Chapter 149: The Hunt (2)

Chapter 149: The Hunt (2)

"I did as you instructed and rejected Kromen's proposal."

It was night when Miliana welcomed Karyl back from the airship.

"Good. What did he offer in exchange for peace?"

"Clear Distilled Water. Honestly, if you hadn't suggested it first, I might have been tempted. How did you know?"

Karyl smirked at her question.

"I didn't. I merely predicted it. But was that all? There must have been something else."

Miliana looked at Karyl in amazement.

"Did you spy on Tiren or something? How did you know? Are you... even human?"

"Of course, I’m perfectly human. Stop talking nonsense and tell me more."

Karyl took off his dust-covered cloak and hung it in the corner.

"Besides the Clear Distilled Water, Tiren brought an oath document. A magical one."

"Really? Do you remember if the paper was old or had any special mark on the top left corner?"

"Hmm? No, it was just parchment.” She shook her head.

"Then it's not a word-bound oath document." Karyl nodded in response.

So he made the oath himself... It seems Tiren has become a sorcerer.

In his previous life, Tiren had been exceptional enough to become the chancellor of the empire, and he had also displayed considerable talent as a sorcerer. Although his image as a chancellor overshadowed his magical skills, he had actually reached the 6th Class, proving to be a very capable high-ranking sorcerer.

"So?"

"He knew Digon's weakness well."

"The Oasis?"

Miliana smiled bitterly at Karyl's words.

"Yes. He also mentioned the Clear Distilled Water before, but ultimately, he offered us the land in the southwest."

"That’s Kromen's land."

Karyl immediately understood what land Tiren had referred to without needing further explanation.

"That wouldn't have been authorized by the emperor. But it's not impossible either. It's an uninhabited wasteland, and Kromen doesn't have the capability to manage the territory anyway."

Even so, offering one of the few lands given by the emperor shows how desperate Kromen is.

Kromen was cornered enough to offer his territory to the barbarians.

But since that was also rejected, both Tiren and the young Kromen will be at their wits’ end.

If Gordon announced a retreat, Kromen would want to return immediately. Manipulating the mind of a child was as easy for Karyl as flipping his palm.

"Are you bummed out?"

"Well... Not particularly."

"Receiving that land would solve the water issue. But Titan Shutean is confident he can take it back anytime, which is why he proposed it."

Hearing that, Miliana’s face hardened.

"...Why do you see it that way?"

"Doesn’t anything come to mind from what I’ve just said?"

She tilted her head.

"Think of it this way. Tiren gave you a solution to the water problem, but you don’t have to accept it from him. You can just take it.”

"Crazy... Are you saying we should start a war with the empire on top of rejecting the negotiations?"

"Sooner or later."

Miliana cast Karyl a look of disbelief before saying, "If Digon perishes, it’ll be your responsibility."

"Aren’t you willing to fight?"

"No. We're already pushing ourselves because of you. I don't care if you manipulate the four tribes of the Great Plains or the Five Great Families of the Abyssal Rock, but don't drag Digon into it."

"But thanks to that, we can talk like this without fighting. Having a common enemy allows us to look in the same direction."

Karyl sat beside her.

"Facing the empire is better than facing me."

"That's not confidence, that's arrogance."

"Really? I can prove it right now if you want."

"..."

Though Miliana had retorted in disbelief, she only ended up pursing her lips.

"I'm joking. Even if this negotiation fails, Digon won’t suffer,” Karyl explained.

"Are you saying the empire won’t attack us?"

Miliana unknowingly touched her warm cheek with the back of her hand.

"What about Randol? Did he return with Kromen?"

"He stayed. Judging by your question, you didn't expect that."

"Of course not. I'm not omniscient."

Karyl shook his head.

"I hoped he'd stay, but I can't predict his feelings."

"Someone who can see the big picture can't predict one person's thoughts?"

At that, Karyl chuckled.

"The big picture is just a broad flow. Once the course is set, everything follows the current, making predictions and planning possible. But to understand one’s heart, now that’s a different matter entirely.”

"To me, you don't seem like someone who would find that difficult."

Miliana felt an inexplicable familiarity with how Karyl treated her, but naturally, she didn’t know why that was. In their past lives, she and Karyl had shared many life-and-death experiences.

However, Randol was different. Even before his death, they had no particular bond, and since he had left the mansion, Karyl hadn't much insight into his current ideals.

Besides his talent with the sword, I have high expectations from him because he’s a commoner, not a noble.

"How far has he progressed with Digon’s swordsmanship?"

"He’s learned all the basics. Actually, that's the problem now. I taught him as per your request, but getting him to the next level will be difficult unless he becomes part of the tribe."

"That's enough. If he decides to join the tribe, then you can teach him the essence."

"You think he’ll join us?"

"Just like Tiren, what happens at Marquis Vestal’s estate will determine their futures."

Karyl’s eyes gleamed with determination.

"Both will become indispensable in a year. To achieve that, we need to break their loyalty to the prince."

"A year from now?"

"It’s something you don't need to know yet."

According to the original history, a prophecy was due in a year.

But Karyl wanted to test if the Oracle would be prophesied as expected, given the empire's state of disarray.

If the Oracle is not prophesied in a year, but after the empire stabilizes and the continent unifies...

Indeed, if the Oracle was prophesied after humanity had managed to build a foundation to fight off the Tarak, it could be argued that Pharel’s emergence and subsequent battles with the monsters were influenced by divine will.

Yula, if you orchestrated even the creation of Pharel, not just the prophecy, then this time around, as the leader of humanity, I won’t let things go your way! Karyl vowed.

"Keep an eye on Randol for now. Soon enough, he’ll ask to leave. He’ll come looking for me.”

"Do we really need to make it this complicated? I don't understand what you're trying to do."

"You need to stage some things in order to create drama. Just wait a bit. I'll show you something quite entertaining."

Karyl paused for a moment, then spoke again with emphasis, as if revealing something important, "Got it? Don’t forget what I just said. Remember it, and you’ll be able to enjoy the stage I’m setting up.”

As Karyl's lips curled into a smile, Miliana was growing fearful of what he might do the next time he smiled.

"So, what about our deal?"

"I’m planning to finalize that today. We need to leave Digon by tomorrow."

"Today? Can it be done in a day?"

"It won't even take a day. Currently, three of your meridians are open, but the mana within your mana veins is woefully insufficient."

Miliana nodded at his words.

"But that's not really the case. In reality, dragon mana is much denser than normal mana. Although it’s gotten diluted over generations, it’s still quite powerful."

Karyl shrugged lightly.

"Of course, you won't have as much mana as I do."

"...So what?"

"What you lack are the meridians. If the fourth one, which is the standard for a Sword Master, is opened, allowing smooth circulation of mana within your body, you can become even stronger than you are now."

Listening intently, she chuckled at Karyl's words.

"Who doesn't know that opening the meridians leads to greater power? It's just that there's no way to do it."

"I know the way."

"What?"

"Of course, I can’t open all your meridians, but opening one more is definitely doable,” Karyl went on nonchalantly. “If we use a special type of mana known as Arcane Mana."

At that moment, purple mana began to condense and gather in his hand.

"Luckily, I possess that Arcane Mana. Trust me. I also opened my own meridians using this same power."

Miliana looked at Karyl's mana with interest.

"Also, you’re fortunate that a kind human like me is passing the mana to you, and not some spirit," Karyl spoke softly. "Now take off your clothes."