Chapter 52. Surely there will be a difference
In the meeting room where the Regal and Agtus families’ discussions were taking place,
Sharp screams echoed throughout.
“aaah!”
The one screaming was Leticia Regal, the youngest daughter of the Regal family.
A middle-aged man covered in blood… Noien Maio had rolled into the meeting room.
“Sirius, what is happening! Why the head of the Maiu family…!”
Kaien Agtas, who was sitting nearby, also raised his voice.
The Maiu family had a long-standing friendly relationship with the Agtas family, so this situation was shocking.
“Sirius.”
Among the bewildered crowd, there was only one person who remained calm.
It was Yustia Rigel, the youngest daughter of the Rigel family.
Yustia threw a question at Sirius, who had thrown Noien into the meeting room.
“You wouldn’t just make the head of the Maiu family like this without any reason. What’s going on?”
“He is involved in child trafficking that was taking place at the Ultenstein Assembly and elsewhere.”
“….”
Yustia frowned.
“Do you have evidence?”
“Right here.”
As Sirius turned around, Belied stepped forward with a serious expression.
“It’s a statement Noien Maiu made himself. And there are secret ledgers that can support the truth of that confession.”
“….!”
When Belied placed the documents on the table, Kaien and others widened their eyes in disbelief.
“No way, how could this…!”
“I can’t believe the Maiu family would do such a thing!”
In the midst of the bewildered crowd, a woman stood up.
It was none other than Leticia.
“This trash…!”
She kicked Noien, who was lying unconscious and bloodied.
The pointed tip of her shoe caused fresh blood to flow from Noien’s face.
“How could you do this with children…!”
As Leticia, in anger, tried to stomp on Noien, Yustia hurriedly grabbed Leticia.
“Sister, calm down.”
“How can I calm down! These trash should be killed on the spot!”
“You don’t need to do it yourself. They need to be punished officially.”
Yustia managed to calm down the enraged Leticia.
“I apologize, everyone. My sister tends to be hot-headed.”
“Oh, I see…”
Kaien nodded with a troubled expression.
“It’s understandable that Lady Leticia is upset. The head of the Maiu family doing such things… Ah!”
Right at that moment.
Noien struggled to raise his hand.
Perhaps being kicked by Leticia brought him to his senses.
He was trying to gather his remaining strength to use magic.
“Ugh!”
But Belied’s reaction was faster.
After striking Noien with the wooden sword, he muttered briefly.
“Six hundred and sixty-one.”
“……”
Everyone was speechless at the sight.
Especially Leticia, who had a fearful expression, huddling her body.
“Yustia.”
Sirius addressed Yustia, who managed to keep her composure.
“Leave Noien Mayu to you. We’ve already obtained all the information worth getting, so how to punish him is for you to decide after discussing.”
This kind of thing is better left to Cayenne or Yustia.
“Bellid, you stay here and participate in the discussion.”
“Got it.”
Bellid was present when Sirius interrogated Noien and could also play the role of representing the Albrime family.
It would be better for him to participate in the discussion here.
“But Sirius, what about you?”
“I have somewhere to go.”
With that, Sirius turned his head.
“I need to uproot it properly.”
Verdian, who was waiting behind, bit his lip.
* * *
“Noien Mayu has been caught.”
A mountain lodge deep in the mountains.
There, officials from the Eastern Branch of the Union gathered wearing masks.
The figure in the black mask at the highest seat… because it was summoned by the East Branch Chief.
“It’s said that Sirius visited the Mayu family with Verdian and took Noien as a hostage.”
“….!”
Everyone held their breath.
No one had expected this situation.
They had anticipated Verdian killing Sirius or bringing him here.
“What happened?”
“Is it true that Verdian betrayed us?”
“That’s impossible. He’s the direct disciple of Poison King.”
“Then why did Sirius and Verdian attack Noien together?”
At that moment, a woman in a silver mask, Shajalina, the Grandmother of the Southeast Dark Family, spoke up.
“Could it be that Noien did something wrong? So Verdian collaborated with Sirius to punish him.”
“Punish Noien…?”
