Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 64

Another Movement

1

A fierce battle, as if the sky and earth were turning upside down, unfolded on a vast plain.

No fewer than 30 Knight-class and 10 Hero-class Gigantes [giant humanoid war machines] launched terrifying attacks from all directions, targeting a single person.

With a single punch, a house-sized rock shattered, and a kick gouged deep into the earth, yet Emperor Rudolf remained composed.

He calmly evaded the Gigantes’ attacks, then drew his sword and launched a counterattack.

Shwiiing—! Bang!

Flash—! Kwa-kwa-kwang!

As he swung his sword, a dazzling golden aura flashed, shattering a Knight-class Gigante. With a swing to the left and right, the waist of a Hero-class Gigante was cleaved in two.

The startled Gigantes attacked him more fiercely, but it was Emperor Rudolf who was pushing them back.

Kwa-ja-ja-jak!

Kwaang! Bang! Kwa-kwa-kwang!

Finally, after an hour of fierce fighting, all the Gigantes were destroyed.

The moment the last Gigante fell to the ground, the surrounding scenery changed.

The vast plain from just moments ago had vanished without a trace, and Emperor Rudolf was sitting alone in a 10-meter square underground training arena with his eyes closed.

Flash!

When Rudolf opened his eyes, golden rays of light shot out from his pupils.

The light was so intense that if a person had been standing in front of him, they would have melted like wax.

The Emperor, with his eyes open, looked up at the ceiling and burst into a loud laugh.

“Kuhahahaha! I’ve finally completed the latter half of the Gold Sword!”

The fierce battle from just now was a mental training exercise using a type of illusion magic.

As an Emperor, he often couldn’t train openly, so he would come to this underground training arena with illusion magic and do mental training.

One might wonder what effect this would have.

However, if the person doing it was a knight who had reached a considerable level, the story would be different.

Having reached a stage where he could no longer grow through physical and material training, he had to break through his limits with mental and metaphysical training.

Anyway, through mental training, Emperor Rudolf was finally able to complete the latter half of the Gold Sword.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty!”

“May the glory of the War God be with Your Majesty!”

The imperial knights guarding the training arena entered and congratulated him.

“Haha, thank you. I will soon pass on the latter half of the Gold Sword to you all.”

These imperial knights were elites selected from the Imperial Guard Knights, and they were practically Emperor Rudolf’s disciples.

They had learned the Imperial family’s secret sword techniques from Rudolf and had all reached the level of Sword Masters.

This was not known to the outside world at all, and it was a secret known only to a few people, including the commander of the Imperial Guard Knights.

Despite having such solid skills, Rudolf was not satisfied and was thinking of teaching them the latter half of the Gold Sword, which he had acquired from the Rakan family long ago.

If they mastered the latter half of the Gold Sword, becoming a Sword Sage would not be difficult.

Then, he would be remembered as the first Emperor in history to conquer the continent with a knight order composed of Sword Sages.

‘Hehehe, so what if I can’t become a Dragonian? I have become the strongest knight!’

Decades ago, when he was still a Crown Prince, Rudolf was almost deprived of the throne by his half-brother, Reikart, simply because he was born with dragon blood.

According to a prophecy passed down in the family, a prince who awakened the blood of the Divine Dragon Tiamat would rule the continent.

However, thanks to his mother’s quick action, he was able to get rid of Reikart, and he was able to inherit the throne.

But from that moment on, Rudolf developed an indelible inferiority complex.

He had to be better than someone who had awakened the blood of a dragon.

So he trained his swordsmanship with all his might, and now he had completed even the final teachings of the legendary warrior Rakan.

‘My late father! Do not be resentful that you were poisoned by my hand. Even without the blood of the Divine Dragon, I will rule the continent!’

With a bitter smile, he asked his imperial knights.

“Has anyone come to see me while I was training?”

“Count Voltaire came to see you, saying he had something to report.”

“Ah, I was supposed to meet him today, wasn’t I? Tell him to wait in my office, I’ll be there soon.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After taking a bath and changing his clothes, Rudolf entered his office, and Voltaire, who had arrived earlier, rose from his seat and offered his congratulations.

