260. Lord Dain
Northern City, Northern Coastline, Kim island, Kim City, Acorna Empire
Ravenna stood before the heavy iron door of the observation room, flanked by Marie and High Priest James. Through the one-way mirror embedded in the wall, she observed the three Archbishops seated around a modest table inside. They sat in silence, their postures rigid, clad in the deep crimson and gold vestments of the Western Continent’s High Council.
“We have quarantined them as per your request, Your Highness,” a Coast Guard officer reported, saluting sharply. “They have been searched, and no unauthorized magical artifacts were found.”
Ravenna’s gaze remained fixed on the glass. “Good.”
A translucent blue panel flickered into existence beside her
[ Reputation System v1.0 ]
User: Ravenna Solarius / Joy Cha Kim
Reputation Level: 79 — (234,578 / 390,900 EXP)↑
Current Reputation Points: 3, 980 RP↑
Titles Unlocked: Raven of the Sun Palace, Unruly Princess, Beast Slayer
{ View Reputation Log } { Spend Reputation Points }
She nodded to herself. The points were accumulating steadily, but caution was paramount. Now that Marie’s identity as the Saintess was public knowledge, every interaction was a potential trap. They claimed to be allyship of the church, but the cult was a dangerous beast. She needed to be certain that these men were truly who they claimed to be.
“Your Holiness James,” Ravenna said, her voice calm but authoritative. “You will act as my translator. Let us see what the Western Continent has to say.”
James bowed deeply. “It would be my honor, Your Highness.”
With a thought, Ravenna navigated the system interface, preparing her lie detector.
[ Spend Reputation Points ]
- Access to the Internet: 100 Points per Hour
- Access to Magic Spell Library: 100 Points per Hour
- Geographical Scans: 5 Points per 1 Kilometer
- Nullify Minor Poison Damage (Self): 250 Points
- Nullify Minor Poison Damage (Others): 350 Points per Entity
- Major Heal: 1,500 Points per Entity
- Lie Detector: 2,000 Points per Use
- Copy Skill – Locked
- Enter Celestial Realm – Locked
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A Barricaded Building, Otto City, Free Cities, Southern Islands, Eastern Continent
BOOM!
A violent explosion rocked the makeshift trench line, sending a shower of debris and dust raining down on the Kim City troops. The ground shuddered as a section of the barricade crumbled under the magical assault.
“Keep your heads down!” Vice Captain John roared over the din of battle, ducking as a streak of fire slashed through the air above him. He raised his Kim Pattern Rifle, aiming through the smoke. “Target the mages! Don’t let them cast!”
The rhythmic crack-crack-crack of rifle fire answered his command. The disciplined volley tore through the chaotic ranks of the Hercule Crime Syndicate, suppressing the mages attempting to regroup in the courtyard of their headquarters.
Perched on a vantage point overlooking the battlefield, Kenric lowered his binoculars. Smoke billowed from the syndicate’s compound, the mages pinned down by the relentless suppression fire.
“This distraction is holding,” Kenric observed, his voice tight with adrenaline. “They’re focused entirely on the frontal assault.”
He turned to his elite infiltration unit, a group of handpicked mercenaries and trusted men. “John and his men will keep them busy at the gates. We take the rear.”
Vice Captain John, reloading his rifle with practiced speed, nodded grimly. “Just make sure you get him, Kenric. We can’t hold this perimeter forever.”
“Consider it done.”
Kenric signaled his team, and they melted away from the trench line, sprinting into the labyrinthine alleys that spiraled behind the massive headquarters. They moved like shadows, navigating the narrow streets until they reached the base of a towering merchant’s guildhall adjacent to the syndicate's fortress.
With grappling hooks and silent efficiency, they scaled the building. On the flat roof, shielded by the parapet, Kenric’s men rapidly deployed a large canvas bundle.
“Deploy the balloon!” Kenric ordered in Hilde, his voice a harsh whisper.
The hot air balloon inflated quickly, the burner hissing softly as it filled the silk envelope. As it lifted, casting a long shadow over the rooftop, Kenric drew his sword. The steel glinted coldly in the twilight.
“Once we are directly above the main atrium, we jump,” Kenric commanded, his gaze sweeping over his men. “Do not hesitate. The Kim Knights have drawn their mages to the front. The sky is ours.”
The men roared their understanding, a silent, predatory energy radiating from them.
As the balloon drifted silently over the gap between buildings, hovering precariously above the syndicate’s stronghold, Kenric looked down. Through the skylight, he could see the chaos of the command center below.
“Now!”
He leaped.
Wind rushed past his ears as he plummeted, crashing through the glass skylight with a deafening shatter. He landed in a crouch amidst a shower of shards, his blade already moving.
Before the syndicate guards could process the intrusion, Kenric decapitated the nearest man. His team rained down around him, a storm of steel and violence.
“Secure the exits!” Kenric barked, parrying a clumsy strike from a grunt and driving his sword through the man’s chest.
The room erupted into close-quarters combat. The syndicate troops, disoriented and panicked by the sudden vertical ambush, fell quickly to the precision of Kenric’s squad. Blood slicked the polished floors as they carved a path through the hallways, moving deeper into the heart of the building.
They kicked open doors, cleared rooms with ruthless efficiency, and silenced any resistance. Kenric moved with the singular focus of a man possessed, his eyes scanning every face, searching for the one ghost that haunted his nightmares.
Finally, they reached the heavy double doors of the inner sanctum.
Kenric didn’t bother with stealth. He kicked the doors open, the wood splintering under the force of his boot.
The room beyond was opulent, filled with stolen art and velvet drapes. But Kenric saw none of it. His gaze locked onto the figure sitting alone at the head of a long mahogany table.
The man was sipping wine, his hand trembling ever so slightly as the sounds of slaughter drew closer. He looked up, his face pale and lined with age, but the eyes were unmistakable, he had seen so many portraits.
It was Lord Dain.
Kenric stepped into the room, his sword dripping crimson onto the expensive rug. The noise of the battle outside seemed to fade, leaving only the heavy, suffocating silence between the two men.
“Found you,” Kenric whispered, his voice trembling with a terrifying, cold rage. “Lord Dain.”