Episode 99
* * *
The city of the Lana Guild. The city hall of Arte della Lana.
In one of the rooms of the official residence, decorated with expensive woolen fabrics symbolizing the guild, was Dale.
“I heard that Ray Yuris, the representative of the Bloody Ball, met with the Master of the Lana Guild.”
Through the Shadow Court’s information network, we have already figured out which noble’s representative had contacted which guild’s master.
“… … !”
“You are probably aware of the assassination attempt on the Master of the Calimala Guild.”
“At least we know that the Shadow Court guarantees your innocence.”
The Master of the Lana Guild spoke, and Dale nodded quietly.
“Master of the Lana Guild, do you wish to become the next City Master with the Empire and the Red Tower on your back?”
“… … The City Master will be duly elected according to the republican customs of the Seven Guilds.”
Dale remained silent as he watched her trying to appear calm.
“If the City Master’s ledger falls into the hands of the Empire.”
After a silence, Dale opened his mouth.
“How long do you think the ‘republican customs’ that Guild City boasts can last?”
“… … .”
“The Golden Empire, which was reduced to a single city-state after the destruction of the Seven City Republics, even fell into the hands of the Empire.”
He recalled the scenery of the ‘Seven City Republic’ that he had once destroyed with his own hands. Even the treasures they boasted of were ultimately meaningless in front of the warrior’s sword.
“Do you think the Empire would tolerate a ‘Republic of the Seven Guilds’?”
Dale continues.
“It certainly takes a great deal of courage to go against the Empire and the enemy.”
“… … .”
“But it takes just as much courage to reject the favor of our black people.”
It was truly an blatant threat. However, without this level of force, the guild masters could not be moved. The master of the Lana Guild remained silent until the very end.
The saying that when whales fight, the shrimp’s back gets broken is exactly what it says about this.
* * *
Some time after that.
Before the Black Market opened, and to quell the unrest within Guild City, a meeting of the seven guild masters was held.
Additionally, the strongest men in Guild City and high-ranking assassins from the Shadow Court were brought together to escort them.
──According to the orders of the ‘Shadow Lord’ they serve, the entire conversation was leaked to Dale.
Since the Shadow Court was there to protect the Guild Masters, even the smallest whisper could not deceive their ears.
* * *
Some time later, after the seven major guilds had each settled their accounts, Guild City was divided into two major factions.
The Empire, and the Imperial faction that wants to join hands with the Red Tower.
The Black Party, which supports Dale’s proposed alliance with Black.
Secret meetings were held repeatedly amidst each person’s division and reunion, and it was the job of the ‘shadow court’ to protect them at each of these times.
Little did he know that the assassins of the ‘Shadow Court’, who were supposed to protect Guild City, were Dale’s lackeys.
* * *
You can immediately go to the City Master and strangle him, and take the Guild City ledger. You can also obtain a list of enemy factions and send assassins from the Shadow Court to eliminate them.
But there was a reason why Dale did not do so, and why the Empire did not strangle them by force either.
The masters of the seven great guilds always hold on to information to preserve their lives.
Furthermore, the real value of the City Master’s ledger lies in the ‘information that will be recorded in the future’ rather than in what has already been written.
Whenever a transaction takes place across the Empire, using the network that the Guild Cities have spread across the continent, the flow of money across the continent, where sword hilts are sold, where and where armor is imported… … .
How much debt does the lord of each region have or intends to have?
An axle that can be used to understand the situation on the continent in the future, not the past.
It is meaningless unless it is secured in a state where it can be viewed at all times. It was in this context that Dale and the Empire were desperately trying to get their hands on the ‘next’ City Master.
Intangible information.
That was the biggest reason why they could bow their heads in Guild City, but could not take away what they had.
* * *
Separate from the Seven Guilds’ business, the next winner’s match at Fight Club is drawing near.
“Wow!”
Leaving behind the people’s cheers, Dale turned his head. On the lake of darkness, countless Shadow Lurkers were revealing their majesty.
Shadow monster.
On the snake’s body, it flaunted its sickle-shaped limbs threateningly, and countless thorny tentacles wiggled along its back.
“Ha, ha, ha… … !”
And before Dale’s opponent could even finish speaking.
Phew!
The thorny tentacles sank into his body all at once. Blood gushed out, and mad shouts rang out.
A blow to prove the cruelty of the ‘Black Prince’ who shows no mercy to his enemies. And it was a decision made in cold calculation to reduce the number of competitors in the black market by one.
* * *
The ‘Black Prince’ of the House of Saxony proved his ruthlessness, and the next match began.
“This is also a must-see!”
“Michael of Lancaster! I am Prince Michael, the second son of the Duke of Lancaster!”
‘… …The Duke of Lancaster?’
At the name that caught Dale’s attention, he turned his head toward the stadium. There was a handsome blond man.
──The Lancaster family.
