Chapter 102 : Chapter 102

Chapter 102

Eurasia Kingdom.

Capital City, Brussels.

“The process of moving the capital is going smoothly.”

Killian nodded as he received Serena’s report in the newly established Annihilation Squad Leader’s office.

Half a year had passed since the war broke out.

Three of Brussels’ renowned superhumans had lost their lives, and the nation was integrated, retaining only its name as the capital.

A few nobles led remnants to resist, but they were consistently subjugated by Eurasia. Currently, most had surrendered and pledged their allegiance to Simon Eurasia.

All of this was thanks to Bruges III and Count Revric, who had become more devout citizens of Eurasia than anyone else.

“What about Bruges and Revric?”

“They are currently visiting the nobles’ territories, accompanied by Portran and Gala.”

If the former king and a count who wielded comparable influence visited with the Annihilation Squad in tow, the existing nobles would find it difficult to cling to their wealth and lands.

Their assets would be used to stabilize the political situation.

“And the new counts?”

“After their audience with His Majesty the King, they all returned to their posts.”

The defense of the eastern frontier was entrusted to the Basquia Family.

The politics of the capital, Brussels, were entrusted to the Meyer Family.

The distribution routes connecting the frontier and the capital were entrusted to the Sepia Merchant Guild.

The heads of the three families, each granted the title of count, were reportedly moving busily to stabilize Eurasia’s expanded territory.

Everything was proceeding smoothly.

So smoothly that.

“It’s almost worrying.”

“It is the result of the Commander’s hard work. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the smoothness.”

“Oh. Are you complimenting me now?”

“I merely stated a fact.”

Pfft.

At Serena’s blunt attitude, the corners of Killian’s lips rose.

“……”

She continued her next report in a cold voice.

The information network connecting the eastern frontier and the capital was nearly complete, and they were utilizing Hennessy’s Walkers for the personnel shortage.

“In addition, we are also connecting our information network with Cornelia through Absinthe.”

“It was worth recruiting Crimson Wolf.”

He might look like a playboy on the outside, but his skills were undeniable.

His intelligence had played a significant role in Eurasia’s swift absorption of Brussels.

“What about Cornelia’s side?”

“It’s a situation where it wouldn’t be strange for a war to start at any moment, but……”

“……?”

“A strange rumor has been circulating recently.”

“I’ll listen and judge.”

“There is talk of a marriage between the Empire’s Second Prince and Princess Sharle.”

“The possibility?”

“It is not an impossible marriage proposal.”

Despite her words, her expression was somewhat uneasy.

“You’re waiting for Crimson Wolf’s report, aren’t you?”

“……Yes. To get an accurate assessment, Crimson Wolf has personally gone to meet Orchid Owl.”

Hennessy’s Crimson Wolf and Absinthe’s Orchid Owl.

He had heard that before being the heads of Walker guilds, the two had a personal connection.

“Crimson Wolf said he has a personal acquaintance, so let’s wait.”

Unlike Eurasia, Cornelia had yet to commence hostilities even after declaring war.

‘They’re probably planning to wait until Sir Hegel stabilizes his 8-star.’

Unlike Brussels, which had only received support from two Imperial Knight Orders, for Romero, the Second Prince had personally stepped forward, even bringing in his own forces.

Even if Hegel stabilized his 8-star, it would be a difficult war for Cornelia.

“We should start preparing reinforcements on our side as well.”

“More importantly, are you alright?”

“What is?”

“The Piece of Grotesquery.”

“……”

“You still haven’t properly told me what happened in the castle’s basement. According to Gala, who was interrogating Revric……”

“Serena.”

“……”

Her words stopped at the sudden call.

“Let’s talk about that later. For now, the stability of Eurasia and Cornelia’s war take precedence.”

“……I understand.”

“Oh, and just keep an eye on the Pantera Temple’s movements. As soon as things in the capital stabilize, I will go meet the Vice-Priest myself.”

“Understood.”

Just as she gave a light nod and was about to leave the room.

“……”

“……”

Killian and Serena quietly met each other’s eyes.

