C224 - News Heard, News to Find (5)
"Of course, that's only if you wholeheartedly join my forces. Until then, you're a captive. We'll treat you humanely, so I hope you won't disappoint me," Jin continued.
As he had said, Yulian was practically a prisoner he had obtained after defeating his enemy. Although Yulian had provided a lot of information, he had not yet joined Jin's forces.
Yulian also understood well that he should be thankful for having his life spared for now.
His request to rescue his Dragon Guardian was more of a declaration of his desire to side with Jin.
Yulian never imagined that Joshua could fall.
His family had been massacred, and the village he lived in was wiped out without a trace. But no one in Hufester ever mentioned it, and no organization demanded the truth.
It was because the Runcandels were behind it.
To Yulian, Joshua was the successor to the Runcandel patriarchate, one without any real competitors.
That wasn't all. He made copies of himself through The Seer and pursued Divine Contractors, easily controlling their Dragons and confining them as well.
Yulian was only twelve years old when he was forced to obey Joshua. To him, Joshua was a divine being he could never disobey, an indescribable source of fear.
But Yulian saw his first ray of hope in Jin.
Not only had he defeated his own manifestation of Peitel, but he was also a Runcandel who had managed to kill Joshua's copy.
Perhaps he was someone who could help put an end to this terrifying and miserable servitude.
"I understand."
"Let's take some time to trust each other, okay? Unlike Kuzan, you lack motives or reasons to stay by my side. Alisa?"
"Yes, Lord Jin?"
"Please take good care of this companion until you feel confident that he can leave the basement."
"Understood."
Jin couldn't release a man capable of causing mass destruction without any verification. Jin planned to keep Yulian confined in the basement to monitor him for a while.
"Oh, and one more thing. Let me know if you ever crave snacks again."
Jin left the basement with Kuzan. Immediately, his mind filled with thoughts.
"The copy was real. And there's also The Seer."
Kuzan also seemed concerned.
"It seems you didn't know about The Seer."
"I apologize."
"No need for apologies. From today on, you'll go to the basement every night to have dinner with Yulian. Try to find out what Yulian knows about Joshua's forces. Compare it with what you know and present the information to me in the form of charts."
Joshua would know that Yulian was still alive because the captive Dragon Guardian he held would show no signs of change. Therefore, Jin had to make sure not to eliminate or provoke any of Joshua's forces mentioned by Yulian for some time because that would inform Joshua of his betrayal and cause him to kill the Dragon Guardian.
Kuzan understood his intentions and nodded.
"I'll make sure to handle it well so that Yulian won't be seen as a traitor."
"Alright. Why don't you rest a bit until nightfall? Or you could go see Beris. I'll listen to your stories and Beris's when she's fully healed."
"Thank you, sir."
"Later, I'll discuss with Sir Kashimir to assign you a position. You'll likely be assigned to the Seven-Colored Peacocks. No special favor will be shown to you, so make sure to pay attention during basic training."
"Lord Jin?"
"Yes?"
"If it ever happens that Beris becomes unable to handle mana, I'll make sure to do anything to share her burden as well."
Kuzan and Beris had lived their entire lives as tools and hounds for someone. They had the deep notion that their lives were over once they lost their usefulness. That's why Kuzan was worried that Jin would get rid of Beris.
Kuzan had already decided to become a tool for Jin. Of course, Jin didn't consider people as tools.
"So, are you asking me not to get rid of Beris or to treat her as if she's worthless?"
"If you allow me the audacity to ask, yes."
"If talks go well with the Priests of Vankela, then we'll provide her with extra treatment. And even if not, we still have many uses for her, so don't worry. In any case, come to Sir Kashimir's office tomorrow at noon. Gilly will assign you a room."
Jin turned around to address his other companions.
Kuzan knelt down on the floor and gave a deep bow in Jin's direction.
Quikantel was passing by the hallway. He grabbed Kuzan by the shoulder and lifted him up.
"What are you doing in the middle of the hallway? At this rate, you might start building altars in his name."
This made Jin smile awkwardly. He tried to pretend he hadn't noticed Kuzan's bow. Then, Kuzan headed to Beris's room with an uncomfortable air.
"Did you find out anything?" Quikantel asked Jin.
"Yes, let me tell you along with the others."
They headed to Kashimir's office. Everyone was already gathered there.
Jin informed them of what he had learned from Yulian. Kashimir, Quikantel, and Latrie couldn't hide their surprise.
"Witchcraft that uses humans to create copies of humans? How terrifying. I mean, it's not like humans are cookie dough."
Latrie shrugged. Quikantel shook his head.
"Anyway, what about your older brother? He's supposed to be a Runcandel, but he hires a sorcerer to try to curse you. And now? A copy? And this person called The Seer even has the power to force the contract too, right?"
