Chapter 107: From Talent to Power

‘I shouldn’t get involved in political fights.’

Getting involved in political disputes between nobles was something he could do. He was confident he could even profit from it. In the Murim, he had numerous experiences of intervening in conflicts between great families to secure gains. As Kim Seonggeon, it went without saying; corporate life was, in other words, the ultimate arena for politics.

‘And I have to do that here too?’

He had no intention of enjoying such struggles in this life. If he was going to act, he would crush them with overwhelming force, but he would never play their games. So why on earth?

“Are you really saying you’ll follow us? Why?”

“…… Can’t I just say I’ve become curious?”

“Good grief.”

‘Why did this man join their traveling party?’

Sir Asard. He didn’t know what kind of change of heart the man he had just dueled with had experienced. What was important was how he knew when they were leaving to come find them.

‘We’re leaving quite abruptly, after all.’

Ah. He could take a guess.

“…… Miss Arne?”

“Heh heh. It was a little side job. A small one. And from the looks of it, taking him along won’t be a bad thing, right?”

With a satisfied smile on her face, she had clearly passed on the information about their departure. Seeing as no other nobles were present, it seemed she had only given it to Asard.

“What are you up to?”

“…… What would you say if I said, ‘Just because’?”

“I see.”

“He will definitely be of help. Even if he isn’t, he’s a quite valuable person. Consider his family.”

“Hmm……”

Asard’s surname was Hamira.

‘It was a Count’s House. A frontier family like ours.’

While they were in the west, the Hamira family was a frontier house situated in the south. It was a family with a similar character to theirs, one that didn’t often set foot in the Royal Capital.

There was only one reason why Asard, from such a family, was in the Royal Capital.

‘Because he was pushed out of the succession struggle.’

It was because of the current Master of the House of Hamira.

The current Master, who was also his older brother, had sent Asard to the Royal Capital as if kicking him out. The pretext was that he came to represent the Count, but it was no different from exile.

Because of that, Asard didn’t often mention his family name or boast about it. He had merely stayed in the Royal Capital as a lone knight.

‘A man like that would be helpful. Hmm……’

Being a mid-level Aura Expert was a significant force in itself. However, his own knights, who would soon learn Mugong, would never fall behind him.

But.

“Sir Asard.”

“Yes! Just say the word!”

“I might take you along if you agree to a few conditions.”

“Oh! What are they!”

If it was a deal, there was no reason not to take him.

“…… How ruthless.”

“Endure it. He’s originally that kind of person. Heh heh.”

It was a scene where Arne comforted Asard, who had just been “dealt” with.

‘This is interesting.’

It was a sight he hadn’t expected.

In exchange for Asard accompanying them, Rayrn attached quite a few conditions.

— “Follow my orders.”

— “No free rides; dedicate yourself even if it’s in the capacity of a free knight.”

— “Keep all future matters strictly confidential.”

He added various other conditions as well. The list was so densely packed that even those watching from the side wore looks of exasperation.

“…… A man of my caliber would be welcomed with open arms anywhere else.”

“Then go there.”

“Phew…… Let’s just head out.”

Still, for some reason, Asard accepted the conditions. This was despite the fact that Rayrn had set significant penalties for failing to uphold them.

‘Well, he’s an Aura Expert, so he’ll be useful if I take him along.’

He didn’t know how Asard’s actions would affect the Royal Capital again. At the very least, it certainly wouldn’t be a good thing for the Royalist Faction.

‘With this, we’ve completely turned our backs on them.’

The Royalist Faction would suffer for a while. Still, if his side grew in power, they would reach out a hand rather than dare to attack. And Rayrn was confident he could make them reach out, even by force.

“Departure! Pass it on!”

“Yes, sir!”

The people following right behind him would give him strength.

There were about 400 administrators. Including craftsmen, he had gathered 100 eccentric individuals. It was a large group of over 500 people, every single one of whom possessed some form of talent.

Although those he had picked up this time hadn’t properly settled in the Royal Capital.

‘They aren’t lacking.’

They were people with enough guts to read the situation and throw their lot in with him.

Since they were all skilled in their own ways, they would definitely be of help once he turned them loose in his territory.

‘I went through quite a lot of trouble to figure out their tendencies.’

They would become his strength.

“Preparation complete!”

“Good. Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir!”

“I think we can set up camp here. The water supply should be smooth as well.”

“That’s good. Do that.”

To protect the newly recruited talents, Rayrn had allocated a significant amount of the money he earned in the Royal Capital.

He had immediately gathered a large number of mercenaries in the Royal Capital and attached them to the group. That number alone was 600. When adding the 200 soldiers he originally brought along with thirty knights.

‘We could even fight a small local war.’

It was a number that wouldn’t be lacking even if they went to war somewhere. All of them were mobilized to protect the new talents.

“Get ready! Get ready!”

It couldn’t be easy for a total of over 1,000 people to move.

From the food prepared in advance to delivering various supplies, it was a lot of work just to move.

Still, there was no rush.

‘Because there’s something else I need to gain along the way.’

It was harvest time after a long while.

The harvest began from the Marquisate of Limun after passing through the Royal Family’s direct dominion.

Only the people of the Ophorn Fief were allowed in the campsite. To such a place, some people were slowly approaching.

***

The stealth technique Rayrn had passed down allowed them to move freely even in forbidden places. However, that stealth technique.

