Episode 440
Chapter 127: Into the Black King’s Faction (Part 1)
After the exile’s death, no one dared speak of it openly.
Yet, among the clan’s members, a strange tension lingered. There were too many suspicious circumstances surrounding the exile’s demise for it to be otherwise.
“Do you think the exile’s words were true?”
“What do you mean?”
Two guardian knights, just off duty and settling into their rest, were quietly talking.
“The part about the acting head of the family purging the second division’s execution knights out of fear for them.”
At that, one of the knights flinched and glanced around nervously. Speaking ill of the second division’s darker side could easily lead to irreversible consequences.
“Be careful with your words!”
“There’s no one back here in the courtyard at this hour. Don’t act surprised. This is the most open space in the Garden of Blades.”
“That may be, but the exile is already dead, so we can’t verify the truth of those claims.”
“It’s strange, though. This should have sparked a full-scale investigation, but the summary execution of the second division just feels off.”
Joshua’s swift execution seemed like a move to quickly sweep the incident under the rug.
“The Black Sword Chairman’s actions are just as suspicious. If he truly didn’t save the exile, wouldn’t it have been better to keep him alive somehow and prove his innocence?”
The guardian knights fell silent, their minds tangled with doubt.
“…If the exile’s words were true, then the price for long-standing loyalty to the family was cruel beyond measure. The acting head hasn’t said a word about it yet.”
“There’s no guarantee that any of us won’t end up the same way someday.”
“Ugh, what a grim way to end the year…”
Suddenly—
Clack!
A door opened from the ground beneath them. The guardian knights jumped, immediately going on alert.
Emerging from the dirt-covered door were the Tona brothers. The knights’ faces drained of color in an instant.
“Salute!”
“Salute!”
The Tona brothers cleared their throats as the knights snapped to attention.
“You don’t seem to value your lives much, blabbering about such dangerous things.”
“Hey, you two haven’t even been here two years. Are you crazy enough to want to die?”
“We’re sorry!”
The knights bowed their heads.
What none of the knights resting in this courtyard knew was that this place was also the Tona brothers’ favorite refuge within the garden.
Weary from the pressure and oppression from Miu and Anne, the brothers had carved out this simple underground hideout for themselves. A rough cave with a crudely placed door, but it had become a surprisingly fruitful spot.
From here, they often overheard the conversations of the clan’s members who came to this courtyard.
As Daytona pretended to brush dirt off his clothes, the knights quickly and cautiously closed in. Despite their words, the brothers didn’t seem to think of them as enemies.
“If the exile’s words were lies, why risk your lives coming all the way to the Garden of Blades? They must have been desperate.”
“Huh?”
The knights’ eyes widened at Daytona’s words.
“We believe the exile’s last words were true.”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
The Tona brothers had never taken part in the hierarchy wars before—except for a brief scuffle with Jin during their cadet days. It was well-known among the guardian knights.
But now, they were openly speaking against the second division.
The knights, unable to respond, fell silent. Then the brothers spoke again.
“The reason there’s no investigation is because the eldest brother and the elders have something to hide.”
“Besides, they left the body for the dogs to eat. If it weren’t for the youngest brother, that would have really happened. Only the youngest dared to risk angering the eldest to recover the corpse.”
“What do you think about that?”
The knights felt like they were dying inside. They were still rookies, unsure which side to take.
“We…”
“No, never mind. I think we’ve put you in an awkward spot for no reason.”
“No, it’s fine!”
“The youngest said this.”
“The eldest and the elders think the exile should have been kept alive.”
“Curious why, isn’t it?”
The knights reluctantly nodded.
“Because there’s another exile who hasn’t come to the Garden of Blades yet.”
“Rather than killing the exile who came this time, the eldest and the elders wanted to recruit or brainwash him. That way, when the surviving exile arrives, they could use him to disprove the other’s claims. His name was Luton Perman, the leader of the first wave of execution knights.”
Though they’d been on edge the whole time, the knights now felt genuine, intense curiosity.
“Is that true? There’s another person…?”
“Shh!”
Heytona covered his own and the knights’ mouths with a finger, then grinned.
“This is what we wanted to say.”
