Chapter 522
Episode 143: Intensive Training (3)
Huff, huff…
Jin caught his breath and looked up at the ice wall.
Amid the chaotic destruction, as if some massive beast had gone on a rampage, there was one single, enormous hole—clean and deep, standing out from the mess.
It was the hole formed by the hyperspeed thrust he had just unleashed.
Out of all the hyperspeed thrusts he’d practiced over the past two weeks, only the very last one had pierced through the wall of solid ice.
The hole was a perfect circle, so precise it almost felt like a work of art.
Great artists’ masterpieces often give you the sense that you can see the soul and determination poured into their creation, just by gazing quietly at them.
Jin’s hyperspeed thrust had left behind that same impression.
He and Thalaris stood silently for a long moment, unable to tear their eyes away from the hole.
“It’s complete, my son-in-law. To craft a sword like this in just half a month… Haha, I wonder what Siron would say. I’m sure he’d be pleased. By the way, I hope Siron is doing well.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen someone worry about my father, Thalaris,” Jin said.
“Well, he’s a friend. Besides, I made a promise to your father…”
Thalaris smiled wryly.
Cough!
Jin suddenly spat up blood before he could respond.
“My son-in-law!”
“I must have pushed my aura too hard, causing a slight backlash. There’s no need to worry.”
“If only you were as sturdy as your eldest or second sister, you wouldn’t be so vulnerable to backlash. Hahaha, you’re so fragile.”
Though he joked, Thalaris was genuinely impressed by Jin’s stamina. He was just teasing to keep him cautious.
“I’m starting to get a sense of what level Luna stands at.”
“Luna Runkandel of Baekgyeong. If your memory of her swordsmanship is accurate, then technically you’re already on par with her, or even ahead.”
Jin shook his head.
“Whatever Thalaris’s last memory of her is, I’m sure she’s achieved incredible things since. I still think I have a long way to go before catching up.”
“You probably haven’t grown as fast as you think. Luna’s real strength isn’t just her body or swordsmanship. She has… hmm, how to put it? She has an ability to always win.”
“An ability to always win…?”
“I’m definitely stronger than Luna. In almost every way, I surpass her. Yet if I fought her, I couldn’t be sure of victory. Your eldest sister has something that can’t be explained by potential or talent alone. Though she has plenty of those, of course. And…”
Thalaris turned to Jin and continued.
“Teaching you this time, I saw something similar in you. I believe that is the greatest blessing a warrior can have.”
“That’s encouraging to hear.”
“Neither you nor Luna got it handed to you, so there’s no reason to resent it.”
Just as Jin was about to express his gratitude for the training, he sensed someone approaching.
“Lord Jin!”
It was Kashimir.
As soon as he stepped inside, Kashimir couldn’t help but flinch at the state of the ice wall.
He too was momentarily drawn to the one perfect mark amid the shattered ice.
‘All these marks are from training? Especially that one… It seems the lord has completed a new sword.’
The ice wall was reinforced by the power of solid ice.
Kashimir felt that even with his sword, it would be difficult to create deep cracks in these walls.
“You’ve come, Sir Kashimir.”
“Hmm, I was just about to send my son-in-law off today. Did you come to hint that I’m holding him back too long?”
“Not at all, Lord Thalaris. I came because Lord Jin has an urgent matter to check.”
Kashimir pulled out a report from Chilsaekjo, and Jin’s expression darkened.
‘A sign of a purge?’
Thalaris scoffed in disbelief as he read the report.
“Hahaha, that emperor. When we were young, we always kept a sharp eye on Ron. Though Ron has been more lenient since before the Sword Emperor’s assassination, this is reckless.”
In truth, the royal family’s attempts to keep Hailan in check have been ongoing since their youth.
And as Thalaris said, the more unstable Ron became, the more the royal family’s pressure increased.
Ron treated most of it like a wild pup’s antics, choosing to ignore it unless it threatened rebellion.
His predecessors did the same, and the royal family knew this, so they rarely crossed the line.
But this time, they did.
‘According to the report, the emperor is deliberately separating Joryong and the Dragon Knights.’
