C242 - Individual Study, Group Study (7)
The door opened to the land of the Semiorcs.
It was the residence of the great warrior of the White Wolf Men, Berakt Sidlieker, and the headquarters of the Kinzelo.
"Leader!"
"Dear leader, my Lord!"
The leader and Joe stepped out of the door. The humans and half-men immediately bowed their heads. Several half-men also rushed forward and helped the leader up.
Followed by a series of sighs. They were relieved that the leader had returned safe and sound with Joe.
"Joe, you better remember our leader's grace even after your own death. Why should our leader risk his poor condition and such danger to save someone like you?" Berakt stared at Joe with murderous eyes. Joe didn't dare to meet his gaze and simply lowered his head.
The fact that the leader of Kinzelo had to come all the way to Old Oterium was a terrible event.
There were no signs of movement from more threatening factions like Zipple and Runcandel, so no one had expected Jin and Murakan to launch an assault on the Dark Magic Guild's base.
Things would have been different if only Chukon and Suzanne were in the area. But Joe, the key person to complete the illuminators, was also in the base.
Joe's death would only delay the development of the illuminators, which would also postpone the completion of their grand objective.
Therefore, the leader had to risk the danger and rescue him, as the leader was the only one among them with teleportation abilities for their urgent need.
"Don't be too angry at him, Berakt. We both returned safely," the leader said.
"Dear leader, you must prioritize your health, even if it means some delays to the grand objective. For the sake of all our comrades who have placed all their hopes in you, at the very least."
"I will do so. But there I came across quite amusing information."
"What kind of information?"
"Bamel. He was actually the youngest son of the Runcandels. I wonder if Zipple and Vermont are aware of this fact."
"What?" A man shouted in pure shock at the leader's words. It was Kinzelo's vice chief, Bishkel Iveliano.
"Vice chief, what's the matter?"
This placid character's exaggerated response made all eyes turn to him.
"It's nothing, really. But what a surprise, boss. To think Jin Runcandel was actually Bamel."
From what I saw through Joe's eyes, he not only wields the magic and power of Legends, but he is also Solderet's Contractor. He has broken his oath with Zipple. It seems the Runcandels have decided to wage total war against the Zipple. We must also start our preparations."
Apart from Jin, no one in the world knew as much about the power of Legends as the leader of Kinzelo.
Bishkel could hardly calm his heart.
The fact that he had fought against Bouvard at the party, and the reason he had visited the sculpture workshop many months ago... Were they all intentional approaches? Because he knew about Bouvard and me? But when and how?
Chills and cold sweat ran down his spine.
It was impossible to think that Jin had unearthed their identities on his own. The information must have come from the Runcandel Clan, who must have given the order to Jin.
'They must have known that all their Flagbearers had our spies, and that's why they ordered their Reserve Flagbearer, Jin, to investigate our activities. They must have guessed that we wouldn't pay as much attention to their Reserve Flagbearers.'
Bishkel's imagination took flight immediately. He gritted his teeth. He thought he was to blame for everything, and that he should have placed a spy on Jin the moment Bouvard and Jin kept meeting. That's what he should have done as the vice chief.
The last encounter was especially suspicious.
Jin had acted blatantly strange when he came to the sculpture workshop and requested a duel with him, using Bouvard as an excuse.
He had made extremely bold statements and actions to grab Bishkel's attention.
At that time, Bishkel had interpreted it as the pubescent phase of a young swordsman, but now he understood why Jin had acted that way.
Yes, right after Jin left that day, I started discussing the return of the Compass with Bouvard. That's when I felt a faint movement. The reason Jin had gone to such lengths to catch my attention was to plant someone who could listen to my conversations in the sculpture workshop.
He also remembered how that day he had gone over all the details with Bouvard regarding the return of the Compass. The memory of how he had whispered every last ultra-secret detail, including the place and time of its return and the fact that their alliance with Zipple was officially terminated.
And on the first day of June, Bamel, the man who had just revealed himself as Jin Runcandel, had arrived in the Bellard Feudal States, which were supposed to be the secret meeting place of Zipple and Kinzelo officers.
After their failed attempt to retrieve the Compass, countless emergency meetings had been held within Kinzelo, and even more investigations and punishments had been carried out in an effort to find out who had leaked the information.
Bishkel felt as if his entire body was completely drained of blood. He had to bear the responsibility.
"Dear leader, I have something to..." Bishkel was about to say it in a weak voice.
"Oh! Damn it all!" Suddenly, the leader slapped his forehead with his hand as he gasped.
"What's wrong, leader?"
"I left it there. Damn it. Things were so bad that I forgot to bring it with me. I can't believe I made such a mistake."
"What are you talking about? Oh, wait. It can't be."
The leader lowered his head at Berakt's question and let out a sigh.
"The Final Version of the Devastating Blazing Flame Orb. The legacy of Riol Zipple that we kept at the Dark Magic Guild's base. I didn't bring it with me. Joe, perhaps you were able to bring it with you? Please tell me you did."
"Oh. That... Leader, I was in a hurry too."
"You useless idiot! Joe, you're supposed to be the Head of the Dark Magic Guild! How could you forget something like that? Should our leader think of every little thing for you?" Berakt showed his murderous eyes again after grabbing Joe by the collar.
