Shortly after, Gaon arrived at the mansion where Roker was imprisoned.
There were people standing guard and on watch not only at the entrance but throughout the premises.
And half of them had restrictions on their heads and hearts.
Of course, Gaon didn’t just deal with half of them.
He killed every single one without exception.
The other half didn’t have restrictions, but instead harbored demonic energy.
Having killed all the guards and watchers, Gaon approached the mansion.
And he was able to meet Roker.
“……G-Gaon-nim!”
Roker called out to Gaon with a surprised face.
Gaon first checked Roker’s condition.
His condition was not good.
There were wounds all over his body.
And his body was restrained through artifacts, and his mana was sealed through restrictions.
Gaon waved his hand.
Then, the artifacts restraining Roker’s body all broke at once.
Thus, Roker regained freedom of his body.
Then, as Gaon approached Roker, he said,
“Wait a moment.”
Following that, Gaon placed his hand on Roker’s shoulder and injected a strand of Pacheonki.
And he dismantled every single restriction that had taken root in Roker’s body without missing any.
As soon as the restrictions disappeared, mana began circulating throughout his body again, infusing vitality.
“Heal.”
Swaaat!
Finally, Gaon cast Heal, and with a flash of light, all of Roker’s wounds disappeared.
“Thank you.”
Roker politely bowed his head and expressed thanks.
The eyes of Roker expressing thanks were full of anger.
Gaon, seeing Roker’s anger, asked,
“Who is it? What happened?”
He was curious.
Gaon was curious.
Who kidnapped him.
Why he was imprisoned.
“I’ll explain from the beginning. I was heading to the meeting place, Ride Hall, to participate in the supreme council. Upon arriving at Ride Hall, the atmosphere was strange.”
Roker began explaining, and Gaon listened attentively.
After a while, the long explanation ended, and Gaon furrowed his brows.
Surprisingly, the imperial palace was currently divided into three factions.
The first was the Emperor’s faction.
Literally, the faction led by Emperor Larun.
The second was the rebellion faction.
The leader of the rebellion faction was the only brother of Emperor Larun, Vladious, and it was a faction colluded with the demon world.
And it was the faction that kidnapped Roker and caused the current situation.
The third was the neutral faction.
A faction of those who don’t know how the current situation is going or those who know everything and maintain neutrality, and the leader of the neutral faction was the head of the Valen family and called the continent’s strongest spirit master, Asode Valen.
Something’s off…….
Gaon tilted his head.
The faction structure didn’t make sense.
The Rios Empire has very strong imperial power.
It only falls short to Schutaren and Valen, but to other families, the imperial authority is almost absolute.
Yet, the nobles started a rebellion?
No matter that the leader is the emperor’s brother, it didn’t make sense.
“But what happened to the people who came with you?”
In the mansion, it was only Roker.
He was curious what happened to those who came with Roker.
And to Gaon’s question, Roker’s expression hardened.
From Roker’s expression, Gaon could tell.
“……They all died.”
Soon, Roker answered.
Suppressed anger could be felt in Roker’s voice.
“Hmm…”
Gaon let out a low groan.
And right then.
Swish.
Gaon turned his head to look at the left wall.
Then, Roker with a puzzled face followed and looked at the left wall, then asked,
“Is there any problem……”
“No, a guest has arrived. Wait a moment.”
Gaon answered Roker’s question and immediately went out of the mansion through the window.
And heading to the mansion’s main gate, he thought.
Why did they come?
Gaon knew who the guest approaching the mansion was.
There were multiple spirits accompanying.
Not mediocre spirits.
Several top-grade spirits were included.
In the Rios Empire, there’s only one place that possesses such strong spirits in numbers.
The Valen Dukedom.
In other words, the approaching guest was definitely from the neutral faction.
Gaon was curious.
Why the neutral faction came to the mansion.
Asode Valen, the head of the Valen family and who ended up leading the neutral faction, thought as he walked.
What on earth are they doing this for?
The supreme council was scheduled to be held.
Normally, he wouldn’t attend in person.
However, this time the atmosphere was unusual, so he decided to attend personally.
And as expected, an incident occurred.
It was a rebellion.
The only brother of the current emperor, Vladious Rios, started a rebellion with several nobles and forces.
Vladious might be blinded by the emperor’s seat, but why the others?
Considering the current imperial family’s power, it didn’t make sense for the noble forces to join the rebellion.
Moreover, the rebellion faction made a huge mistake.
If they wanted to increase the chance of success even a little, they shouldn’t have made Schutaren their enemy…….
The Schutaren sword family sent Roker Schutaren, the next-next heir, to this supreme council.
And the rebellion faction kidnapped Roker.
Why did they commit such a stupid act as kidnapping Roker?
Perhaps to use Roker as hostage to influence Schutaren?
Do they not know that threats won’t work on them?
Asode knows Schutaren well.
Even if the heir is taken hostage, they won’t yield.
Instead, they are the ones who will thoroughly avenge the heir.
Perhaps they trusted the demon world?
Among the factions colluded with the rebellion faction, there was the demon world.
……Probably high chance.
No matter how he thought, it seemed the rebellion faction started the rebellion due to the demon world’s influence.
They thought it possible with the demon world’s power, or they were already in a deep relationship where they couldn’t back out.
