Chapter 97: Have him come under me
“Ugh!”
Noitman regained consciousness in the inn room.
Berdian had put him to sleep with a potion and brought him to a nearby inn.
Noitman’s subordinates were densely packed in this area, but since Hwanwang had deceived their eyes with his welcoming magic, none of them had stopped them.
“Are you awake?”
“Si, Sirius……?”
Recalling the name Berdian had mentioned earlier, Noitman trembled.
“Yes, I’m Sirius, the one you tried to kill.”
“……!”
Before losing consciousness, Noitman had ordered his subordinates to kill Sirius by any means necessary if he appeared.
“Noitman, I actually had no intention of fighting you.”
Looking down at Noitman’s face, Sirius said.
“I just thought I’d say hello since you’re the one managing the Black Iron Alliance forces in this vicinity… I wasn’t planning on fighting you guys right now.”
He wasn’t lying.
When he had met Bolkanik’s group on the mountain path and given them money on top of that to get information about Noitman, he hadn’t had any intention of launching a surprise attack.
“After greeting you, I wanted to hear more about the Black Iron Alliance. Especially since the Lord of the Black Iron Alliance… seems to be more ambitious and thoughtful than I expected.”
After saying that, Sirius let out a short sigh.
“But when I actually went to meet you, you were planning to kill me. What did I do wrong to you?”
“Si, Sirius, just a moment…….”
“The world is a cruel place, isn’t it?”
When Sirius turned his head, Noitman looked in that direction as well.
There, Berith was diligently swinging his training sword.
“704,231… 704,232… What was it?”
“……!”
A madman swinging an iron club inside the inn room.
Noitman gulped at the sight.
“Anyway, Noitman.”
Sirius looked back at Noitman.
“You tried to kill me even though I’ve done nothing wrong to you. So what should I do with you?”
“Si, Sirius, just a moment.”
Noitman hurriedly raised his body.
He still felt the effects of the potion, so he staggered, but he desperately moved his body to kneel.
“I, I was wrong. Please spare my life.”
“Spare your life? Then, is it okay to ruin everything else?”
“Wha…”
“Your fortune, your organization, is it okay if all of it disappears?”
“……!”
Neutman’s pupils shook.
“I’m kidding, Neutman.”
“Wh, what?”
“I looked around this area, and it’s more stable than I thought. Is this how the areas that the Black Iron Alliance manages feel?”
“Th, that’s right.”
Neutman said urgently.
“The Lord despises disorder. That’s why someone like me takes on the role of a middle manager. So…”
“You’re saying that if I kill you, this area will fall into chaos. I know.”
When I met Volcanic’s group on the mountain path, I felt it too, but the Black Iron Alliance seemed to be operating under proper discipline.
Of course, that would be in preparation for when the Black Iron Alliance comes to rule the entire West.
“But, Neutman. You have to pay the price for trying to take my life.”
From Noble mtl dot com
Saying that, Sirius looked back at Vellid.
“Seventy thousand four hundred thirty-nine… seventy thousand four hundred forty…”
Neutman’s body trembled as he looked at Vellid.
“Si, Sirius, why do you keep looking at that person?”
“Well, why do you think?”
“…….”
Neutman shut his mouth and made a frightened expression.
He’s scared that Sirius will throw him to that crazy guy.
“Then, Neutman.”
Sirius took out a pen and paper that he had prepared in advance and handed it to him.
“Whether you can return safely tonight or not… depends on how much you fill this paper.”
“What…?”
“Today’s topic is the Black Iron Alliance. Write everything you know about the Black Iron Alliance.”
“……!”
“You seem to have a fairly high position in the Black Iron Alliance. And it’s not because you’re good at fighting, but because you’re good at handling situations. So, you must know a lot.”
Neutman opened his eyes wide and stared at Sirius.
However, Sirius continued to speak without paying any attention.
“Honestly, there’s a lot I’m curious about. I haven’t been in the West for long, so I don’t know much about the Black Iron Alliance. So, I’d like you to tell me everything in as much detail as possible.”
“Si, Sirius…”
“Write about what kind of person Zephyros, the head of the Black Iron Alliance, is, who’s under him, where the headquarters is, what the future goals are, etc… Write down everything that’s in your head.”
Sirius put the pen in Neutman’s hand.
“Whether I talk to the Black Iron Alliance or fight them, whatever happens… write it in detail so that I can refer to it in any situation.”
“Ah, but how can I…”
“If I see that you’re mixing even a little bit of falsehood or omitting important information…”
Sirius’s gaze turned back to Vellid.
