Chapter 57

The trade proposal Rian had sent arrived a few days later in the Valerian Empire’s capital, Ethernom. The Empire’s Shadow Chancellor, Duke Alcard, personally delivered the official letter sent by the Dawn Guild to Emperor Constantine.

“Ho… white coal and hardened steel.”

Emperor Constantine read the letter with a greedy smile. Both items had recently had their formidable effectiveness confirmed by samples Valerian spies had barely obtained from Kairos. In particular, hardened steel was far lighter yet stronger than conventional steel, an innovative material that could instantly overturn the military balance with Kairos if it could replace all the Empire Knights’ armor.

“That brat of the Aster family wants to sell such precious goods to us? What scheme is he hiding?”

“Probably to pioneer a route to the Eastern Continent.”

Alcard answered, his red eyes gleaming under the blue moonlight.

“Unable to fully control their true source of power, the ‘Dragon’s Heart’, they might be seeking new funds and routes. Or it could be a ruse to draw our attention to the Eastern Continent and make us neglect surveillance of the monster forest.”

“Either way, it’s not bad for us.”

The Emperor smiled with satisfaction.

“Accept the proposal. And under the pretext of trade, embed our best ‘Ghosts’ within the guild. While monitoring their technology, it’s the perfect opportunity to find clues about the ‘Dragon’s Heart’ on the Eastern Continent. The Aster family’s little fox has laid the groundwork; we only have to dance on it.”

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

The two supreme powers of the hostile nations, each nursing different ambitions, gladly took the hand Rian extended.

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

Rian received word that the Valerian Empire had accepted the trade proposal. Everything was moving according to his predictions. He summoned the elite team of the ‘Shadow Blade’ that would depart for the Eastern Continent. The vanguard’s commander was Sir Hector.

“The objective of this mission is not combat.”

Rian stood before his secret army and met each of their eyes as he spoke. His voice was young, but the weight within it matched that of a veteran of countless battles.

“You will be my eyes and ears and head to the Eastern Continent’s ‘black swamp.’ Your top priority is to locate the farms of the Ashen Worm cult there, and determine their scale, purpose, and the identities of their leaders. Combat is strictly forbidden. Your survival is the measure of mission success.”

Rian issued them the special equipment the dwarves had worked through the night to craft. At first glance they were ordinary travel clothes, but woven from special plant fibers that offered better protection than most leather armor. Hidden daggers in belts, small mana bombs concealed in shoe soles, long-range communication Magic devices disguised as ordinary jewelry. From head to toe, they were armed with the Shadow Forge’s cutting-edge technology.

“Remember. You are no longer discarded blades. You are the shadow of the Aster family and the agents of my will. Return alive, and report everything you have seen to me.”

“By my lord’s command, I will accomplish it even at the cost of my life!”

Hector and his men shouted in voices filled with resolute determination.

A few days later, in the neutral port city ‘Fortuna’ located on the border between the Kairos Empire and the Valerian Empire.

A massive merchant vessel of the Dawn Guild had weighed anchor. The ship was laden with top-grade white coal and hardened steel, and aboard, disguised as merchants and guards, were Hector and the members of the ‘Shadow Blade.’

And with them, ‘Ghosts’ dispatched by the Valerian Empire under the names of ‘Trade Overseer’ and ‘Technician’ also boarded the ship.

Hiding their true identities, the sharpest shadows of the two empires boarded the same ship. They watched and deceived one another, each bound to carry out the secret mission their liege had given them.

“Set sail!”

With the captain’s booming cry, the ship slowly began moving toward the unknown land of the Eastern Continent. Beyond the fog-shrouded sea, what awaited them, wealth and opportunity, or a hell where plague and death lurked?