Chapter 193: Prince of Ruin, Kran (3)

“Huh.”

Heint responded in disbelief.

He had intended to keep his summary brief, but something felt off about it.

Lucion smirked.

Bethel noticed that Lucion was enjoying himself now.

“Didn’t we know we were both busy? I also have some information for you.”

“I don’t know how things have become so chaotic, but my head is already throbbing,” Heint sighed, shaking his head.

Every piece of information Hamel brought back was different.

And frankly, it was a little scary.

“There was a disturbance at the festival attended by the saint, right? The official announcement claimed it was due to a problem with the ship, but I know that’s not true. I understand what you’re trying to accomplish,” Lucion said, opening his palm and shaking it lightly. “Guess what I got for you?”

“Are you an insider?” Heint’s eyes widened.

That incident silenced all the people on the ship with the help of the imperial family.

Surely, they wouldn’t have leaked any information.

“Whether I confirm or deny being an insider, will you believe me? No, you won’t. I simply have sharp ears.”

“I believe you now…”

“Tell me quickly.” Lucion cut Heint off and urged him on.

He still hadn’t heard that Carson had arrived, and the red thread seemed to be gradually shortening, making him a little anxious.

“Sephiro mentioned receiving orders from someone named Chayton. Apparently, Chayton is currently in the Myronist Kingdom, but I have no idea who that person is.” 

‘Wow.’

Lucion could only admire.

‘Is it all connected like this?’

He bit his lip, trying to suppress the laughter that threatened to escape as he was overwhelmed by the incoming questions.

‘No, why would they need a slave trader?’

Nevast, kidnapping, and a slave trader.

The three didn’t seem to fit together well, but adding one more piece could turn it into a perfect match.

Warlock.

Lucion winced at the thought, sensing Bethel’s confusion.

[Chayton was the slave trader who turned Kran into a slave, and behind him was really Nevast, and Nevast wiped out Keortia, the Kran’s homeland?]

Although it was his own words, even Russell reacted with disbelief.

[Why do they need a slave trader in the first place?]

Russell pondered the doubts Lucion was feeling.

[If it were the Neubra Kingdom, I wouldn’t even have such doubts. But why would Nevast do such a thing? I can’t understand.]

[I wonder if there are warlocks in Nevast as well, as Lord Lucion suspected.]

Bethel had already been suspicious of the connection between the two—a slave trader and kidnapping.

Moreover, since she had the experience of becoming a cursed test subject and dying, her intuition kicked in.

[If that’s true, that’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard…]

Russell was at a loss for words.

Heint, noticing Lucion’s silence, turned to him and asked directly, “Hamel, do you know who Chayton is?”

“I know,” Lucion responded truthfully, but he had no intention of revealing the information. 

Because Heint had something that the Empire needed to prioritize.

“Then tell me, who is Chayton?”

“Twilo Sprikado.”

Lucion, unaffected by Heint’s urging, revealed the direction in which the Empire needed to move.

“You need that information, don’t you?”

“You… What is your true identity?”

Heint knew that it was a question he wouldn’t be able to ask Hamel anyway, but he couldn’t bear not to ask.

How does he know everything?

Is he an insider?

Or could Hamel be Lucion?

‘But it’s still impossible.’

Heint knew Lucion’s movements.

Lucion’s movements were too limited.

There was no way he could have gotten past the knights’ guard in the first place.

Even if he did, he wouldn’t have enough time.

No, even if he thought that anything was possible, it was impossible to think of Lucion’s body without any assistance.

‘Does he suspect that I’m Hamel?’

Lucion could sense Heint’s suspicion in his eyes, as if he were looking at someone he knew. 

‘Even if it wasn’t flawless, I didn’t give him any reason to doubt. Isn’t his intuition too sharp?’

Unease suddenly washed over Lucion without him even consciously thinking about it. 

He could feel the red thread connecting him to Carson shortening.

[It’s Carson!]

When Russell said “Car” Bethel had already drawn her sword with Lucion’s hand and turned towards the rear.

Clang!

Before the sound of swords clashing could even be heard, Heint swiftly struck and deflected Carson’s sword with the power of light.

