Chapter 199: Movements (1)

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“Second has finished cleaning up Louisas and moved straight on to the next target.”

“It seems she’s excited—probably because it’s been a while since she last got to rampage.”

“She’s been training all this time, after all. She’s moved a few times before, but this is the first time she’s fought seriously like this, so I guess she’s enjoying herself.”

Carl let out a small laugh.

He was currently inside the Madeira Trading House building, listening to reports on NOX’s current state as they cleaned up every corner of Polfoardel’s underworld.

All preparations had been completed thoroughly.

Everyone had wanted to prove their own abilities, and the results had clearly followed.

“The seven main targets have been secured. The first objective has been achieved, Master.”

“…You mean they cleaned out all those places in just a few hours?”

Yuria, who was sitting with them, asked in astonishment.

She had stayed at the Trading House for her own safety, but now she was witnessing with her own eyes the moment NOX fully stretched its limbs.

After all, the catalyst for this entire situation had been Yuria’s own kidnapping.

“They were the ones who gave us the excuse to act. I had planned to create an opening by getting involved first, but they couldn’t control their greed and kidnapped you. Thanks to that, we gained justification.”

It was also a perfect opportunity to let the world know that NOX stood behind Madeira.

The Imperial Palace already knew everything, so it wasn’t a problem.

Only the other organizations caught in the storm would suffer great damage.

Even the nobles connected to those organizations would.

“……”

Yuria looked at the growing pile of reports on the table.

She had already realized that the NOX organization Carl had raised was extraordinary, but she hadn’t imagined it would be this formidable.

‘Is he really planning to dominate the entire underworld of the capital?’

Even the organizations whose names she had heard countless times couldn’t withstand NOX’s attacks.

And this was happening without Carl himself taking the field.

If he were to step in personally…

‘He might really become the mastermind behind the Empire itself.’

Even with his memories lost, his performance was on this level—what kind of person had he been before losing them?

Or perhaps… had he really lost them in the first place?

A chill ran down Yuria’s spine.

“…What are you going to do next?”

“Next?”

Carl lifted his gaze to Yuria.

Seeing his look asking what kind of ‘next’ she meant, Yuria clarified.

“After you take control of Polfoardel’s underworld and NOX’s influence grows even further.”

“That’s an odd question.”

Carl shrugged lightly as he answered.

“If you must define it, NOX is a tool.”

“A tool?”

“For a swordsman, it’s the sword. For a mage, the staff. For an archer, the bow. Why do they seek better weapons?”

“Well, that’s…”

“To perfect their craft even further.”

Swinging a sword was an act meant to cut something.

The better the sword, the stronger the strike, and the more cleanly it could cut through its target.

It was the same principle for archery and magic.

“I haven’t decided what to do next. But when the time comes and a goal presents itself, I’m tempering the sword in my hand so that nothing will hinder me.”

That way, when the time came, he could swiftly cleave apart whatever enemy stood before him.

“……”

Yuria gave a hollow laugh.

Should she say it was so like Carl?

Even though it was difficult to understand through ordinary logic, she could still somewhat accept it.

Knock, knock, knock.

At that moment, someone tapped on the window.

Queen walked over and lifted it open, and a small bird fluttered in with a beat of its wings.

“Wow, how cute.”

“It’s named Seolbaek. A spiritual creature that understands human speech.”

After circling the room once, Seolbaek landed on Carl’s hand.

Carl untied the knot on its leg and, after reading the message, nodded.

“It’s from Six.”

“So, they’ve been found.”

As Carl rose from his seat, Queen draped a robe over his shoulders.

Yuria, who had started to rise as well, met Carl’s eyes as he looked down at her for a moment before nodding.

“Yuria, it’s better if you come with me.”

“What is it?”

“It’s related to the Demon Realm. As I mentioned before, there are infiltrators from that side hidden within this underworld as well.”

“Hm.”

Yuria furrowed her brow.

That meant Ragnarok’s direction was likely to flow toward the Demon Realm invasion route.

‘The War of the Gods would’ve been a cleaner storyline, what a pity.’

The Demon Realm invasion caused enormous casualties and plunged the entire continent into chaos.

The human side had suffered terrible losses as well, since they had to fend off the Demon King’s army.

Ragnarok, the War of the Gods, was a more contained battle—gods fighting among themselves, making for a cleaner narrative.

It was a story driven more by character drama than sheer destruction.

“Queen, I’ll leave this place to you.”

“Yes, Master.”

Queen nodded calmly.

However, her gaze was directed at Yuria, lips slightly pouting.

‘I wish I could go too.’

She understood that the cadet, Yuria, was someone important with a certain ability.

As the successor of the Gray Magic Tower, whether through magic or something else, she was clearly connected to the Master and part of his greater plan.

Even so, Queen wished he would at least tell her something, but Carl never shared any of those details with anyone.

‘What on earth could it be…’

Even after living together for over a decade, there were still many things she didn’t know.

While Queen quietly lamented to herself, Carl lifted Yuria into his arms and leapt out the window.

“W-wait, what?!”

As they landed lightly on the ground, Yuria hastily covered her mouth, realizing she had screamed.

