Bab 636
Tujuan kedua mereka adalah Tyckenspail, sebuah wilayah yang tak mencurigakan yang terletak di antara barat dan selatan. Bagi Yuder yang sebelumnya belum pernah dengar, tempat ini adalah sebuah des Village kecil yang selama ini tidak terlalu dikenown. Satu-satunya hal mencurigakan di sana adalah beberapa reruntuhan kuno. Namun, kata "reruntuhan" pun terdengar berlebihan, mengingat bangunan-bangunan tersebut sudah lama terabaikan dan runtuh.
Menurut Kishiar,justru tempat ini-lah di mana Duke pertama Tain pernah menyimpan seluruh penelitiannya.
"Jarang sekali orang diluar kalangan sarjana yang mau berkelana ke sini melihat reruntuhan... Memang cukup tidak biasa."
Seorang lansia yang menyediakan akomodasi bagi tiga oknum pedagarang itu, mengangguk kepala sambil tersenyum lebar. Ia sedang dalam mood yang sangat baik, berkat sejumlah mata koin perak yang diterimanya dari trio itu.
"Jika ada yang ingin kamu tanyakan, silakan sampaikan. Cucuku mengenal dengan baik area sekitar. Ia bisa menjadi pemandu atau membantu kamu dengan sekbagainya."
"Baiklah," jawab Kishiar dengan tampilan wajah yang agak berubah, sambil tersenyum ringan.
Tunggal lansia itu pun pergi untuk menyiapkan makanan mereka.
"Sekarang... mari kita buka suratnya," usul Kishiar. Ia menunggu hingga langkah kaki tuan rumah menghilang. Dengan senyum santai, ia mengeluarkan gulungan kertas kecil yang dilipat rapi dari kantongnya. Surat itu baru saja ditelepahari sebelum mereka memasuki desa, dikirim dari Kavaleri.
"Empat untukiku, dan yang terakhir... untuk asisten."
Yuder membuka catatan kertas kecil yang diserahkan Kishiar padanya.
"Dikirim oleh Gakane, ternyata."
Surat yang ditulis dalam sandi Kavaleri itu menunjukkan tingkat keahlian jauh melebihi usahanya sebelumnya. Meskipun Gakane selalu tangguh menulis, penggunaan sandinya seringkali kaku. Ini adalah hasil yang memuaskan dari usahanya.
Yuder membaca isi suratnya dengan cepat, lalu tersenyum lebar.
"Hmm... Setelah pengumuman publik Kavaleri, para Pembangkit yang diduga merupakan rekan-rekan Nahan, yang sering diketahui berada di distrik tembok kelima, menghilang dan kemudian muncul kembali di distrik tembok ketujuh. Pembangkit yang terkait dengan sang bijak mulai berkelana dekat penginapan tempat sang bijak tinggal... Seperti yang diharapkan. Hinn dan Finn, yang sedang mengawasi Baron Renbow, melaporkan bahwa ia menghentikan kontak yang cukup sering dengan kantor pedagarang... Ini juga merupakan lanjutan dari hal di atas."
Kebanyakan isi surat tersebut sudah sesuai dengan duganya. Pesan publik yang dirancang dengan cerdik dari Kavaleri, tentang kolaborasi dengan Pembangkit non-anggota, tampaknya sudah menimbulkan efek cepat. Penyisipan 'Bintang Nagran' sedang berlarut cepat.
Sekarang pun, baik sang bijak maupun belah pihak Nahan pasti sibuk meragukan kesetiaan masing-masing.
"Ini lumayan menghibur. Memakai topeng Bintang Nagran, aku penasaran kapan mereka akan menyadari siapa yang benar-benar berkolaborasi dengan kita."
'Bintang Nagran', yang disebutkan dalam korespondensi Kavaleri sebagai kolaborator mereka, bukanlah teman sang bijak atau rekan-rekan Nahan. Mereka adalah Pembangkit-Pembangkit dari berbagai tempat yang belum sepenuhnya memutuskan diri dari Bintang Nagran dan sedang membantu Kavaleri.
Bintang Nagran bukanlah kelompok yang memiliki batas jelas masuk dan keluar. Gayle dan Doyle di ibukota, Robel dan Marty di barat yang membantu para korban penglihatan yang terpengaruh Nahan, dan para Pembangkit dari basis barat yang tertarik bergabung dengan Kavaleri—seluruhnya masih menjadi anggota Bintang Nagran sekaligus kolaborator.
