Chapter 232
Chapter 232
Treasure Hunt (3)
Kairus opened the coffin to confirm whether the person inside was truly Liriana. As the coffin creaked open, the figure of a woman lying inside came into view.
“Man, should I kiss her or something?”
How much time had she spent lying in that coffin, submerged deep beneath the sea? Even though Liriana’s time had been continuously rewinding while she remained sunken in the ocean for countless years, she was still young and beautiful.
“But.”
He needed to confirm whether this was the real Liriana. And the method was simple. Kairus swung his sword and cut the finger of the woman lying inside the coffin.
“...”
The blood flowing from the wound was sucked back into it once more. The same phenomenon as Denver Hudson.
‘Bingo.’
The woman in this coffin was definitely Liriana. If she were not, that phenomenon would not have happened just now. Having finished confirming her identity, Kairus immediately hoisted Liriana over his shoulder and flew into the sky.
If someone carried an ordinary person while flying at high speed, that person’s body would be completely shattered mid-flight. But that did not matter for Liriana, whose time continuously rewound.
With a massive explosion, Kairus instantly gained altitude and headed straight for Bennett City. It did not take long to return.
“Have you been well? I found her.”
As Kairus opened the office door and entered, Irena, who had been tending to Angelene’s Answer, and Nora, who had been eating jelly, both stood up at the same time.
“This person is Mrs. Hudson?”
At Irena’s words, Kairus nodded.
“She’s asleep, but it’s definitely her. I flew here in this state.”
At Kairus’s words, Nora trembled slightly before replying.
“She’s unnervingly fine. It’s definitely Liriana Hudson herself.”
The moment he heard her answer, Kairus looked at Nora with an unusually serious expression.
“If you received any orders from the Republic, just tell me now instead.”
After staring at Kairus for a moment, Nora let out a sharp sigh and scooped up a large spoonful of jelly before answering.
“I didn’t even make a report. The Republic currently doesn’t know that oppa secured Mrs. Hudson.”
“I’ll trust those words.”
Nora glanced at the ceiling with an irritated expression before snapping back.
“Do you know what’ll happen if they find out I didn’t report this?”
If it became known that the youngest department head and a Lunaseeker agent who had leased Moon Sand from the Agency Director had deliberately omitted a report, Nora would not come out of it unscathed.
Even for her, it had been a decision made after immense deliberation.
“I sacrificed a lot and steeled myself too. If you keep doubting me….”
Nora slowly pulled out Moon Sand and looked at Kairus with cold eyes.
“Then one of us dies here today. I’m not some idiot who devotes herself unconditionally while hoping you’ll trust me someday, right?”
“You’re right. Sorry.”
Kairus readily apologized at Nora’s words.
He could not continue doubting her after she had gone this far.
“I guess I was tense too because this matter is important.”
“I understand.”
Nora relaxed her expression again and replied while licking the spoon she had used to eat the jelly.
The reason Kairus had doubted Nora was because of the role she would take on from this point forward.
‘Protect Liriana.’
Once Kairus and Irena headed for the Imperial Capital, Nora would remain here and protect Liriana Hudson. This was something Kairus had personally asked Nora to do.
“I told you I’d cooperate to the best of my ability within this city. I’ll keep that promise.”
Of course, even if Nora did not make a report, the Lunaseeker would eventually hear this news after some time passed. It was not such a sloppy organization that it relied solely on a single report from Nora.
Still, they could buy a few days of time. During that period, Kairus and Irena needed to break through the Capital Security Corps, force Denver Hudson to step down, and then kill the Emperor.
“So how’s it been? Have you adapted to the greatsword?”
“Of course. Want to see?”
At Kairus’s words, Irena casually moved Angelene’s Answer and tossed an apple into the air. She tapped the apple several times with the tip of the greatsword before eventually splitting it in half.
“Impressive.”
From inside the halved apple, flesh that had been completely crushed into juice dripped down.
“What about the output?”
“Not even close. It’s less than half. I’m honestly worried whether the day will ever come when I can use its full output.”
“There’s no need to rush.”
It would take an enormous amount of time for Irena to fully utilize all the output Angelene’s Answer possessed. Still, even the amount of output she could currently draw upon was enough to handle this matter.
“Let’s eat well, get some good sleep, and leave at dawn tomorrow.”
At Kairus’s words, Irena raised her thumb and replied.
“I figured you’d say that, so I prepared two racks of ribs.”
Dinner had been decided as ribs.
“Probably better not to drink.”
“We’re going to face the Capital Security Corps and Denver Hudson tomorrow.”
They could not drink alcohol. If they did, it would only be after everything was over.
“Once we rip Philip IV’s throat out, let’s drink ourselves silly.”
At Kairus’s words, Irena nodded while tearing into a fully roasted rack of ribs.
As they continued eating for a while, Irena suddenly spoke.
“What are you planning to do after this is all over? Are you going to keep living as an operations committee member of Bennett City?”
At her words, Kairus answered.
“I’ll keep the name around until someone suitable comes along to hand it over to.”
After killing Philip IV… Kairus reached that point in his thoughts and laughed in disbelief.
“So I really made it this far after all. Thinking about what comes after killing the Emperor.”
He was no longer thinking solely about killing the current Emperor of the Valorn Empire. He had already reached the point of planning for what came next. That meant everything had drawn close enough to touch.
