Chapter 504
Episode 139: Intimidation (3)

The group quietly drew their swords. The swirling sandstorm made it difficult to immediately discern who was approaching.

Yet, Inyoung showed no sign of hesitation or fear as she came closer. That unnerved the group just a little.

“…Looks like it’s not Jiple,” Joshua murmured. “If it were, she’d have fired a signal flare the moment she spotted the Runcandels.”

True enough, if Inyoung had been Jiple, she would have sent up a flare as soon as she recognized them.

The distance between the group and Inyoung slowly closed.

“Oh, so even a second-rank soldier really does have sharp situational awareness, huh? But what’s that on her back… a sword? It looks a bit too big to be a sword, and the shape’s strange. I think I’ve heard of someone using a weapon like that before, but who was it?”

A massive, crude-looking blade.

“Ah! Big sister! That’s right, our big sister Baekgyeong uses a weapon like that, doesn’t she?”

It was more of an axe than a sword. The only person in the world who wielded such a weapon was Luna Runcandel.

At least, until recently.

Jin and Murakan had encountered someone wielding Luna’s signature axe-sword like a toy at the Black Dragon Mountain stronghold not long ago.

‘No way…’

‘Damn it, that crazy dragon?’

Both recalled that day simultaneously, while the other Runcandels had no clue who Inyoung really was. There was no way she could be Luna.

Finally, the group came face to face with Inyoung.

Even through the sandstorm, her pale, radiant face shone like a beacon. Her slender frame looked almost out of place carrying that massive axe-sword.

She was the demon dragon, Zephyrin.

“Wow, Lord Jin, and the Black Dragon Murakan. What a coincidence! I never expected to see you here!”

Sandra was the first to react to Zephyrin’s appearance.

“Hey, who are you? Are you close with Jin?”

“Hmm? Oh, Sandra Jiple? Why do you ask if we’re close?”

“If you’re close, I might treat you like an older sister or a cute little sibling.”

Murakan poked Sandra’s shoulder. Unsure if that was true, Sandra’s suspicion quickly turned to hostility.

“Almost made a mistake there. Don’t pretend to be close just to confuse me, you damn brat.”

“Oh my, such foul language. You better watch your mouth, or you might end up dead, miss living golem.”

“Huh? Wanna see who dies first?”

“How adorable. Becoming a living golem must have scrambled your brain a bit.”

Seeing Zephyrin smile so sweetly, Jin and Murakan couldn’t help but recall the grueling battle they’d fought that day.

—Could it be Captain Kinzelro’s dragon?

—That annoying bastard? Could be. The power he showed during the Sword Emperor’s terror was godlike.

—…Murakan, and the 12th rank soldiers, if this fight drags on, we’re doomed.

—Doomed? It’s worse than that. There’s no way we can win against that.

Leaving Heddo behind, facing Zephyrin was yet another mountain to climb.

‘If this were any other time, we’d be completely screwed.’

But not now. Jin held the very reasons Zephyrin had come close to him, safely tucked away.

Joshua, Diffus, and Jane still hadn’t guessed Zephyrin’s true identity, but they sensed she was no ordinary foe.

Murakan’s refusal to engage in battle, instead spitting out insults, was a clear sign.

In truth, Murakan was itching to fight, but he held back—if he fought Zephyrin now, Jin might die.

And it wouldn’t end with just Zephyrin. Fighting her would inevitably draw in Jiple’s pursuit squad, and Kinzelro’s forces, including Grnil, could follow.

Sandra, meanwhile, was relentlessly hurling curses and insults. Where she’d learned such foul language was a mystery, but even the worst street thugs would think twice before crossing her.

Jin quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

‘Just as expected.’

Like the other Runcandels reading the mood from Murakan’s stance, Jin was piecing together the situation from Zephyrin’s behavior.

‘The ship blueprints and machinery from the Second Tower vault are definitely important to Kinzelro.’

That had already been proven by the resources and manpower Kinzelro had deployed, but Zephyrin’s actions made it even clearer.

Jin remembered Zephyrin as someone who didn’t waste words when trouble arose—she’d strike first without warning.

Yet now, she furrowed her brow and spoke calmly.

“Well, I don’t think there’s much need for long talks. I’m tired of listening to that living golem’s squawking. Lord Jin, hand over the stolen items from the vault.”

“And if we refuse?”

“You’ll be wiped out. By my hand. Curious about that obvious outcome?”

The word “wiped out” stung the Runcandels with fresh humiliation. Both the recently fought Heddo and the woman before them looked down on the Runcandels.

But there was no other choice.

‘Being weak is like this.’ None of the pureblood Runcandels had ever tasted such humiliation, especially not repeatedly like this.

While his brothers trembled, Jin’s smile deepened inwardly.

