Episode 76. What is his true identity?
“Have the troops been deployed?”
“Yes, they’re guarding the area without fail.”
Entering the building with his adjutant, the Southern Division Commander once again confirmed the current situation.
“We can’t let them take the Crimson Lotus. We have to prevent that at all costs.”
“Yes, sir.”
Apparently, some merchant has the Crimson Lotus.
When he heard the news, the Division Commander was overjoyed.
He had been plagued by one headache after another, so this was the first good news he had heard in a long time.
However, the Black Cloaks’ notice arrived soon after.
Somehow they had gotten wind of it and had sent a notice stating that they would be taking the Crimson Lotus for themselves.
“We can’t let our guard down for a moment. Stay vigilant until we deliver the Crimson Lotus to His Majesty, the Salt Emperor.”
“Yes…!”
When the notice arrived at the Battle of Yurkel, they had trusted their instincts and ended up losing everything.
They couldn’t let that happen again.
With that determination, the Division Commander climbed the stairs.
“This is the room.”
Someone from the Elysium Chamber of Commerce, who had been waiting in advance, opened the door.
The Elysium Chamber of Commerce was a subordinate organization of the Southern Division and had met with the merchant who had the Crimson Lotus to conduct preliminary negotiations.
However, the Elysium Chamber of Commerce did not have anyone who could verify the authenticity of the Crimson Lotus.
That was why the Division Commander had come in person.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Oh, hello.”
Inside the room sat a young man who looked younger than expected.
He had an expression of great nervousness.
“Why is the atmosphere so tense? There are so many people with swords…”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s just to ensure a safe transaction.”
The Division Commander sat down opposite him and spoke.
“It just shows how much we value this transaction.”
“Ah…”
“The Crimson Lotus is a very sensitive herb. Its efficacy can be greatly reduced if it is handled improperly. Please understand that we are taking precautions in case of an emergency.”
This was also why they had not simply taken the Crimson Lotus from the merchant by force.
It is possible that the herb might be damaged in the process of taking it by force.
It is better to receive the Crimson Blaze Grass as peacefully as possible.
“Uhm, then the payment……”
“Don’t worry. I will pay everything as promised.”
“Ah……”
“Of course, the Crimson Blaze Grass must be genuine.”
The branch manager said in a serious voice.
“Show me the Crimson Blaze Grass so that I can appraise it.”
“Can you appraise whether it is genuine?”
“That’s why I came here.”
The merchant hesitated and took out a small box.
The inside of the box was filled with feather moss for humidity control. When the merchant moistened the moss with a wooden stick, a crimson herb was revealed.
“Look.”
“…..”
The branch manager opened his eyes wide and examined the herb.
Crimson Blaze Grass is an herb with an overall crimson color.
The reddish-brown root is only as thick as an index finger, and there are not many fibrous roots.
A light-red stem extends above the root, and teardrop-shaped leaves grow on it.
And a bright red flower shaped like a blazing flame blooms at the end of the longest stem.
“There’s no doubt about it……”
His voice was trembling.
“It’s genuine. This is real Crimson Blaze Grass!”
“Ah……!”
The aide standing next to him also exclaimed.
“Congratulations, branch manager.”
“Yes, if I offer this……!”
The very herb that the alchemist who was challenging the 10th circle had been looking for.
If he offered this, it would be a great help to the alchemist, and the branch manager and the Southern branch’s evaluation would also rise.
“Didn’t I say it’s genuine? You should trust what people say……”
The merchant sighed and tried to close the lid of the box.
“Then the payment……”
But right then.
The branch manager reached out and pulled the box towards him.
“What are you doing right now?”
“I’m sorry.”
The branch manager said with a nonchalant expression.
“The amount of offering money we receive has decreased lately. I’m afraid it will be difficult to pay the full amount I promised.”
“Isn’t that a different story from what you said earlier?”
“That’s how the world works.”
This time, the aide reached out and snatched the lid of the box from the merchant.
And having closed the lid on the box, he put it in the bag he had prepared beforehand.
“I will give you the deposit. So don’t complain too much.”
“This is ridiculous. Give it back.”
“It would be better not to be stubborn. That is the way to live long.”
Threatening like that, the branch manager got up from his seat.
Leaving the merchant with a look of absurdity, the branch manager went outside the building with his adjutant.
“Let’s go now! Gather everyone!”
He gathered the troops that were scattered around.
Now these troops become the transport team carrying the Red Salt Grass.
“Branch manager, get in.”
“Okay.”
The branch manager got into the carriage, and the adjutant followed.
The Red Salt Grass transport team set off with about a hundred escort troops.
“If you come, come.”
Looking out of the carriage, the branch manager muttered.
Even if the men in black appeared to rob the Red Salt Grass, the branch manager was confident that he could repel them.
The Illusion magic of Dread King, the 9th circle Great Demon, is still threatening, but… I’ve already prepared countermeasures.
“Branch manager, Olters checked the front and said there was no ambush.”
“Then keep moving forward.”
The transport team that left the city entered the forest road.
Since the 7th circle magician, who was an executive of the Southern Branch, checked ahead, they were able to advance with peace of mind.
However, while passing through the middle of the forest.
“Branch manager!”
Olters’ voice, who was leading the way, was heard.
“Someone suddenly appeared and is blocking the way ahead!”
“What?”
For the time being, the branch manager stopped the transport team.
And he put his face out of the carriage and checked ahead.
“It’s been a long time, junior.”
“Hwanwang…!”
A middle-aged man with sharp eyes was blocking the way.
Hwanwang, who had abandoned his mission and disappeared some time ago, suddenly appeared.
