Chapter 206: King (2)

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Around the time Carl had just turned fifteen, he began expanding NOX’s influence in Leipzig and the surrounding territories in earnest.

Unlike how he had cautiously advanced in the capital, here he pushed forward aggressively with sheer force, sweeping through underworld organizations that opposed them.

NOX members, trained in the Killing Veil’s methods and martial arts, were unmatched by any standard.

At least in these parts, NOX had no worthy rivals, so their momentum was unstoppable.

…However, contrary to Carl’s expectations, news came that an entire squad had been annihilated in a certain district.

“Keep away from that area.”

Carl made an immediate decision.

At the time, NOX wasn’t particularly large, so each member was close to elite.

A squad of ten was more than enough to wipe out a typical back-alley gang, so their complete annihilation meant an unforeseen powerhouse was involved.

That’s why Carl personally went to the site with his executives to resolve it.

“……”

Upon arriving at the location, they found an old man calmly seated in the middle of a blood-soaked scene.

Clatter.

The old man, sipping steaming tea, began to speak in a low voice as Carl appeared.

“I’m very angry. I took time out of my day to buy medicine, only to find it was a scam—and then I was even attacked by complete strangers.”

“……”

Carl lowered his fighting spirit.

The aura emanating from the man was no joke.

He appeared to be at least in the Realm of Transcendence, someone who could not be opposed head-on, not even by the Unkillable Mu-ak if he appeared.

So Carl took a respectful stance and bowed his head to the old man.

“We are NOX. There seems to be a misunderstanding between us—would it be alright if I withdraw the others?”

“Sure.”

It was a simple response, with no conditions or restrictions.

In other words, it reflected the old man’s confidence that he could wipe them all out at any time.

Since such composure was typical of the strong, Carl gave up the idea of confrontation and obediently complied with the situation.

“We will clean up this place and leave.”

“…Understood.”

Following Carl’s words, his subordinates gathered their fallen comrades’ bodies, tidied up the interior, and departed.

Once they were alone, Carl asked for permission and sat across from the old man.

“My name is Yohanel. I came here to treat my granddaughter’s illness. It’s a disease yet unknown across the continent, so I’ve been searching high and low. The lead I barely found turned out to be a scam, and then I was attacked. It may not mean much to you, but I am very displeased.”

Scammed, and then attacked.

The fact that he didn’t immediately cut Carl down with a sword was already a great concession.

Honestly, if not for the unusual aura Carl gave off, even this conversation wouldn’t have taken place.

Yohanel wasn’t fond of troublesome matters.

“I offer my deepest apologies for how things turned out.”

Carl was the first to bow.

Showing sincerity was the most important point.

Truthfully, whether Yohanel’s granddaughter died from an incurable disease or not was of no concern to Carl.

What mattered most was overcoming this crisis.

“Since it’s come to this, I’ll give you a task.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“We’ll stay here for exactly three days, then move on to another city.”

“Yes.”

“Within that time, bring me medicine that can treat my granddaughter or any rumors or leads that may help. I don’t care which.”

If not, he’d kill them all.

Faced with Yohanel’s unspoken threat, Carl shut his mouth.

What should he do?

After thinking briefly, Carl decided to face it head-on.

“May I examine your granddaughter’s condition myself?”

“…Come.”

Yohanel called toward the back.

Then the closed door opened, and a girl who looked about ten cautiously entered.

She looked emaciated at a glance.

Her pale and shadowed face showed she had been battling illness for a long time.

“Are you feeling a little better?”

“…Yes, I’m doing a bit better now.”

From her faint voice, Carl instinctively sensed this wouldn’t be an easy task.

‘One of us will surely die.’

Now that Yohanel had shown his granddaughter, there was no retreat for NOX.

These three days must be the time of rest that the girl needed before traveling to the next city.

Yohanel probably didn’t have high expectations from them.

He had likely spoken to Carl out of a desperate hope, grabbing at straws in passing time.

…Fortunately, Carl possessed a different perspective than others.

“May I examine her myself? Physical contact is necessary.”

“How much medical knowledge do you have, young man? Even the Empire’s top healers have given up.”

“Though it may be presumptuous, I have learned martial arts not well-known in this land. Thanks to that, I possess considerable knowledge of the human body.”

To prove his words, Carl released his energy.

He revealed the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, Bright Heaven Divine Art, and even the Primordial Unity Divine Art.

Yohanel, recognizing the extraordinariness in an instant, nodded with a glint in his eye.

He realized Carl’s words weren’t empty lies made to escape the situation.

“Very well.”

“Excuse me, then.”

Carl carefully took the girl’s wrist and checked her pulse.

Should he show even the slightest impure intent, he’d be beheaded on the spot.

So he suppressed all hostility and killing intent as he seriously examined her condition.

‘The Yin energy is dense.’

