will always crash.
“…Good heavens. I asked if he might be committing treason, but I never imagined he’d do something like this. If this isn’t treason, then what is?”
The Royal King’s office in the Vankella Empire.
As soon as the Dawn Carriage Society’s clerics—essentially the empire’s intelligence agents—brought the news, Lani pressed her forehead with a troubled expression. How could such a massive disaster happen right after sneaking out at dawn to provide treatment?
“We should have seen this coming when we debated whether to give Pal a chance or not. Hmph. What do you all think? Is Lord Jin still alive?”
The clerics shook their heads.
“The security is too tight to confirm directly, but based on leaks from Karon’s residents and faction informants, the situation doesn’t look good.”
“There are rumors he’s in critical condition, and some even say he’s already dead.”
“What? Dead!?”
“…No faction has been able to confirm Jin Runkandel’s whereabouts since the incident.”
“Hah.”
One cleric stepped forward, resolute.
“Your Majesty, as a cleric and a child blessed by Ayula, I dare to speak frankly… You must make a decisive move for the sake of the nation’s savior.”
Since the empire’s incident, the name “Jin Runkandel” had become almost as symbolic as the king himself.
Moreover, those in the know were aware of Jin’s astronomical financial support to the empire, which made such blunt advice possible.
Lani pondered seriously for a moment before replying.
“Very well. Although Huepester has declared Emergency Level 2, if I formally request a visit, they will have no choice but to comply. I will go myself to assess his condition and arrange treatment. However—”
She looked at the determined clerics and added a cautionary note.
“As far as I know, he’s always had a plan. This was never a reckless act. If I rush in prematurely, I might inadvertently give his enemies a pretext. Besides, neither Lord Jin nor his guardian dragon has directly asked me for help yet. We should wait for more news first.”
The clerics bowed their heads in agreement.
If something grave happened to Jin, the empire would mobilize every possible resource to aid him.
“Grandfather!”
At the same time, in the Sword Emperor’s Castle in Biment, conversations about Jin were underway.
The moment Dante urgently sought out Ron, Ron himself had just heard the same news from the knights of Hailan.
He, too, pressed his palm to his forehead.
Not because he was troubled by Jin, but because he was at a loss on how to calm his grandson, who was surely shouting to rush to the Garden of Swords immediately.
“Has our grandson arrived?”
“Your Grace, I must humbly say this: today may be the last time you see your grandson.”
“Last time?” Ron Hailan’s head throbbed from the start.
“…Why is our grandson acting like this all of a sudden? Did he eat something bad? Ahem.”
“He intends to head straight to the Garden of Swords.”
“Hmm, Dante.”
“No matter how much you try to stop me, I will go. Even if the family and you scold me, I will go without fail. But, shamelessly, I have one last request for you, Grandfather.”
“Well, well… speak then.”
“Please help me save my friend. And if—just if—my friend has already passed, please respect whatever choice I make then.”
If Jin were dead, Dante was saying he would go alone to wreak havoc in the Garden of Swords. Naturally, that would end in either death, crippling injury, or the entire Hailan family’s humiliation as they struggled to save Dante.
From the moment Ron first saw the villain who had ensnared his innocent grandson—or even when his grandson came back from the arena excited about meeting his friend—he had felt an ominous dread.
‘If this continues, even if I hand over the family headship to my grandson, the Sword Emperor’s Castle might end up in that demon’s grasp.’
Just thinking about it made his blood boil. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if Jin were already dead. After all, this was a family he had nurtured so diligently for his grandson!
“Dante Hailan, my beloved grandson.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“Calm yourself first. I did not raise you to act this way.”
“I know. But shamefully, I cannot value either the family or my friend more. I am unworthy to be the family head.”
Dante was exactly the kind of person who would give up the next family headship and all rights to go alone to the Garden of Swords. That was the grandson Ron knew.
Of course, he couldn’t bear to watch that happen.
“That’s not what I mean. Do you not trust your friend?”
Dante’s eyes widened as if he’d been struck on the back of the head.
Caught, Ron thought.
“As far as I know, that murderous—no, your friend Jin Runkandel—is not someone who would go out so pathetically. He’s always had a backup plan, a dirty scheme. He will surely show up unharmed.”
Ron didn’t truly believe it. Given the scale of this disaster, it wouldn’t be surprising if Jin were dead. But he needed to calm his grandson, so he mixed in a lie.
Dante’s face lit up with admiration at that simple reassurance.
“Grandfather…! Now that I think about it, that might be true! No, it is true! I was too hasty!”
