'Zipfel would probably choose to accept the allegations.'
A world power would not just give up their current status.
Although their 'white knight' image would take some damage, it was better to put the blame on some random people and then forget about it. It would be like a lizard cutting off their own tail.
A hurt image would only be temporary, while wounded dignity would not be easy to heal.
Especially when Runcandel continued to stand on the world's stage.
"Zipfel's Fourth Pillar is held captive as a hostage by Kinzelo. I specifically told Chukon Tolderer to do so."
Jin quickly summarized what happened when he intercepted the compass (of course, he left out the part about the compass) and Vitura's jaw dropped.
It was an absolute shock.
"So you were planning to use the Fourth Pillar. I can see your intentions. According to your plan, Zipfel would take the blame instead of us."
"However, not everything will happen as I say, but there's no better option. We should bring the holy kingdom's current situation into the limelight and try to make them back off."
Vitura couldn't respond.
The initial plan was to mount a final naval battle with his remaining fleet.
And then they would save Rani no matter the cost. Perhaps they would leave her with Runcandel, the Hidden Palace, or Nameless.
Either she would use her single strand of hope to one day restore her kingdom, or live her life hidden away.
However, she met Jin.
'Perhaps Ayula sent this young man.'
A Runcandel prospective flag bearer who had not even turned twenty. Normally, Vitura would not request anyone for assistance, especially since Jin was too young.
"Lord Jin."
"Yes, Sir Vitura."
"Please tell me what you wish for us to do."
"We will immediately head to the old capital, Oterium. Please act like a Zipfel soldier and keep Rani safe. You mustn't hand her over to anyone, as they'll most likely torture her."
Zipfel and Kinzelo probably wanted her to be the final decoration for the false king, so they would definitely do whatever it took to take her back.
"Please do not worry."
"Also, please get me a list of names from Kinzelo and Zipfel, categorized by their affiliation. I'll leak the names immediately after I leave. Please gather your leftover forces, too. There may be a battle."
"I understand."
"Lord Jin."
Rani approached Jin.
"Our coincidental meeting has ended up involving the fate of Vankella. Although I can only pray for your success and safety now, I will certainly return this favor in the future."
"Hey churchy. It wouldn't be too late for you to thank us after saving the people, so just keep on praying. You're Vitura, right? Act injured so we can leave."
Before Jin could even say a word, Vitura cut his own arm.
"Erk!"
Rani did a double take and rushed over to heal him, but Vitura lightly pushed her away while shaking his head. He had to remain injured so the deaths of the other paladins could be justified.
"Sir Vitura, you didn't need to…"
Vitura handed his sword to Jin.
"Please take my weapon and escape. Your sword will be in the first floor's storage room. As soon as you leave, I will send troops after you."
"Let's hope this works out."
* * *
It took them a day to retrieve the sword and escape the holy kingdom. They quickly became wanted criminals and thus couldn't use transfer gates.
Five days until the advent festival.
Jin had to evacuate all of the citizens and return to the holy kingdom.
'The schedule is a bit packed.'
Murakan soared through the air as Jin thought to himself.
Since Oterium wasn't part of the Lutero Magic Federation, he was free to fly.
After the great war, the land became uninhabitable. Many monsters roamed the land, and the Dark Magic Association resided there.
Even though Jin mastered the Shadow Blade and Illustrious Bladeworks, going in alone would be suicide.
Cold Joe, Huejiron Hensirk, Chukon Tolderer, Susan Lilistar.
Those four were confirmed 9-star magicians. Additionally, unidentified 7-8 stars scoured the base, so it would be too dangerous.
[You nervous, kid?]
Jin smirked and laughed.
"What should I fear when I have you?"
[HAHAHA! Damn right. Those magicians are nothing with me here.]
Misha had regained about 40% of his power.
'Would Murakan alone be enough?'
Of course, it wouldn't be likely that all of their forces would be stationed there. The others had their own business to deal with. They wouldn't linger around the main base all day every day.
'Well, we'll find out soon enough. His confidence tells me that it'll be fine.'
'Twas a night without the moon's light.
The ground was like an abyss, waste lands without a single speck of light shining. Who would've thought a malicious organization would be residing here?
A monster's shriek tore through the night a distance away, and Murakan sped up.
[We're almost there. Kuku, those human magicians prepared a lot of cute things.]
"Cute?"
[They had a barrier up, along with a welcoming effect commonly known as an alarm.]
"Yeah? I assumed they'd have one. Can't you disable it?"
Murakan laughed.
[We penetrated through it just now. Didn't you hear?]
'No way.'
Before he could reply, he looked back and gasped.
Behind him, he saw a neon tear rapidly fading into the distance. Many magic traps were activating around him.
'How many are there? And we just flew by without a sound?!'
But none of them fully activated. The traps glimmered like stars only for a black mist to devour them whole.
After getting through the barrier, Murakan released his shadows. They absorbed all of the mana and slowly grew.
The Dark Magic Association had been residing in this location for fifty years.
They overworked countless magicians to maintain the barrier, but to Murakan, it was no different from bursting through a castle wall.
"You just used that much shadow energy without preparation? Holy shit, and it's actually working!"
It wasn't just a small radius around them.
The entire sky was darker than before. The shadows wiped the sky clear of the shining traps and the barrier itself.
[What's the matter? Am I not allowed to be this powerful? You can probably do this too.]
"Uh… yeah."
'With enough time, I can probably do that too…'
Jin chose not to speak.
By the time Jin looked at the sky again, he realized that every hint of planted mana was gone.
[Oh, look over there. Seems like that castle is their base.]
Moreover, the magicians didn't even notice.
[Kid.]
"Yeah."
[We strike immediately. There probably aren't any test subjects in the outer area. You need to get the inner sanctum and rescue the citizens. After that, send me the signal.]
"Understood. If we find more hostages, then we need to rescue them as well. They're important witnesses that'll turn Zipfel inside out."
[Don't worry and hold on, we're descending immediately after I break the wall.]
Murakan took a deep breath. The shadows around him began to gather in his mouth.
Three hundred meters from the castle… It was a little far.
However, it was close enough for Murakan. If there wasn't anyone to save inside, he would have blown the entire building away.
A beam of black light ripped through the air.
Jin subconsciously gulped as the shadows swallowed everything in their path.
The extra layers of barrier and the outer castle walls were in shambles. As the remnants of the building fell to the ground, the earth shook.
He didn't have time to enjoy the view, though.
Murakan nosedived toward the castle. Jin felt the wind dragging his face and hair back, and within the blink of an eye, they'd arrived.
Jin heard screams. The magicians and warriors of Kinzelo.
Either they fell to the ground, held onto rubble for dear life, or lay injured.
Murakan expanded his shadow in all directions. Every visible entity in the area had a shadow pierce through their chest, and not even ten seconds later, over two hundred Kinzelo lackeys had perished.
Jin would've never expected this much.
[If you're not dead, don't even think about getting out of here.]
With Murakan's proclamation, Jin began his part of the mission.