Chapter 165

Chapter 165

Ivan waved goodbye to the candidates as they disembarked on the shore.

“Then, if fate allows, we shall meet again!”

The other pirates chimed in with their own farewells.

“Ha-ha-ha! If we meet again, I’ll treat you to the Caribbean’s finest rum until you pass out!”

“What bravado from a penniless fool! Anyway, let’s all meet again!”

The candidates’ faces darkened at Ivan and the pirates’ shouts, knowing full well the words were meant for Yan alone.

Yan waved back, parting with a promise.

“Next time I visit, I’ll turn you all into beggars, so stock up the tavern with plenty of booze!”

“Ha-ha-hat! Look at him, he’s no ordinary fellow!”

The pirates roared with laughter as Yan countered their taunts.

Henry, annoyed by their antics, spun on his heel and strode away, followed by Loen, Mel, and Don, clearly not interested in bidding farewell to the pirates.

Yan watched them leave with a sly smile.

“Living in a well all their lives, they act like children.”

He wondered how such folks could ever be officer candidates.

Tsk-tsk.

Cruel nudged Yan’s side.

“Why?”

Turning his head, Yan saw Cruel pointing at something.

Karam and a battered Darkin stood awkwardly, waiting in silence—a stark contrast to the other departing candidates.

“They’re waiting for you, aren’t they?”

“Is that so?”

Yan approached Karam and Darkin with a twinkle in his eye.

They flinched, looking down.

“Did you find it?”

“Well… if it’s alright with you.”

Darkin spoke hesitantly.

“If it’s alright, what?”

“Could you keep quiet about what happened this time?”

Cruel snickered at Darkin’s request.

“This guy’s completely nuts.”

“…?”

Darkin looked up slightly confused.

“…What’s the problem? It’s not like you were in any mortal danger.”

Cruel scoffed at Darkin’s protest.

“It’s not about that. If you want silence, you should offer something in return. But my lips are light; it’ll cost you quite a bit to keep them sealed.”

Yan chuckled at Cruel’s words.

Having spent some time together, it seemed Cruel had learned a thing or two about negotiation.

But there was no need to negotiate with Darkin.

Yan gently pressed on Darkin’s shoulder, sending a shiver through him.

The trauma from the interrogation seemed to have left a deep scar.

“I’ll keep quiet.”

“Really?”

“I understand your feelings. If I were in your shoes, I’d betray for a significant reward too.”

Cruel frowned at Yan’s words, puzzled.

What had gotten into him?

Karam’s expression hardened as well.

Despite their close relationship with Darkin, this didn’t seem right.

To ask for concealment after betraying Aisha, their benefactor and lover?

‘…Is this the right thing to do?’

Reluctantly, they let it slide since Darkin promised to kneel and confess to Lady Aisha himself.

Yan led them towards the train station.

With the business with the Pirate Empress concluded, it was time to start his own plans.

Arriving at the station, Mel and Don were nowhere to be seen, presumably departed, while Henry and Loen waited.

“Why haven’t you left yet?” Yan asked, tilting his head.

“We missed it.”

Henry lied shamelessly, and Yan laughed inwardly.

Those who had taken the gate now suddenly taking the train?

‘If you’re going to act, at least drop the murderous look in your eyes.’

But there was no need to voice such thoughts.

No need to disrupt the stage they had set themselves.

“Is that so? Then let’s go together.”

At Yan’s words, the corners of Henry and Loen’s mouths lifted.

Just then, Yan noticed a tremor in Henry’s throat.

Quickly shifting his gaze, he saw Darkin’s face set in stone.

Trying to maintain a poker face, but to Yan, it was an open book.

Yan smirked slightly.

He had a good idea of the conversation that had transpired between them.

And so, Yan boarded the incoming train with them, thinking to himself.

‘I’ll play along with the game you’ve set.’

But it won’t go as you plan.

* * *

Yan boarded the train with the other candidates. The journey south had been a quiet affair with just Yan and Cruel, but the return trip was bustling with people.

Yan and Cruel settled into seats around the middle, with Darkin and Karam in front of them, and Henry and Loen at the very front.

No sooner had Yan sat down than he sent a telepathic message to Karam.

When I disembark later, follow me discreetly.

Karam almost turned his head at the sudden message, but Yan warned him.

Don’t do anything suspicious. I’ll explain later.

Karam nodded ever so slightly, signaling his understanding.

As the train’s whistle blew a robust note, they began their journey, the landscape outside blurring past.

Yan gazed out the window, letting time slip by in silence.

Three hours had passed when the announcement came.

The next stop is Lapes Territory.

It was the station right after the one where they had embarked on their mission from the Revolutionary Army.

At the same time, Henry and Loen, who had been sitting at the front, stood up.

They approached Yan directly.

“Let’s have a word. It’s about future work.”

Yan suppressed a laugh at the awkward proposal.

“Now? Why not at the next station? Miss this train, and we wait two more hours, you know?”

Henry’s face hardened at Yan’s playful retort.

“It’s important.”

Yan smirked.

Important, indeed.

‘A perfect place to try and take me out, no doubt.’

Cruel, sitting beside Yan, mocked Henry.

“If it’s so important, why not speak here? What are you planning?”

Henry’s face flushed red with anger.

But Yan stopped Cruel and stood up.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Really?”

Cruel asked, puzzled, but soon dismissed his concern, knowing Yan could handle himself.

After all, Cruel was only there for the promised elixir.

“Darkin, you come too.”

“Sure.”

Darkin rose from his seat and stood beside Henry.

Karam blinked in surprise at the sudden move, which hadn’t been discussed with him.

