Episode 485
Chapter 135. Brotherhood United (2)
February 27, 1800. Outside the field barracks, a sandstorm raged so fiercely that visibility was reduced to mere inches.
The relentless storm, blowing all day as if to swallow everything whole, was so tiresome it made one want to vomit just by watching. Yet, it was undeniable that this very sandstorm had served as a protective veil, hiding the members of the Runcandel faction for the past several weeks.
Before Ziphl deliberately leaked information, this storm had concealed the existence of the massive flying shipyard here.
“Hmm…”
Dipus pressed his forehead, letting out a low groan.
Reading the newsletter brought by the execution knights who had gone to a nearby village that morning gave him a pounding headache.
The fierce gale off the coast of Tikan and the duel aboard the Black Prince’s ship… every time the two sword riders of the Sword Clan swung their blades, the sea split and the sky opened.
A sudden hierarchy war sparked by Mary Runcandel’s provocation! The victor was said to be the 12th Rider…
Kommo, a loyal pirate under the 7th Rider Mary Runcandel, revealed that “the Grand Captain wanted to keep fighting as soon as he heard the 12th Rider had single-handedly subdued the Black King’s stronghold.” Could the rumors about the Black King faction’s crisis be true?
There were even whispers that the mysterious battle near the Gaipa Archipelago involved the 12th Rider… Was it Jin Runcandel who killed—or made disappear—Amela?
Jemo, a subordinate of the 12th Rider, confirmed, “It was indeed our lord who took Amela down with a single strike.”
Jin Runcandel, only a year into becoming a Rider, had already risen to 5th place in the hierarchy. Was the Runcandel succession truly shifting?
An overwhelming victory against the 7th Rider! The 12th Rider’s legend kept soaring—how long would it last?
“I expected Mary to cause some big trouble… but I never thought he’d openly duel the youngest like this.”
It had been over a week since Dipus last visited the village, so the news was already old.
While the infiltration team hid in the Sota Desert, the world was abuzz with the ongoing battle between Jin and Mary.
“Do whatever you want for now. Cause as much chaos as you like, train as you please. I’ll take responsibility for the aftermath.”
Dipus recalled the words he had recently told Mary. He truly intended to let Mary run wild.
But because Ziphl had suddenly leaked information about the flying shipyard, Mary’s help had become desperately needed.
Luna and Runtia were away on other missions, and summoning the lower-ranked Riders would likely just be a burden.
So, Dipus had hurriedly sent a letter marking the infiltration route, asking for help just this once.
Yet, the news of Mary having a fight with the youngest came first.
“Could it be that he didn’t receive the letter? No, that can’t be. Knowing Mary, he probably challenged the youngest to a duel and said the winner should come here to support us.”
Dipus sighed deeply.
He hadn’t ruled out asking Jin for support either.
Though Jin had just officially become 5th in the hierarchy, his strength and abilities had already been proven on par with the top Riders during the family head’s declaration.
Still, Dipus preferred Mary’s arrival over Jin’s for one simple reason.
Coordination and synergy.
Without a doubt, Mary was the brother Dipus trusted most. If he had to rely on someone’s back in such a dangerous mission, it had to be Mary.
From a tactical standpoint, Mary’s presence was also far more advantageous than Jin’s. Anyone who knew Joshua and Jin’s relationship would agree.
“Of course, both Jin and Joshua know their roles well enough… but it still doesn’t feel right.”
Clack!
Just as he thought this, both the front and back doors of the barracks suddenly swung open.
Joshua and two Black Knights returned from reconnaissance through the front, while Jin entered through the back.
“…Youngest? What are you doing here?”
Joshua gave a subtle glance, and Dipus shrugged. Jin immediately asked:
“There are quite a few strange passages along the infiltration route. Did the 2nd Rider make those?”
Strange passages.
That was a question Dipus had been curious about as well.
Joshua had created the entire infiltration path into the Sota Desert. Dipus had tried to form a route from another direction but failed and had to join Joshua’s path.
Along the way, Dipus confirmed that Joshua’s infiltration route was something no ordinary force or magic could have made.
Joshua’s tunnels were dug so deep the ground should have collapsed, yet somehow they held their shape perfectly.
“Yes, I made them.”
“I thought such passages were impossible for a human to create.”
“Do you think your limits apply equally to everyone? Then I must have overestimated your intelligence.”
“Now you don’t even hide that you have some prophet or helper?”
