[Trantor - Helga ]


    [Proofreader - Lucky]


    Chapter139


    “What is it?” Kane spoke curtly, causing Isaac to look disappointed.


    - "Seems like you’re not happy to see me…”


    “Wasn’t it an urgent call?” Kane asked.


    - “Ah, you’re so cold.”


    “I’m busy, you know.”


    - “It’s because of the Magical robe of Temu, isn’t it?”


    “So, the news reached His Majesty’s ears as well.”


    - “Are you nning to go to Medi Ind?”


    “What makes you ask?”


    - “I’m nning to go too.”


    “Have a safe journey, then.”


    Kane attempted to end the conversation unceremoniously.


    - “W-wait a moment! It’s something important!”


    Isaac shouted, realizing the conversation hadn’t even started. Hanging up now would defeat the purpose of calling.


    “Do I need to know about it?”


    - “There’s a report that Hatzfeld’s shadow has started moving.”


    “You mean Ray Hatzfeld?”


    - “Ray Hatzfeld? Is that person the shadow?”


    Ah, right—Isaac didn’t know who Hatzfeld’s shadow was.


    - “Where did you get this information?”


    “From the second prince. Any issues with that?”


    “Doesn’t His Highness the Crown Prince also know about the second prince’s condition in Hatzfeld?”


    - “I trust the uracy even more now.”


    “Have you thought about why he shared this information?”


    Hatzfeld’s shadow, Ray, had moved. The guy was likely acting as Hatzfeld’s loyal hunting dog. Coming to Medi Ind probably meant something more—perhaps to form an alliance with the House of the Sun and plot against the Crown Prince, or even to get rid of someone as notorious as Kane himself. Either way, they’d be pleased to secure two powerful sacrifices to offer to the ‘heavens’.


    - “They’re probably trying to trap me.”


    “In that case, don’t even think about going to Medi Ind.”


    Isaac flinched. Even he felt the allure of Magical robe of Temu, a powerful artifact that elevated its wearer to the ranks of the Twelve Star Lords. For someone strong, Temu’s robe was an irresistible prize.


    - “If I join forces with your group…”


    “No.”


    - “Isn’t that a bit too harsh?”


    “Even you could be at risk, Your Highness. If anything happens, all fingers will point straight at us from Rehinar.”


    - “But you’ll be there.”


    “What makes you so confident?”


    - “Ourbined strength?”


    Isaacughed innocently, his face almost childlike. A face that was hard to refuse, but Kane remained firm in his refusal.


    “No.”


    “Look at Kane, saying no again, he’s a man of few words.”


    - “Oh, isn’t it the magnificent and esteemed Count ta?”


    Isaac, putting off convincing Kane for the moment, turned his attention to winning over ta.


    “C-Count ta?”


    ---


    ---


    - “I heard from my sister Charlotte that you’re a great support to Kane’s younger sibling. Isn’t that true?”


    “Of… of course it is! Without me, who else could handle someone as hardheaded as Kane?”


    - “Well, then. I’ve decided to grant you the title of Count. Not interested?”


    “Are you kidding? I’d love it! Call me Count ta from now on. It sounds perfect, heh!”


    ta’s grin stretched from ear to ear. He fell head over heels for Isaac’s words. He was already one to give in easily to ttery, but with the Crown Prince of an empire personally granting him a noble title, he was absolutely hooked.


    - “Sir ta, do you disapprove of me joining the group?”


    “Ha! You’re the only one who has a ce standing by Kane’s side, with your big mouth!”


    - “Haha, what do you think about that, Kane?”


    Kane looked down at ta, his eyes wide and clearly saying, <em>“Are you asking to die?”</em>


    But ta didn’t back down. A Count title. Being addressed as “Sir.” There was no way he could give up these two things.


    “Take him with us. Kane can protect him well enough.”


    “Why are you doing this too?” Kane sighed.


    - “I’ll put my trust in Sir ta, then,” Isaac dered with finality.


    ta, who Kane had always brushed aside, was now being addressed with honor by the empire’s Crown Prince.


    Finally, Kane caved and epted.


    - “If we take the fast boat through the canal, we’ll reach Medi Ind within a week. See you there.”


    Isaac quickly ended the call, fearing Kane might change his mind.


    ta, sensing he had pushed too hard, tried to avoid Kane’s gaze and busied himself with something else. Kane just shook his head.


    This wasn’t a pleasure trip to begin with, yet now he had one more burden to carry.


    * * *


    Medi Ind was a hidden territory. Though it was a mid-sized ind, it was muchrger than other hidden Territorys.


    Here, Elder Manuel appeared.


    “How much oblivion energy did you feed it?”


    Before him, a vicious mutated monster bound in chains, drooled with a crazed glint in its eyes, its expression one of pure bloodlust. The monster, infused with oblivion energy, emitted a sinister aura that filled the skies over the ind.


    “We used the amount we could extract from a small vige.”


    Elder Manuel, however, had an unhappy look on his face. The first phase of the Great n was Medi Ind. For the House of the Sun to be granted perpetual, unbreakable power, they had to present as many sacrifices to the gods as they could.


    “Pour in the equivalent of five small viges.”


    “It might explode from the concentration of oblivion energy.”


    “Nonsense! Medi Ind is in the Territory closest to the Celestial World. A bit of crude oblivion energy won’t cause it to rupture. Now, do it!”


    “Yes, sir!”


