Chapter 28: Chapter 28
Chapter 28 - Extermination Squad
The title of Sage was one that could never be self-proclaimed, and the standards for earning it were applied with absolute strictness.
Among the Sages known throughout the Cerdes Continent, Hellus Fovidas had become a Sage through an exceptionally unusual path.
He was neither from Escolleia, the City of Scholars, nor was he a commoner expected to achieve greatness through extraordinary talent. He had merely been an insignificant Mage of humble birth.
Hellus once left behind an anecdote explaining how he became a Sage.
He claimed that while sleeping as usual, he suddenly awakened and came face-to-face with an absolute existence.
That absolute being appeared before him in the form of a god and offered him a choice between two things.
The potential to ascend to the rank of a Grand Mage of the Seventh Circle.
Or wisdom and knowledge that embraced all things in existence.
He claimed that although he could have reached the Seventh Circle, a realm capable of ruling over everything, he chose wisdom and knowledge instead so that he could help all people.
It was an unbelievably ridiculous story.
Yet no one dared question it.
After all, he was a man acknowledged as a Sage, possessing knowledge and wisdom so miraculous they bordered on the impossible.
People often said that although he was a materialistic man, his wisdom never wavered, making him, in a sense, something beyond human.
In reality, however, Hellus Fovidas was nothing of the sort.
He was no different from an ordinary person when it came to honestly expressing his emotions.
And at this very moment, Hellus wore an expression of deep displeasure.
His gaze was fixed upon a woman kneeling before him.
His eyes burned with fury, as though she were the source of every evil.
The middle-aged woman had once been his Attendant.
Hellus had spent half of his fortune just to find her.
Skilled Mages and trackers had pursued every trace she left behind and had finally succeeded in bringing her back to his mansion.
The moment she arrived, she had been beaten like a dog.
His servants had whipped her throughout the entire night until nearly every bone in her body was broken, leaving her barely able to support herself.
She trembled uncontrollably with her head pressed against the floor.
Finally, she spoke.
"P-Please spare me... Master..."
"Master?"
Hellus let out a short laugh.
"That’s right. I was your master. Tell me... do you know what happens to an Attendant who abandons her master and runs away?"
He lightly slapped the club in his hand against his palm.
"They get beaten like a dog."
"P-Please spare me... I beg you..."
The middle-aged Attendant desperately pressed her broken hands together in prayer.
Only a few teeth remained in her slightly open mouth.
"Fine. I’ll forgive you."
"If you tell me where the little brat you stole from me is."
"I-I don’t know! I was only tricked into losing that child!"
Hellus kicked her hard in the head.
"Do I look like an idiot to you!? They found two gold coins in your pocket! Do you think I don’t know where they came from!?"
"Aah! Please, just spare my life!"
"I said I will. Once I find that little brat! So hurry up and squeeze whatever wisdom you’ve got left out of that empty head! Think! THINK!"
Hellus barely restrained the urge to crush her throat right then and there.
But he couldn’t.
No matter what, this woman was the only clue he had to recovering that thing.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
A man wearing a black hood stepped inside.
"Sage, we have completed the Commission you entrusted to us."
It was the best news Hellus had heard in a long time.
Like a child receiving a new toy, he rushed toward the man with a bright smile.
"Oh! Excellent! Show me. What did you discover?"
"Based on the portrait created from the Attendant’s description, our investigation has concluded that the individual is the Regent of Valdrova."
"The Regent... of Valdrova?"
"We expected you would be surprised. We ourselves never imagined it would be that person."
He wasn’t surprised by the individual.
He knew Valdrova was a dragon.
It was the word Regent that confused him.
"We confirmed it in the Far Eastern territories. Since the descriptions mentioned both the Regent and a Maid, we are certain."
"And what exactly do these people do?"
"As you’re aware, ever since becoming the spouse of Grand Duchess Valdrova, the Regent has recently begun governing the duchy..."
"Ah."
Hellus waved his hand dismissively, cutting him off.
"Enough. So those damned bastards stole something that belongs to me. That’s what you’re saying, right?"
"Exactly."
Hellus quickly understood the situation.
The one who had taken it was the King’s spouse.
Someone came all the way from the Far East to take it? Why? Don’t tell me... they figured out what it’s for?
Anxiety gnawed at him as he bit his fingernails.
That child was both the reason he had become so famous and the source of his endless wealth.
That was why he had treasured the child while simultaneously forcing the child to work as an Attendant.
If you wanted to hide a tree, the best place was inside a forest.
And it all happened because of that stupid bitch...
