Chapter 265: Episode 265

Chapter 71: Great Chaos

The victor takes all; the loser is left with nothing. Such was the outcome of the civil war in the Enais Kingdom. The man who had once been the lion of the West, who had dominated the Raider’s Association and transformed the frontier, was now toothless. Like the head of a fallen house, he had lost everything and been cast out onto the streets.

’A raid party has been formed in the eastern Ashlan Kingdom for the World Tree branch request. There are 154 members: four S-rank raiders, with the rest being A-rank.’

The voice echoed in the cavern, mingling with the steady drip of water from a stalactite. The Ashlan Kingdom was the first nation to have embraced the druids. It was no surprise that a request from them, backed by a massive reward, would attract so many powerful raiders.

Count Dinen—no, just Dinen now—held the communication device, his face haggard. “What is their ETA?”

’They are scheduled to arrive in Zemberton, the capital of the Gigantes Kingdom, this afternoon via the Pagli Magic Tower’s gate.’

“And the Peytons?”

’They received an urgent order to return north due to the Frost Queen’s army. They are also attempting to use a gate, but access has been denied for now. We expect their return will be significantly delayed.’

The force sent to subjugate Balak was retreating, while a new one, hungry for reward, was on its way. With the Enais Kingdom still stabilizing its internal affairs, this was the perfect opportunity. Dinen turned to the fifteen stone steles that lined the cave wall.

[Control Stele Magic Charge Rate: 100%]

[Synchronization Rate: 47%]

The magic he had been gathering for so long had finally reached its peak. The synchronization rate was dangerously low, but it was high enough. He could succeed. The only remaining problem was timing. Balak, now an S-rank dungeon, possessed forces far more powerful than he had anticipated. One mistake, one miscalculation, and his entire plan would collapse.

He would have to use others as a distraction. The commissioned raid party, for instance.

Dinen rose to his feet, his voice ringing with newfound resolve. “Take the steles and move out. We strike the moment the raid party enters the Silent Forest. Everyone, move to your designated positions.”

“Understood.”

“As you wish.”

The S-rank raiders, who had been waiting in the shadows, began to move. Since they couldn’t win over the raid party, they would have to exploit the chaos it created. Dinen watched the steles vanish one by one, his fists clenched.

“I will reclaim everything I have lost,” he vowed to the darkness. “Leon van Noah… I will be the one to take your head.”

—

[Used the Teleportation Gate.]

[Teleported from the eastern Pagli Magic Tower to Zemberton, the capital of the Gigantes Kingdom.]

A flash of brilliant light gave way to a new scene. Several raiders stumbled from the glowing portal, their faces pale as they fought back nausea. The gate was still in its preparatory stages, and the side effects were potent. Turner gritted his teeth, willing his own stomach to settle as he stepped onto solid ground.

“Welcome, raiders from the East,” a finely dressed nobleman greeted them. “I am Baron Dahrman Coplain. The Ashlan royal family informed us of your schedule. His Majesty, our King, views this endeavor very favorably.”

“I am Hyacinth, representative of this raid party,” a woman in priestess robes replied. “Have accommodations been prepared for us?”

“Of course. It would be a gross insult to have you stay in a common inn after such a long journey. Now, if you would all please follow me.”

An agreement had clearly been struck between the two kingdoms, as the reception was exceptionally warm. The fact that Baron Dahrman, the king’s own right-hand man, had come to greet them personally spoke volumes about how seriously King Gunrad was taking this mission.

“Turner, we’re here, just like you said,” one of his companions whispered nervously. “But is this really okay?”

“We have no right to be here,” another added, his voice tight with anxiety. “We were comrades once, but they won’t welcome us back.”

“Besides, we’re part of a dungeon now. They might attack us on sight.”

His companions were trembling. They had abandoned their friends, and they knew they had no right to ask for forgiveness. Turner shook his head, a bitter expression on his face.

“This is my own selfishness…” he admitted, his voice low. “My own greed. I just wanted to see their faces again. And… I want to test the power of that dungeon. To see if it is truly capable of protecting them.”

The raid party that had become a legend in the North was gone, scattered to the winds. This was all that remained. If their old comrades still held a grudge, this reunion could very well be their last.

This could very well be their last mission. Turner and his comrades arrived at their lodgings, having already steeled themselves for that possibility.

“This looks like a knight’s barracks,” McPain observed.

“It has been temporarily vacated,” a caretaker from the palace explained. “Please, make yourselves comfortable. We’ve even sent handmaidens from the royal palace, so you should have no major inconveniences. Is there anything else you require?”

“Handmaidens? That’s more than enough for me,” McPain said with a lecherous grin, his intentions clear. “I’ve got no complaints. What about the rest of you?”

The other raiders, equally content, merely shrugged. But the raid party’s leader, Hyacinth, was another story.

“I am the leader of this commissioned raid,” she stated, her voice sharp. “Do not presume to make decisions for the group.”

“Whoa, relax,” McPain shot back, holding up his hands. “I was just asking. When did I try to make a decision? I never wanted to be leader in the first place.”

“I’ll be watching you, McPain,” she warned, her eyes narrowing. “You and your reputation as the Fellow-Slayer.”

A frigid silence descended upon the room. Caught in the middle, Baron Darman shot a questioning glance at Perun, who could only offer a helpless shrug. He hadn’t anticipated this kind of tension, either.

—

News of a commissioned raid party, formed for the sole purpose of acquiring a Branch of the World Tree, spread like wildfire through the Association. The Magic Towers that had previously submitted their own requests could only wring their hands, watching the situation unfold with mounting anxiety.

Of all the possible groups, it had to be the druids of the East. It was painfully obvious how much importance the Ashlan Kingdom, having accepted the church’s will, was placing on this raid. While some Western nations viewed the development with suspicion, the special rules restricting access to Balak had long since been abolished. As long as the druids followed formal procedures, no one could interfere.