One of the ‘Three Great Dukes’, known as the greatest grand princes of the Empire, along with Saxony and Barbarossa.
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Needless to say, there is no doubt that the three major dukedoms will send agents to the black market.
‘Even so, the second son of the Duke of Lancaster himself went to a fight club.’
Dale tilted his head, forgetting that he himself was the eldest son of the Duke of Saxony. He must have appeared in the round of 32, but he didn’t watch the entire match. However, Dale also remembered hearing the name ‘Michael Lancaster’.
Not in a previous life, but after becoming the eldest son of the Duke of Saxony.
A sword genius who is said to be closest to the realm of the Seven Swords of the Next Continent. In fact, it is not at all strange that children of the Duke’s level are called sword and magic geniuses.
Because in any world, there is no guarantee of a sure life like being born with a good spoon in your mouth.
The world is unfair and absurd, and your social status is determined from birth. The three great dukes of the empire were the embodiment of the unfairness of the world.
In a sense, Philip, the scoundrel of the Count’s family, could be said to be an irregular who rejects fate.
Dale turned his head after contemplating. Michael Lancaster pulled out the hilt of his sword at his waist. It was a knight’s sword with a blade dyed crimson.
‘Blood Flower Sword… … .’
This is not an ordinary sword, but a renowned sword that rivals the highest level artifacts.
His opponent was also a knight from a famous count’s family, and it was a good opportunity to see his skills firsthand. It should have been that way.
But as soon as the signal to start the game rang, the opponent’s neck was already rolling on the floor.
Without even a moment to shout surrender, without even wielding the Aura Blade.
‘… … !’
One sword.
Even Dale couldn’t keep up with the speed unless he projected the warrior’s inaction and activated the circle to focus. The majority of the people in the room were unable to keep up with the speed and remained silent.
Michael Lancaster sheathed his sword and glanced away.
Towards Dale, the eldest son of the House of Saxony.
After looking at him, he bowed politely and smiled faintly. He looked very polite and dignified, as befitting the second son of the Duke’s family.
The swordsmanship he showed was also the same. It was so neat and beautiful that I couldn’t help but lose my mind.
Sword Demon Michael Lancaster.
That was his nickname, and Dale could sense it unconsciously.
The powerful men who now rule the continent in this era. Even the powerful men who were active in the same era as their previous lives will eventually grow old and fall away in the face of the flow of time. However, that void will not last long.
Because the next generation of strong people will take their place.
As Dale did, as Ray Uris did, as Michael Lancaster did.
The next generation will be made up of powerful people that Dale of the past did not know about, and many of them will be fighting for their lives.
Dale also bowed his head politely, reflecting calmly on that fact.
* * *
The fight at Fight Club was fast-paced.
In this hell where the opponents were dying one after another without even having a chance to surrender, those who knew their place chose defeat before fighting. After sifting through the ranks, four people were left.
Quarterfinals.
Dale, Ray Uris, Michael Lancaster, and one of the Marquis’ representatives.
‘… … Didn’t the Barbarossa family send anyone?’
A sea powerhouse with an invincible fleet based in the Death Sea Archipelago. It is possible that he may not show up at the Fight Club and quietly participate in the black market.
At least it wasn’t something to think about right away.
Inside the Fight Club, the cheers were louder than ever. They were hoping for bloody pleasure and madness. Dale raised his head to meet their expectations.
“Ah, it’s finally nice to meet you like this.”
The adopted son of the Bloody Ball and the successor to the Red Tower, whom no one dares to object to, Ray Yuris was there.
Suddenly, the shouts of the commentators that were resonating were no longer audible.
‘We’re going to have to face this opponent anyway.’
Rather, it was the spirit of victory that set Dale’s heart on fire.
So the black-and-blue vortex swept in, and Ray Yuris also accelerated his circle to counter it.
“Ring out.”
Dale opened his mouth, accelerating the four circles. At the same time, blue particles began to scatter in all directions. With a clear, yet unpleasant, harmony.
“Blue Barrel.”
After reaching the level of the 4th circle, I loaded the “Blue Dissonance” taught by Sepia into the gun barrel.
He submerged the entire stadium into a lake of darkness and pulled out the creatures from the shadows. The Death Knight behind him readied his Black Sword of Saxony.
Blocking the opponent’s magic and overwhelming them with the amount of material they have, Dale took advantage of the opportunity to win. After devising a strategy, there was not a single moment of hesitation in Dale’s actions.
“Keeeeeek!”
The Shadow Lurkers roared and unleashed their thorny tentacles. The shadow monsters surged forward, and Ray Yuris stretched out his arms in front of them.
In order to seal off his magic when he is about to be killed, he turns his back on the ‘Blue Dissonance’ that is aiming its gun at him.
In the midst of the swirling red-black vortex, Ray Yuris opened his mouth.
“──『King of Cold Ashes』.”
Saying the name of the unforgettable book of magic.