    They followed Elder Manuel’s orders, breaking open the sks of Elixer of Oblivion stored in boxes and pouring it into the mutated monster. The energy was sucked into the monster’s nostrils, and with each exhale, a cloud of dark mana spread into the air. They emptied all the boxes they had brought, yet Medi Ind remained unaffected. Instead, the barrier surrounding it turned a stark white.


    “Keh keh keh, see? This is Medi Ind, a divine ind that can easily withstand such a low-level dark energy. Temu chose this ce as his tomb for a reason.”


    “Incredible! With this much energy, even Hatzfeld could be taken out in an instant.”


    But there was something they didn’t know: Medi Ind was an entrance to the Celestial World. It was, in fact, a gateway to the gods.


    Their n was to open this gate.


    “But, Elder, do you think others might sense the Oblivion energy? It’s quite overwhelming.”


    “Keh keh, can you see it with your own eyes?”


    “Not exactly, but… there’s an ominous feeling.”


    “That''s because you scattered Oblivion Elixer into the air. Ask anyone outside the House of the Sun what they see in the sky, and nine times out of ten, they’ll tell you there’s nothing but clouds.”


    The energy from Oblivion, whenbined with the monster’s mana, was invisible to the naked eye.


    Only those with keen mana-sensing abilities could detect it, and even then, only those at a high enough level.


    At a minimum, one had to be an 8th-ss to sense the Oblivion energy. Would someone at such a levele for the Magical robe of Temu?


    In short, only the Twelve star lords could detect it—and such individuals would surely note.


    “Keep bringing in mutated monsters and feeding them this dark energy.”


    “Yes, sir!”


    The preparations wereplete. Now, all they had to do was wait for more people to gather. And if Kane Rehinar and Isaac von Fresia were among them, it would be ideal. They could open the gateway to the Celestial World and rid themselves of troublesome pests all at once.


    Just then—


    “Elder! Kane Rehinar has arrived at the entrance to the hidden Territory.”


    The news that Kane had arrived on Medi Ind reached him.


    “Our desired sacrifice hase willingly.”


    And that wasn’t all.


    Momentster, another subordinate reported in.


    “The Crown Prince and the Second Prince of the Fresia Empire have also arrived, each leading their own forces.”


    “Keh keh keh, they came so fearlessly, not realizing it would be their graves.”


    * * *


    Medi Ind was a deserted ind surrounded by the sea on all sides, home to a few formidable mutated monsters lurking within. Fortunately, these creatures preferred to stay hidden and rarely emerged, as they strongly disliked humans and avoided them whenever possible. This made Medi Ind not only a hidden Territory but also a famous tourist spot. Encounters with these monsters happened maybe once every two years.


    “Is there really a ce like this?”


    “You’d never know, always buried in the arena like you are.”


    “So, all these people crowding the ce… they’re here because of the Magical robe of Temu?”


    “That’s exactly it. You think they’re here just for sightseeing?”


    The ce was packed to the point where there was barely room to stand, and this was only the entrance. Imagining how crowded it might be further in was almost overwhelming—a true testament to the legendary appeal of the Magical robe of Temu.


    “I wonder if this ‘Magical robe of Temu’ is even real. It almost feels like an artificially spread rumor.”


    “The robe of Temu is real.”


    “Yet again with that confident look… Where does all this confidencee from?”


    Mikhail observed Kane closely, finding him a truly fascinating person. It was as if Kane knew the future. His presence raised many questions, so much so that Mikhail sometimes wondered if he might be a god born into human form.


    “Let’s just call it… my informationwork.”


    “So, you’re here to obtain the Magical robe of Temu?”


    “Also because I can smell blood in the air—a strong scent.”


    As Kane entered the hidden Territory, he spotted Isaac, who was already inside, waving cheerfully.


    “Kane, over here!”


    Isaac sat at a table outside a shop, enjoying a drink.


    “Quite the leisurely royal.”


    Mikhail muttered, and Kane couldn’t help but agree.


    “I can’t argue with that.”


    ta’s ears perked up at Isaac’s arrival, his expression full of eager anticipation. And Isaac didn’t disappoint.


    “Sir ta, you look even more robust since west met.”


    “You mean this Guardian Spirit has grown even stronger, hrm.”


    “Oho, I look forward to seeing you in action.”


    “Keep up, Your Highness. There’s a Blood Owl hidden around here.”


    “Really, Sir ta?”


    ta was clearly thrilled with the title of ‘Sir,’ smiling as he eagerly spilled all his knowledge.


    “Of course! My magical senses confirmed the presence of a Blood Owl.”


    “I’ll give it my all to capture it.”


    “If it gets tough, just say the word, and I’ll dly negotiate with—mmph!”


    Kane quickly mped a hand over ta’s mouth. Such unnecessary talk! ta kept feeding the Crown Prince strange ideas, and if he didn’t put a stop to it, there was no telling what nonsense woulde out next.


    “Your Highness, there’s no time for idle chatter.”


    “You’re too uptight! A little breathing room wouldn’t hurt.”


    “And even after seeing that energy in the sky, you still say that?”


    “The sky? Other than clouds, what else is there?”


    “Can you not see the dark aura?”


    “Aura?”


    “Kane, I can see it clearly,” ta said, seeming to notice the ominous aura filling the sky.


    But Isaac and Mikhail appeared oblivious, unable to see anything unusual.


    ‘Looks like only ta and I can perceive it.’


    The energy dominating the sky was a force known as "Oblivion.", and there was an overwhelming amount of it here. If it detonated, Medi Ind could very well be reduced to ashes.


    ‘If that energy starts mixing with Blood mana, things might take a turn for the worse.’


    [Trantor - Helga ]


    [Proofreader - Lucky]