“……!”
“……!”
“……!”
Everyone showed a surprised reaction to Spelten’s shout.
Especially the Sword Lords who had directly faced Gaon experienced even more intense emotional changes.
I never imagined it was really Lord Gaon!
Ah, you’re the same as ever.
How did you become so young? Could it be the next realm……?
You seem even stronger than before…….!
The Sword Lords thought about Gaon and abruptly stood up from their seats.
And as the Sword Lords stood, everyone followed suit.
“We greet Lord Gaon!”
“We greet Lord Gaon!”
As if they had agreed upon it, though they hadn’t, the Sword Lords greeted simultaneously.
And then everyone followed with greetings.
“Pleased to meet you.”
Gaon smiled brightly and responded to everyone’s greetings.
And when Gaon gestured for them to sit, one by one, they began to sit back down.
Next, Gaon looked at Spelten.
Now it was Spelten’s turn.
Spelten slightly nodded at Gaon’s gaze and stepped forward.
And after glancing around, he asked.
“Who formed an alliance with the Eon Kingdom?”
“……”
Silence fell at Spelten’s question.
And they glanced at each other.
Most wore faces asking what that meant.
And a few concentrated their gazes on one person.
It was Efuran, the leader of the 3rd Support Corps.
Efuran had a very flustered expression.
And when his eyes met Spelten’s, he stood up and said.
“It was me.”
“What kind of alliance did you form with the Eon Kingdom?”
Spelten got straight to the point.
It wasn’t something to beat around the bush about, and there was no reason to.
“It’s a defense support alliance. In case of an invasion from the demon world, we provide the Guardian Sword Corps for defense…….”
“Is that all?”
Spelten asked.
With a face that said there was no trace of falsehood.
“Yes, it’s just a common defense support alliance. There are no special clauses.”
“Understood.”
Spelten nodded.
And looked at Gaon.
Gaon nodded, and Spelten spoke again.
“Lailon.”
“Yes.”
“Proceed with the alliance with the Varta Kingdom as a top-priority alliance. Prepare accordingly.”
“Yes, I’ll prepare and report back.”
After hearing Lailon’s response, Spelten looked at Gaon.
Gaon nodded once more.
“Let’s end the meeting here.”
Spelten concluded the meeting.
And then Gaon and Spelten exited the grand conference room.
After the two left.
“……”
“……”
“……”
Silence fell.
No one opened their mouth.
The silence didn’t last long.
The Sword Lords, except for Karlin, all stood up from their seats at once.
The Sword Lords didn’t head outside.
Instead, they approached Karlin.
“You’re not letting Lord Gaon leave like this, right?”
“Is there no place for a meal?”
Karlin responded with a troubled expression to the Sword Lords’ reactions.
“Sword Lords, please maintain your dignity…….”
And at Karlin’s words, realizing what kind of place this was, the Sword Lords looked around.
With very fierce expressions.
Then, those who had been looking at the Sword Lords quickly turned their heads away or lowered their eyes.
Once the atmosphere was settled, Karlin continued.
“He won’t leave immediately. Still, just in case, I’ll ask and let you know.”
It was right then.
“Hmm……”
Someone let out a groan.
And everyone’s gaze turned toward the one who groaned.
It was the 4th Sword Lord, Hebel.
Hebel’s expression was complex and subtle.
“Why?”
The 3rd Sword Lord, Asrai, who was beside him, asked with a puzzled face.
“He asked to see me separately.”
“What?”
“Who?”
“Lord Gaon?”
The Sword Lords asked in succession, and Hebel nodded.
“Yeah, Lord Gaon and the family head.”
“Why?”
“Did you cause some trouble?”
The Sword Lords asked again at Hebel’s response.
And Hebel shook his head and answered.
“I don’t know the reason either. I’ll go first anyway.”
Hebel ended the conversation and immediately left the conference room.
And he headed to the 11th mansion used as the VIP quarters.
Not long after, upon arriving at the 11th mansion, Hebel was able to meet Gaon and Spelten.
“We greet Lord Gaon.”
Hebel once again politely greeted Gaon.
“It’s been a long time.”
