What kind of questions would the Iron-Blooded Lord ask?
I waited nervously, but the Iron-Blooded Lord remained silent. His gaze shifted to the campfire, and he stared into the flames.
Should I stay quiet or speak up?
After a moment of hesitation, Ludwig stood, retrieved the chain, and held it out to me. "Do you want this?"
"What now?" I replied, confused.
"Why are you surprised?" he asked with a faint smile. "I am giving it to my younger brother, whom I haven't seen in a while."
A gift from my older brother? It felt unfamiliar.
"You are giving me a relic of the gods?" I asked, incredulous.
"Yes."
I was at a loss for words.
"Look at you," Ludwig said, raising an eyebrow. "Most would make a fuss over something like this, but your expression is sour."
"I was taught to be wary of unexplained favors," I retorted.
"That isn't cute." Ludwig shook his head. "Do you know what the gods' relics are?"
"Treasures—only ninety-nine exist in the world," I answered.
More precisely, they were relics of the seventy-two gods, the thirteen dragon kings, the nine spirit gods, and the five kings. In a broader sense, the Seven Sins Sword I had taken from the altar was also a relic.
"Exactly. It is a treasure that can't be bought, even if you have a dozen carriages full of gold coins."
"I know," I replied. "Still, how can there be a favor without reason in the world?"
"Listen to yourself," Ludwig said, laughing heartily.
He then glanced at the Iron-Blooded Lord as if seeking permission.
The Iron-Blooded Lord nodded, and Ludwig continued, "Technically, it isn't a relic. It is a replica."
"A replica?" I echoed.
"Yes," he confirmed. "But don't underestimate it. It's still incredibly powerful and valuable, which makes it worth a fortune."
"Did the church create it?"
"No," Ludwig replied while tapping the chain with his feet. "The church borrowed it for this mission. If I return it, they'll likely take it back. It sickens me to lose the replica, so I planned to report it lost and hand it over to the family."
"Are you going back to the church?" I asked, stunned.
"Yes," he said simply.
"Isn't it dangerous? Your mission failed, didn't it?"
Ludwig smirked. "Do you know what the church's mission is?"
"Isn't it about securing those who have been blessed?" I ventured.
"You caught on quickly," Ludwig said, his smirk widening. "The mission didn't fail."
"What?"
"I have already locked on someone who participated in the blessing ceremony," he explained.
I paused, then asked cautiously, "You wouldn't kidnap an innocent hero disciple, would you?"
"Exactly," Ludwig replied after a beat, seeming genuinely surprised. "It's one of the rats in the family. I can't reveal details, but they're an enemy of the Badnikers."
"Won't suspicions arise if they suddenly disappear from the main house?" I pressed.
"Do you think that the Badnikers are that sloppy?" Ludwig countered. "I will wait for him to return home. There won't be any evidence left."
I realized this pleasant-looking young man was also a Badniker. Handing the rat over to the Dark Church would be no different from killing him—or worse.
Yet, Ludwig showed no hesitation or guilt. Instead, he seemed to view it as justified retaliation. If someone threatened his family, he didn't care how they would be dealt with.
What surprised me was how closely my own tendencies mirrored his.
Ludwig said, "I will probably receive credit for this when I return to the church. My two companions are dead, but I still completed the mission. I will be reprimanded for losing the chain, but there won't be any real punishment."
"They will try to retrieve it." I glanced at the chain and shook my head. "So, I will decline."
I didn't know what the future held, but I planned to lay low for a while. Carrying a relic around would only draw unwanted attention.
"Interesting fellow." Ludwig chuckled. "Lord, can he come under my command in the future?"
It struck me how comfortably Ludwig interacted with the Iron-Blooded Lord, unlike his other children. It seemed Ludwig held a higher place in his esteem than someone like Hector. I felt as though I was witnessing the Iron-Blooded Lord's most trusted confidant.
"If you ever come to Ulkah, seek out Vix's workshop if you need help," Ludwig told me.
"I wonder if I will ever go there," I replied, though I made a mental note of the name.
At that moment, the Iron-Blooded Lord spoke. "Go back to your room and get some rest."
"Huh?"
"Avoid running into anyone if possible, and go straight back to your room," he added.
Somehow, it felt like the first time he had ever given me a direct, coercive command.
Maybe it was unnecessary, but I couldn't help asking, "You aren't going to ask more about my martial art?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I'm not interested in its origin," the Iron-Blooded Lord replied, his gaze fixed on the campfire. "What matters is how strong you can become after mastering it."
I was speechless.
"I look forward to it," he added.
Was that a compliment?
I nodded, feeling an indescribable, ethereal sensation.
"Then I'll take my leave now."
Ludwig flippantly waved his hand. "Goodbye."
I glanced at the Iron-Blooded Lord's back, but he remained silent as if he had already lost interest in me.
It wasn't until he was out of sight and I had left the forest, returning to my room, that I realized this long day was finally over.
***
Ludwig spoke the moment he saw that Luan had left. "This isn't the whole story."
The Iron-Blooded Lord didn't answer.
