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The ghost mercenaries left, but Murakan couldn't contain his anger.
He had dreamt of happy times with Strawberry Pie, but once again, the situation had unfolded just as that "damn brat" had expected.
Over a hundred guardian knights had attacked Jin's personal training ground.
It was a number that could hardly be considered a mere warning to Jin and the ghost mercenaries, and that's why Murakan felt a surge of anger as soon as he saw them.
The entire sky darkened with shadow force, and Jin's personal training ground was partially destroyed with just a few of Murakan's breaths, and even the ceiling had some holes.
The guardian knights and those who had given them orders, and even the five hundred mercenaries who had been sitting on the dirt floor, all cautiously observed the menacing gaze of the fierce Black Dragon.
In an unexpected turn of events, Murakan swiftly subdued the guardian knights.
It was better for the guardian knights to be moderately subdued. Although they had received orders from Myu and Anne, it was deemed insane to fight against the guardian of the clan and face certain death because of the ghost mercenaries.
In the first place, neither Myu nor Anne had expected that Murakan would protect the ghost mercenaries.
"Hey! You're dead, damn it. I will fucking kill you, bastards! How dare you point your swords at this body? Huh? Straighten up, I said stand straight! Today, neither you nor I will get any sleep. Got it? You damn..."
After the ghost mercenaries safely departed, a truly extraordinary scene unfolded in the courtyard of the Garden of Swords.
Murakan was dressing down the guardian knights who had attacked him.
"One, to the great Black Dragon, two, does not complain. In front, you, yes, you. Represent us."
"Rule number one: Call me the Great Black Dragon. Rule number two: Don't mess around with the Great Black Dragon. You in front, yes, you. Say it out loud. Rule number one"
"Gr... great Black Dragon."
"Two."
"...Don't mess around with the Great Black Dragon."
It was a scene that was utterly unrealistic, but no one dared to step forward and stop Murakan. It might have been a different story if it had been Jin acting this way, but dealing with Murakan is burdensome for the entire clan.
And there were those who vented their frustration while looking at this scene from the main house's window.
"Ha! Seriously, I've never seen such a mess. Does the Garden of Swords really have to come to this mess?"
"Orabeoni, this is just too much. First the youngest and now that weird Black Dragon!"
Myu and Anne were at their wits' end after witnessing unexpected results from Joshua's room.
Joshua remained deep in thought and ignored his younger sisters' angry voices.
'Did you predict all of this just because Myu and Anne argued a little bit, the youngest?'
It was a judgment that cannot be expressed merely as caution. Yet, it is always accompanied by bold actions and repercussions that stir the clan…
Joshua was anxious despite his stoic demeanor.
It felt like his youngest brother had already crawled up to his chin. The youngest, who seemed like he could crush at any moment, was no longer the same.
"...think twice before acting when you mess with the youngest again in the future."
Myu and Anne blinked in surprise when Joshua spoke. It was an entirely unexpected response.
"Orabeoni?"
"What do you mean?"
"Both of you poked the hornet's nest without any thought. You are the only one who thinks it's funny to pick a fight with Tona brothers, but it only makes you look foolish."
Joshua smiled gently as he observed Myu and Anne.
"And your reputation affects me too."
Myu and Anne, taken aback and stared at Joshua.
Luna had always found fault with them, Luntia had always found them annoying even when they showed affection, Diphus and Mary looked down on them, the indifferent Ran and Vigo had no interest in each other.
Amongst such older siblings, Joshua was the only one who had consistently shown them kindness and recognition. So, it was indeed rare for Joshua to speak so coldly.
"I'm sorry, Orabeoni."
"We'll do better in the future."
"...Right. Our job is to organize the mess he's made in the clan. And you mustn't poke him clumsily anymore. We need to prepare properly and, when the time comes, we shall wage an all-out confrontation."
"Yes."
"We'll keep that in mind."
"Whatever the youngest does, we should make sure we don't lose our composure."
"Understood, Orabeoni."
Joshua shifted his gaze outside. He pondered at the sight of Murakan berating the guardian knights angrily.
'Ghost mercenaries... There will be another conflict between the youngest and the Elder Council.'
Joshua had already deduced the fact that the Elder Council had commissioned the ghost mercenaries for assassinating Jin.
'The mission ended in failure, and instead, some kind of relationship formed between Jin and the ghost mercenaries. So, the ghost mercenaries would have to either silence the clients or clean up the mess. I wonder how Elder Council President Jorden will handle it.'
Jorden Runcandel, Chief of Black Sword Association.
Joshua hoped that Jin would waste his strength in a confrontation with him, eventually leading Jorden to ask Joshua for help.
***
November 16, 1799, a villa in the eastern part of Huphester.
A group of elderly people is sitting on an open terrace, gazing out at the beach. The massive table was filled with exquisite gambling cards. The hands that held those cards seemed incredibly strong and powerful, almost unbelievably so for men of their age.
"Damn, I can't seem to win a hand."
"You're going to lose all of your pension money at this rate. Are you feeling anxious about something? You're pushing it a bit too far."
"I can't help but worry about the Ghost Leader visiting the 12th flagbearer. What if he informed him about the contract?"