Gaon responded with a faint smile to the greeting.
Hebel smiled in response to Gaon’s smile.
He hadn’t heard the reason for being called separately yet, but it seemed like good news.
……Huh?
That’s what he had thought.
Until a troubled expression appeared on Gaon’s face.
Hebel couldn’t help but be puzzled by Gaon’s reaction.
What story was he about to tell that made him look troubled?
Hebel looked at Spelten.
Spelten also had a troubled expression, just like Gaon.
What is it?
The two’s troubled expressions must be related to the reason for calling him separately.
What on earth could make the two of them troubled?
“Hebel.”
Soon, Spelten spoke.
“Yes.”
“If one of your children ends up colluding with the demon world, what do you plan to do?”
At Spelten’s words, Hebel wore a surprised expression.
And then, pausing at a sudden thought, he answered with a face of disbelief.
“Are you perhaps referring to Karten……?”
“……!”
“……!”
At Hebel’s words, Gaon and Spelten couldn’t help but be surprised.
Karten, the leader of the 7th Special Sword Corps, had colluded with the Abyss.
And Karten was Hebel’s eldest son.
The two had thought Hebel naturally wouldn’t know this fact.
But from his reaction, it seemed he already knew.
“I was planning to request an investigation from the family head soon anyway, and it turns out it was true.”
Having realized his suspicion was correct from the two’s reactions, Hebel wore a bitter expression.
But that was only for a moment.
“If it’s true that he colluded with the demon world…….”
Trailing off, Hebel erased the bitterness and spoke with cold eyes.
“I must impose punishment according to family rules. Even if that means death.”
The quarters of the 7th Special Sword Corps.
Having returned to his room, Karten paced around the room with an anxious expression.
Hmm…….
Karten let out a groan inwardly.
The feeling wasn’t good.
It was because of Gaon.
Not long ago, there was contact from the Abyss.
To be cautious of Gaon.
Karten hadn’t paid it much mind.
Because he thought there would be no occasion to meet.
But Gaon suddenly visited the family.
Why did he come?
For what reason did Gaon visit?
Was it really to confirm the alliance with the Eon Kingdom?
Or to firmly push forward the alliance with the Varta Kingdom?
Should I stop everything for now…….
Karten was secretly carrying out something within the family.
Given the current family situation, it was right to stop the progress and lay low.
The loss would be huge……!
The problem was that stopping would cause enormous losses.
And resuming later would also carry too much risk.
It was right then.
Knock knock.
“Corps leader, it’s Atonic.”
Along with the knock, the voice of Atonic, the 1st squad leader of the 7th Special Sword Corps, was heard.
“Come in.”
At Karten’s words, Atonic opened the door and entered.
And upon seeing Atonic’s expression, Karten frowned.
Understandably so, as Atonic’s expression was dark.
Something had clearly gone wrong.
“What is it?”
“You know that matter you mentioned before?”
“……”
At Atonic’s words, Karten’s expression distorted even more.
“You said you handled the cleanup well?”
“Well…….”
Trailing off, Atonic answered with a troubled face.
“There seems to be a witness.”
“What? A witness?”
“Yes, we’re looking for who it is, but…….”
It was right then.
Karten brought his finger to his lips.
Then Atonic closed his mouth.
Creak-!
Soon, without a knock, the door opened.
And the two looked at the entrance.
“……Father?”
The one who opened the door and entered was Karten’s father and the 4th Sword Lord, Hebel.
Karten called Hebel with a puzzled expression.
It wasn’t because of Hebel’s sudden visit.
“What happened?”
It was because of Hebel’s expression.
Hebel’s expression was very dark.
Like someone facing an overwhelmingly huge issue they couldn’t handle.
“Corps leader Karten, squad leader Atonic.”
Hebel didn’t answer the question.
Instead, he called Karten and Atonic.
Using official titles, not personal ones.
“Yes, 4th Sword Lord.”
Karten also used official titles, sensing the unusual atmosphere.
“Follow me.”
Hebel said curtly and turned around.
Karten and Atonic looked at each other.
But neither knew anything, and in the end, the two followed Hebel.
Where is he going?