Dan ada juga Ershi beserta rekan-rekannya, serta Hosanna. Ershi, dengan mengemuka sendiri, memberikan informasi yang berguna kepada Yuder, yang dikarenakan memberikan obat kepada rekannya. Bahkan Hosanna, meskipun tetap setia pada Nahan, tidak bisa saja bersikap acuh menghadapi kebaikan yang ditawarkan oleh Kanna.
Jika salah satunya dari sang bijak atau Nahan memberi lebih banyak perhatian pada eksistensi Pembangkit itu, atau jika seseorang memahami situasinya dan berusaha menggalang mereka, maka tak akan berbalut seperti ini. Namun, mereka bertindak persis seperti yang diprediksi oleh Yuder dan Kishiar.
Sang bijak, meskipun mengetahui adanya rekan-rekanku yang ditangkap, telah mengabaikannya selama ini. Menuruh pandang Yuder, rasa persaudagangan sang bijak bahkan lebih buruk dari Nahan, yang paling tidak berusaha untuk masuk ke gerbang Kavaleri.
Realistis saja, para yang ditangkap pasti bisa saja membantu Kavaleri. Namun, sang bijak yang lebih menganggap Nahan sebagai musuh utama justru tertipu oleh taktik kecil ini, lalu menilai orang lain sebagai tidak penting.
"Ini juga membuktikan betapa waspada sang bijak terhadap Nahan dari dalam."
Yuder merasa bangga dengan para akhbaris yang telah terus bekerja dengan baik meskipun keberadaannya tidak ada. Usaha latihannya akhbar yang terbaru tidak sia-sia.
"Tapi... ada sesuatu hal yang aneh pada akhir pesan. Kiolle datang dan bicara hal-hal konyol?"
Bagian yang ditulis oleh Gakane berbunyi:
"Aku ragu sebaiknya menulis ini, tapi aku akan kirimkan saja. Beberapa hari lalu, Kiolle Da Diarca tiba-tiba datang mencari-mencari kesuksan. Ia mencari kamu, dan kami bertemu dengannya, tetapi niatnya tidak jelas. Akhirnya, Kanna menggunakan kemampuannya untuk melihat bahwa ia ingin tahu cara menghubungi kamu. Kami akan menjawab begitu kamu membalas."
Permintaan kontak. Jika Kiolle benar-benar susah payah mencarinya sendirian, kemungkinan besar tujuannya benar-benar ingin menyampaikan informasi yang berkaitan dengan pihak sang bijak atau ayahnya yang ia temui di suatu tempat.
"Mungkin 99% terkait dengan urusan ini, jadi tidak ada yang baru. Tapi ia oesra memberikan informasi yang berguna sesekali... Tidak bisa dielakkan."
Yuder, dengan deduksi yang tepat tentang Kiolle bahkan dari jauh, memutuskan untuk menuliskan singkat di balasannya bahwa tidak perlu khawatir tentang apa yang akan dilakukan Kiolle Da Diarca. Jika Kiolle mengirimkan surat kepadanya dan meminta Kanna menerjemahkannya, maka ia akan mengaturnya sesuai."
Terakhir, surat Gakane diakhiri dengan catatan kaki, "Harap sampaikan kepada Sir Zuckerman bahwa aku sedang dengan tekun menyelesaikan semua tugas latihanku."
Yuder mengangkat pandangan ke arah Kishiar, yang telah selesai membaca empat suratnya, dan tersenyum lebar pada dirinya.
"Ada berita yang menarik?"
"Tidak ada apa-apa pun yang menghibur dalam laporan intelijen. Semuanya terlihat berjalan lancar tanpa masalah."
"Laporan dari setiap cabang yang kujicekan sama-samanya."
"Eh, Gakane memerintahanku untuk menyampaikan kepada Sir Zuckerman bahwa ia sedang baik-baik saja dengan tugas latihannya."
Nathan Zuckerman, yang telah duduk diam-diam, sedikit mengangkat alis dinginnya.
"Aku kira sudah kukatakan bahwa tidak perlu melaporkan hal itu... Dierti."
"Mungkin ia khawatir kamu akan berhenti mengajarkannya. Dalam situasi ini, bukanlah ide buru untuk memuji-nya, ya?" Tambah Kishiar sambil tersenyum. Nathan Zuckerman merenung sejenak sebelum mengangguk kepala.
"Sepertinya ia akan semakin cemas jika kukatakan bahwa ia sedang baik-baik saja. Jika aku harus menyampaikan sesuatu, lebih baik aku beri tahu tentang tugas latihan berikutnya."
