Fierce Battle

“You think you’ll be safe doing this! Elder Brother!”

Isolun mercilessly trampled the 8th Prince’s desperate howl.

“Lord Naia, finish it.”

Ruin raised his staff to control all nearby mages with mana.

Sevans and the A-rank guilds could no longer resist.

“Why this! Didn’t you say you’d cancel exclusive contracts!”

“The contract still maintains though.”

“I will cancel it!”

“Should’ve come one day later. Then such a tragedy wouldn’t have occurred.”

When Ruin gestured with his chin, Jad and Zodiac dragged Sevans and disappeared somewhere.

‘With this, all A-rank guilds except Roland fell into our hands.’

The moment hearing words that exclusive contract cancellation notice would come out, he incited Isolun to attack the 8th Prince.

The 8th Prince refused exclusive contract cancellation trying not to lose his only power Sevans, then was swept away by Isolun as is.

‘This side’s guilds all support me.’

With even the last 8th Prince in hand, the Isolun faction’s morale pierces the sky.

Guild leaders who’d been pondering exclusive contract cancellation began thinking it’s doable.

With Ruin at the forefront, a full five A-rank guilds maintained exclusive contracts, and nobles supporting other royals eye Isolun.

The merchant group Rio created in territories seized until now began spreading wings.

A situation receiving unexpected momentum thanks to Pernok stirring up the 3rd Prince.

Everything was smooth.

If only one troublesome matter hadn’t existed.

“They say a bio-mage with the 1st Prince’s slush fund was discovered.”

Rio conveyed contents received from Pernok to Ruin.

“Slush fund?”

“He accumulated considerable back money, and nobles recruited with that are quite many. Salavan struggled to find the bio-mage since long ago and found the tail this time.”

“Hehehe, truly coincidental.”

“Yes. For slush funds to be discovered at the timing the king moved.”

The two who made eye contact thought the situation arrived to put a period on all this chaos.

“Is it a trap the 1st Prince dug?”

“Could be information the 3rd Prince leaked.”

“Then means they have certain means to catch Lord Pernok…”

“What level do you think must exist to capture Lord Pernok?”

“At minimum Magus-grade. Or equivalent force.”

“There were no reports that such power moved.”

“They may have pulled out hidden cards too.”

“Will Lord Ruin lend strength?”

“Regrettably, from here to where Lord Pernok is requires running at minimum two weeks. Already too late.”

“We can only wait then.”

Ruin smiled and nodded.

“Let’s enter finishing work. Probably, when that matter ends, whether 1st or 3rd Prince will immediately strike here.”

“If the 3rd Prince draws out financial power as much as possible, this side can also easily plant the merchant group in Rezhen.”

“Seems you stocked many products.”

“Galun mine purchase finished. Lord Pernok helped with food this time, and cleanup became neat with us monopoly-purchasing and releasing demon beast material processed goods.”

Tongue protruded at Rio’s skill expanding the merchant group’s scale in this short time.

“Now we need to prepare the remaining schedule.”

Ruin grasped his staff and stood before mercenaries.

Mercenaries who’d been watching Ruin’s activities continuously until now followed him more than Isolun.

Above all, since he teaches mana manipulation methods in detail, everyone thinks of him as teacher.

“Going forward, we anticipate other princes’ offensives to restrain us! However, no need to worry! We have His Highness! Let’s all grasp together the glory that will exist at this journey’s end!”

Isolun smiled fondly, and mercenaries’ morale pierced the sky.

The moment the goose’s belly swelled enough to burst.

* * *

Pernok was looking down at the village.

[Discovered Johan.]

A level 5 mage who can transmit voice into the head informed Pernok of an alley.

Bio-mage Johan looking around in all directions with anxious eyes was only choosing secluded paths.

[Shall we catch him immediately?]

Pernok shook his head.

‘Starting big work here, our identity will be immediately exposed.’

Moreover, the hideout where Johan stays isn’t here.

He waited for him to leave the village.

When day darkened, Johan loaded his bag full of food and entered the forest.

Pernok scattered mages to block all Johan’s retreat routes.

Shortly after, Johan entered a cave beyond the forest.

Thinking since he hid in a place unreached by people’s eyes to this degree, it’s reasonable Salavan didn’t know his whereabouts until now.

Tap tap!

Pernok transmitted a signal to surrounding mages.

Meaning to prepare for possible attackers.

Mages skilled at detection confirmed no other signs of people after searching surroundings.

Tap!

The entry signal fell, and the moment mages were sucked into the cave.

“…?”

Pernok felt an ominous wind.

Disquieting mana grating on nerves seeped into his spine riding the wind.

Pernok activated Observation Eye.

Besides Johan and allied mages, no one existed.

Mana traps also weren’t visible.

But what is this sudden ominousness?

“…!”

That existence was clearly felt the moment Johan’s struggles burst from inside the cave.

Pernok brushed his hand upward.

Bang!

Something collided and fell down in front.

The atmosphere stirred as mana gathered.

Observation Eye captured a clear human form.

“Oh.”

With a short admiration, a young man revealed himself.

“Two not-easy ones were hiding in this vicinity, but seeing you discovered me, you’re higher skilled.”

The man brushed dust off his clothes while grinning.

“So it’s you. The one called cleaner who fed the 3rd Prince water.”

Pernok stepped back one step.

That moment, something sharp descended from empty air to strike down where he’d been.

“Surpassed level 7 mage but doesn’t reach Magus, standing on an awkward boundary yet good reactions. Definitely a difficult one.”

Pernok felt puzzled.

‘There was Magus-grade talent on the 3rd Prince’s side?’

