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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Deep Night
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1.
Early evening in Thebes, after the unprecedented train attack.
Even as rumors of the serious incident began to spread, the city of Thebes was as bright as day.
Magical lights illuminated every corner of the streets.
The night market, centered around the main square, was reminiscent of a festival.
"What a view."
This was the city hall's lavish conference room.
Befitting a city hall built in the heart of the city, the prosperous view of Thebes was visible at a glance through the window.
Although it was relatively late for a meeting, Karron's party, along with the mayor and councilmen of Thebes, had taken their seats in the conference room.
The reason was simple.
"Mayor, isn't this your responsibility to bear!"
"Why should we be interrogated this late at night? Who could be more innocent than us!"
An unconditional summons had been issued to them.
Karron glanced at Graine while observing the small commotion in the room.
According to Hans, he was a puppet mayor who was completely swayed by the council.
Not that he lacked political skill, but that he had no will to act as mayor.
However, the Graine before him was completely different from what he had expected.
"I'd appreciate it if you'd all shut your mouths. Is there a problem with me, as the mayor, summoning you?"
The Graine who had accepted most of the council's requests and simply collected his paycheck was nowhere to be seen.
"Today, a direct heir of the Ducal Leston Family was nearly killed in the Thebes autonomous region. Do you really think it's a problem for me to issue a summons in such a critical situation?"
"Even so, at this late hour..."
"You were either drinking, carousing with women, or doing both! It had to be one of the three. Am I wrong?"
As if he had a lot of pent-up resentment, Graine began to fiercely berate the councilmen.
Watching the scene, Karron decided to back him up.
"It seems the mayor is the only one here who was genuinely concerned for our well-being."
Those few words sent a chill through the conference room.
The councilmen were human; it was impossible for them not to understand the meaning behind his words.
"That's not what we meant... We just thought an investigation in the morning would be a bit more accurate..."
"And your name is, councilman?"
"I am Viscount Humele. I lead the Humele Merchant Guild."
"Thank you for your sincere advice. I'll be sure to pass Viscount Humele's name along to my grandfather."
"I-I misspoke! Please, just once, reconsider!"
After that, none of the councilmen dared to voice their complaints.
The conference room fell somewhat quiet.
The silence did not last long.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
Someone knocked on the door, and soon a voice was heard from outside.
"The Commissioner of the National Tax Service has arrived."
At those words, everyone in the room rose to their feet.
A moment later.
*Creeeak.*
As the door opened, men in suits entered the conference room and lined up in an orderly fashion on either side of the doorway.
Having taken their positions in an instant, they shouted in unison.
"The Commissioner is entering."
"The Commissioner is entering."
An old man walked slowly into the conference room.
His hair was parted and slicked back.
His suit was immaculate, without a speck of dust.
He had a sturdy physique that defied his age and features that seemed to radiate stubbornness.
The moment the old man stepped inside, the other councilmen in the room held their breath.
'I'd believe it if you told me he was a soldier.'
Karron watched as the Commissioner of the National Tax Service—his maternal grandfather—entered, a slight smile on his face.
Who would think this man was a public official?
The head of a crime syndicate might suit him better.
"It seems you're all gathered."
The Commissioner, Gail Periton, said as he surveyed the room.
The old man's gaze soon stopped on Karron.
"I'm so glad, Karron. I was so worried. I'm relieved to see you're safe."
"It's been a while, Grandfather."
"Let's save our reunion for later. This old man has work to do."
Gail smiled benevolently at Karron.
In that moment, they looked no different from any other grandparent and grandchild.
But the warmth was fleeting. Gail turned to the councilmen and said:
"As of this moment, agents from Special Unit 1 of the National Tax Service will conduct a full-scale tax audit of your merchant guilds. We have received a tip that some of you have accumulated illicit wealth through smuggling and attempted tax evasion. This audit is being conducted under a direct Imperial command. Be warned that any failure to cooperate fully will result in immediate action by the Imperial Knights."
At that, Viscount Humele, who had just been reprimanded by Karron, shot up from his seat. He then spoke with a troubled expression.
"We intend to cooperate fully with the tax audit, but isn't this an unusually sudden investigation? Our guild hasn't had any time to prepare."
Despite Viscount Humele's complaint, Gail continued to smile benevolently.
"You son of a... No, what is your name, sir?"
"Grandfather! That's Viscount Humele. He was just complaining to me about being summoned for an investigation so late at night!"