Back when he had first entered Bennett City and worked as a server at Jonathan’s restaurant, he had wondered whether revenge was even possible in the first place. But now, his goal stood right before him.
‘Let’s see.’
Because of the Featherwing family’s infamy, there was a high chance the Aylan Republic would refuse to grant Kairus asylum.
But Kairus, after killing the Emperor, could hardly return to the Valorn Empire now.
The Daeyeon Kingdom? That was not a place where foreigners could live as lords. They were endlessly kind to temporary visitors, but the moment someone came for a purpose other than tourism, they inflicted discrimination severe enough to send chills down one’s spine.
‘They scrutinize everything. Your alma mater, hometown, surname, main clan, branch families, factions, your age. Every little thing.’
And he was supposed to live in the Daeyeon Kingdom without any connections whatsoever?
It took nine years to earn recognition there. Not recognition as one of their citizens, but simply surviving nine years so they would stop harassing you.
Kairus had no desire to do that.
“You seem to be thinking a lot. That’s a good sign.”
Watching him, Irena let out a small laugh and spoke.
“I suppose so?”
“It means the chances of success are high, doesn’t it?”
At her words, Kairus tossed the rib bone remaining in his hand into the trash bin and answered.
“Of course. I’m ending this no matter what.”
Whether he used a fake identity to live in the Empire again, forced his way into asylum in the Republic, or endured nine years of discrimination in the Daeyeon Kingdom.
None of that really mattered. What mattered was that the Emperor would die. The death of the man who had taken everything from him was no longer far away.
That alone was enough.
“If you’re done eating, go to bed early.”
Kairus stood from his seat and spoke to Irena. As if lost in thought, she quietly stared at her plate before giving a small nod.
The sun began to set. After thinking to herself for a long while, Irena suddenly chuckled softly and stood up, heading toward the bed.
And the two of them awoke at the time they had agreed upon beforehand.
Four in the morning.
Since the sun still had a long way to rise, it was a darkness more fitting to be called night than dawn.
Having packed everything necessary, Irena climbed into the large bag. Naturally, she still had Angelene’s Answer strapped to her back.
“You don’t need to ride inside the bag anymore.”
Previously, the battle gear’s output had been insufficient to withstand the supersonic flight of Veil of Plumed Mist, but with Angelene’s Answer, enduring the flight of Veil of Plumed Mist was effortless.
“I’m just used to it now. This is more comfortable.”
“You’re getting used to some weird things.”
Kairus muttered in disbelief before lifting the bag Irena had climbed into.
‘Honestly, this is more convenient than carrying her on my back while flying.’
The bag had handles, making it far easier to carry. Since the passenger preferred it this way, there was no reason for the driver to refuse.
“Then let’s say goodbye to Nora before we go.”
At Kairus’s words, Irena nodded and gestured with her chin from inside the bag.
“I don’t want to climb back in afterward, so I’ll just say goodbye like this.”
Likewise, since the person involved wanted to do it this way, Kairus had no reason to stop her.
“Mmm, you’re leaving?”
Nora had fallen asleep on the office sofa. Chains were wrapped around her wrists, and the other end was connected to the sedated Liriana.
“Yeah. I’m counting on you.”
“You don’t need to worry. Until I confirm proof that you two are dead, Liriana won’t be leaving this place.”
After rubbing her eyes for a moment, Nora answered with a firm expression.
There was no need for lengthy farewells. They were not going to die, but to win. Any long conversation could wait until after they returned victorious.
Holding the bag containing Irena, Kairus flew into the sky.
Now, they were heading toward the Imperial Palace. Kairus picked up the office telephone and carefully pressed the numbers. After being transferred through several operators, he was finally connected to the contact he wanted.
― This is the Capital Security Corps. How may we assist you?
“I am Kairus. The current time is 4:17 a.m. I intend to attack the Imperial Capital at exactly 8 a.m. If you do not wish to increase unnecessary casualties, evacuate the Empire’s citizens.”
For a moment, silence settled over the line.
“I have given my warning. At 8 a.m., Kairus Featherwing will attack the Imperial Capital to take the Emperor’s head. Anyone remaining after that time will be considered an obstacle standing in my way.”
That concluded the call. Kairus immediately soared upward and began flying at the maximum speed Veil of Plumed Mist could produce.
“Are you sure about this? The most reliable method would be a surprise attack.”
At Irena’s words, Kairus nodded. The surest way to achieve victory was indeed a surprise attack.
If they used the output of Veil of Plumed Mist and Angelene’s Answer to suddenly create a typhoon and unleash it upon the Imperial Capital, the city would literally be blown to pieces.
“This is the end now. You could call it a whim of mine.”
Irena laughed at Kairus’s words.
“You’re not getting careless? You’re giving the enemy time to prepare.”
“It’s not carelessness. I just don’t have the courage to bear the consequences. There are 8.5 million people living in the Imperial Capital.”
If he launched a surprise attack, Kairus would essentially be killing 8.5 million people alongside his revenge.
Someone could criticize him by asking whether the innocent blood he had shed until now was somehow acceptable.
‘Maybe if it were 5,000 people, but 8.5 million? That’s just too many.’
No matter how consumed Kairus was by revenge, that was a number that forced hesitation upon him. Even if those were not human lives but something far more trivial like money, the burden would still be overwhelming.
[You lent out 5,000 pyint, so why won’t you lend out 8.5 million pyint?]
If anyone seriously said something so absurd, Kairus was confident he would slap them across the face immediately.