Karten thought as he followed Hebel.
Where on earth was he heading?
Why did he have such a serious expression?
Various thoughts arose.
And not long after, Karten could tell Hebel’s destination.
The Inspectorate?
The direction they were heading had only the Inspectorate.
That’s why it was even more puzzling.
Why suddenly to the Inspectorate?
Could it be…….
At a sudden thought, Karten’s eyes flashed.
Just moments ago, Atonic had said.
There was a witness.
Could the witness have already reported everything?
Was that why this problem arose?
That must be it.
The more he thought, the more certain it seemed.
In the current situation, that was the only reason to go to the Inspectorate.
Karten quickly racked his brain.
How to overcome the current situation.
Cutting off the tail is all.
No matter how he thought, he couldn’t avoid responsibility for management.
Literally.
He just needed to take responsibility for management.
In reality, Karten hadn’t directly involved himself in this matter.
Everything had been handled by Atonic.
And Atonic, for the sake of his family, wouldn’t mention Karten.
He would end it at his own level.
Having finished his thoughts, Karten proceeded with a much more relaxed expression and soon arrived at the Inspectorate.
“……!”
And the moment he crossed the main gate of the Inspectorate, Karten couldn’t help but flinch.
Understandably so, as there were numerous people inside the Inspectorate.
And not those affiliated with the Inspectorate.
Those not affiliated with the Inspectorate were divided into two groups.
The group subdued and kneeling.
And the group monitoring them.
It’s not about that matter?
At first, he thought it was because of the ‘matter’ that wasn’t cleaned up properly.
But looking at the situation, it didn’t seem so.
It was right then.
Hebel turned and extended his hand.
Karten reflexively tried to dodge, but the difference in level was extreme, and in the end, Hebel’s fingers pierced various points on Karten’s body.
At the same time, energy infiltrated Karten’s body, and Karten lost control over his body.
The only thing he could move was his mouth.
“……Father, what on earth?”
Karten asked with a flustered expression.
“That’s what I want to ask.”
Then Hebel answered with a complicated expression.
“Why on earth, what were you lacking that you joined hands with those guys?”
At Hebel’s words, Karten could tell.
The reason for coming to the Inspectorate.
It was clear that the existence of the Abyss had been discovered.
And one more thing.
Those kneeling were also captured for the same reason.
“Ah, Father, what do you mean…….”
For now, Karten denied it.
Those who joined hands with the Abyss all received restrictions.
In other words, no stories about the Abyss would come from the mouths of those captured now, and testimonies couldn’t exist.
And while he didn’t know about the others, Karten hadn’t left any evidence related to the Abyss.
However, at Hebel’s following words, Karten had no choice but to fall silent.
“I know. And even without evidence, the situation won’t change. This is something the family head is handling.”
“……”
That it was something Family Head Spelten was handling.
No evidence was needed.
If Spelten said so, then it was so.
Karten silently rolled his eyes and glanced around.
Stimulating the restriction could regain body control.
If he regained control, could he escape this place?
Impossible.
Escape was nearly impossible with just Hebel there.
But it wasn’t just Hebel.
There were two more Sword Lords.
“Father…….”
Realizing escape was impossible, Karten quietly called Hebel.
To appeal to familial bonds.
Of course, he knew the possibility was low.
The Schutaren Sword Family cherished blood ties but was equally ruthless.
And Hebel responded to the call.
“The only request I could make to the family head was to finish it with my own hands.”
The moment he heard Hebel’s response, Karten realized everything was over.
At the same time, Hebel grasped the sword at his waist.
And drew it.
Slash!
Hebel’s sword sliced Karten’s neck in an instant and returned to the sheath.
Whoosh!
Next, Karten’s body began to burn.
Hebel wasn’t flustered.
Because he had already been informed.
Hebel took out a small orb from his bosom.
It was the orb received from Gaon.
Hebel threw the orb at Karten.
Crack!
Then the orb shattered, releasing cold air, and the flames disappeared in an instant.
And just like that, Karten’s corpse froze.
“……”
Hebel said nothing.
He merely looked at Karten’s corpse with a face full of sorrow.