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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Chapter 214: Where Have I Heard That Name Before?
Late into the night, the lights remained on in Duke Georg Grunewald's inner chambers.
"Well done, Venion."
The Duke lightly patted the shoulder of Venion, the head of the secret service and his shadow known as the 'Spymaster.'
"It was nothing. Watching young people in action is always a pleasure."
As Venion made a lighthearted remark, Head Butler Count Aiden let out a soft sigh.
"I was quite nervous the whole time."
"You needn't worry so much, Head Butler. After all, the young master has already defeated a 6th-tier master on his own, hasn't he?"
"Well, hmm."
Convinced by Venion's words, the Head Butler adjusted his monocle.
"Indeed, the results exceeded expectations. Against a higher-ranked opponent, and a demonic arts practitioner from the underworld at that..."
"It's actually something that shouldn't be possible," the Duke nodded.
"Moreover, Allen hasn't even learned Grunewald's advanced martial arts yet, has he?"
"While we've always known about the young master's talent, defeating 'their' demonic arts without having learned the Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique is truly remarkable."
Of course, not teaching him that technique was a decision the Duke himself had made.
"By the way, Venion."
"Yes."
At this point, the Duke asked with a slightly mischievous smile.
"How did Allen react when you revealed your identity?"
"He looked as if he'd seen a ghost."
"Hahaha!"
The Duke burst into laughter.
"You must have had a hard time keeping it secret all this while."
"Indeed. I was nearly dying from the urge to tell him!"
Venion grinned.
"But it would have taken him another 100 years to discover me on his own."
"And if he had discovered you?"
"I would have resigned from my position as Spymaster that very day."
That was something Venion's own pride would never allow.
"Then I'm curious," said the Duke, holding up three fingers.
"My successor, or the guardian of Grunewald, or your successor. Which path do you think would suit Allen best?"
"Well, the young master already has more than enough qualities to 'succeed me'."
But, Venion continued.
"Is there any need to choose only one path?"
"..."
"For instance, even Your Highness."
"I understand your meaning."
The Duke raised his hand to stop Venion's words.
"You're quite a greedy teacher."
"Hehe. Having found such a rare talent, it's only natural to want to give him everything."
The Head Butler, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, expressed his concern.
"But I worry about placing too heavy a burden on the young master..."
"I understand your perspective as well."
The Duke nodded.
"However, Allen is no longer a young boy. I doubt anyone else we could have sent would have achieved such results."
"...You're right."
The Head Butler had to agree.
'I question whether even Eldest Young Master Karl could have handled Huten's cunning and skill alone.'
Ulbhild's might would have crushed all those plots, but Huten would likely have found an escape route.
"Young Master Verdzig might have achieved perfect victory, but…"
"It would have been difficult for him to build trust with the Bisakino Brotherhood and cooperate with the brothers of Svaltalfar."
This was only possible because of Allenvert's connections and reputation.
"So now the young master has gained tremendous influence in the underworld as well."
"A feat he accomplished with his own abilities, with almost no support."
The Duke looked at Venion and asked, "What do you think?"
"There's nothing more to say. He's exactly the kind of talent we need in the secret service."
As Venion was about to attempt flattery, the Head Butler interjected.
"The Special Operations Division Commander would be disappointed to hear that."
"Then the Special Operations Division can be the unit where the 'Prince of Light' belongs. I'm not a greedy man, so I'll just take the 'Prince of Shadow.'"
Listening to the small bickering between his two vassals, the Duke changed the subject.
"What did the elders say?"
As the head of the secret service, Venion was responsible for communication with the Council of Elders.
"They said it appeared to be mostly a probing attack."
"Indeed."
The Duke nodded.
"Now that they've begun to move in earnest, busy times lie ahead for us as well."
"I suppose we should first complete the recovery of Count Webern's territory."
"Correct. But before that, we must handle the confrontation with Valkenhain well."
"Isn't this becoming too unfortunate for Lady Siena?"
