Chapter 129: Gaon’s Arrival

[Lord Gaon has arrived?]

Spelten calmed his surprise and asked.

[Yes, as you previously instructed, he’s being escorted to the VIP room first.]

[Understood.]

Finishing the conversation with his subordinate, Spelten raised his hand.

“There’s no need to form an agreement with Varta…….”

Then, the division head who had been speaking after gaining the floor closed his mouth.

Silence fell like that, and Spelten said.

“Let’s take a short break.”

Next, Spelten stood up and called three people.

“Karlin, Darian, Roker. Follow me.”

Spelten started walking without waiting for their responses.

And the three called stood up with puzzled faces and followed behind Spelten.

As soon as they left the mansion, Karlin asked Spelten.

“Brother, what’s going on?”

Karlin was curious.

For what reason had he called the three, including himself?

After all, Darian and Roker were heirs who would lead the family in the future.

Calling the heirs separately wasn’t strange.

But calling him along with them?

For what purpose?

“……!”

Before Spelten could answer, Karlin’s eyes flashed.

“Could it be…….”

Come to think of it, there was one matter that warranted calling him and the heirs together.

“Yes, I hear he’s visiting now.”

Spelten nodded and answered, and Karlin smiled broadly.

And at the two’s reactions, Roker couldn’t help but be puzzled.

Spelten, who didn’t use honorifics even to the emperor, had used honorifics.

Who on earth had visited?

……Ah!

Soon, one person came to Roker’s mind.

And Darian next to him opened his mouth.

“Is it perhaps Lord Gaon who has come?”

“Yes.”

Spelten nodded at Darian’s words and continued.

“I’m not worried about Karlin, but I’m concerned about you two.”

Karlin had seen Gaon directly.

Decades ago, and now that Gaon had returned.

But Darian and Roker hadn’t.

The two had never seen Gaon in person.

They had only heard stories.

That’s why he was more worried.

Lest they make a mistake with Gaon.

“Haha, don’t worry, Brother. The moment they face Lord Gaon, the kids will understand on their own.”

Karlin laughed heartily and said.

“What kind of person Lord Gaon is. Why you, I, and the family elders revere Lord Gaon so much.”

Arriving near ‘Tariom’, the city where the Schutaren Sword Family’s main residence was located, Gaon walked toward the city walls and thought.

Immense.

The scale of Tariom city was enormous.

It was comparable to Vartarium, the capital of the Varta Kingdom, which was one of the largest on the continent.

It wasn’t this big before.

In the past, Gaon had visited Tariom.

It wasn’t this size back then.

Now it’s truly worthy of being called a kingdom?

The Schutaren Family had a long history and strong power.

So, some often called the Schutaren Family the Schutaren Kingdom.

And seeing the current scale of Tariom, calling it the Schutaren Kingdom didn’t seem strange.

Shortly after, Gaon arrived at the city wall entrance.

“Line up. No cutting in line there.”

“Please present your identification.”

At the city wall entrance, a guard composed of knights, mages, and soldiers was checking identities.

There were as many as five identity check points.

But with so many people coming and going, the waiting lines were immensely long.

Of course, Gaon didn’t need to line up.

Only four places had waiting lines.

The remaining one had no line.

It was for nobles.

Gaon headed to the empty identity check point and scanned the guards and lines.

And made a regretful face.

As expected, they’re here.

The reason Gaon regretted was because there were ‘Abyss’ members among the guards and in the lines.

Of course, not many.

Only three among the guards, and ten in the lines.

If it weren’t Schutaren, I would have killed them all.

If it were another place, Gaon would have killed them all.

But this was the Schutaren Family’s domain.

So he didn’t kill them.

They might have already identified them and be preparing something.

Rather, if Gaon killed them, the situation could get complicated.

It was so regrettable that he couldn’t kill them right away, that he had to just watch.

Soon, Gaon arrived at the identity check point.

And the waiting knight approached Gaon and said.

“I’d appreciate it if you showed your identification.”

The knight’s voice was full of politeness.

Gaon handed over the token he had received from Karlin.

And the knight who checked the token flinched, then with a surprised face, knelt on one knee and exclaimed.

“I greet the family’s benefactor.”

At the knight’s exclamation, those around were startled and followed by kneeling on one knee in respect.

Of course, Gaon wasn’t flustered.

He had experienced such greetings countless times before.

