Chapter 132: Giant Colony (2)
TL/Editor: Rungir
Schedule: none
Illustrations: none
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"Then, I wish you luck, hero."
As she spoke, the figure of the old woman,den with earrings and nes, began to fade and then vanished without a trace.
"......"
The silver-haired woman stared at the spot where the old woman had disappeared.
After some time passed,
"What are we going to do now?"
Rain Dranir, standing beside her, asked.
The woman''s face was slightly flushed.
The old woman who had disappeared before their eyes was none other than the entities from the Seventh Heaven, Iova and Teutican.
Iova had given Rain the advice she desperately needed at that moment, and upon hearing it, Rain immediately awakened to a new realm of power.
She had made a tremendous leap forward in an instant, which naturally left her feeling ted.
"We need to recruit new members."
The woman, still fixating on where Iova had vanished, spoke.
''She definitely told us to hurry.''
With that thought, she recalled Iova''s advice.
-You should act quickly on whatever you''re thinking. The future is changing faster than you expect. If you dy, you''ll miss out on everything.
Thus, the woman had decided to shift her original n of purifying what they had gained from defeating the ''Serpent that Gnaws on Roots'' to recruiting new members.
Nothing was more critical than not losing any of herrades.
"Are you talking about that magician? Didn''t he already reject us?"
"It wasn''t aplete rejection. He just said he had things to do before joining. And this time, it''s someone else."
It wasn''t Elysis Desire.
She still needed more time before awakening.
That left only one person.
"We''re going to the Giant Clusters."
The woman turned her head north as she spoke.
That''s where the new member they needed to recruit was.
---
In the Baekseong Pce''s small council room,
All the royals were seated around the round table, just likest time.
The only difference from before was that it was Utekan who had convened the meeting, not Zion.
"I didn''t realize royal meetings were held so frequently."
The first to speak among the royals was Rubrious.
With his characteristic gentle smile, he looked at Utekan.
Despite his words, Rubrious knew exactly why another royal meeting had been convened.
In fact, everyone there knew the reason.
''The conclusion of this session contest.''
After all the royals returned to the imperial city from subjugating the cmity, the Founding Festival began, preventing any proper discussion.
It was natural to gather again now that the Founding Festival had ended.
"Are we not here to discuss the winner of the cmity subjugation and the privileges that will be granted? Let''s wrap this up quickly. I don''t want to be here longer than necessary."
At Rubrious''s words, Diana, who had been wearing a sour expression, spoke up.
She was obviously in a bad mood because the winner of the throne contest had already been determined, and it wasn''t her.
"Originally, the privilege we all agreed on was taking the lead at the uing ''World Conference.''"
Evelyn, who had been listening silently with an unreadable expression, finally spoke.
Her gaze then shifted towards someone.
Following her gaze, the other royals also focused their attention on one person: Zion.
"There seems to be no objection that Zion is the winner of this contest... So, let''s agree to give Zion the leadership role at the World Conference and conclude the meeting."
The royals remained silent.
They wanted to protest a hundred times over but couldn''t.
The difference between Zion and themselves in the subjugation contest was too clear.
Two days.
That was the time difference between when Zionpleted his subjugation and when Utekan and Diana did.
They might have argued if it were the same day, but with the date changed, they couldn''t.
They had no choice but to ept the oue.
But then,
"I''m the one who called this meeting, so why are you trying to end it on your own?"
Utekan, who had been quietly observing, spoke up.
"Weren''t we gathered here for this purpose? Now that it''s achieved, there seems to be no need to continue the meeting."
"Who said that? Did I say I called the meeting for this?"
Utekan''s words colored the other royals with confusion.
Answering their puzzled looks, Utekan slowly continued.
"A few days ago, I received some information from the Giant Clusters. An entire tribe was wiped out by a sudden monster attack."
The tribe that was annihted was one of the giants that had pledged loyalty to him, so it was a significant loss. However, Utekan didn''t seem too troubled.
Because he discovered something interesting.
"The peculiar thing is that these monsters were moving systematically, as if controlled by someone."
Utekan''s words sparked realization in the other royals, their eyes lighting up.
"Could it be..."
Monsters under control.
It reminded them of the cmity, the monster horde that Zion had recently subjugated.
What do you think, Zion?
Utekan asked, smirking at Zion. Although he posed the question, he was already certain. He knew that the monsters showing up in the Giant Clusters were one of the seven cmities, the Monster Horde.
The ability to control monsters, especially at a legion scale, was incredibly rare. As far as he knew, there was only one being in the entire continent capable of such a feat: the Monster King Horrible. And this implied something significant: Zions failure in subduing the cmity.
