89th Adversary: Luka’s Dilemma

Renacido.

"An information gathering organization?"

Miko was talking with Layla and Jason.

"Yeah. Darius had his own information channels but they were exclusively focused on information on the empire. I desire information from all over the world. This way I can stay up to date with all the world's affairs and can make the appropriate arrangements when needed. I don't want us to be caught by surprise."

"Hmm….What you say does make sense but how would you go about creating such a thing? You'll surely need a lot of connections in dark places. Or do you wish to hire some people to give you information?"

Layla asked.

"I'm not against hiring spies and information brokers. However, I want to create my own organization that is only loyal to me and me alone. Otherwise, I won't be able to trust the information given to me."

"It's true that with an information broker your enemies could simply pay them to feed you wrong information and set up a trap for you."

Jason said.

"So I take it that you intend to create your own covert organization like the empire's Mamushi?"

Miko nodded.

"Mamushi was created by Augustus' firstborn son and my Great-Grandfather Claudius Dragna. It's basically the empire's shadow organization and serves not the clan, but the empire. I don't know much about them but they're responsible for maintaining the existence of the empire by any means necessary. They won't hesitate to eliminate anyone who's a threat to the empire's existence, even if that person is the emperor himself. I want an organization like that for myself."

"Well, do you have any ideas where to start?"

"I do, but I want your opinion on it."

"Shoot."

Miko smiled and said-

"Gremlin."

"?!"

Both Layla and Jason were visibly shaken just from Miko speaking a name.

"Are you serious?"

Layla asked. Miko nodded.

"If there's anyone that can help out with sneaking around and collecting information it's the Gremlin."

"…..I see now why you wanted our opinion. Sure he's the best person to go to about these things but…."

Layla was hesitant.

"Can you trust him?"

"Not 100% but he's someone I would have watch my back regardless, if that makes sense to you."

"So you know he's shady but you still believe him in?"

Miko nodded.

"Gremlin, huh?"

Layla and Jason were obviously still doubtful.

"Don't worry. I have ways to handle him."

Later that day, Miko arrived at the capital.

"I'm surprised you wanted me to accompany you to the clan, Miko. Is something the matter?"

Beside him were Sasha and Momo.

"I want to talk to Aeon about some business. You guys don't need to say anything just your presence is enough."

"Aeon? Ah, now I understand. You want to use me to intimidate him?"

Sasha started cracking her fingers.

"Ah, just being there is enough, Mama. Violence isn't necessary."

Miko quickly said.

"Is that so?"

Miko sighed in relief when he saw his mother relax again.

(Seriously, I'm surrounded by violent women.)

"So why am I here?"

Momo asked.

"If I went with mother alone, Aeon would feel pressured. Since you're his favorite cousin I brought you to help him relax."

"Oh? That makes sense."

"But Miko, you should really be careful of Aeon. I know I shouldn't say this as his aunt, but he's exactly like his father, which isn't a compliment by any means."

"I don't really remember Uncle Rihan that much but everyone seems to be cautious of him. Why?"

"Well, you'll have to meet him to understand. Just know that he's extremely dangerous and that's coming from his little sister."

They continued to walk but stopped before they entered the royal district. Sasha and Momo suddenly boxed Miko in and started looking around.

"Right here in the capital? Talk about bold."

Miko said with a smile.

"Didn't you do the same thing as well? And why are you so calm about this?"

Momo complained.

"!"

Sasha swung her arm to her right and black winds rushed into that area.

*Bam!*

The black wind clashed with a bolt of lightning.

"They're making their move. Be alert."

Several figures shot out from the shadows and charged at them. They were all incredibly swift as they instantly cut the distance aiming for Miko.

Sasha jumped, swung her leg, and kicked two of them away. She stretched her hand behind her, grabbed one of them by the collar, and threw them back where they came from. Her figure then flickered and she appeared in front of Miko. She grabbed two more attackers by their necks and slammed the back of their heads on the ground until they cracked. One final one past her and stretched their hand towards Miko's face.

"Sorry, you can only see, not touch."

Ishma appeared in Miko's hand. His hand moved in a flash. The hand stretching towards him was cut right off. Before his attacker could scream, he thrust Ishma right through their throat.

"Hm?"

He frowned and took a good look at his attacker.

"A puppet?"

He looked around and saw that all the attackers Sasha took out were puppets.

"Is the enemy a puppeteer?"

He said while resting Ishma on his shoulder.

"I've got him."

Momo was looking at a map projected from a spell circle she created.

"A tracking spell, huh?"

Miko looked at the map and saw three blue dots, which were obviously his group, and a red dot that was moving away from them. It was obvious that the attacker was trying to escape.

"For him to be tracked this easily, the attacker must be far weaker than me."

Momo said.

"Either way, attacking Miko is punishable only by death."

Sasha stretched her hand out in the direction of the fleeing assassin. She closed her eyes. Over a kilometer away, the assassin was running with all of his strength.

"?!"

Suddenly, he felt a chill down his spine. He sensed someone had locked their eyes on him. Sasha opened her eyes and sent a cold stare in his direction.

"Grasp of death."

She closed her hand.

"Ugh?!"

The assassin coughed up blood and fell on his face. He felt immense pain in his chest for a second before breathing his last breath.

