A deafening shockwave burst through the palace as two swords collided, rattling the main structure. Most of the nobles standing nearby collapsed, coughing up blood as they hit the floor. Those in front desperately tried to shield themselves with mana, but the sheer violence of the impact overwhelmed even their best efforts. A window shattered under the force, sunlight pouring into the main palace in jagged shafts. Caron gripped Guillotine tightly, grinning as he remarked, "Just as the rumors say—quick-tempered to the bone, aren't you, Your Majesty the Mercenary King?" "So you have broken past 8-Star," Nelson said, eyes narrowed. "Where the hell did a freak like you come from?" "Do I need your permission to exist? I go where I damn well please," Caron answered. "Hah! That's funny—very funny. With a mug like yours, someone would've noticed. Amazing your name hasn't gotten out," Nelson said. A green aura flared from Nelson's blade. Yet even with its power, it failed to slice through Guillotine. He's just a bit weaker than the Queen, Caron assessed. Clashing blades revealed more than words. Nelson hadn't surpassed the Pirate Queen—not yet. He stood just at the threshold of 8-Star. But physically, his body was leagues ahead. His muscles weren't for show—they were carved from battle. Strength poured from those enormous limbs like a roaring waterfall. This feels like I'm facing Utula, Caron thought. The brute force was nearly inhuman. Though Nelson was built like a fortress, the power behind his swings wasn't simply due to muscle—it felt unnatural, monstrous even. "You're weaker than you look," Nelson commented as his eyes sharpened. "You walk around with those inflated muscles, like some overblown balloon. For someone at your level, that kind of bulk is pointless... Unless—" Caron leaned in, his voice lowering as he finished, "—you're hiding your identity." Unlike regular soldiers, mercenaries were treated as expendable—paid to fight, paid to die. It was a harsh truth. To survive, a mercenary had to be sharper and more cunning than anyone else. A long career meant they had strength—and instincts. Caron deflected Nelson's coiling blade with ease, smiling as he said, "For a monster, you're surprisingly clever." "Your smug act ends now," Nelson growled. "I'll tear that mask off." Nelson's power erupted once more, and soon, green mirage-like heat waves shimmered around his body. They were lingering traces born from dense mana. Within that afterimage, Nelson's crimson sword split into several copies. He said, "Let's start by cutting out that tongue of yours." Just as Nelson's blade hurtled toward Caron's throat... A spear crashed between them. "Xenon, I know your insufferable temper, but this is a business meeting. If you go around foaming at the mouth like a mad dog, what will happen to my reputation?" Kynda said, gently stroking Caron's head "Let the grown-ups talk, will you?" Kynda added. Caron shrugged and answered, "Sure." "Thank you," Kynda replied sweetly. She nudged him aside, then turned to Nelson before saying, "You've changed a lot, Nelson. Seems like you've been stuffing yourself." "Hehe. Are you planning to cover up for that brat, Queen?" Nelson asked. "Hm? I have no idea what you're talking about," Kynda replied with mock innocence. "We might end up sharing bread together if things go well, so it's not good to get all flustered already. And... I was the one who saved your reputation." "You think I would've lost to that bastard?" Nelson asked, annoyed. "Maybe. Who knows?" Kynda answered. Her eyes flashed with sharp amusement, her lips twisting. "We're both hiding things, aren't we? Let's leave it there. I happen to palace. It'd be a shame if a pair of untrained mutts brought it crumbling down," Kynda added. Nelson let out a short, bitter laugh. He sheathed his blade and scoffed, then said, "This entire kingdom is mine. If it collapses, I'll simply rebuild it." "Becoming a king really did mess with your head. Well, not that someone like you would have any sense of aesthetics anyway," Kynda said. Nelson scowled, but didn't say anything. He withdrew the mana he'd scattered through the chamber and turned back toward the throne. "I'll overlook your rudeness for today, Queen," he said. "We've reunited after so long. There's no point in turning this into a brawl. We're going to be working together, after all." Settling onto his throne, he crossed his legs