Yan grinned.

‘Even better.’

It meant he could grill Karam as well.

Yan covered his throat subtly and sent another telepathic message to Karam.

Follow discreetly. Keep your distance, or you’ll be spotted.

Understood.

And so, Yan, Henry, Loen, and Darkin left the station.

Karam followed secretly behind them.

* * *

Yan stepped out of the train station, his tongue clicking in disbelief.

“Can it really be this desolate?”

The Lapes Territory they had disembarked upon was an empty wasteland.

Had it not been for the road leading east, a train station would never have been built in such a place.

“Follow me. There’s a suitable place not far from here.”

Henry’s words made Yan’s lips curl into a smirk.

It seemed they had recognized his intent to kill.

Likely a spot untouched by the feet of lords or travelers.

‘A welcome setting indeed.’

With a shrug, Yan followed Henry, Darkin, and Loen as they set off.

After about ten minutes, they found themselves deep within a dense forest.

Darkin and Loen occasionally glanced back, as if to ensure Yan was still following.

Yan shook his head at their amateurish behavior.

‘Do they really think I’d fall for such a clumsy trap?’

But since he had agreed to play along with their scheme, he had no choice but to oblige.

As they walked on, Henry suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.

Darkin and Loen halted as well.

Yan feigned innocence, tilting his head curiously.

“Is this the place?”

As soon as the question left his lips…

Ssssh.

Sssshhh.

Click!

They each drew their weapons.

Darkin, fiddling with his gauntlet, spoke up.

“I agreed to keep silent, but I’m sorry it has come to this. After all, the best witness is no witness at all, right? You understand?”

Henry, too, looked at Yan with a sly grin curling his lips.

‘The last time was a fluke because I used a bow instead of my rapier. With three of us fighting at full strength, there’s no way we can lose.’

And with that calculation complete.

“Charge!”

With a shout, they rushed towards Yan.

Yan watched the three men charge at him with a grin.

The gap between those who had reached the realm of superhumans and those who had not was vast.

Unless one possessed a strategy or martial arts technique so extraordinary it transcended realms, it was an insurmountable gap.

And.

‘I already know all the techniques these fools are using.’

The White Light Sword Technique mastered by the two elves and the traditional martial arts of the Lipenhagen Duchy practiced by Darkin.

All were techniques he had dissected in his previous life.

He knew their weaknesses all too well.

Yan, with a smirk, charged towards the three assailants.

Thud!

Instead of fleeing, Yan ran straight towards them, causing Henry to scoff.

‘Foolish man, to leap into the midst of our combined assault!’

Together with Loen, Henry drew his rapier, invoking the White Sword Qi.

A radiant white light flowed along the blade.

Darkin, wearing his gauntlet, began to move, seeking Yan’s blind spot.

His body still ached, preventing a direct confrontation.

He had thought of a way to achieve maximum effect with minimal movement.

“Loen! Go all out!”

Henry bellowed as he unleashed the White Light Sword Technique towards Yan.

Their bodies spun, and the White Sword Qi enveloped the surroundings.

Light Dance

Yan’s eyes traced an arc.

It was the Light Dance he had faced against their teacher, Hella, in the past.

In his previous life, he had also experienced the Light Dance performed by their master, Electus.

Swish-swish-swish-swish!

Unlike Hella’s Light Dance, which had barely reached dozens of strikes, over a hundred sword qi rained down at a terrifying speed.

Yan hadn’t even drawn Ascalon.

He simply wrapped his arms with qi to shield his face and plunged into the oncoming storm of sword qi.

It was a brute force approach, but highly effective.

The hundred strands of sword qi couldn’t penetrate the qi around Yan’s hands and dissipated helplessly.

The elves performing the Light Dance widened their eyes in shock.

Their full-powered Light Dance hadn’t even slowed Yan’s charge.

That’s when it happened.

“Haah!”

Darkin, who had been quietly waiting for an opportunity, grabbed Yan’s arm.

He then pulled Yan towards himself, intending to crush his insides with a full-powered squeeze from behind.

But.

“Waiting behind just for this, huh?”

Yan chuckled and flexed his arm, breaking free from Darkin’s grasp.

Crack!

The sound of bones crushing was followed by Darkin’s agonized scream.

“Aaagh! Do something, quick!”

At his cry, Henry and Loen bit their lips and rushed towards Yan, still caught by Darkin.

Swoosh!

A sword strike, laden with White Sword Qi, aimed straight for Yan’s neck.

That’s when it happened.

The captured Yan smirked and ducked.

As a result…

Slish!

“Uh…?”

The sword strike had sliced through Darkin’s neck instead.

Darkin touched his neck with a dumbfounded expression.

And soon after…

Thump, roll.

His head fell to the ground.

Henry, who had inadvertently struck down his own ally, gritted his teeth and forcibly halted his charge.

“Damn it all!”

He knew Yan was strong, but he hadn’t expected this level of power.

Escape now seemed impossible.

The monstrous Yan wouldn’t just let him go.

‘If only I could make it back to the Revolutionary Army headquarters where my master is…’

Then he noticed Loen beside him, waiting for his command.

Henry’s mouth twisted.

“I’ll prepare the strongest technique, you hold off the attacker.”

“…I’m not skilled enough.”

“Just hold on for a moment. If you can’t, we’ll die together.”

At his words, Loen nodded and watched ahead with sunken eyes.

That’s when it happened.

Thump!

Loen’s balance wavered, and she suddenly fell forward.

“…You!”

She called out to Henry with a panicked face.

But he was already running away at full speed.

“Goodbye.”

He had sacrificed her to the monster.