Lucion suppressed the uneasiness within him and looked at Heint.

‘You really… kept your promise.’

Heint raised his sword now, not for his escort, Lucion Cronia, but for the warlock Hamel.

[Ha…]

Bethel let out a sigh. 

She could have stopped it, but Lucion’s body was the problem.

[That could have been bad.]

Russell was also relieved.

Today, Heint couldn’t have looked any better.

Carson glared at Heint and said, “Step aside, Heint.”

—Oh, no! Listen to Ratta, Carson. Lucion now is Lucion wearing a mask.

Ratta knew she couldn’t be heard, but she tried her best to explain to Carson.

“What do you think you’re doing…?” Heint also glared at Carson as he withdrew his light.

Regardless of the reason for the ambush, this was wrong. 

Hamel’s life could have been in danger.

“I said get out of the way, Heint.”

Snap-hiss.

Carson’s sword emitted an aura.

This crazy guy.

Heint was conscious of Hamel, so he couldn’t raise the light and only gave strength to his voice.

“I can’t step aside.”

“Do you know who he is?”

“Warlock.”

“No. It’s the warlock who was with the Neubra guys on the frontier!”

“Wrong,” Lucion spoke up. 

Finally, he had the opportunity to speak informally with Carson.

“I used them.”

“What… ?” Heint sounded surprised.

“I found out that the Neubra guys joined forces with the warlock, or rather, the Hand of the Void. 

But nobody knew.”

“Move over, Heint. Do we have to keep listening to that bastard run his mouth?”

Carson didn’t believe Lucion at all. 

Despite his lack of hesitation, Lucion trusted Heint and continued to provoke Carson.

Clang!

Seeing Carson face off against Heint once again, Lucion realized that there might not be another chance like this.

Lucion quickly continued, “Would you lower your sword? The Emperor of the Tesla Empire has acknowledged my existence.”

“That’s right.”

Heint quickly picked up Lucion’s words.

“…!”

Only then did Carson’s sword waver, and Heint seized the opportunity to strike and send his sword flying.

With the tip of his sword pointed at Carson, Heint questioned, “As a servant of His Majesty, will you not obey His command to protect the Empire and uphold the frontier?”

“His Majesty? Come to your senses, Heint. Don’t be deceived by that warlock,” Carson replied.

“You’re the one who needs to come to your senses! Have you forgotten that I am blessed with the Light? Must I demonstrate my powers here for you to believe?” Heint retorted.

“It’s always like this,” Lucion interjected.

“If I had gone to Cronia and informed them that the Neubra Kingdom was joining forces with the Hand of the Void, would they have listened and investigated?” Lucion’s voice was filled with indignation.

Heint hesitated, as expected, his reaction sounding truly disheartening.

Lucion sighed, “No. Absolutely not, Carson Cronia. Just by looking into your eyes filled with contempt and hatred, the answer is clear, isn’t it? My life is hanging by a thread in Cronia.”

“Fine. If you feel so wronged, speak up. Why did you come here?” Carson asked, his tone cold as he suppressed his anger.

“No. Before you ask, let me ask you. Did my black magic kill anyone back then, and where was it directed?” Lucion pointed out the facts, leaving Carson speechless.

“No one died. My black magic was directed at the sky. Now, isn’t it time you asked me why? Why did I use black magic?” Lucion dangled a tempting bait, confident that Carson would take it.

It was an irresistible bait, enough to make Carson falter.

To make him realize that no one had died from his black magic, that Neubra and the Hand of the Void had joined forces.

And Carson had asked earlier.

Why was he beyond the frontier?

“Carson, step back,” Heint finally confirmed that there was no one around Carson.

“Is it truly the will of His Majesty?” Carson inquired. “Can you show me a document sealed by the Emperor as proof?”

But instead of Heint, Lucion replied with a sneer.

“Hold on. Just a minute. This guy is a bit sensitive about something.”

Across the frontier, Lucion is injured.

Knowing that Carson would be sensitive about it, Heint asked for Hamel’s understanding and led Carson away for a short distance.

[I can’t stand this.]

