Chapter 108
cold winter (3)
step by step-
A carriage was pulling into a ruined village.
Crops were all messed up, and not a single building was intact.
Awesome!
Then the carriage stopped midway, and the door slowly opened and Ed Troyvan got out.
“Sigh… … .”
As he exhaled lightly, he heard a voice calling him from behind.
“How did it feel to breathe the outside air after a long time?”
Ed turned to it and lowered his head.
An old man with a long beard like a freshman, wearing silk clothes that are popular in the East, was approaching accompanied by two sturdy escorts.
“father.”
“I am curious about your feelings.”
“mess… … It was.”
“And?”
“I had a feeling that something big was about to explode. It felt like a completely different world.”
Ed remembered the towns he had seen while leaving the north and entering the eastern region.
Most of them had a similar appearance to this ghost town.
A world where crops are ruined and displaced people wander about.
“Was it like this?”
“yes.”
The old man, Granada Troyban, nodded heavily with his hands behind his back.
“Recently, natural disasters that have suddenly occurred all over the world are ruining everything. As the sea level rose, entire low-lying areas were submerged, or the ice cap melted and buried mountain areas with silt. In the southern plains, a sudden cold sea hit, while in the east, locust swarms flooded and ruined the crops sown in the spring.”
Ed recalled one by one the current state of the empire he had heard about through an intelligence agency.
“A sudden change in ocean currents disrupts the active distribution of logistics… … An epidemic broke out and destroyed a city where hundreds of thousands of people lived. And yet the empire.”
Granada’s tone was calm.
But Ed didn’t miss the rage that lay thickly underneath.
“That emperor is making a mess of the administrative system, living only with clerks and eunuchs. Thanks to this, there are signs of civil riots everywhere. Those with ambition openly think about independence.”
“There must be a reason why the Church of the Holy Spirit has spread so rapidly recently.”
“Because there is no place for the people to rely on as much as religion in this chaotic era.”
Granada and Ed were holding hands with the Holy Magic Church out of necessity, but inwardly they despised them.
“A great war will come soon.”
Daejeonran.
That one word hit Ed’s heart hard.
“And then a bigger… … There will come a huge wave that no one can resist. from the north.”
“… … .”
“We have a duty to make it right. There is a responsibility. That is why Ragnar, who is behind the times, must disappear and Troyban must stand upright.”
Granada’s eyes shone viciously.
“The key to that is the remains of the Great Dragon. An ancient mystery that foolish Ragnar is unable to properly solve. Did you bring it?”
“Here it is.”
Ed beckoned, and the waiting attendant quickly put the chest down on the floor and opened the lid wide.
Inside was a long broadsword wrapped around a chain.
There was a difference in Granada’s eyes.
“It’s a dragon’s sword.”
“This is it.”
“I’ve touched several artifacts in the meantime, but I can assure you that they will not compare to their value.”
“It’s true, though, that all the relics I’ve collected so far were stupidly stolen.”
“… … .”
“Along with this, I missed the artifacts of the Rose Palace that I had to secure. I think it’s hard to say that it’s a business that’s not that much for losing Emile.”
“… … I have no face.”
Ed bowed his head deeply.
“It happened. What would be different if we talked about the past?”
Granada waved lightly in the air.
Tadadadang!
Then the chains broke all at once, and the sword floated into the air.
At the same time, Granada pulled out a blue key from the inside of her wide sleeve.
For a moment, Ed’s eyes lit up.
‘That’s the master key to unlocking the artifact… … ! That’s what you said you received from him!’
thump thump!
Will he be able to get a glimpse of the mystery of an artifact he has never been able to open?
“Dragon Slayer Demonic Sword… … Are you really coming back here?”
Ed nodded heavily.
“I can tell you on my name. That child is definitely the ＜chooser＞ of the time.”
“You mean that? He must be very pleased.”
For the first time, a satisfied smile appeared on Granada’s lips.
“Then let’s begin.”
Granada took the blue key towards the sword.
* * *
After Kyle’s order to summon the 9 dragons.
Julius had a very tired face.
Because there were so many things to do.
Preparing for the war with Troyban, distributing and planning the power of the Baek Gap Dragon Corps, handling the dispute with the Senate, etc.
If there was anything that made me feel good, it was what the senate announced yesterday.
-The Senate will close all functions for the next year, and all the elders will also step down from their positions and serve only in the war against Troy Ban in the same position as the trainee swordsman.
It was, in effect, a declaration of surrender.
The Senate would have had to do whatever it took to remain a respected place in the future.
“… … So, I thought I was going to work comfortably now.”
Julius looked at the papers in his hand and narrowed his brows.
The cover read:
-Independent operation plan.
“Are you throwing me another pile of work?”
where he was looking
Theo stood in his engrossed posture.
“sorry.”
“Am I really sorry? Are your lips smiling?”
“this. I made a mistake. I will correct it.”
“… … I didn’t put it under Evelyn. A child who was so sincere has changed in just a few months.”
Julius threw down the papers and asked a question.
“I don’t want to read more typefaces, so I’ll explain briefly. What is the single operation you want to proceed with?”
“Do you know ‘Venotta’?”
“Do you mean the shipping federation located in the autonomous territory of the floating archipelago in the northwest?”
“To be precise, it refers to a free city run by the three largest merchant families, Spinola, Grimal, and Lomelin, who stand at the top of the Shipping Federation.”
“Well, anyway. Why are you there?”
The only place Julius is interested in is the northern part, which is in charge of the Baekgap Dragon Corps.
The rest of the region paid no attention at all.