Right then.
“We’ll arrive soon.”
Asode’s right-hand man, Brigiren, said quietly.
At Brigiren’s words, Asode looked forward.
In the distance, the mansion was visible.
It was the place where Roker Schutaren, the next-next heir of the Schutaren sword family, was imprisoned.
The reason Asode was heading to the mansion where Roker was imprisoned was naturally to rescue him.
If he rescues Roker?
He can strengthen the relationship with Schutaren.
And no matter what happens in the future, he’ll gain a reliable ally.
Hmm?
Soon, upon arriving near the mansion, Asode flinched.
There were corpses at the mansion entrance.
Did the emperor move?
Or already from Schutaren?
Asode focused on his senses.
And he was shocked.
From inside the mansion, a being with immeasurable energy was detected.
Could it be Spelten……?
The first that came to mind was Spelten Schutaren.
Did he cross the wall once more in the meantime……?
While Asode was lost in thought, the immeasurable being inside the mansion came out.
And Asode could tell.
It wasn’t Spelten.
The owner of the energy was a young man with thick black hair.
And at the man’s appearance, Asode swallowed.
……Gaon!
He hadn’t seen him in person.
Only through rumors and reports.
Yet, as soon as he saw, he knew it was Gaon.
It wasn’t exaggerated…….
He knows what Gaon has done.
He thought quite a bit was exaggerated.
Because they were too unbelievable.
But now facing him directly, he realized.
It wasn’t exaggerated at all.
Rather, it was understated.
If he had believed the rumors and disregarded or antagonized Gaon?
He would have suffered greatly.
They seem to have a deeper relationship than thought.
Why did Gaon come here?
Obvious.
Definitely to rescue Roker.
He knew Gaon and Schutaren were close.
But it seemed closer than thought.
Soon, Gaon came close, and Asode ended his thoughts.
“I am Asode who leads the Valen family. It is an honor to meet the great mage Gaon.”
And Asode greeted Gaon very politely.
“Nice to meet you.”
Gaon accepted Asode’s greeting.
And he looked at the spirit behind Asode.
It was a top-grade fire spirit.
Well raised.
It’s not as much as the fire spirit king Gaon knows, but it has power close to it.
The position of spirit king is decided by power.
In other words, if it grows a bit more here?
It might take the spirit king’s position.
Right then.
At Gaon’s gaze, the fire spirit hid behind Asode with a fearful face.
Asode flinched at the fire spirit’s reaction.
This guy reacting like this?
It’s his spirit, but Asode knows.
It’s a very aggressive and ill-tempered spirit.
Even if the opponent is stronger, it never yields and rather rages more.
Yet hiding behind?
He first learned it had such a side.
Asode looked at Gaon again.
The spirit showing this reaction is because of Gaon.
What on earth did it see in Gaon to act like this?
And Gaon smirked at the spirit’s reaction and opened his mouth.
“Why did you come here?”
At Gaon’s question, Asode composed himself and began to answer.
“It was to rescue the imprisoned Roker Schutaren and to strengthen the relationship with Schutaren.”
“I see.”
Gaon nodded as if understanding and thought.
Straightforward?
Asode didn’t hide or beat around the bush about the purpose.
So he was curious.
What answer he would show to the next question.
Gaon stopped nodding and asked the next question.
“How does the Valen family handle traitors?”
“……?”
Asode couldn’t help but be puzzled.
Why suddenly talk about traitors?
……Could it be!
At the sudden thought, Asode’s eyes flashed.
Is there a traitor among us?
In the current situation, why would Gaon ask about handling traitors?
No matter how, only one reason.
That there is a traitor.
Moreover, Gaon clearly mentioned family.
Meaning not the neutral faction nobles who came together, but a traitor in the family.
Of course, Gaon might have just said it.
However, according to the reports received so far, Gaon has found numerous traitors.
High chance it’s not just said.
Asode answered with a bitter face, cold eyes.
“I plan to thoroughly interrogate and then kill.”
“Even if it’s direct bloodline?”
At the following words of Gaon, Asode couldn’t answer immediately.
Not because he was hesitant.
Even if direct bloodline, no change.
But the direct bloodlines who came this time were grandchildren.
Moreover, ones he cherishes a lot.
Who will take responsibility for the family’s future.
Yet among them a traitor?
Truly bitter.
Soon, Asode opened his mouth.
“Yes, even if direct, nothing changes.”
After answering Gaon’s words, Asode sent his will to the fire spirit Kalteus who was hiding behind.
At the same time, Kalteus moved immediately.
Hwaruruk!
Flames rose and formed a prison shape.
Naturally, the target wasn’t Gaon.
It was the grandchildren who came together.
“G-Grandfather?”
“Grandfather!”
“Why…….”
The grandchildren trapped in the fire prison naturally let out panicked, surprised voices.
However, Asode didn’t give glances to the grandchildren.
He just looked at Gaon with a complicated face.
And Gaon was slightly surprised at Asode’s action.
Not an ordinary guy.
He understands quickly and his decisiveness is to his liking.
And right then, Asode opened his mouth.
“Gaon-nim, I’m sorry but I’m foolish. Could you tell me which child it is?”
“Can you believe my words?”
“If it was before meeting, I wouldn’t have believed. But now I believe.”