Russell immediately chased after them.

Heint sighed and spoke slowly, “Carson, I understand everything, but you were too hasty.” 

“I was trying to take down a warlock,” Carson muttered.

“That warlock was the informant I told you about,” Heint explained.

“Hah, the Empire has never been so shameful. To be fixated on that mere warlock,” Carson scoffed.

“He’s not just a mere warlock. Hamel connected all the dots,” Heint added.

“Just a moment.”

Carson’s stern expression softened momentarily.

“That name… that guy’s name?” Carson inquired.

“Yeah,” Heint replied.

“Ridiculous.”

Annoyance surged within him.

Why did it have to be that name?

Hamel.

It was the old name of Lucion that their mother used until she passed away.

“Anyway, you must not kill Hamel,” Heint asserted firmly.

“He could be in league with Neubra, couldn’t he? According to your words, the timing is just too perfect. It’s like he appeared right on cue.” 

“No, absolutely not. I can guarantee you that,” Heint assured.

“How can you guarantee that?” Carson asked skeptically.

“A warlock is still a person. Hamel is also an imperial citizen,” Heint explained.

“…”

Just as Heint, Carson’s expression softened slightly, and he slowly released the tension in his shoulders.

Cronia was a family that protected the frontier.

Everything they did was for the empire and its people.

Even a warlock was considered an imperial citizen.

This fact shook him to his core.

“Hamel took the risk to come to me and persuade me. He made me aware of the fact that the kingdom of Neubra is targeting the Empire and even revealed the true face of Neubra,” Heint explained.

Heint felt a bit foolish for pressuring Carson on behalf of Hamel, but it no longer mattered.

The more he spoke, the more he realized he trusted Hamel.

“Yeah, Carson. As you said, the timing of Hamel’s appearance is too perfect. But he didn’t just show up. Like me, he was also chasing after the Hand of the Void, and we coincidentally crossed paths,” Heint clarified.

“Coincidentally?” Carson still found it hard to believe.

Hamel was a warlock, someone with the power to manipulate others.

“It’s true. No matter how many times I say it, it’s real,” Heint affirmed.

“Alright, Heint,” Carson thought rationally.

What Heint had told him exceeded his expectations and intertwined with what he had learned.

If he had to choose between killing Hamel without personal bias or sparing him, the latter was the obvious choice.

Fortunately, the man was actually aiding the Empire.

“I won’t kill him,” Carson stated firmly.

“Hah,” Heint breathed a sigh of relief.

He felt a sense of pride at having convinced Carson up to this point.

“But I must intervene in this conversation.” 

“Why?” 

“Because it seems suspicious.”

Heint had no energy to argue with Carson’s confident statement.

Carson had always been that way.

The damn guy who only became docile in front of Lucion and Shaela.

“Ah, you need to retrieve something,” Carson’s lips curled into a smile.

“Retrieve what?”

“The sword you threw. It’s quite expensive.”

“Well…”

“I’ll speak to him first. If you want to stop me, you’d better hurry.”

Carson walked toward Hamel.

[Here he comes.] Bethel informed Lucion.

Lucion, who was listening to Russell’s summary, grew extremely nervous at the sight of Carson approaching.

Carson approached Lucion and spoke.

“Explain yourself. I’ll give you a chance to convince me,” Carson’s stern gaze made Ratta mentally retreat in advance.

Lucion also flinched slightly, but he was Hamel now. 

Even without Heint to back him up, there was no reason for him to not be confident.

“My information is valuable, isn’t it? What can Cronia do for me?” Hamel countered.

“Don’t you see that I’m sparing your life right now?” Carson confidently pointed to the ground, “Remember that your life is being protected by my patience.”

Listening to the thumping of his heart, Lucion was amused by Carson’s words.

“Hmm. Perhaps my ears are playing tricks on me. It doesn’t sound like a promise, oddly enough.”

Author's Thoughts

Carson confidently pointed at the ground. (Carson could simply be making a gesture to underline that Hamel's head is still intact.)

I'm not sure; I can't always figure out what the author is trying to say. My brain isn't braining.

🥶

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read