Chapter 807
The Vermont Imperial Family was hiding in seclusion on an uninhabited island, where there was a passage leading to the underworld known as the “Middle Layer.”
This passage wasn’t a direct connection to the true underworld, hell, but a link to the Middle Layer inhabited by beings like Ameris, which existed after the world was split in half.
Neither the imperial family nor the current owner of the island, the Lutero Federation, created the passage.
It was actually built by the Blue Legend Tribe during the ancient era when the “War for the Sun God” was at its peak.
These passages, created by various factions who held power at that time, still remained scattered throughout the world.
Among the surface forces, only the imperial family knew about the existence of these passages.
Due to a memory lapse caused by the seal, Ameris had forgotten about the existence of the passages.
“Fortunately, the situation we feared didn’t happen after sensing the Great Serpent’s awakening. If the Great Serpent’s memories and powers had been intact, none of the sealed races in the Middle Layer would have survived.”
After Bibol left, Airan smiled and spoke.Based on the fact that the Red Legend Tribe is rampaging in the human world, Airan was certain of Ameris’s current state.
Her power, abilities, and memories were all incomplete.
The Red Legend Tribe was no different.
It was true that Jin’s combat prowess was closer to the pinnacle of the human world, but if Rakiman and the Red Fleet were at their peak, Jin wouldn’t have dominated the battle so unilaterally.
They could have at least offered some resistance.
“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s fortunate for us that the Red Legend Tribe was cornered immediately after awakening. Even those arrogant and evil beings can’t refuse the hand we extend to them.”
“Once we acquire the Red Legend Tribe’s technology through trade, cloning it will no longer be a dream. Moreover, if we start searching for the Blue Legend Tribe’s Remains from now on, we can also awaken Eltiot… The Empire will rise again! It will become an eternal empire that no one can destroy!”
The imperial family members didn’t hide their excited voices.
Throughout the long ages, from ancient times until now, they had endured humiliation akin to eternity to survive and seize opportunities.
During those long years, they never dominated the world as overwhelming conquerors.
In ancient times, they were treated like insects by people like the Red Legend Tribe and the Blue Legend Tribe.
Even after the “Great Seal,” while the birth and destruction of civilizations repeatedly occurred on the surface, they barely survived the imminent threat of extinction.
Then, at last, they established Vermont.
However, as the current history of mankind testifies, Vermont has never achieved a position worthy of the name “Empire.”
That was because monsters like Runcandel and Zipple existed.
Zipple emerged and immediately threatened the empire’s existence, and just when they couldn’t hold on anymore, Runcandel appeared.
And for a thousand years since then.
The empire had walked the tightrope, observing the movements of both sides, and now only the ancient beings of the imperial family were barely hiding.
That’s why the Vermont Imperial Family’s desires were singular.
Complete and secure survival.
The power to reign alone in the world was the most important means to achieve that goal.
The imperial family had no interest in the resurrection of the Sun God.
On the contrary, they were in a position where it must be avoided at all costs.
If the Sun God were to resurrect, they would once again have to live a life as insects, bound to their predetermined fate.
“As soon as Bibol returns, we will start searching for the Blue Legend Tribe’s Remains. Check the various regional passages. Our enemies, especially Runcandel, will soon realize the existence of the Blue Legend Tribe’s Remains, as they have access to Ameris and the Record Magician’s abilities. We must secure them before anyone else.”
“Understood, Your Majesty!”
“Once our trade with the Red Legend Tribe is finalized, the situation on the surface will change rapidly. The Red Legend Tribe will rise like crazy… Amidst this rapid transformation, we will remain at the center until the end. Surviving until the end is something that has always been our specialty.”
As the imperial family members dispersed, Airan remained alone in the conference room, looking out the window as the cool breeze blew.
***
October 8th, 1803.
It had been exactly a week since Jin expelled the Red Legend Tribe, who had attacked Kinzelo’s third branch.
Since that day, the Red Legend Tribe hadn’t been seen in the human world.
At least, that’s what the Vamel Alliance and Zipple knew.
In fact, the Red Legend Tribe had already concluded their trade with Airan, where he personally met with Rakiman and Shimat.
They had only refrained from hunting in the human world, but everything else had been settled.
And both the Red Legend Tribe and the imperial family had already gained significant benefits from each other.
The Red Legend Tribe had rapidly opened their second fortress by consuming the blood of humans and the ancient remains sent by Airan, while the imperial family had received their technology and was cultivating their weapons.
All of this had happened under the radar of the vigilant eyes of the main forces.
It was a privilege of those who had taken control of the Middle Layer.
“Beradin is making a rather bold move since becoming patriarch.”
Jin spoke as he examined the special reports.
Every day, the news articles arrived. Beradin becomes patriarch, the background of Kelliark’s rebellion, the underworld, the appearance of Ameris and the Red Legend Tribe, and Jin awakening them.