"God, that gives me chills. I've been thinking about this for a while, but it's so cunning. I can't believe he shares your lineage, Lord Jin."
As Enya had nearly become a sacrifice for the Demon God Stone, the phrase of forcing a contract itself sent shivers down her spine.
"And what about you, Dragons? Do you have any idea what it could be?"
"A Demon."
"I think it's a Demon."
Quikantel and Latrie responded at the same time.
"If it's a Demon with powers like those of a Demon King, it's very possible. Apart from the contract part, of course. But since the Zipple and Kinzelo tried to transfer contracts with the Demon God Stone, Demons might also have a form."
"Demons, huh."
The Battle for the Holy Kingdom.
In the only battle in history where the Runcandels and the Zipple fought together, the Demons were defeated and destroyed without a chance of recovery. Thanks to that, they were too focused on rebuilding their world to intervene in the human world.
"Or the Witch Heluram. I suppose anything would be possible if it were her. Whether it's making copies of a person or transferring contracts, I think it would undoubtedly be possible for her."
"Whether it's a Demon or Heluram, we have to find out how they got involved with Joshua and what their purpose is. But..." Jin paused. "Being realistic, that would be difficult. It's also too risky to introduce the Peacocks for that. In fact, I'm starting to think that their reach might extend beyond Joshua and actually involve the clan."
"That's certainly possible, Lord Jin. If such a figure is by Joshua's side, I doubt that the major figures within the Runcandel Clan are completely oblivious to it."
They all nodded. The Runcandels wouldn't be competing for world domination against the Zipple if they weren't at least equally cunning.
"Either the Runcandel Clan is turning a blind eye to Joshua's alliance with The Seer, or they're giving it their full support. I suppose that will be the most crucial point." Kashimir spoke with a heavy voice.
"In the case of the latter, I wonder what Temar would think of his descendants."
"I don't think we should address this issue before I become the Flagbearer."
They could face a reaction they couldn't bear.
He couldn't ask Cyron either. Although he had obtained a witness, it wasn't enough. If he ever asked for help in the succession war, it was unknown how Cyron would treat him afterward.
"Just like the Kinzelo and the Zipple have a tremendous number of hidden forces, I suppose my clan might also have some. Is that why Mother has been giving her full support to Joshua? Because she excels in those covert moves?"
Jin delved into various secrets of the major factions as a Reserve Flagbearer.
The Zipple used all sorts of dirty tricks to become the sole deities of the world, and the Kinzelo were no different.
Vermont hadn't directly clashed with Jin yet, but he maintained a triangular relationship with the Zipple and Kinzelo.
It was unlikely that the Runcandel Clan was the only major faction doing nothing.
Suddenly, Jin remembered the words Joshua had spoken on the Blue Bird Islands.
"Not at all. If I had wanted to, I could have always surpassed that older sister of yours. But, dear younger brother, do you have any idea of the kind of things lurking in the world above, in the world you haven't experienced yet?"
"Why do you think the Runcandels never surpassed the Zipple, despite our father? Why do you think Father has never abandoned me despite his disappointments? Setting aside his own dissatisfaction, it's because he knows that I am the one most protected against our enemies, of all our siblings in the Garden of Swords."
In reality, the Zipple and the Kinzelo wanted the same thing: to become the sole owners of the world.
"If I can figure it out myself, then the clan definitely knows it too. Did Joshua mean that he is the one most protected against the Kinzelo and the Zipple?"
If the Runcandels weren't against the existence of The Seer, it was probably because she was on their side.
Or is there something I don't know? After thinking for a while, Jin looked at his companions with determination.
"I don't think I can afford to enjoy the five years my father has given me. I must plan to return to the clan earlier."
It had been almost three years since he became a Reserve Flagbearer.
But what he could find out as a Reserve Flagbearer had a limit, especially if the information was related to the Runcandels.
"When do you plan to return?"
"Early 1799 seems fine to me."
"As we're now in October 1797, that would be a little over a year from now."
"I'll sort out the things I'll need to obtain by then and start building a reputation that the clan can accept. Then we'll openly investigate that woman called The Seer, with my right as the Flagbearer."
Jin's powers were already more than enough to be accepted as a Runcandel Flagbearer. Besides, he could always build the reputation necessary, with the name he chose himself.
But he needed to make further preparations before returning. Preparations that would allow him to fight against Joshua's foundations.
"If only that stupid Murakan could regain at least half of his former powers before your return. Then I wouldn't worry so much about sending you," Quikantel said.
"He left with a firm determination to find his sister, so I'm sure he'll return with some changes, right?"
Murakan had said that it would take him about two months to find his sister.
But just a month later, Jin and his companions heard news presumed to be related to Murakan.