Robin received the head of the family's message through a crystal ball.
He returned to Klang, smirking as he delivered the news. "The head has ordered you to return for now."
"Of course. If he didn't intend to come himself, that was expected," Klang replied with a chuckle.
"But," Robin's expression turned serious as he fixed his gaze on Klang. "He warned that today's events will have consequences later."
"Hmph! Are you trying to threaten me? I've never seen anyone who threatens me and lives to tell the tale."
"The Arahan family keeps their word. Whether it's a hundred years or a thousand years later, they will fulfill their promises."
Klang exhaled sharply. "You think you can intimidate me? If you keep talking back, I'll rip your mouth apart."
"Well, I don't know when that day will come, but you should wait. You'll see me again soon."
"Tch…!"
The Black Knights vanished into the shadows.
Even after their presence faded, Klang's gaze remained fixed on the direction they had gone.
Though it was dark, I could see him trembling slightly.
'...That was quite a harsh warning.'
Klang knew enough about the Arahan family. Even after a thousand years since Temud's death, the fact that Arahan maintained its status as the top family spoke volumes about their tenacity.
'I know. The Arahan family always keeps their word.'
Klang sighed and looked at me.
Geneadin must have taken a step back because of me.
'He knows I'm not just an ordinary mage. The reason I'm still alive is because of that knowledge.'
Klang and Geneadin understood each other well.
Once his role as my mentor was over, Geneadin would likely make his move.
For now, I was valuable to him, but if he wanted to, he could end my life at any moment.
'People should enjoy their old age in peace…'
In the end, the more I taught Zed, the shorter my own lifespan became.
As I watched Zed sleeping soundly, I felt a bittersweet pang in my heart.
'This kid has found himself in the wrong family… If he had been born elsewhere, he'd have lived a much more comfortable life.'
What kind of family allows sibling rivalries to run rampant? No, Arahan actively encourages them.
I worried whether Zed would become a monster like Geneadin.
'It's better this way. If I keep him on track, I can help him avoid that fate.'
Klang's eyes sparkled with determination.
He didn't want to create another monster like Temud; he wanted to raise an exceptional individual instead.
Thinking about how Zed's future rested in my hands made my shoulders feel heavy with responsibility.
"Is my lord really safe...?" one of the Kinzer brothers broke the silence.
Klang gestured for them to come closer. "Come and check for yourselves."
"Can we really?"
"You've got some loyal subordinates here. Your student must feel reassured."
The three brothers cautiously approached and checked my pulse and breathing.
Seeing that I was merely asleep brightened their expressions.
Klang chuckled and asked, "Where is your Zatma Mercenary group?"
"They're tied up in a suitable location," one brother replied nervously.
"Lead me there. I need to interrogate them myself."
"Are you sure you want to do it personally...?"
"Since your student is still out cold, I have to do something."
"Oh..."
Klang lifted me effortlessly into the air.
In an instant, we vanished in a flash of light.
Awakening
When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a familiar place.
Surrounded by earthen walls and illuminated by an orange campfire crackling softly, it was somewhere I'd been before.
'Eddie's secret hideout.'
I felt light and refreshed despite still being half-asleep.
Suddenly recalling my last memory with Klang made me sit up straight as his voice reached my ears.
"Finally awake? You sleep too much for a kid," he chided playfully.
"...?"
In front of me were Klang and the Kinzer brothers along with members of the Zatma Mercenaries.
Before I could gather my thoughts, the Kinzer brothers rushed over to check on me.
"Young Master! Are you alright?! We're so relieved!"
"What happened?" I asked, still disoriented.
"Don't you remember? We heard that this man is your mentor..."
Ah... right. I had won against Klang!
I glanced at Klang, who merely cleared his throat awkwardly.
"The Zatma Mercenaries are here?"
"I had them secured in an appropriate location," one brother confirmed nervously.
"Did Klang release them?"
"Yes! He used hypnotic magic on them. We were about to question them."
I nodded slowly as realization dawned on me—Klang had indeed used his magic effectively against them earlier.
As I stood up fully awake now, I approached their leader directly.
The mercenaries were visibly nervous under Klang's watchful gaze.
"Klang... earlier you said you wouldn't interfere..."
"Hmm? Did I say that? My memory seems hazy; old age makes one forget things easily."
The mercenaries looked at each other with concern as they realized they were caught between us again.
I pulled out a chair and sat down in front of their leader, having already considered how to handle this situation.
"I know who is behind this."
"You know...?"
"It's Gracie, Tunda's housekeeper."
"Wha-?!"
Their shock was palpable as they processed this information.
It was clear they had underestimated her influence and strength; otherwise, they wouldn't have been so surprised by my knowledge of her involvement in this plot against me.
"I won't punish you for this mistake," I assured them calmly.
"Really?! Will you let us go?"
"But there are conditions. You need to tell Gracie that circumstances prevented you from completing your mission this time."
"What?! You want us to act as double agents...?"
"You catch on quickly. And when she gives her next order, report back to me."
"You mean... we are still mercenaries under her command?"
"Exactly. You must continue taking orders from Gracie until further notice."
"Yes... understood!"
The leader nodded vigorously in agreement while looking visibly relieved at my leniency.
It would be premature to confront Gracie directly; instead, it would be best to absorb Tunda's influence once she was dealt with appropriately.
Everyone knew Tunda was just a puppet under Gracie's control; if she were removed from power, it would create chaos among the siblings vying for control over Arahan's legacy.
I decided not to take any chances by acting rashly against Gracie without proper preparation or intelligence first gathered from these mercenaries who had been sent after me initially.
After dismissing them with instructions to keep watch over their actions while remaining vigilant about any further developments regarding Gracie's plans against me or others within our ranks—
"Eddie," I called out as we left the hideout together along with the Kinzer brothers trailing behind us. "How much power does Tunda still hold?"
"So far as we know there are two buildings on the outskirts of town and a rather pathetic information network," Eddie explained as we walked together side by side through winding streets filled with bustling activity around us once again returning toward familiar territory where danger lurked around every corner waiting for its chance...
"An information network?"
"Yes! It's disguised as an upper-class organization but seems to gather intel from various sources around town."
That gave me something solid to work with regarding how best to approach dealing with Tunda's remaining influence without directly confronting him yet either...
I formulated plans in my mind already while issuing commands accordingly towards Eddie and Kinzer brothers regarding what needed doing next!
"Listen closely—I've got some tasks for you all."