Chapter 93. If You Want to Make Me Addicted
“It’s true that the Western Branch Manager changed a while ago.”
Gartus, who had bandages wrapped around his upper body, said as he drank water.
“The former Branch Manager… was someone who learned swordsmanship from the ‘Sword Master’ of the Alliance. I also received some instruction from him.”
“Did you pass that on to your subordinates and acquaintances?”
“Yes, originally, I have a personality where if I learn a new technique, I teach it to others.”
Gartus said, scratching his head.
“Hey, what happened to the former Branch Manager?”
Hwanwang asked Gartus a question.
“Was he replaced because he couldn’t handle the Black Iron Alliance properly?”
“That’s not it.”
“What? Did he die fighting the Black Iron Alliance?”
“That’s not it either.”
Gartus said with a complicated expression.
“He surrendered to the Black Iron Alliance. With his close confidants.”
“……”
Hwanwang’s mouth fell open.
Sirius asked instead.
“Gartus, is that true?”
“Yes, Sirius. I heard it from someone in the Western Branch, so it’s certain.”
“Why did he go over to the Black Iron Alliance?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he had some kind of ambition?”
“Ambition…”
“Rumor has it he’s being treated as the No. 2 of the Black Iron Alliance.”
Sirius glanced at Hwanwang after hearing those words.
“That branch manager, what was his rank when he was in the Alliance?”
“Not even in the top 10. No, he wouldn’t even be in the top 20.”
Hwanwang answered, crossing his arms.
“But even so, the No. 2 position in the Black Iron Alliance shouldn’t be better than that… .”
“Excuse me, who are you? You seem to know the Alliance’s internal affairs so well?”
Sirius calmly replied when Gartus asked.
“It’s better not to be curious.”
“I-Is that so?”
“Anyway, who’s in charge of the Western Branch now? There must be a new branch manager.”
“I’m not sure about that either. I haven’t heard from them yet.”
“You haven’t heard from them?”
“Yes, so the Black Guilds under the Western Branch’s influence are all confused. It seems that many organizations are trying to switch over to the Black Iron Alliance while they have the chance.”
“….”
“Some people think the Alliance has completely given up on the West.”
Sirius met eyes with Hwanwang.
“What do you think?”
“I don’t know.”
Hwanwang said, rubbing his chin.
“Sirius, you must have noticed it too… The Alliance headquarters doesn’t really care that much about each branch.”
“That seems to be the case.”
“It’s not impossible that they’ve given up on the West. But the guy who was the branch manager betrayed them and joined another organization… He won’t just quietly step aside.”
In fact, as soon as the Alliance confirmed Hwanwang’s betrayal, they sent an assassin who reported directly to the Storm King.
They wouldn’t just leave the branch manager who defected to the Black Iron Alliance alone.
“Excuse me… What do you plan to do in the future, Sirius-nim? Are you going to fight the Alliance here too? In that case, it might be better to join hands with the Black Iron Alliance…”
Gartus suggested, but Sirius shook his head.
“Gartus, I’m not fighting to overthrow the Alliance in particular.”
“What?”
“I’m fighting to create a new order in the world. I’ve been fighting the Alliance because they’re the ones who are making a mess of the world.”
Sirius said calmly.
“If the Black Iron Alliance is also making a mess of the world, then they’re my enemy too.”
“…..!”
Gartus gulped.
That was because Sirius had just declared that both the Alliance and the Black Iron Alliance could become his enemies.
“T-Then what should we…”
“Gartus, you don’t have to worry too much.”
I have no intention of using these guys in the fight against the Black Iron Alliance or the Alliance.
Gartus would be enough of a force… but I don’t need him right now.
“Just focus on contributing to your local community as a member of the Cheonrang Sword Clan.”
“aaah….”
“So far, you’ve been living the life of a Dark Guild member, so it might be awkward, but you’ll get used to it soon.”
Since Aleion is an expert in this, I’m sure he’ll help me adapt well.
“For now, we should start by resetting the escort contracts that we’ve made with various clans and merchants.”
“Yes, sir. I understand.”
“Right now, there’s a representative from the Cheonrangpyo Kingdom at the Granz family’s territory. Go and talk to him yourself.”
“Cheonrangpyo Kingdom…?”
“You haven’t heard of it?”