Too dense, in fact.

An overwhelming amount of Yin energy had accumulated in her blood vessels, blocking all her meridians.

In the Central Plains, this condition was referred to as Meridian Severance.

‘It’s not Nine-Yin Meridian Severance. That’s why she can still walk on her own feet.’

As an assassin, Carl had seen patients suffering from Nine-Yin Meridian Severance.

After the age of ten, they struggled to move and even standing became difficult.

Eventually, they wasted away and died—more dreadful than any disease.

‘I’ve found the breakthrough.’

Carl nodded.

If it wasn’t Nine-Yin Meridian Severance, then there was a way to treat it.

After organizing his thoughts, Carl spoke to Yohanel, who was watching him with hopeful eyes.

“Did you know that the human body contains two types of energies?”

“Two types of energies?”

“Yes. Males and females are born with energies called Yang and Yin, respectively. Think of Yang as fire, and Yin as cold.”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

Yohanel frowned.

It was natural.

The theory of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements was common in the Central Plains but unfamiliar in Artenia.

Here, magic and divine power had developed instead, leading to a vastly different medical system.

‘Healing magic and divine power focus on restoring things to their original state. But meridian severance likely began in this state, so the body accepted it as its default.’

That’s why no matter what was tried, no significant improvement came.

To resolve meridian severance, the Yin energy built up within had to be dispelled.

“If the average Yin energy of a woman is 100, your granddaughter currently holds over 500. It has become poison, eating away at her body.”

“…If Yin and Yang are opposing energies, then can Yang neutralize Yin?”

“It can. That is the orthodox method of treatment. However…”

Carl switched from voice to Voice Transmission to speak to Yohanel.

– A full recovery is impossible. The treatment is far overdue, and her body is severely weakened. Naturally, there will be aftereffects, and even if we treat her, she will only live for about three more years at most.

“……”

Yohanel bit his lip.

But this was Carl’s limit.

Due to the meridian severance, her innate vital energy—more precisely, her lifespan—had already been reduced.

Asking to restore even that would be like throwing a tantrum.

And if it came to that, Carl would have no choice but to fight Yohanel to the death.

…Unless a miracle beyond his knowledge existed.

“Three years—can she live healthily and pain-free during that time?”

“She should be able to function like an average person. Of course, it will require considerable effort.”

“That is enough.”

Yohanel nodded.

He already knew his granddaughter didn’t have much time left.

The reason he was rushing now was because the High Priest had told him that even a year’s grace remained no longer.

“If you cure my granddaughter…”

Yohanel looked at Carl.

“Three years from now, I will do anything for you.”

“Even if I ask you to join under me?”

“I will. So long as it’s not an attack on my homeland and it doesn’t go against my beliefs, I will follow any order.”

For someone making a request, the conditions and limitations were many.

But Carl didn’t hesitate.

‘No matter how you look at it, this is beneficial for us.’

The process of treating meridian severance would be grueling.

If the girl were to die in the middle of it, he would bear the consequences.

But in the current situation, it was a gamble worth taking.

“I will make the preparations.”

Carl nodded.

If it meant securing someone as powerful as Yohanel, staking his life was a price worth paying.

Everything proceeded smoothly after that.

Carl temporarily halted external expansion and focused all resources on acquiring the materials and place necessary to treat meridian severance.

Eventually, Carl succeeded in curing the girl, and Yohanel immediately left to travel the continent with his granddaughter.

Three years later, he returned to Leipzig and became NOX’s King.

Yohanel’s presence alone became a great pillar of support.

A powerhouse of his level was rare even across the vast continent.

‘In Central Plains terms, it’s like the head of a major sect joining as household staff.’

It was truly an unbelievable stroke of fortune.

But Carl did not overuse Yohanel’s presence.

He only sought his advice in martial arts or internal matters like the organization’s direction.

So Yohanel could build attachment to NOX.

Fortunately, that intention succeeded, and the empty space left by his granddaughter slowly began to be filled by others.

However, in the middle of the year Carl turned nineteen, something happened in Yohanel’s homeland.

So Yohanel requested a long-term leave, and Carl, understanding the situation, allowed it.

Thanks to Yohanel, they had received much help, and it wasn’t a difficult favor to grant.

Besides, NOX was no longer so weak that it had to rely on Yohanel.

“I am always grateful to you.”

“I am only grateful to you for keeping your promise.”

“Don’t say that. These past three years have been the happiest of my life.”

Clatter.

Just like when they first met, the King sipped steaming tea and smiled faintly.

Though he looked far older than before, his eyes were as vibrant as any young man’s.

After finishing his tea, Yohanel looked at Carl and said:

“Now, tell me—what does this old man need to do? Let me say in advance—don’t try to weasel out of it. It’s been a while since I felt this fire in me.”

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