<b>C343 - Record (1)</b>


    Siris''s eyes emitted a cold and sharp light. From her sword flowed a blue and vigorous energy that, at first nce, showcased her remarkable growth.


    The unique coldness of the Endorma bloodline had long been recognized as a mysterious and powerful force.


    This power allowed them to maintain their independence, even with only a tiny territory like the Hidden Pce.


    "It''s not even Full Ice, yet her sword skills are at this level."


    A tingling sensation made Jin''s forehead prickle. Without a doubt, Siris was considered one of the strongest among her peers and might even be stronger than Dante.


    But could she measure up to the current Jin?


    It was a question that didn''t require contemtion.


    She was undoubtedly formidable, but she was nowhere near Jin''s level.


    Young powerhouses like Siris, Dante, and Veradin were no longer rivals for Jin.


    It wasn''t even necessary to mention that Jin was the strongest among them all.


    Jin was alreadypeting with powers that had made a name for themselves in the outside world.


    Although not many were aware of it, the knowledgeable ones recognized it.


    Jin and Siris stood silent for a while, facing each other.


    The little beastmen trembled, heads bowed in fear, while Tris smiled, seemingly intrigued.


    "It wouldn''t be good if I defeated Lady Siris here."


    Jin was here to make a difficult request, despite his reluctance. Although it was Siris who first offered to have a match, defeating her would be a heavy task.


    On the other hand, losing was not something his pride would easily allow.


    It wasn''t as if he wanted to spar with her after not seeing her for almost two years.


    Truth be told, Jin was genuinely happy to see her again.


    Jin wanted to catch up, exchange greetings, and resolve their misunderstandings from the past.


    As Jin contemted whether to draw his sword or not, Siris unexpectedly burst intoughter.


    Pfff.


    "Heh, you even know how to make that expression. I''ve always seen you with a stone face or acting indifferent, so this is quite refreshing."


    Siris sheathed her sword, and Tris chuckled gracefully. The energy released by herughter made the ground tremble as if an earthquake had urred.


    "Are you kidding?"


    "For now, I know it''s pointless to test our skills against each other. Sometimes, certain things are clear even without confirmation."


    Siris had already acknowledged Jin''s superiority two years ago when they participated in the mission.


    -When I found out you were joining the operation, Lady Siris, I was really surprised.


    -I''m more surprised that you alone turned the second floor upside down. You''ve be a monster, Jin Runcandel.


    A conversation between Siris and Jin during the Compass Interception Operation.


    Siris wasn''t one to act mean-spirited in the face of objective facts. She wasn''t ashamed of not being stronger than Jin either.


    However, her desire to test her skills was genuine, even though she could do it anytime, even after inheriting Full Ice.


    It was both her sincere wish to see Jin after such a long time and her mischievous nature that led her to y a little prank on him.


    "It''s been a long time, Jin."


    Siris extended her hand for a handshake, and Jin responded with a smile, shaking her hand.


    "I''m sorry I didn''te earlier."


    "You say you couldn''te earlier. If you had, you would have incurred an additional offense. I can say it even without seeing it; my mother would have been furious."


    "Your mother would have been furious with someone else''s son-inw. Hmm. Still, he wrote hundreds of letters, so my heart must have softened a bit, daughter."


    "Hundreds of letters?"


    "Yes, look at this. Isn''t it cute?"


    As Siris examined the letters, her eyes narrowed.


    "Are they for me?"


    "Yes?"


    "Does my mother have eyes and I don''t?"


    Jin raised the corner of his lips.


    Then he took another case out of his pocket and handed it to Siris. Inside were about ten letters.


    Seeing that, Siris couldn''t help but let out anotherugh.


    "I was joking this time too; I never thought it would be real."


    "I''ve written the most in my life these days."


    "Hmm, it seems I''ve seen a pleasant joke after a long time."


    Tris nodded as if that was enough.


    "Well, you''ve shown some effort, so I''ll forgive you. So, this time, have youe to entrust us with these furballs?"


    Upon hearing that, Peng, who read the atmosphere, quickly stood up and assumed a formal posture.


    "Greetings! Great and Almighty 51st Mistress of the Hidden Pce, Tris Endorma! I am Peng, the First Leader of the Golden Peng."


    Then Suny, Dori, and Song all stood up together, nodding their heads.


    "I''m Suny, the Second Leader! If you save us, we''ll serve you as benefactors for life."


    "I''m Dori, the Third Leader! We''ll infuse vitality into the Hidden Pce!"


    "I''m Song, the Fourth Leader! We''ll make you happy."


    Darkme, who got upte, also spoke up.


    "Dark, me. Representative of the Watertail Tribe. Calm, and, kind. We. Catch, fish, well."


    "Hey! How can you talk informally like that?"


    "Human,nguage, honorifics. Don''t know. All."


    Tris didn''t seem moved by their appearance, but Siris looked at the little beastmen with almost hypnotized eyes.