"What if he did? The 12th flagbearer and the Ghost mercenaries can't easily meddle with us. If rumors spread that they exposed the client's identity, it would tarnish the reputation of the Ghost mercenaries. Nobody would want to commission them anymore."
"I doubt the Ghost leader would do something so foolish."
"Hmm, you may be right."
"Anyway, we are going to have a conversation with the Elder council president. Let's wait for that."
These were the Elders of Runcandel.
The Elder is a rank that did not need to reside in the Garden of the Sword unless there were special circumstances. Some of them dedicated themselves to training for improving their martial arts, some held positions in the Garden of Swords, while others lived their lives enjoying leisure and pleasure.
There were even beautiful women who only entertained the most powerful nobles, and bottles of alcohol worth hundreds of gold coins rolled on the floor.
"How about we call it a night, Elders?"
"Yes, let's go to the beach and cool off."
The expressions of the Elders changed just as the woman spoke.
"Shh, be quiet."
As the Elders stood up one by one, their gazes turned towards the distant sea. There was only the sound of crashing waves that could be heard on this moonless night, but the Elders sensed something else lurking beneath the surface.
"What is it, a fishing boat?"
Naturally, the location of the Elders' villa by the beach was not accessible to ordinary people.
"It's unlikely to be a lost fisherman, is there anyone we suspect...?"
Thud!
Before the Elder who was speaking could finish his sentence, a dagger appeared from somewhere and pierced the back of his neck. The person holding the dagger was a woman who wanted to go to the beach.
The other Elders drew their weapons at that moment and tried to attack the woman. However, the floor of the villa split open with a loud crack, and a group of men emerged to block their attacks.
"Even my monstrous brother is in awe of the person you dared to touch. And here you are enjoying yourselves carelessly."
The woman removed the 'mask' she had been wearing, revealing her true identity. She was Faye Proch, and as she shrugged her shoulders, another Elder's head rolled to the ground.
The Elders of Runcandel were all skilled individuals who had survived in Runcandel until now, but their habits and complacency had made their swords rusty.
They had become too confident in their position that they always use the same place for entertainment while thinking that no assassin would ever target them.
Today, the Elders found themselves helpless against the Ghost mercenaries for that very reason.
The veins appeared on the necks of the elders when Lata revealed him.
"Ghost Leader...!"
"This madman!"
"Indeed, you guys don't give me goosebumps at all."
Chk, Lata lit a cigarette and looked at the surrounded Elders.
The villa was already filled with paralyzing poison just like when Faye had fought Jin in the past. Moreover, dozens of snipers positioned all around the villa had already shot poisoned arrows into the Elders' arms and legs.
However, the exceptional Elders still emitted a formidable presence, despite their weakened state. Nevertheless, they were no match for Lata, even when they were at their best.
Especially with the elite members of the Ghost mercenaries led by Lata, death was inevitable once they infiltrated.
"Goosebumps? What... are you talking about, Ghost Leader?"
"You guys don't give me that creepy feeling I felt when dealing with the 12th flagbearer."
"And you think you will be safe after this? Even if you kill us, the fact that you took our contract is already documented. The Elder Council, Runcandel! They will annihilate all of you. The Ghost mercenaries will vanish without a trace!"
The Elders did not beg for their lives. They simply shouted with conviction that the Ghost mercenaries would also meet their end.
"I've chosen the side well. Seeing that I am not even remotely afraid of that threat."
"You're talking about the 12th flagbearer?"
"That's right. Why would I bother going to the Garden of the Sword to meet the 12th flagbearer? I was there to board the same ship as him. Even after witnessing that, you failed to prepare for this. Blame your complacency and incompetence. The background of Runcandel sometimes makes people so foolish."
"Argh!"
Swoosh!
As Lata began to swing his blade, the heads of the Elders fell one by one.
Afterward, Lata spoke once all the Elders were dealt with.
"Take only the heads, and load the bodies onto the boat."
***
The next day, the elder council president office.
"... Nearly ten Elders were found dead without their heads. What on earth is going on?"
"This is an insult and a challenge to Runcandel! We must find out who these people are and who is behind them! They must pay for this with blood."
"What kind of lunatics would commit such acts..."
Almost all the Elders had gathered to discuss the assassination that had occurred last night. Elder Council President Jorden was nowhere to be seen.
"Chief of guardians of law! Please say something. How should we perceive this situation?"
Lynn Milcano was about to answer, but...
Click!
The door of the elder council president office opened, and a person appeared.
"Greetings, honorable Elders."
Jin walked in as he greeted them. He had a heavy bag on his shoulder and held a single piece of paper in his hand.
As soon as Jin entered, the Elders sensed that something was terribly wrong.
"What... What are you carrying on your shoulder?"
One Elder asked with a trembling voice. Jin placed the bag on the long table. Thud, the heads of the deceased Elders rolled off the table one by one.
"These are the heads of the Elders who wanted to assassinate me. This is a contract signed by the deceased Elders, requesting the ghost mercenaries to assassinate me."
Jin spoke calmly, but most of the Elders felt chills running through their spine.
Elders had to feel something that they had long forgotten.
It was fear.