“You’ve improved a lot. Come on out.”

“…… I’m no match for you.”

It didn’t work only on Rayrn, who had personally taught them.

Even though they had hidden themselves to the maximum, Rayrn found them as soon as they entered.

‘…… As expected, he’s amazing.’

Vanna of the Iron Fist, who was in charge of the Marquisate of Limun, felt a thrill at that sight.

“Your level is too low to be caught at your current stage.”

“…… Since it’s the truth, I can’t say it isn’t.”

He was a man who had lived as a serf of the House of Ophern. Since his parents were serfs, he was naturally a serf as well. Life was always poor because of excessive taxes. That’s why he started fighting and was lured into coming to the capital.

Until the moment he was locked underground, he thought he was going to die. But now, he was satisfied with his life.

The slave brand had been there since birth, but beyond that.

‘It’s a life where I experience things I never imagined.’

Even if he couldn’t be the hero who caught the Demon King as he had dreamed in his childhood, he could receive secret missions.

As a serf whose only natural gift was a healthy body, it was a life he could never have imagined.

Some might say it made no sense, but he was satisfied.

That was why he could ask.

“How can I become stronger?”

“You have to practice more. Ah. At your current level, you should start by thinking about gathering your soulforce.”

“Soulforce? To become an Aura Practitioner, shouldn’t I start by thinking about emitting soulforce?”

“What I taught is different. Hide it. Then you’ll become strong.”

“…… Understood. I will keep that in mind.”

One could ask how to become stronger.

His master, Rayrn, would pass on anything as long as he didn’t cross the line. That line.

‘I just shouldn’t betray him. Well, I couldn’t even if I wanted to.’

It was obedience to Rayrn.

Someone might call it a bound life, but for him, it was a life he could endure just by getting stronger every day. Most of the Iron Fist members were like that.

They were people who wanted to get strong and strike it rich. There was no bigger strike than a secret mission.

“By the way, how is the progress?”

“It’s very good. Euro has already toppled one organization. I’ve also taken one over.”

“Are you taking down several at once?”

“Yes. We’re starting with small to medium-sized ones and planning to increase our size all at once.”

“Good.”

There was one mission given to the Iron Fist members dropped in each territory.

The conquest of the territory they had infiltrated. They didn’t need to take over everything. Rayrn wanted them to win over the underworld in each territory.

‘They’re doing in earnest here what they couldn’t do in Ophorn.’

Those who had originally lived the life of a parakho became like fish in water.

There was no need to study the physiology or explain what to do. They were people who had spent their lives thinking about how to take over the underworld.

“The next time I see you, I’ll have taken over this entire Marquisate.”

“Still, don’t forget. You must maintain strict security. Also, harmonize reasonably. If you extort too much, you’ll be subjugated.”

“Of course. I’m maintaining the line. Just like in Ophorn.”

“Well done.”

They were conquering the underworld very quickly. And the profits obtained from that.

“Ah, this is…… a token of my sincerity.”

“Oh. This is nice.”

It became good capital that went into Rayrn’s pocket.

‘It’s quite a lot. This will be more lucrative than I thought.’

For Rayrn, who intended to take over the underworld in each territory and create information lines, it was an unexpected bonus.

“Good job. Then, I’ll see you next time.”

“Yes, sir!”

The harvest continued through the Marquisate of Limun and into the Giseot Fief.

“Augh. I’m in the middle of a war, is it okay to call me?”

“Panchi. What comes before war? Hmm?”

“…… I’m sorry.”

“Just report.”

“Yes!”

The underworlds, stretching all the way along the path Rayrn had moved toward the Royal Capital, were extending under his hand.

In particular, Panchi, who was settled in the Holy City of the Giseot Fief, was moving faster than expected.

‘I thought he would struggle. He’s a natural.’

The area Panchi had to take over was the largest among the areas handled by other Iron Fist members. Panchi was taking over that area at a rapid pace.

Truly enjoying the underworld war while expanding, he.

While wielding a bright red axe, he had even earned the ridiculous nickname of “Axe Master.”

“Where did you learn to use an axe?”

“When I grabbed it, there was something that just clicked.”

“…… Crazy. Try learning this.”

Thanks to that, Rayrn, whose interest was piqued, went as far as passing down the basics of axe techniques.

“Oh…… Is this it?”

Even though Rayrn had only taught him a few swings, Panchi, who was born with a talent for swinging an axe.

*Whoosh— whoosh—*

He learned like a monster and even managed to apply it.

‘This guy is an unexpected monster too. Should I call him back once he takes over the underworld? Hmm……’

Watching that sight, Rayrn even contemplated how to utilize this talent.

While he was teaching the axe technique, Rayrn.

“By the way, my Lord. Can you help me with one thing while you’re here?”

“What is it?”

“Well, while clearing out the underworld here, I’ve discovered various strange things. There are many corpses. Corpses.”

“Ho……”

He heard new information.

There weren’t just many corpses in the underworld; they were overflowing. They all came out skin and bones, and even those who had been stout men were found withered like mummies.

The Guard Corps was moving, but they were unable to find the culprit as they were so elusive.

‘I can guess who it is.’

Cleaning up the underworld was one thing, but one had to stabilize it to truly conquer it. Panchi seemed to be having difficulty there.

“I’ll solve it before I go.”

“Oh! Thank you!”

It was time to move after a long while.