Yuder terkadang terkejut. Ia menduga bahwa Nathan Zuckerman memiliki gamapan tinggi terhadap karakter Gakane, namun tidak menyadari seberapa
Chapter 636
Their second destination was Tyckenspail, a nondescript region located between the west and south. Previously unknown to Yuder, it was a small village that had remained obscure until now. Its only notable feature was a few ancient ruins. However, these are only ruins in name, as they have been long neglected and left in a state of disrepair."
According to Kishiar, this very place was where the first Duke of Tain had sent all his research.
"It's rare for anyone other than scholars to venture here to see the ruins... Quite unusual indeed."
An elderly man, who had provided lodging for the three mercenaries, shook his head in wonder yet smiled. He was in a particularly good mood, thanks to the several silver coins the trio had handed him.
"If there's anything you wish to ask, feel free. My granddaughter knows the area well. She can guide or assist you in any way."
"Very well," replied Kishiar, his face altered, with a light smile.
The old man soon left to prepare their meal.
"Now... let's open the letter," Kishiar suggested, waiting until the old man's footsteps faded. With a relaxed smile, he pulled a small bundle of folded paper from his pocket. It was a letter that had arrived just before they entered the village, sent by the Cavalry.
"Four for me, and the last one... for the assistant."
Yuder unfolded the small note handed to him by Kishiar.
'Sent by Gakane, I see.'
The letter, written in the Cavalry's cipher, showed a proficiency far surpassing his previous efforts. Although Gakane had always been adept at writing, his use of ciphers had been awkward; this was a shining result of his efforts.
Yuder quickly read through the content, appreciating it for a moment.
'Hmm... after the Cavalry's public announcement, the Awakeners suspected to be Nahan's associates, frequently seen in the fifth wall district, disappeared, then reappeared in the seventh wall district. The Awakeners associated with the sage began to roam near the lodging where the sage stayed... As expected. Hinn and Finn, who were monitoring Baron Renbow, reported that he ceased frequent contact with the mercenary office... This too, is a continuation of the above matter.'
Most of the content was as he had anticipated. The cleverly worded public message from the Cavalry, about collaborating with non-member Awakeners, was showing swift effects. The insertion of the Star of Nagran was working rapidly.
By now, both the sage and Nahan's sides would be racking their brains in suspicion of each other.
'This is somewhat exciting. Under the guise of Star of Nagran, I wonder when they will realize who truly collaborated with us.'
The 'Star of Nagran', mentioned in the Cavalry's correspondence as their collaborators, were neither the sage's nor Nahan's associates. They were the Awakeners from various places who hadn't completely detached themselves from Star of Nagran and were aiding the Cavalry.
Star of Nagran wasn't a group with clear entry and exit. Gayle and Doyle in the capital, Robel and Marty in the west aiding the mentally affected victims of Nahan, and the previous western base's Awakeners interested in joining the Cavalryall were still members of Star of Nagran as well as collaborators.
And then there were Ershi and her colleagues, and Hosanna. Ershi, on her own accord, provided useful information to Yuder, who had given medicine to a comrade. Even Hosanna, maintaining his loyalty to Nahan, couldn't remain indifferent before the human kindness offered by Kanna.
If either the sage or Nahan had given more significance to the existence of those Awakeners, or if anyone had grasped the situation and strived to gather them, things would not have turned out as they did. However, they acted exactly as Yuder and Kishiar had predicted.
The sage, despite knowing about his captured colleagues, had neglected them all this while. In Yuder's view, the sage's sense of comradeship was even poorer than Nahan's, who had at least ventured as far as the Cavalry's entrance.
Realistically, the captured could very well have assisted the Cavalry, yet the sage, considering Nahan a greater enemy, fell right into this minor stratagem, dismissing the others as insignificant.
'This also proves the sage's inward vigilance toward Nahan.'
Yuder felt a sense of pride in his intelligence agents, who had continued to perform well in his absence. His recent efforts in training them had been worthwhile.
'But... there's an odd bit of news at the end. Kiolle coming and talking nonsense?'
The section written by Gakane went as follows:
'I hesitated whether to write this, but I'll just send it. A few days ago, Kiolle Da Diarca suddenly came looking for trouble. He sought you, and we met him, but his intentions were unclear. Eventually, Kanna used her abilities to discern that he wanted to know how to contact you. We'll respond as soon as you reply.'
A contact request. Given Kiolle had gone to the trouble of seeking him out, it seemed likely that his true aim was to convey information related to the sage's side or his father that he had picked up somewhere.
'It's probably 99% related to this affair, so nothing new. But he does bring useful information occasionally... Can't be helped.'
Yuder, with chilling accuracy even in Kiolle's absence, decided to briefly write in his reply that there was no need to worry about what Kiolle Da Diarca would do. If Kiolle sent a letter to his side and asked Kanna to pass it, she would handle it accordingly.