Unable to have Zermoph or Ludmila, competing only with financial power was the 3rd Prince’s evaluation.

The mana spread across the area before he knew it was definitely space domination, a Magus’s exclusive patent.

Meaning the man before his eyes is at minimum a Zeef-grade Magus.

‘The method of gathering and spreading mana is smooth.’

Even cleaner than the method Ruin taught.

If a Magus with this level of sense existed, why did the 3rd Prince stay silent until now?

Into his confused head, unusual words were heard.

“Just the kind master would like. Haha, this is quite troublesome…”

The man raised momentum threateningly while laughing.

“I’m Knox who came from the Rakis Empire. Since your skill is too precious, if you quit being cleaner even now, I’ll take you to the empire and treat you as very valuable talent.”

Rakis Empire’s Magus.

What came to mind were the 13 who spread fame to the world.

“The empire’s 13 nobles?”

“Not yet, but will soon be. In return for finishing here well.”

Even at the fact the 3rd Prince who couldn’t weigh diplomatic profit joined hands with Rakis, no great emotion arose.

‘Not someone manipulated as the 3rd Prince wills.’

Dangerous ones are those who come without warning and extend hands first.

At least leisurely Knox didn’t look like a sword for the 3rd Prince.

“Need to get blood on your hands? If you obediently follow, I’ll overlook those ones too.”

The moment he brought out Johan from inside the cave, unfamiliar mana began swarming from far away.

“The 3rd Prince?”

“The 1st Prince. They brought along quite a few dangerous ones.”

Pernok clenched the artifact glove.

“Didn’t intend to confront Rakis right now.”

“Audacious. Indeed befitting a cleaner who emptied princes’ back pockets. I’ll praise your composure even hearing Rakis’s name. But no time, kid.”

The area’s mana began surging.

“Rakis cherishes talent. So choose. Will you obediently follow? Or die while doing others’ cleanup?”

Pernok chuckled while drawing up Mana Reinforcement.

“Seems today’s a day to feast.”

“Regrettable, so regrettable! The master would’ve liked you!”

Clang!

Pernok struck away something that flew from the right with the artifact.

‘Light?’

Definitely particles gathered from sunlight were sharply refined.

Wooooong!

Before he knew it, all directions were covered in spears of light.

Smooth mana manipulation impossible to find even an inch of gap.

Even mana domination digging into those gaps.

Knox was definitely a first-class Magus as Ruin mentioned.

“No place to escape, kid.”

Light spears bombarded toward Pernok.

* * *

Bang bang bang!

Suddenly intense mana was felt from near the forest’s west.

The Dark Squad’s Five Stars and Roland looked there, even forgetting the fact they must protect Johan.

‘The earth is convulsing.’

A phenomenon occurring when extreme mana clash.

Guild members who’d been building a massive encirclement far from Johan until now also felt signs and stopped walking.

The Dark Squad’s Five Stars approached Roland.

“The ones who brought out Johan are only insignificant mages.”

“Then the cleaner we’re targeting is there?”

“Probably.”

The Dark Squad’s Five Stars were certain.

If a skilled one who could keep stealing the 3rd Prince’s secret warehouse, should naturally be an existence burdensome even for them to handle.

And power fitting that keeps spreading from the western forest hill.

“But why two, not one?”

“Seems there are others targeting the cleaner besides us.”

“What should we do?”

The Dark Squad’s Five Stars smiled coldly.

“Must kill both. Not even one that could harm His Highness can be tolerated.”

“Then one from that side join guild members to guard Johan, and the rest go to the hill with me.”

“Fourth Elder will go.”

A level 7 mage with a scar crossing half his face stuck to guild members.

“You protect Johan and handle those mages!”

“Yes!”

Guild members headed to the cave with the level 7 mage.

The remaining four Stars and Roland ran to the hill.

* * *

Knox felt ominous mana approaching from afar.

‘Those ones.’

Forces of the 1st Prince captured first before discovering Pernok.

A full five level 7 mages and one other was breaking through mages’ walls.

‘Coming even knowing this wave means to break this side’s balance and kill both.’

Knox laughed aloud.

‘Awkward ones who haven’t even reached magehood acting up not knowing their place.’

He thought only Rezhen’s pillars Zermoph or Ludmila level were worthy to match him.

“If you want to obtain a title, organize Rezhen and come.”

His teacher Duke Chris came to mind.

An incarnation of talent who became a Magus counted among the world’s best despite younger age than himself.

Doesn’t even think to covet him.

Just wants to seize even one of the 13 titles to spread his authority to the world.

“Have leisure to look elsewhere?”

If he just handles Pernok charging before his eyes, advances one step toward that glory.

Moreover, since Lügen wants to cooperate with Magus-grade skilled ones, going forward Knox will more firmly establish his position.

‘Kill the cleaner, take Johan and shake other prince ones, then the 3rd Prince becoming king isn’t a dream either. Making a king with my own hands would be interesting too.’

Like a gift bomb falling.

Irrepressible laughter burst out with mana.

Bang bang bang bang!

His magic handles light.

That delicate process where light generates and condenses sublimated into Magus Arts after receiving Duke Chris’s guidance.

He thought nothing could surpass this light unless a Magus.

Bang!

Suddenly the light barrier created before his chest shook.

It was an instant.

Pernok disappeared from where light struck down, and something making fur bristle stabbed his chest…

“…!”

No, dug into his rear.

“Light, is it.”

Brilliance more radiant than Knox’s magic was bursting from a greatsword.

Something heterogeneous that looked very unfamiliar to be called mana.

“That will be quite useful.”

Incomprehensible brilliance filled Knox’s vision.