“Lord Kincarnon sent you for what purpose?”
“You don’t seem particularly surprised.”
Depth, with a faintly curious expression, noted Selford’s calm demeanor.
“Depth, was it?”
“That’s correct.”
“How long have you been serving as Lord Kincarnon’s aide? Seven years? Eight? I don’t recall seeing you before.”
“About five years.”
“Then you’ve likely had plenty of time to observe how Gardner operates.”
Depth raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the unexpected question.
“A sharp one, despite the reputation.”
When Depth first proposed meeting Selford, Diego had warned him repeatedly.
“That bastard’s an ungrateful mutt who turned his back on the family. Don’t expect any respect from him. He’s probably forgotten how to behave properly after spending so much time on the battlefield.”
Diego had spoken as though Selford was barely more than human trash.
Now that Depth had met him, however, he could see through the façade.
While Selford carried himself with a rough and irreverent air, his sharp, gleaming eyes told a different story.
“He’s better than most of Gardner’s so-called wolves.”
It was no wonder the White Steel Dragon Vanguard, infamous for snatching up talent, had kept him around.
“He could’ve been a fine blade for Lord Kincarnon. A missed opportunity.”
Depth let out an inaudible sigh of regret.
“Gardner’s known for sniffing out opportunity every generation like a pack of dogs. So it was only natural to expect you’d come sniffing around again this time.”
Selford deliberately emphasized the word “dogs,” his tone dripping with venom.
Diego’s face turned crimson with rage, but Depth simply chuckled.
“You harbor quite a grudge against your family, don’t you?”
“Wouldn’t say it’s a small one.”
“Well, whatever your grievances are, they’re your family’s problem. Let’s cut to the chase—Gardner anticipated contact, figuring Kincarnon’s backing would prompt a move. Fair assumption, yes?”
“Think whatever you like. What’s your business here?”
“I’ve heard Theo Ragnar is your junior.”
At the mention of Theo’s name, the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Selford’s expression turned icy, as did those of Arin and the others.
“Watch your mouth. He is Lord Theo now. Even if you’re Kincarnon’s dog, you should know better than to speak his name so lightly.”
Dog.
It was a deliberate jab, lumping Depth and Gardner together under the same derision.
“You insolent little—!”
Diego shot up from his seat, partially drawing his sword.
But before he could act further, Arin and the others were faster, their blades already pointed at Diego.
Clang!
Gardner’s swordsmen responded in kind, drawing their weapons in unison and turning the room into a tense standoff.
Only Selford and Depth remained seated, seemingly unbothered.
Diego froze as he found Arin’s blade pressed dangerously close to his throat.
The realization hit him hard—this was no longer the timid younger brother he used to torment.
“Does this mean we should take this as an official declaration of war from Lord Kincarnon against the White Steel Dragon Vanguard?”
Selford’s cold warning made Diego involuntarily gulp, his bravado faltering.
Even Gardner’s swordsmen hesitated.
After the Troiban War, the White Steel Dragon Vanguard was hailed as heroes of the North, with whispers even suggesting they were Theo’s personal guard.
Antagonizing them wasn’t just a personal risk—it could be interpreted as a challenge to Theo, or worse, Kyle Ragnar himself.
Depth’s face twisted with frustration.
“Lower your swords!”
“But, sir—!”
“I said, lower them!”
“...!”
Reluctantly, Diego and his men sheathed their weapons.
Then, without warning—
Smack!
Depth slapped Diego hard across the face.
“What the hell were you thinking?! Do you even understand what you almost did?!”
“B-but, my lord! I was just—”
Smack!
“Stop talking back, you idiot!”
Diego collapsed onto the floor, clutching his reddened cheek. His face was a mix of humiliation and fury, his glare locked onto Selford.
“What a performance.”
Selford couldn’t help but scoff internally.
The slap was clearly nothing more than a theatrical display to shift the mood and reclaim control of the situation.
“My apologies for his rudeness. Consider it my failure to manage him properly.”
“It’s no problem. Dogs will always act like dogs.”
Selford’s unyielding disdain caused Depth’s expression to momentarily tighten, though he quickly composed himself.
“Lord Kincarnon harbors no ill will toward Lord Theo. In fact, he seeks friendship, not enmity.”
Selford raised an eyebrow.
“What angle are they playing?”
“If that’s the case, you should be addressing this matter directly at Dongbaek Palace, not through me.”
“Well, Lord Kincarnon is hesitant to approach empty-handed, you see.”
“He doesn’t want to lower himself first.”
It was a power play, plain and simple.
Kincarnon wanted Theo to make the first move, to seek him out as an elder, thereby granting him the upper hand in their dynamic.
“And that’s where you come in.”
