Chapter 135 : Chapter 135

Chapter 135 - The First Son’s Return

New people were brought into the Potion Development Department.

They were competent and obedient, people who had no choice but to be obedient.

The Forest Witch and Jubel were in charge of the recruitment.

Of course, the Youngest Son had already prepared the people.

“Here is the contract. Please take a look.”

The Forest Witch was silent, her hat pulled down low, and most of the contract process was handled by Jubel.

The Forest Witch had done her part by maintaining her silence and making her presence known.

The elders of the collateral branch, who received the contract, looked back and forth between it, Jubel, and the Forest Witch.

“…Do we even have a choice…?”

“You are elders who have survived the political turmoil of the family as a collateral branch. Your judgment in such matters would be more accurate than mine.”

Elmont, the head of The Second Fang and the leader of the collateral branches, had been killed by the Youngest Son.

Furthermore, the collateral branches knew that the direct-line sibling had provided the protection from the volcanic ash that even Elmont had failed to provide.

Was this their reward for having their lives saved?

Haaa….

He sighed and examined the contract.

He steeled himself not to be surprised, no matter what outrageous poison pill clauses there were.

“G-grand Merchant Jubel…! This is….”

“It is an employment contract. Elder Lorelin-nim accepted the Fifth Son-nim’s wish to form a close relationship with The Second Fang.”

He phrased it very diplomatically.

In reality, this was purely the Youngest Son’s will, and it meant that he would place them under his jurisdiction.

But they were by no means slaves.

On the contrary, it was a great opportunity for the collateral branches.

“This is a business that is being kept alive even at the cost of abandoning the Blue Volcano. The Potion Development Department is its core. And the collateral branches will be the ‘first’ to establish themselves there.”

The family’s grand merchant, the money-grubbing ghost, spoke smoothly as if his tongue was oiled.

“The Fifth Son-nim expressed his condolences for The Second Fang, which has lost its leader, and has prepared the fastest possible recovery plan available now.”

“T-to do this much for us…”

The elders looked at each other, exchanging glances mixed half with surprise and half with gratitude.

It didn’t take many words for the enemy who had dismantled their organization to be transformed into a benefactor in an instant.

Furthermore, it didn't take much effort to lift the shoulders of those whose confidence must have hit rock bottom by now.

“The Fifth Son-nim always spoke of the importance of the collateral branches. Whether there were many or few sorcerers who had sworn loyalty to the family, he said it was better to trust his own bloodline.”

The elders slapped their knees.

“The Fifth Son-nim has spoken very correctly!”

“Those words are a hundred times right. No matter how outstanding one’s ability is, trust is the most important thing in a business like this. Hmm, hmm.”

“We of the collateral branches are those who carry the name of Millesdusk. We will never do anything to bring disgrace to the family. There are also many with outstanding abilities.”

Jubel nodded slowly.

“Of course. Are you not the sprouts of the family, second to none in terms of viciousness?”

“Good, good. Please be sure to convey our thanks to the Fifth Son-nim.”

“We will send the necessary personnel as soon as they are ready.”

“I am only grateful. The Youngest Son-nim will also be pleased.”

Jubel folded the contract with the elders’ names on it with a deep smile.

It was a very precious contract that had bought the talented individuals who carried the precious blood of Millesdusk at a cheap price.

Even though they were half-bloods, or rather because they were, they were people who were more blinded by the need to prove themselves than the direct line.

When the pretext of a family business was presented, they put out their hands first, with money being a secondary concern.

They were very easy prey.

After the elders retreated, Jubel also bowed his head to the Forest Witch.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“I didn’t do much.”

“A rookie elder, the talk of the family, has personally made an appearance at an important occasion such as a contract. Just giving us your time is enough.”

“It doesn’t matter to me. I didn’t have much to do until the bloodstones were harvested anyway. So it’s from now on that I’ll be busy.”

“Yes. I heard that the first harvest is approaching.”

“That’s right.”