    "I''ve more or less heard about the situation. These little ones got in trouble for making cosmetic ads and ended up being chased by Zipple. Is that true?"


    "Correct."


    "Now that you have a reason, Runcandel would protect the business, so why did youe to our Hidden Pce?"


    Having lived as the Mistress of the Hidden Pce for a long time, Tris quickly understood the situation without needing a detailed exnation.


    "It''s because I trust the Hidden Pce more than my n."


    "Approved. Well then, what benefit do we get from this?"


    "I will share a portion of the profits from the cosmetics business..."


    "No, no. I also have plenty of money. I have more than enough, and there''s plenty of food for this smallnd."


    "There''s a saying that goes, the more money, the better."


    "So, you''re willing to hand over a portion of the profits. However, that alone is not enough; I hope you''ve brought something more intriguing."


    For a few seconds, Jin contemted Tris''s intentions. He noticed that she was still fixated on the letter, and he knew she wouldn''t keep reading it continuously just because she found it entertaining.


    ''She must be focused on the special content of the letter.''


    The description of the Tomb of Temar. That''s what he included in the letter. While exining about the Tomb of Temar, Jin naturally included details about Zipple''s maniption of history.


    "I will share all the information I find about Zipple with the Hidden Pce in the future."


    "That''s a satisfactory answer. Well, with those conditions, I can y babysitter."


    Feeling relieved atst, Jin inwardly sighed with relief.


    He had been worried the whole time. Even if he received the letters or the ancient iron, Tris was in a position to coldly dismiss Jin or even drive him away.


    Although she had attacked him because he was "unpleasant," Jin wouldn''t have words to refute it.


    Nevertheless, Tris, as always, decided to help Jin.


    Although she paid him somepensation, Jin felt like she didn''t really give him anything in return.


    ''Anyway, sharing the profits of the business is something that should be done, and I should have also shared information about Zipple.''


    To fight against Zipple, an alliance like the Hidden Pce was absolutely necessary.


    The more Jin learned about them, the more he believed he couldn''t defeat them with just Runcandel.


    "Although Zipple may not go to the extreme ofpletely manipting history like a thousand years ago right now, there is a possibility that something is unknown. The maniption of history is still happening, and even I might know the wrong history."


    Since witnessing the maniption of history within the recording device, it had been hard for him to dismiss such thoughts.


    Knowing that he could remember a falsehood as truth was one thing, but not being able to fullyprehend it was undoubtedly detrimental to a person''s mental state.


    "Today, with a few words, you''ve settled a significant debt, my son-inw."


    Tris felt even more affection for Jin than he thought. It wasn''t just because she saw him as her son-inw but also because he was as irascible and entric as her friend. Especially considering he was the son of Cyron, whom she had acknowledged several years ago.


    Although Siris murmured for her to stop calling Jin her son-inw, Trispletely ignored thatment.


    "Now, only my daughter and my son-inw are left. The rest of you can go; we have something to discuss."


    "Yes!"


    "Understood."


    As the little beastmen quickly left the training ground, Tris''s expression turned serious.


    "Jin."


    "Yes, Lady Tris."


    "Although the Hidden Pce has remained mostly neutral over the ages, it hasn''t always been so. When the first master of the Hidden Pce was chosen by the divine sword ''Full Ice'' and the snow toad ''Mort,'' we made a certain oath."


    Fssssss...


    The ice crystals on Tris''s hand gathered to form a single sword, Full Ice.


    "This sword possesses the absolute power of cold that nothing can break. Even ancient iron would be nothing more than a heavy, clumsy piece of metal in front of Full Ice''s ice. Not even your father could break this sword."


    Suddenly, Tris began to talk about Full Ice, intending to exin the "oath" made by the Endorma bloodline.


    Boom!


    Mort growled below. Then Tris mounted Mort and extended her hand.


    Jin and Siris also got on Mort, and before them, a white dimensional gate opened, leading to the "Snow Garden."


    Jin was taken aback by the inexplicable snowy gardenndscape. Mort sprinted with all his might.


    "Where are we going?"


    Just as Jin was about to ask that, the resonating sound of Tris''s Full Ice intensified, emitting a bright light.


    The resonating sound grew louder and reached its peak, causing Mort to stop.


    As they got off Mort, Jin saw another castle, which looked evenrger than the Hidden Pce itself.


    "It''s been a long time since I came here."


    The Hidden Pce within the Hidden Pce.


    Or the real Hidden Pce.


    That''s what those who knew the Hidden Pce''s secret called it.


    "It''s been a long time since I brought outsiders here."


    As they slowly walked inside, the vast interior seemed deste and pale.


    And right in the center, there was a massive ice pir formed by the power of Full Ice.


    "Who is that person inside the ice...?


    The ice pir seemed to hold a person like a coffin. She was an unfamiliar woman, but Jin felt a sense of familiarity from her silver hair.


    "This woman is an ancient magician from Zipple, whom our Hidden Pce has sealed for a thousand years using the power of Full Ice."


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