Raon straightened his back. He met the eyes of Adis Sephia, the master of the Sephia company who was clad in solemn pressure.
“May I ask how you found out?”
He didn’t remember acting in a way that could reveal his identity on the way to the Sephia company, not even once.
The most obvious characteristics of Raon Zieghart were his blond hair, red eyes, and two swords. He had hidden all of those aspects, yet he was found out only five hours in, and that fact was rather shocking.
“Do you know what you get better at if you keep trading?”
Adis Sephia tapped on the desk with his finger. His nails were neatly trimmed.
“It’s the sense of figuring out people. That sense also becomes better as you get older.”
He continued calmly.
“I’m pretty confident at judging a person’s character because I’ve been a merchant all my life.”
“You can be comfortable towards me since you are the father of my companion. And…”
Raon narrowed his eyes while looking at Adis.
“That’s not enough as an answer.”
Adis spoke in a roundabout way, and it wasn't a proper answer.
No matter how good a person was at judging another’s character, it was impossible to determine his identity at a glance.
“You should be well aware, as you are the White Sword Dragon, the vice squad leader of the Light Wind squad. The Light Wind squad is the hottest topic all around the continent right now.”
Adis continued with his manner of speech. His personality seemed as meticulous as his appearance.
“It’s a natural outcome because the two winners of the Six Kings tournament that took place in the Owen Kingdom were both from the Light Wind squad. It’s mandatory for merchants to gather information about rising stars like them.”
He continued with a calm voice, one that hadn’t changed at all since the beginning.
“The vice squad leader is the White Sword Dragon. The first team leader is the Sword of Rakshasa. The second team leader is the Azure Lunar Blade. The third team leader is the Blade of Tempest. I’ve investigated all of the Light Wind swordsmen, including them, and that’s when I discovered that he also belonged to the squad.”
“Did you investigate every single member on top of the team leaders?”
“Indeed. I’ve gathered all of the information I could about the Light Wind swordsmen. Their appearances, personalities, preferences, and relationships.”
“Hmm…”
Raon swallowed nervously as Adis calmly continued his explanation.
‘Amazing. Is that why he is the master of one of the five biggest companies? No, that must be why he managed to become the president.’
It was true that the Light Wind squad had become famous, but they didn’t deserve such attention from the Sephia company. All they did was to emerge victorious in a tournament between the future prospects.
Raon was surprised by the fact that the president had investigated everything to increase the success rate for a trade that might happen one day.
“I don’t know what Dorian has done, but I heard that he’s the closest friend of the vice squad leader and spends time with him the most among the members. That’s why I guessed, from your personality, that you would come along if he had to return to the company. You’ve changed your hair and eye color, but you haven’t changed your height and facial features. That’s why I recognized you immediately.”
“…That’s amazing.”
Raon admired his skill from the bottom of his heart.
‘They are similar.’
Merchants were similar to assassins, since they both thoroughly investigated their targets. The purpose differed only because one was trying to kill an opponent while the other tried to open a trade.
Th-that old man also seems to be a stalker by nature.
Wrath was also surprised by Adis.
Why are there so many strange people on this continent?!
‘You are right. He feels like a stalker. That’s why I find this strange.’
There was a huge difference between the emotionless eyes he was facing and the slightly trembling eyes that Adis showed when he first saw Dorian.
‘Let’s try sounding him out.’
Raon looked at Dorian, who was completely flustered.
“The reason I spent time with Dorian and even followed him here isn’t really special. It’s because he’s a trustworthy companion. People think that I’ve completed many missions on my own, but he has helped me countless times in the process.”
Dorian’s shoulders rose slightly upon hearing him.
“It was also thanks to his courage that I was rescued from Eden. However, he was also kidnapped because of that. I apologize for endangering your son.”
Raon bowed at Adis politely.
“There’s no reason to apologize to me since it was his own decision. Please raise your head.”
Adis shook his hand and told him to raise his head. Raon figured that he was aware of Dorian’s kidnapping incident since his voice remained composed.
“So you knew about it.”
“…”
“It’s only fair, but you must be very interested in your son.”
An indirect approach wasn’t going to work against such an experienced opponent. That was why he raised his blade and tried stabbing him.
“Hmm.”
Adis wet his mouth with the water inside the cup without even looking at Dorian.
‘Is he organizing his thoughts?’
He’d been answering Raon's questions without any hesitation so far. Raon could guess that there was a reason behind the fact that he was taking longer to respond for the first time.
“I would need to figure out where he died, at least, since he took a precious object.”
Adis looked at Dorian’s belly pocket. It was such a cynical response.
“Ugh…”
Dorian anxiously rubbed his belly pocket and groaned.
“I’ve also heard many rumors about the Light Wind squad, but I’ve never heard Dorian’s story among them. You must’ve investigated so much to determine every situation, including the smallest and most trivial pieces of information.”
“You can believe whatever you want.”
Adis shook his head with emotionless eyes.
‘It’s difficult to tell.’
He was such a sly fox. Raon figured he needed more information and time to determine his intentions.
Raon took a step back to give room for Dorian and Adis to talk to each other.
Adis realized his intention and met Dorian’s eyes.