No matter how much of a prodigy she might be in Valkenhain's history, Venion didn't think she could defeat Allenvert, who would soon master the Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique as well.
"They were the ones who made the first move, so they must accept the consequences of their misjudgment."
The Duke looked at the Head Butler.
"Head Butler."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Is Lusatia's resolve firm?"
"It is."
The Head Butler answered gravely.
"Now that the young master has returned, the meeting could take place as early as tomorrow."
"See to it personally."
"I will follow your orders."
Lusatia Grunewald had finally prepared to meet Allenvert, ending her seven years of seclusion.
* * *
By the time I returned to the annex through the small passageway, dawn was already breaking.
"Yaaawn."
But the most urgent thing for me now was to catch up on sleep.
"I'm going to sleep. Don't wake me up."
"Yes, sir!"
I covered myself with the blanket up to the top of my head and promptly fell asleep.
.
.
.
"Wow, that feels incredibly refreshing."
Have you ever experienced that feeling when you wake up from a deep sleep and the stiffness in your neck is completely gone? That's exactly how I feel right now.
"Young master, are you awake?"
"Peter, good morning."
I washed the sleep from my eyes with the basin of water Peter had brought.
"You were snoring quite loudly today."
"People snore when they're tired. Do you even know what happened last night?"
"Hehe, I've been dying of curiosity!"
"It's a long story, so I'll tell you later."
"Yes, sir."
While drying my face with a towel, I asked, "So, were there any notable events while I was gone?"
"Ah! Yes, there were!"
"Report them quickly."
"We finally received word from Master Baldun. He says the armor, scabbard, and the necklace for your mother have all been completed."
"Oh? Excellent, the timing is perfect."
That meant all preparations for meeting my mother were complete.
"Tell Olivier to make arrangements so I can see my mother right away."
"Yes, sir!"
Peter's eyes welled up with tears, his face full of emotion.
"Finally, finally we'll see the Fourth Lady. After a whole seven years..."
"Why are you crying over me meeting my own mother?"
"Huhuhu. You've been through so much hardship all this time."
Peter pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his tears, ignoring my scolding.
"There's no time for crying. I'm going to visit Baldun right away, so prepare some clothes for me to change into."
"Understood!"
Peter rushed out of the room, shouting, "Butler! Squad Leader Jeffrey! Please prepare for an outing!"
I didn't say anything about that?
"Now he's boldly impersonating me."
But seeing the two people appear as if they'd been waiting...
It was clear they were planning to follow me even if I told them not to.
* * *
The internal conflict within the Bisakino Brotherhood had ended.
But Nagan, as the new leader, had urgent matters to attend to.
"Nagan, welcome."
"Should I call you the Guild Master now?"
"It would be a bit difficult to call you Godfather, since you're younger than my nephew."
In a banquet hall filled with mountains of luxurious food, Nagan sat proudly among the godfathers of the five major organizations that governed Grunewald City's underworld.
"...Esteemed Godfathers, it's been a while."
Each one was at least 20 years his senior, towering figures in the underworld.
Yet even before the pressure they exuded, Nagan refused to be intimidated.
'Respectful, but not subservient.'
Though still young, he was already a leader of his own group. A wolf cannot bow its head before wolves from other territories.
"I suspected you would become the successor someday, but I didn't expect it to happen so soon."
"I express my condolences for the tragedy that befell the previous Godfather."
"But now that you've dealt with Huten, legitimacy is on your side."
"Hmm, but I wonder if the outcome would have been different without that man Karzan...?"
Congratulations, condolences, acknowledgment, and wariness.
Nagan remained unmoved by these varied responses.
Because...
"Lord Bazalo."
The presiding figure of this meeting, the leader of the ‘Red Mist Alliance’ that ruled over the five major organizations dividing Grunewald City, was watching him silently.
"Let me ask you a few things, Nagan."
The ruler of the blood-dyed red mist.
The godfather of godfathers, the one who dominated the nights of the Grunewald Duchy.
A man who led an organization carrying the title of ‘Alliance’ which no organization below second rate would dare to claim.
