C426 - So suddenly? (4)
The two looked at each other in silence for a while.
Does Lata Proch really have this side?
The Phantom Legion mercenaries and their leader, Lata Proch.
The truth was that Jin didn't have a favorable opinion of them.
He was attacked by the executioners of the Phantom Legion mercenaries, led by Fey...
And later, when Lata confronted him, Jin felt that both were fools.
But for Lata to have that level of insight...
It was amazing that he saw through the situation and the flow of events after the terrorist attack.
No, no.
It's impossible for Lata to be so smart.
Someone must be giving him information or controlling him.
Jin suppressed his admiration and shook his head internally.
Oh, really? It's unexpectedly excellent judgment.
Jin was about to say it out loud.
Who could it be?
Zipple?
Kinzelo?
No...
Individuals from those two groups couldn't have approached Lata.
Because we were all confined in the Sword Emperor's Castle.
Most of them had undergone intense investigations during their stay at the Sword Emperor's Castle for about two weeks, even though they had helped suppress the terrorist attack.
The Hairans hadn't discovered any involvement of Zipple and Kinzelo.
"Zephyrin."
Jin suddenly thought of the woman who is presumed to be a Demon Dragon.
Maybe she was behind Lata.
Zephyrin's true identity had not yet been revealed.
Therefore, it wouldn't be too surprising if she was affiliated with Zipple or Kinzelo.
But that would be too much.
Even if Zephyrin approached Lata with some purpose, it's impossible for Lata to adopt this submissive attitude.
Regardless of whether it was Zephyrin or someone else, it seemed unlikely that a figure of Lata's stature would become a pawn for someone and abandon his reputation.
At this moment, if Jin rejected Lata and sent him away, the weight of the title "Leader of the Phantom Legion" would plummet immediately.
It wasn't just a couple of people who had seen them in the reception room.
Of course, it wouldn't be difficult to make them seal their lips, but there was no need to cover for Lata if Jin didn't form an alliance with him.
After a moment of contemplation, Jin concluded that Lata had come to him of his own will and insight.
"Jin-nim, what are you thinking? Is there something strange in my words?"
"No, there's nothing strange. In fact, you have read the situation too accurately, and I find it incredible that you have figured all that out on your own."
"Hahaha!"
Lata burst into a sincere but sharp laughter.
"Well, that may seem so from your perspective. My little sister and I haven't shown ourselves in a good light so far. But, Jin-nim, I am also the leader of a significant group. And a very respected one."
Lata looked at the perfectly reattached index finger, which showed no trace of a cut.
"Do you know why my five hundred subordinates followed me?"
It was a bewildering question.
Five hundred were far from enough to showcase his prestige or buy time when problems arose against the Garden of Swords.
Moreover, considering the size of the Phantom Legion mercenaries, it seemed like an ambiguous number to be brought with the intention of saying:
"Please accept us as subordinates."
"I don't know."
Lata smirked.
"They were the five hundred who never backed down even if I had reduced them."
"What...?"
"When I said I would cut off my fingers as an apology to Jin-nim, those guys followed me by force and said they would also offer their fingers to you, Jin-nim."
This time, Jin's pupils had to widen.
Is this serious?
There was no doubt in Lata's eyes.
Anyone who met Lata's gaze now could feel his pride.
"At first, many more subordinates said they would come with me. Runcandel might have mistaken it for a declaration of war if I had brought all those guys. Anyway, the ones who came with me insisted a lot and didn't back down, so I had no choice but to bring them."
"So, if I tell them to, will they all cut off their index fingers?"
"That's right."
"What peculiar loyalty."
"It's something rarely seen elsewhere. They even said they couldn't bear to see me alone lose a finger. Now you know how respected I am, right?"
"Is there no way for all of them to keep their fingers intact?"
"It might be possible if the Twelfth Flagbearer of Runcandel allows it."
"I meant, wasn't there a way that you didn't even think or try in the first place?"
"If someone commits a sin, they must pay the price. Even more so if you want to approach your future partner."
"But you just said you're not a person but rather a despicable and low beast."
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
It was difficult to express it in words, so Jin simply shook his head and felt a sense of astonishment.
Then he remembered the expressions of Lata's subordinates that Murakan had taken away.
They all seemed to have expressionless faces, even though they were about to lose a part of their bodies, just like their lord.
