Chapter 201 The Second Continental Summit (2)

Chapter 201 The Second Continental Summit (2)

Episode 201 The Second Continental Summit (2)

“To be frank, I want to give you a secret mission. You're a mercenary, right?”

High Shaman Morna brought Harley to her residence and offered him a drink, then immediately got straight to the point.

“Well, I’m always happy to take on a job if the conditions are right! But there’s something that’s been bothering me, can I ask you about it first?”

“Hehehe— Of course, go ahead.”

His gaze turned to the young woman sitting in the corner, staring blankly at them.

The massive muscles emanating an undeniable presence didn’t seem to faze her, as her gaze subtly shifted away from him.

“...What is that young lady doing over there? Can she see ghosts or something because she’s a shaman?”

“Ah— She’s my assistant, and she’s just lost in thought, reminiscing about yesterday’s events. Don’t mind her. Hehehehehe!”

“You’re a strange one. Anyway, why are you suddenly offering me a mission after all this time? You already know I was recommended for the expedition and what’s going on in the south.”

He bluntly asked her a question.

He already knew she had recommended him and was aware of the situation in the south, so this sudden offer smelled fishy.

“Hmm... A shaman, unlike a mage who prioritizes logic, is very sensitive to emotions.”

“So?”

“Simply put, a shaman like me can sense things that others can’t. The various traces left on your body, your connections, your destiny, even abstract concepts like that.”

Harley didn’t react to her mentioning his body.

Everyone already knew his past through ‘Harley’s Great Adventure’, and he had been so active lately that there was no need to hide anything anymore.

“As you probably already know, I recommended you for the expedition just to meet you. It wouldn’t have mattered if you declined the offer, right?”

“Why did you go through all that trouble just to meet me? You were just watching from afar during the first summit.”

“...Hehehe, things weren’t that simple... ”

Morna’s expression suddenly darkened, and she chuckled bitterly.

“That’s why I wanted to see you. When I heard about your exploits in the Tulk Kingdom, I had a feeling. That you’re the one who can solve the problems Calcos is facing!”

It was just a ‘shaman’s intuition’, so to speak.

And when she met him in person, that intuition became a certainty, and she had been waiting for an opportunity to contact him.

‘The problems Calcos is facing must be the coup, right? It seems like this old woman is on the opposite side.’

As he expected, the mission was to resolve the issues that were secretly unfolding in the southern continent and eliminate the mastermind behind it.

And in return, she would offer him shamanistic knowledge and other help.

“I mentioned the ‘Tattoo of the Fighting King’ to pique your interest, but I don’t actually recommend it. You know the conditions for receiving a tattoo, right?”

“You mean the corresponding deeds! The condition for becoming a great warrior was to single-handedly defeat an Ogre, right?”

“Hehehe... An Ogre, that’s just the bare minimum. Of course, you can easily do more than that now, but...”

Morna chuckled softly and then made a serious expression.

“Your life force is more than enough to receive the ‘Tattoo of the Fighting King’. Honestly, it’s hard to believe even considering you’re a Dragonborn... You’ve become even more monstrous since I last saw you. What have you been eating?”

She also had information about Dragonborn in the ancient texts she had access to as a High Shaman.

According to them, they were indeed stronger than humans, but their strength came from their innate talent for magic, not from their monstrous life force like Harley.

“...Even ignoring that, the burden on the recipient is unimaginable. It’s said to be a hundred times more painful than receiving the ‘Great Warrior’s Tattoo’. The last ‘Fighting King’ from hundreds of years ago personally recorded it, so it must be reliable. Hehehe.”

But seeing Harley’s indifferent reaction, she cleared her throat awkwardly.

“More importantly, the most crucial thing is the corresponding deeds. The ‘Tattoo of the Fighting King’ isn’t just a matter of side effects if the conditions aren’t met. You’ll die on the spot.”

“You’ve been beating around the bush, just get to the point! I told you I’m busy!”

“Hmph, you’re taking away an old woman’s joy.”

Morna reluctantly spoke after being glared at by Harley.

As expected, the condition she mentioned was an almost impossible trial.

“...It’s to hunt an adult dragon! And not just participating in a battle with multiple people. You have to inflict a fatal wound and personally kill it with your own hands for it to be recognized as a deed!”

—If it were an ordinary case.

“Of course, considering you’re a Dragonborn and dragons are hard to find these days, any opponent of a similar level would suffice...”

‘Gotcha.’

Harley’s sharp teeth gleamed menacingly as his lips stretched into a wide grin.

______________________

Rustle, rustle—

The grand conference hall was filled with the sound of rustling clothes and hushed whispers as everyone took their seats.

And then...

Clank—

The large door opened once again, and another group of people entered.

They were dressed in luxurious and elegant attire, and at the front of the group was a beautiful woman with shimmering golden hair and sparkling blue-green eyes.

“Ah, you’ve arrived, Your Highness. Good morning.”

“As beautiful as ever! It’s dazzling! Hehehe!”

As soon as she appeared, those who had been chatting among themselves subtly gathered around her.

They had been greeting each other for the past few days, but this was different.

The important thing in this situation was to appear closer to the powerful than others, so it was a natural phenomenon.

She was Riley Carte Azeria, the first in line to the throne of the Azeria Empire, the most powerful nation on the continent.

“It’s nice to see you all. I heard the discussions might drag on until late, I hope everyone slept well.”

“Hahaha! Of course! I’m confident in my stamina.”

“How are you feeling, Your Highness? If you get tired, I can request a break from the Church.”

They subtly flattered her, vying for her attention.

They were all high-ranking officials in their respective countries, but the weight of the title ‘next emperor’ was enough to humble even the proudest of them.

Riley maintained a polite yet professional demeanor, keeping them at a distance while subtly drawing them in.

Managing opportunists and turning them into her allies was something she had been doing for years.

It was no different when dealing with foreigners.

As the conference hall filled with chatter, everyone hiding their true intentions behind friendly smiles...

Clank—

The door opened once again.

“Huh?”

“Who are they...?”

Unlike when the imperial delegation entered, everyone froze and fell silent, their expressions stiffening.

A chilling silence descended upon the once lively hall.

Thump, thump—

In the midst of that silence, footsteps echoed softly as a group of people entered.

They were all dressed in dark attire, and at the front of the group was a handsome man with jet-black hair and blood-red eyes that sparkled like jewels.

He emanated an overwhelming presence that commanded attention.

Gulp—

“······.”

“Hmm, indeed...”

The atmosphere of those following behind him was also unsettling.

With every step they took, a faint chill and a subtle scent of blood filled the air.

‘So, they are...’

Riley, who was at the center of the crowd, quietly observed them with a glint in her eyes.

They were the representatives of the Talia Kingdom, the vampires of the Hybrid Alliance, who were responsible for the recent changes.

The ones who had been living in the shadows finally revealed themselves in the heart of the holy land, the cathedral where the Church resided.