He had never imagined that his Attendant would sell off the child.
Hellus glared down at her with eyes full of murderous rage.
The middle-aged Attendant sobbed miserably.
"Congratulations, Master... N-Now you know who it was, don’t you?"
She forced her broken fingers together and begged over and over again.
"Please spare me now. I beg you. No matter where I go, I won’t say a single word about you. I’ll live quietly. Please..."
Hellus looked down at her with utterly emotionless eyes.
People often said that a person’s heart changed after getting what they wanted.
Now that he had obtained a concrete lead, there was no reason to leave behind unnecessary trouble.
Hellus turned toward the man in the black hood.
"You."
"Yes."
"Kill her. She’s useless now."
"W-Wait! That’s not what you promised!"
The hooded man drew his sword and approached the Attendant.
Inescapable death closed in.
The Attendant, who had spent the entire time crying and begging, exploded into furious desperation in her final moments.
"You filthy bastard! I know your secret! I know what you did with that little girl! You’re no Sage! You’re—"
The old Attendant’s head fell onto the floor.
Still wearing the same enraged expression, her severed head rolled pitifully across the ground.
The hooded man flicked the blood from his blade.
"It appears my Mission is complete. May I receive my Compensation?"
"Of course."
A jeweled box containing a sum equal to one-quarter of Hellus’s fortune was handed over.
The man gave it a quick glance before tossing it into his leather backpack.
"Thank you sincerely for choosing Black Bandana, valued customer."
Do the job.
Receive the payment.
Leave without unnecessary words.
That was how the secret organization known as Black Bandana operated.
With this payment, Hellus had now spent three-quarters of his entire fortune.
It had to be done.
Trying to save money now would only lead to disaster later.
Hellus stared down at the two portrait sketches the hooded man had left behind.
One depicted a tall man with gray hair.
The other showed a silver-haired girl with a side-up ponytail.
Hellus’s fat face twisted with fury.
That mangy stray dares covet what belongs to me?
Swearing that he would never let them off easily, Hellus began plotting.
"Now then... how do I take it back from them..."
There were countless methods available.
After all, who was he?
A Sage.
A man every kingdom desperately tried to recruit as their advisor.
He was considered a national treasure, and even the Arken Empire frequently contacted him.
I’ll make use of the Imperial inspectors. Regent or not, before the Empire, they’re no better than dogs.
His opponent might have been the fiancé of the Grand Duchess, but that didn’t matter.
Ever since the assassination of the Third Prince, Valdrova had never appeared before humans again.
That had always been the case.
There was no reason it would change now.
Hellus placed his hand upon the crystal orb resting on his desk.
Responding to his Mana, the crystal orb began to glow.
A few moments later, the light stabilized, and a voice echoed inside his mind.
"Greetings, Sage of Water! This is Hans, communication Mage of the great Arken Empire!"
"May I speak with Sir Karl Harvest for a moment?"
"Sir Karl Harvest? Certainly. Please wait a moment."
After a brief pause, a lively voice rang out.
"Oh! Sage! How have you been?"
"Haha. I’ve been doing quite well. And you?"
"I lose sleep every night! I’ve been eagerly waiting for the day you finally join our Empire!"
"Haha, is that so?"
This conversation was progressing perfectly.
Hellus decided to get straight to the point.
"You see... something has been troubling me lately."
"Troubling you?"
"I had a young Maid. She was kidnapped by some ruffian. After exhausting every ounce of my wisdom and knowledge, I finally discovered where she ended up."
"Where is it? Just tell us! We’ll help you."
"The... Regent of Valdrova, apparently."
"The Regent of Valdrova!"
Karl exclaimed in surprise.
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"No, it’s simply quite the coincidence! We’ve already been hearing reports that this young brat has been causing trouble lately."
"So he’s fairly well known?"
"As a matter of fact, our Extermination Squad was already planning to discipline him."
"Oh? Really? Since he’s connected to a dragon, isn’t that dangerous?"
"Haha! There’s no need to worry. You know as well as anyone that dragons rarely interfere in human affairs."
"R-Right... that’s true."
Hellus had no idea.
"That brat will have to deal with everything alone. No matter how much he struggles, he’s powerless beneath the Empire’s laws! We’ve even heard that local lords are hesitant to confront him, so it’s about time someone showed him who truly holds authority."
A smile spread across Hellus’s face.
"Then I’d like to ask a favor. While you’re teaching him a lesson, bring that child back here. If you do, I’ll finally join the Empire as you’ve always wanted."