"I crushed his heart. Let's go."

Sasha turned to Miko and Momo and said. They nodded and continued their way.

"I don't know if these guys are serious about killing me or not. Even if I was alone they wouldn't have been able to kill me."

Miko folded his arms behind his head as he walked.

"They sure got money to waste."

"They probably just want to put you on edge. Now you'll have to look out for assassination attempts at every corner. After you're exhausted mentally, they'll send a real assassin. One you wouldn't expect."

Sasha said.

"Hm….That is indeed a possibility."

He smiled.

"I wonder what kind of person this real assassin is like?"

Lushun, Dragna Empire.

"Princess, please reconsider!"

Luka Flameheart was in the Flameheart Residence walking through the yard. Several members of the clan were following close behind her.

"There's nothing to reconsider. I'm not dirtying my hands."

"But Princess, you're the only one who can do it. You're the only one who can remove this smudge from our reputation!"

"I said I'm not doing it, and that's that."

The men following behind Luka stopped with frowns on their faces.

"Maybe it's not that you won't, it's that you can't."

Luka stopped and looked back.

"How lowly of you to try and provoke me. There's no merit in me killing Miko."

"I disagree. There's only merits, Princess."

"The longer that brat stays alive the longer a dark cloud will loom over our clan."

"Also, if you do this you inheriting the title of Clan Leader is assured."

"My title has always been assured."

Luka turned around.

"Who else if not myself would inherit the title?"

"Anyone who kills Miko could become the heir."

The men started smiling.

"Miko is currently this clan's greatest enemy. Anyone who kills him will be considered a hero. The title of Clan Leader isn't hereditary; anyone can obtain it as long as the clan approves of them. Your grandfather is a great example. He originally came from one of the servant families in the clan and isn't a direct descendant of the Progenitors. Yet he married into the main family and became the Clan Leader."

"Are you implying that if I don't kill Miko I'll be stripped of my heirship?"

A sharp light appeared in Luka's eyes.

"Of course not, Princess. We're merely giving you some advice. By the way, many others have realized the benefits they could receive from killing Miko and are preparing to make their move."

"If anyone other than myself kills Miko it will be an all-out war."

"We were ready to go to war from the beginning. We merely tried the most effective approach by trying to have you do it. However, if you're unwilling then we'll continue what we were dead set on doing back at the trial."

The men grinned.

"We'll kill Miko and go to war with Dragna Clan."

Luka clenched her teeth.

"That's just madness. What righteous reason do you guys have to want to go to war now?"

"There are plenty of reasons why we would want to declare war. Let's not forget that it was the Dragna clan who stood in our way and stopped us from avenging your mother. They have been suppressing us for too long!"

"We demand justice!"

"It's time to overthrow our suppressors!"

The men all started to shout angrily. The frustrations that have been built up over the years were starting to overflow.

"Speaking of your mother….Didn't you want to become the Clan Leader so that you could use the clan's connections and search for a way to cure her?"

Luka's eyes turned bloodshot as they became slit like a dragon's.

"Don't you dare use my mother as a bargaining chip."

A deep red aura started leaking from her body.

"I'll kill you."

Her bloodlust caused the men to be silent for a bit but they quickly regained their wits.

"You're really like your father, Zanis, Princess. That look and bloodlust are identical to his when he faced his enemies."

Luka said nothing but the deep red aura around her gradually became more demonic by the second.

"I see that we've angered you, our apologies. However, we only spoke the truth."

"If you stay idle someone else will kill Miko and thus gain an express ticket to becoming Clan Leader. That will also lead to a war with us and Dragna clan."

"There's no longer any way to stop this. You either kill Miko and inherit the title or stand by and watch as someone else steps up and starts a war."

"My grandfather won't allow this."

"This has gone beyond what the Clan Leader can control."

"Didn't you see it for yourself, Princess? That day on Miko's trial everyone was eager to go to war even though the clan leader didn't wish for it. The situation hasn't changed in the least. Everything was just postponed but no one can stop the inevitable."

"Miko has gained too much power and influence too quickly."

"We must act now before he becomes something we can't handle."

"This is what everyone's currently thinking. So even if you don't act yourself the situation won't change. Miko must die."

The men turned around and started to leave.

"Princess, I would think long and hard about what must be done if I were you."

With those words, they left Luka alone with her thoughts. She started clenching her fists and gritting her teeth.

"Lulu."

Ouroboros appeared behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Father, I just realized that I might not be a good clan leader."

Luka spoke with her shoulders trembling.

"Just now, I seriously thought about killing every single one of those bastards!"

"...."

Ouroboros said nothing and started to caress her head as tears of frustration flowed down her cheeks.

(If she kills Miko she'll lose a loved one, but if she doesn't and someone else does, it will lead to a major war and the potential loss of her chance to save her mother…..It's a cruel fate but I can't help you out, Lulu. You need to get used to situations like these if you wish to reach the summit of this world.)

Ouroboros thought to himself.

(However, it seems that the Flamehearts have overlooked something…..Do they really think Miko will just sit back and allow himself to be killed?)

Meanwhile, the person in question Miko was still on his way to meet Aeon. He was quietly walking before stopping and staring at the sky.

"Regardlessly of who it is, I'll kill anyone who stands in my way."