“I heard that you have completed the latter half of the Gold Sword. Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you.”

“Then, does that mean you have now become a complete Sword Emperor?”

“Hmph, I can now confidently say that even if the warriors of old came back to life, I would not lose in a fight.”

“Oh! That is truly amazing.”

At Count Voltaire’s praise, Rudolf waved his hand and said.

“No, I must become even stronger if I am to make the world kneel at my feet.”

“It’s a shame that the young knights of today, who lack the drive, cannot see and learn from Your Majesty’s example.”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Rudolf asked.

“So, you said you had something to report to me today?”

Unlike before, Voltaire nodded with a slightly dark expression and began to report on the results of the operation in the Holy Artenia Empire.

After listening to the story for a while, Rudolf asked.

“The Kingdom of Konrad was destroyed without inflicting significant damage on the expeditionary force, and Marquis Suleiman of the Langhel region was also suppressed by the Undead Legion led by Gregory?”

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

“No, what was Razuli doing until the situation reached that point? And what about the Flying Dragon I sent? Count Ferrero and Shirley should have been there too?”

At Emperor Rudolf’s sharp questioning, Voltaire wiped the sweat from his forehead and replied.

“They did their best to carry out the operation, but things went completely wrong because unexpected individuals joined the expeditionary force.”

“Unexpected individuals?”

“They are called the Red Wolf Mercenary Group, and it is said that their leader defeated Count Schmidt in a Gigantic Duel, and their second-in-command fought to a draw with Sir Shirley.”

Voltaire shared the information sent by the spies who had infiltrated the Holy Empire.

“I have heard of Count Schmidt. I heard that he was strong enough to be the first commander of the Undead Legion in the past, but a mere mercenary fought and defeated him?”

“They don’t seem to be ordinary mercenaries. According to what is known, the leader, Leif, is the son of Belic, the former vice-commander of the Volga Kingdom’s Royal Knights.”

“The son of that Firebolt Belic? That can’t be. Wasn’t Belic’s family destroyed during the Republican Rebellion?”

“I also know that. It seems that he is someone who was disguised and sent from another kingdom.”

Strong individuals sometimes appear among mercenaries.

However, if someone could defeat a high-level Sword Master in a Gigantic Duel, they would either hold a high position in a knight order or be quite famous.

But since someone unheard of suddenly appeared and won, such doubts arose first.

“Moreover, Leif is said to be a Rune Knight. Does that remind you of anyone?”

If a Rune Knight was skilled enough to defeat a Sword Master, Rudolf knew of such a person.

“…Luke de Rakan?”

“Considering the intelligence that the new Pope resembles Princess Reina, there is a high probability that the mercenary leader named Leif is Luke.”

Rudolf also had such thoughts.

However, there was a point that bothered him.

“But wasn’t he said to have been in his territory all along?”

He had already dispatched spies to monitor the Rakan territory.

According to their reports, Luke had not stepped outside his territory at all during that time.

“Of course, I don’t understand it either, but… based on circumstantial evidence, it seems quite plausible. He even shattered a falling meteor, and it’s not common to find a Rune Knight with that kind of skill.”

“If that’s true, then that Leif is even more skilled than Luke, isn’t he?”

“But if Luke is hiding his skills…”

“Enough! I know what you’re trying to say. But to punish a great noble, we need solid evidence. We can’t do anything with just circumstantial evidence.”

“Still, how about summoning him first? We can call him under the guise of giving him a chance to explain himself…”

Count Voltaire, with a sinister smile, made a gesture of slitting his throat with his hand. It meant that if Luke came to the capital, he could be dealt with without a trace.

However, Emperor Rudolf thought for a moment and then shook his head.

“That won’t do either. If we summon him and he goes missing, that itself will be a big problem. Let’s find another way to eliminate Luke.”

“Then, how about sending the Assassin Master of Hydra? He can handle it without leaving a trace.”

“Hmm, is he in the capital right now?”

“He returned a few days ago after completing his mission.”

“Good. Then, let’s confirm once more if Luke is in his territory, and if it’s certain that he is, we’ll assassinate him.”

