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After the exile's death, no one dared to speak of it openly.
But there was an unusual atmosphere among the members of the clan. Given the many uncertainties surrounding the exile's death, it was only natural.
"Do you think what the exile said could be true?"
"What are you talking about?"
Two guardian knights, who had just finished their shifts and started their rest, were engaged in a conversation.
"The part about the acting matriarch being worried about the 2nd flagbearer and punishing the enforcement knights at that time."
Upon hearing this, one of the guardian knights looked around nervously. Talking about the 2nd flagbearer's bad aspects could lead to irreversible consequences.
"Be careful with what you say!"
"No one is in the backyard at this hour. You're getting jumpy for no reason. It's the most secluded spot in the Garden of Swords, isn't it?"
"Well, anyway, now that the exile is already dead, we can't verify the truth behind those words."
"It was a situation where a thorough investigation should have started, but the immediate execution of the 2nd flagbearer felt rather suspicious."
Joshua's swift execution seemed like an action to quickly cover up the incident.
"The same goes for the actions of the Black Sword Association's chief. If he didn't really save the exile, it would have been better to keep the exile alive and prove his innocence somehow."
The guardian knights fell silent for a moment. They seemed to have some confusion.
"...If the exile's words are true, then one can't help but think that the price paid for long-standing dedication to the clan is truly cruel. Even the acting matriarch hasn't said anything about this yet."
"There's no law that says we won't end up like that someday."
"Yeah, it's a rather uncomfortable end of the year..."
Rattle!
The guardian knights suddenly heard a sound of a door opening from the ground. The guardian knights were startled and immediately took a defensive stance at the sound.
The Tona brothers emerged from the hidden door in the ground. The guardian knights were left in a state of contemplation.
"Sir!"
"Sir!"
The guardian knights saluted, and the Tona brothers let out an exasperated sigh.
"It seems like you don't value your lives much, talking about such dangerous matters."
"Hey, hey. You guys haven't even been here for two years. Do you want to die that badly?"
"I am sorry!"
The guardian knights lowered their heads.
There was one fact that not only they but also all the knights who had been resting in this backyard didn't know until now.
This place was the most comfortable space within the garden for the Tona brothers as well.
The Tona brothers had built their own shelter here one day after being exhausted from the bullying of Myu and Anne.
It was a simple underground place with a rough door attached to it, but the Tona were gathering more information than they had expected in this place.
Just like now, they could casually listen to the conversations of the clan members who came to this backyard.
The Tona brothers pretended to brush off the dirt from their bodies, and the guardian knights approached them cautiously and stuck close.
Contrary to their words, the guardian knights had a feeling that the Tona brothers didn't view them as harshly as they had initially thought.
"If it were all lies, why would he bother risking his lives to come to the Garden of Swords? How unjust would he feel?"
"Huh?"
The eyes of the guardian knights widened at Daytona's words.
"We believe the last words of exile are not a lie."
"Yeah, that's right."
The Tona brothers had never participated in the hegemony war before, except for a brief quarrel with Jin during their cadet days. It was a well-known fact among the guardian knights.
However, now the Tona brothers were openly speaking against the 2nd flagbearer.
As the guardian knights hesitated to respond, the brothers spoke again.
"The reason they're not conducting a proper investigation is because the eldest brother and the Elder Council have their own interests."
"Plus, they just left the body to be eaten by the dogs. And it could have really gone that way if it weren't for the youngest. Only the youngest was willing to go against the wishes of our eldest brother and collect the body."
"What do you guys think?"
At Daytona's question, the guardian knights were at a loss.
It was only natural since these guardian knights were newcomers who hadn't yet decided which side to align with.
"Well, we..."
"Never mind, we've made you uncomfortable."
"No, it's not like that!"
"The youngest said."
"Eldest brother and the Elder Council should have kept him alive."
"Do you want to know why?"
The guardian knights could only nod their heads reluctantly.
"It's because there's one more exile who hasn't come to the Garden of Swords yet."
"It would have been better if the eldest brother and the elder council didn't kill the exile who came this time and somehow recruited or brainwashed him. Then, when the surviving exile arrives, they could have used his words as a means to deny the accusations. Wasn't his name Luton Ferman? He was the leader of the First Division of the enforcement knights back then."
Throughout the conversation, the guardian knights felt like they were sitting on thorns, but in the end, they felt genuine curiosity during that part.
"Is that really true? One more person..."
"Shh!"
Haytona covered his and the guardian knights' mouths with his index finger. Then, he smirked.
"What we want to tell is."
"The youngest understands the value of loyalty better than anyone. That's why we want to participate in the hegemony war in earnest, together with the youngest."
