Chapter 188
Chapter 188
The Brazen Robber (1)
A letter arrived at the Dalton family.
And that single letter, despite being nothing more than a single sheet of paper in weight, caused a tremendous upheaval.
It was a letter that began with the sentence,
[From Kairus of House Featherwing to Median Dalton, head of the Dalton family.]
It was a courteous letter that followed the formal structure exchanged between nobles, yet its contents were vicious.
[We sincerely thank you for not forgetting the amicable relationship between us and for safeguarding one of our family’s precious secret treasures until now.]
They had not safeguarded it. They had simply seized it when the opportunity arose. In truth, the tail feather was currently being put to meaningful use by Gemini Dalton, the heir of the Dalton family.
[His Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire, examined the false accusation against our family and declared us innocent. Accordingly, as the legitimate heir of the family, I have been devoting myself day and night to reclaiming our scattered family inheritance.]
[Since the Dalton family has preserved our family’s secret treasure for six long years, I intend to express my corresponding gratitude and exercise the rightful claim over what should originally have been mine.]
In other words, he would pay the price, so hand over the tail feather. Still, it meant he had no intention of taking it for free.
[If you choose an auspicious day and send word, I shall visit the Dalton family while holding my gratitude in my heart.]
[Through this, the Dalton family will have upheld its loyalty toward House Featherwing, and I have no doubt that it will become a truly meaningful occasion for me to confirm my gratitude.]
I will come to retrieve the tail feather, so tell me the date you desire. Then I shall come to take it. Kairus’s intention was delivered clearly.
And upon receiving this letter, Median Dalton gathered the people.
“What do you think?”
Gemini Dalton, who had been listening to Median, shook his head.
“This is absurd. His Majesty the Emperor certainly pardoned the sins of Featherwing. However, that does not mean all their rights have been restored, does it?”
Kairus Featherwing was now a commoner. The Emperor had not restored even the authority of House Featherwing.
“That is true. But… he possesses Veil of Plumed Mist, does he not?”
One of the retainers spoke cautiously.
He was not referring to Veil of Plumed Mist as the object symbolizing Featherwing’s authority. He was speaking of the destructive power that the battle gear called Veil of Plumed Mist possessed.
“So what? Are we supposed to immediately hand over the tail feather just because of that? What would the other families think of us!”
A fellow who was no longer even a noble was demanding that they return what had originally been his.
The Dalton family heard those words and obediently handed it over.
If such rumors began to circulate, the Dalton family would be treated like idiots in an instant. Gemini’s argument was not wrong.
“The problem is the last line of the letter.”
Median, who had been listening quietly, clicked his tongue.
[Though the weather has grown mild and the sky clear, the will of the heavens is ever-changing.]
[It would be most unfortunate if a sudden change in the weather were to cause difficulties for one of the Dalton family’s great enterprises.]
[I, Kairus, shall always worry over such matters and pray for the prosperity of the Dalton family’s business.]
It was difficult to call it a simple courtesy. The message contained an intense threat.
“That crazy bastard—does he intend to target Dalton Industries!”
Bang! Unable to hold himself back, Gemini Dalton slammed his hand down on the table.
“He’s only one man. Since when has our family ever bowed to this kind of threat?”
Median Dalton looked at his son. From a young age, Gemini had received countless forms of education under the full support of the Dalton family, entered the White Heron Order, and built distinguished achievements.
Now, as one of the aides to the Order’s captain, he was an outstanding knight who had been awarded more than five medals.
“Featherwing or whatever. He’s just a commoner bastard who lost everything and has nothing left.”
As he looked at Gemini, Median let out a small sigh.
“My son, you do not know Featherwing.”
Gemini did not know Featherwing. To be precise, during the time when he had begun to stand out in earnest, accumulate achievements, and build his reputation as a knight, Featherwing had not existed in that world.
But his father, Median Dalton, knew Featherwing to some extent.
“Yes, I do not. So what? Are you saying I should fear losers who collapsed so completely they could not even leave a single cornerstone of their household behind?”
Fearless and bold. It was one of the expressions that described Gemini. He possessed a fiery temperament and matching drive. Above all, he had the ability to turn action into results.
Within the White Heron Order, he was considered a candidate for the next Order captain, and even other Order captains acknowledged his skill to a certain degree.
It was rare for the words “He’s usable?” to come out of Dana Watson’s mouth, and Gemini was one of those rare cases.
Even the Guardian of the Nation had evaluated him as “someone whose future is more than worth anticipating.”
“I cannot understand it.”
What had recently been grating harshly on Gemini’s nerves was precisely the talk about Kairus Featherwing. The matter had even gone so far that the White Heron Order had held meetings regarding it.
Here, it was Kairus Featherwing. There, it was Kairus Featherwing.
There were far too many people chattering about what the direct line of that damned House Featherwing had accomplished.
After listening to it all, Gemini had even told Dorothy Evergreen, the Captain of the White Heron Order, that everyone was taking it far too seriously.
However, she had only given a short reply.
‘As I dig through memories from years ago, I suppose I am taking it somewhat lightly.’
It was not something that had come from the mouth of a naive apprentice knight. It was the evaluation of the Captain of the White Heron Order, whom I both respected and harbored feelings for.
The public’s reaction was not excessive. If anything, it was lukewarm. That was the White Heron Order captain’s assessment.
