Chapter 209: New Establishment, Unit 6 (4)
Kinkarnon was catching his breath during the waiting period when he unexpectedly received some unsettling news.
“What do you mean? Not only did the attempt to plant an infiltrator fail, but the White Armored Dragon Cavalry also caught wind of our movements?”
“I have no excuse.”
As a slight furrow appeared between Kinkarnon's brows, Depth quickly lowered his head.
His back was already damp with sweat.
Kinkarnon was the epitome of a Ragnar.
If one had exceptional abilities, he valued them more than anyone. But if they failed, he would purge them without hesitation, regardless of any past achievements.
Even though Depth had long publicized Kinkarnon’s accomplishments, securing a seat as a strategist, if he failed in this grand plan, that position could vanish in an instant.
“But we have mobilized the Judgment Hall to create confusion in the investigation, so we should be able to buy some time until the Soaring Dragon Battle ends.”
“So in the end, it’s not a proper countermeasure but just a temporary patch-up?”
Depth silently lowered his head.
“…Fine. You may leave.”
“Thank you.”
With Kinkarnon’s order of dismissal, the strategist retreated, and Kinkarnon clicked his tongue lightly as he watched his departing figure.
“Nothing ever goes as planned.”
But Kinkarnon didn’t care.
The seat of the Soaring Dragon, the position of the Young Family Head, the majesty of the throne—none of it mattered. To him, they were merely steps toward achieving a single purpose.
As long as today ended, he could make it happen.
Just as he was thinking that—
“…If that’s the case, would you like a little help from me?”
Kinkarnon slowly turned his head at the sudden voice from behind.
There stood his younger sibling, Ansio, with a warm smile.
But Kinkarnon’s gaze was not on Ansio.
His eyes were fixed precisely on something else—on the other presence hiding behind her.
A figure quietly sitting on a distant rooftop, silently watching this place.
Ansio was nothing more than his puppet.
“I see that Conquering Dragon is doing well. On a day like this, he could have come in person to offer his congratulations.”
“He’s someone who cares more than anyone about the Family Head and Black Dragon’s scrutiny. Oh, he’s speaking now. ‘It’s only proper for a junior to visit their senior, not the other way around,’ he says.”
“He’s become an old-fashioned bore.”
“He values etiquette and tradition more than anyone.”
“Funny, considering everything he does is nothing short of radical.”
Kinkarnon knew better than anyone about Conquering Dragon’s thirst for power.
If possible, that insatiable greed would even aim for the position of the head of the house—something no one could stand against.
"Anyway, seeing as you’re directly thinking of me as a 'Soaring Dragon,' it seems like you have something you want to propose."
"That’s right."
"What is it?"
"There’s only one thing we can offer."
"An alliance proposal?"
"That’s right."
"I refuse."
"Are you sure you don’t want to hear the details first?"
Kinkarnon waved his hand dismissively, as if the conversation was a nuisance.
"It’s obvious, isn’t it? You want to suggest joining hands until Theo is pulled down from the throne or something like that. To… I don’t even remember the name properly. Anyway, he was the commander of the Black Iron Cavalry, wasn’t he? You, who couldn’t even handle that guy, think you can be of any help to me?"
Blunt scorn.
For a moment, a faint crack appeared in Ansio’s gentle expression.
‘What an insufferable bastard.’
Ansio was certain that Kinkarnon didn’t even know his name.
Perhaps he didn’t even recognize his face.
There was only one reason Kinkarnon had identified him—because whenever he met Kinkarnon, he was always accompanying Conquering Dragon from a distance.
That was just the kind of person Kinkarnon was.
If someone wasn’t useful to him or a threat, he wouldn’t even bother remembering their name or face.
The proof of that was how, even up until the end, he hadn’t remembered the name of Torkel, who had been the most rapidly rising candidate among the Six Great Contenders.
‘But he knows who Theo is?’
Forcing down the smirk twitching at the corners of his lips, Ansio spoke.
"Strength and politics are separate matters."
"In Ragnar, they’re one and the same."
"Then does that mean someone who can sit in that position has no real intention of claiming the throne?"
"Who knows."
"For someone with no interest, you seem quite invested in the ‘Scepter of the Sovereign.’"
It was at that moment—
Suddenly, Kinkarnon’s figure vanished from his spot.
Fwoosh—!
Crash!
In an instant, Kinkarnon had grabbed Ansio by the collar and slammed him straight into the wall.
"Ugh…!"
Even as he coughed up blood, Ansio didn’t forget to keep a smile on his face.
"Do… you know something? This is the first time Big Brother has reacted so violently… to any of us siblings."
"Cut the nonsense. Where did you hear about that?"
"Where else? Don’t tell me… you seriously think Big Brother is the only one who desires the power of the <Chosen>?"
"What? Don’t tell me…!"
"That applies to me—no, to Master as well… And Torkel was similar. To be exact… Mad Dragon… was."
"……!"
"So wouldn't it be better to have a more detailed conversation? By now, it's clear that we both know what we want."
As Kinkarnon loosened his grip, Ansio quietly slid down the wall.
‘Still, seeing Big Brother make that kind of face… it’s kind of satisfying.’