The development of the Rakan territory was truly dazzling.

If left unchecked, he would become a more troublesome existence than the noble faction, so they decided to take action as soon as possible.

Fortunately, there were no other direct descendants in the Rakan Marquisate besides Luke. It was judged that if they eliminated him, the territory would easily collapse.

Having decided on how to deal with Luke, the two moved on to the next agenda.

“What about the monsters that have been causing trouble all over the Empire recently?”

“We sent the Central Army stationed nearby, but they are only suffering losses because the monsters are attacking and retreating like ghosts.”

Monsters had begun to rampage in various parts of the Baroque Empire a few months ago.

At first, it was considered just a minor monster disturbance.

However, as the damage gradually increased and the number of monsters appearing grew, it could no longer be taken lightly.

Due to the pressure from the lords, Rudolf moved the Central Army, but the results were not satisfactory.

“Tsk, tsk, can’t they even subdue a single monster!”

“It seems that they are more cunning than we thought, and they are highly organized.”

Based on the reports, Voltaire analyzed the monsters’ attacks and combat methods.

As a result, he found that these monsters were thoroughly exploiting the weaknesses of the tactics currently used on the continent.

The armies of the Rodisia continent mostly revolve around Gigantes. The course of the Gigante battle usually determines the overall situation, so they did not readily engage in battle without Gigantes.

This was also written in the military textbooks, and the commanders followed it.

“But this is a problem. Units that operate Gigantes are inferior in mobility to regular infantry or cavalry units.”

“That’s why we’re using trailers, right?”

“Of course, but that doesn’t completely solve the problem. Trailers can’t navigate rough terrain or areas with unstable ground.”

“So, that’s how they were able to strike and retreat before the Central Army arrived.”

Rudolf, though understanding, couldn’t shake off his frustration as Voltaire continued his report.

“There’s something noteworthy here. According to the testimony of a knight who was captured by the monsters and later escaped, an Orc hero named Shaikhan is leading them.”

“An Orc hero? Could it be the same one who caused the monster surge in the Navarr Duchy two years ago?” Rudolf asked, as if suddenly recalling something.

“Yes, I believe it’s the same one.”

“Damn it! What does that Orc bastard think he’ll find in the Empire! Send a proper subjugation force before he gathers more monsters!”

“I will select a suitable commander to send,” Voltaire replied.

Rudolf frowned deeply and said, “Nothing seems to be going smoothly these days; it’s just frustrating.”

Neither the schemes in the Holy Artenia Empire nor the monster problem were progressing as he wished.

He was already planning to eliminate the noble faction in one swift move, but these other issues were just complicating things further.

‘At least it’s a relief that the Volga Republic is quiet.’

If the Volga Republic had provoked the Empire in this situation, Rudolf would have abandoned his training and rushed to the battlefield himself.

2

‘Is someone talking about me?’

Volga Republic’s President Vladimir Lecov felt an itch in his ear while having a private meeting with Duke Dimitri.

He scratched his ear with a cotton swab and asked Dimitri, “So, the fairies’ movements are unusual these days?”

“Yes, Your Excellency. They’ve been holding more frequent meetings amongst themselves, and they’re increasing the number of informants they send to each kingdom to gather external information.”

“Could it be that their actions are for the benefit of our Republic?”

“If that were the case, Director Sylvia would have reported it.”

“Damn it… Is this how it’s going to end up?”

President Lecov closed his eyes and sighed.

Dimitri, after looking around for a moment, asked in a low voice, “Did their movements appear in the prophecy?”

The President had a secret the world didn’t know.

He was a ‘prophet’ who could see the future.

People around him only knew that the President had great insight, but Dimitri, his closest aide, knew better.

He knew that the President had the ability to see the future, albeit vaguely and in fragments.

Lecov’s ancestors were shamans with mystical powers, who secretly continued their lineage even after being ostracized and oppressed by the Elkasel Order [a religious organization].

They had been working for kings and great nobles for generations, but Lecov’s family was ruined during his grandfather’s time, and the family members were scattered.