Once again, all eyes turned to Zion. Zion naturally brushed off their gazes and chuckled to himself. So it begins. There was no confusion in Zions eyes. After all, he had intended this situation from the start.
A trap. All of this was a trap set to hunt Utekan. Agreeing too quickly might arouse suspicion.Zion felt the need to make Utekan ept the situation more naturally.
What are you talking about? Are you saying I failed to subdue the Monster Horde? So, youre denying it? The Monster Horde you imed to have subjugated is right there in the Giant Clusters.
At Zions response, Utekanughed even harder. Is there any proof theyre the same monsters? Its not umon for monsters to group up and attack giant tribes in the north. But there has never been an organized legion like this before, moving systematically.
Then there must be a new leader for these monsters. I certainly executed Horrible at the Steel Fortress. Sure, you could think that. But tell me, isnt it much more likely that the same rare being survived and is now causing havoc in the Giant Clusters rather than a new one popping up so soon?
Utekans words began to sway the other royals, and they started to nod in agreement. Utekans exnation seemed more usible to them. Does this mean the thronepetition is invalidated? Dians voice came out cautiously.
In contrast, her eyes were brighter than before. If Utekans words were true, this could invalidate the entire ordeal and even crush Zions momentum.
However, contrary to his previous statements, Utekan shook his head.
No, we cant say that yet. Horribles existence hasnt been confirmed, so theres still a chance Zions im is correct. Slim, but still a chance.
So what should we do? At that, Rubrious, looking intrigued, asked Utekan.
Utekan, sensing the leadership of the meeting gradually leaning towards him, continued with a pleased smile on his face.
"How about this? Zion re-subdues the Monster Horde that appeared in the Giant Clusters. If they''re indeed the original Monster Horde, it''s Zion''s problem to solve anyway. And if not, it clears any doubts, which is better for Zion, isn''t it?"
This was practically assuming Zion''s failure in subduing the cmity as a fact and offering him a chance as if bestowing mercy.
"If Zion subdues the monsters attacking the Giant Clusters, we''ll never speak of this issue again."
Utekan looked at Zion as if asking what he would do.
''He has no choice but to ept.''
Utekan was confident Zion had failed in subduing the Monster King.
The current proposal was akin to covering up that failure, so there was no reason for Zion not to ept it.
A brief silence followed, and all other royals'' gazes focused on Zion, who was unrted to the Giant Clusters and the Monster Horde, waiting for his answer as outsiders.
Soon after,
"Let''s do it."
Zion broke the silence with his eptance.
''Done.''
Utekan''s eyes began to gleam with a terrible murderous intent deep within.
"Then I''m counting on you."
Utekan, hiding that murderous intent with augh, addressed Zion and stood up from his seat.
Having achieved his purpose, there was no reason to continue the meeting.
But as he turned to leave, Utekan was unaware.
"Likewise."
Zion''s eyes, swirling with four ck stars, were piercing through the murderous intent Utekan harbored.
"I''m going to kill Zion Agnes."
This was the first thing Utekan said to Serkia, looking at her in the Jaseong Pce''s office after the royal meeting ended.
He too had known from a messenger sent by Serkia a few days ago.
That Diral had been killed by a woman with red eyes, under Zion Agnes''smand.
Already on high alert about Zion, the moment Utekan heard this news, he was certain of his decision.
''We can''t leave him be any longer.''
The fact that Diral was discovered meant that Utekan, Serkia, and the other Oma spirits could also have their identities exposed at any time.
Of course, it would undoubtedlye at a great sacrifice, and he might even die, but the risk posed by leaving Zion Agnes alive was much greater.
The n that had been in ce for over a hundred years could crumble.
No, it was bound to go awry.
"So, you deliberately sent Zion Agnes towards the Giant Clusters?"
Serkia asked Utekan in a grave tone.
"Yes."
Utekan briefly replied, nodding his head. In fact, using the appearance of the Monster Horde in the Giant Clusters, he could have nullified this thronepetition and dealt a significant blow to Zion. But Utekan chose not to.
''After all, I have to cut off his lifeline this time.''
That''s why he gave him a chance and directed him towards the Giant Clusters, practically Utekan''s own stronghold.
All that was left was to wait for Zion Agnes to enter the Giant Clusters.
"Everything is perfect."
It couldn''t get any better than this. It was as if the heavens hadid out a n for him to kill Zion Agnes.
''Now it''s time to put an end to this cursed fate, Zion Agnes.''
Utekan''s eyes had already shifted to the distant Jaseong Pce, visible as a mere dot from the window.
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