Volume 3 Chapter 41 Love Call II
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Umar Vahid never changed. He teased Kian with things he needed, pretending it was a ‘reward.’
He was good at tricking others and making them fall, but they didn’t trust anyone.
Those who followed him ended up very unhappy. Smart people felt this and slowly walked away.
He didn’t understand human emotions.
Others might have different opinions, but from Kian’s memories at 30, Umar Vahid were typical bad leaders even as the Twelve Divine Generals.
”If you say that, I’ll listen. I don’t want to waste Sir Abbas’s hard work and Ms. Priscilla’s kindness.”
”Really? You really cheered up because of such strange persuasion?”
”I’m just listening. Demete seems to think he has good points to show me, so at least he’s not just a greedy pig. I want to calm down and think first.”
”I don’t get it, but… that’s good! I’m sorry, thank you!”
”No problem.”
”You, show us the way.”
”Yes!”
Priscilla quickly gave directions to the swordsman.
She turned to Kian and said seriously.
”Sorry. I wanted you to enjoy a drink and share stories about your hometown. Anyway, I promise the drinks will be good. I collected famous ones for today. Even if their stories are boring, please enjoy the taste of the drinks.”
”I’ll take what you offer. Can I also take a souvenir for Mr. Robert?”
”I said it was for you, right? Feel free to take it home. If you want more later, I can have it sent. I’m paying for all of it, so don’t worry about going broke.”
This witch seemed to have a lot of money, something Kian had guessed already.
It seemed she owned a few casinos based on her tone.
”But, was it really good for you to have me here? I feel like you get nothing good out of this.”
Kian asked Priscilla as he followed Abbas and the swordsmen.
She tucked her white hair behind her ear and smiled softly.
”I have my own reasons. I bought what I wanted from Demete. Well, from his tribe, actually.”
”That’s good to hear.”
”Don’t worry! I’ll make sure your childhood friend returns safely. Just leave it to me.”
”Please do.”
As Kian bowed his head, Priscilla smiled and hugged his arm.
”Now, cheer up and enjoy the drinks! We have delicious snacks from Châtillon’s port. You will love them!”
* * *
On the first floor of the casino, merchants and adventurers with money enjoyed their drinks and bets.
There were games like roulette, cards, darts, and tables made for play.
The atmosphere was clearly different from the tavern in East End, with no loud laughs or messy eaters.
Everyone on the floor wore fancy clothes, styled their hair like nobles, and enjoyed smart talks while playing games.
Maybe it was just Kian’s view, but he felt a hint of refinement in the flashy atmosphere.
They passed through areas filled with orange lights and the smell of tobacco, entering a courtyard with free-roaming komodo dragons.
Three curved bridges connected the front and back areas of the courtyard.
After crossing the bridge, they arrived at the place to exchange coins for games and a tavern space for snacks.
Kian and the others were taken to a special members-only second floor by the exchange window.
There was a big table for card games on the second floor, and a fancy tavern space at the back.
At the counter, well-dressed, furry slave girls smiled as they waited.
In the middle of the slaves stood a man who looked like the casino manager, also smiling.
Kian, Abbas, and Demete sat at the counter after hearing Priscilla say, “You can relax. They won’t leak any information.”
Zayn and Katyusha stood at the top of the stairs, keeping watch.
Priscilla naturally sat right next to Kian.
”So, after Jibril took over from Sir Umar, he started shady experiments in the inner palace, bringing in heirs from other families.”
While Kian drank, Demete briefly explained about the Vahid family.
”These shady experiments mean he uses alchemy to mix lives, fuse beings… or even create strange new creatures from scratch. Because of this, creepy monsters surround Jibril, acting in the shadows of politics. We are the group fighting against this. We battle daily to crush that demon-like man who tramples on doctrines and desecrates life, turning Azrael into a land of monsters.”
”Can he really start such experiments with nothing, without tools or facilities?”
He asked while sipping diluted liquor.
Demete blinked quickly.
”What do you mean by that?”
”I’m the one asking here. Don’t think lies or secrets will work on me. Just tell the truth. How did Jibril gather tools and facilities for his monster alchemy?”
”The tools are from the underground facility of Vahid in Azrael. The actual alchemy happens secretly in a part of the Palace in the city, where palace girls are secretly transported.”
”It sounds like a big deal, but did the Twelve Divine Generals or father not notice? It’s strange. Well, if father did research and Jibril took it over, it’s no wonder no one noticed anything wrong.”
