Chapter 113
I was climbing the building's stairs.
We had finally entered the headquarters of the mercenary corps.
The building on the opposite side seemed to be the security squad's barracks.
I had taken care of all the security squad members I encountered in the basement before coming up.
The security captain was not the head of the mercenary corps, so there was no reason to let him live.
I also brought plenty of rope confiscated from the security guard.
I could jump down from high places without issue, but for the other three, it would have been too dangerous.
"There's no other way out in this building," someone said.
"We can get out. Don't worry,"
I replied.
"Okay."
We quietly climbed to the top floor of the building.
On the top floor were the security captain's office and meeting room, as well as a vault with a heavy iron door.
"Tuji, please lock the door and keep watch."
"Understood."
I first opened the northern window and looked outside.
I could see countless ships that belonged to either the order or those who had arrived at this island.
Our ship hadn't arrived yet.
When I looked down, there was a cliff.
The slope of the cliff meant it would be dangerous to just jump.
Using ropes would be much better. Kudo wasn't in sight yet.
"Roman, Uson, please tie these ropes together to make one long rope. Just make it long enough to reach the sea."
I handed the bundle of ropes I'd brought to Roman.
Then I continued, "Watch from the window, and when you see a small boat, go down the rope. Kudo will be waiting for you. If no one comes, hold out as long as you can before going down."
"Understood."
I stood in front of the vault wielding my sword.
There were thick padlocks and chains.
I infused my sword with magic power and slashed down.
Clang— rattle, rattle, rattle.
Thunk—
The chain was cut through, sending sparks flying.
The severed edges glowed red.
"Incredible!"
Tuji exclaimed in shock.
He was witnessing a level he had only heard about.
Creeaak— thunk.
Pulling open the heavy iron door revealed a huge room.
It was a windowless steel chamber.
Gold coins were piled up everywhere, and on one side, a uniquely-shaped bow and a treasured sword were displayed.
In a corner, there was a small safe. I headed straight for it.
I also sliced through the lock on the safe with my magic-powered sword. With a hollow sound, the safe door smoothly opened.
Inside, there was a large stack of documents.
I picked up a few and checked them.
They were what I'd been seeking.
I gathered all the documents and the gems inside as well.
I carried the booklets out, spread out the security guard's cloak and tied everything up like a bundle.
"These items must not be lost."
"We'll keep that in mind."
I made eye contact with the three, then immediately headed outside.
On the fourth floor, the building's window was connected directly to the dome's roof.
The dome's roof wasn't made of slate but stretched fabric, taut and tight. I leapt down right onto it.
Thump— rrrrrip—
After sticking my sword into the dome's roof, I sliced through the fabric, sliding down before jumping into the spectator seats.
I first checked the VIP section, but the three weren't visible.
They probably weren't mixed in among the people crowded at the entrance. I swept my gaze quickly over the whole spectator area.
There were still a lot of spectators.
Those who had placed bets were blocking the entrance while trying to settle their money.
Some were complaining, causing more chaos.
"What are you doing? Is this how you run things?"
"Please trust us! We will settle the bets accurately according to the bet records and match results!"
"So you're saying you're holding things up for accounting?!"
"Yeah! Aren't you going to explain why the matches stopped?"
"Please stay calm! Guests, please!"
It was a mess.
There were many who were drunk, shoving and even brawling.
Meanwhile, some people even rolled around with women among the seats.
At that moment, I spotted the three on the western spectator seating.
They were walking leisurely, escorted by six security guards.
Did they not understand the situation, or was keeping up their dignified presence more important?
I ran straight towards them.
As I approached, a security guard shouted at me.
"What's going on? Haven't you cleaned this up yet?"
"How did the prisoners escape?"
"Where is the security captain and what is he doing?!"
Without replying, I ran at them.
Only then did they sense something was wrong, and started running too.
If they reached the door first, I might lose them!
They moved faster.
The guard who ran ahead opened the door and ushered in the VIPs, then three guards entered, and three remained outside—right at that moment!
I rushed forward at a dash.
I closed the distance in an instant and barreled into them.
Crash—
Three of the guards flew backward.
They had no time to react since I'd approached so fast.
I ran straight through the still-open door.
The VIPs were stumbling down in a panic.
I jumped right after them.
Charging my legs with mana, I jumped!
Boom-boom-boom—
The force of mana exploded as I landed.
Those who had been fleeing crashed into the corridor wall and tumbled down to the lower level.
I walked up to those lying sprawled on the ground.
All six of them couldn't get up.
Only a short-haired man with white hair and a single security guard hadn't fainted and stared at me.
"State your identity," the man—who looked like a priest—demanded with gritted teeth.
The fallen guard beside him was coughing up blood.
As I took another step, the priest finally spoke up.
"If you harm these gentlemen, you won't survive either."
"Then I'll just kill you, that should be enough."
I raised my sword to the priest's neck.
Their so-called dignified bearing had meaning no longer.
The man's eyes trembled.
"This is Count of Tern. And the other is the leader of a giant mercenary band, the continent's top merchant. Can you handle their revenge?"
"So these are the operators of this place."
"Just leave."
"I'll leave after killing you."
I pressed the sword closer.
Blood seeped from the priest's neck.
"If you kill me, the order will move after you!"
"Why?"
"I... I am the Great Elder of the order! I'm responsible for the order's finances—above me is only the Elder Council Chief!"
"That's even more reason for you to die."
The priest now shouted in rage.
"I am divinity incarnate, the one who delivers God's will! You dare threaten an apostle of God, you dare defy me!"
"Do you really believe that?"
"God's punishment will strike you, wretch!"
Slash— thud—
Splaash—
The priest's head rolled off his body onto the floor.
The headless body collapsed, pouring out blood. I picked up the severed head.