“I told you to call me senior.”
“Did you come to rob the Red Salt Grass?”
The branch manager glared at Hwanwang.
He already knew that Hwanwang had joined the men in black.
“Hwanwang, I’m disappointed in you.”
“Disappointed?”
“The Alliance has been considerate of you. Even though you ignored the order and stayed in the South, they just left you alone. But are you betraying them like this?”
Listening to the branch manager’s accusation, Hwanwang just snickered.
“Chief, why do you think I stayed in the Alliance?”
“Yes?”
“As you know, I’m not exactly loyal. It wasn’t like I had any influence inside the Alliance, either. I could have left anytime.”
“….”
“Even so, I stayed… because there were others who aimed for the 10th circle, just like me. I thought that competing with them would help me reach the 10th circle.”
Hwanwang shook his head as he spoke.
“But now I think differently. I think I can reach the 10th circle faster if I leave the Alliance.”
“Why do you think that….”
“Chief.”
Hwanwang pointed to his lower abdomen.
“Can you create a circle in your lower abdomen?”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Can you circulate magic power along a specific path? Not to release it outside your body to use magic, but just to circulate it endlessly inside your body.”
“….”
The chief was perplexed.
“Why would you do that? It’s pointless.”
“It may be pointless to you. But it’s a very important hint to me.”
“A hint?”
“Yes, a hint to reaching the 10th circle. I plan to leave the Alliance to figure this out properly.”
“….”
Hwanwang was smiling.
Looking at him, the chief felt a slight inferiority.
It was an inferiority towards a great mage who was on a higher level than himself, spouting nonsense he couldn’t understand.
“Is that why you’re leaving the Alliance?”
“Yes, I hope you understand.”
“I understand. Honestly, I have no idea what you’re talking about, but it seems like you’ve decided to become a traitor to the Alliance.”
Trying to banish his inferiority from his mind, the chief glared at Hwanwang.
“Very well. I’ll present your head to His Majesty the Sun Emperor, along with the Crimson Grass.”
“You’ll give my head to that Sun guy?”
“Do you think it’s impossible?”
Hwanwang is a great mage of the 9th circle.
On the other hand, the chief is still at the 8th circle.
There is a big gap between mages below the 6th circle and mages at the 7th circle or higher.
However, there is an even bigger gap between mages below the 8th circle and great mages of the 9th circle.
Normally, an 8th circle mage cannot defeat a 9th circle great mage.
However…
“Do you think His Majesty the Sun Emperor would have sent me to the South without any preparations?”
“What?”
The chief took out a vial from his arms and threw it on the floor.
As the vial broke, purple smoke began to spread around them.
“It’s smoke that interferes with illusion magic by creating magical noise. I heard that it was difficult to get from the Poison King.”
“From the Poison King…?”
The king’s expression hardened.
The branch manager smiled satisfactorily as he watched him.
The king was a great mage who had only studied illusion magic.
If he couldn’t use illusion magic properly, his fighting power would be reduced by half or more.
“His Majesty, the King of Salt, anticipated that you would cause trouble like this someday.”
“……”
“Even we can easily subdue someone like you who can’t use illusion magic.”
Elite soldiers, including Altes, had already surrounded the king.
Even if the king used his 9th-circle magic power to counterattack, he wouldn’t be able to withstand it if he couldn’t use illusion magic.
“What do you think, Your Majesty?”
The branch manager said, provoking him.
“Attacking us to steal the Red Flame Grass… It was just a suicide mission.”
“You’re mistaken.”
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The king’s cold voice rang out.
“I had no intention of stealing the Red Flame Grass. I had no intention of attacking you either.”
“Wh-what…?”
“You said it was smoke that interferes with illusion magic, right? That’s perfect.”
The king nodded and said,
“Open the box.”
“The box…?”
The branch manager had a bad feeling.
He hurriedly gestured to his adjutant to open the box.
“Ack…!”
A scream burst from the adjutant’s mouth.
There was still a red herb in the box… but its shape was slightly different from before.
“No way…!”
“I colored and reshaped another herb, then disguised it once more with illusion magic.”
The king’s leisurely voice was heard.
“Its true form was revealed because the illusion magic was dispelled by the magical noise.”
“……!”
The Red Flame Grass was fake.
In that case… did that mean that this was all a trap from the beginning?
“Your Majesty…!”
“Well then, I’ll be taking my leave.”
The king said calmly.
“I never intended to fight you from the beginning. I owe you a debt of gratitude for what you’ve done for me.”
“……!”
Thud!
Suddenly, flames began to rise up around them.
It wasn’t an illusion spell. It was real fire.
Someone had cast a high-powered fire spell.
“Chief!”
“The flames are too strong!”
The convoy was currently in the middle of a forest path.
They were in danger of being burned to death in the forest.
“I’ll leave the rest to the others….”
“……!”
Huanwang had suddenly disappeared.
He had escaped the encirclement without using an illusion spell.
“Chief! We need to get out of here first… Ugh!”
The aide who had raised his voice collapsed with a scream.
A sharp dart was embedded in the aide’s neck.
The chief hurriedly checked the direction from which the dart had come.
A man was standing on a burning tree with his arms crossed.
He was wearing black clothes and his face was completely covered by a hood and mask.
“Who the hell are you!?”
“Curious?”
Just then.
One by one, new figures appeared from the flames.
They were all men in identical black clothes.
When they had checked earlier, there had definitely been no ambush, but now they were surrounded by numerous men in black.
“You don’t need to know.”
The chief felt like he was going to lose his mind from the voices coming from all around him.