and locked eyes on Caron before saying, "You've got quite the capable subordinate. As a token of alliance, how about handing him over?" "We're short on manpower ourselves," Kynda replied. "That's no surprise. You're working under the Ducal Family of Leston now, aren't you? Pirates and mercenaries alike should live true to their titles. Someone bring the Queen a seat," Nelson instructed. At his gesture, a nearby mercenary swiftly brought a silver-gilded chair. Kynda planted her spear into the ground and sat with elegance. She said, "I'm hungry. Bring me some food." "What if I poisoned it?" Nelson asked with a grin. "Then I'll have your men eat first. There's no need to overthink," Kynda answered. As always, she was bold, direct, and fearless. Resting her hand on her knee, Kynda said in a relaxed tone, "You know better than anyone how difficult it is to strike the Ducal Family of Leston from behind. I'd like you to present a price worthy of that risk, right here and now, Nelson." "You're the one who proposed the alliance," Nelson replied. "They say a thirsty person digs a well, but you know, you could also sell water to that thirsty person," Kynda said. "Then I'll have to pay a fair price," Nelson said. "Of course. If I have to, I'll mix in a little poison and shove it down your throat," Kynda added. Nelson grinned and said, "Let's clear the room first, shall we?" "Fine by me," Kynda replied. This was where the leaders took over. Caron gave Kynda a slight nod, then turned to leave with the rest of the group. As they exited the main palace, Leo asked hesitantly, "Is it really okay to leave Her Majesty alone?" "She could survive hell itself," Caron said. "Let's go relax." Kynda would handle things, but now that they were inside the palace, Caron had something else in mind. A slow, meaningful smile spread across his face. "Leo, I've got a disease," Caron said. "...What is it this time?" Leo asked. "Every time I enter a palace, I get this itch. I can't stop myself from stealing things. Seria, is there any cure for kleptomania?" Caron asked. "Just die already, Warrior," Seria replied. It was time for Caron the thief to emerge once more—to uncover the secrets hidden in the royal palace. The night Caron's group arrived at the royal palace of the Neon Kingdom, chaos filled the halls as pirates drank and brawled, laughter and curses echoing into the night. But amid the commotion, three masked figures moved through the shadows—two men and a woman. "Seria, if we get caught, what are we supposed to say again?" Caron whispered. "...Pirates are just doing what pirates do, You got a problem with that, you bastard?" Seria muttered back. "That's exactly it," Caron said, satisfied. "Yes, you bastard," Seria added. "Our dear Saintess has quite the talent for improvisation. Excellent work, Saintess," Caron teased. "A saintess turned thief... Forgive me, O Light," Seria muttered. "You accepted the consequences the moment you joined us, Saintess," Leo remarked. "Leo, I've been meaning to say... Your mouth is also a problem lately," Seria said. "...I'm sorry," Leo said. Thanks to Pluto's concealment ability, the three of them infiltrated the palace with speed and stealth. There truly was nothing more effective than Pluto's ability to hide their presence. Meanwhile, the meeting between Queen Kynda and Nelson had reportedly gone better than expected. From profit-sharing to future goals—they had discussed it all. Apparently, Nelson had put a great deal of effort into his proposals. Unifying the southern kingdoms to form a new empire... Caron thought. If that actually happened, the resulting power could rival even the mighty Orias Empire. The southern kingdoms boasted some of the richest granaries on the continent—greater even than the empire's. The potential was immense. And Nelson had promised to hand over dominion of the empire's seas to Kynda. But she's not the kind of woman to be seduced by such lofty dreams, Caron thought. The conditions were doomed from the start. The endless wars had made unification virtually impossible. And even if unity were somehow achieved, it would splinter again before long. Fear alone could only hold people together for so long. "They're still going ahead with the joint exhibition matches, right?" Leo asked. "Yeah. Her Majesty said both of us are expected to participate," Caron answered. "How's it supposed to work?" Leo asked. "Ten fighters from