It was the middle of a quiet night, and even a small shriek could travel far.

But Carl simply gave her a small, reassuring smile.

“Even if you were to scream your lungs out, no one would hear. Don’t worry.”

“…Ah, that soundproofing barrier thing?”

“Yes.”

Blocking sound from leaking out was an easy task for Carl.

While nodding, Yuria looked up at him from within his half-embrace.

“By the way, can we change positions a little? Being carried like this every time… It’s a bit awkward if anyone sees us.”

“It would indeed be more comfortable for both of us if you were on my back.”

“I’ll just stay like this.”

That, too, would look strange in its own way.

Yuria waited quietly, and before long, they arrived at their destination.

Clang!

A battle between NOX and another organization was in full swing.

Normally, they should have achieved an overwhelming victory with no casualties, yet among the fallen enemies were several who appeared to belong to NOX.

“Wait.”

Carl quickly set Yuria down and examined the members.

Fortunately, no one had died, though several were too wounded to move.

Tap, tatak.

He pressed their energy points, giving them emergency treatment to stabilize them.

Each of these people was like a blood vessel sustaining NOX.

Given that NOX was made up of elites, its human resources needed to be preserved at all costs.

“Cough, ah, Master…”

“Don’t speak.”

“I’ll help.”

Yuria stepped up beside him and began casting healing magic diligently.

Healing required much more mana than ordinary magic.

But since it was for Carl, she had no trouble doing it and went about treating NOX’s members.

“Let’s go.”

After finishing the first aid swiftly, Carl moved on without delay.

The fact that even basic treatment hadn’t been completed yet meant something unexpected had occurred at the scene.

Sure enough, when they reached the battlefield, streaks of shimmering light could be seen crisscrossing everywhere.

“…What’s this?”

“Don’t touch it. One careless move, and you’ll lose your fingers.”

It was Heavenly Silk, crafted by Carl using materials from Artenia.

It could slice through most armor effortlessly, and even magical shields or barriers could hardly withstand it.

“There.”

Identifying the source of the Heavenly Silk—and Six’s location—Carl leapt into the air with Yuria.

When he saw the sight unfolding below, he narrowed his eyes and dropped down, using the technique of Heavy Descent.

KWA-A-A-ANG!

A heavy impact shook the battlefield, and a thick cloud of dust rose.

In the midst of it, covered in blood but still standing, Six smiled brightly and shouted.

“Master!”

“Six.”

Carl, however, frowned.

This was merely a cleanup of some underworld syndicates connected to the merchant guilds.

Even if some demon humans were mixed in, there shouldn’t have been anyone strong enough to push the now stronger Six to this degree.

“I apologize. The enemy’s strength was far greater than anticipated.”

“Hm.”

Carl lifted his gaze toward the opposite side.

In the wide clearing stood a man holding a single sword, motionless.

From the aura radiating from his entire body, Carl realized why Six had struggled.

‘A master.’

He wasn’t someone one would normally encounter in a place like this.

Someone of such caliber could only be found among mid-level bosses of organizations that controlled the central district of the commercial area—or higher.

Perhaps, for some reason, he had been hiding within a nearby organization.

Carl lightly tapped Yuria’s shoulder beside him and spoke to Six.

“I’ve taken care of those outside. Leave this place with Yuria.”

“What? You said I should watch.”

“Until that man showed up. He’s a Master-level combatant.”

“……”

Master.

That meant a fully accomplished expert beyond ordinary realms.

It wasn’t a time to be stubborn, so Yuria gave a short nod and whispered softly.

“Win.”

“I will.”

Six and Yuria withdrew from the area.

They would gather the wounded, call for reinforcements, and seal off the site.

Carl slowly turned his body toward the man and inclined his head slightly.

“First, allow me to thank you—for sparing my subordinate.”

He spoke with genuine sincerity.

A fighter of that level could have easily cut through the Heavenly Silk and killed Six.

Even if the reason for sparing him had been to lure Carl in, the fact that his valued subordinate was still alive gave him some relief.

Ting.

The man didn’t reply.

He simply flicked his finger, causing the strands of Heavenly Silk hanging in the air to vibrate.

“No need to thank me. That fellow said something interesting.”

“Something interesting?”

Carl narrowed his eyes.

The man’s voice sounded younger than he had expected.

As the man took a step forward, his face came into clearer view.

‘Young. No—he could even be called boyish.’

At most, he looked only a few years past twenty, yet to possess such power?

Was he a descendant of some prestigious family or renowned master?

If so, Carl would have to tread carefully, considering who might stand behind him.

“This Heavenly Silk—did you create it?”

“……”

Carl froze.

It was a completely unexpected question.

The only ones in this world who knew the term “Heavenly Silk” were a few ancient heroes presumed to have come from the Central Plains, himself, and Six.

If Six had mentioned it, it must have been to stall for time.

But surely the man wasn’t speaking from genuine knowledge of its origin.

“Yes. I created it.”

“Well replicated. Its cutting power even seems superior to the original.”

Clink.

The man raised his sword, a cold smile curving across his lips as he faced Carl.

“It’s been over a decade since I last met someone from the East.”

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