“I told you that the one who brings the biggest treasure would become the successor. What have you been doing so far?”
“Hmm…”
Dorian’s hand started to move towards his belly pocket but suddenly stopped. He grasped the scabbard hanging around his waist instead of his belly pocket.
“I’ve been training in swordsmanship.”
“Which treasure were you trying to acquire by training in swordsmanship?”
Cold pressure was emerging from Adis’s eyes. He wasn’t using any aura, it was simply the atmosphere around him.
“I-I decided to do so because I wanted to live a life unrelated to the company.”
Dorian honestly voiced out his thoughts from childhood. Of course, his voice was still trembling.
“A life unrelated to the company…”
Adis nodded. Even that answer didn’t seem to surprise him.
“Do you still think the same way?”
“Haa…”
Dorian slowly exhaled instead of immediately answering his question.
“N-no. I kind of want to try getting into the business now.”
He expressed his feelings with a trembling voice.
“You want to try working in the company now, when you’ve done nothing but swing your sword so far? And kind of, you said? How much are you underestimating the business?!”
Adis slammed his hand on the desk and glared fiercely at him.
“Countless people are putting their lives on the line for the business at this very moment. You just disregarded all of their efforts with what you just said!”
“I’m not disregarding them. I just thought I might be able to do it because I have people who believe in me!”
Dorian hurriedly shook his hand.
“It was the same when I first became a Zieghart trainee. I didn’t think I would be able to become an official swordsman. However, people around me helped me and gave me the courage, and that’s why I managed to reach this position.”
He turned his gaze to look at Raon.
“I-I’m sure the business is also going to be extremely difficult, but I-I just thought that I could do it if I’m determined enough and the people around me helped me.”
Dorian’s voice was trembling like a bouncing rubber band as he finished talking.
“You’ve learned one lesson at least. Asking for help isn’t a shameful act.”
It felt like Adis’s gaze became slightly less cold. He closed his eyes and lightly tapped on the desk once again.
“Since all of your siblings are back, I’ll give you a trial soon enough. You shall participate in it.”
He shook his hand, implying that he had nothing else to tell him.
“You will leave.”
“U-understood!”
Dorian bowed at him.
Raon licked his lips while looking at Adis and Dorian’s gazes one after the other.
‘He didn’t completely give up on Dorian.’
The fact that he was giving Dorian an opportunity even though he had been swinging his sword without doing any work for the company up to that point, and the fact that he’d scolded him for his mistake, implied that he definitely considered him a candidate for succession.
‘I’ll be able to figure it out after the trial.’
Raon figured he would react more seriously once he saw how much Dorian had changed.
“I’ll see you later.”
Raon bowed at him, and Adis raised his hand when he was about to leave.
“Light Wind’s vice squad leader.”
“Yes.”
“I’d like you to stop with the disguise. I’m worried that the young ones of the company might make a mistake.”
“Hmm…”
Raon was taking that appearance to induce that mistake from them, and the president was trying to prevent that from happening. He realized once again how extraordinary the master of such a huge company was.
“Understood.”
Raon nodded and followed Dorian outside the office.
“Haaaaa…”
Dorian sighed deeply while holding onto the stair’s handrail.
“I thought I was going to die from nervousness.”
“You did well though.”
Raon patted Dorian’s shoulder and chuckled.
“I don’t know about that. My heart was beating so hard that I couldn’t even speak.”
Dorian shook his head while walking down the stairs. His slightly trembling legs reinforced his claim.
“Has he always been so bland?”
“I don’t remember too well because I was small back then, but I feel like he’s a bit colder than before. Maybe it’s because I haven’t been here for a long time…”
It made sense. Raon figured that he might be sad that his son hadn’t visited him over the course of nine years.
This guy looks like he shrunk even more than usual.
Wrath frowned while looking at Dorian’s shriveled shoulders.
‘It can’t be helped. They’ve been mistreating him from the moment of his birth to the moment he left his home.’
Binding a young elephant’s legs with chains to prevent its escape made it believe that it couldn’t escape a thin chain even after it grew bigger.
Dorian was the same. Even though he had gotten stronger in terms of might and position, he felt like he’d returned to his abusive childhood upon returning to his house, and that was why he was so intimidated.
‘I shall shatter that issue.’
Raon nodded while walking down the stairs before he suddenly narrowed his eyes.
‘This energy from below…’
It was the same presence as the one who visited them before they went to Adis.
‘He didn’t ask me to remove the disguise right away.’
Raon chuckled and raised his voice.
“I knew it, Dorian! I’m amazed that you had the guts to tell the president that you would take over the company!”
Raon loudly shouted towards the bottom of the stairs.
“I-I never said that though. I just said that I was interested…”
“Dorian!”
Dorian tilted his head, and his third sister, the one who’d visited them in the waiting room, Palen, climbed the stairs while shouting.
“Follow me right now.”
She bobbed her finger with a scowl on her face.
“I’ll show you that all the time you spent was meaningless.”
Considering that her reaction was no different from before, Raon confirmed that she still hadn’t figured out his identity.
“Palen? Wh-why are you asking me—?”
Dorian held onto the handrail tightly, his lips trembling.