Upon receiving Karron's crucial tip, Gail strode toward Viscount Humele.
And then.
"Gaaahck!"
He grabbed the Viscount by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
"So it was you! You're the one who tried to kill my grandson! You piece of trash!"
"A mis-misunderstanding! Gaaack!"
"A misunderstanding? Fine, a misunderstanding it is. I'll start by tearing your guild apart. There's no place that doesn't have dust to shake out. Chief of Special Unit 1!"
At Gail's call, a stout man standing by the door bowed his head and answered.
"Yes, Commissioner."
"Start investigating this man's guild at once! Begin by tracking any funds with unclear origins. Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
"It's a misunderstanding. It must be. We are absolutely not involved in this incident..."
"The one who judges that is the Imperial Family, not you! Do you understand?"
The conference room had turned into a courtroom.
Amidst the tense atmosphere, as if walking on thin ice, Graine quietly approached Karron and asked cautiously.
"I've never seen him so angry in my life. Have you seen him like this many times?"
To that question, Karron smiled brightly and nodded.
"I told you, didn't I? My grandfather adores me."
2.
After the storm had passed through city hall, Karron went out onto the streets with Gail.
The street was quite crowded with people.
It was time Karron had wheedled out of Gail.
"I heard the train was overturned. Shouldn't you get some treatment?"
Gail said, looking at his beloved grandson.
In Karron's hand was a lamb skewer he had just bought from a street stall.
"I'm fine, Grandfather. I'm really not hurt at all."
"The assailants who targeted you might still be hiding in this city. It could be rather dangerous."
"I just wanted to get some fresh air. And I don't think it'll be that dangerous, anyway."
Karron took a bite of his lamb skewer and casually glanced around.
Not far off, he could see the Sea Wolf Knights watching over him, as well as knights in plain clothes with swords at their waists.
A rather familiar mana emanated from them.
A mana familiar not from this life, but from his past one as Kain Rator.
'Imperial Guards.'
All Imperial Guards are taught the mana cultivation technique passed down through the Imperial Family.
Their mana doesn't have a specific name, but it usually exhibits a regular wavelength like that.
"It's only natural, as this old man is an important government official. But to think you even noticed the Imperial Guards... My grandson is now a proper knight. A 4-star already, I hear?"
"Huh? How did you know that? Only people from the Azure Sea should know."
"Your grandfather told me. I pestered him quite a bit for news about you."
Gail smiled with satisfaction.
His cute grandson had been his pride and joy since birth.
He had been very worried when he heard Karron had entered the Azure Sea, but the grandson he met after three years had grown astonishingly.
It wasn't just his body that had grown; his entire aura had changed. Now, he could truly be called a knight of the Azure Sea without any reservation.
'Karron was different from a young age.'
Karron's first birthday.
The cheek he'd gotten slapped on while rubbing his beard against Karron's face still throbbed.
And that wasn't all.
At five, he went out of the estate and beat the neighborhood bullies to within an inch of their lives. At seven, on a stroll with him in the local hills, he had even beaten a wild boar to death with his bare hands.
Simply put, he had been an extraordinary grandson since he was young.
He was also the most precious person in the world.
*Grind.*
The thought that there were people trying to harm such a grandson made him grind his teeth.
"Do you have any idea who's behind this?"
His grandson had been brilliant from a young age.
He was quick-witted and had a sharp mind.
Sometimes, it felt like he was playing games on a level above adults.
Such a grandson might have some inkling.
"Hmm. I don't have any suspects for now."
"It's not a family matter, is it?"
"My uncles have no reason to go this far. I'm not that much of a threat yet."
Karron said, taking another bite of the lamb skewer.
The possibility of it being a family matter could be completely ruled out.
If it were truly a plot by his uncles, they wouldn't have handled it so sloppily.
"They left obvious clues. It's as if they want us to conclude that the Fajar Sultanate was behind it."
He lacked information for now.
But that didn't mean he would just sit back and do nothing. If he lacked it, he would just have to move and find it himself.
"You have a plan, don't you?"
At Gail's direct question, Karron smiled brightly and nodded.
"Yes."
"Will you tell me?"
"I want to avenge my comrades, no matter what."
Gail looked into his grandson's eyes.
He could feel something chilling in them. It was unmistakable killing intent.
In this situation, there was only one decision a grandfather could make.
