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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Chapter 209: Head of the Shadow Division
"Karzan, what do you think we should do? Should we pursue Huten?"
At Rudgarda's question, everyone's gaze turned to me. It seemed the role of making decisions had naturally fallen to me.
'To be a leader, I need to get used to this.'
These people gathered here with me as their focal point. If that's the case, charting the course should rightfully be the Boss's duty.
"Turnak."
He hesitated briefly, as if unsure whether to speak formally to me, then answered.
"Speak."
A good choice. I addressed Turnak with the tone of someone speaking to an ally and collaborator.
"I'll leave the cleanup here to you."
"Hmm."
The fighting had already stopped.
The Black Night Society members who had witnessed their leader die at Huten's hands were all in a state of confusion, and Cardovan's forces, who had managed to secure Marlok after much difficulty, had tactfully withdrawn.
'Good acting.'
I nodded at Marlok. I was uncertain at first, but he must have volunteered as bait.
"Zizek, cooperate with this man."
"Understood."
With the support of Zizek added to the man who was something like the commander of the 6th Special Operations Division Battalion, resolving the situation wouldn't be difficult.
"And Rudgarda."
Rudgarda nodded silently.
"I'm sorry, but the two assassin brothers from Svaltalfar are exposed to enemy attack. Could you check on them?"
"No problem."
Rudgarda didn't ask for many explanations.
"I'll handle it appropriately."
"Good, that's reassuring."
I nodded.
'Hmm, come to think of it.'
I keep becoming indebted to Rudgarda. When this is over, I should repay her.
'But what would she like?'
Giving money seems too impersonal. Maybe I could find a spirit medicine for her? Or perhaps I could sweet-talk Baldun into making a small dagger or gloves...
'Anyway.'
Having finished organizing, I said:
"I'll go rescue Nagan. I'm worried about what tricks Huten might have pulled."
"You won't pursue Huten?"
"I'll decide that after checking on Nagan's situation."
Rudgarda nodded in agreement and said:
"Don't worry about the injured. Our medical skills are quite good; no one will die."
"I express my gratitude."
I took Rudgarda's calloused hand.
"...I'm in your debt."
Rudgarda pulled her hand away, seeming slightly embarrassed.
"Hmm, consider this clearing up previous debts, so don't worry too much."
"That sounds ominous."
I grinned.
"By the way, is Huten less skilled with the blade than I thought? He ended up killing only his own people while Zizek, Gareth, and Moritz all survived."
"...Huh?"
Zizek nodded with a dumbfounded expression.
"Now that you mention it, that's true."
"Why are you taking me seriously? It was fortunate in many ways."
I pointed at Moritz.
"If not for your courage, Zizek would certainly have died."
"Boss."
"You've earned your keep for about 20 years today, so be more confident from now on."
Moritz grinned sheepishly at my joke.
"Hehe. I will, Boss."
"Blood is pouring from your side and you're smiling, oh my."
I clicked my tongue and spread my left hand, which was still somewhat numb.
Having consumed the Mountain Spirit Poison, I felt like a pathway had formed between my dantian and my left hand. It seemed to move somewhat independently of my will, almost like an autonomous organ.
'What exactly are you?'
I asked the mysterious intruder dwelling within my body.
'After tonight, I'll be able to hear from Mother about the secret of my terminal condition.'
I'm looking forward to it. What could be the source of this suspicious but useful power, and how can I utilize it in the future?
"Karzan."
"Hmm?"
I looked at Rudgarda as she called me.
"Good luck."
"...Thank you."
I turned around.
"Everyone, let's meet again when day breaks."
I unleashed my highest-speed Scarlet Cloud Ghost Path and rushed toward the Bisakino Brotherhood's base.
.
.
.
I leaped over rooftops, chimneys, and walls, traversing the vast city.
'Nagan. You're still alive, right?'
I believe that man is not the type to die easily.
BOOM!
Just then, a tremendous explosion shook the air.
'What's that?'
An ominous feeling swept over me. Could someone have self-destructed?
'Not just poison but explosion magic too? These guys really don't hold back on their methods.'
Perhaps Nagan fought so well that they resorted to a final measure.
'How vicious.'
With an explosion of that magnitude, even a skilled fighter like Nagan would struggle to survive.
'Moreover.'
Their filthy determination to hinder the opponent with a self-destruction even after the battle had been decided disgusted me.
'How can they be so ruthless?'
Indeed, their identity is...
'No doubt about it.'
At this moment, my suspicion was approaching certainty.
'If Nagan has died or been severely injured by that explosion.'
I will personally exact revenge.
But I hope that won't be necessary.
'Don't die, Nagan.'
I consider Nagan to be material for a future godfather who will dominate the underworld.
It would be a waste if such a person were to die in vain.
***
"Wow. Wait a moment."
How massive was the explosion? About half of the Bisakino Brotherhood's base had been blown away.
Arms, legs, and weapons of unknown owners were scattered everywhere, and those who hadn't died were screaming in agony.
"Damn it."
It was truly a horrific scene. My heart sank.
"Did they all die without a trace? What in the—"
"It's not quite like that, so don't worry."
"!"
A voice came from behind me.
"At the moment of the explosion, I played a little trick and returned the blast to the enemies. Thanks to that, the damage to the Bisakino Brotherhood was minimal."
The voice sounded familiar.
I turned around.
"...?"
Upon seeing the owner of the voice, I froze.
"Huh?"
"Hello, Karzan."
Venion waved at me with a friendly voice.
