Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 302 : Side Story 2 - The Unintentional Savior

Side Story 2 - The Unintentional Savior

Ten years ago, Lyrik, an orphan from the trash heap, had now become the warrior entrusted with the most dangerous mission in the Holy Kingdom.

He was the only survivor of the Gu Poison Ritual that took place in the Room of Secrets, and as an escort and assassin for the delegation heading to the Adratan Empire, he was preparing to leave the Holy Kingdom.

It was dawn. The capital of the Holy Kingdom had yet to awaken from its slumber.

But there was already lively movement on Central Avenue, known as the Golden Street. Dozens of people were busy preparing carriages and horses, loading supplies, and checking everything one last time.

Deng, deng, deng!

As the sun rose from the eastern horizon, the bell of the Sun Church rang seven times.

By the time the last bell sounded, the great doors of the church opened and the delegation, made up of priests, appeared.

Standing behind them was Lyrik, guarding their rear.

"Lyrik."

Just before departure, Reinor called his disciple, Lyrik, to a halt.

For ten years, he had taught, forged, and at times, nearly trained Lyrik to the brink of death.

At times, he forced him to spend the winter in a roofless room; at others, to survive a week on a deserted island with no food.

All of it was for this day.

"Are you ready?"

Reinor's voice, as always, was devoid of emotion.

"Yes, master."

Lyrik nodded.

Hardened by a decade of trials and training, Lyrik still betrayed a faint flicker of anxiety in his eyes on this day alone.

"What are you afraid of?"

Lyrik was startled for a moment. His master was always like this, perceiving his emotions as if seeing straight through him.

"I'm afraid of failing. Of dying—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Reinor's hand shot out like lightning. A sharp palm struck Lyrik's cheek hard.

Lyrik's face snapped to the side from the shock and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"Afraid of death?"

Reinor's voice rang out coldly.

"When you, a ten-year-old orphan, faced a demon, you felt no fear. When you killed the gang that targeted the trash heap, you did not fear."

Reinor's eyes widened.

"Even when you killed ninety-nine warriors in the Gu Poison Ritual, you were not afraid. And now, at the calmest moment of your life, you say you are afraid?"

Lyrik said nothing, wiping the spot where he had been struck. There was no anger or resentment in his eyes—only understanding.

"You have already died once."

Reinor continued.

"You died on the trash heap with your brothers. When I found you, death was already in your eyes. All I did was give purpose to your corpse."

Reinor gripped Lyrik's shoulder. His grasp was as firm as chains.

"How can the dead fear death? You are the sword of the Holy Kingdom. A sword does not know fear. It only cuts."

Lyrik took a deep breath. The anxiety in his eyes was fading.

"The Empire is now in chaos: the fourth prince's rebellion, the demon invasion, the emperor's death. They have weakened."

"Yes."

"Mercy to a weak enemy is cruelty to oneself. Do not forget it."

"I will never forget, master."

Lyrik nodded. At that, Reinor drew a box from his robes and handed it to him.

"Master, what is this...?"

"Open it."

When Lyrik opened the box, inside was an old sun-shaped pendant.

"It contains a suicide spell. Use it if you are captured and your identity is about to be exposed."

A pendant for suicide if he was about to fail the mission—Reinor's face did not betray the slightest emotion as he handed it over.

Lyrik accepted it as well. The only reason he was still alive was because of his master Reinor. Lyrik repeated to himself that his life existed for his master.

"Now tell me your mission one more time."

"To assassinate certain individuals in order to intensify the empire's turmoil."

"The list will be given to you upon arrival in the empire."

"Yes, master."

"When you were a worthless orphan on the trash heap, I gave you a purpose. That is no different from granting you a new life."

Lyrik nodded faintly.

"By the glory of the Sun God and the name of the Holy Kingdom, drive your blade into the heart of the empire."

Etching his master's words deep in his heart, Lyrik left the Holy Kingdom for the empire.

To hasten the empire's ruin.

* * *

Dionis Careda, chairman of the Financial Council of the Briman Federation, was gazing through the gold-embellished window at the departing trade caravans.

The massive carriages and their armed escorts, the merchants—these formed the large-scale caravans headed for the Adratan Empire.

Smiling, Dionis swirled a crystal glass filled with wine. Even at the age of fifty-three, his eyes remained sharp, and his silver hair and exquisitely kept beard added to his dignity.

"How long will it take them to cross the empire's borders?"

He asked his secretary, who stood at his side.

"Around ten days, chairman. The eastern plains are slower than crossing the mountains, but safer, and they pass through many towns."

"Speed means nothing to a falling blade. What matters is whether they can kill the target or not, nothing else."

The sight of the caravans outside the window symbolized the power of trade that the Briman Federation had amassed over centuries.

What they believed in was solely money.

The reason why the federation, a nation of weak political standing, managed to absorb many states and ascend to its current status—also solely because of money.

By using vast funds to buy out government agencies, purchasing mining rights, and eventually, even buying out entire countries.

This was how the federation had built its power.

"Is the Beryllian Guild ready?"