‘We’re almost there.’

Even if not by sheer force, the situation and conditions were turning entirely in his favor.

‘Zephyrin didn’t try to kill me at Black Dragon Mountain. Probably because killing me would jeopardize the contract with Solderette.’

So it was now as well.

Unless Kinzelro had made some special breakthrough in the meantime, Zephyrin still couldn’t kill Jin.

And this was the Lutero Magic Federation, near Drakka. If a fight broke out and Kinzelro and Jiple clashed over Jin, it was far more likely Jiple would take him.

That would mean losing not only the items but Jin himself—a huge loss for Kinzelro.

“Wiped out? You say that too easily, Zephyrin.”

“Don’t think I can do it?”

“Yes.”

“You seem confident because I let my guard down last time and took a hit. But I’m not in a good mood today.”

Murakan had judged Zephyrin unbeatable at the time, and she seemed to hold back her full power for some reason.

Still, at Black Dragon Mountain, Zephyrin had left the battlefield without any gains after suffering unexpected damage from Tess’s power.

‘She probably hasn’t fully recovered from that yet.’

He couldn’t be certain, but his gut told him it was safe to push hard.

“So what? You want us to crawl and beg?”

“Still being uncooperative? Ah, you must believe I won’t kill you easily.”

“Then why the pointless threats?”

“I said ‘won’t kill you easily.’ Even if I spare you, I have no problem wiping out your little sister, your brothers, and the Black Knights. Won’t that make you sad?”

“Enough talk. Show me what you’ve got.”

“Yeah, Jin, do it! Stop barking if you can’t bite!”

Jin and Sandra spoke in unison, making Zephyrin’s mouth twitch. Despite her rising anger, she struggled to keep her composure, the effort showing as a slight spasm.

A tense silence fell.

The group recognized Zephyrin’s extreme restraint. She was seriously considering just killing them all outright.

“You look like you’re about to charge any second, Zephyrin.”

Jin handed Yona to Murakan and carefully pulled the blueprints and machinery from his cloak. Holding one in each hand, he waved them gently toward Zephyrin.

“You’re staring so fiercely, I had no choice but to bring these out.”

“…Hand them over.”

“Still don’t get it, huh? Don’t move. If you keep threatening us, who knows what’ll happen to these items we’ve all suffered so much to get… I sure don’t.”

Flare!

Suddenly, a bright crimson flame burst to life in Jin’s left hand, conjured from his magic.

Zephyrin froze like a statue, eyes wide. The Runcandels reacted similarly.

How on earth had he gotten those items?

“Stop!”

“You should stop your weak threats, Zephyrin. Not in a good mood today? Neither am I. I might just burn these to ashes. And the moment the blueprints are gone, I’ll destroy the machinery without hesitation.”

Crackle, sizzle…!

Though the flame contained only third-rank magic, to everyone watching it was a disaster in the making. Sandra, as usual, was inwardly impressed.

“Jin, Runcandel, you…!”

“If you’re going to threaten, this is how you do it, right? Coming here clutching at straws, yet acting way too cocky, don’t you think, Zephyrin?”

“If those things get damaged, you’re all dead.”

“I know. I’m just gambling to see whose hand is stronger.”

The blueprints were, of course, protected by magic.

But it was only a single sheet of paper, covered in delicate runes. At this rate, it would be irreparably damaged within seconds.

Grasping at straws.

Jin’s words weren’t wrong. Kinzello and Zephyrin had been fully aware from the start that the odds were stacked against them.

What they hadn’t expected was for Jin to come down this hard.

More precisely, Vishkel and Marziela had anticipated it, but since Jin had been pushed to the brink by Ziphl and Hedo all along, they’d hoped he might let his guard down just once. That faint hope was why they sent Zephyrin.

But no. Once again, Jin remained unfazed, wielding every resource at his disposal without hesitation.

“…Turn it off!”

“No way I’m just turning it off.”

“I’m not attacking. Just turn it off, right now!”

Yeah, it’s time to turn it off, kid. Hurry up. It’s burning, it’s burning!

The brothers shared Zephyrin’s thoughts. Even without Jin’s explanation, they had almost completely grasped the situation.

But Jin shook his head once more.

Joshua nearly shouted at that moment to turn off the fire.

“That’s still not enough. There’s one more condition.”

“Ah, damn it, you son of a devil! What else could possibly be missing!?”

Jin grinned and said,

“You and Kinzello lost the bet, so you have to pay the price.”

“Spit it out already!”

“Zephyrin, until you leave the Lutero Magic Federation, you’ll escort Runcandel from Ziphl. If you agree, I’ll have the fire put out.”

Before Jin even finished speaking, Zephyrin was already nodding vigorously.