CHAPTER 222

"I see two, maybe three."

Kashimir knew without even turning around. Alisa and Quikantel's instincts felt it as well.

Since he was focused on transporting Beris as swiftly as possible, Kuzan noticed a little later.

"I guess it can't be helped since we're in public."

Annoyed, Quikantel shook her head.

"Thankfully, they're not Runcandel knights. They would've already attacked by now if they were."

This was Huphester, part of Runcandel territory. There wasn't much of a reason for any knights to follow a provisional flag-bearer like Jin.

If they were Runcandel knights, then their primary objective would be to engage immediately to either get rid of or capture Kuzan and Beris. 

While it certainly seemed possible to fight ten knights, Jin felt awkward fighting the soldiers of his own clan.

It was especially so for Alisa, Kashimir, and Quikantel. They didn't want to create any enemies in Runcandel.

"That means that they're just his spies or his hunting dogs."

"What shall we do?"

After a moment, Jin answered.

"They probably already alerted their higher-ups. It doesn't seem like they'd report directly to Joshua, which is probably why one of them has left."

There were three behind them.

However, as Jin predicted, there were initially four. One of the four sprinted away after discovering them.

Their destination was the southern transfer gate.

"Miss Alisa."

"Yes, milord."

"You should go to the transfer gate first. The messenger would go to the nearest knight, so please hurry."

"Understood."

He chose Alisa on purpose. Her skills in searching for people in a crowd exceeded his.

"What should I do when spotted?"

"Do not let them live. Send them painlessly."

"Affirmative."

Alisa didn't proceed immediately.

She didn't want the plan to be leaked, so she waited for further orders.

"And Kuzan."

"Yes."

"Let's see what you can do. Go kill those three."

"May I begin when we hit a forest trail?"

"No, do it now. Can you manage?"

A bustling street.

Killing four people would be possible for skilled Nameless assassins.

Kuzan nodded.

"Of course."

Jin looked surprised.

"Yeah?"

"I have just the thing for it."

Kuzan didn't only have mysterious black liquids that melted people alive. With the ingredients, he could stir up virtually anything, and among them, 'natural assassinations' existed.

"We mustn't pull more attention than necessary."

"Understood. I shall inject the poison into them while acting as a customer. I will regroup quickly, so please continue."

"What will happen to them?"

"They'll realize that I'm just picking up drinks, so they'll continue following the main group. They'll walk as if nothing happened, and after five minutes, they'll faint. Ten minutes without first aid, and they'll die."

"…What in the world? Is that even possible?"

Jin couldn't even contain his surprise. Even Quikantel looked astonished at the skill.

"I think that's a little much for a girl, but…"

Before Quikantel finished her sentence, Kuzan disappeared. It was the most natural timing and pathing trajectory to leave the group.

The group exchanged glances. Jin purposefully shouted to Kuzan, 'get me the apple-flavored one' to make the scenario look more natural. Everyone else followed and shouted their desired flavors. 

As the clerk whipped up the drinks, the main group continued to march past Kuzan.

Kuzan pretended to spill a drink, releasing an alternative liquid. A neurotoxin that was easily absorbed by the skin, ultimately leading to death.

"Oh, my apologies."

The pursuers glared at Kuzan, then continued. Kuzan received new drinks and went on his merry way.

"Already?"

"Yes. And by the looks of it, they seem like Joshua's messengers. Not particularly any skilled fighters, since I didn't recognize their faces. I think we can let Miss Alisa through the gate."

Although he wanted to ask for reassurance, Jin thought Kuzan made the right decision. He assumed that this would be the best decision since Beris's life was at risk.

On top of that, they could miss the timing of the poison burning through their nerves. 

"Miss Alisa."

Alisa nodded, and she passed Beris to Kashimir.

Then she hopped on the horse they had, and the pursuers reacted quickly. Another man was being sent to Joshua.

After exactly five minutes—

"Kyaaaaa!!"

"Th-These guys just fainted!"

As the men struggled to even move a single muscle, the citizens screamed. 