“Perhaps Verdian was testing Sirius for Union membership.”
“….”
Some nodded in agreement with Shajalina’s speculation, but many couldn’t comprehend.
Noien had been accommodating various organizations with the power of the Mayu family for a while.
So, if Noien was being punished, it would cause trouble for many people.
“I have no idea.”
The man in the red mask, the leader of the Lutinvelt Black Blades, Lutinvelt, spoke up.
“What do you think? Was there no movement at the center?”
“…”
The man in the black mask remained silent for a moment.
“I don’t know. The internal affairs of the alliance are complex, so there’s a possibility that information wasn’t shared with me.”
“Tsk, not helpful.”
Lutinvelt spat out roughly.
“Could it be that the Venom King ordered Verdian to take over the Eastern Branch?”
“What?”
“Joining forces with Sirius to wipe out the Eastern Branch. If such an order was given, it makes sense that you wouldn’t know.”
“…!”
There was a stir in the surroundings at Lutinvelt’s statement.
“Well, if that’s the case…”
“Come to think of it, there were rumors that Sirius was dispatched by the alliance, right?”
“Could that have been a lie?”
“Could it be that the Venom King secretly sent Sirius?”
“If that’s the case, it’s understandable that the branch head didn’t know Sirius’s true identity.”
Everyone glanced at the branch head and muttered.
In that atmosphere, Lutinvelt shrugged his shoulders.
“Branch head, the situation is not good right now. So…”
“Lutinvelt.”
Crackle!
Suddenly, thunder roared inside.
And… Lutinvelt blankly looked down at his chest.
“Ah…?”
There was a hole in Lutinvelt’s chest.
In the blink of an eye, a fierce lightning bolt pierced through Lutinvelt’s chest.
“I knew you’ve been eyeing my position for a while, Lutinvelt.”
“…”
“Even if you try to shake my position using this situation, it’s futile.”
Lutinvelt couldn’t say anything more.
With a hole in his chest, he collapsed.
“Continue the meeting, gentlemen.”
…!
Everyone trembled, turning their gaze towards the man in the black mask.
Lutinvelt, a magic swordsman of the 7th Circle, was instantly killed by the high-speed lightning magic.
The man in the black mask… the Eastern Branch Director’s power was overwhelming.
“The likelihood of this being the Venom King’s scheme is not high. No matter how much of a Venom King he may be, planning such a thing…”
The gold eyes beyond the mask gleamed sharply.
“It is an act of defying Emperor Neiji. I am managing the Eastern Branch here because it is Emperor Neiji’s will.”
“…!”
Neiji.
Just hearing the name sends shivers down the spine of anyone affiliated with the Federation… the pinnacle of Neijian magic.
The Head of the Eastern Branch here was a close confidant of Neiji.
“I will personally find out what Verdian is thinking. So, do not waver…”
At that moment, a knock on the door was heard.
And a masked figure entered.
“Branch Head, we have a serious problem.”
“What is it?”
“There are intruders downstairs.”
“Intruders? That can’t be…”
“It appears to be Sirius Canisruth. He is leading Verdian.”
“…”
Everyone in the room held their breath.
But the Branch Head remained unfazed.
He simply nodded as if in agreement.
“Yes, that’s how it turned out.”
“Br-Branch Head, then what should we do…”
“Do not waver. This is actually a good thing.”
Surveying the members of the Eastern Branch, the Branch Head spoke in a clear voice.
“We don’t need to go after them, they have come to us first.”
***
They identified the way to the Federation’s Eastern Branch by tracking Noyen Myu.
Walking the dark mountain path towards the intruders’ base, Alayon spoke in a lowered voice.
“Leader, may I ask one thing?”
“What is it?”
“That woman…”
Alayon asked, looking at Verdian’s back.
“Is she affiliated with the Federation?”
“Yes, she is.”
“I see…”
Hearing Sirius’s words, Alayon sighed.
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“Was she originally a stronger person?”
“Yes, I just disabled her magic.”
“I see…”
“But don’t worry. That woman over there is your youngest, after all.”
“Understood. Should we not inform Belid?”
“That would be best.”