If Nagan and the four godfathers were wolves, this man was undoubtedly the lion of the night.
"Ask me anything."
Before him, even Nagan had no choice but to bow his head respectfully.
"Last night's events were impressive."
Bazalo's appearance, with his platinum hair neatly combed back and streaked with gray, was more noble than any aristocrat.
However, above his tightly closed lips, cold eyes with a hint of bloodlust stared at Nagan.
"Nagan, let me speak frankly."
"I'm listening."
"When you were defeated and Huten took control of the Bisakino Brotherhood, I was contemplating how to deal with him."
But this was an unexpected outcome, Bazalo said.
"With your skills, you could never have handled Huten. Am I correct?"
Nagan maintained his composure despite this blatant provocation.
"I cannot deny it."
"Then tell me honestly now. Who exactly is Karzan?"
Bazalo's gaze pressed heavily on Nagan.
'He's serious, the Alliance Master.'
His eyes were cold enough to suggest that if he didn't receive a satisfactory answer, he would raise his hand and order an execution immediately.
"He's a man who acts on behalf of Grunewald."
"..."
Bazalo's brows furrowed.
"Nagan, are you saying you'll become Grunewald's puppet?"
Nagan laughed inwardly. A puppet? What a blunt expression.
"The distance between nobility and the underworld should be neither too far nor too close. Are you openly breaking that principle?"
"Godfather, with all due respect—"
Nagan replied.
"If you wish to reprimand someone for having powerful backing, shouldn't you have first criticized Huten?"
"What?"
"Huten was just the tip of the iceberg. He too was merely following someone else's orders."
"...!"
At this point, Nagan looked at each of the four godfathers in turn.
"Are you certain there are no collaborators among us here?"
"You dare!"
"Young punk, you insult us without evidence?"
Two godfathers in particular reacted angrily.
They were the leaders of organizations primarily formed by ‘outsiders.’
As such, they inevitably had strained relationships with the other three organizations composed of locals.
"I didn't necessarily mean it that way. But I've confirmed that the underworld of Grunewald City had already become a battleground for 'external forces.'"
Therefore, Nagan said.
"I feel no shame in borrowing the power of Duke Grunewald to defeat Huten, a spy sent on orders from a distant 'foreign land.' Rather, the exceptional skills of the man called Karzan prevented a crisis for the entire underworld."
"You're quite good at sophistry."
"But is what he's saying really so wrong?"
"What?"
"I find your overreaction curious. Almost as if something has hit a nerve."
"Mind your words!"
The banquet hall quickly grew noisy with arguments between those who were agitated and those who mocked them.
"Enough, everyone be quiet."
Raising his hand to stop the quarrel, Bazalo said.
"Nagan, I understand your position. But surely you understand that we too are sensitive about direct intervention from the Duke's clan?"
"Of course."
"Then let's settle it this way."
Bazalo folded his hands.
"We recognize you as the new leader of the Bisakino Brotherhood. We also confirm that you have inherited everything from the previous Godfather."
Nagan bowed his head.
"Thank you."
"However, I need to confirm the intentions of this man Karzan, and by extension, those of Grunewald. Therefore."
Bazalo pointed at Nagan.
"Could you arrange a meeting with him soon?"
"...!"
It was a difficult request to agree to, but declining would imply that he was in a subordinate position to Karzan.
'That man probably wouldn't refuse anyway.'
Nagan answered with a whatever-happens-happens attitude.
"It's possible."
"Very well then."
Bazalo looked around the gathering and said.
"If anyone objects, raise your hand."
"..."
No one raised their hand.
"This concludes today's agenda. For the remaining time, enjoy the banquet at your leisure."
Rising from his seat, Bazalo received respects from the five godfathers as he left the banquet hall.
"Karzan, Karzan..."
Bazalo muttered.
'Why does this name sound familiar?'
Bazalo had ruled the underworld of the Grunewald Duchy for a very long time. As such, he had seen and heard many things.
"...Where have I heard that name before?"
* * *
That night, Allenvert met Lusatia.
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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