Gaon said to the knight.

“Rise.”

The knight stood up at Gaon’s words.

“I’ll escort you right away.”

And he signaled to the soldier with him.

Then the soldier headed to where the knight had been sitting, and the knight started guiding ahead.

Like that, Gaon followed behind the knight, passed the city walls, and entered the city.

And not long after entering, the knight stopped.

“Could you wait a moment?”

The knight asked cautiously.

Gaon nodded silently, and the knight entered the building inside.

And soon came out with a man.

Seeing the man, Gaon let out a groan inwardly.

Restrictions were visible on the head and heart.

The man was presumed to be the manager in charge of carriages.

And even carriages for the family’s important guests.

Yet Abyss?

Have they identified him?

Gaon was curious.

With the Schutaren Duchy’s intelligence, they should have identified to some extent, but had they identified this man?

“I’ll prepare right away.”

The man said to the knight and quickly prepared the carriage.

Shortly after, the carriage arrived in front of Gaon.

The knight opened the door, and Gaon boarded the carriage.

Next, the knight sat in the coachman’s seat and started driving the carriage.

The destination was the Schutaren Sword Family’s main residence in the city center.

Gaon expanded his senses.

The barrier is still there.

Regrettably, he couldn’t check the Schutaren Sword Family’s main residence.

A barrier blocking senses was installed.

He could force through if he wanted, but then the Schutaren would notice.

And since there was no need to check from outside, Gaon didn’t breach it.

Shortly after, the carriage stopped.

“We’ve arrived.”

And at the knight’s words, Gaon got off the carriage and looked at the mansion.

A faint smile formed on Gaon’s lips as he looked at the mansion.

After all, it was the ‘VIP room’ where Gaon had stayed every time he visited the Schutaren Sword Family in the past.

Despite the long years, nothing had changed from the past.

While Gaon was looking at the VIP room like that, the knight glanced cautiously and opened his mouth.

“The family head will arrive soon.”

“I’ll wait inside.”

He had already confirmed through senses that the strongest aura from the main residence was approaching.

He thought it might be Spelten, and hearing the knight’s words confirmed it.

Gaon naturally entered the VIP room and thought.

But who’s coming with him?

Spelten wasn’t coming alone.

He was with three people.

One seems like Karlin, and the other two…….

One of the three was presumed to be Karlin.

But the identities of the other two weren’t predictable.

Gaon waited for Spelten to arrive while checking various parts of the VIP room.

Unlike the exterior, the interior had many changes.

But not everything had changed.

Items from memories remained.

Gaon looked at the landscape painting hanging in the center.

This is still the same.

It was a landscape painting of a massive cliff and waterfall, a painting Gaon had gifted to Rakid.

Recalling the time he gifted the painting brought a natural smile.

Like that, Gaon immersed in memories while looking at various parts of the VIP room and the items containing memories.

And shortly after.

Swish.

Gaon stopped reminiscing and turned around.

Spelten had arrived.

Creak!

Soon, the door opened, and Spelten entered first.

“……!”

Gaon couldn’t help but be slightly surprised upon seeing Spelten.

First, because his appearance was identical to Rakid’s.

And second, because of Spelten’s ‘realm’.

He was concealing it.

The Spelten confirmed through senses was strong but not a Grand Master.

That was when confirmed ‘through senses’.

Facing him directly now, Gaon could tell that Spelten had reached the realm of Grand Master.

Of course, not yet at Rakid’s level.

But considering his age, he might surpass Rakid.

And just as Gaon was surprised by Spelten, Spelten was also surprised upon seeing Gaon.

So surprised that he forgot to greet and just stared blankly at Gaon.

Gaon said nothing.

He seemed to know why Spelten was surprised now.

Like that, silence fell for a moment.

“Brother?”

The one who broke the silence was Karlin, who followed in.

Karlin cautiously called Spelten.

Then Spelten regained his senses.

“……I greet Lord Gaon.”

Spelten bowed his head politely in greeting.

“It’s been a long time.”

Gaon accepted the greeting, and Spelten swallowed and opened his mouth.

“Lord Gaon, by any chance…….”

Spelten couldn’t properly continue and trailed off.

Nevertheless, Gaon seemed to know what Spelten was trying to say.

It was definitely about entering the 9th Circle.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Gaon nodded.

Then Spelten’s eyes widened, and he exclaimed.

“Congratulations!”