Chapter 56

The night in Ethernom, the capital of the Valerian Empire, was far deeper and colder than in Kailus, the capital of Kairos. The office of Duke Alcard von Valenstein, the Shadow Minister who oversaw the empire’s darkness, had no candle lit; only the blue moonlight pouring through the window illuminated his pale face.

On his desk lay a report that the ‘Ghost’ had risked his life to deliver.

‘…The true source of power is called the “Dragon’s Heart,“ and it sleeps deep within the monster forest. Do not touch it rashly…’

Alcard’s red eyes emitted a strange light as he read the report’s final sentence. He paused in thought, then opened a hidden passage tucked deep within his study. The passage led to the heart of the empire, the Emperor’s bedchamber.

“Your Majesty.”

Emperor Constantine von Valerian, sitting half-reclined on his bed, raised his head. He was old, but his eyes still held the lion-like majesty of one who commands an empire.

“Alcard, by that expression of yours, it seems you’ve found an interesting quarry.”

“Bringing it down to ‘quarry’ would be wrong… it’s closer to an ancient calamity that has not yet woken, Your Majesty.”

Alcard relayed the contents of the report to the Emperor. Emperor Constantine said nothing as he listened, but his gaze flashed with greed and wariness.

“The Dragon’s Heart… an ancient relic.”

The Emperor finally spoke.

“If that’s true, the Valerian Empire must possess it. With that power, subjugating our rival Kairos and uniting the continent would not be a dream.”

“But Your Majesty, according to the report, that power is at an uncontrollable level. Even the Aster family can only barely use a fraction of it. If we meddle rashly, the entire empire could be endangered.”

Given Alcard’s cold, sharp counsel, the Emperor pondered for a moment.

“Very well. I trust your judgment. Do not provoke the Aster family for now. Instead, mobilize every intelligence network, including the ‘Ghost,’ to extract the exact location and details of that ‘Dragon’s Heart.’ If we find the sleeping dragon’s nest, there must be a way to steal the egg without waking the beast.”

“I will carry out your orders, Your Majesty.”

Alcard bowed his head and withdrew. A satisfied smile lingered at the corner of his mouth. The Emperor’s greed had moved exactly as Alcard had wanted. The Valerian Empire would now begin a covert operation to steal the Aster family’s ‘source of power’ instead of attacking the family directly. And that entire process would be caught in the web Argos had set up for Rian.

At that moment, in the Aster estate’s ‘Shadow Forge.’

Rian received a report from Kael that the Ghost had fully left the estate.

“He took the ‘gift’ we prepared very carefully, did he.”

Rian lightly flicked the words ‘Valerian Empire’ on the continental map with his finger.

“Now they’ll both fear us and covet what we have, the ‘artifact.’ For the time being, they won’t be a direct threat to us.”

Having put the external Valerian threat on hold, Rian turned his attention back to the internal malignant presence: the Ashen Worm cult.

“Since the incident at the Karnak mine, have they made any other moves?”

“Not yet, Master. Once the Empire and the Holy Kingdom began a massive joint investigation, they seemed to pull back. However…”

Kael handed over a new report.

“A strange rumor is spreading among merchants bound for the Eastern Continent. In villages near the ‘black swamp,’ people are dying of an unknown illness, and the local lord is strictly controlling outsiders’ entry.”

“The black swamp… the place Ignis mentioned.”

Rian’s gaze grew cold.
When their activities in the Western Continent became difficult, they focused on expanding their ‘farms’ in the Eastern Continent.

“We cannot leave this be. But it would be too dangerous for us to go to the Eastern Continent directly.”

Rian pondered for a moment, then proposed a completely unexpected solution.

“Kael, under the name of the Dawn Guild, propose official trade with the Valerian Empire.”

“What? With the Valerian Empire?” Kael asked in surprise.

Kael repeated, startled.

“Yes. The goods will be ‘white coal’ and the ‘hardened steel’ we’ve newly developed—irresistible terms. And as conditions for trade, demand their cooperation in securing safe Eastern Continent sea routes for our guild, particularly port access near the ‘black swamp.’”

It was a bold and dangerous plan: to use an enemy’s hand to enter the heart of another enemy. The Valerian Empire coveted the Aster family’s technology and would likely accept the offer to keep watch over the true source of their power, the ‘Dragon’s Heart.’

“And Hector.”

Rian called for Hector, who had just returned from training.

“Form an elite team from the best of the Shadow Blade. They will disguise themselves as merchants and prepare to go to the Eastern Continent.”

Tension and excitement flickered in Hector’s eyes.

“At last… is it time for my lord’s blade to emerge from the darkness?”

“No.”

Rian shook his head.

“It is time to go into an even deeper darkness.”