He didn't serve God.
He thought he was God himself.
I returned to the spectator seats.
After leaping down into the arena, I carved letters into the brick fence with my sword—big enough to be seen from anywhere.
《Next, I will come for the order.》
I stuck my sword into the ground and impaled the severed head below the inscribed phrase.
Those who have sinned must understand this.
If the corrupt claim to follow God's will,
I will carry out God's punishment.
I re-entered where the VIPs had collapsed.
Emitting the aura of flame.
/ / /
The entire fighting ring was engulfed in flame.
I watched for a long time.
I watched the corrupt flee, trample each other to death in their panic, the fire spreading even to the castle.
I saw the security squad running away, the gladiators slaughtering those crowded at the exit.
I saw the surviving slaves weeping.
The fire spread out of control.
Half of the castle burned and embers rained across the island.
Most people escaped—gladiators and slaves included.
"Aren't you going down?"
"Let's go."
The gladiator who was left was Tuji.
He'd stayed behind in case someone tried to cut the rope.
Tuji and I descended the rope together.
There was a small fishing boat and a landing craft waiting below.
Along with Nabak, the youngest Berserker.
"I'm glad you're safe, young lord."
"You came quickly."
"We departed as soon as you left, young lord. Mr. Kudo signaled us, so we spotted you right away."
Those who had descended first had already boarded the landing craft.
As Tuji and I went down, the crew immediately rowed toward our ship, which waited in the darkness.
Everyone silently watched the burning island.
They could never have imagined their own paradise of pleasure would collapse like this.
Who would dare set fire to heaven?
The order would be greatly shocked.
Doubt God's will.
Securing evidence was, after all, the reason I came to this island.
The dock was pandemonium.
Countless landing crafts carried off the evacuees.
Even now, there were slaughterings going on. The wrath of the gladiators had yet to cool.
/ / /
The ship sailed northwest.
Last night, the situation was dire and chaotic, so no one pursued our vessel.
After some rest, priest Roman emerged onto the stern. Tuji followed him.
He had stayed up, keeping watch lest we be followed, and only fell asleep at dawn.
"You didn't sleep?"
"I just got up. How's your body?"
"I used to be a priest, so I recover quickly even if I'm hurt."
I nodded.
I'd heard priests never get sick.
"When did that happen?"
There was sadness in Priest Roman's eyes.
It seemed my guess was correct.
"After I parted with young master Roger and entered the order, I was immediately arrested. I sensed something ominous during my training, and it turned out I was right."
"What happened?"
Priest Roman sighed.
"My teacher was executed before I arrived. All the young priests who followed him as well."
"For what reason?"
"For treason against the order. If you seek a new order, you're labeled a heretic. But my teacher only sought reform."
"And they executed priests for that?"
"That's always how it's been with the order."
I didn't need to hear more.
That's how the order's leadership kept crushing reform—by branding it as heresy.
"How did you end up in the arena?"
"I almost got executed myself, but because I have above-average healing power, I survived. Someone needs to heal the wounds of the gladiators, after all."
"I assume there were other priests in the arena?"
"Yes. I'm sure that one came in unfairly as well."
Priest Roman had lived as a slave for roughly a year.
It was evident from his worn body and face how much hardship he'd endured.
The same was true for Tuji.
His body and face bore countless scars.
His skills were remarkable, but if it weren't for his younger brother, he might have given up long ago.
"How did you end up together with your brother?"
"We are brothers from the now-destroyed southern Beltern. After losing our parents, we wandered and became mercenaries. We built a reputation and ended up on that island."
"You intended to become part of the security squad on that island."
"We had no idea what the island really was. Had we known that the security squad was the Geroz Mercenary Corps, we never would have gone. They are mortal enemies to us southerners."
"Is that why you became prisoners?"
Tuji let out a deep sigh.
"That's right. They recognized our southern accent and started brutal torment. It was beyond words, so we tried to escape...but we got caught."
Tuji gazed out at the sea.
"But then, the ones who'd tormented us themselves arrived as prisoners. That's when I realized it wasn't recruits for the security squad, but for gladiators."
Incredible.
So that's where the gladiators came from.
"They're all the same in the security squad. They pay their wages up the chain and as soon as a new recruit arrives, they make him a prisoner. Every one of those guys was like that."
Tuji continued, with a laugh.
"It still feels like a dream. I was always sorry to my brother, since I was the one who suggested we go to that island. I wanted to get him out, no matter what."
"Fortunately, you didn't meet your brother inside, then."
"No, I nearly did—three times. Each time, I stabbed myself to avoid it. By the third time, I knew how to make it look like my brother was dead without killing him."
Priest Roman smiled.
"He said at first he meant to really die; after the second time, he stabbed himself just enough to survive. Then he figured out how to fake his brother's death."
Tuji gave a faint smile.
"What else could we do? We couldn't kill each other."
Trying to take his own life became the chance for his brother to escape.
The mental strength to endure pain was remarkable. So was his will to save his brother.
"There was a stash of gold coins in the vault. Did you take them?"
"Yes. I couldn't just leave it."
"Good. That money should be enough for you three to support yourselves wherever you go."
At my words, priest Roman and Tuji looked at me.
Both faces wore the same expression.
"Um... Would it be all right if we joined you, young master?"
"Young master, you are a benefactor to us brothers. Our skills may be lacking, but we would like to serve you as our lord."
I nodded.
"Tuji, you are a former knight, aren't you?"
"I am both a knight and a former navy officer."
"Navy?"
"I made it up to vice-captain, while my brother was in naval special forces, renowned as the fleet's top archer. The bow in the vault belonged to him."
"It did look unusual."
"That's Yan's bow."
A vice-captain and a special forces veteran from the navy.
And an archer with Yan's bow.
The brothers were not ordinary by any means.