This was because his grandfather had made a very ominous prophecy about the fate of a newborn prince at the time.

‘That prince was Peter II, who later became the king of a ruined nation.’

Lecov, who had a difficult childhood, became an ardent republican after embracing republicanism [a political ideology advocating for a republic].

At the time, Lecov, a passionate young man, had only about 30 comrades.

However, they started the republican revolution with just them and fought against the king’s army.

There were many crises in the process, but he overcame them with the prophetic ability he inherited from his ancestors. In the process, his comrades gradually increased.

Dimitri was one of those who joined the revolution as they expanded their forces.

Although he joined relatively late compared to other comrades, his active help and achievements led to the success of the revolution.

“Did you see any signs of rebellion?”

“No, it’s not a rebellion. I keep seeing in my dreams that the fairies are preparing to do something huge…”

Somewhere deep in a cave.

Various fairies gathered and performed some kind of ritual.

At the end of the ritual, a bright light appeared, and the world began to change.

Large clouds covered the sun, and the aurora of the white night was witnessed in various parts of the continent, regardless of day or night.

The content of the prophetic dream was that the continent would be plunged into great chaos due to the strange phenomenon of night becoming day and day becoming night.

“It seems that what they are trying to do is not just for the Republic, but for the entire continent.”

“Could it be that they are trying to summon a demon king from the demon realm and make a contract?”

“Well, I doubt they would go that far. Anyway, unfortunately, I don’t know more than this.”

Even though he was a prophet, he couldn’t see the future whenever he wanted.

He only encountered it in dreams or fleeting visions, and even those were always vague and fragmented.

President Lecov simply interpreted them with his outstanding insight and wisdom.

However, he couldn’t make any hasty predictions about this prophecy.

He knew that the fairies were planning something huge on the continent, but he couldn’t ostracize them, one of the three pillars of the Volga Republic, without clear evidence.

If the fairies were ostracized, the Volga Republic would suffer a huge blow and be plunged into chaos.

“Is it because High Elf Erenes died? I think the fairies’ actions are becoming too extreme.”

“I’m worried about that too.”

Erenes was an excellent leader and a stabilizing force for the fairies. He was rational and wise, and he knew how to cooperate with humans.

However, since his death, there had been friction between the fairy leadership and the republican government.

“For now, we need to closely monitor them to find out what the fairies are trying to do. And we shouldn’t trust the fairies in the intelligence department too much, including Director Sylvia.”

“We should. Damn, this is a crucial time, and we have to exclude one of our important forces…”

The President, displeased, clicked his tongue and asked as if he had just remembered something, “By the way, what the hell is going on with Dark Moon? Is it even possible that they still haven’t developed a Hero-class Gigante [a powerful, advanced type of war machine]!”

“It seems that the damage from the attack by the unidentified mage some time ago was very severe. Many high-ranking mages died at that time, and important facilities were destroyed, so the development progress is very slow.”

“Huh, it’s been so long, and they still haven’t recovered! Should we look for another way?”

The President shook his head and stroked his chin.

Lecov knew from his prophecy that a civil war would soon break out between the noble faction and the imperial faction in the Baroque Empire.

This civil war would be a significant battle, and it would be a great opportunity for the Volga Republic.

However, the development of the Hero-class Gigante, which was supposed to be the core force at the forefront of the invasion, was sluggish!

Although the Dark Moon Magic Tower had its reasons, the Republic couldn’t just wait.

“Are you thinking of getting involved in the Magic Tower War?” Dimitri asked cautiously.

The President nodded. “I’m thinking of helping the reformist side and demanding a Hero-class Gigante.”

“But will they accept it?”

Until now, the Ten Great Magic Towers had refused to sell Hero-class Gigantes to the Republic.

This was because various kingdoms, including the Baroque Empire, had put pressure on the Ten Great Magic Towers, fearing that republicanism would spread like a poisonous mushroom.

But now the situation had changed.

“They’re about to collapse; they won’t refuse our help.”

The Magic Tower War was taking longer than expected, and the magic towers belonging to the reformist faction were suffering great damage.