“Haha, good. Then quietly train and wait. There’s nothing better than secluded training in times like this. You have to trust your friend. If it becomes known that you must make a decision, I will personally step in.”
Dante bowed, eyes shining.
“Thank you, Grandfather! I’ll head to the training grounds immediately!”
“Good. Clear your mind by honing your sword.”
With a light step, Dante left happily. He hadn’t expected his grandfather to promise direct intervention, but his cooperative attitude lifted a weight from his chest.
As soon as Dante entered the training grounds, Ron summoned the knights and gave orders.
“If it’s confirmed that Jin Runkandel is disabled or dead, ensure the family head’s seclusion training continues for ten years. Lock him in tight. Let no sorrow, despair, or anger escape—let him channel it all into his sword.”
“Yes, sir!”
That was the best Ron could do for his beloved grandson if something happened to Jin.
Not seeing his grandson for ten years would be torture beyond words, but he couldn’t risk losing him to Jin’s enemies or plunging the Runkandel family into war.
“Hmm, what to do about our son-in-law…?”
The Secret Palace.
Talaris lay sideways on a bed sculpted from ice.
The leaders of the Golden Gourd Guild busily trimmed her fingernails, while the Watertail tribe gently massaged her scalp.
“Daughter, your husband might be dead, you know?”
“Jin. Not dead.”
“Hey, Dark Flame, change the word order. Sounds unlucky!”
The guild leader glared at Dark Flame.
“Not, Jin, dead.”
“Ah, not like that!”
“Dead, Jin, not.”
“Fine, fine. I shouldn’t have expected anything. If that’s the case, why don’t you just go kill him yourself?”
“Shut up and focus on what you’re doing, okay? Your lovers will be here soon. If I don’t like your nails or toenails then, you’re all out. If wild beasts eat you, I won’t even pretend to care.”
Amid the busy little beastfolk bustling about, Talaris watched her daughter’s back with a mischievous smile.
“Hmm, if you’re worried, why don’t you go check?”
“Judging by Mother’s reaction, there’s no need. If I go now, I’ll just be treated coldly.”
“Oh? So you are worried after all?”
Thwack!
Siris lightly struck the ice table with her fist and stood up.
“Mother, do you take me for a fool?”
“Ah, you startled me. Why the sudden outburst?”
“One item has gone missing from the underwater warehouse. Do you think I wouldn’t notice that Runkandel’s chief steward personally came to take it?”
Siris’s anger stemmed from this.
“When did you even check the underwater warehouse?”
“You stopped managing it ten years ago. While on duty at the Secret Palace, I’ve checked it every single day in your stead.”
One precious relic had been carefully stored in the underwater warehouse for a long time.
The blood of Numerus.
She had believed that the drop steward Heinz retrieved was still the Secret Palace’s property.
But now, Runkandel was claiming ownership and had taken it, which left her deeply displeased.
“Look, when did I ever say that was our property…?”
“The underwater warehouse belongs to the Secret Palace. Runkandel must not use it recklessly.”
“That’s because I had some prior agreement with Siron a long time ago, so anyway. He tried to sneakily claim ownership while I was taking care of it, but he failed.”
“Still, it’s frustrating to see Runcandel treating us like a storage unit.”
“In that case, why not demand some kind of compensation? From Jin, that guy. Don’t take it out on your mother for no reason.”
“I’m planning to do just that.”
As Siris spun around and strode out of the war room, Talaris shook his head.
“She’s my daughter, but sometimes she’s a handful. Anyway, it was originally Runcandel’s property, and it’s being used to save her husband. What’s got her so worked up?”
“Well, it’s just… all of it.”
Suddenly, Darkflame spoke up, drawing the attention of Talaris and the small beastfolk nearby.
“Child, justice, right, wrong, expression. Perhaps, friendship’s. A, complicated. expression.”
“Hmph, so even if she’s returning it, she wanted to do it with her own hands? Makes sense.”
At that moment, Paeng-i’s eyes shot wide open as he shouted out.
“Hey! Hey! Look at that! She can say it in the right order! Why was she messing around earlier?”
“I tried. I really did.”
“Ugh! So frustrating!”
“Now even these guys are getting mad at me in front of everyone. Do you really want to get kicked out? If you’ve trimmed your nails, then prepare the special incense oil.”
While the Gold Snow tribe’s beastfolk hurried off to fetch the incense oil, Talaris pondered what choice Keliak Ziphl would make regarding Jin’s ‘Sword Mage declaration.’
‘Siron is about to enter the territory of the Five Kings of the Black Sea… I just hope Keliak doesn’t find out.’
If he did—
Ziphl declaring all-out war on Runcandel would be entirely possible.