"It seems you're not a straightforward man, Lata Proch."
If everything Lata had said was true, then he was an extraordinary leader.
Regardless of how excellent Lata's battle skills might be, it was no small feat to completely control the Phantom Legion mercenaries at such a young age.
"I have one more question, Lata-nim."
"What is it?"
"Why did you behave so despicably in the banquet hall of the Sword Emperor's Castle?"
Jin felt that today's Lata and the Lata back then were completely different people.
"I am competent and an excellent leader in most situations, but occasionally, an imperfect aspect of my personality shows, like when my only family member, my relative, was taken hostage."
"Your little sister is being treated quite well according to the strictest treaties on prisoners of war."
"Well, I appreciate the treatment, but since she's a tough girl, I don't mind if they treat her to the point of keeping her alive. And besides... this can also happen when I lose one of my most precious subordinates."
Jin remembered the day Fey had attacked him.
"Wasn't he called Grimol?"
He was the only one among the assassins of the Phantom Legion mercenaries who had overwhelmed him.
He wielded a sword much better than Fey's.
"I dispatched him without much pain. He was willing to sacrifice himself to the end to save Fey Proch."
"...I always wondered what his end would be like, but he had an honorable death for a mercenary. We spent a lot of time together, but Grimol was more suited to be a knight than an assassin."
Lata closed his eyes and seemed to mourn Grimol for a moment.
"Looking back, it was my own arrogance that led to the consequences because I underestimated you, Jin-nim. I shouldn't have accepted the commission in the first place, or if I did, I should have gathered the best assassins, including myself. So, this time, I won't make any mistakes and will try to make the best decision. Please help me."
There was a sense of sincerity in his calm tone.
Of course, appearing sincere now didn't mean he could retract the reckless comments he had made before.
But Jin knew that everyone could make mistakes.
"Lata Proch-nim."
"Please speak."
"If you truly want to form an alliance with me, you must show me trust. Mere apologies and offering meaningless fingers won't allow you to become my ally."
Finally, Lata smiled as if he had shed his stiff clothes.
"What do you want me to do? What can I show you?"
"The Phantom Legion mercenaries and I first met as targets for elimination and assassins."
Lata's eyes narrowed upon hearing this.
"To change that bad relationship into an alliance, shouldn't you bring at least the heads of those who ordered me to be killed?"
Assassinating the members of Runcandel's council of elders.
That was undoubtedly one of the worst assignments a group of assassins could receive.
"I know the reason why you didn't take action before we spoke."
Like being pierced by a needle, Lata shivered and awkwardly smiled.
Probably because you don't want to take risks. If you had brought the heads of the elders, and I hadn't accepted you as an ally, then there would be no turning back."
"...I'm starting to feel it again. You really are extraordinary, sir."
"Also, even if I welcomed you with open arms after bringing the heads of those elders, you would still doubt whether the Twelfth Flagbearer could protect the Phantom Legion mercenaries from Runcandel's retaliation."
Jin stood up from the chair.
Then, he moved slowly behind Lata.
Lata remained seated and couldn't get up.
A few seconds later, Jin's hand lightly touched Lata's shoulder.
Lata felt a chill, as if it were the scythe of a Reaper.
"If you truly believe in me, if you're sure that I will become the patriarch of Runcandel. Then take the risk, Lata Proch."
Jin's voice was as cold as ice, sending shivers down his spine.
"I'll give you a week," Jin said as he withdrew his hand from Lata's shoulder.
"In that time frame, bring me the heads of those who tried to kill me. Don't make mistakes; I want the job done properly. I will take responsibility for the aftermath. Understand?"
Lata nodded heavily.
'Twelfth Flagbearer, this is an unexpected turn of events...'
Certainly, Lata believed that Jin would eventually become the patriarch of the Runcandel Family.
However, he didn't believe that Jin had significant power within Runcandel at the moment.
That's why his plan had been to first join forces and then gradually help Jin gain power within his clan.
But now, a situation had arisen where he needed to become enemies with the 'existing Runcandel' within a week.
'I planned to join the Twelfth Flagbearer, but this is completely unexpected.'
Show your trust.
As Lata pondered Jin's recent words in his mind, Jin spoke again.
"If the deadline passes, and there is no contact from you, I will conclude that you have allied with another faction, Mr. Lata. That means we will be enemies again."
"Mmm..."
"Please make a wise choice."
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