Chapter 82
Chapter 82
As soon as I opened the door, a familiar face came into view. It was Turk. His loyal gaze and sturdy build were unchanged. Even though quite some time had passed, he had remained steadfastly in his place.
“It’s been a while, Turk.”
“It has been a while, Young Master.”
There was both welcome and a subtle tension in Turk’s voice. From his expression, I could sense that something unusual had happened.
“The Patriarch is waiting. Please follow me.”
At Turk’s words, I nodded and followed after him. The main house of the Winterbell Ducal Family was still grand and antique. However, traces of time could be seen here and there. Picture frames where once-brilliant gold leaf had peeled away, faded murals, and the faint scent of dust lingering in the air.
As we walked down the corridor, I asked Turk,
“Nothing happened to the family, I hope?”
Turk hesitated briefly before answering.
“No, nothing in particular occurred.
We passed through the great hall and arrived in front of a door bearing the symbol of the Winterbell Ducal Family—a pure white wolf. Turk carefully knocked.
Knock, knock.
“Enter.”
A low yet powerful voice was heard. When Turk opened the door, a spacious office came into view. And at its center, seated behind a heavy desk, was a man. Arkan Winterbell, my father.
“Did you complete the mission successfully?”
“Yes.”
No emotion could be read from Arkan’s voice. Yet his presence was still overwhelming. Despite being middle-aged, his face remained youthful and full of vitality.
With his profound gaze and enigmatic smile, he seemed as though time itself had stopped for him. His broad shoulders and straight posture carried the dignity befitting the world’s greatest swordsman.
Turk quietly closed the door and left. Now only my father and I remained in this room, along with the unspoken words that had accumulated over the years.
Arkan Winterbell opened his mouth.
“Sit. I have something to tell you.”
At his words, I sat down in the chair before the desk. Like the cloudy sky visible outside the window, I had a feeling that the story about to unfold would not be smooth.
The air inside the office grew heavy. In contrast to the warm sunlight streaming through the window, the atmosphere in the room was cold and tense. Arkan Winterbell’s sharp gaze seemed to pierce through me.
“It took longer than expected.”
My father’s voice was calm, yet I could sense the sharpness hidden within it. Clearing my throat, I answered,
“……The return journey was not smooth.”
At my words, my father’s brow twitched ever so slightly. His perfect features distorted faintly before instantly returning to their original state.
“Did you deal with Zephyr’s leader for certain?”
At his question, I closed my eyes for a moment. The memory of that day passed through my mind. The stench of blood, the screams, and the desperate look in his eyes at the final moment…….
“Yes. I ended his life with my own hands.”
At my answer, my father gave a slight nod. A subtle expression—something that could not quite be called a smile—passed over his perfect features.
“In the end, he was nothing more than a vermin who went around committing banditry.”
At his words, I struggled to calm my trembling heart. Sweat seeped into my palms.
“That is true. However…….”
After taking a brief breath, I continued. My mouth was parched.
“There is a mastermind behind them.”
As soon as my words ended, a heavy silence settled over the room. Even after hearing that, Arkan Winterbell’s expression did not change in the slightest. He simply looked at me with his characteristic impassive face throughout. I could see his eyes shift slightly. It was as if he were calculating something.
Sunlight shone upon his silver hair, making it seem as though a halo surrounded him. He was my father, yet once again I found myself thinking that he possessed a sculptural beauty. His perfect face seemed as if time had stopped for it, and I could not fathom the depth hidden behind it.
Father slowly rose from his seat and walked toward the window. His graceful steps were almost like a dance. Gazing outside, he opened his mouth.
“Let me hear the details.”
There was no emotion in his voice. But I knew. The story that would begin now held the fate of the Winterbell Ducal Family in its grasp.
I took a deep breath and spoke.
“Pandemonium was behind them.”
Arkan nodded without replying. His movements were elegant, his face serene. In his figure, as though time itself had stopped, not a trace of agitation could be found.
“I do not know if the Patriarch remembers, but I encountered them in the past as well. It was during the mission when I went out to rescue Brother Ron Winterbell.”
At my words, Arkan’s eyelids moved ever so slightly. That was the only reaction he showed.
“…….”
Silence flowed. Arkan’s expression remained calm as ever. I steadied my breath and continued.
“I do not know what their objective is, but one thing is certain. They do not fear the Winterbell Ducal Family. They are deliberately instigating chaos in the North.”
As I spoke, I carefully observed Father’s expression. His perfect features still maintained their composure. He was like a tranquil sea at the center of a storm.