Vellid was still engrossed in the Three Thousand Swordsmanship practice.
“Seven hundred forty-five thousand two hundred forty-five…seven hundred forty-five thousand two hundred forty-six…”
Sirius spoke to Noyteman, who was watching Vellid with bated breath, in a flat voice.
“If it looks like that, that guy will start using you as a ‘practice tool’. All night long.”
“……!”
He would have been less scared if he had just said he would kill him.
But now Sirius was saying he would hand Noyteman over to a madman who was swinging an iron club ten thousand times.
Noyteman trembled as he imagined getting hit by the iron club all night long.
“Then, Noyteman.”
Sirius patted Noyteman on the shoulder.
“Don’t expect a masterpiece. We have plenty of paper, so tell me if you run out.”
“…….”
After encouraging him like that, Sirius left the room.
He left Noyteman alone beside Vellid, who was brandishing the wooden sword like crazy.
* * *
Early the next morning.
Sirius woke up and checked the documents Noyteman had written.
There was quite a lot of it, probably because he had written it all night long.
“Noyteman, is all of this true?”
“O-of course. I swear.”
Noyteman, looking exhausted, nodded hurriedly.
“If even a little bit of it is wrong later, you will pay the price.”
“I, I really wrote it all truthfully. But I can’t help it if there are parts I was mistaken about……”
“I can tell the difference, so don’t worry about it.”
As expected, he was able to obtain a lot of information about the Black Iron Alliance.
It seemed like he wouldn’t have to go around gathering information for the time being.
However, there was almost no information about the part he was most curious about…the ‘Western Branch Manager of the Alliance who surrendered to the Black Iron Alliance’.
“Noyteman.”
Sirius spoke, glancing over the papers once more.
“That guy Zephyros, the leader of the Black Iron Alliance…does he want to be a monarch?”
“M, monarch?”
“I mean, does he want to be a ruler who reigns over everyone?”
Judging from the contents written on the paper, that was the only conclusion he could draw.
“No, it’s no use asking you. I’d better meet Zephyros in person and ask him.”
Sirius muttered as he整理ed the pile of papers.
“Good work, Noyteman. You can go now.”
“R, really?”
“This is enough. I’ll forget about the fact that you tried to kill me, too.”
“Ah……!”
Now, with a look of relief, Noitman’s eyes filled with tears.
“Noitman, if you want to report this incident to the Black Iron Alliance, go ahead.”
“What?”
“Even if you do, don’t worry, I won’t retaliate.”
“Hmm…”
“But if you do, you’ll have to tell me everything you know.”
“……!”
Sirius didn’t care either way.
In fact, it would be better if he reported it to the Black Iron Alliance.
That way, the Black Iron Alliance would take full action.
“Think it over and decide.”
“Oh, I understand…”
Noitman tried to leave with a trembling expression.
But…
“Wait a minute.”
“……!”
Noitman was startled when Sirius suddenly grabbed his shoulder.
“What, what’s the matter? Can I go now? I’ve told you everything I know…”
“Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with you.”
Sirius said as he dragged Noitman along.
“Noitman, hide in the inn for a while.”
“What…?”
“That’s how you’ll survive.”
Sirius had given him this advice, but if he acted recklessly and died, it would be Noitman’s fate.
Sirius left Noitman behind and went down to the first floor of the inn.
Huanwang, Berid, and Berdian were already gathered there.
“Sirius, now…”
“I already sensed it.”
A powerful magical force had suddenly become noticeable.
A powerful wizard had suddenly appeared nearby.
And there was more than one.
“I heard the sound of something flying through the air. It was a powerful flying spell.”
Huanwang said in a firm voice.
“They are the Wind King’s men.”
“……”
Sirius opened the door of the inn and went outside.
It was too early in the morning, and there were no passersby.
But… there was an old man with white hair standing across the street.
He was holding a metal staff with several round rings attached to it.
“Long time no see, Your Majesty Huanwang.”
“Damn, it’s Garibaldi.”
Garibaldi.
The Emperor of Delusion had said that he was the strongest among the Wind Emperor’s close aides.
Just like Sirocco last time, he wore fluttering clothes, but to Sirius, he seemed like a celestial being.
“You left the Alliance and traveled with children… It seems you’re enjoying your life.”
“I didn’t exactly leave the Alliance. I’m just acting as I always do, but you guys treated me like a traitor.”
“Does that mean you still feel a sense of belonging to the Alliance?”