”Such baseless stories are not funny. Sir Umar is quite old for a human. By the time he passed the family duties to Jibril, he was sick and couldn’t work well. I was with Sir Umar all the time, so I couldn’t notice Jibril’s movements for a while.”
”Which heirs from the Twelve Divine Generals did Jibril win over?”
”Everyone except Shakerdoust and Nakash. But Nakash’s leader was just assassinated, and all the main heirs are dead. ──You did it, right?”
”I don’t remember. For the last 2 months, I was busy protecting the princess from the traitor McCutchen… Maybe Nakash’s people were mixed in there?”
Kian said this seriously, and Demete blinked with her sunken eyes.
”Natra and Nakash were on a watch mission. They reportedly said, ‘Almeisa was killed by Kian Vahid. We will go for revenge.’ Natra never came back, and before that, Nia and Val were killed by a magic swordman in the town. This is all your doing, right?”
”I can’t deny or confirm anything since I don’t remember. But honestly, I don’t recall any of this. Maybe it’s a case of mistaken identity.”
”Is that so~? I think it’s not strange at all that you killed both Almeisa and Natra. Right, Zayn?”
”…Sir Kian looks much stronger now. Even standing still… it feels like he has no weaknesses.”
”Hey, hey, you’re making it sound like you’re trying to assassinate me the moment I let my guard down. Don’t you think so too, Ms. Priscilla?”
”If you try to hurt Lord Kian, I won’t let it happen. Remember that.”
”────” “… “
”Zayn, Katyusha. Stop it. This is an order from me.”
”Yes!” “Got it…”
As the two warrior monks relaxed, Demete took some papers from his bag.
”Can I go back to the topic? Here’s the financial and military info about the Vahid family that Sir Kian will take over.”
”What’s the point of that? Isn’t Jibril really in charge now? What kind of property and mercenaries can Umar control?”
”Sir Umar is retired, but if he gets better and comes back, those loyal to Jibril will join us for justice. I’ve got plans, so trust me.”
”How is my father? Did he really have someone write his short letter for him?”
”Sir Umar is… Sir Umar is in serious condition.”
”…Did you really think you could bring me back safely?”
”Sir Kian, with you, we can stand up to Jibril. You’re the heart of our group. Everything starts with you.”
”So, when I come back, who are the great vassals on this list that will obey me right away?”
”Please stop with the fake claims. I said they were good vassals, but I didn’t say they would obey immediately. It depends on your charm, but I have ideas, so let me handle it.”
”──Sorry, can I ask something?”
Abbas raised his hand.
The red-haired youth, who had been bright and smiling in memory, looked really tired in the light.
”Demete. Don’t you know the basics of negotiation?”
”I don’t want to hear that from Sir Abbas, who lives by instinct. How can you lie about your strength? It will be obvious when you return.”
”Even without returning, borrowing Sir Abbas’s ship to sneak here already makes it clear. Don’t think you can fool me with false stories. If I feel something is off, I will ask Lord Guy or Her Excellency Maribel later.”
”This is troublesome. Leaking secret info to the acting lord of Châtillon or Princess Izerland… that’s against the rules. Right, Lady Priscilla?”
”I said I would set this place up, but I can’t take care of more than that. If you need to watch Lord Kian, ask someone else.”
”Tch.”
The dark elf shaman looked down, clearly frustrated.
Kian silently drank, feeling more disappointed in his father for sending such a man for negotiations.
There probably were no decent people left with Umar.
Demete said they would send a strong team, but it felt like they would just say, “It’s just me.” when they arrived.
”I won’t go back to my father. I’ll do what I want in Franz. I don’t need to hear complaints.”
”Then, I will just wait until you change your mind.”
”This is annoying… But I’m not saying I won’t return to Azrael forever. I do plan to come back someday. Just not now. If I trust only Demete and go back alone, I see only a dead end for myself. I’ll gather my power here. When I’ve built enough strength, I plan to send reinforcements to the Vahid territory through Shakerdoust.”
”Is that really true?”
Kian nodded.
”I’ve never told a lie. I’ll bring brave reinforcements to save you and father from this world’s suffering. I have a solid plan.”
”A low-ranked adventurer can have an army one day?”
”Yeah.”
Kian nodded and continued.
”When the time comes, I will storm the capital by crossing the Ahriman Pass in Vahid’s territory. I want you to let my army in from inside. I will definitely defeat Jibril and show you. I just don’t know when that will be.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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