Chapter 194

The current imperial family of Xuran has three princes and two empresses.
All five of them are hugely popular celebrities in Xuran. Even the notoriously unruly Second Empress is fiercely supported by some, which shows how powerful the symbolism and influence of the imperial family is.
Among them, the first prince, Maximilian Zeldorf, is known for his exemplary behavior and intelligence. As the first-born, he is considered by the public to be the de facto crown prince.
But there’s more to it than that.
“Maximilian Zeldorf remains unaccounted for.”
“Really? I’ve never heard of that?”
Ekidna, who had been summoned to the table, looked puzzled.
“If it’s that big of a deal, shouldn’t it have been an issue by now?”
“The imperial family keeps it under wraps. There’s no harm in knowing. Besides, he’s always been kind of mysterious, the least publicized of the brothers.”
“Hmm. Then how do you know?”
When asked for an explanation, Kim simply stared at him. It wasn’t the first time, and now she didn’t even bother to ask. If I keep quiet, he’ll figure it out on his own.
“……Okay, go ahead.”
Ainoa shook her head nervously, as if she didn’t expect an answer.
“He’s on the run from the eyes of his home country, which sounds familiar to anyone here.”
“You’re talking about me? I don’t remember running away of my own volition.”
“Oh, did I?”
She glared at him, and he shrugged.
Or not, anyway.
“It’s not verified, but if it’s true, Bastitera is the most likely place, and I don’t think there’s anywhere else in the inhabited world where Shiran’s influence is as weak as it is here.”
“And Banzar?”
“You don’t go there because the prince is crazy.”
Ekidna recognized it, but didn’t dare say it out loud. She didn’t want to say it in front of the princess of Bastiterra.
“First of all, you don’t know exactly where it is?”
“He’s probably traveling around, because even as a prince, Minos stands out, and if he’s in a rural area, persecution is still intense, so he won’t stay in one place for long.”
There’s a good reason for Rap and the Emperor to meet in the game, but it’s not quite right yet. He’s in the middle of his traveling life. He’s got nothing to do but waste his time.
“Hmmm. Well, if we get into a big investigation, they’ll cower and hide….”
Ekidna muttered something, and Kim nodded with satisfaction. Her intelligence was high. It was reassuring to see that she could grasp the context immediately even if I limited the information and explained it.
‘I’m glad I brought him back alive then.
I’m thrilled to have someone in Dustborn who can talk sense. I’m afraid I’ll be far behind Trainee Leone in combat, but what I lack in skill, others will make up for.
“Guess we’ll just have to dig our heels in. It’s a long shot, but if we do find it, it’ll be great, and we’re in the middle of a busy time, and now we’ve been evacuated.”
For Kim, Bastitera was a place to perform the main episode. On the other hand, those who didn’t know the details thought it was a place to escape from Xuran’s demons.
“But if you do get it, what do you do from there, hostage-taking?”
“Why not a hostage situation? There’s plenty of room for it.”
“I guess so. I’m sure you’ll be a classified secret by the time you’re a first emperor….”
Ainoa’s face shuddered as the ugly conversation went back and forth.
“You guys are so good at this.”
“They say they’re accommodating. My boss is very demanding.”
“Bitter. I can’t say no.”
She glanced back and forth between the two with narrowed eyes, then sighed.
“So you’re going to be organizing and traveling mostly in the outlying areas, is that how I understand it?”
“Yeah, I’d like to give you some permissions in your name, preferably.”
“……Is this a request or a favor?”
“Of course, please. Between us.”
Ainoa felt an indescribable sense of foreboding; it was a long way from being the relationship she secretly hoped it would be.
“Okay, I get it, it’s like a royal license.”
Unfortunately, there is a trend of disrespect for Minos. It would be a disservice to both of us if we got into a fight. It’s a courtesy we can afford to give.
And there was another thing on my mind.
“I wouldn’t call it a substitute, but could I ask for one on my end?”
“Let me hear it first.”
“We’ve been getting a lot of requests for Templar deployments lately, and while we’d love to take them all, we’re limited in our manpower, so we’ve been slow to respond.”
We can’t just send a knight as soon as a request comes in. Who can afford to lose money if they arrive and find nothing worthwhile?