“I will stop him. There are many excellent warriors who will stand with me.”
There were many young bloods who did not know the era when Featherwing had run rampant.
‘If they were that strong, then why did they fall?’
There were plenty of young knights who held what seemed, at first glance, to be a reasonable thought like that. They would answer Gemini’s call. After all, he had built his reputation and connections over time.
“I guarantee it. There will be at least a hundred capable individuals who share my thoughts.”
Of course, there was some exaggeration mixed in. Gemini had thrown out those words out of unease, thinking that if he did not boast to this extent, Median would not grant permission.
“…If that is your will.”
After a long period of deliberation, Median reached his conclusion. He trusted his son. Median himself had succeeded not as a knight but as a businessman.
He had heard many rumors and tales of Featherwing’s exploits, but he had never had the opportunity to see them with his own eyes.
Thus, rather than meekly handing over the tail feather to Kairus, Median, as the head of the family, chose to trust his dependable son.
“Thank you. I will not disappoint you.”
Having received his father’s permission, Gemini rose from his seat at once.
“Once the preparations are complete, I will send the invitation.”
And there, on that very occasion, he would clearly show that in this Empire, the three letters of “Featherwing” could no longer obtain anything.
And about two weeks later, Kairus received the invitation.
“Irena, look at this.”
After checking the letter, I called Irena with a dumbfounded expression. Irena, who had been training while glaring at a swaying iron sphere, wiped her sweat, drank some water, and took the letter from me.
“Ha. How suspicious. I know what you wrote in your letter.”
It had been an outright provocation. Yet what returned was a polite invitation. I could not possibly look at this and say, “Oh? I asked for it and they’re giving it to me. How exciting!”
There was no way that would be the case.
“I guess I’ll have to bring Veil of Plumed Mist.”
At my words, Irena nodded.
“I’ll pack my things too.”
I shook my head at her words.
“This time, you and Nora are sitting it out.”
At my words, Irena let out a small sound of confusion.
“Will you be alright?”
“I’ll be fine. Focus on your training.”
The training Irena was attempting this time was more than worth the time invested. And after they had gone to the trouble of sending such a carefully suspicious invitation, it would be impolite not to go alone.
“If that’s what you say. Still, since you need to be careful, wouldn’t it be better for Nora to accompany you?”
I shook my head at Irena’s words.
“If I’m going to the Empire under the name of Featherwing, I can’t take Lunaseeker along.”
Just as Featherwing’s infamy ran high in the Republic, Lunaseeker’s infamy ran high in the Empire.
Moreover, unlike Featherwing, Lunaseeker was still active. Having Nora accompany me was not a good choice. It would be fortunate if we were not discovered, but if we were found out, it would go beyond merely being a poor choice and become a disastrous one.
“I’m confident. I’ll keep checking the information, and if there are signs that someone at the level of a knight captain has moved, I won’t go.”
Unless figures at the level of knight captain moved within the Empire, they would not be able to stop me.
I declared it firmly. It was not an empty boast.
“I agree with oppa too. If you’re not there, shouldn’t I at least supervise unni’s training?”
Nora, who had been sprawled on the sofa, waved her hand as she answered. The reason she agreed was obvious—no matter how one looked at it, it did not seem like I would be taking a train and politely responding to Dalton’s invitation.
“See? She’s saying that.”
In the end, Irena had no choice but to agree with me.
And a few days later, the time came. I had been camping about 30 kilometers away from the Dalton family’s estate when someone who had come to find me delivered a report. After hearing it, I clicked my tongue.
“There’s no knight captain. Just a whole bunch of knights.”
It seemed that around seventy had gathered, regardless of affiliation.
For someone who had finished his preparations, it was a number that almost made me laugh.
‘Even while I’m stirring things up this openly, there’s no response.’
What I had wanted to confirm was the Emperor’s response. Featherwing had been annihilated, and I had been released, but Featherwing’s authority had not been restored.
Even in this situation, though I was openly invoking the name of Featherwing, the Emperor had taken no particular measures.
At the very least, I had thought that one of the knight captains might move.
‘That bastard definitely has something in mind.’
He was deliberately leaving it alone. No matter what action I took, as long as it did not become a direct threat to him, the Emperor planned to leave it be.
This time, I was able to gain certainty about that.
“Then, it’s about time.”
After taking out my pocket watch and checking the time, I drew Veil of Plumed Mist.
I could have flown directly from Bennett City to Dalton’s estate, but I did not.
‘I still need to be cautious.’
I was not certain that even after such a long-distance flight, Veil of Plumed Mist would retain sufficient output. No matter what anyone said, this was a place where roughly seventy skilled individuals belonging to knight orders had gathered.
Even if I was confident, since I was going alone, there was a need to exercise a certain degree of caution. Besides, I also had to check the weather.
Today, the sky was clear. Spring itself seemed to be smiling upon me, who was still unskilled at flight.
The moment I drew Veil of Plumed Mist, a heavy turbine sound roared out as my body lifted into the air. The temperature dropped, and the oxygen thinned.
The turbine noise grew rougher and faster, soon turning into the sound of propulsion.
At a speed several times faster than sound, I shot toward my destination.
Below, I could see Dalton’s estate. As if waiting for me, a crowd stood gathered in front of the manor.
From a height of several kilometers, my body plunged downward like a meteor.
“After all, first impressions are important!”
I did not reduce my speed.