"No, wait. Why are you here?"
I stammered foolishly. That's how unexpected the scene was.
"Are you surprised? Karzan."
Venion added with a mischievous face.
"Or should I say, 'Young Master'?"
A chill ran down my spine, and I rubbed my arms.
"Wow, this is crazy."
"Hahaha!"
I laughed heartily.
"This is absurd. What's going on here?"
Moreover, he seemed to know of my existence as if it were natural.
"It's my first time seeing the Young Master so flustered."
Venion removed his playful smile and explained.
"It was by the Duke's order. When a disciple is working hard, the master should help a little—that's the way it should be."
"..."
Venion pointed to a corner.
"Caleb has vanished without a trace, and Nagan was injured by the explosion's aftermath, but his life is not in danger."
Instead of questioning everything, I first sighed in relief.
"That's fortunate, truly fortunate. It's really a stroke of luck."
"Of course, he's unconscious."
"?"
"At least he's not dead."
"Well, that's true, but..."
"I couldn't repeat the mistake from Nepherus, so I was careful in my intervention."
Indeed, back then I almost lost an arm.
"I remember. I almost became the Young Master with one arm and a terminal condition."
"Hehe, even if you had taken a direct hit, I could have somehow fixed you, so there's no need for such extreme assumptions."
Venion grinned.
"By the way, it seems things were handled well on both the Svaltalfar side and Zizek's side."
'How did he know that?'
After barely stopping myself from blinking stupidly, I gathered my wits and asked:
"Venion. What exactly is your identity?"
"Of course, I am the Young Master's swordsmanship instructor."
"Besides that."
"Hmm. I suppose it's time I told you."
Venion said with an enigmatic expression.
"You've earned the right to know."
"What have I proven?"
"Everything."
Venion put his hands behind his back and turned around.
"Then why don't you tell me? Your true identity, that is."
I asked, facing his back.
"Young Master, as you know, the Grunewald Duchy is supported by two pillars: the Administrative Branch and the Military Branch. However—"
Black aura flickered behind Venion.
"In truth, there exists a third organization—the Shadow Division. A department that watches and oversees everything from Grunewald's darkness. It monitors the underworld's dynamics, manages them, and sometimes handles cooperation and conflicts with them."
"...The Shadow Division?"
"Yes, that's right."
Venion raised his finger toward the night sky. Darkness flowed from his fingertip and enveloped us like a roof.
"I am the head of the Shadow Division, the Duke's shadow, the one who watches everything—"
In a perfect sealed room where no sound or light could enter, Venion revealed his identity.
"I am the 'Blade of the Night' serving your father."
"Well..."
I clicked my tongue, recalling the suspicious aspects Venion had shown over time, and the moments when I had suspected him of being a foreign spy.
"I thought something was odd."
"Your suspicion was sharp, Young Master, but you lacked information to discover my identity."
Venion smirked.
"Well, if you prefer a more formal title, you can call me the Intelligence Director."
"Intelligence Director."
Head of the Shadow Division, my father's shadow, Intelligence Director Venion.
That was the true identity of my swordsmanship instructor.
"...This is insane."
I muttered.
"Why would someone like you become my swordsmanship instructor?"
"That too was a kind of test, you could say."
"Of what?"
Venion smiled, and I had a hunch.
"Damn it."
When he made this expression, this man would never give me the answer I wanted.
"You will find out gradually in the future."
Venion snapped his fingers, and as the barrier lifted, sound and light returned.
"What's this?"
"Just a simple skill."
"There's such a martial art?"
"I learned it personally. Of course, it has nothing to do with that Huten fellow."
"I must learn it someday."
Venion chuckled and changed the subject.
"We'll talk in detail later."
Venion raised his finger and pointed west.
"Huten fled in that direction. It's not too late, go and catch him."
"Ha, haha."
"This is a separate task I'm assigning you."
Somehow, it felt familiar. It reminded me of when I went to find Webern's tiara.
"We'll have much to talk about when I return."
"We'll speak when you return."
Venion said provokingly.
"Geez."
I had a lot I wanted to ask this man, a lot I was curious about.
'But for now.'
Setting aside all those thoughts for the moment, let's first tie up the loose ends of this night.
"I wish you luck, Young Master."
Today, those words carried a different weight.
***
If Huten was determined to escape, chasing after him recklessly in excitement might actually lead me into a trap.
'I need to be cautious.'
For that, I first needed to confirm his location. But he wasn't easily visible.
'Is my level of mastery still insufficient?'
Perhaps I need to reach the realm of Insight Star, the third ability of the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique.
However, enlightenment isn't like candy at a store shelf that you can take out and eat whenever you want.
"This is troublesome. The direction should be this way, but..."
It was right then.
"Hmm?"
A red bat flew out of the darkness and said:
[Young Master, let me guide you.]
"...?!"
I immediately recognized the owner of this bat.
"Is it Skella?"
[Yes, it is.]
"Why all of a sudden?"
I asked.
"Is it by your brother's order?"
[It is not.]
"..."
I nodded and smiled.
"Then this is of your own 'free will.'"
[...Perhaps.]
Perhaps some catalyst for change has found its way into Skella's dry heart.
I opened my palm and the bat landed on it.
"Thank you, I'm in your debt."
I realize anew that I've come this far owing favors to many people.
And I will continue to do so in the future.
[Follow me.]
The red bat flew vigorously into the sky.
"...Alright. Prepare yourself, Huten."
I'm coming.
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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