“Ah, I’ve heard of it. It’s an organization led by a woman…”
Gartus nodded and said,
“When her husband turns an area upside down, she swoops in and sweeps away all the industries in the area. They’re a fearsome duo… I heard about them from a merchant who came from the south a while ago.”
“….”
He’s not wrong… but somehow, that doesn’t sit well with me.
* * *
After giving instructions for the future, Sirius and Hwanwang left the Gartus Mercenary Corps’ fortress.
When they came, they used light magic and flight magic, but now, they were just walking together.
It was because they needed to exchange opinions.
“Is there no chance that Geomje will move personally?”
“He’s not a guy who’s so easily provoked. He’s not the type to fly into a rage just because his disciple betrayed him.”
“He seems like a man of few desires.”
“But his subordinates will think differently. They might already be moving to kill the traitor.”
Hwanwang said, stroking his chin.
“Even so, the new branch manager will be someone unrelated to Geomje.”
“The Western Branch was under Geomje’s faction, so after what happened, that position will naturally go to another faction.”
“Right. And the Noje and Yeomje factions lost the Eastern and Southern Branches, so it’s unlikely to be them.”
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“Then, which faction do you think will send the new branch manager?”
“….”
Hwanwang thought for a moment in response to Sirius’ question.
“Sirius, there used to be three Emperors and five Kings in the Alliance. Of course, with me gone, there are only four Kings now.”
“….”
“Excluding Geomje, Yeomje, and Noje… that leaves four factions.”
Hwanwang said in a curt voice.
“There are those who follow the Dokwang, Pungwang, Bingwang (Ice King), and Sawang (Death King)… The new branch manager will come from among them.”
Dokwang, Pungwang, Bingwang, Sawang.
They were the leaders of the Alliance who were on par with Hwanwang.
“However, Bingwang is already in charge of the Northern Region, and Sawang isn’t interested in branch affairs… so it’s likely to be either Dokwang or Pungwang.”
“Then….”
Sirius lowered his voice and asked,
“Is there no chance that Dokwang or Pungwang will come here in person?”
“What?”
“You were in charge of the southern branch office in the past, weren’t you, Hwanwang?”
“Well…”
Hwanwang pondered for a moment.
“No, that’s because I didn’t have any subordinates. Dokwang and Pungwang, who have many subordinates, wouldn’t be able to come to the western region in person…”
Hwanwang’s words were cut off in mid-sentence.
A procession of wagons appeared in front of them.
Hwanwang stepped aside to avoid a collision with the procession.
“Oh, thank you.”
The coachman driving the lead wagon took off his hat and bowed.
Hwanwang gestured for him to pass quickly.
However, Sirius immediately reached into his arms.
“Tsk!”
Screech!
A throwing knife flew through the air and lodged itself in the coachman’s neck.
Hwanwang’s eyes widened at the sight.
“You madman, what the hell…”
However, Hwanwang’s words were cut short.
Black-clad figures emerged from the cargo of the wagons.
“They’re Pungwang’s assassins.”
“Damn it…”
Cursing, Hwanwang stepped back.
While Hwanwang created an afterimage, Sirius drew his sword and stepped forward.
Clang!
The lightning-infused sword struck, and the assassins fell one after another.
Sirius’s movements were swift and decisive.
“Hwanwang, I’ll take care of the rest.”
“What?”
Sirius charged over the wagons, cutting through the assassins.
The strongest magical energy was coming from the end of the procession.
The one there must be the real one.
As he ran with that conviction…
“……!”
He caught a whiff of a strange smell.
Sirius twisted his body instantly.
He used his lightness skill to forcibly distance himself from the wagon.
Boom!
The wagon exploded in that instant.
There were no flames, just thick smoke billowing out in all directions.
“This is…!”
A pungent smell hung in the air.
Recognizing the true nature of the smoke, the emperor raised his voice.
“Sirius, it’s poison!”
The emperor hastily created a wind with his magic to try to blow away the poison.
However, the assassins of the Wind King spread a whirlwind magic to obstruct the emperor.
“Ugh…!”
“Your Majesty, step back for now.”
“Oh, I understand…!”
Covering his face with his hand, the emperor retreated backward.
Then Sirius threw his daggers at the assassins hiding in the smoke.
“Keugh!”
Sirius moved freely, pushing away the smoke with his sword energy.
As one assassin approached from the side, he tore off the guy’s mask with his electrified left palm and sent it flying into the smoke.
The guy immediately collapsed, vomiting blood.
