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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Chapter 234. What Crazy Bastard is Impersonating Karzan?
"Currently, our organization's size, including myself, three direct descendants, and those from collateral lines and retainers, is just under 50 people."
Knut explained the structure of their organization.
"However, as you know, the physical abilities and strength of mountain people who have overcome harsh environments far exceed the imagination of city dwellers. You could say everyone is a ferocious warrior, capable of taking on a hundred."
"Mm."
"Let me be clear, if my grandfather and I had wanted to, the five major organizations of Grunewald City would have already become six."
"...Those are arrogant words."
As Nagan subtly furrowed his brow, Zizek shrewdly chimed in from the side.
"That's what I think too. Furthermore, Brother Knut has a younger sibling, and even I, who was at the 3rd tier at the time, couldn't guarantee victory against that kid."
Nagan swallowed a gasp.
If it was true, it was a force no different from a heaven-sent army, but the problem was...
"I also know that two families living under one roof is difficult in many ways."
Knut spoke, as if understanding Nagan's concerns.
"However, we are in a situation where we need each other. You all have suffered a great loss in power due to internal conflict, and above all, the vacuum in your executive ranks must be severe."
"That's right."
Nagan readily admitted.
"We were also in a dangerous state recently. The medicinal herbs and spirit medicines we handle are difficult to replace and highly valuable, so there were many who coveted them."
Therefore.
"Having a backer like the Bisakino Brotherhood is an excellent thing for us as well."
The two leaders, having confirmed each other's positions, looked into each other's eyes.
"Sir Knut, I will tell you my honest thoughts."
"I am listening."
Nagan said.
"I know this is a good opportunity, but because of that, I feel humiliated. The situation where our strength is weakened by internal conflict, and my own weakness in lacking the skill to be called a Godfather yet, forcing me to bring in capable individuals from outside, all these situations make me feel ashamed."
He spoke his honest feelings without reservation.
"And yet, for the survival of the organization, I am in a situation where I cannot afford to assert my pride. All these things are giving me a sense of indignity."
"...I understand."
Knut nodded.
"We also had to endure many hardships while navigating the hellish trial of survival. To keep the remaining members safe after losing my entire clan, I had to become a solitary, strong lion."
Therefore, Knut concluded.
"Since we are in a situation where we must combine our strength for mutual survival, we must choose one of two paths."
He held up two fingers.
"Either respect each other and maintain boundaries, or become one and merge."
"Those are wise words."
Nagan admired him.
Unlike his appearance, Knut was a man who was cool-headed and remarkably precise in his judgment.
"Just last night, after the Godfather of Pawelmoon was killed by Young Master Verdzig, someone was placed in his position as the second-in-command. No one knows what kind of storm this will brew."
"The situation is serious, and time is not abundant."
Knut said.
"This is no time for us to engage in pointless power struggles."
"I fully agree."
As the conversation between the two leaders flowed more smoothly than expected, Zizek inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
'Thank goodness. Did the boss predict this too?'
Considering Karzan, no, Allenvert's foresight, it was entirely possible.
"But Nagan, I also have an honest thought I must share."
Knut pointed at Nagan.
"You are still weak."
"......!"
"However, both you and Zizek have quite outstanding talent. I highly value both of your potential."
Knut finally got to the point.
"Although I cannot directly teach you our martial arts as you are not of the same clan-"
Knut presented a very generous welcoming gift.
"Among the martial arts left by our ancestors, there exists something called the 'Gladiator's Martial Arts.' In his later years, he refined and established the clan's martial studies himself-"
Knut grinned.
"He also left records of the martial studies he accumulated during his youth as a gladiator. The reason he didn't add any annotations was likely to remember those horrific times."
"......!"
"And my grandfather, Lord Balthazar, has a copy of that martial arts manual. I will teach it to the two of you."
It was just then, at the premonition of a great fortuitous encounter, that Nagan shot up from his seat.
"And I will also give you spirit medicines to help you increase your strength. This should be enough for a housewarming gift, right?"
"......!"
Nagan's eyes trembled.
"Ahem."
Nagan, after a moment of contemplation, cleared his throat and asked.
"May I call you brother in private?"
The positions of the two were neatly settled.
***
After finishing his conversation with Isabella, Lusatia still had someone important to meet.
"Duchess."
"Grand Commander of the Special Operations Division, it's been a while."
Heinrix.
He had witnessed Allenvert defeat Harold firsthand sometime ago.
It was perhaps only natural that he became captivated by that special talent after that day.
"For a man who wishes to inherit the ducal title, the support of the military is indispensable."
Lusatia got straight to the point.
"Therefore, which unit Allen joins after his coming-of-age ceremony is a very important matter."
"Yes."
Heinrix listened quietly to Lusatia's words.
"Just as Karl began his career in the Knighthood and gained the support of the Grand Commander of Knighthood, and Verdzig did the same in the Royal Guard."
"...And realistically, though Ulbhild chose the Special Operations Division, she did not enter the succession picture."
Heinrix knew well.
The unit Allenvert could realistically choose now was only the Special Operations Division or the Security guard.
"However, as you know, since the Young Master has become part of Intelligence Director Venion's shadowy organization and even commands his own personal guard, the situation has somewhat changed."
"You don't need to worry too much."
Lusatia wore a light smile.
"Allen's intention will be towards the Special Operations Division. As long as Ulbhild and Rudgarda are there, building a career in the Special Operations Division and gaining the support of the Special Operations Division Grand Commander to build his own faction is the most rational path."