It was Killian who spoke first.

“To enter the Annihilation Squad Leader’s office, an outsider would have to pass through the training ground, right?”

“On my way here, I confirmed that Yulian was training alone.”

“Hmm. Is that so.”

Muttering softly, Killian began to emit mana.

Blue mana filled the Annihilation Squad Leader’s office.

And then, suddenly.

Ssk.

The stealth was dispelled, and a woman wearing an owl mask appeared.

“Ooh-hoo~ How did you know?”

She was dressed in what appeared to be extraordinary leather clothes, the kind of attire specially made for Walkers to allow for agile movements.

One of the Walkers Crimson Wolf had mentioned came to mind.

“Orchid Owl.”

Serena’s voice was cold.

“Correct. I heard you were looking for me?”

“This is the Annihilation Squad Leader’s office of Eurasia. Without proper procedure……”

“I already went through the procedure.”

“……”

“The dud sprawled out over there~ He looked like he needed some training, so I was just on my way back from helping him out a bit.”

“……!!”

Sreung.

Serena drew her sword.

Green mana shimmered over the Aether.

“Surrender quietly.”

“How scary~ Can you even reach me with that?”

Ssssss.

Serena responded to the taunt by releasing her energy.

Unfurling her Carpe, Serena looked at Killian as if awaiting an order.

“To be breached so easily, even if it was a Night Walker. I’ll have to chew Yulian out.”

“I agree.”

“Serena Constantine.”

“Your orders.”

Killian opened his mouth as he looked at Orchid Owl, who was savoring the green mana.

“Subdue her and make her kneel.”

“I will comply.”

Kugugugu.

Haki enveloped Serena’s Aether.

Orchid Owl glanced back and forth between her and the Aether.

“A 6-star Knight using Haki?”

Kyarereu.

Laughing to herself, she pulled out a short sword from her bosom.

“A half-baked thing, not even a Walker. Shall we have a taste of your blade?”

***

The border between the western frontier and the Romero Kingdom.

There, a simple meeting of a few people was taking place.

“The borderlands. Is this within the range where the Magic Tower’s mana can be drawn upon?”

“It is to prevent any potential ‘illicit incidents’ from occurring beforehand.”

“You have quite the nerve, spouting such things in front of me.”

Isaac Heinrich said, looking at Sharle Cornelia seated opposite him.

His dry voice held the curiosity of a predator with its prey right before its eyes.

“So. You’ve come to give me an answer to my proposal? It seems your war preparations are finally complete.”

“Wasn’t the Empire in the same boat, with preparations unfinished? I heard the Prince’s forces that arrived have already surpassed the military strength of the Romero Kingdom.”

Saying so, Sharle glanced at the knight standing behind the Second Prince.

Mainz Kimbel.

The superhuman who should have been hunted by Eurasia’s Annihilation Squad was protecting the Second Prince with a pale face.

“Seeing as you’re quick to grasp the situation, I suppose I can expect the answer I’m hoping for.”

“If it’s about the marriage proposal, my answer is a refusal.”

“……”

Pfft.

At the sight of Sharle smiling at him, Isaac smiled back.

“You speak such blasphemy, trusting in your Arch Mage.

Isn’t that right, Kiel Cornelia?”

Isaac asked the middle-aged man standing behind Sharle.

Each side was allowed only one companion.

It was a natural choice to bring a superhuman for protection.

“I am merely here as Sharle’s escort. There is no need for you to speak to me, Second Prince.”

“How dare you speak such nonsense in the presence of His Highness the Prince……”

Seuk.

Mainz fell silent as Isaac raised his hand.

“Princess Sharle, if you marry me, Cornelia will be safe. The Imperial Family’s order of extermination can also be nullified.”

More than 200 years ago.

When the Emperor of the Empire tried to monopolize all the Gye and Shik of the continent, Cornelia refused to offer the Shik that had been passed down in their kingdom.

In the end, they formed an alliance with a few like-minded kingdoms and fought a war against the Empire, but most of the allied nations either surrendered or were destroyed after failing to hold out for even a few months.

