Chapter 79: The Horned King
"What an interesting fellow."
"To whom are you referring to, sir?"
Only the two men were stood inside the airship. Although it was only early morning when they arrived at the imperial palace, darkness had already engulfed their surroundings, and the stars filled the sky, shining brightly.
Gordon Fabian, the captain of the Guidance Mercenary Gang, poured himself a glass of expensive red wine and downed it in one go.
"All three of them."
The man standing behind him, Vice Captain Jaygun, furrowed his brow at Gordon's words.
"Even the Third Prince?"
Gordon smirked, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips. "There's potential in all three of them."
"Surely not. After all, Captain, didn't you only have tea with the Second Prince?" Jaygun probed.
Yet Gordon nonchalantly dismissed his question. "Hmm, not bad. But there’s no beating hard liquor."
Gulp—
He swallowed another glass of wine with a resounding gulp.
"Does that mean you favor the First Prince over the Second?"
"Jaygun, who do you think will become the next emperor?"
"Me? Uh... Well, I suppose the First Prince will be the most likely candidate. Although the Second Prince seems to have a better reputation... the matter of lineage will probably be a stumbling block."
Jaygun answered in a smooth manner, it was as if he had prepared a response to this surprisingly difficult question beforehand.
"Lineage, huh...?"
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"The nobility greatly value their honor, after all."
"But... we're not nobles, are we?"
"Excuse me...?"
Finishing his current bottle of red wine, Gordon opened a fresh one and poured himself another glass.
"Do you really think the emperor wants the First Prince to succeed him?" Gordon’s words hung in the air.
"...Sorry?"
"It doesn't seem that way to me, at least."
Caught off guard, Jaygun's stumbled over his words.
Thump—
Gordon lightly patted Jaygun's shoulder.
"You're quite a capable Vice Captain, Jagyun. I appreciate your dedication and efforts to solve various problems for the Mercenary Gang..."
"Your words are too kind, sir."
“...But the fate of the Mercenary Gang is for me to decide," Gordon continued, his grip on Jaygun's shoulder tightening.
The strength in Gordon’s grip was immense, enough to make an ordinary person cry out in pain.
"Of course, sir." However, Jaygun replied normally, not even wiping the sweat beads forming on his forehead as he responded.
"Is that so?" Gordon’s gaze bore into Jagyun’s, as he finished the rest of his wine in one swift motion.
"Interfering in the squabbles of these brats is not my preference... but perhaps it is time to lend a hand to my old friend, the emperor, with whom I've shared an era. It’ll be quite fun to stir things up a bit."
Jaygun's face darkened, a sense of foreboding washing over him. As if he was teasing him, Gordon casually tossed the empty glass away.
"We're heading north."
***
"We welcome the Horned King."
"Congratulations on your victory."
The tent flaps parted, revealing the chiefs of the four tribes of the Great Plains gathered together in one place.
Swan Mukari, the esteemed chief of the Flying Bow tribe, bowed to Karyl with a warm smile on his face and his hands clasped in a fist-in-palm salute.
It had been a long time. Decades had passed since the competition over the Great Plains, and just as long since the four tribes had gathered together like this.
"Haha! Chief Swan, you've aged quite a bit!"
"So have you!"
"Haha..."
Tunan, the chief of the Tu tribe, glanced at Swan Mukari and let out a faint chuckle. "So, everything went according to your plan, huh? The Great Plains will now belong to the Flying Bow Tribe."
"It wasn't my plan, but his actually,” Swan Mukari replied. “Just as we gained the Great Plains, you will also receive your share of land."
"We shall see," Tunan responded with a hint of skepticism. Yet, despite his words, like the other tribal chiefs, he too, took out a small horn from his possession and placed it in front of Karyl.
"This here is a symbol of recognition for the victor of the Great Hunt," Tunan explained. The horns, discolored from age, bore patterns etched with blood into their sides.
"Hmm."
"These are the tokens of the Horned King. They are given to the great hunter acknowledged by all four of the tribes." Swan Mukari stated, addressing Karyl.
"We have gathered here to celebrate my victory and to express gratitude to all the chiefs for their presence here. By presenting these tokens to me, it signifies your decision to support me."
"..."
"..."
Silence filled the tent, but an unmistakable peculiar tension hung in the air.
"Until now, the Great Plains have maintained balance through the mutual checks and balances among the four tribes. However, balance ultimately means a lack of unity. At this very moment, the Empire is expanding its territory by conquering the North, and the Principality is developing magical weapons. As time passes, it will become increasingly harder to expand into the Central regions, and the people of the South and North will be devoured by their might."
"Magical weapons...?!"
"Is that true?"
"I haven't heard of such a thing."
Those in the tent looked at Karyl, their expressions a mix of surprise and curiosity.
When I was in the Burning Darkness, I remember others being sent to the Principality on missions to confirm these rumors... How does he know about these unconfirmed facts? And Aidan, too, was equally surprised by his words.
"If you're merely trying to scare us with tall tales, I won't stand for it."
"Given what you've seen of me until now, whether you believe my words or not is completely up to you. If you believe my words to be fabrications, so be it. But what matters is this: even if you were to do it now, it would still be extremely difficult to take on the Empire, the Principality, or any of the Three Kingdoms," Karyl stated, his gaze fixed on the chiefs.
"Venturing into the Central regions is no small task. I know, among you, there are still those who harbor doubts about me."
"Ahem..."
The chiefs exchanged glances, letting out a soft sigh at Karyl’s nonchalant demeanor.
