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Chapter : 40
“We couldn’t trust the Count. We understood what it meant for a Swordmaster to exist. We judged it could become dangerous.”
Reivan raised his eyebrows. It was a fair assessment—there was nothing to argue. Even before knowing that Kaisa was a Swordmaster, he had only thought to use him.
“And who would believe it? If a stranger suddenly appeared and said, ‘Actually, I’m a Grand Duke and a Swordmaster,’ would you have believed them?”
A sharp point. Even Reivan couldn’t deny it.
“But now, things are different.”
Milena leaned forward.
“Kaisa saved your people, Count. He risked revealing his identity to do so. Isn’t that alone enough to prove our sincerity? We are not enemies of Cyern.”
“…So you want to negotiate.”
Milena nodded. Everything had been prearranged with Kaisa. He remained silent, only watching Reivan.
“We need you too, Count.”
“Need? For what?”
“Information. About the current situation in Luikaron, and how to return home.”
Reivan leaned deeply against the chair.
The negotiation began. What they wanted, Reivan didn’t want to give. His lips twisted slightly. Somehow, he needed to keep Kaisa in Cyern.
“You are the core of Cyern’s coastal defense, Count. And you are closely tied to Poseidon as well.”
Reivan’s expression stiffened slightly. Poseidon.
Kaisa said something in Luikaronese; Milena interpreted.
“Kaisa says that Poseidon’s power is nearly depleted. Otherwise, the Bardanos wouldn’t have reached the First Zone.”
Reivan’s jaw tightened. Everyone knew this but had kept silent, living in denial. Yet here it was.
“And?”
“We propose a deal.”
Milena spoke confidently.
“We will help Cyern, so please help us in return.”
“Be specific.”
“Kaisa is a Swordmaster—the only one who can recharge Poseidon. But…”
Milena smiled meaningfully.
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch, right?”
Bella gasped. Such bold negotiation from her!
Where had that innocent maid gone? And Milena was casually using Kaisa as leverage. It must mean they were that close.
While Bella worried about Kaisa and Milena, Reivan’s mind worked fast. He drummed his fingers on the table, calculating.
“A Swordmaster who can recharge Poseidon… but I can’t let them return to Luikaron.”
What to do? Reivan muttered as he considered.
“Let’s hear their terms.”
“First, guarantee our safety. Announce officially that we are under your protection.”
“Continue.”
“Second, find a way for us to contact Luikaron. We need to know the situation at home.”
“That could be diplomatically sensitive.”
“Exactly why we ask. We have no means ourselves.”
Milena spoke clearly, confident even while asking something difficult. Reivan asked,
“…Which family does the young lady belong to?”
“The Albertan Count family.”
Reivan snorted in disbelief. Bella was equally shocked.
Amazingly, Milena, who had been working as a maid in Kester, belonged to one of Luikaron’s most prestigious families, tied intricately to its history. Reivan finally understood her exceptional behavior all this time.
“Third?”
“When the time comes, help us return to Luikaron.”
“In exchange, you will recharge Poseidon?”
“Yes. And that’s not all.”
Milena looked at Kaisa; he nodded.
“Kaisa will faithfully serve as your knight while staying in Cyern. As you’ve seen, a Swordmaster’s power is sometimes worth more than a hundred knights.”
It was a tempting proposal. Even Reivan could not refuse entirely.
Yet Reivan’s desire ran deeper. If Kaisa became a Cyernian subject, much more could be gained. Milena’s proposed benefits would follow naturally once Kaisa swore allegiance.
“…I’ll consider it.”
After Kaisa and Milena left, Reivan gazed out the window at the destroyed harbor.
“Kaisa is a Swordmaster. Cyern desperately needs him. I have to find a way to keep him here.”
Reivan’s eyes glinted coldly. Bella observed him.
“Even if it means deceiving them.”
“…You won’t change your mind?”
Bella’s heart raced. Kaisa was far more extraordinary than expected. Desire for everything about him stirred within her.
“…I’ll petition the Emperor to grant Kaisa an appropriate title.”
That was enough of an answer. Bella smiled faintly.
Meanwhile, Reivan considered another thought. Kaisa and Milena were closer than he realized. They looked after each other uniquely. Therefore…
‘I can use Milena.’
The closer Milena and Kaisa were, the better. If love existed, even better. That would ensure Kaisa could be kept.
Meanwhile, walking down the hallway, Milena whispered to Kaisa:
“Count Reivan won’t let us go.”
Kaisa nodded. He already knew. He had read the desire in Reivan’s eyes.
“But it’s fine. We can use him too.”
The tug-of-war began. A dangerous game where each hid their own goals while trying to manipulate the other.
Kaisa polished his sword, staring at the stars outside. Communication was limited, but Reivan’s intentions were clear. As Milena said, Cyern would not release him easily.
‘But it doesn’t matter.’
For now, he had no choice but to stay. Kaisa realized something today.
The day the Blue Pigeon sank…
The day it all began, the Kraken’s southward movement was no coincidence. When ancient monsters awaken from long slumbers, there is always a reason. Countless sea monsters inhabit the Monster Sea. The ruler of the sea monsters is none other than the Kraken.
Normally, the Kraken sleeps, curling its massive body in the abyss. Its appearances are rare, recorded only a few times in history. Seeing the Kraken in a lifetime is uncommon.
‘And it was near the Third Zone.’
Luikaron had also been protected by Poseidon. Because Swordmasters had been born generation after generation, the energy was likely sufficient. Yet the Kraken moved south to the Third Zone.
‘…Something’s happening.’
It seemed like a clue to a hidden plot. Unlocking Luikaron’s Poseidon may be difficult, but perhaps here, it would be easier.
Cyern’s night was calm, like the stillness before a storm.