Lastly, Gakane's letter ended with a postscript, 'Please tell Sir Zuckerman that I am diligently completing all my training tasks.' Looking up, Yuder saw Kishiar, who had finished reading his four letters, smiling broadly at him.
"Any interesting news?"
"Nothing particularly amusing in the intelligence reports. Everything seems to be proceeding without notable issues."
"The reports I received from each branch said much the same."
"Ah, Gakane asked me to tell Sir Zuckerman that he's doing well with his training tasks."
Nathan Zuckerman, who had been sitting quietly, slightly raised his cold eyebrows.
"I thought I said there was no need to report that... Understood."
"Maybe he's worried you'll stop teaching him. In such cases, isn't it better to just praise him, Nathan?" Kishiar added with a smile. Nathan Zuckerman pondered for a moment before shaking his head.
"It seems he gets more anxious if I tell him he's doing well. If I have to convey something, it might be better to inform him of the next training task."
Yuder was slightly surprised. He had guessed that Nathan Zuckerman held a high regard for Gakane's character, but he hadn't realized the depth to which Nathan understood people.
'Indeed. Considering he learned from Kishiar and became a swordmaster, he wouldn't teach half-heartedly...'
Teaching inherently involves understanding each other.
One cannot teach anything without knowing something about the other person.
Yuder thought that with a mentor so dedicated to understanding his pupils, even amidst his busy schedule, Gakane would be able to focus more comfortably on his training. As Gakane's colleague and friend, Yuder felt a great sense of satisfaction.
Consequently, the reply to Gakane contained a longer list of the next training tasks relayed by Nathan Zuckerman than Yuder's original message. Yuder also added a special training menu designed specifically for Gakane, who was handling two training regimes simultaneously.
Had Gakane known this from afar, he might have shed tears of mixed emotion, whether they be of joy or sorrow.
After sending all the replies, Kishiar and the others stepped outside.
"We know the name of the ruins where the first Duke of Tain is said to have buried his research materials, but not the exact location. We'll need a guide."
Fortunately, they had the granddaughter of the elderly man at whose house they were staying. The girl, who introduced herself as Anne, agreed cheerfully to guide them to the local ruins.
"My grandfather said to answer any questions you have. I'm curious why you'd want to visit such unremarkable places... but since you said you're mercenaries, I won't ask."
Their guided tour revealed three ruins in the vicinity of the village. Each was a remnant of a building presumed to have been constructed about a thousand years ago, but their original purposes were difficult to discern.
After inspecting all the buildings, Kishiar pointed to one.
"Here. This place is the most likely candidate."
[BL] Bermuda
Leonardo Blaine, the true war hero of the Raina Logia Empire and the commander of the Armsilver 11th Squad, is dishonorably discharged for disobeying orders during the final battle that could have led the Empire to victory in the territorial war. People criticize and point fingers at him, and after being released on parole from prison, he disappears without a trace.
Three years later, his name has been forgotten by the world. The Council has been persistently pursuing him, but he has proven difficult to capture. Frustrated by this, Hugo Agrizendro, the commander of the Council's army, decides to personally apprehend him.
"Since when have you been watching me?"
Leonardo was calculative and astute, so it wouldn't be surprising if he had been observing Hugo for some time now. However, Leonardo's answer was something that even Hugo had not anticipated.
"From the very beginning."
[BL] Cloudless Sky
Jin Soram, the top-ranked hunter representing South Korea's Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters, is stronger than anyone else and lazier than anyone else. As soon as he arrives at the office, he buries himself under a blanket and falls asleep. When he goes out on a mission, he causes accidents and returns to the office, often shirking his duties.
"Do you know how it feels to play a game that's already messed up? ...Anyway, the next round will come, so this time, I'm just going to play it recklessly."
In fact, his true identity is someone who has regressed through three lives, trying to save the world from the Great Rift but failing each time. After repeating a life where he couldn't sleep peacefully even for a day, he became completely exhausted before this life even began.
"I know. You worked hard, Jin Soram."
And then there's Han Tae-un, the man who saved Soram and died in all three previous lives. As he did in every life, he comes to Soram's side once again. The Great Rift is approaching soon. It's impossible to resolve it in this life without any preparation. Soram vows to save Tae-un in this life and die himself. At least, he won't let Tae-un save a failure like himself again.
"For now, until then, let's sleep..."
As Soram sluggishly lives his life waiting for that moment, a gradual change occurs in his heart.
'I thought this was a messed-up round... but I want to live a little longer here.'
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