Chapter 58: Confrontation

When Parn was under the misunderstanding, he issued numerous decrees.

Not just about the Ritual of Sacrifice.

There were decrees concerning state affairs, and currently, Lamu was acting as regent.

Has a problem already arisen?

Of course, issues could arise over time.

Anyone with a rational mind would notice something was off.

But Gaon had thought it would take at least a few days.

For a problem to surface this quickly?

Something was wrong.

The Abyss couldn’t have acted already.

The Abyss likely didn’t yet fully grasp the situation at the 2nd Division.

Yet they’d moved so soon?

Given what Gaon knew of the Abyss’s principles, it was hard to believe.

No, wait. Time has passed.

It had been 70 years since he thought the Abyss was destroyed.

Seventy years was long enough for mountains and rivers to change several times.

It wouldn’t be strange if their principles had shifted.

For now, Gaon hurried toward the grand meeting hall where Lamu was.

Soon, he arrived nearby, and thanks to his heightened hearing, he caught the conversation.

“Duke Lamu! Has something happened to His Majesty?”

“Where is His Majesty, and what is he doing?”

“I demand to see His Majesty! Chief Steward! Where is he?”

Numerous voices were pressing Lamu and Max.

“His Majesty is temporarily absent. You’ve seen the decrees,” Lamu replied.

But his words had no effect.

“Aren’t those decrees suspicious?”

“Suddenly delegating full authority to Duke Lamu?”

“And a problem with the magic circles? They’ve been fine for ages—why a problem now?”

“This better not be what I’m thinking!”

“Lord Treasurer! That’s too far! Duke Lamu would never do something so absurd!”

“Chief Steward! Why are you defending him? It’s suspicious!”

The atmosphere wasn’t calming.

Far from it—it was escalating.

If this continued, some might move beyond arguing to action.

Good thing I came quickly.

Had he come while absorbing the mana stone?

Things might have already escalated.

Grateful he’d rushed, Gaon moved swiftly.

Soon after—

“Who are you?” a knight guarding the meeting hall entrance asked.

Gaon showed a golden medallion he’d prepared.

Received from Parn, it was a special token given only to royal blood or the kingdom’s benefactors.

Seeing it, the knight flinched and stepped aside.

“I greet the kingdom’s benefactor.”

At his words, another knight guarding the entrance quickly opened the door.

Gaon entered the hall through the opened door.

Perhaps because it opened suddenly, all eyes turned to the entrance.

Gaon met their gazes.

Lamu’s eyes showed relief.

Max, whom Gaon knew only by face, looked troubled.

The rest were puzzled.

Hm?

Meeting their gazes, Gaon’s eyes gleamed.

Then he broke into a wide smile.

What’s this?

It was because of the figure at the center of the group pressuring Lamu and Max.

Gaon approached them.

“You’ve arrived,” Lamu said, bowing.

His reaction startled those who had been pressing him.

Given Lamu’s position in the Bretan Kingdom, their surprise was understandable.

“Duke Lamu, who is this…?” a blue-haired middle-aged man asked, trailing off.

Lamu didn’t answer.

Instead, he glanced at Gaon.

Gaon spoke.

“That red-haired one over there. What’s his name?”

At Gaon’s words, Lamu turned to where Gaon was looking.

The red-haired middle-aged man, meeting Gaon’s gaze, scowled.

But that was all.

He showed no further reaction.

“He’s Count Lutein, head of the Parvil family and the Treasurer,” Lamu answered.

“Treasurer?” 

Gaon was slightly surprised.

It was an unexpected position.

“So he stays in the capital almost all the time?”

“Not almost—constantly,” Lamu replied.

Hmm…

Gaon nodded, letting out a low groan.

Why didn’t Parn summon him?

Seals were embedded in Lutein’s brain and heart.

He was Abyss.

Gaon had ordered Parn to gather all nearby Abyss members.

Yet Lutein hadn’t been summoned.

Parn believed Gaon was the Lord.

He wouldn’t have deliberately excluded him.

Someone Parn didn’t know?

Lutein, constantly in the capital, wasn’t summoned.

That meant one thing.

Parn didn’t know of his existence.

Parn was a Branch Leader.

For a Branch Leader not to know someone in the capital, in such a high position?

There was only one explanation.

Not part of the 2nd Division.

Lutein was clearly affiliated with a higher division.

It was the only way this made sense.

Finishing his thoughts, Gaon smiled and spoke.

“Bind.”

The target was, of course, Lutein.

“…!”

Caught by Bind, Lutein’s eyes filled with panic.

Gaon began approaching him.

Those between Gaon and Lutein hurriedly stepped aside.