Before coming, she had seen the trees in the blessed land that had grown unripe fruits.

Instead of fruits, the bloodstones that were first planted hung heavy on the trees, and their size and quantity were impressive.

“The President said they would melt if I applied heat, so I told the Wisdom kid to have the Blue Flame Spirit’s fire reach the bloodstone storage tanks as well.”

“You’ve worked very hard.”

“The hard work starts now. And when I’m done with my hard work, it will be your turn to work hard.”

Jubel’s smile did not fade.

“Hard work? To me, it is the most enjoyable thing in the world. Because I can legally empty other people’s wallets.”

The Forest Witch shook her head.

There were only a handful of normal people around the President.

Considering herself fortunate to be relatively normal, the Forest Witch returned to the headquarters.

There, the Youngest Son was receiving a report from the underwear thief.

“Should I come back later?”

“No. It doesn’t matter.”

His expression as he answered was not good, not even as a joke.

But besides the underwear thief, the Forest Witch had also come here to report.

“The recruitment of the collateral branches has been completed as planned.”

“…Well done.”

The answer was a little late.

His voice was choppy because his mind was full of other thoughts.

The Forest Witch leaned her shoulder against the doorframe.

“What’s wrong? Are the elders coming to kill me?”

“If only it were something like that, how wonderful it would have been.”

“…It’s more serious than that? What, did the Family Head suddenly tell you to close the business?”

“Not a chance. The Family Head still likes this business.”

“Then what is it?”

No answer followed.

He just rested his chin on his hand and stared silently at the empty air.

In the end, her eyes under the brim moved to the underwear thief.

“Porter. What’s wrong?”

“…The First Son-nim…”

His legs, which hadn’t trembled even after cleaning Eclipse all day, vibrated faintly.

His voice was also unsteady.

Trembling as if standing in a blizzard, the porter managed to continue speaking with difficulty.

“The First Son-nim is returning to the family….”

“……”

The Forest Witch naturally fell silent.

She also immediately understood why the Youngest Son had become so lost in thought.

The First Son. A genius who wouldn’t appear for the next 100 years. A talent in Bone Sorcery that surpassed the current Family Head.

But his most famous nickname was something else entirely.

“The Ashen Son.”

At that title, the Youngest Son’s bloodshot eyes naturally turned to her.

A sigh escaped on its own.

“My eldest brother’s return was foretold, but a huge ripple now, when Dark Elixir has not fully established itself, is dangerous.”

“Your eldest brother won’t cause trouble as soon as he arrives, right, President?”

“No.”

The Youngest Son stated flatly.

“My eldest brother is someone who can’t be hidden, no matter how hard you try. Even the blizzard of the Ash Mountains couldn’t cover him.”

He got up from his seat.

“I should go back to Eclipse. Hurry the process.”

“I will.”

Leaving the Forest Witch at the headquarters, the Youngest Son put his foot on the anchor and headed for Eclipse.

***

Eclipse was already in a state of emergency.

To be precise, the Head Maid was moving at three times her usual speed, gathering information.

The Butler was next to her, hastily sorting documents as she spoke.

The movements of the elders following the First Son’s return.

The First Son’s return route.

The First Son’s faction that still existed within Dusk Citadel.

The current situation in the Mujin Plains of the East, the First Son’s territory.

The Head Maid, Mirea Rara, had gathered high-quality information to the point where anyone would suspect she was an agent of the Intelligence Department.

Even though there was no need for her to go this far as a head maid.

“You’ve arrived, Young Master-nim. I have delivered the most urgent news through Lubosch.”

Her words were faster than usual.

It was the same principle as finding it difficult to maintain composure in front of a drooling beast.

“Also, a letter sent by the young ladies has just arrived. The same goes for the Fourth Son-nim’s letter.”

The Head Maid handed over two letters.

The scent from the stationery was also different for each.

I broke the seal and read the contents.

─Dante. Older brother has begun his return. It seems the Undead Knight Legion in the Mujin Plains is also starting to stir. Eclipse is not far from the Mujin Plains. Be careful.