As a result, Cornelia was demoted to a frontier family, but its Shik remained un-stolen.

“What the Second Prince is after is surely the Shik for the construction of a Magic Tower.”

“I want everything of Cornelia. People are no different.”

Isaac Heinrich did not hide his ambition.

“For someone who says that, the Empire’s prestige doesn't seem to be what it once was. Even we did not expect Brussels, which had received the Imperial Family’s support, to fall so quickly.”

At the blatant mockery, Isaac shrugged.

“Brussels is not a country under my charge.”

Although the Imperial Knight and Magic Orders were dispatched, they were, to be precise, individuals connected to the First Prince, Crusty.

“Therefore, their failure is my brother Crusty’s mistake.”

“It sounds to me like you need Cornelia’s power to defeat that brother of yours and claim the throne.”

“Take my hand. If you do, I will make Cornelia the next greatest kingdom after the Empire.”

“I am grateful that you came in person, but personally, I don’t feel anything for Your Highness the Second Prince.”

“Killian Eurasia.”

“……?”

“Judging by your expression, it seems it wasn’t just a rumor.”

“……”

“I’ve obtained information that he has been acknowledged as a member of Cornelia.”

It was about the pendant.

‘It seems he doesn’t know about the Secret Repository, but…….’

Thinking that the rumor seemed to have spread more widely than she had anticipated, Sharle let out a small sigh inwardly.

“You’d better think carefully. Killian Eurasia is a man who once rejected my proposal.”

Every time Killian’s name was mentioned, Mainz Kimbel’s face twitched strangely.

“Sharle Cornelia, what I’m saying is that it wouldn’t be difficult for me to take you if I so choose.”

Sssss.

Black mana began to rise from Isaac’s body.

“How frightening.”

Sharle smiled and released her own violet mana in response.

‘The level I feel from his mana is 6-star.’

But she felt some kind of illicit energy.

The violet mana, upon contact, pushed back the black mana.

This was a place where the Magic Tower’s power could reach.

Her own Mana Heart was 5-star, but if she willed it, she could draw upon 6-star mana.

If it were a simple clash of 6-stars, she, who could use infinite mana, would have the upper hand.

“Hoh.”

Isaac showed curiosity at the violet mana pushing back his power.

Although he was known as a 6-star, he did not avoid the battle of wills.

He knew he could learn much just by clashing their mana.

‘Shall I test it?’

Swoosh.

When he infused a speck of Evil Energy into his black mana, the violet mana began to be tainted black.

Sharle’s eyebrows twitched.

‘It’s consuming my mana……?’

Heh.

The moment Isaac confirmed the balance was broken and was about to constrict her.

Kugugugung.

Suddenly, another stream of violet mana rose from behind her.

It was the presence of an Arch Mage, one that surpassed even a respectable commander of an Imperial Magic Order.

“The joke has gone too far, Second Prince.”

“Kiel Cornelia, I thought you said you wouldn’t interfere in the conversation.”

“You’d do well to watch your mouth. I am not lenient enough to not understand the meaning of conversation.”

Kugugung.

The presence emitted by Kiel pressed down on the entire area.

Just by imbuing his mana with fighting spirit, he exerted a pressure similar to Haki.

‘An Arch Mage synchronized with a Magic Tower…… this won’t be easy.’

Kiel Cornelia’s level was mid-tier 7-star. However, his skills were already on par with a 7-star master, and now that he could also use the Magic Tower’s mana, he could likely take on two average 7-star mages.

But the same could be said for the knight he had brought with him.

Kwaaaa.

Another stream of black mana rose from behind him.

“I believe I told you to watch your mouth in front of His Highness the Prince.”

Kugugugu.

Mainz Kimbel, who had surpassed his previous level, unleashed his Haki.

Pajijik. Pajik.

Arch Mage and Sword Master.

Sparks flew as the presences of the two superhumans collided.

“Honestly.”

In the space filled with taut tension.

“I detest clingy men.”

It was Sharle, smiling gently.

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