"...Mm."
"Above all, I personally support the Special Operations Division."
Heinrix asked.
"Duchess, may I ask the reason?"
"It's about Rudgarda."
"Yes."
"No matter how skilled that child was, you were her roof, shielding her from all sorts of rain when she was in the position of a hostage."
"......!"
Heinrix smiled awkwardly.
"It's nothing. I just don't want to consider things other than skill when it comes to military matters."
That was a response that revealed Heinrix's values.
"...However, I am different from the Grand Commander Knighthood or the Grand Commander of the Royal Guard. I have no interest in politics."
"Of course, I know."
Lusatia said softly.
"However, Grand Commander of the Special Operations Division, if you dislike getting involved in politics, you shouldn't let Allen join your unit in the first place."
"This is what you call being caught between a rock and a hard place."
Heinrix shook his head and sighed.
"Blood truly doesn't lie, it seems."
Lusatia's actions, emerging from seclusion, were already bringing winds of change among the retainers.
***
"Jeffrey, you must finish the troop formation by the end of today."
"Leave it to me."
"And starting tomorrow, we must conduct drill training."
I sat and ate with my retainers, giving various instructions.
"Olivier, please prepare so that we can distribute armor to the personal guards tomorrow morning."
"No problem."
"Finally, Peter, just make sure to iron my ceremonial clothes well."
"Yes, sir!"
"Good."
Having neatly distributed the tasks, I declared.
"In three days, the new personal guard will commence their first mission."
The content of that mission was this:
"In a few days, Siena Valkenhain and her sibling will arrive in Grunewald City."
Therefore.
"As representatives participating in the upcoming competition, I and Barclava must greet the two of them."
***
A man sat in a clearing on the mountainside, covered in thick growth.
He had noticeably broad shoulders and a hardened face like an aged rock.
The traces of time were deeply etched on his face, and his eyes were as dark as the night sea, showing no emotion.
The man's name was Ivan.
One of the top powerhouses in the Flanders and the former leader of the assassination squad that had once driven Karzan to his death.
"The weeds have grown quite a bit."
He swung his palm a few times, and the weeds were cleanly cut down by themselves.
"...Hmm."
The middle-aged man raised his head.
Below the mountain, a small city was visible.
This was the place where Karzan had spent his childhood and youth, and the city that was once ruled by a man named Daikin the Butcher.
"Old man, have you been sleeping well?"
Ivan muttered towards the grave as if talking to it.
"It's already been 17 years since that foolish grandson of yours died."
Every year on Karzan's death anniversary, Ivan would visit the grave of the nameless village elder who had taken in and raised him when he was an orphan.
"And how have you been?"
Ivan said, looking at the old sword stuck next to the grave.
It was the sword Karzan had used in life, placed there instead of a tombstone.
"Karzan, I think I'll stop doing this soon. I'll stop when it reaches 20 years."
What had started as a plan to do it for 10 years had already exceeded 17.
"...You stupid bastard."
Karzan and Ivan hadn't built a tremendous friendship.
But he had considered him a friend at one point.
'Though he was a bit ill-mannered.'
Their lives had taken different paths, but he was certainly a man worthy of respect.
'Strong, with conviction, and he lived to protect that conviction.'
And even though he could have become stronger... he didn't choose that path.
"You denied the life of a slave."
It was true that at one time, he had felt a sense of disdain for that.
'Looking back, the true nature of that disdain was jealousy.'
Karzan, who had made a choice he could never make.
While Ivan criticized him as foolish, he secretly envied him.
He himself could never have made such a choice. He had lived his entire life as a slave, fearing the Dark King.
'And above all else.'
Someday, Karzan would have overcome the wall of the 7th tier on his own, 'without Demonic Arts'.
'If that bastard had obediently accepted the Demonic Arts, I would already be in a position taking orders from him.'
Karzan's talent was that dangerous.
'Even at that point, I wasn't confident I could defeat you for certain in a fight to the death.'
He would surely die, or at best, be crippled.
That's why the Dark King, wary of his talent, growth potential, and unyielding nature, tried to kill Karzan beforehand.
'It was also like you to strike first, steal the wooden box, and run away.'
Ivan had personally volunteered to be the leader of the assassination squad.
'I thought it was right to kill him with my own hands, at the very least.'
He didn't want him to suffer a miserable death after being horribly tortured or toyed with.
That was his last act of mercy.
But-
'...That crazy bastard.'
In the end, perhaps realizing something else, he broke the barrier magic around the wooden box and exploded just like that.
Ivan himself was almost caught in the blast and killed.
"To just die cleanly without even leaving a corpse."
Ivan swore at his old rival.
"Thanks to that, I can't even make a grave to bury you in, can I?"
He poured a drink on the grave of the nameless old man and got up.
"...Lord Ivan, the boat is waiting to return."
At his subordinate's words, Ivan nodded.
"Right."
The subordinate's eyes were filled with fear and awe as he looked at him.
It was only natural.
It had been several years since he had crossed the wall of the 8th tier, and he had already become one of the top powerhouses in the entire Kingdom of Flanders.
...However, his thoughts occasionally went back 17 years, just like today.
That's why-
"What crazy bastard is impersonating Karzan?"
He felt displeased with the recent events happening in the Duchy of Grunewald.
"I'm curious about his face."
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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