"Oh! You truly mean that? Then I’d be more than happy to fulfill your request! Hahaha!"
"Good. I’ll send over one of the portraits. Simply bring the child to me. I’m counting on you."
"Of course. Leave everything to me!"
Hellus ended the communication with a satisfied smile.
This is the power and prestige I enjoy as a Sage.
Having tasted it once, he could never give it up.
Once I recover that child... I won’t just be pretending anymore. I’ll become a true Sage once again.
That was why, no matter what happened...
He had to get the child back.
***
"Your Excellency. A letter has arrived from the Empire."
"Hmm... so it has finally come."
The elderly lord, Count Ulvera Consilus, stroked his beard as he picked up the letter resting on the tray.
Seeing the Imperial seal stamped upon it, he briefly wondered if the logistics department was finally sending an apology.
"Hmm..."
However, the moment he saw the sender’s name, he felt his blood boil.
—Extermination Squad
"Heh... heh..."
Consilus let out a laugh to vent the absurd anger welling inside him.
"Arwen."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"A letter from the Extermination Squad has arrived in our territory. It seems we’ve finally been given something to feast on."
"Those filthy bastards dare..."
Arwen flared with rage, looking as though he might draw his sword at any moment.
Without even intending to read it, Consilus tilted the letter toward the brazier before him, ready to throw it into the fire.
"Hmm..."
Then, on a whim, he thought he might as well read the contents first.
His intuition proved correct.
—What kind of person is Ferda Valdrova?
Their target was not Count Consilus.
It was Ferda.
"So those insolent fools are after the Regent."
Arwen’s eyes widened in surprise.
"They intend to do something like this to the future husband of a dragon?"
"Do you think those who spend their lives behind the Empire’s walls have ever seen a dragon? They’re the sort who fear the trolls in the forest far more."
A nearby fist always feels more real than a distant sword.
People were taught to fear a dragon’s wrath, but very few of the current generation had ever actually experienced it.
"And when you think about it... it’s not entirely impossible."
"Is that so?"
"After all, haven’t we ourselves been acting as though Her Highness Valdrova didn’t exist all this time?"
"Ah..."
"And we also underestimated the Grand Duchess’s fiancé."
"That’s true, but..."
Only then did Arwen realize it himself, his face flushing red with embarrassment.
"Still... I can’t imagine an ordinary Knight would dare send a letter talking about robbing the Regent..."
"That only proves how rotten the Arken Empire has become."
The nobles were drunk on luxury.
The Knights’ swords had long since rusted.
To maintain public support in the Imperial capital, they bled the provinces dry through crushing taxes.
The provinces had attempted to revolt several times.
Yet every uprising had been quietly suppressed before anyone even heard about it.
The foundation built by our ancestors is so solid that it hasn’t collapsed despite being eaten away.
But when the day finally came...
It would surely crumble without resistance.
Consilus had once intended to simply drift through life as nothing more than an insignificant Count amidst that inevitable decline.
But things were different now.
"Ferda Valdrova..."
A single ray of light.
A handful of salt in a barren land.
Whenever help was needed, he was the only one who quietly offered assistance without asking for anything in return.
Everything he did was solely for the prosperity and peace of the territory.
Perhaps that was why...
"Those insolent fools."
Consilus couldn’t help but be furious.
Though he had spent his life carefully walking a political tightrope, he was still a ruler responsible for protecting both the Empire and its people.
Just when it finally seemed that things in the Far East were beginning to move in the right direction...
He couldn’t forgive these foolish youngsters for trying to ruin everything.
"We’ll put a leash on the Extermination Squad."
Not merely to threaten them.
Not merely to keep them in check.
They would be completely crushed.
An organization that could turn even an innocent lord into someone marked for death could not be allowed to continue unchecked.
To accomplish that...
He intended to use Ferda Valdrova.
These fools have no idea just how extraordinary the man destined to become Valdrova’s spouse truly is.
So he decided to write nothing but insults about Ferda.
More precisely, he described the events leading up to Ferda supposedly threatening the regional lords, then concluded by calling him a villain despised by both heaven and earth.
"Send this to the Extermination Squad. I’m sure they’ll reply soon enough."
"Understood. Shall we inform the Regent of Valdrova beforehand as well?"
Count Consilus pondered for a moment before shaking his head.
"No. Let’s keep this between ourselves. By the time we arrive, everything will already be over."
"As you wish."
Though he didn’t say it aloud...
Consilus also wanted to see one thing for himself.
How Ferda would respond when he finally came face-to-face with the Extermination Squad.
And in the end...
His expectations were not disappointed.
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