Their faces were full of wariness.

Gaon paid them no mind.

He’d deal with them eventually—Lutein was the priority now.

At that moment—

Oh!

Gaon exclaimed inwardly.

Lutein was bound.

Yet an unidentified energy from his navel began spreading through his body.

It’s been a while.

It wasn’t new.

He’d seen this flow long ago.

What was it called? A Sikrina family secret art.

He couldn’t recall the exact name, but it was definitely a secret art of the Sikrina family, one of the Abyss’s ten vassal families.

So Gaon didn’t stop it.

He let the secret art activate.

Crack! Crackle!

Cracks appeared on Lutein’s skin.

His body rapidly expanded as his skin split.

“Gasp!”

“Huh!”

Those still nearby scrambled back.

Gaon, however, kept approaching without pause.

Lutein had likely used the secret art to escape Bind.

It wasn’t just about enlarging the body.

As the body grew, his energy surged explosively.

But Gaon’s Bind wasn’t so weak that it could be broken by such a technique.

If it seemed breakable, he wouldn’t have let the art activate.

“Huh?”

As expected, Lutein only trembled, unable to move, and let out a panicked sound.

Reaching him, Gaon used Pacheongi to dismantle the seals and the secret art.

Lutein’s enlarged body shrank back to normal.

Was it because of his body’s return?

Or the dismantled seals?

Lutein wore a dazed expression.

“Shock.”

Crackle!

Gaon knocked him out.

He might use the Oath of Souls.

Luhan, the 3rd Elder’s subordinate, had used the Oath of Souls.

It wasn’t a technique easily employed.

He didn’t know Lutein’s position, but he couldn’t rule it out.

“Levitation.”

Gaon lifted the unconscious Lutein into the air.

He turned to Lamu.

“I’ll interrogate him in the royal cultivation chamber. I have other things to do, and it might be dangerous, so don’t come until I’m done. I’ll be out by tomorrow evening at the latest.”

“…Yes, understood!” 

Lamu, dazed by the sudden events, snapped to attention and replied.

Gaon glanced at those who had been pressuring Lamu.

Under his gaze, they all looked down.

“Tell them the truth. I’ve secured the evidence.”

“Are there any of them here…?” Lamu trailed off, clearly worried about the Abyss.

“It’s fine. I’m not sure how clean they are, but they’re not Abyss.”

“Understood. I’ll tell them everything.”

Hearing Lamu’s response, Gaon left the meeting hall.

Heading to the nearby royal cultivation chamber, he thought.

Did Batan know?

Parn didn’t know of Lutein.

But what about Batan, the Division Leader?

Did he know of Lutein’s existence?

Should’ve asked everything before killing him.

Regretting it, Gaon looked at Lutein and resolved.

I’ll extract everything thoroughly.

At the Sikrina family’s grand mansion, north of the Abyss’s holy site.

“Phew, why’s everyone so lost in thought?”

Returning from the grand meeting, Bao, head of the Sikrina family, sighed and muttered.

Margaret, the head steward who came to greet him, bowed and said, “You’ve worked hard.”

“You’re right, I worked too hard. So, any good news? I told Bestick to look into things. No report yet?”

“No, not yet.”

“Sigh.”

Bao shook his head, sighing.

“For someone in that position, shouldn’t they report proactively? Is their authority lacking?”

“As Treasurer, their position is sufficient. Perhaps the situation was so sudden they’re still investigating.”

At that moment—

Bao turned his head.

Arisa, in charge of the Sikrina family’s soul stones, appeared.

Seeing her, Bao silently furrowed his brow.

Her expression was grim.

For someone managing soul stones, a grim face meant trouble.

Soon, Arisa arrived.

“Lord, I have urgent news,” she said, her voice as grim as her expression.

“What is it?”

“Bestick’s soul stone has shattered.”

“…”

Bao was speechless.

He’d expected someone had died.

But Bestick?

…That’s impossible.

During the meeting, the 2nd Division was annihilated.

Gaon was suspected.

And the Blood Wail of Vengeful Spirits was still active.

Meaning Gaon was likely still at the 2nd Division.

So why would Bestick, in the Bretan Kingdom’s capital, die?

Bao fell into thought.

Then he realized.

He’s not alone.

He’d assumed Gaon was behind everything.

But Bestick’s death was impossible, even for an 8th Circle mage.

If Gaon killed Bestick, then someone else annihilated the 2nd Division.

There must be others working with Gaon.

That was the only explanation.

“Margaret.”

“Yes.”

“How many are in the Bretan Kingdom?”

“Seven.”

“Send them all to the palace. I don’t care if their identities are exposed—find out who killed Bestick.”