Since meeting Joshua at the shrine right after the family head’s declaration, Jin had suspected Joshua would soon reveal the prophet’s existence openly.
Back then, Jin had openly mentioned the prophet in front of other Riders and elders, but Joshua hadn’t shown any sign of being shaken.
“You’re mistaken.”
Joshua shook his head and continued.
“I never hid the prophet’s existence. The reason you and the other Riders didn’t know about it was simply because you lacked the necessary clearance.”
Jin chuckled.
“Well, I didn’t bring it up to see you react so sensitively. Knowing that a long-secret figure is helping us actually makes me feel more secure. Especially with two Black Knights here.”
The Black Knights showed no reaction to Jin’s provocative words.
Joshua’s gaze landed on Jin’s shoulder, where Murakan, transformed into a cat, was snoring.
“I also feel more at ease knowing the family’s guardian spirit watches over this mission. Since it’s a stealth and infiltration assassination, you’re more suitable than Mary.”
As the two exchanged words, Dipus kept thinking about the word ‘prophet.’
“How much does the youngest know about Joshua?”
And how on earth did he find out?
Curiosity mixed with confusion tightened his chest.
Dipus had long suspected Joshua had some special power or helper, but that was all he knew.
Despite long surveillance, he hadn’t found a single clue about what Joshua possessed. Rosa had been hiding Joshua’s information directly, so Dipus thought it was impossible to uncover.
Meanwhile, Jin spoke as if he knew everything about the prophet since the family head’s declaration, which made Dipus feel somewhat inferior.
“Jin’s his own thing, but I need to figure out a way to share information with the youngest. I have to gather intel and move faster than Joshua, even if I’m slower than the youngest.”
Dipus came to that conclusion as Jin and Joshua continued to watch each other.
“I mentioned the Black Knights on purpose, but there’s no reaction. Has Dox not gone to Ricalton yet?”
Jin thought.
He hadn’t yet heard from Dox, so he didn’t know how his orders were being carried out.
Whether Dox had gone to Ricalton or not, someone like Joshua could easily hide his true intentions.
Joshua smiled and pulled a bundle of documents from his coat.
“Here’s what we’ve gathered about the secret shipyard and the operation plan before you arrived.”
The documents detailed the shipyard’s internal layout, guards, dangers, and special notes.
‘All this underground?’
Seeing the scale of the secret shipyard was more shocking than Dipus had expected.
Joshua smiled knowingly.
“There are 24 zones, each roughly the size of a small castle. Over half the desert underground is the shipyard. It’s baffling how they built such a facility and kept it secret all this time.”
Several areas were marked in red.
“These marks show where the ship designs or the most critical elements for shipbuilding are located. Zones 4, 11, 17, and 19. These four are heavily guarded, and we haven’t been able to access them yet.”
So far, the infiltration team had been scouting inside using the prophet’s power. Even with that special ability, two top Riders, and two Black Knights, they couldn’t get in.
That meant the only way was a forceful breach.
And once they entered those four zones by force, the mission’s real time limit would begin.
“We have to choose the initial strike point carefully. We probably only get one shot.”
“Exactly. The infiltration operation starts at 2 a.m. tomorrow. From then, we’ll gather more intel inside and select one of the four zones to destroy and loot. The top priorities are securing the ship designs and destroying the most critical resources. That should be enough explanation.”
Jin nodded.
“Good. Then I’ll take a short rest.”
Joshua gathered the newsletters on the table and turned away.
“Congratulations on reaching 5th place in the hierarchy. When you return, I’ll gift you a fine bottle of liquor.”
“I’ll gladly accept. Oh, and thanks for spinning the pens during the Black King incident.”
Once again, the topic turned to Dox.
During the Black King crisis, Joshua had instructed his newsletters to write articles favorable to Jin and Murakan, since Dox hadn’t returned, ultimately boosting the family’s prestige.
“Watching those knights, I realized that even my second squad and I can work together pretty well sometimes.”
“I hope this mission goes just as smoothly, Prince of the Black Order. Ha ha ha…”
The moment he heard the title “Prince of the Black Order,” Jin suddenly felt an urge to kill Cosmos.
As Joshua and the Black Knights left the barracks, Jin and Diphus naturally locked eyes.
“Second brother.”
“Yeah?”
After a brief pause, Jin spoke up.
“…Let’s kill that man. On this mission.”
Taken aback by the sudden declaration, Diphus could only widen his eyes in shock.