"A neurotoxin from the western desert spiders. Doesn't work against any 6-star warrior. It gets diluted and cured easily by water, but without knowing this, it's easy to succumb to."

Kuzan shrugged it off as if it were nothing.

The third man would fall around this time as well.

'Thank goodness I got the Thousand Poison Antidote.'

He got goosebumps realizing that his crew would easily die from such a poison. 

'An apothecary like him would be a great addition to Tikan.'

Many of these workers existed in Runcandel, but he could only put them to work after becoming an official flag-bearer.

As the situation escalated, the crew continued toward the transfer gate.

And after two hours, they arrived.

"Long time no see, everyone."

Alisa smiled.

"As you predicted, one of them got to the transfer gate already. I already dealt with him and the corpse. It will be discovered within a few hours."

It was only possible because the skill gap between the two was immense. If Joshua's henchmen were better trained, it would've been much harder.

So Joshua didn't have any input on this matter. 

Initially, the transfer gate security refused their entrance, but the Delki royal emblem came in clutch.

"Ah, guests of royalty, welcome. I bid you a comfortable journey."

And they could finally leave at ease.

"I felt this before, but the civil obedience in this kingdom is through the roof."

Quikantel shrugged.

"After the civil war with the royal party losing, the prince's party developed a system where it always favored the citizens. Of course their trust is ever-so-strong. Though, the opposers got shunned…"

Kashimir glanced at Kuzan and Beris.

"Anyway, Kuzan Marius. Thankfully, your little trick worked out."

"Thank you…"

"I don't need more gratuity, instead I expect what I asked before. Joshua Runcandel. If you don't tell me what I want to know, then we can't be together. Understood?"

Kuzan nodded. 

But Jin never thought of throwing out Kuzan. Even if the information wasn't satisfactory, he himself was a great addition.

However, he couldn't trust him just yet, so he decided to keep an eye on him.

"Well, apart from the deal, we shall save your friend. Pray that the Vankellans don't push expensive offers."

The transfer gate opened, and the light engulfed them.

* * *

As soon as they returned, the best doctors and healers gathered.

The largest collaborative surgery in Tikan occurred.

Kuzan did not leave the front door of the surgery room. Twiddling his thumbs, he looked worried sick. Before the surgery ended, Jin didn't push Kuzan for more information.

Sweaty healers and surgeons exited after a full 32 hours.

"Thanks to your replenishment of the required medicine, we could finish it off well. For the time being, she requires absolute stability for all her vitals, but she will live on pretty well."

"However, if the Vankella priests don't provide additional treatment, then she wouldn't be able to use magic ever again."

"Alright, well done everyone."

"Oh…"

Hearing that Beris was fine, Kuzan slumped to the ground and wept. Even Jin's heart softened a bit from the emotion.

Gilly lent a handkerchief to Kuzan. From all of the times he worked for Taimyun and Joshua, he never experienced something like this.

Before the crying stopped, Enya sought Jin.

"Milord! Julien just woke up. Miss Alisa already went down to the basement."

"Really? Gilly, are there any leftover sandwiches?"

"Yes, Young Master."

"Perfect. Let's go, Kuzan. With Miss Alisa's interrogation, that Julien kid will start to act up, so let's talk before that. I'm sure you're starving. You didn't eat anything for two days."

"…Julien is here as well?"

"Yeah, we brought him here after the incident. Want me to tell you something more?"

Jin packed the sandwich and continued.

"I killed Joshua there. On that very spot, I watched him die. Despite that, he shows up in the Schucheron Kingdom healthy as can be… Julien, and you. One of you has to know the reason for this."

Julien looked dead inside. 

Laying the sandwich in front of him, Jin smiled.

"You seem to have rested well, Peitel's contractor. Whether this is your last meal or not, the choice is yours."

"…Kuzan? Did you betray Lord Joshua?"

"Friend, Joshua is the real betrayer here. When Peitel descended onto you, you nearly died. Throw away any chivalry for that bastard and start anew."