C974
The first to enter the conference room was Xanthos, the "moderator" of the Five Kings' conference. He ascended the platform with measured steps and surveyed those seated around the round table.
"I am Xanthos, King of Balkar."
Xanthos bowed first to the leaders of the neutral factions, welcoming them to Balkar.
"Before we begin the meeting, I would like to express my gratitude for your presence here."
He smiled kindly, expressing his sincere appreciation.
"No, we should be thanking *you*!"
"Indeed. When else would we have the opportunity to enter the grand conference hall of Balkar alive?"
"It's an honor just to be invited!"
The leaders of the factions already aligned with the Five Kings bowed deeply, stating their gratitude for being invited to such a festive occasion.
"Hmm..."
"Well, we came because we were summoned..."
"It's not like we deserve thanks..."
"I'm just curious to hear what you have to say."
In contrast, the leaders of the neutral factions who hadn't yet chosen a side exchanged nervous glances.
"Even that..."
"Your Majesty!"
As Xanthos nodded, a middle-aged man with a red falcon emblazoned on his chest suddenly stood up. He clutched at his bruised eyelids and bit his lip.
"Ah, Head of House Sairan. It's been a while."
Xanthos raised his hand in greeting.
"Your Majesty, I don't know if you're aware, but there's a group causing trouble in the capital with violence! They've set traps and..."
Just as the Head of House Sairan was about to explain recent events through gritted teeth:
"Your Majesty. Did you arrive first?"
Raon re-entered the conference room and bowed to Xanthos.
"As the host, it's only right that I greet everyone first."
Xanthos nodded as if it were natural.
"However..."
Raon narrowed his eyes at the Head of House Sairan standing before Xanthos.
"What's going on? The atmosphere doesn't seem pleasant."
"Ah, the Head of House Sairan says he has something to tell me. Apparently, there's a group causing trouble in the capital with violence?"
Xanthos frowned, stating that those people should be dealt with immediately.
"The others must be busy, so I'll take care of it."
Raon approached the Head of House Sairan with a smile.
"Head of House? Would you mind explaining?"
He put an arm around the Head of House Sairan's shoulder, emanating a subtle killing intent.
-This also looks like a prank.
Wrath shook his head, stating that this was a scene often seen when people were robbed in alleyways.
"Ah, no. Just..."
The Head of House Sairan swallowed repeatedly, seeing Raon's eyes gleaming dangerously.
"I, I didn't explain it correctly, so Your Majesty misunderstood! There were some troublemakers, but the Light Wind Palace Master and his subordinates took care of everything! That's what I meant! Yes!"
He mumbled that he had spoken poorly, shifting his eyes from side to side.
"Ah, I see. That's a relief."
Xanthos nodded with a smile.
"Thank you. For resolving it well."
He patted Raon on the shoulder in gratitude.
"It's nothing. Just doing my duty."
Raon shook his head, saying it was no big deal.
"But Head of House Sairan doesn't seem well."
He narrowed his eyes slightly and pulled the Head of House Sairan away from the round table.
"Ugh..."
The Head of House Sairan tried to cling to the round table, but of course, he couldn't resist Raon's strength.
"I'll accompany Head of House to the infirmary."
"Ah, please."
Xanthos agreed and went back up to the platform.
"Wait a moment! Your Majesty! I was wrong-ack!"
Raon pressed his finger to the Head of House Sairan's shoulder, preventing him from speaking.
"Is anyone else feeling unwell?"
He gestured to those seated at the round table as he headed for the exit with the Head of House Sairan.
"No, not at all!"
"I'm perfectly fine!"
"Yes! I could attend meetings all day!"
The neutral faction leaders who had given weak answers to Xanthos now nodded vigorously.
"That's good."
Raon smiled coldly and left the conference room with only the Head of House Sairan. Shortly after, a heart-wrenching scream echoed from behind the room.
"Huh-huh!"
"He, he didn't kill him, right?"
"Surely not..."
The neutral faction leaders trembled, huddled together like herbivores who had heard the roar of a predator.
"Tsk tsk."
"They should have chosen the right side from the beginning."
"Or at least have been quicker on the uptake."
The leaders of the factions already aligned with the Five Kings curled their lips in amusement at the scene.
"What?"
"You little rats!"
"I'll cut your tongue out if you don't shut your mouth."
The neutral faction leaders glared at the Five Kings' faction, gnashing their teeth.
"If anyone feels unwell, please speak up anytime. Our Light Wind Palace Master will take care of you."
Xanthos tilted his chin towards the neutral faction leaders seated on the right side of the round table.
"Not at all!"
"We're perfectly fine!"
"We could attend meetings for over 10 hours straight!"
The neutral faction leaders shuddered violently at the mention of Raon's name, as if they had seen a ghost. They seemed willing to accept anything.