As they conversed, Verdian turned around, giving them a menacing look.
“Why? Do you have something to say?”
“……”
“Oh, I see.”
They maintained a state where unnecessary words were not spoken.
As Sirius allowed Veridian to speak by touching his blood, a hoarse voice flowed from Veridian’s mouth.
“I’ve been following you since earlier… You don’t think I’ll lead you astray, do you?”
“Don’t worry. If you guide me the wrong way, I’ll catch on quickly.”
That was not a lie.
Sirius was confident he could find the right path even without any prior knowledge.
Because he had experience in attacking the headquarters of numerous factions during the War of the Hundred Realms.
“Then why bother using me as bait?”
“So you won’t think of running away.”
“……”
Veridian frowned in dissatisfaction.
“Alleon, if that guy tries to escape, you go after him and catch him first.”
“Can I use a knife?”
“It doesn’t matter. If he gets hurt, Valied will heal him.”
Valied’s healing magic was quite effective.
“Sirius, just to clarify… the Eastern Commander is not someone to be underestimated.”
“Alleon, listen carefully.”
Sirius whispered to Alleon.
“He’s finally beginning to open up and share internal information about the alliance with us.”
“Ah, I see. Veridian seems to be slowly pledging true loyalty to the Lord.”
“Kuk…”
Veridian’s body trembled.
“I’m not really looking to share information. I just wanted to let you know that if you defeat the Commander, I’ll smoothly return to the alliance.”
“Hmm, is that so.”
Sirius nodded.
“Veridian, is that possible?”
“What?”
“Even if you return after losing all your magic and unable to use spells… I’m not sure if the alliance will treat you well.”
“……!”
Watching the startled Veridian, Sirius recalled past memories.
“If the Poison King picks you up again… it’s a rare case of a Circle being destroyed, so they might experiment with you and use you as a research subject.”
“……!”
Veridian couldn’t argue back.
He knew well the high probability of that happening.
“Think about it, Veridian.”
With that, Sirius passed by Veridian and moved forward.
“For your future, consider what mindset would be best.”
“….”
As Verdian stood watching Sirius’s back, Alreion approached him.
“Verdian, I believe there is a reason why the Lord spared your life instead of taking it.”
“A reason…?”
“When I first met the Lord, I wanted to kill him. But…”
Saying that, Alreion’s expression turned bitter.
“If the Lord hadn’t spared me, I would have been used by the Calstein Sword Sect and died a meaningless death.”
“…”
“I don’t know you well, but being part of the Alliance, the likelihood of you being a villain is high. However, if the Lord spared you instead of killing you, it means there’s a chance for redemption for you.”
A chance for redemption.
At those words, Verdian bit his lip.
“The Lord spared you in hopes that you would live a better life.”
“That’s impossible. He’s just using me to fight against the Alliance…”
“Verdian.”
Saying that, Alreion looked at Sirius’s retreating figure.
“Look, the Lord is someone who can walk alone without needing your help.”
“…”
“Of course, there may be benefits for him in having you as a subordinate. But that’s not all.”
Alreion recalled a conversation Sirius had with remnants of the Calstein Sword Sect.
Once you’ve paid enough for your sins, he will provide a foundation for you to start a business somewhere, get married, build a family, and live a normal life.
Who else would gather up members of a criminal organization and say such things?
“That’s who the Lord is. He possesses qualities far beyond us mere mortals.”
“…”
“I don’t know who you’ve served until now… but compared to that person, there will surely be a difference.”
Verdian briefly tried to compare Sirius and the Dark King.
But he immediately shook his head and erased that thought.
Just entertaining such a comparison felt repugnant.
Perhaps… it was due to the Dark King’s brainwashing.
“Alreion.”
Instead, Verdian posed a different question.
“Did the Lord spare Belid, who is also a villain, because there’s a chance for redemption?”
“…”
Alreion looked momentarily perplexed.
“No, that guy is just a fool.”
“I see.”
After letting out a sigh, Verdian followed Sirius up the mountain.
The battle between Sirius and the Eastern District Warlord was about to begin.
Alreion’s words would be something to contemplate while watching that battle unfold.