“Be specific. I don’t like riddles.”
“You and Lord Theo are said to have a close relationship. Use that connection to grease the wheels. Tell us about his interests, his current projects, anything he cares about. And, of course, speak highly of Lord Kincarnon to him.”
“Essentially, you want me to be a spy.”
“Why frame it like that? Think of it as working together to prevent further division within Ragnar. For the greater good.”
Depth’s calm, smiling demeanor didn’t waver.
“And if you need anything—anything at all—we’re willing to provide.”
「Including ensuring the safety of your maternal relatives.」
Selford’s eyes narrowed at the veiled threat delivered through the silent transmission.
“How do they even know about that?”
He’d taken great care to sever ties and keep that part of his life hidden.
「Don’t bother questioning it. Our people are already in place. If you refuse, they might... meet with unfortunate accidents.」
Creaaak!
The sound of Selford pushing back his chair filled the room.
“Long story short, I’m not interested. Let’s go.”
Depth’s face twisted in anger.
“Do you think you’ll walk away unscathed?”
“Feel free to try.”
Selford’s companions rose with him, preparing to leave.
“And next time you try to threaten me, do your homework. I cut ties with my mother’s family years ago. Stop clinging to outdated leverage.”
As they moved toward the exit, Gardner’s swordsmen blocked their path.
Selford’s gaze turned icy.
“You people never change, do you? Still stuck in your dirty tricks and empty threats.”
His words carried a weight of disgust. Gardner was a name he had grown to hate, the source of his mother’s suffering and the reason for his disdain toward his estranged maternal family.
“You want to fight? Fine. Let’s settle this here and now.”
The swordsmen glanced nervously at Diego and Depth, awaiting orders.
Depth, however, seemed more concerned about avoiding unnecessary conflict before the Hangryong War could conclude.
Gripping a small orb-like artifact, Depth activated it.
Flash!
A burst of light filled the room, silencing the tense atmosphere.
***
“As expected, only Senior Selford fits the bill.”
Theo had been considering Selford Gardner and Arin Negative as the sub-captains for the 6th Squad of the White Steel Dragon Vanguard.
Both had been there to guide and support him since his first days as a recruit.
If he openly declared his intent to recruit both of them, it might upset Evelyn, the captain of the 5th Squad. Still, Theo couldn’t help but be greedy.
Charisma, skill, and discernment—finding people who excelled in all three areas was rare.
“If I could also bring Reina Holkers, Erica, and even Wel along, that would be perfect.”
The comrades who had shared their awakening ceremonies were all individuals who would later become renowned talents.
And with their respective backers, like Narsiona and Ranke, Theo envisioned building an unshakable Ragnar that no one could rival.
With this in mind, he decided to visit the “White Dragon’s Nest” to talk to them.
“Selford and Arin? Oh, they went to watch the Hangryong War.”
“I see.”
It seemed Theo’s timing was off; both were absent.
They had likely gone to observe the event and assess who might take the vacant position of Hangryong. This made sense, given the implications of such a position on future alliances and strategies.
With Selford and Arin unavailable, Theo decided to track down other colleagues instead. However, a fellow vanguard member’s cryptic response caught him off guard.
“You’re heading to the White Dragon’s Nest?”
“Yes, is there an issue?”
“I wouldn’t recommend it.”
The soldier scratched his cheek awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable.
“Why not? Is something wrong?”
“Well... no. You’ll see for yourself when you get there. Go on.”
“What’s going on?”
Carrying a sense of unease, Theo made his way to the White Dragon’s Nest—and soon discovered the reason for the soldier’s warning.
“So, you’re Theo Ragnar, the one who’s recently become the young lord.”
Theo came face-to-face with someone he hadn’t expected.
A massive figure with a menacing aura, as imposing as a bear.
“Bracken Ranke!”
The head of the Ranke family was sitting casually with Erica, her brother, and other members of the 5th Squad, grilling meat on a tabletop grill.
Erica’s recent trip home seemed to have led to this impromptu family gathering.
However—
“Why does everyone look so...?”
From a distance, it appeared as though the squad had bonded with Bracken Ranke. They were huddled together, arms slung over shoulders, laughing jovially.
But the expressions on the faces of the White Steel Dragon Vanguard told a different story.
Pale and drawn, their faces silently screamed:
“Save us!”
Around them lay an assortment of toppled liquor bottles, spilled drinks, and the unfortunate victims of overindulgence—fellow squad members sprawled on the floor, barely twitching.
It was clear this wasn’t a friendly gathering.
Theo instinctively took a step back, a visceral sense of danger sounding alarm bells in his mind.
“This... this isn’t normal.”
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Something had gone horribly wrong.