Chapter 1241
"E—Eden?"
Sheryl’s lids flared wide, her expression mirroring someone who had just been struck by a reality she hadn’t even dared to imagine.
"Don't tell me those cowards caught wind of the Lord's isolation and decided to crawl out of the shadows now?"
She bit down on her lip, clearly disgusted by the idea that the Heavenly Demon had made a move in such a dishonorable fashion.
"Eden..."
The faint, polite smile that usually graced Roenn’s face vanished like mist in the sun.
"If the footprints of those phantoms have truly surfaced, the situation is grave."
He shifted his gaze toward Karoon, his eyes turning frigid and sharp, reminiscent of the era when he was feared as the Killing King.
"Y—yes, sir."
Chad wiped sweat from his brow with the hand still clutching the reports.
"Those Eden dogs aren't waiting for the promised day; they're trying to ignite the fuse now! Rasing a village under Zieghart’s protection is nothing short of a declaration of war!"
He ground his teeth in frustration, noting that the settlement ravaged by Eden’s wraiths had met an end too gruesome and heartless for words.
"No. That is an incorrect assessment."
As Karoon lightly drummed his fingers as if striking piano keys, the records held by Shadow Agent Leader Chad lifted into the air and glided smoothly into his reach.
"The three of you are likely unaware, but the Lord spoke to me regarding his meeting with the Heavenly Demon before he began his meditation."
Karoon shut his eyes briefly and reopened them, picturing the moment he had visited the annex at Glenn’s request.
"The Heavenly Demon explicitly stated he would not lift a finger for the ghosts he no longer commanded, focusing solely on his final confrontation with the Lord."
He narrowed his vision, scrutinizing the pages Chad had delivered.
"Birdnew Village has been erased, not a single soul remains among the charred remains, and only the banner of Eden stands in the center. Travelers nearby reported seeing several figures obscured by masks and armor..."
Karoon gave a slow, measured nod as he digested the details of the rushed report.
"Judging only by these words, it would be logical to assume Eden is mobilizing, but if they truly intended to exploit the Lord's absence, they would have aimed their blade directly at the heart of Zieghart."
He maintained a chillingly logical perspective even as the room grew heated with emotion. Naturally, even with the exclusive knowledge of the pact between the Heavenly Demon and the family, holding such steady nerves in this crisis was a feat of will.
"This ought to be viewed as the rogue actions of Eden’s remnants who have slipped the Heavenly Demon's leash, exactly as the Lord predicted."
Karoon lowered his hand and struck the armrest of the seat of power, his confidence in his own logic evident.
"I see..."
Watching Karoon’s unwavering gaze, Sheryl let out a dry, forced cough as her initial fury began to simmer down.
"That scenario is highly probable."
She bowed her head slightly, won over by Karoon’s deduction.
"Heh..."
Roenn suppressed his murderous aura and rubbed his jaw thoughtfully.
"In that case, our primary objective must be a formal inquiry."
He tapped his chin, agreeing with Karoon that a meticulous search for the truth was more prudent than an immediate march to war.
"P—precisely! We will launch the investigation at once!"
Chad bowed low, declaring that he would mobilize his scouts immediately.
"Hold a moment."
Karoon held up a hand to stop Chad, who was already pivoting toward the exit.
"The Shadow Agents must collaborate with the Black Market and the Four Emperors to verify if Eden’s shadows are moving across the entire continent."
Contrary to his calm demeanor earlier, his eyes grew piercing, as if he intended to map out every hidden movement of the enemy.
"While this looks like a localized strike by rogue ghosts, we cannot ignore the possibility that the Heavenly Demon has forsaken his word. We must leave no stone unturned."
Karoon lowered his chin with weight, emphasizing that they had to keep an eye on Eden’s central fortress while tracking the splinter groups.
"U—understood! I will initiate the search and bring word back shortly!"
Chad gave his word to follow Karoon’s mandate and vanished from the hall.
"What in the world...?"
He took a hard swallow as he looked back at the heavy doors of the audience chamber.
