Chapter 10: The Black Forest (1)

Chapter 10: The Black Forest (1)

The Imperial City houses five magnificent palaces, with Baeksung Palace reigning supreme at the center.

Within the red-hued palace, a man sat on a throne-like chair at the highest level. His silver hair, a royal emblem, hung untamed as he looked towards Baeksung Palace.

"......"

His hand reached out towards the slowly materializing Baeksung Palace.

His about-to-clench fist froze at a low knock followed by a voice.

"Your Majesty."

"Enter."

The man halted and turned his attention towards the door.

A wizard entered, politely pushing open the door, falling into the man's sight.

"There's been a situation at the Chimseong Palace."

The wizard spoke, head bowed, cutting straight to the point.

"A situation? What kind? Did our assault plan fail? I can't fathom why."

"It's about a certain event."

"Explain."

"Magical energy was sensed at Chimseong Palace."

"Magical energy? Clarify."

"We have no further information. All our watchers around Chimseong Palace have gone silent recently. The servants there refuse to speak as well."

"Re-establish our surveillance there. Gather more intel."

"Understood. Furthermore..."

The wizard seemed to have more to say. The man looked at him, silently urging him to continue.

"Rumors about Prince Zion have been circulating."

"What kind?"

"His demeanor has reportedly turned incredibly violent. Additionally, he's wielding some unknown power..."

"Did he finally lose his sanity? Could be... he's been an assassination target... always came across as weak."

The man chuckled at the wizard's words.

"I wouldn't fret over such gossip. That boy has been a loser since birth. The only thing he inherited from the Agnes bloodline is hair color. No matter how much he resists, he's no more than an insect on the ground. Speaking of which, isn't the succession ceremony approaching? How's the preparation?"

"As per reports, there's no talk of cancellation. It seems it will happen as planned."

"......If he had given up, I would've left him be. He doesn't know his place and acts arrogant."

Lost in thought, the man tapped his chair's armrest.

"For the succession ceremony."

"Yes."

"Why don't we make it a tad more exciting?"

A cruel smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he spoke.

---

Raei Translations

---

The Imperial Palace, the Empire's heart, is located in the middle of Hubris, the world's hub capital.

The empire's Imperial Palace, a spectacle of grandeur overwhelming any onlooker.

Zion, his face half-concealed by a hood, stood staring at this sight.

'About a week left until the succession ceremony?'

Zion was on the outskirts of Hubris, the capital city, a fair distance from the Imperial Palace.

After handling the demon in Chimseong Palace and tidying up, Zion's first action was to flee the Imperial Palace.

He had urgent tasks to attend to before the succession ceremony.

'I think it's this way.'

Zion recalled memories of reading the Chronicles of Frosimar as he walked.

Generally, a royal family member's exit from the Palace would include an escort entourage, but Zion was alone.

He had left in secret.

'It was easier to sneak out, being on the outskirts of the Palace.'

The only person aware of Zion's whereabouts was Fredo.

To the rest of the courtiers and knights, it would appear Zion was alternating between his bedroom and the underground practice room.

He didn't trust them completely, despite their claims of loyalty.

Therefore, he concealed the truth about the demon incident, making them believe it was merely an assassination attempt by a dark magician.

Needless to say, strict information control was necessary.

Rumours would eventually circulate, but for now, he was safe.

'I won't cross paths with her for a while, despite the suspicious look.'

How long did he wander, thinking of Priscilla?

'Is this the place?'

Zion paused before a building, reading the signboard.

The others, recovering their swords, lunged at Zion again.

Swoosh!

Their blades, honed sharper, aimed for Zion's throat.

But, once again, they couldn't touch him.

Like a phantom, Zion evaded the swords and struck.

Thud, thud, thud!

One blow, one man down.

The men didn't have a chance to react before being knocked to the ground.

"How is it possible..."

A puzzled whisper came from the woman.

The men were competent bodyguards provided by the guild for her, a woman with a unique status in 'Eye of the Moon.'

Yet, they were easily defeated?

"What matters isn't how I discovered you."

Zion, having neutralized all the men, approached the woman, readjusting his disheveled robe.

"The point is I have a request, and you're going to listen."

Even though he was early, before the 'Eye of the Moon' branch started taking requests, it was irrelevant.

If he wanted something, he obtained it.

With trembling eyes, the woman finally spoke.

"What do you want?"

---

Raei Translations

---

"Details about the Black Forest and a forged ID card..."

Aileen, the woman, murmured to herself, remembering the man in the robe who had taken what he wanted and left.

He had demanded two things. An ID document and the location of a place known as the 'Black Forest.'

"Aileen, why did you accept his demands?"

Allen, a moustached employee, questioned while clearing the mess. He knew Aileen wasn't one to comply with an unreasonable client, even under threat.

And though she might have been overpowered by the robed man, she'd have had numerous escape plans.

Yet, she'd readily agreed to the man's demands.

Even though he had attacked her using her own bodyguards.

"Do you recall the earlier fight?"

In response to Allen's question, Aileen, observing her injured bodyguards being carried away, spoke.

"Yes, it's unforgettable."

"His robe slipped momentarily."

That's when Aileen saw it.

His ash-gray hair.

"Ashen hair... that's a characteristic of a single family in this world."

The world's current ruling family.

The House of Agnes.

Only the Agnes bloodline possesses such hair color.

"So you're saying..."

"One of the Agnes lions seems to have stirred."

The imperial family seldom left their territory.

But their rare excursions always sparked great upheaval.

"I'll assign someone top-tier to this."

Aileen slightly nodded in response to Allen's words.

"Determine his royal lineage, why he left the Imperial City, and his reasons for traveling alone. Also, delve into details about the 'Black Forest.'"

"Understood."

As Allen departed with a determined expression, Aileen found herself pondering about the mysterious man once more.

'Just who is he?'

His undeniable charisma effortlessly controlled everything, supported by an underlying strength that suggested his proximity to the emperor's throne.

Yet, Aileen couldn't fathom that this man could be Zion Agnes, famously known as the dethroned prince.

***

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