novelraw Chapter 196
Chapter 196
Chapter 196. It's a Misunderstanding (3)
"Since I've set the bait..."
For the time being, the hands of the "Follower" won't reach me.
After all, I already hold the bait named "Gerard" they would try to catch.
"As Sir Yulian mentioned, he is staying in the slums."
When Pintel spoke while bowing politely, I nodded, stroking the scabbard at my waist.
Finding him wasn't difficult.
With a little deduction, it was easy to pinpoint his location.
He is someone who can't stay in the capital due to the watchful eyes of the Dawn Society.
However, with his soaring ambition, he couldn't leave the vicinity, lying in wait for his chance.
After following through with that train of thought, it's clear that Gerard's hideout is limited.
"The Six Fingers have been disbanded and absorbed by the other two organizations."
That means all the organizations that divide the slums into three are in my grasp.
Six Fingers.
Blood Demon Order.
Nameless Band.
Having acquired these three, seeking out the unwanted guest hiding in the slum wasn't a difficult task.
"Breaking the fingers worked out well."
The cooperation of the Second Prince, Osborne, worked in my favor.
"Not that I plan on siding with him."
After brushing off my habit of touching the scabbard, a refreshing evening breeze brushed across my forehead as I lifted my head.
"I wish to speak with Gerard."
I've sorted out the issue with the "Follower" for now, but Gerard isn't the perfect "bait" yet.
Even though fish are generally foolish creatures, they don't chase after bait blindly.
Only when it's dangled and wiggled like what they usually eat will they recognize it as food.
"Understood, Sir Yulian."
Pintel nodded politely, then started walking ahead down the dark alley.
Just as I was about to follow, a puddle formed from the rain caught my eye.
At an incomparable height, the moon was set in the sky.
The absence of clouds made the solitary moon appear even lonelier, reflected in the puddle, alongside my face.
"What am I trying to do...?"
A sudden emotion surged within me.
Pushing the lingering bitterness on the tip of my tongue to the back of my mind, I moved my foot forward.
***
Creak, creeeak—
As the rough, unoiled iron door opened, a musty smell stung my nostrils.
As the dust swirled up, white powder settled on my shoulder.
When I was about to brush it off with my gloved hand, Pintel kindly dusted it off for me.
It's not that necessary, but it wasn't bad.
"Ugh, uh...!"
Inside, one-armed Gerard was bound.
The tattered clothing stained with blood and the handcuffs on him exuded the scent of a sinner.
However, the emotion close to anger in his eyes made it ambiguous to call him a 'sinner'.
"You look quite the sight, Sir Gerard."
When I opened my mouth with a tone mixed with sympathy as I looked at such a Gerard, the emotions welling in his eyes deepened.
Thwack—
Something flew at Gerard's face.
It was the magic staff used by Pintel.
"Erase that impertinent look in your eyes."
Pintel's voice as he swung the staff held no emotion.
Considering the humiliation Gerard had subjected him to before, he might have been expected to be angry, but Pintel remained eerily composed.
"Quite frankly, you should have fled outside the Empire, like your friend 'Dantes'."
I deliberately mentioned "Dantes" to provoke Gerard.
He bit down on the gag in his mouth so fiercely it seemed he might chew through it, glaring at me with eyes like those of a wild, untamed animal.
"It seems even you could not have foreseen this. It must have been difficult to anticipate that I grasped control over every part of the slums."
Who would have imagined?
That 'Yulian', known as the Imperial Hound, an eccentric obsessed with cleanliness, would have the slums' three organizations in his palm and manage them?
"Sir Gerard, from now on, I have an 'order' for you."
"Urrgh....!"
"I have already sold your whereabouts to the rat called the 'Followers'."
Though I had no intention of calling the "Followers" rats, somehow, bitter words slipped from my mouth.
Perhaps the frustration from the sharp tone of the Sebion I met earlier was slowly surfacing now.
"Therefore, could you play the role of cheese for a while so the rats can chase you?"
Since the bait needs to move for the fish to chase more eagerly, I thought.
Gesturing with my chin towards Gerard's gag, Pintel directed his subordinates to remove it.
"Grr...!"
I felt no sympathy even when I saw Gerard coughing up blood.
This, after all, was the consequence of his own actions.
He had been using people like chess pieces, children included...
A strange sense of déjà vu struck in the middle of my speech.
Chess pieces, children...
"Damn bastard, damn it all!"
As the gag came off, Gerard began spewing curses, and the déjà vu disappeared.
Furthermore, when the blood he spat splashed on my foot, my irritation doubled.
"Gah, cough!"
I grabbed Gerard's chin.
With applied pressure, his mouth began to open, and the severe pain made his eyes tremble violently.
"Could you please answer with only a 'yes' or 'no'?"
The color of 'fear' seen above his head was proof that his emotions were thoroughly dominated.
"Just kill me already!"
At the mention of death, I squeezed harder, and blood began to flow from his trembling mouth.
"Disgusting."
After clicking my tongue internally at the sight, I released him.
"Keheuk, cough...!"
"I'm not asking for much, Sir Gerard. Who knows? Once this is over, you might regain your freedom."