“I cannot help but think that what they are aiming for is a member of Winterbell—or perhaps the Winterbell Ducal Family itself.”
Even at this shocking statement, Arkan did not move in the slightest. His detachment felt all the more overwhelming. He appeared like a god looking down upon the world with utter transcendence.
After a moment, Father opened his mouth.
His voice was deep and calm.
“Pandemonium. It is presumed to be a group formed by gathering criminals who have been issued the Empire’s red wanted notices. We independently collected information about them within the family as well, but there was less information than expected.”
At his words, I held my breath. The Winterbell Ducal Family’s intelligence network was beyond imagination. After all, it was the strongest family that stood on equal footing with half of the Empire. And yet even Winterbell had failed to obtain information—this meant they were an organization far more threatening than I had imagined.
As I mulled over Father’s words, I felt cold sweat run down my back. Yet Arkan remained tranquil. Something seemed to stir deep within his eyes, but I could not tell what it was.
Arkan slowly rose from his seat and walked toward the window. His graceful steps were as though he were walking upon clouds. Looking outside, he spoke again.
“We are observing the situation. Time will tell what fate awaits those who have underestimated Winterbell’s strength.”
There was no emotion in his words. He spoke in a detached tone, as though merely stating a fact. Yet the weight of those words was immense.
I nodded. Deep insight could be felt in Father’s gaze. It was as though he had already foreseen everything. The Winterbell Ducal Family had begun to move. A full-scale war with Pandemonium would begin. And I had a premonition that the outcome of this confrontation would determine the fate of the Empire—no, perhaps even of this world.
Yet Arkan Winterbell remained unchanged and tranquil. Like a being who had transcended everything, he was serenity itself. His perfect features were unmoving like a marble statue, and his silver hair shimmered softly in the sunlight. Looking at him, I once again understood why my father was called the ‘Absolute’.
The air inside the office grew heavy. The chirping of birds and the sound of the wind from outside seemed to further accentuate this tense moment. I cleared my throat and organized my thoughts.
‘……Is it the overwhelming confidence that comes from the power he possesses?’
Imagining the strength hidden behind Father’s calmness sent a chill down my spine. His power lay in a realm I could not dare to imagine. But now was not the time to dwell on such thoughts.
Gathering my courage, I opened my mouth.
“Do you perhaps know about that as well?”
I felt my voice tremble. For a brief moment, Arkan’s gaze sharpened before returning to its original calm. His lips moved slightly, but no words came out.
“…….”
Silence flowed. That short moment felt like eternity. I took a deep breath and delivered the most crucial piece of information.
“It seems there is an informant within the Winterbell Ducal Family.”
After speaking, I carefully watched Father’s reaction. I could feel my heart pounding rapidly. Cold sweat seeped into my palms.
Arkan’s brow twitched faintly. Something seemed to stir deep within his eyes.
Anger? Disappointment? Or merely curiosity? It was impossible to read his emotions.
This was not a matter that could be easily overlooked. Those who had sworn lifelong loyalty to the Winterbell Ducal Family might have betrayed it. The weight of that meaning seemed to settle heavily throughout the room.
The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated his silver hair, making it seem as though a halo surrounded him.
“An informant.”
His voice was low and deep. The weight contained in those two words was beyond imagination.
“Did Zephyr know your movements precisely?”
“Yes. They knew exactly where we would move and when.”
Arkan slowly turned around. His gaze remained calm, yet I could feel the resolve hidden within it.
“If your information is true, this goes beyond simple betrayal. It is a matter that shakes the very foundation of Winterbell.”
At his words, I nodded. My mouth was completely dry.
“It seems our actions must be even more cautious going forward.”
“…….”
“But do not worry. Winterbell has overcome crises far worse than this.”
There was no agitation in Arkan’s voice. He spoke in a composed tone, as if merely stating a fact. Yet the weight of those words was immense.
I bowed my head deeply. From Father’s figure, I could feel absolute confidence and dignity. Looking at him, I once again realized why the Winterbell Ducal Family was the strongest family that stood on equal footing with half of the Empire.
“If……. the traitor within is one of my brothers, what will you do?”
It was one of the worst assumptions I could imagine. In truth, those who carried Winterbell’s blood would have no reason to commit such an act—but there was always the possibility of “if”.
‘Who could have known that I would be betrayed by Saladin and Bestia, whom I trusted so deeply?’
Arkan answered immediately, as though it was not even worth contemplating.
“I will eliminate them. Personally.”