“Well, I don’t think I ever had a sense of belonging in the first place.”
“You’re still a master of wordplay, hahahaha.”
As Garibaldi stroked his beard and laughed, this time a voice came from the left.
“Garibaldi, it’s a waste of time responding to the Emperor of Delusion’s nonsense.”
“You’re still as arrogant as ever, Casper.”
On the path to the left stood a woman with a face full of scars.
She was impressive with six swords strapped to her waist at the same time.
“Emperor of Delusion, you’re a traitor no matter how you look at it. They say you played a big role when the Southern Branch was destroyed?”
“I didn’t do it myself that time. It was Sirius and his men here who did it.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. How can we believe that?”
Casper also had the magical power of the 8th circle.
However, unlike the six swords she wore on her waist, she didn’t have the physique of a swordsman who usually wielded a sword.
“Casper, you said it was a waste of time yourself, but you’re also arguing with the Emperor of Delusion. Calm down.”
“Bastarian…”
This time, a voice came from the right.
A man with a fierce expression was blocking the path to the right.
He was carrying a large sword on his back, and he seemed like a magic swordsman who could handle a sword properly.
Furthermore… he also had the magical power of the 8th circle.
“The Emperor of Delusion, Sirius, and even Berdian… All three of you are here. This is a chance to deal with them all at once, Garibaldi.”
“That’s right, Bastarian.”
Garibaldi stroked his beard at Bastarian’s words and said,
“Well, then… I have a proposal here.”
“A proposal?”
“All three of you surrender. I will guarantee your safety.”
Garibaldi said as he tapped the ground with his staff.
“However, only on the condition that you come under His Majesty the Wind Emperor. His Majesty the Emperor of Delusion, Sirius, and Berdian… Come under His Majesty the Wind Emperor.”
“What are you going to do?”
“You must contribute to His Majesty the Wind Emperor’s great cause.”
Great cause.
It was the same word Berdian had mentioned when he tried to persuade Sirius before.
“I’m making this offer because I think you’re all valuable people. What do you think?”
“You’re asking a very useless question, Garibaldi.”
The Emperor of Delusion said with a snort.
“I was a ‘King’ in the Alliance. How can you ask me to serve another king? Don’t make me laugh.”
Hwanwang glared at Verdiant as he spoke.
“Verdiant, what about you? Will you return to the Alliance by serving under the Storm King?”
“If I return to the Alliance… it would be under the command of His Majesty, the Poison Monarch.”
Verdiant spoke with a stiff voice.
“I have no intention of becoming the Storm King’s subordinate, Garbaldi.”
“Hmm…”
Garbaldi’s gaze turned to Sirius after being rejected by the Alliance’s traitors.
“Sirius, what about you?”
“……”
“Even if you join the Storm King, you can continue what you’ve been doing. Wipe out all of the Black Guilds in the West and even topple the Black Iron Alliance. The Storm King will not interfere with that.”
Verdiant had once said similar words before.
He said that nothing would change much if Sirius joined the Alliance, and that he would only need to help the Alliance from time to time.
“Think carefully, Sirius.”
“……”
“You’ve been fortunate enough to continue winning victories until now. However, you will eventually face ruin if you turn the Alliance into your enemy.”
Garbaldi spoke in a gentle voice.
“So let’s reconcile this time. Let’s join hands with the Alliance and work towards a greater goal.”
As he spoke, Garbaldi actually reached out his hand towards Sirius.
Sirius slowly opened his mouth as he stared blankly at that hand.
“Reconciling and joining hands with the Alliance… It’s not a bad idea.”
“Wh, what, Sirius?”
Beliard, who had been listening from behind, was shocked.
“What are you talking about? Reconciling with the Alliance?”
“Beliard, it’s good if we can solve a problem without fighting.”
“Hey…!”
Sirius ignored Beliard, who was raising his voice, and turned his gaze to Garbaldi.
“Garbaldi, I’m willing to accept your offer if you grant just one condition.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
Garbaldi’s eyes lit up as if he had received a more positive response than he had expected.
“Tell me. If it’s a condition that we can meet, we will grant it to you.”
“It’s not that difficult. All you have to do is get permission from the Storm King.”
“From His Majesty, the Storm King…?”
Sirius spoke in a cold voice.
“I cannot serve under the Storm King, so tell the Storm King to serve under me. Then we can erase the conflict between us and reconcile.”
“……”
Silence fell.
Garbaldi, Casper, and Bastarian all remained silent.
Only the soundless anger and killing intent filled the morning streets.