"I'd like you to put that thought aside, Karron. You'll be going to the capital with me tomorrow."
"Grandfather."
"It's an Imperial command. His Majesty the Emperor personally ordered me to bring you to him. That's the only reason I came down here myself."
His grandson was still young.
It was true he was becoming absurdly strong, but he was not yet a powerhouse.
How many times had he seen talented geniuses who overestimated their own abilities meet an early end?
He could not let Karron follow in their footsteps.
"Your job today is to hang out with your grandfather like this, then go back to the estate and get plenty of rest."
Gail stated it as a final decision.
Even judging objectively, this city was currently dangerous.
"Your grandfather and I will handle your revenge. This is our business, too."
He would have done it even if the boy hadn't asked. He fully intended to utterly destroy those who had targeted his precious grandson's life.
That was why he had brought Special Unit 1 with him.
If there was even the slightest connection, he would thoroughly destroy their foundations, no matter who they were.
And his counterpart, Duke Halo, would surely be the same. He wouldn't needlessly put his grandson in danger.
"So let's just enjoy a nice walk, just the two of us. Doesn't this bring back memories? I used to walk around the domain holding your hand."
"You came so often that Father had a hard time."
"He told me to come often, though. I should call my son-in-law out for a talk soon."
"Sounds like a good idea."
His grandfather.
While his paternal grandfather, Halo, still felt more like a friend, his maternal grandfather, Gail, was different.
He was someone who had always given him unconditional love, just like his parents.
He couldn't blatantly ignore the worries of such a person. So, for now, he decided to take a step back.
"Alright, Grandfather."
"Thank you for understanding my feelings. A good boy who listens well deserves a reward. I'll buy you anything you want to eat. The night market in Thebes has a lot of delicious food. It's still early evening, so we can take our time."
"Then shall we have a beer?"
"I remember your mother once slapped me on the back for giving you a sip of a cocktail. I don't know whose daughter she is, but she has a mean swing."
"Well... it's not my back, is it?"
"You have a point there. Haha!"
Karron walked slowly down the street, exchanging pleasant jokes with Gail.
'So I'm going to the capital tomorrow.'
An Imperial command could not be defied.
That meant he only had tonight.
He had already received information about the smugglers from Mayor Graine during the day.
Tonight will be long.
He felt sorry for his grandfather, but he had no intention of going to the capital quietly.
3.
That night.
Jeras and the Sea Wolf Knights he led arrived in Thebes from the Azure Sea.
"Lord Karron."
Upon arriving in Thebes, Jeras first went to see the duke's grandson, who was resting at the estate.
"I was just getting ready for bed."
Karron, who was sitting on his bed, greeted Jeras warmly.
Beside Karron's bed lay the cleanly polished Guillotine.
Jeras sighed as he looked at Guillotine's ominous blade.
"Someone getting ready for bed was polishing their sword?"
"Isn't it a knight's duty to always keep his sword in peak condition?"
"I suppose so."
Of course, it was a lie.
Jeras immediately saw through Karron's lie. Considering Karron's personality, there was no way he would remain idle in this situation.
Karron does not tolerate things.
If he was slighted, he would surely get revenge. That was also the reason he had quickly gained recognition in the Azure Sea.
Karron sheathed Guillotine and slowly began to speak.
"Are you going to try and stop me too, Sir Jeras? My grandfather told me not to even think about leaving the estate."
Indeed, his grandfather had requested the Imperial Guards to protect Karron.
He knew well that "protection" was just another word for surveillance.
If Jeras was added to the mix, there would be no easy way to leave the estate.
Persuading Jeras was the only way.
He had already thought about how to persuade him.
"No matter what you say, Sir Jeras, I will..."
But Jeras cut Karron off curtly and said:
"I will now convey the orders given to you by the Head of the Family. Listen well."
Clearing his throat for a moment, he delivered Halo's command in a dry voice.
"Karron Leston, youngest grandson of the Ducal Leston Family, upon receiving this order, is to move immediately and collect the blood debt of the fallen. Show them precisely what the law of the Azure Sea is."
Collect a blood debt in a place that could be teeming with unknown dangers?
Karron instantly realized this was a test from Halo.
He slowly rose from the bed and gripped Guillotine's scabbard. Then he looked at Jeras and smiled.
"Karron Leston accepts the family head's command."
The moon was hidden by the clouds.
The deep night had just begun.