“The youngest truly understands the value of loyalty. That’s why we’re finally joining the hierarchy war alongside him.”
“So you all…”
“You’d better think carefully from now on. If you want to be properly rewarded for your shining devotion. Well, we’ll be going.”
“Watch your tongues wherever you go!”
The knights blinked and left the courtyard.
“Shall we call it a day, Heytona?”
“Let’s. Everyone’s lips are so tight, the rumors really aren’t spreading.”
The Tona brothers had been deliberately waiting for guardian knights who came to this courtyard. They only approached those who seemed curious about recent events after listening in quietly.
“The youngest said it himself. Everyone’s well-trained, so it’ll take some time for the rumors to spread. Let’s wait patiently. There will definitely be results. Just like everything the youngest does.”
“When the rumors start spreading, the clan’s members will inevitably question why the second division knights and some elders are always searching for something.”
At Bigung, Jin spoke, drawing the attention of those present: Talalis lying on an ice bed receiving a massage from a gold-snow tribe member, Luton sitting beside him, and Murakan and Siris across from them.
“If it’s revealed that their movements weren’t to resolve the clan’s affairs but to cover up another stench, both sides will suffer great damage.”
Jin had no intention of letting the exile’s death merely stir unrest within the clan.
He wanted to shake the foundation and standing of the second division and the elders to their core.
“Hmm. The day Luton returns will be the day the worst scandal in Runkandel’s history breaks.”
—The words of the twelfth division are right, but one must survive. Leader. Witness their end. And if the twelfth division permits, when Runkandel becomes yours someday, live on for those of us who have died.
Luton gently held the exile’s sword Jin had brought, recalling his final words.
At that moment, Luton wished he could say he would die instead.
But he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He knew better than anyone how painful it was for someone who had lost everything to keep living fueled only by hatred.
Survival was the hardest and heaviest burden. Luton had survived not for himself, but to bear more responsibility than his comrades.
“…What should I do now?”
Luton asked.
“First, recover your body.”
Since the exile’s death, Jin and Luton had addressed each other formally.
Jin had forgiven Luton for attacking Tikan and now felt it right to treat him as an execution knight. Luton, having pledged to become Jin’s sword, thought it fitting to use respectful language.
“Yes. You were too weak. You still seem about nine stars, but you shouldn’t have been subdued so quickly by me.”
After the elders had beaten him all over, Luton had lost much of his strength.
Though still a nine-star, he had been the leader of the first wave of execution knights and the closest to the Black Knights.
Those Black Knights were considered the strongest in history—the legendary Black Knights of Siron.
Had tragedy not struck, Luton could have become a Black Knight himself.
“I agree I need to recover, but there’s no other way.”
“You must go to the Holy King for treatment.”
“…The Holy King?”
“Without using the legacy of Numerus, even she has her limits. But no one can heal better than the Holy King. I’ll write you a letter. Go before the year ends.”
“When Miklan was the Holy King, even the family head couldn’t easily use him. Impressive.”
“You must go without being seen by anyone.”
“Of course, that won’t be difficult.”
“Hmm, with the Holy King’s treatment, you should improve somewhat. Let’s get you back to your old strength so you can serve our son-in-law well, Luton.”
“And after treatment?”
“You will become the mentor to my knights.”
The youngest division.
Jin planned to entrust Luton with their training.
“Train them mercilessly, like execution knights.”
The youngest division needed to become the core around which Jin’s knights would gather.
To do that, they had to be skilled enough.
Right now, except for Bellop, Mesa, and Skut, the rest barely matched the average guardian knight’s skill. They needed rapid growth.
“That might kill some of them. Also, those who just became guardian knights don’t want new training—they want to enjoy their rewards first.”
Having endured a brutal path to become guardian knights, it was natural for them to want some respite.
“If anyone shows reluctance, feel free to remove them without reporting to me. But I doubt there will be anyone like that.”
“Understood. I’ll head to the Holy King first thing tomorrow. My lord, please send the new recruits immediately as well. It’s best to get started right away.”
“By the way, Jin.”
“Yes, Lord Thalaris?”
“When do you plan to visit the Black King’s faction headquarters?”
“I intend to go there first thing tomorrow. It’s better to secure allies to protect Tikan as soon as possible.”