"Is that truly Karoon Zieghart?"
He had kept an eye on Karoon since his days serving under the previous Leader of the Shadow Agents. Because Karoon had always been the closest contender for the succession, Chad had studied him with intense scrutiny.
Back then, his conclusion had been that Karoon Zieghart lacked the essence required to rule. He was capable of managing the Central Martial Palace, certainly, but he lacked the internal weight to lead the entire clan.
That was why, from the moment Raon Zieghart began his meteoric rise, Chad had lent him his strength, preparing the way for a new era.
'But now...'
The man inside was a stranger.
It wasn't merely the poise he displayed today.
Chad's intuition, honed for reading the souls of men, was screaming. He detected a regal aura that almost rivaled that of Raon Zieghart. Despite seeing the rise and fall of countless warriors as a Shadow Agent, he had never witnessed a man's very nature shift so drastically.
'Furthermore, it isn't just his leadership...'
His internal power has surged forward at a terrifying pace.
Chad was not a frontline warrior of immense strength. As a leader of spies, his combat skills were adequate but pale in comparison to the family’s monsters.
However, having been molded by the previous leader, he was certain of his ability to gauge the strength of others better than anyone. Karoon had achieved a level of growth that made Chad's very instincts recoil.
It seemed that by assuming the mantle he had coveted his entire life, Karoon’s spirit and body had finally found their anchor, unlocking potential that should have been impossible.
'Eden is a massive threat, but if we lose our focus...'
Chad felt a chill run down his spine, Karoon’s presence still weighing on him even after he had left the Lord’s Manor.
'Is Lord Raon's path to the throne truly in jeopardy?'
"Hmm..."
Sheryl squinted her eyes, watching Karoon as he sat deeply immersed in strategy.
'They say the chair makes the man, but this...'
To think such a transformation was possible.
Prior to becoming the Acting Head, Karoon was a man of many flaws. His mind was often frantic, his martial arts were stagnant, and his choices were frequently clouded by ego.
Yet, after only two months upon the golden throne, he had evolved into a figure worthy of the seat. He remained unshaken, his strength had leaped to incredible heights, and his mind was a fortress of logic. Truthfully, he looked as though he could take the permanent title this very second.
"Heehee!"
Roenn appeared to be following a similar train of thought, a light, impressed chuckle escaping him as he looked upon Karoon with newfound respect.
'I thought Raon’s ascension was a foregone conclusion, but...'
Sheryl gave a soft click of her tongue.
'The board has become quite tangled.'
As the Lord’s closest confidants, neither she nor Roenn could openly favor one candidate over another.
She had developed a personal fondness for Raon and cheered for him in secret, but seeing Karoon embody the qualities of a Zieghart patriarch gave her pause.
Even now, Raon’s combat prowess would likely surpass Karoon’s, but the right to lead a family was not settled by a duel alone. The true Head of House would have much to consider upon his return.
'I wonder how this will end...'
As Sheryl and Roenn exchanged glances, lost in their mutual uncertainty, Karoon spoke up.
"Regarding the Birdnew Village inquiry."
Karoon rubbed his chin and shifted his focus to the two veterans.
"Instead of tasking only the Shadow Agents, it would be wise to deploy a combat unit to accompany them."
He gave a decisive nod, his tone indicating he had already finalized the plan rather than seeking counsel.
"A combat unit...?"
Sheryl tilted her head, curious as to why he would commit warriors to a simple investigation.
"Consider the facts: they didn't just raze the village and flee; they left a flag. They want to be seen. They want to be known."
Karoon traced the edge of the documents once more.
"The Shadow Agents are masters of stealth and data, but their raw combat power is limited. I want a martial force there to ensure their safety and crush any resistance."
He let his hand drop, signaling the finality of the decision.
"Ha, that is a sound judgment."
Roenn let out a soft sound of approval, once again taken aback by Karoon’s foresight.
"Which unit have you selected then?"
He watched Karoon closely, curious about who would receive the assignment.