“It seems that the mask can block the poison.”
The assassins of the Wind King used poison.
Moreover, they were equipped with gas masks that could block the poison.
What did this mean?
“Have the Wind King and the Poison King joined hands?”
Thud!
Figures sprang out from the last carriage.
Not one, but two.
“Those guys…!”
The emperor’s urgent voice could be heard from the rear.
“Shiroque and Ballaria! They’re close confidants of the Wind King and the Poison King!”
A wrinkled old man with fluttering clothes.
A young woman in red holding a fan.
The gazes of the two turned to the emperor.
“Long time no see, Your Majesty the Emperor.”
“I’m glad to see you’re in good health.”
“Why are you two working together? Have the Wind King and the Poison King joined hands?”
The two didn’t answer the emperor’s question.
They just smiled.
“Sirius Canisroot.”
Shiroque’s gaze turned to Sirius.
“Your name has been mentioned a lot at the alliance headquarters. There were various opinions on how to deal with you.”
“So the Wind King’s faction and the Poison King’s faction decided to deal with it together?”
“That’s right. You’re out of luck.”
“Were the two factions close to begin with?”
“That’s not it.”
Shiroque shook his head.
“This time, the Phoenix King will be in charge of the Western Branch. He promised to give the Poison King a share as well… So, an alliance was formed on the spot.”
“What, what did you say?”
Emperor Hwan raised his voice.
“The Phoenix King will be in charge of the Western Branch? Does that mean he’s coming to the West in person?”
“Yes, Emperor Hwan.”
The Phoenix King is coming to the West.
That means not only the Phoenix King’s assassins but also his most trusted confidants may appear.
And… there’s a chance of clashing with the Phoenix King himself.
“Isn’t the West already in chaos? What if the branch manager suddenly betrays us? What if those guys from the Black Iron Alliance cause trouble for no reason… Since Emperor Hwan and Sirius Canis Lupus have also come to the West, the Phoenix King has decided to take charge of the situation himself.”
“Tch…!”
“Well, we’re trying to solve it with our own strength so that the Phoenix King won’t be bothered.”
As he said that, Shiroque turned his head.
“Valaria, are we there yet?”
“We’re almost there, Shiroque.”
Valaria covered her face with a fan and smiled.
Her red dress, her fan, and her overall atmosphere… I could tell that she was someone like Verdian’s sister.
“Sirius, it seems that Verdian owes you a debt of gratitude.”
“Are you close to Verdian?”
“Close? Well, I don’t know if you can call it close when you’re trying to kill each other to win the Poison King’s favor.”
As she said that, Valaria folded her fan.
“After I kill you, I plan to go and take care of Verdian myself.”
“Do you think you can do that?”
“Hoho… Sirius.”
Valaria smiled.
“You’re already addicted.”
Emperor Hwan’s gasp could be heard from behind.
“You’ve been trying to move around while inhaling as little smoke as possible… but the truth is, the smoke was just a trick. Of course, it’s highly toxic.”
“….”
“The real poison is the colorless, odorless, delayed-action poison that I’ve been gently blowing towards you, following the wind’s flow.”
Valaria smiled and approached Sirius.
“You thought that if you didn’t inhale the thick smoke, you’d be fine? While you were feeling reassured, the delayed-action poison was seeping into your nose and mouth. It’s about time the effects started to show… Can’t you move your arms or legs?”
Valaria, who had approached him, poked Sirius’ chest with her fan.
And she whispered in a voice that was several times more seductive than Verdian’s.
“Don’t worry. It’s a poison that will kill you without any pain. It might be a little scary, but that’s about it…”
“Did you say your name was Valaria?”
“Yes?”
“That’s too bad.”
Thud!
Valaria’s neck snapped and she collapsed to the ground.
Valaria died with a look of disbelief on her face.
Aside from the hazy smoke, I had already noticed a peculiar smell wafting in the air.
Valaria acted confident, claiming it was an odorless poison, but Sirius’s senses could detect even the faintest of smells.
“A poison of that caliber can’t kill me, Valaria.”
The only poison that could kill Sirius, who could neutralize it with his internal energy, was the Formless Fingertip Poison that had once addicted the peerless swordsman Baek Moo-rang in his past life.
“If you want to poison me, you should have at least brought the Poison Lord himself.”
“……!”
Sirius, who showed no signs of being poisoned at all, struck Valaria down.
Shiroque gasped at the sight.