But this was also the attitude most northerners had.
Even within the Empire, the unique temperament of the northerners was different from that of the other peoples of the Empire, enough to be evaluated as having established a separate civilization and kingdom.
“There was a black rumor sharing information that the money flow that flowed into the Black Skull started there.”
“what?”
Only then did Julius react.
Black Skull. A terrorist who lost many of the members of Section 5.
“So I’m going to investigate it myself.”
“… … Investigation is the realm of black snow.”
“I have already received permission from the Director of Information.”
‘This old man is real.’
Julius gnashed his teeth.
Also, doesn’t it mean that the black dragon secretly met Theo without his knowledge?
“But isn’t that all the information you know right now? Dangerous. It is a very difficult position for us to provide assistance when needed. Wait until he gathers a little more information from the black snow.”
“I understand that the main role of the 5th group of the Baekgap Yonggidae was originally to carry out special missions. Isn’t it possible to operate alone from the actual battle test?”
“That’s when the captain decided it was enough to carry out the operation and approved it.”
“Captain.”
“no. Dangerous. go back.”
Julius held out the papers to the road.
“The Dominion of the Floating Islands is out of our reach in the first place. It is wealthy enough to say that the world’s money is collecting all the money, but it is also a lawless area where many runaway slaves and refugees live. Aren’t you openly in the navy and full of madmen enough to hire pirates?”
“… … .”
“And yet, Black Skulls are people whose identities have not yet been clearly identified. Its power must be much greater than what is currently perceived, so what are you going to do by going there alone?”
Julius’s eyes looked as if they would pour out flames at any moment.
“yes. You can do anything. I’m sure you have thoughts that you haven’t told me. Still, dangerous is dangerous.”
Theo could read the sincerity in Julius’ screams.
worry.
He sincerely thought of himself as a disciple, a child, and a subordinate.
But.
‘So I have to do more.’
Right after he found out that the Black Skull’s source of money was in Venota.
Theo was able to recall several facts about the meaning of the Shipping Federation in his past life memories.
– The source of funds for the Holy Demon Church.
– The center of the civil uprising that took place in various places.
-Behind the Great War.
‘Is it a coincidence that the terrorist Black Skull is related to Benotta?’
Still, I had one more thought.
-If the Black Skull is one of the swords hidden by Benotta, why did Troy Ban and the Black Skull, who were enemies of each other even before the Battle of Fortress Blanky, come to be together in the Great War?
It was clear that there was a conspiracy of which he was unaware.
‘If I figured it out, I’d be able to occupy a more advantageous high point.’
It was also the reason Theo stayed up all night for the past few days to organize his solo operation plan.
‘I’ll be able to solve the secret about the dragon slaughter sword.’
Black Skull.
Finding them was a priority.
“This is what I need, Captain.”
“… … .”
Seeing Theo’s eyes, Julius kept his mouth shut.
“I can’t say for sure, but this is definitely related to Troy Ban. Please allow me to move.”
Julius’ tightly closed lips still did not open.
“And this is also the first drink to lay my foundation.”
“… … !”
Only then did Julius’s mouth open.
A deep sigh that flows spontaneously.
“… … good. I can’t help but say it that way. Please do not reapply for this operation only. However, there is still very little information on this matter, so we have to cooperate with Heukseol.”
“Yes. I will keep that in mind.”
Awesome!
Julius thought deep down that this was the same as pushing Theo directly into the mouth of the black dragon with his own hands.
What can I do though? The disciple is saying that it is absolutely necessary, but you have to listen.
The belief that making Theo the next head of household was for Ragnar’s sake was already firmly embedded in Julius’ head.
finally,
Julius stamped his seal on the document in large letters.
bang!
-sanction.
“And I’ll send reinforcements as gunners.”
“thank you.”
“I can’t give you much. Because of this operation, the general mobilization order was dropped.”
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. then.”
Theo lowered his head as he packed his papers and left the office.
Kirik-
Julius turned the chair the other way and looked at the window.
Snowflakes were falling from the sky.
“If I go this time, the year will pass, so I’ll be back when I’m sixteen.”
What will Theo look like at a new age?
I think I’m already looking forward to it,
Julius involuntarily gave a small smile.
* * *
Theo’s preparations were quick.
‘If the person behind the Black Skull was the real Venotta, there must have been a conspiracy to get Venotta attached to Troyban.’
It was because I thought there was not much time left.
‘Since Troyban started moving much earlier than in the original history, it’s highly likely that the conspiracy against Venota has already begun. Cut it off, and turn Venota to me if possible.’
If you were worried about not knowing for sure how crazy the butterfly effect was, I was.
Still, Theo believed that he could somehow manage to improvise.
“Are you leaving already, son? It’s a pity that there’s not much time left before the shop opens. The New Year is not too far away.”
Cecilia looked at Theo with a pitiful expression.
Theo laughed bitterly.
At the last banquet in Suseon Palace, orders for the formal dress Theo was wearing at the time were flooding in.
The same goes for the dresses worn by Cecilia and Evelyn.
Thanks to this, Cecilia was trying to open the shop much earlier than the scheduled date.
The problem is that Theo’s operation started much earlier than that.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Yes. Just as I have my own work, your son must also have his work. sorry. I feel like I only worried my son who is going a long way for no reason.”
Cecilia hugged Theo’s head tightly to her chest.
“Keep in mind, though. That your son’s house is right here. Come back whenever you have a hard time.”
“Yes. All right.”
Theo enjoyed Cecilia’s hand caressing the back of his head for a long time.
It was warm.