The Lockeed Magic Tower, one of the Ten Great Magic Towers, had completely collapsed, and other places had suffered significant human and material damage.

Even if they won the Magic Tower War, it would take a lot of money and time to make up for this damage.

“That seems like a good idea. Then what will you do with Dark Moon?”

“Nothing special will change. Tell them to continue developing the Hero-class Gigante as it is.”

Although the development of the Hero-class Gigante was sluggish, the number of Knight-class and Warrior-class Gigantes they supplied every month was being maintained.

Therefore, it was decided to continue entrusting Dark Moon with the development of the Hero-class Gigante.

However, the two did not know.

They didn’t know that Dark Moon, under Luke’s command, had moved the Magic Tower headquarters to Jason Territory, completed the development of the Hero-class Gigante some time ago, and doubled, no, tripled the size of the production workshop.

3

Late at night, a small bat flew across the sky above Bless.

The bat arrived at a lodging house where the lights were almost out and squeezed through a slightly open window.

Inside the room, a young man was looking at a pile of documents with only a small lamp lit.

“Have you returned, Belfar?” Luke asked, and Belfar, who had just transformed into a human form, quickly replied.

“Yes, Master. I have thoroughly investigated.”

“Good, what were the Constantine faction up to?”

After hearing the news of Constantine’s downfall a few days ago, Luke immediately began to investigate their movements.

He did not believe that the Marius faction, which had considerable power in the Holy Empire’s political circles, would simply back down.

Therefore, he intended to take action if they showed any suspicious behavior. He would secretly infiltrate the Marius Temple and eliminate Constantine and the leaders.

He thought it was entirely possible as long as Grand Duke Gregory and the Undead Knights didn’t interfere.

“As far as I have investigated, the Marius faction is quite flustered, but they have not yet shown any suspicious movements.”

“Really? Not even a few of them huddled together and whispered?”

“Of course, they gathered and discussed amongst themselves, but it was mostly about the future political situation or the position of their faction. There was no one plotting anything dangerous.”

“What about Constantine and Markes?”

One was the regent who wielded power, and the other was in charge of the money for the Marius faction.

Therefore, if something happened, these two, or one of them, would definitely take action.

“Constantine was holed up in the temple, staring blankly at the pond. It was as if he was a kite with a broken string. Markes was at his mansion, drinking heavily with his underlings every day and complaining.”

If Grand Duke Gregory hadn’t been behind Reina, they wouldn’t have been so frustrated.

They would have definitely tried something.

However, since there was no way to oppose them, they were just hiding or complaining.

‘But they won’t stay like that forever. They might become a problem in the future.’

Those who have tasted the sweetness of power once do not easily step down.

It was common for them to try to regain that power by any means or method.

‘Gregory is a good shield for now, but we don’t know what will happen in the future. So, it’s very important for Reina to solidify her position now.’