Upon Dionis's inquiry, the secretary opened a file.

"Yes, chairman. The Beryllian Guild has set the Balrog Mine and the Ice River Refinery as their primary targets. The Great Pathfinders Guild is eyeing the resonance train track at the empire's outskirts. The Lapis Lazuli Trading House is interested in the resonance stone mining rights."

A smile spread across Dionis's lips. He pointed to a map on the table. The empire's key industrial sites were marked in red.

"The nobles of the empire are too distracted by the civil war. What they need most right now is coin to maintain their armies. And we have that coin."

The secretary nodded.

"All negotiation teams have been given sufficient funds. The instruction to offer twenty percent above the actual value was also delivered. Just as you said, the long-term benefits are more important than the extra cost in the short term."

"Even if you pay thirty percent more, that's fine. Tell them we'll cover the difference."

Dionis said firmly.

"If we consider it as buying our way into the heart of that great empire, this is an investment."

The last of the caravans was leaving the city outside the window, bearing gold coins, contracts, and the ambition of the Briman Federation.

"What about the competition from the Holy Kingdom?"

At his secretary's question, Dionis brought his glass of wine back to his lips.

He had heard from his informants that the Holy Kingdom was also targeting the unstable empire and making some sort of move.

He did not know their exact intentions. However, he had a vague sense that their methods were more forceful and reliant on violence than befitted the name 'Holy Kingdom'.

"The Holy Kingdom fights with swords and faith, but we fight with coin."

There was derision for the Holy Kingdom on Dionis's lips.

"When they promise the empire's nobility the blessings of their god, we offer immediate cash. Isn't it obvious whose offer is more attractive?"

He looked outside one last time. The caravans were fading beyond the horizon.

"By the way, have we finished recruiting the Golden Compass Guild?"

At that, the secretary appeared troubled.

"Well... it hasn't been progressing well. The Golden Compass Guildmaster, Conrad, is extremely stubborn..."

"Tch, that's always the problem with country bumpkins from the islands."

Though he openly showed displeasure at the name 'Conrad', Dionis did not stop trying to win him over.

"Still, he's a capable bumpkin. Do whatever it takes to get his ears to perk up."

* * *

"No, are you saying I don't know that? Even a bumpkin like me knows it!"

When the man, holding a magic device and receiving a transmission spell, raised his voice, the driver and the guard outside the wagon glanced at him.

Still, none seemed inclined to object to his loud voice.

"When the country's offering funding, who wouldn't try to cash in on it?!"

The man's name was Conrad Azra.

He was the guildmaster of the Golden Compass Guild, and for trade, he was now leaving the Briman Federation, heading for the Adratan Empire.

He brushed back his neatly tied black hair, his face inevitably betraying exhaustion.

"But it's not as if I'm doing something big enough to need government support. I'll save this chance for later..."

Conveying his intent through the transmission spell, the magic device suddenly flared up, pouring out a jumble of words.

"Ah, geez... Maybe it's because we're in the mountains? The magic's... buzz, buzz!"

Mimicking onomatopoeic sounds, Conrad tossed the device aside.

With a thud, the device rolled down the forest path and disappeared down the slope.

"Those bastards, trying to swindle me! Damn it, even the government's acting up when luck's not on my side!"

Conrad spat curses. Merchants on horseback approached him.

"Paying us extra, my ass. It's all fancy talk to squeeze the empire with high-interest loans, isn't it?"

"You're exactly right."

"To think the government does business with its own people too—even the best of us can't out-compete them."

Phew.

Conrad checked the direction he'd tossed the device, just in case.

Luckily, it had truly disappeared, so there was no chance his words would make it to the Financial Council.

"No matter how precious resonance stone is for the nation's strength, do we really need a third party in this?"

"We barely scrape by as it is in this business."

"Well said."

Noticing his slightly disheveled clothes, Conrad signaled his servant with a finger. The servant rushed to tidy him up.

"If there's anything we can drain from the empire before it collapses completely, let's do it. That's the whole reason we're going."

"But... it's the Adratan Empire. Who knows? Maybe they'll survive again."

"Kid, this time, they're done."

Conrad clicked his tongue.

"The emperor's dead, there's a demon invasion, civil war, endless chaos... They've got a mess in every corner, and you think they'll survive? If that was possible, I'd toss my federation citizenship and buy myself an imperial one right away."

"You never know, right?"

At the merchant's question, Conrad gave a hollow laugh.

"You're the only one who doesn't know, kid. Unless some great figure appears who can unite this divided empire..."

"But such a person could show up, couldn't they?"

"If there was anyone like that, they'd have shown up already..."

While Conrad corrected the merchant's words absentmindedly, he noticed the door of his wagon opening.

A man stepped out from within.

Silvery white hair shimmering in the moonlight like rippling water, and a slit-eye like a mask—

"It seems rather noisy outside. Did you perhaps run into bandits?"

Adjusting his collar, he smiled at Conrad with an emotionless expression.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Speak of the devil and he will appear.

Welcome back Sir Yulian!

「✧*｡٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و✧*｡」