each side. The winners stay in; the losers step down," Caron explained. It was supposed to be a gesture of camaraderie—but the rules told a different story. Deaths in the arena wouldn't be contested. In other words, killing one's opponent was perfectly acceptable. "What's the Mercenary King thinking?" Leo asked. "How should I know?" Caron replied, his voice flat. "Maybe he plans to show off some secret weapon." He recalled Nelson's sword from earlier and wondered how things would've gone if they fought seriously. It's hard to say, Caron thought. Nelson had clearly been holding something back. And without knowing what it was, Caron couldn't estimate the odds with any certainty. "Caron," Seria whispered, interrupting his thoughts. "Did you feel that too...?" "Yes," Caron answered. Guillotine began to hum softly. Just moments ago, a faint trace of dark mana had flickered through the air. But it felt too deliberate—too unnatural. Someone capable of perfectly concealing dark mana wouldn't make a sloppy mistake like that. "Is it a trap?" Caron muttered. The dark mana had come from the palace garden. He rubbed his chin in thought and said, "It feels like they want us to go there." "Charging in would be dangerous," Leo warned. "That's true," Caron agreed. "Dark mages are all the same—scheming, cruel bastards." There was an old idiom that said to tap even a stone bridge before crossing it. With that in mind, Caron summoned his clone. "Let's send a clone first," he said. "Isn't that too risky? What if you reveal your identity?" Leo asked. "Judging by how things are going, no one's been fooled anyway. They're all just liars. We just need to get rid of the evidence," Caron replied. His doppelganger appeared in the same disguised form he currently wore. Without hesitation, the clone slipped into the garden where the dark mana had been detected. The group waited in silence, hidden in the shadows. Minutes passed—then finally, the clone returned. Beside it stood a child: A small boy who looked no older than ten, with tidy black hair and striking yellow eyes. "...What's a kid doing here?" Leo murmured. He started to approach, but Caron stepped in front of him, blocking his path with the scabbard of Guillotine. He said, "Don't touch him. He's filthy." "Seria, a barrier," Caron instructed. "On it," Seria answered. In an instant, a prison of light surrounded the child. Leo didn't understand, but Caron had seen it clearly through his clone. He knew that this wasn't just a child. There wasn't a single trace of dark mana—but neither was there the slightest spark of life, something any living being was supposed to have. "Another lunatic wandering around in a child's form," Caron muttered, grinning. The boy replied in a soft, clear voice, "Who else goes around in the shape of a child besides me?" "The Imperial Magic Tower Master," Caron answered. "When one lives long enough, one begins to yearn for the purity of a child's heart. So clean, so untainted—truly beautiful," the boy said. His voice was too clean. Not just pure—it was unnatural. "I already anticipated your arrival," he added. "If you did, you should've run," Caron said. "Running wouldn't change anything," the boy replied. "You've got a point. In the end, you're still going to die by my hand," Caron said. The boy looked up and met Caron's eyes. He said, "Your bloodlust is thicker than that of any demon. Standing here before you now, I'm beginning to think... you might even be one of them." "I doubt you showed up just to spout nonsense," Caron said. He was already certain of the boy's identity. This wasn't just a dark mage. It was the same feeling he'd gotten when facing the Imperial Magic Tower Master. Without hesitation, Caron grabbed the boy by the collar and lifted him off the ground. The boy simply smiled and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Libre. People call me the Dark Magic Tower Master." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel⸺fire.net "It's not like we're close enough to greet each other, right? What's the point of knowing the name of someone I'm going to kill anyway?" Caron said. "I have an offer for you. Ah—more precisely, for you and your family. Wouldn't it make sense to hear me out before you end my life? This is my real body, after all. Isn't that worth at least one conversation?" the boy replied. The Dark Magic Tower Master, Libre, spoke in a flat, emotionless voice.