The obvious reason: to prevent the Dragon Knights from reaching the Sword Emperor’s stronghold immediately if something happens to Hailan.
Though the emperor commands the Dragon Knights, they would prioritize the Sword Emperor’s safety over imperial orders in a crisis—even if it meant rebellion.
Of course, this alone doesn’t guarantee a purge.
Like before, the royal family might just be putting on a show to demonstrate their absolute power, using the Sword Emperor’s assassination as an excuse.
But Jin doubted that.
‘In the end, the empire has chosen the Stone over Hailan.’
The White Stone, guarded by Hailan’s heads of house.
The royal family has coveted that stone for a long time.
Just as the Secret Bow seals Elona and Ziphl, Hailan passes the White Stone down to future generations—so the strongest head of house can destroy it.
Jin didn’t know exactly what the White Stone was, only guessing it was connected to chaos.
One thing was certain: they had made a grave mistake.
‘Madmen. No matter how great that stone is, to abandon the empire’s strongest martial family like this?’
Ron’s Sword Emperor was the strongest in Hailan’s history.
Though the recent assassination caused unexpected damage, as long as Ron and his core retainers stood, Hailan remained the empire’s top martial family.
Until Kinzello rose in this generation, it was thanks to Ron and Hailan that the empire could claim a third power alongside Runkandel and Ziphl.
‘I asked Veradin to urge Ziphl to pressure Hailan properly, to clarify friend from foe and the royal family’s true intentions. Judging by their actions, the result is clear. Bimant has chosen the Stone and Ziphl over Hailan.’
One puzzling thing was that Ron hadn’t reacted yet.
Even with signs of a purge that Chilsaekjo’s informants could detect.
“Hmm, they must have some trump card, or the royal family wouldn’t be doing this. But I can’t figure out what. Setting aside whether they have grounds to purge Hailan, how do they plan to handle Ron?”
Thalaris believed that even if the royal family was aligned with Ziphl, they couldn’t recklessly use Ziphl’s power to control Ron.
That would be like openly selling the empire to Ziphl.
“…As you said, they must have some confidence.”
“Maybe they’re holding Dante hostage. Hmm, your son-in-law looks genuinely worried.”
“That’s true.”
“Though the Sword Emperor’s assassination dented his prestige, a warrior of his era would worry more about the empire and the royal family. Even if Runkandel went mad and tried to purge your father, would he worry about Siron?”
A fair point.
If Ron were in his right mind, Jin wouldn’t be concerned whether the emperor tied the Dragon Knights’ hands or borrowed Ziphl’s power.
—Whether it was the red sword aura or some other factor, I don’t know. If the day came when he suffered an internal injury he couldn’t control, I thought it would be the day I’d have to cross swords with my father… Yet now he’s the leader of a group once known as a third-rate terrorist organization. It’s unbelievable.
After the assassination, Jin heard from Ron himself about his internal injuries.
He hadn’t recovered from the wounds sustained in battle.
For a superhuman like Ron, quick recovery was normal, but his injuries worsened over time.
Even Dante didn’t know.
Only Ron’s five closest aides and Jin were aware.
‘…Maybe the emperor has noticed Lord Ron’s condition.’
But he didn’t seem certain yet.
‘If he fully understood Ron’s state, he wouldn’t be testing the waters like this. He’d strike immediately.’
Jin didn’t know the exact state of Ron’s injuries—whether they were as bad as before or worse.
That uncertainty unsettled him.
Ron’s silence (or perhaps his covert response) was likely tied to his condition.
“You’re right. Still, I should visit the Sword Emperor’s stronghold myself.”
“Good, good. Go show off your new secret technique.”
“From now on, if anyone asks, I’ll say I learned one of Runkandel’s secret techniques from you, Lord Thalaris. It’s been an honor.”
“You’re adorable. Oh, and if you sense anything bad happening at the Sword Emperor’s stronghold, be sure to let me know.”
“I will.”
As soon as Jin and Kashimir left the Secret Bow, they headed straight for the empire, stepping through the Tikan’s teleportation gate.
And the teleportation gate only emitted a warning sound—it wouldn’t activate.
This was what happened whenever the opposing side’s gate was shut down.