"The Light Wind Palace is the obvious choice."
Karoon spoke the name without a second’s pause.
"Their numbers are small, yet they currently stand as the most potent martial force within Zieghart."
He nodded to himself, convinced of the logic.
"In fact, for an escort and search mission, a smaller, elite group is far more efficient."
Karoon tapped his fingers, his mind made up.
"Wouldn't this be an ideal moment for the Central Martial Palace to earn some glory? If they succeed, they could gather prestige equal to Raon’s."
Sheryl lowered her head slightly, her voice quiet.
"If I were thinking only of the Central Martial Palace’s future, you would be correct. Capturing Eden’s high-ranking members would be a massive boon. However..."
Karoon calmly stroked his jawline.
"I am currently seated upon this sacred throne. In this position, I must prioritize the welfare of Zieghart over the ambitions of the Central Martial Palace."
He met Sheryl’s gaze with a silent, heavy stare.
"Are you still intent on testing me?"
Karoon looked down upon her with a touch of arrogance, as if questioning if she had the right to doubt him.
"...My apologies. The Acting Head has displayed such unexpected wisdom that I forgot my place."
Sheryl dropped to one knee, bowing her head in a gesture of contrition. She bit her lip, realizing she had underestimated his growth.
"......"
Roenn also bowed his head, silently joining her in seeking pardon.
"Notify the Light Wind Palace."
Karoon accepted their apologies with a stoic air and rose to his feet.
"They are to set out for Birdnew Village alongside the Shadow Agents by dawn tomorrow."
Leaving those final instructions, he stepped away from the throne.
The sight of Karoon’s back as he marched toward the training grounds was eerily similar to the image of Glenn after reaching a new peak of enlightenment.
"Light Wind Palace, assemble!"
Burren kicked open the doors to the fifth training ground and stormed inside.
"We have orders!"
He announced the mission and marched straight toward the raised podium.
"A—a mission?"
"But the Palace Master isn't even in the city?"
"Is it just a minor task?"
"Probably. We've had plenty of those lately."
"We're supposed to be bracing for war; would they really send us out for something small?"
"Is it serious?"
The warriors of the Light Wind Palace crowded around the platform, buzzing with curiosity and confusion over the sudden call to action.
"He better have brought us something worth our time!"
Martha slammed a fist into her palm, an eager glint in her eyes.
"If it’s some pathetic guard duty, I’m going to lose it!"
She shuddered at the mere thought of a boring sentry assignment.
"I—I’d rather just stay here..."
Dorian shifted uncomfortably, swallowing hard.
"Ugh, I have a bad feeling about this."
He rubbed his arms, claiming he felt a strange chill crawling up his spine.
"Oh, for heaven's sake!"
Krein slapped Dorian on the back, his teeth bared in a grin.
"Grow a spine! There aren't many people left on this continent who can actually threaten us!"
He gave him another heavy pat, telling him to trust in the blood and sweat they had poured into their training.
"He's right."
Mark Goetun nodded in agreement.
"With war on the horizon, we must have absolute faith in our blades."
He let out a frosty breath, urging them to believe they could cut down any foe.
"Quiet down."
As Burren tapped his foot against the wood, the chaotic chatter of the swordsmen vanished instantly, replaced by sharp focus.
"This directive comes straight from the Lord’s Manor."
Burren emphasized the source of the order and tore open the white seal of the envelope.
"We are to investigate Birdnew Village, a Zieghart territory that was obliterated by Eden. Our task is to accompany the Shadow Agents and uncover any trail left by those bastards."
He spoke the name of Eden with a flat, composed voice, having already processed the news from Karoon.
Whoosh.
The moment the name Eden echoed through the hall, a bone-chilling aura flooded the fifth training ground, and a layer of silver frost bloomed across the dirt floor.
"Haaa..."
Runaan, who had been dozing with her sword clutched to her chest, slowly lifted her heavy, dark lids. She parted her pale lips, her eyes radiating a cold so intense it made the very air ache.
"Eden..."