"Great Warrior Berakt. Let me down. We can talk about this. I tried. I tried to bring it with me, but my hand was forced!"
"Are you kidding me right now? I'm so furious, I'm about to explode. Kaargh! Hey! Someone get this worm off my face and make sure I don't see him for the time being because I might kill him if I keep looking at him!"
Kak! Zas!
Berakt threw Joe to the ground and immediately lifted his foot. He wanted to crush Joe's skull; he was so angry.
"Oh no! Great Warrior!"
"Lord Great Warrior, our leader has done everything possible to save you and bring you back! Please, control yourself!"
Joe's head was spared from becoming a smashed watermelon thanks to the other Half-Men who jumped in to stop Berakt.
The great wolf man was unable to contain his anger and continued to smoke with fury, even after launching an attack of rage.
"This is a great loss. I have lost a precious card that could have been used against the Zipple. It's even more frustrating because I am planning to meet with Keliac soon to negotiate the Final Version of the Devastating Blazing Flame Orb."
"Damn it! These humans, they never get anything right! Damn it!"
Berakt's gaze fell on Bishkel, who remained frozen.
"Of course, that doesn't include you, vice chief. If these human worms had even a quarter of your qualities, I would never have felt so frustrated. You are all humans, but how can you be so different?"
The leader nodded, his eyes fixed on Joe as he was being dragged away by the other Half-Men.
Bishkel felt his heart about to burst.
"This incident is partly my fault as well, and there is nothing we can do about it. The damage has already been done, so we must find ways to control it. Berakt, send the swiftest Half-Men to Oterium. There may be a chance that the brat, Jin, didn't take the magic tome. It is highly unlikely that he knows the magic tome is there, so let's keep our hopes on that."
"Yes, dear leader. I will have them sent immediately."
"Bishkel, you will be in charge of Karl Zipple from now on. If we cannot retrieve the magic tome, we will have to use it as a negotiation tool."
Bishkel nodded.
"And didn't you say you also had something to tell me, Bishkel?"
In the brief instant their eyes met, a thousand thoughts crowded Bishkel's mind. Was it the right decision to admit his own mistakes in such a dangerous climate?
He found his answer in what the leader had mentioned ten seconds ago.
The damage has already been done, so we must find ways to control it. It will be of no use if I admit and reveal my error. For now, we must extinguish the urgent fires threatening Kinzelo.
Bishkel fought against the weight of his conscience and spoke.
"I wanted to talk to you about the Holy Kingdom. That boy, Jin, might expose the Oterium incident to bring the biological golem experiments to the surface. For the Runcandels, it would be their best excuse to intervene in the current situation of the Holy Kingdom."
"Oh, yes. Nothing less from our vice chief. You're right. They will definitely try to use it to their political advantage. That's what humans do best, isn't it?"
"Hm, that makes sense. He wasn't an ordinary Reserve Flagbearer. He may coordinate with the Sword Garden to escalate the incident. What do you think we should do?"
"I think his abrupt assault on Oterium may have been at the request of the remaining loyal forces of the Holy Kingdom. In the process, he may have discovered that the kingdom is divided under the influence of both the Zipple and us."
"Go on."
"From the Runcandels' perspective, they would prefer to drive the Zipple out of the Holy Kingdom before us. We are too anonymous in the public knowledge for them to attempt to drive out both factions. Therefore, no one would believe them even if the Runcandels claimed that we were conducting biological golem experiments."
"Are you suggesting that Jin might blame the Zipple for the biological golem experiments?"
"Yes."
"You're right, especially since it has already been reported that the Zipple were conducting biological experiments in Kollon."
"I think we should observe the progress from a distance and play along. If it goes as I think it would, I know it's frustrating, but we must support his claims if we want to maintain control over half of the Holy Kingdom."
This was precisely why Berakt appreciated Bishkel and found it difficult to manipulate him at will. Such sincere words and a deep understanding of motives. It soothed the anger that Joe had caused in him.
"The vice chief is right. It's ridiculous how we have to play along once again. But we have no choice. It seems to be the best option. Let's wait and see how Jin wants to play this."
***
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***
Meanwhile, Jin and Murakan continued to stare at the still-burning blue flames in the area with lost looks in their eyes.
What was that steel door? Did they really escape? Did they really teleport?
They were about to ask the same questions.
But a bright white light shone amidst the blue flames and caught their attention.
Since neither of them knew the abilities of the Kinzelo Leader, they naturally thought it was an offensive spell or a trap that he had left behind.
But it was none of that. The light took the form of an ordinary shield barrier.
"That i...s?" Jin's eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly ran towards the light.
It was the Final Version of the Devastating Blazing Flame Orb.
The magic tome that Misha had told him to find was emitting its light amidst the blue flames.
The light surrounding the magic tome was a protective spell, placed by the matriarch of the Zipple two generations ago, in case their magic tome was ever damaged or lost.
"It's going to burn. Murakan! Do something about the blue flame!" Jin shouted.
Murakan quickly leaped and rolled over the flames, near the magic circle. "Ouch, it's so hot!"
It was a pity that some of his hair got burned, but thanks to his effort, Jin secured the magic tome before its protective barrier burned down.