─My brother! Did you hear the news? That crazy bastard has seen enough of us, so he probably won't be that interested! Given the distance, it’s obvious he’ll come to you first, Dante! Be careful!

All the siblings ended their letters with a final word of caution.

I was grateful for their concern, but the First Son I would soon face would probably not be coming to show concern.

“Head Maid.”

“I am listening.”

“Prepare the ‘Black Sun’ ritual with the Butler.”

“Understood.”

The Head Maid bowed her head without adding her own opinion.

It was the demon, rather, who was startled.

“The, the Black Sun? Young Master-nim! Are you serious? What’s so special about that First Son that you’re in such a hurry! Do you really have to perform such a high-level demon curse ritual?”

The Head Maid answered instead.

“The First Son-nim is a once-in-a-century genius when it comes to Bone Sorcery. The knight legion he formed with his own Death Knights has never been defeated.”

The Undead Knight Legion.

The knight legion of the dead, established by the First Son and moving only by his will.

Among the private soldiers owned by the siblings, it was a group called the strongest, no matter what standard was applied.

The death knights, who had eagerly awaited their lord for 10 years, had finished their preparations to draw their swords at any moment.

The same went for their lord.

“The First Son-nim does not hesitate to bring down a nation by framing it with the crime of demon worship, if it’s for replenishing his forces.”

It was unknown how many kings had already offered their necks at the single gesture of a single man.

The Butler, flabbergasted, asked back.

“Doesn’t the Family Head say anything? If he keeps devouring the eastern nations like that, the backlash must be severe!”

“The Family Head-nim has never stopped the First Son-nim.”

“No, but why?”

As for that question, the Youngest Son answered.

“Because until now, my older brother is the only one my father has considered his own child.”

“…What?”

That in itself was a hard-to-believe reason. A very strange and even demon-incomprehensible reason.

But the Youngest Son understood the Family Head’s heart as a player.

In fact, the Family Head Kulsian’s thinking was similar to that of a player.

He also thought about the growth of Millesdusk, planned for the future, and in the end, wanted to conquer the other great families.

It was a perfect match with the player’s job.

The First Son was certainly the most suitable for that great task.

That was also the reason why the First Son character was recommended for beginner players in the Millesdusk faction.

Because the First Son had the surefire path of the Undead Knight Legion, a variable-free royal road.

If you continued to grow the character with that knight legion as the focus, you could see the Act 3 ending without much difficulty.

Yes. The First Son was that kind of guy.

A natural-born monarch who would one day wear the crown if left alone.

It was impossible to let such a cheat character run loose from Act 1.

That’s why the game company had stuck him in the Ash Mountains for 10 years under the pretext of training.

‘But I am not that guy right now.’

I was the Youngest Son who started from the very bottom, a player who had to face him.

“Butler. Work with the Head Maid to prepare the Black Sun curse. As quickly as possible.”

“Ah, alright. But you know we need offerings, right?”

“I will take care of that, so please prepare.”

“Right. Got it.”

Now, determination was also visible in the Butler’s eyes.

It seemed he too had somewhat realized how much of an emergency this situation was.

Feeling the calm before the storm, I briefly looked down at Eclipse.

The view from the top floor was colder than usual.

It was certainly the same sky and the same day as usual. But for some reason, the atmosphere of the air had changed drastically.

It felt as if it would become as sharp as a knife at any moment and pierce my lungs.

Even though it was just a single person getting closer to this place.

Swallowing a hollow laugh, I sat down for a moment.

[Is he that dangerous of a guy.]

Enad asked.

The Youngest Son gestured with his chin towards the area below.

“Even the gatekeeper over there can’t keep his hands still. It means it won’t be easy.”

Something incomparable to the invasion of the Fourth Son or the young ladies would come.

He did not see people as people.

Things that could become his private soldiers. And things that could not.

That was the standard by which he saw the world.

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