But then, a completely unexpected figure blocked their path.

“We are on our way to Balak with official permission to raid,” Hyacinth had stated firmly. “You can confirm it with the Association.”

“This has nothing to do with the Raider’s Association,” came the cold reply. “This road is under a temporary travel ban. If you truly wish to reach Balak, find another route.”

It was none other than King Leon of the Anais Kingdom. He had used the Koust Territory, strategically located between his capital of Zemberton and Balak, to obstruct the raid party’s advance. This move earned him the deep resentment of the eastern druids, but he flatly ignored their protests, refusing to relent.

Their exchange had been tense. “We have had no quarrel with the East,” the druids pressed. “Is this truly necessary?”

Leon’s reply was laced with contempt. “Do I need a reason to bar foreigners from my lands? Their presence here displeases me.”

“We will never forget this, King Leon van Noah,” they vowed. “One day, you will surely face the judgment of the earth.”

“I don’t know when that will be,” Leon had retorted, “but I’ll look forward to it.”

The will of the druids was the will of Gunlad. Enraged by Leon’s arrogance, the eastern kingdom declared that all exchange with the Anais Kingdom would cease, igniting a new political firestorm between the two powers.

—

Taehyun scowled as he absorbed the real-time reports from Momontae.

“Leon van Noah has truly lost his mind. Blocking the raid party was one thing, but provoking Gunlad? At this rate, all trade with the East will go up in smoke.”

It meant the Balak Merchant Guild’s contracts and all related activities would be frozen. Balak and the surrounding nations would be the ones to suffer the most, yet Leon refused to bend, shouldering the resentment with the unyielding will of a tyrant.

Taehyun clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“The leather from the eastern druids was such high quality. Does this mean I’ll have to build my own tannery?”

His gaze drifted, landing on Pinyas. Some of the beastmen, he mused, had fur as soft as cotton. If he had them skinned, the equipment and clothing he could craft would fetch an exorbitant price.

“Wh-why are you looking at me like that?!” Pinyas stammered, shrinking back.

“Like what?” Taehyun asked innocently.

“J-just a moment ago, your eyes were…”

“It was nothing,” he said, waving a dismissive hand. “By the way, for you beastmen… if your hide is skinned, does it grow back?” he finally asked, unable to let the thought go.

Seeing Taehyun lick his lips, Pinyas recoiled in horror.

“Hieeek!’ For us, our hide and our skin are one and the same! You can never, ever skin it!”

“Relax, I wasn’t talking about skinning you,” Taehyun said smoothly. “Anyway, it looks like our guests have arrived.”

“…’Phew’.”

As the fox tribe chief let out a shaky sigh of relief, a system message appeared.

[The Hyacinth Raid Party has appeared before the territory.]

After a long detour around the Koust Territory, they had finally reached his gates. A commissioned raid whose sole purpose was the Branch of the World Tree. They would undoubtedly be aiming for the Forest of Silence. Taehyun calmly began deploying his soldiers, preparing for the inevitable battle. Just then, an S-rank raider’s ability activated.

[S-rank Raider Hyacinth’s special ability ’Main Force Exclusion’ has been activated.]

[The user is viewing the list of main forces within Balak’s territory.]

[The user excludes Hamolten and Hasla from the main forces.]

Two of his main forces, both a staggering SS-rank, vanished from the roster in an instant. To make matters worse, Hamolten, the guardian of the Forest of Silence, was one of them. Taehyun scowled, his eyes fixed on Hyacinth’s status. Her condition was unchanged; she had suffered no penalty.

’If it’s not a physical penalty, then it must be a penalty for the raid party itself,’ he reasoned. ’I’d better take this seriously.’

Dropin and his time-stopping ability remained, but if they focused solely on the Forest of Silence, things would get difficult.

[S-rank Raider/Hyacinth]

[S-rank Raider/Turner]

[S-rank Raider/Perun]

[S-rank Raider/McPain]

Four S-rank raiders. The rest of their party consisted of high-A-rank elites. This was a team assembled to conquer an S-rank dungeon, which meant the Branch of the World Tree was even more valuable than he had imagined.

[Hyacinth]

[Rank: S (Mid)]

[Level: 89]

[Class: Miko]

[Title: Worshipper of the Eastern God]

[Affiliation: Nemias Family]

[Stress: 21]

[Status: Hatred]

[Relationship with Comrades: Hatred for McPain, anger and pain due to a past incident]

[Description: One of the few mid-tier S-rank raiders on the continent. Inheriting the will of the Nemias family, she became a Miko. She has consistently conquered dungeons using her Clairvoyance skill and has a tremendous record in the East.]

He’d gathered intel from Momontae, but her rank was higher than expected. Except for Turner, they were all mid-tier S-ranks. Taehyun equipped his exclusive items and waited.

[S-rank Raider Hyacinth has cast Clairvoyance.]

[All vision within the user’s current field is secured.]

[Automatically canceled when the user’s mana is depleted.]

[Clairvoyance Usage Limit 1/1]

At last, an all-seeing eye opened upon the field. Just as his intel suggested, she activated it before the raid even began. Taehyun immediately countered with Steal Skill.

[Steal Skill has been used.]

[Stealing S-rank Raider Hyacinth’s Clairvoyance.]

[For a certain period, Kadum will cast Clairvoyance.]

Kadum the Hunter was the perfect choice for the skill. But at that exact moment, an unexpected item came into play.

[The Hyacinth Raid Party has used Return.]

[The effect of Steal Skill is reversed.]

[The Clairvoyance possessed by Kadum returns to Hyacinth.]

A cold expression settled on Taehyun’s face as he stared at the screen.

—

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