All these stories were becoming public.
“Zipple’s reporters are constantly spreading the narrative that the Young Master is threatening world peace by awakening the beings from the underworld.”
Jin nodded in agreement with Kashmir’s words.
“It feels like they’re trying to create a pretext for war. They’re saying that since I posed a threat to the world first, Zipple’s actions against Runcandel and the Vamel Alliance are in self-defense.”
“They must have something to believe in, even after witnessing the Young Master’s power, the God of Battle, and the strength of our alliance. It must be related to the Demon God Orb or the abilities associated with Zipple’s holy land.”
Naturally, Jin wanted to delay the war as long as possible. He wanted to complete the Golden Fleet, get his siblings out of Lafrarosa, and have Murakan return.
And if possible, he wanted to start the war after he himself became the Genesis Knight.
A war waged under those conditions would be overwhelming, devoid of unnecessary bloodshed, madness, and murders.
If he could completely overwhelm his enemies, he could order the world without unnecessary death and destruction.
In other words, he could fight while safeguarding the lives of ordinary people as much as possible.
Currently, that was an impossible task, and Jin had to wage a very disadvantageous battle beyond that.
The only force that thought about civilians, both on the surface and in the underworld, was the Vamel Alliance.
“Beradin knows exactly what worries me the most. The deaths of my comrades and innocent people. If the war starts quickly, I will lose a lot, even if we achieve victory.”
Nightmares that Jin had personally experienced in the evil god war.
In fact, in the war between the main factions, there would be even more sacrifices than that.
The entire world would become a battlefield, and after the fighting ended, the victors would face a desolate landscape that would never be the same again.
It frustrated Jin.
The burden he felt as a returnee.
Jin recalled the words Ron had left him through Dante just before he died.
- You haven’t done anything wrong. That’s what he told you and me.
‘Yes… While none of this might be my fault, it doesn’t mean I can turn a blind eye. No matter what happens from now on, I can only move forward while doing what I have to do. I must become the best in the world.’
The efforts to become the best in the world.
That was the only thing that pushed aside Jin’s agony as a returnee.
Like someone shaking off a nightmare, Jin adjusted his expression and met his companions’ gazes.
“The war will begin soon. There will definitely be localized battles, if not a full-scale war. Even if it’s not Beradin, there’s a high possibility that the Red Legend Tribe will engage in more aggressive activities in the human world after recovering from their losses. After defeating them, Valeria investigated Kinzelo’s third branch, and not only Zipple, but also the remnants of the imperial family sent people there.”
“There were reports that Zipple has been constantly searching for remnants of the imperial family.”
Quikantel pointed out the reports.
“Not only Zipple, but we’ve also been tracking them since the fake Yona incident. We’ve used all possible means, including Valeria’s Record Magic. But so far, we haven’t managed to catch a single trace of them, so we can’t rule out the possibility that they’re hiding somewhere other than the surface.”
“I agree with you, Miss Quikantel. Those mystics must possess hidden abilities. If it’s related to the underworld, it could be an opportunity for them.”
“As far as I know, there are no such secrets within the imperial family… but well, considering how Airan Vermont suddenly inherited power after Amir’s death, it’s possible the former emperor was just a puppet from the beginning.”
Besides Zipple and the imperial family, Kinzelo was also a problem.
[Zephyrin, that Demon Dragon is almost certainly one of my heads. When Zephyrin awakens in the future, she will likely regain some of her memories and powers from that time. It won’t be complete, but her lost self will return to some extent. In any case, it’s clear she isn’t one of those heads who were trying to prevent the Sun God’s resurrection.]
“Hopefully, she can regain some of her power and abilities from that time. Or we can hope that Zephyrin’s unconscious state isn’t related to Miss Ameris.”
[If it were the latter, it would be even better, but it’s best not to have high expectations.]
As Ameris said those words, the communication device installed in the conference room emitted a blue light and resonated.
{Young Patriarch! Urgent report!}
As soon as Jin received the call, he heard Lueth’s urgent voice.
“Speak, Chief Butler.”
{The Red Legend Tribe has attacked Zipple.}
“…What did you say? Not Kinzelo, but Zipple?”
{Six hours ago, Zipple’s second-class Magic Tower located in Ramatan was bombarded by the Red Legend Tribe’s fleet. Zipple is currently in a state of war.}
Runcandel and the Vamel Alliance had naturally thought that the Red Legend Tribe would attack Kinzelo once they resumed their activities on the surface.
However, they had boldly attacked Zipple, and it was an unexpected development for everyone except the imperial family.
“For them to resume their activities so quickly… it seems they received help from someone.”
Jin replied with narrowed eyes.
If it wasn’t the work of a faction of Zipple itself, the remnants of the imperial family were the most likely suspects.