"¿Hm? Why is the atmosphere like this?"
"The conference room is always like this."
As the atmosphere in the room grew heavy, Ogram and Chamber entered. They nodded slightly and ascended the platform.
"Ugh..."
"..."
Larian sat on the throne at the end, pulling her robe down as if she didn't want to attract attention. Lecross walked to the platform with an even more dignified stride, trying not to show his injury.
Glenn entered the conference room with a frosty gaze. Naturally, he proceeded to sit on the central throne.
"We greet the Five Kings!"
The leaders of the factions aligned with the Five Kings stood up and bowed simultaneously.
"Hmm..."
"We greet the Five Kings."
The neutral faction leaders, after looking around, also bowed slightly.
"You are not our subordinates, so there's no need for such excessive greetings."
Ogram waved his hand, stating that a normal greeting was sufficient.
"Right. You can relax."
Chamber waved his hand, stating that he didn't like heavy atmospheres.
"Whatever, just hurry up..."
Larian pulled her robe over her head; she just wanted it to be over soon.
"We shouldn't rush. The content of the meeting is what matters."
Lecross gestured for everyone to focus on the meeting.
"Let's begin now."
Glenn nodded slightly, signaling that the meeting should commence.
"I'll close the door."
As Roenn moved to close the doors of the conference room, a bloody hand reached out.
"Sorry for the delay."
It was Raon. He wiped the blood splatter from his cheek with the back of his hand, smiling.
"Please, begin."
Raon closed the conference room doors while wiping his bloody hands with a white handkerchief. As the massive doors closed with an ominous creak, the neutral faction leaders began to pale.
* * *
"...And that's why we need your help."
Xanthos finished explaining the content of the first meeting, requesting the help of the main faction leaders seated at the round table.
"Of course!"
"Leave it to us!"
"We won't let even an ant escape in our territory!"
The leaders of the factions already aligned with the Five Kings clasped their hands, shouting that they could be trusted.
"Hmm..."
"We, we can do it, but..."
"Well, um..."
However, the neutral faction leaders who arrived with the intention of increasing their value hesitated to respond immediately.
"Tsk."
Raon clicked his tongue sharply, raising a finger that wasn't yet completely clean of blood.
"Huk!"
"We will."
"Leave it to us!"
The neutral faction leaders nodded vigorously, stating that they would participate in the search without any compensation.
"Really? Thank you!"
Xanthos exclaimed his gratitude, shaking the hand of each neutral faction leader.
"I can't believe it was resolved so easily..."
Lecross let out a hollow laugh, astonished.
"Yes. I thought it would take longer..."
Larian also smiled broadly from within her robe, not expecting such a quick resolution. She was glad she could leave soon.
"It's thanks to Raon."
Chamber smiled with a candy in his mouth.
"We have status and age, so it's difficult for us to move freely. But Raon is young despite having power and status. He can do anything."
He nodded, saying things went well thanks to Raon.
"He's a lucky charm for our Five Kings."
Ogram smiled broadly, saying that the more he saw Raon, the more endearing he became.
"Ahem!"
Glenn covered his mouth with his hand; his shoulders trembled as if he had reached his emotional limit upon hearing the other Five Kings praise Raon. It seemed he might cause an earthquake here like in Zieghart if provoked further.
"Everything is resolved. All the leaders here have agreed to help us."
Xanthos nodded towards the Five Kings seated on the thrones.
"...Thank you."
Glenn nodded slightly to those seated at the round table, desperately suppressing his emotions.
"Not at all!"
"Th-thank you? It's an honor!"
The neutral faction leaders waved their hands as if they saw Raon's face in Glenn's.
"The meeting is over, so we're leaving now."
Glenn rose from his throne, stating that they should leave first as people seemed uncomfortable.
"Really?"
Larian jumped off the platform as if she had been waiting for this.
"Understood."
"Shall we grab a drink then?"
Lecross and Ogram also stood up, seeming pleased.
"I'll leave the rest in your hands. Your Majesty, and Light Wind Palace Master."
Chamber winked at Xanthos and Raon before leaving the conference room for the last time.
"Th-then we too..."
"It would be rude to stay too long..."
"One moment please."
As the neutral faction leaders tried to follow the Five Kings outside, Raon closed the conference room doors again.
"Promises between people are important, right? I trust you all, but just in case someone breaks that trust, punishment will be necessary."
Raon pulled out dozens of contracts from his sub-dimensional space bag, smiling coldly.
"Please read and sign at the bottom. You don't need to read the punishment section too carefully. It's for those who don't keep their promises."
He had prepared contracts beforehand, knowing that those forced to make promises would likely break them.
"Ah, the rest of you can leave first."
Raon smiled slightly, letting those previously aligned with the Five Kings leave first.
"Yes. Then we'll go first."
"Good luck."