"Don't. Dare. With. That. Mouth."
Gerard's will remained unbroken.
Although shaded with the color of 'fear', convincing him through words seemed impossible.
Not that this could be called 'persuasion.'
"I have no choice, then. I will give you some time to think."
Though he could be killed on the spot, that would mess up my plan.
And that's not an option.
As I naturally wiped off the blood on my gloved hand, Pintel approached and whispered quietly.
"Sir Yulian, Kolparan wishes to speak with you. It seems we need to prepare more thoroughly for the upcoming Bishop selection."
"Is that so?"
Bishop Kolparan.
Since I'm in the position of borrowing his power, I cannot ignore his request to meet.
Although the things to be said and done are probably predetermined, and I can guess what Kolparan might say.
"They'll likely discuss who's taking the position of the High Pontiff."
Eleanor, too, and Kolparan, both eyeing the position of 'High Pontiff', are trying to not show it overtly.
"Feel free to do as you please among yourselves."
My task is just to overthrow the Dawn Society once and then quietly step back.
"Where is Sir Kolparan now?"
After giving Gerard a sidelong glance, I left the prison where he was held and set out to leave the premises.
***
In the dimly lit underground prison neither light nor hope could penetrate. Speculated to be Pintel's private property, Gerard, held captive, could feel the tang of stale blood spreading across his tongue.
His eyes were filled with emotions of anger and fear as if staring down a monster.
However, a bit of unyielding resolve could also be glimpsed.
"Heh, heh heh..."
Gerard, who was bound to the wall with his one usable arm, let out a laugh filled with madness.
No one was there to reprimand his laughter in this place, so the sharp laughter filled the room.
After one round of maniacal laughter, Gerard sharply glared at the locked door.
"Kolparan, so you were in on it too...!"
Having overheard Yulian and Pintel's conversation before leaving, Gerard realized that Kolparan was in collaboration with Yulian.
"The old raccoon, as expected, moved quickly!"
Gerard spat the blood he was holding in his mouth onto the ground.
"Pfft!"
An unfortunate incident where a broken tooth flew out alongside the blood occurred, but Gerard paid it no mind and started concentrating mana throughout his body.
The mana began to shimmer.
The faintly blue mana mist gradually turned a reddish hue, starting to blend with the blood he spat out.
Eventually, a magic array formed.
The inscribed element of magic was Shade (陰).
What Gerard cast, being a part of the 'Shade Magic', was a type of 'Blood Magic' using 'blood' as a medium, often deemed inefficient.
Once activated, the blood splattered on Gerard's body began to glow.
Among the various objects stained with the blood, the cuffs that Gerard wore were included.
Bam—
Suddenly, the cuffs shattered, causing Gerard to fall to the ground from the recoil.
"Heh... heh heh..."
Although a cold, metallic taste endlessly spread in his mouth, a smile bordering on madness bloomed on Gerard's face.
"Pintel, Kolparan, and Eleanor."
Those who, it seems, are collaborating with Yulian.
Concurrently, those who are eyeing the position of 'High Pontiff Tenelon.'
"The recording magic is still working."
In reality, Gerard lacked any magic finesse.
The reason he was able to dive so deeply into 'Shade Magic' was because he gained enlightenment at the cost of his 'lifespan.'
Driven by vengeance after suffering at Yulian's hands, desiring to attempt anything and everything, he luckily stumbled upon 'it' to which he offered his lifespan.
"Oogh...!"
With a pained groan and dry heaving, Gerard propped himself on a hand as he panted.
Dark energy surged throughout his body, unlike when using 'Shade Magic'.
Demonic energy (魔氣).
"I did well to supply the orphans of the slums to that madman Aiden."
Gerard and Aiden shared a symbiotic relationship.
One side provided materials for experiments.
While the other received the experimental results.
Gerard, having implanted Aiden's 'result', a 'false horn', in his body, felt the negative aura pulsating within him, stirring a sinister smile at his lips.
"Magic isn't much at all!"
Silently mocking the majestrous mages brimming with elitism internally, Gerard began smearing his blood on the steadfastly locked door.
"There doesn't seem to be any sign of life outside."
Opening this door meant escaping from here was nothing.
Upon concentrating again to use 'Blood Magic', the lock shattered with another crunching sound.
Screech, slam.
Despite the securely shut state, the iron door swung open cleanly.
Gazing at the scenery outside, Gerard showcased a twisted smile.
"Now, all that's left is to deliver the voice recorded with magic to High Pontiff Tenelon."
If only he could manage that, Yulian, who caused him such disgrace, could undeniably be driven along the path to ruin.
With such thoughts, Gerard started moving forward.
"You'd better not come out."
At that moment, a cold voice flew towards Gerard.
From dead ahead.
There, a man stood, hands placed over a grounded magic staff, looking at Gerard with a dry gaze.
With carefully groomed brown hair and blue eyes.
Exuding noble dignity, the man glaring at Gerard was none other than the mage from the Dawn Society whom he had almost killed with his hands before.
Unable to contain the swirling hatred deep within his chest, Gerard spoke.
"Pintel...!"
Clacky's Corner:
Is it Pintel's time to shine?