It showed just how significant the weight of the Scepter of the Sovereign was.
A relic capable of artificially creating a Chosen.
Where else could one find something of such immense value?
After all, Conquering Dragon had spent years wandering the world just to gather information about it.
‘I never would’ve imagined that such an incredible relic would be in Winterer.’
But now that things had come to this, Ansio wanted to ensure that Kinkarnon had no choice but to take her hand.
"Cough, cough! I… really almost died there."
"Enough nonsense. Just tell me what you want."
"While all the commotion from the Soaring Dragon War makes Theo and the White Armored Dragon Cavalry seem like they’re staging a coup, Big Brother’s real goal must be to use that distraction to secretly seize the Scepter of the Sovereign. I’ll lend you a hand in that."
In other words, she was offering to help divert Theo’s attention.
"And in return, we split the Scepter of the Sovereign?"
"As if. I have no interest in this ‘second life’ business or whatever. Just getting this far was exhausting—why would I want to do it all over again? I don’t even have any guarantee that the relic would choose me, so I’m not interested in taking that gamble. Master feels the same way."
"Then what do you want?"
"You take the Scepter. In return, give me the position of Young Lord of the House."
Kinkarnon remained silent for a moment.
But Ansio took that silence as tacit approval.
Her tongue slithered between her lips like that of a snake.
* * *
Fwoosh-
Fwip! Fwap!
‘I don’t know exactly what Kinkarnon and the Gardner family are after, but it’s clear they’re aiming for the back of my head.’
Theo moved swiftly, accompanied by members of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry and the swordsmen of Ranke.
Because of the Soaring Dragon War, the streets of Winterer were packed with people, making it difficult to navigate through the alleys. The only option was to leap across rooftops.
-Oh? Huh?
-The White Armored Dragon Cavalry is flying through the sky! And the swordsmen of Ranke are with them!
-But they said no one was allowed to use Body Acceleration Arts during the Soaring Dragon War...!
-I heard something was wrong with the White Armored Dragon Cavalry—is this related to that?
People watched the swordsmen soaring over their heads, visibly tense yet unable to hide their curiosity about what was happening.
「Young Lord of the House, are you certain this is the right path? The further we go, the crowd isn’t thinning—it’s only getting denser.」
「I’m sure.」
「Hmm…」
Bracken let out a hum, unable to understand what trick Theo was relying on to be so confident. But Theo didn’t bother to explain further.
Right now, just maintaining his skill activation required all his focus.
//slw blue [‘Skill: Hatchling Synchronization’ is tracking the relic’s traces.]
//slw blue [<Nirvana> is in operation.]
Chasing the fading blue afterimage wasn’t an easy task.
But Theo, whose mental fortitude was on par with that of a Laurel Sword Master, managed to pinpoint the relic’s location.
‘Here!’
Theo’s gaze turned ice-cold as he spotted a massive building in the heart of Winterer.
//slw blue [‘Skill: Drake Fear’ has activated, enhancing Aura.]
Theo swiftly drew Drake’s Blade, bringing it down from above with a fierce strike.
A tremendous gust of wind exploded forth, imbued with powerful Aura, as a thunderclap roared.
KWOOM!
The roof shattered, and the shockwave shook the entire building.
‘W-what?! He’s attacking just like that, without warning?’
‘What if Gardner isn’t even in there…?!’
The swordsmen of Ranke were visibly startled by Theo’s reckless assault.
No matter how urgent the situation was, they hadn’t even properly confirmed whether Gardner’s swordsmen were inside that building.
What if innocent civilians were inside and got hurt?
Even they, who had fought barbarians on the frontlines, weren’t this reckless.
Yet, the members and captains of the White Armored Dragon Cavalry remained utterly indifferent.
‘…They’re fine with this?’
That left the swordsmen of Ranke in a state of confusion.
The Erika siblings were no different.
In fact, they looked as if this was only natural.
That made them question whether their own thoughts were mistaken.
‘So they trust him no matter what he does.’
As Bracken wore a peculiar expression—
From within the shattered building, people who appeared to be Gardner’s swordsmen frantically rushed outside.
They were Blood Wolf Swordsmen.
"What the hell is this?!"
"Damn it! What’s going on?!"
"Huh…?!"
The Blood Wolf Swordsmen cursed, but their voices faltered when they saw how close Theo had already gotten.
A handsome face, long hair—
And a greatsword larger than his own body—
There was only one person who matched that description!
"W-wait just a moment—!"
Before the swordsman at the front could even finish his plea, Drake’s Blade sliced his head clean off.
Schlraak!
Fwoosh—
A decapitation before any words could be exchanged.
As the Blood Wolf Swordsmen recoiled, Diego’s face also hardened.
"As the Young Lord of the House of Ragnar, I command you."
Under the spray of blood, Theo spoke in a chilling voice.
"I judge Gardner guilty of conspiring for rebellion by daring to harm the swordsmen of the main house. White Armored Dragon Cavalry and Ranke’s retainers, kill them all."
"……!"
"……!"
"……!"
A declaration that he would hear no excuses.
In that moment, Diego’s face turned deathly pale.