Those backed by the Five Kings mockingly greeted the neutral faction leaders as they left the conference room.
"Your Majesty, please go ahead as well. I'll follow after tidying up here."
"I'm not sure if I should say this, but he seems to be born with the qualities of a king."
Xanthos let out a hollow laugh, saying that Raon seemed the most fit to be king of all he had seen.
-This crazy bastard!
Wrath let out an exasperated sigh.
-It's not a thug kingdom! What kind of king acts like that!
He grabbed Xanthos by the neck, asking if he had lost his mind.
"Anyway, I should also leave first."
Xanthos licked his lips in approval and left.
"Ugh..."
"Damn it!"
"Why did I come here..."
The neutral faction leaders finished signing the contracts with trembling hands.
-This really is a den of thugs!
Wrath's jaw trembled as he watched people being forced to sign contracts.
-The human world was always a cesspool!
* * *
Raon left the conference room after collecting the contracts signed by the neutral faction leaders.
-How did this guy end up like this? He was ruthless from the start, but he hadn't completely lost his humanity.
Wrath shook his head, feeling that he might have taught Raon wrong.
'It's not entirely bad.'
Raon shook his head as he unfolded the contracts.
'I also promised suitable rewards if they fulfill the contract correctly.'
A horse won't advance if you only use the whip; it will simply sit down. To give the neutral factions hope, he had also included a clause promising large rewards for finding traces of the Four Demons.
-Still...
Wrath frowned as he looked at Raon.
-Your mind works terrifyingly well, I'll grant you that.
He sighed, wondering how Raon understood people so well.
'It's not that impressive.'
Raon smiled slightly as he headed towards the palace.
"Ah!"
A black-haired girl walking from the opposite direction screamed.
"Lord Raon!"
The black-haired girl ran in an instant and threw herself into his arms. Her lime-green eyes welled up with tears about to spill.
"Rensia?"
The girl who ran to him was Rensia, who had made the biggest contribution to opening the Black Tower dimension in Montiro. He hadn't seen her because she was in intensive training, but it seemed she had finished now.
"Rensia wanted to see you as soon as she arrived."
Olga, standing behind Rensia, shrugged. It seemed she had guided Rensia here.
"You should have told me you were here!"
Rensia sobbed, asking why he hadn't told her first.
"I didn't want to interrupt your training."
Raon apologized while patting Rensia on the back.
"Did you do well?"
"Yes..."
Rensia nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"My teacher took such good care of me that I did well."
She nodded, saying it had been a very happy time.
"That's good. So, was learning magic fun..."
Raon's eyes widened as he began to mention magic.
'No way...'
Had she already formed a circle?
He felt a mana ring within Rensia's heart. It seemed she had already reached the level of a 1st Circle magician.
"I became a 1st Circle magician!"
Rensia puffed out her chest proudly, boasting about achieving 1st Circle.
"Ha..."
Raon let out a sigh as he looked at Rensia's lime-green eyes.
'Her growth rate is insane.'
He felt as if he hadn't seen Rensia in a long time since he had visited the Self Room, but it hadn't actually been that long.
He didn't expect her to already reach 1st Circle, even with Chamber teaching her and her natural talent.
-She's a genius.
Wrath licked his lips, stating that she was a pearl buried in the mud.
"I really worked hard!"
Rensia raised her hands above her head.
"I wanted to help you and Master!"
She smiled, saying she wanted to quickly become strong enough to fight alongside him.
"I see."
Raon smiled kindly while patting Rensia on the head.
'To be honest...'
I hope this war ends before you get strong. Rensia had lived a painful life, chained by the Black Tower since birth. He didn't want to drag this girl who had just learned happiness into the war and make her suffer.
If possible, he wanted to end the war before Rensia became strong and usher in an era of peace for her.
-Hmm...
Wrath briefly licked his lips as he looked at Raon.
-You looked like an angel before, but now you're like a demon again.
He shook his head, saying he really couldn't completely hate Raon.
"Alright. I'm counting on you."
There was no need to take away Rensia's passion, so he nodded and said he trusted her.
"Yes! I'll quickly reach 2nd Circle..."
Just as Rensia nodded and raised two fingers, a huge pillar of light fell from the sky, enveloping the center of the capital. A being with majestically spread white wings descended within the bright but sacred light.
Golden hair and blue eyes. Those blue eyes that seemed to contain all the nobility of the world swirled downwards as if heralding the end of times.
As the heavens howled and the earth beat the drums of judgment, the noble being raised a staff adorned with golden scales.
“The fish and the staff…”
Olga's eyes widened at the sight of the golden staff held by the golden-haired, blue-eyed being.
"Do you know who that is?"
Raon turned to Olga while holding Rensia in his arms.
"Archangel..."
Olga swallowed, as if just saying the word was difficult.
"Raphael."
-
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