"Hariba Garcia is just one of the many pawns," Ludwig remarked. "He lacks the strength or the wit to plant spies in the Fang Knights."
The Iron-Blooded Lord hummed in response.
"The Council of Elders' behavior is a bit suspicious..." Ludwig commented.
The Iron-Blooded Lord remained silent, so Ludwig continued, "First of all, I have finished investigating Hariba's father, Reagan Garcia. He has been in contact with the Dark Church but only dealt with a few small fries. For now, I suggest leaving him alone until he connects with someone more significant."
"No. Deal with him immediately," the Iron-Blooded Lord ordered.
Ludwig nodded without asking any further questions. "Understood."
"Anything else to report?" the Iron-Blooded Lord asked.
"Nothing significant."
"Good work," the Iron-Blooded Lord acknowledged.
The conversation paused, leaving only the crackling of the campfire.
After a moment, Ludwig broke the silence. "He is an interesting guy."
"Agreed," the Iron-Blooded Lord said simply.
Ludwig glanced up, surprised. It was more of a mutter to himself, and he hadn't expected the Iron-Blooded Lord to agree.
"Father, are you interested in him too?" he ventured.
"He offered me a deal."
"What kind?" Ludwig asked, curiosity piqued.
"He planned to use himself as bait to draw out the church members," the Iron-Blooded Lord explained.
Ludwig fell silent, processing the information.
Since receiving his father's orders, Ludwig had monitored Luan's every move.
His deceased companions belonged to the Dark Church but represented different factions. The Dark Church worshipped six disaster gods, dividing into six main factions, with smaller groups bringing the total to over a dozen.
This complexity was why Ludwig hadn't revealed himself. Intervening during the attack on Luan hadn't been part of the original plan; he had acted late.
"So, it was his operation, not yours," Ludwig mused. " Hah. Fearless, isn't he?"
"He must've been confident that he could protect himself," the Iron-Blooded Lord observed.
"Is that why you didn't press him further?" Ludwig asked, his tone implying the unspoken question—how Luan had gained such sudden strength?
The Iron-Blooded Lord stretched out his hand, and the wood in the fire shook wildly.
"That's the most mundane question," he said dismissively. "His power is pure. No matter its purpose, it's transparent."
He murmured, almost to himself, "I'll soon uncover Luan's intentions."
"Is that all you feel about him, Father?"
"What else is there?" the Iron-Blooded Lord replied flatly.
"Isn't he the youngest? He still hasn't lost the baby fat on his face. Would you like to hear him call you 'Dad'—" Ludwig caught himself and quickly lowered his head. "My apologies."
The Iron-Blooded Lord looked at him impassively. "When will you go back?"
"I'll leave now. They notice things quickly."
"I'll await your next report," the Iron-Blooded Lord stated.
"Yes," Ludwig replied. "Take care of yourself, my lord."
With that, Ludwig departed.
The Iron-Blooded Lord wasn't concerned. Ludwig's greatest strength was his ability to survive and adapt. Even in the midst of a war zone, he would endure for months.
Alone, the Iron-Blooded Lord watched the campfire and murmured, "Dad...?"
A gritty sensation, like sand rolling on his tongue, passed through him. He quickly dismissed Ludwig's nonsense from his thoughts.
***
I woke up in bed, disoriented but feeling incredibly refreshed. My mind and body seemed to have undergone a deep reset.
"When was the last time I felt this good?" I muttered to myself, blinking in confusion.
It was as though I had slept for three days straight.
I got up, stretched lightly, and opened the window to bask in the warm sunshine. The scenery outside was peaceful, and the mansion felt unusually serene today.
After warming up for a while, an overwhelming hunger hit me.
Would the dining room even serve food at this hour? I glanced around the room, cluttered with unnecessary furniture, but there was no clock in sight.
The door opened with a soft knock, and Arjan stepped in just in time. She looked mildly surprised to see me awake but quickly lowered her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were awake—"
"It's fine," I interrupted. "But why do you look so surprised?"
"That..." Arjan hesitated, which was unlike her.
I felt uncomfortable with her reaction, so I asked, "Did I sleep too long?"
"Yes," she admitted.
"How long?"
"Today is the fourth day after the blessing ceremony. In other words, you slept for three days and three nights, Young Master Luan," she answered.
Three days and nights? No wonder I felt so refreshed. Even after the White Fire state, sleeping on Arjan's back hadn't been proper rest. My physical fatigue had finally dissipated.
It also explained why my stomach felt so empty.
"Feed me. I am hungry," I demanded.
"I'll prepare it right away. But before I do, I have to tell you—"
At that moment, another knock sounded, and the door opened again.
This time, Kayan entered. He, too, seemed disconcerted to see me awake.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were awake—"
"I have already heard that line, so please skip it," I said dismissively.
Kayan fell silent, his expression sterner than usual.
"What is it? What happened?" I asked.
"Nothing," he replied carefully. "I just think you woke up at a rather delicate time."
"What does that mean?"
"The Council of Elders is on the move," Kayan said grimly.