"So you too..."
"It would be good to think carefully. If you want to receive the proper rewards for your shining dedication in the future. That's it for today."
"Watch your mouth wherever you go!"
The guardian knights left the backyard in shock.
"Shall we stop here today, Haytona?"
"Let's do that. It seems everyone's tongues are so heavy, and the rumors aren't spreading very well."
The Tona brothers intentionally waited for the guardian knights who sought out the backyard.
They were listening to the conversation from inside the cave and only making contact with those who expressed doubts about recent events.
"Like the youngest said. It will take some time for the rumors to spread since everyone has been well-trained. Let's wait patiently. There will definitely be results. Just like everything the youngest does."
***
"Once the rumors start spreading, the members of the clan will have doubts. They will wonder why some of the 2nd flagbearer and certain factions within the Elder Council are always looking for something."
Hidden Palace, the attention of those in the room gathered when Jin spoke. The icy bed where Talaris lay receiving a massage, along with Luton seated next to her, Murakan and Syris on the opposite side – their gazes were fixed on Jin.
"If it's revealed that their actions weren't to resolve the clan's internal conflicts but rather to conceal something once again, then both of them will truly suffer significant consequences."
Jin had no intention of using the exile's death just for creating an uneasy atmosphere within the clan. He wanted to shake the foundation and position of the 2nd flagbearer and the Elder council.
"Hmm, the day when Luton returns, it will probably be the day of the worst scandal in Runcandel's history."
-The 12th flagbearer is right, but one person must survive. Captain, please witness the end of those people.And someday when the 12th flagbearer becomes the patriarch and allows it, then please live for my share and for those who have died.
Luton was gently stroking the sword left behind by the deceased exile, recalling his final words.
At that moment, Luton wanted to say that he would rather die. However, he couldn't bring himself to utter those words. He knew better than anyone how painful it was to continue living with nothing but hatred.
Surviving was the most difficult and burdensome thing of all. Luton survived to take on more responsibility.
"...What should I do now?" Luton asked.
"First, recover your body."
After the exile's death, Jin and Luton used formal language when addressing each other.
Jin forgave Luton for attacking Tikan, believing that it was now the right thing to treat them as enforcement knights. Luton had decided to become Jin's sword, so he believed it was appropriate to use honorific language.
"Yeah, you did become quite weak. You're still at around the 9-star level, but you weren't supposed to be easily overpowered by me, right?"
After being severely injured by the Elder Council, Luton was in a significantly weakened state. While he was still at the 9-star level, he had originally been the leader of the enforcement knights' 1st division, which made him one of the closest individuals to the Black Knights.
This also included the Black Knights of the previous generation, who were considered the "strongest in history," in other words, the Black Knights of Chiron.
Luton could have easily become a Black Knight If not for the purge that had occurred.
"I also think I need to recover, but there doesn't seem to be any way."
"You should go to the Holy Queen for treatment."
"... The Holy Queen?"
"Unless you use the legacy of Numerus, there will be limits even for her. However, is there anyone else who can provide better treatment than the Holy Queen? I'll write a letter for you and try to go before the end of this year."
"Even the patriarch could not easily ask Miklan when he was the Holy king. You are truly remarkable."
"You should go without exposing yourself to anyone."
"Of course, that won't be a problem."
"Well, you should surely improve to some extent with treatment from the Holy Queen. Once you regain your former strength, focus on taking care of my son-in-law, Luton."
"What will I do after the treatment?"
"You should become the teacher to my knights."
The youngest division.
Jin planned to entrust their education to Luton.
"Train them mercilessly, just like enforcement knights."
The youngest division should become the focal point for the knights who will gather around Jin in the future.
In order to do that, they must have the corresponding skills.
The current youngest division, aside from Bellop, Mesa, and Scott, had skills that barely met the average level of the Guardian Knights, so there was a need to grow them quickly.
"That might die if I do that. Moreover, those who have recently become Guardian Knights usually don't want to undergo new training. They've longed to reap the rewards."
Becoming a Guardian Knight required a grueling process, and it was only natural for those who achieved it to seek rewards for a while.
"If there are those who show a strong displeasure, you can dismiss them without reporting to me. But I don't think anyone will refuse."
"Understood. I'll go to the Holy Queen tomorrow, and please have your newcomers sent to me immediately. It would be best to start right away."
"By the way, Jin."
"Yes, Madame Talaris."
"When do you plan to visit the headquarters of the Black King mercenaries?"
"I plan to go there immediately tomorrow. It seems that it would be best to secure a faction to protect Tikan as soon as possible."