Fortunately, Reina’s reform efforts were currently receiving considerable support. The Marius faction’s monopoly on power and their abuses over the past two years had led to widespread approval of Regent Constantine’s downfall. Above all, many were encouraged by the Pope’s declaration that anyone actively seeking to reform the Holy Empire would be employed. This was evident in the changed expressions of the people in the Imperial City, especially those in the slums, within just a few days. ‘Of course, once the full-scale reforms begin, there will be plenty of people who won’t be laughing.’ It was corruption and malfeasance that had brought the Holy Empire to its current state of decline. As Luke understood it, except for the Holy Order, which had distanced itself from power and vested interests, there was no religious faction that wasn’t involved. Reina wouldn’t simply discard them as rotten, but she would certainly undertake the task of cutting them out, and in this process, there would be those who would resist. It would be fortunate if this resistance could be resolved simply through dialogue and compromise, but the possibility that it wouldn’t be easily resolved could not be ruled out. ‘The military is strongly influenced by Grand Duke Gregory, so there’s no need to interfere there. The Meister [Master] of the Royal Magic Tower of Artenia is also friendly with the Grand Duke and a supporter of reform, so there’s no need to worry. But what about the Holy Empire’s intelligence department?’ The Holy Empire’s intelligence department was different from other countries’ intelligence organizations. They were composed of priests and monks, and they operated using the temples of the Elkasel Order scattered throughout the continent as their branches. On the surface, it seemed like they had the largest intelligence network, but in reality, the power struggles between the various religious factions were directly reflected in the intelligence department, so their intelligence capabilities were not superior to those of other countries. In any case, the important point was whether the intelligence department would willingly pledge allegiance to Reina. ‘Reina is probably also concerned about this. It would be good for me to offer some help, at least.’ Thinking this, Luke looked at Belfar, who was still kneeling, and opened his mouth. “You probably didn’t do the surveillance alone, did you? Did you use the Dominate Eye?” “As expected of you, Master! That’s right, whether or not divine power is involved, I am a demon. I used a vampire’s charm.” Vampires could charm and control beings weaker than themselves. Everything that a being controlled by a vampire saw, heard, and experienced was transmitted to the vampire. Because of this, vampires were recognized as some of the best information brokers in the demon realm. “According to a saying in the South, ‘Birds hear the words of the day, and mice hear the words of the night,’ right? There are pigeons and rats everywhere in Bless, so I made them my loyal minions.” “Well done. In the future, command even more minions and use them as your eyes and ears.” “Huh? Even more?” “Is it difficult?” At Luke’s question, Belfar looked troubled. “There are limits to everyone’s abilities. The maximum number of entities I can currently control is only 1,000…” “Increase it to 10,000 in the future.” At those words, Belfar jumped up. “That’s impossible! With my current abilities, 1,000 is the limit.” “Then, you just need to become strong enough to control 10,000, right? If it’s difficult alone, I’ll actively help you.” As Luke got up as if he would help right away, Belfar quickly waved his hands. “Ah, no, it’s alright. I will do my best to try.” “Make it as soon as possible.” Luke, who emphasized the words ‘as soon as possible,’ turned back and began to look through the documents again. Belfar, who had been looking dejected for a moment, quietly approached him and peeked over his shoulder. “By the way, you were also engrossed in that piece of paper yesterday, what exactly is it, Master?” “It’s a document recording the fact that the Baroque Imperial Family was involved in the Holy Empire’s civil war. I obtained it from Elbera last time.” During the siege of Elbera, Luke, disguised with magic, infiltrated the palace of the Kingdom of Conrad after breaking through the city gates. Finding the archive where important documents were kept was not very difficult. However, finding the list he wanted among the many documents in the archive was by no means an easy task. ‘Luckily, someone related to it came along at just the right time.’ While he was searching, a young man who seemed to be of high status appeared. From the whispers of the administrators and scribes, he learned that it was Aslan, the son of Duke Perrier. Luke saw him taking out important documents from a hidden room, and he managed to steal the documents by pretending to help. “Oh, if this document is made public, the Baroque Emperor’s position will become difficult!” “That’s what I was aiming for when I obtained it… The problem is, I can’t understand what it says at all.” The characters used in the record were Dwarf characters that were no longer in use. It seemed that they had used the language of the ancient Dwarf kingdom that had flourished around Eisenberg in the past to create secret documents. “You can’t decipher it?” “I know the languages and characters of Elves and Dwarves, but this seems to be written using an ancient dialect from hundreds of years ago. It’s not impossible to decipher, but it will take some time.” It wasn’t just the deciphering, but the volume was quite large. Judging by the fact that all the handwriting was the same, it seemed that one person had translated the submitted reports into the ancient Dwarf dialect. Of course, after the writing was finished, the reports would have been burned. ‘Anyway, the guy who wrote this is no ordinary person. He definitely has considerable knowledge, at least when it comes to languages and characters.’ Thinking that, he wanted to meet him. If he could meet him, he could not only get the translation done but also use him as a witness to prove the Baroque Imperial Family’s involvement. ‘But it will be difficult, probably…’ Luke, who quickly gave up on his futile hope, began to immerse himself in deciphering the documents again. 4 A ship was speeding across the deep blue sea. The ship had a box-like rectangular shape and a yellow sail that looked like a cut fan. This ship, which had a different shape from the ships of the Rodisia continent, was a trade ship called a treasure ship in the Southern continent. The yellow dragon flag symbolizing the Song Empire was hung on the mast, and a flag with the words ‘Hwangbo Family’ was fluttering at the stern. “Land! Land is in sight!” At the lookout’s cry, the sailors moved busily. Although it was not their beloved hometown, land was a haven of rest for sailors. Therefore, there were no dark faces among them. “Young Master, that is the port of Lamer in the Baroque Empire.” At the old captain’s words, a young man with an indifferent expression looked at the port. Although his features were those of a Rodisian, this young man, dressed in Southern clothing, greeted the captain in the Song Empire’s language, which was slow but with clear intonation. “Thank you, Captain Jin. I will never forget this favor.” “Haha, what favor is there to speak of? Saving a person at sea is a natural duty for a sailor.” As he said that, Captain Jincheon recalled the time when he had rescued the young man. It was definitely when they were passing through the sea near the river called Rio. A shark was lying dead, overturned on the ship, and a young man wearing golden armor was clinging to it. The young man, who was barely holding on with a sword that had pierced the shark, was in a terrible state. His left arm had been bitten off by the shark, and arrows were embedded all over his body. Jincheon pulled him up and treated him. Although he had gone through a crisis for several days, fortunately, the young man regained consciousness and woke up. Knowing the language of the South, he first asked where he was. Jincheon told him that this ship was a trade ship of the Hwangbo Family and that they were selling silk and porcelain while stopping at ports on the Rodisia continent. They had talked a little more, but the young man did not mention who he was or why he had been adrift at sea in such a terrible state. However, Jincheon did not pry. He simply thought that there must be a reason why it was difficult for him to speak about it. And he was reminded of someone he knew when he looked at the young man. ‘If only the Third Young Master had been rescued like this and was still alive somewhere…’ Jincheon had retired from the merchant guild 10 years ago and was in charge of the general manager’s duties at the Hwangbo Family’s manor. He had served the third son, Hwangbo Seong, with great devotion even before he retired from the merchant guild. This was because Hwangbo Seong’s mother was the daughter of a close friend, and he had lost his entire family to an epidemic. He felt comfort and joy watching Hwangbo Seong, who was like a grandson to him, grow up. That was why he was so happy when Hwangbo Seong broke through the wall of a master [a high level of martial arts] and was expected to be the reincarnation of the King of Power. It was said that Hwangbo Seong had died a year ago. According to Hwangbo Gwang, who delivered the sad news, they had encountered a severe storm when they were almost reaching the Rodisia continent, and Hwangbo Seong had fallen into the sea during that time. They had searched the surrounding sea thoroughly for several days, but they could not even recover his body. Upon hearing the news, Jincheon cried for three days and nights. He knew well that even a master was powerless in the face of nature’s fury, as he had been sailing for many years. But how could they let a child with such a bright future die so absurdly! After being in despair for a while, he had recently returned to the merchant guild. What if, somehow, he was still alive somewhere? That faint hope, which could not be guaranteed, had led him back to the sea. Shortly after, the Hwangbo Family’s trade ship entered the port of Lamer. The young man, who had set foot on land, once again thanked Jincheon and the sailors. “If my left hand were intact, I would have properly performed the fist and palm salute, but it’s a pity.” “Take good care of yourself. Do you have a place to go?” “I have a place in mind for now.” For a very brief moment, Jincheon felt an intense emotion from the young man who had responded. It was an atmosphere that could not be shown by anyone who did not have a considerable amount of resentment. “By the way, I still haven’t heard your name. Is it still something you can’t tell me?” After hesitating for a moment at Jincheon’s question, the young man composed himself and answered. “Aslan. Aslan de Perrier.” “Aslan de Perrier…” He had heard it somewhere before, but he couldn’t remember. This was why the old folks used to say that people should die when they get old. While Jincheon was tilting his head, Aslan gave his final greeting. “Then, may you have a peaceful voyage.” “Take care of yourself, Young Master.” Jincheon watched Aslan’s back as he left, and only when he disappeared from his sight did he turn around. And he began to chase after that faint hope again.