“Shut up and follow me.”
“Ugh…”
Dorian turned his head towards Raon. His big eyes looked like tears were going to burst out at any moment.
“Why are you doing this to me…?”
“It’s perfect. You were also planning to show her, right?”
The grinding sound of teeth could be heard from Palen’s mouth as Raon declared.
“Let’s go already.”
Raon patted Dorian’s shoulder while telling him to show her his power.
Huh!
Wrath gasped in disbelief.
Seriously, you are the worst…
* * *
* * *
Raon followed Palen outside the central administration building. Dorian flailed his limbs like a prisoner heading to the guillotine as he followed them.
“Wh-where are we going—?”
“I already told you to shut up and follow.”
Palen walked for a while before she entered a training ground, where the Sephia company’s warriors seemed to be training.
It was still bright despite the late hour, and three warriors with powerful pressures around them were waiting inside.
Gulp.
Dorian swallowed so loudly that the gulping sound could be heard.
“What is this…?”
“I already told you, I’m going to show you that the time you spent is meaningless.”
Palen shook her hand, and a swordsman in his twenties came to stand next to him. He was the youngest-looking warrior among them.
“Is it really okay to attack him? I thought he was the president’s son.”
“He’s just a child of a concubine. Moreover, no one cares about him.”
Palen snorted and glared at Dorian.
“P-Palen?”
“I prepared him for you because you looked so confident about defeating me.”
Palen pointed at the young swordsman standing next to him.
“He is Toten Robel, the Solid Blade. He’s a famous warrior in the South, and he is also around your age. He’s a perfect opponent for you.”
Raon licked his lips while looking at the man called Toten Robel.
‘The Solid Blade… I remember hearing that name before.’
People in the banquet from the Conference of the Six Kings were saying that he had reached the highest level of Expert despite being young, and he was supposed to be a future prospect of the Six Kings.
“A-are you really asking me to spar against him?”
Dorian’s jaw dropped.
“Yes. Prove yourself right now since you said you were going to defeat me.”
Palen ground her teeth while shoving her face onto Dorian.
“I-I never said that…”
“You better be ready, since the match is going to start in ten minutes.”
Palen turned around without even listening to Dorian.
“I heard you were from the Light Wind squad. I’m looking forward to the match.”
Toten Robel waved his hand before he went away.
“H-how strong is he?”
Dorian hurriedly ran up to Raon and held onto his sleeve.
“He’s at the highest level of Expert. He’s definitely an excellent warrior for his age.”
He wasn’t as good as Burren, Martha, or Runaan, but that realm was rather excellent considering his age was only in his mid-twenties.
“H-highest level of Expert? Arrrgh!”
Dorian started to scream while covering his head.
“What are you going to do about this?! I’m gonna get beaten up now because you said those strange things.”
“It’s okay. You can win.”
Raon shook his hand with a faint smile on his face.
“I’m only in the advanced realm. There’s no way I can win against a highest-level Expert.”
“It’s possible.”
“It’s impossible! I’m so screwed!”
“Ahem.”
Raon cleared his throat while looking towards Palen and Toten Robel instead of answering Dorian’s cry.
“Wh-what are you trying to do this time…?”
“What? You’ll defeat him in no time? Wow, I knew that you were the core of the Light Wind squad, Dorian!”
Raon declared loudly enough that everyone inside the training ground could hear him.
“That bastard said it again…”
“What?”
Palen and Toten Robel turned around to look at them. Palen’s gaze had always been hostile, but even Toten’s eyes turned as deadly as a blade even though he used to be carefree.
“Aaah…”
Tears welled up in Dorian’s eyes. He started to foam from his mouth.
“Wh-why are you doing this to me? There must be a reason!”
“What? You don’t even need any time to prepare yourself against such a weak opponent, you say?”
Raon weakly pushed Dorian’s back with a grin on his face. Of course, his arms contained a huge amount of power since he’d already surpassed 300 in strength.
“I never said that—Aaaaah!”
Dorian couldn’t resist that stupid amount of power and ran toward the center of the training ground while screaming.
“I-I wasn’t trying to do this…”
“Wow, I didn’t think you’d do that when you said you can’t wait to beat him up, but you really ran there! You can do it, Dorian!”
Raon raised his fist towards Dorian.
“Get your easy win and shut your sister’s mouth!”
Raon smiled cheerfully, pretending to be innocent.
“Hah!”
Toten Robel laughed and walked up to Dorian.
“Your arrogance reaches the sky even though you are from the Zieghart’s Light Wind squad. It’s been a long time since the last time I felt so humiliated.”
The frightening pressure flowing from his body almost felt like bloodlust.
“You are just a son of a concubine. Know your place…”
Palen was also throwing a deadly glare at Dorian.
“Ehehe…”
Dorian smiled at them. His eyes had lost focus like the eyes of a rotten fish. He seemed to have almost lost his mind.
Raon grinned while feeling the heated atmosphere of the training ground.
‘Perfect. It’s best to raise the children using hardship.’
Ah…
Wrath’s teeth clattered as he looked at Raon. His terrified face had turned completely pale.
Are you really human, you bastard?