"I do not demand immediate loyalty,” Karyl assured them. “If, after hearing that the Five Great Families have also joined forces with me, you find yourselves inclined, then seek me out in exactly two months’ time, in the Free City of Tatur."
"Could it be... the city that is located between the kingdoms of the Central region?"
"Correct. It will not only be our stronghold but also the starting point for our expansion into the Central regions."
"But if news of southerners being spotted there reaches the Empire or the Principality, we'll be killed before we even arrive."
"Don't worry. That is exactly why I have set the meeting two months from now. I'll make arrangements for the Southern warriors to travel discreetly."
"Hmm..."
The chiefs couldn't hide their amazement at Karyl's eloquent response.
For decades, if not centuries they had dreamt of expanding their influence into the Central regions while living in the South, but their attempts had always been thwarted. Therefore, Karyl's words, suggesting that their ambitions might finally be within reach, filled them with excitement.
"May I ask why you specified exactly two months? Are you confident you can unite the Five Great Families within that time?" Beikan, who had been listening from the sidelines, interjected.
"Of course."
"...!!"
The chiefs were astonished once more.
"To be precise, it will take less than a month to have the Five Great Families under my control. The rest of the two months will be spent preparing a foothold for the Four Tribes and the Five Great Families to advance into the Central regions."
"Huh...?"
"That's quite..."
Karyl's tone was so casual that to an outsider it would seem as if dealing with the Five Great Families was no more difficult than hunting goblins.
"Swan Mukari, as we discussed earlier, I would appreciate it if you could guide me through the shortest route to the Abyssal Rocks."
"Of course. My son will personally accompany you, Lord Karyl."
"I have no intention of forcing any of you to make a decision. You may decide once everything is certain. Once the Five Great Families are united, I will hand over the Great Plains to you."
"Understood," the chiefs replied in unison, though Swan Mukari couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down his spine.
He didn’t even question whether he would be able to succeed. It's as if obtaining the allegiance of the Five Great Families is a given.
Even though he had succeeded in the Great Hunt, like the other tribes of the Great Plains, that still wouldn’t be enough for them to fully trust Karyl's abilities.
That was why Swan Mukari had decided to send his son, Kinu Mukari, to increase, albeit slightly, their chance of success.
"Beikan of the Tu Tribe and Kinu Mukari of the Flying Bow Tribe."
"Yes!" they responded, their voices filled with respect. "Command us."
"You will now ascend to the Abyssal Rocks with me. Are you prepared?"
"It is an honor to share this glory!"
"We will guide you to the summit!"
Both men knelt simultaneously.
The greatest warriors of their respective tribes, and the most prominent figures among those gathered, bowed their heads to the youngest among them. It was quite an absurd sight, yet a strange sense of anticipation filled the hearts of everyone gathered there.
Haha, sigh...
It feels so natural for him to be in that position.
Has there ever been anyone among the chiefs of the past who fit that role as perfectly as he does?
They all instinctively understood that it was their duty to ensure that this moment would be remembered by future generations.
It felt as though they were witnessing the birth of a king, the start of a new era.
***
"What do you think? How do I look?"
"It suits you. It’s like the son of a skilled hunter."
Karyl chuckled at Aidan's cheeky comment. He absentmindedly fiddled with the necklace made from horns, a symbol of the Horned King. He seemed content, a rare sight since their arrival in this place.
Thanks to Beikan’s support, we were able to secure the allegiance of the four tribes without much resistance, much sooner than expected. Although they may still harbor doubts, their loyalty will solidify once we deal with the Five Great Families.
Even though Karyl had traveled without a moment’s rest from Tatur to Azor and then to the South, he always felt short on time.
With the Emperor's health deteriorating, the real battle for the throne between the First and Second Princes will soon begin. I need to unite the South and move to the Central regions before that.
The Sand Serpent had significantly reduced their travel time, yet he had only a little more than a month left.
Obtaining the allegiance of the Five Great Families was one thing, but as Allen said, if I can open my meridians in the Abyssal Rocks, then I’ll need time to adapt to that power. Karyl thought, tightening the belt that held his sword.
It had been only two days since they returned from the hills, yet he was already preparing for the next destination, without a moment's rest.
"Will the five of us be enough?" Mikhail’s voice trembled slightly as he voiced his concern.
The subtle aura of magic coming from him meant that Mikhail hadn’t neglected his training while Karyl was away.
"When we set off for the South, I only had two by my side. Yet now, look, I have four. That's twice as many."
"But were we even of use, though?"
"Of course you were. You caught the Twin-Headed Eagle, didn't you?"
"Ah, but that was nothing..." Mikhail scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
Karyl shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. You don't yet realize how impressive of a feat that was. Even if we were to consider that Aidan played a part, for only two people to take down a beast like the Twin-Headed Eagle, is something only a handful in the whole empire could achieve, excluding a few exceptional individuals.
It was difficult for Aidan and Mikhail to fully comprehend their own strength when they were constantly in the presence of someone like Karyl, who defied common sense with every one of his actions.
“Rrrrrr...” The Sand Serpent that was coiled up in front of the tent rolled its eyes and bowed as if it had been waiting for Karyl.
"But, do you really think it exists?"
"Hmm?"
Mikhail’s voice was hesitant, as if embarrassed to even bring it up. Yet, as his gaze landed on the colossal beast before him, a childlike sense of anticipation welled up within him.
"The King of Spirits!"
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