“You want me to check it for you.”
“Yes. Unless you have a region in mind, I’d like to prioritize that.”
“Sure. We’ll just have to get it done.”
while giving a nonchalant response.
Inside, Kim was gripped by a strange feeling.
“This is finally starting to happen.
An event separate from the ongoing Shran episode.
The final main episode is slowly approaching.
* * *
Multiple search teams were organized by Dustborne and Labs.
As expected, Kim will also lead a team as a team leader.
There are 5 members in total. Dustborn is made up of Yi Hyun Kim and Asterike, Lab is made up of Leila and Westcreek. Lastly, we have Carmen, who was added by Ainoa.
“Hmm, I wonder if I can be of any help here….”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Leila can help you just by breathing. It’s cute.”
“I couldn’t agree more, it’s therapeutic to look at.”
“Ahaha. Well, thank you. Mr. Asterique, Carmen.”
Grooming aside, it made sense to Kim. In fact, Leila’s mere presence is helpful. If this search goes as planned, she’ll be an essential part of the team.
“Make it easy on yourself, like you’re going out for a while.”
They didn’t mention the prince. Ainoa has given them a reason, and they understand it as a way to repay Bastitera for accepting them unconditionally.
“Oh, right. Mr. Hyun, have you met with Mr. Nephritis?”
“No, not yet. He’s a little overwhelmed by something.”
“Don’t be too hard on him, he’s very grateful to you.”
There’s something about the unusual nature of the first meeting that makes me hesitate. You feel like you’re going to turn into a fanatic if you wear the wrong button. It’s an unwelcome favor.
“Next time you’re free.”
I’ve spiced it up with some K-promises.
It’s a lot of ground to cover and a lot of miles to cover. I’ve heard all sorts of stories. The latest on the Silvas brothers, who had just moved to rap, the news from Ismail and Atlanta.
All in all, things were going well. The Silvas brothers, who would have been dead as a doornail in the game, seem to have settled in nicely, and Atlanta has signed Rap to a full-time contract.
“When I left the lab, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but it’s slowly stabilizing. The underground lab that the Legion left behind has a lot of similarities to Ishurad, so I’ve been adapting it.”
It’s a facility where human experimentation used to take place, and while it’s a little unnerving, there’s nothing else like it. It’s no exaggeration to say that it’s now the most advanced place in Bastitera.
Overall, the lab was healthy.
Originally, Kushan’s rescue plan would have been thwarted, internationally criticized, and jeopardized by a series of failed attempts to save him, but instead, he was simply at odds with Shiran.
The flow couldn’t be smoother.
Now it’s time to step on the accelerator.
On the third day of the journey, an anomaly occurred.
Beep, beep, beep!
“What? What’s wrong with this?”
The contamination meter Leila had brought with her beeped.
“What’s going on?”
“The contamination index measured at …… is unusually high, could it be a machine malfunction?”
Aircraft targeting non-human areas.
Leila’s eyes turned serious as she studied the numbers on the screen.
“198p, 202p. It’s getting exponentially higher as you go in.”
The city where Leone was previously rescued had a pollution index of 210, which is considered a red zone. But it quickly surpassed that threshold, reaching 250 points.
“Mr. Hyun. Do you want to go further in?”
“I’m here to check out the anomaly, so I’m going to go.”
It wasn’t a coincidence.
We don’t know where Maximilian is right now.
But if it’s where you’re supposed to meet with your professors, you know.
In the game, Bastitera falls later in the game. A blood-washed civil war is launched by the Legion, and as the war escalates, the country collapses completely.
Then, a few years later than now.
Maximilian organizes the wandering Pecatums of the Exile. He overcomes the prejudice of Minos to become the leader of the group. He discovers the first “rift.
Rifts are the stuff of cataclysm.
This corresponds to the final content of Polaris.
The search team has reached a forest that is off the beaten path. Naked trees, snow on the branches. Even though it was the middle of the day, the atmosphere was eerie.
“What the heck…….”
Leila swallowed hard. The tiny particles floating through the air were visible to the naked eye. She checked her instruments and let out an exclamation of horror.
“It’s 377p. I can’t believe this.”
“Let’s hurry as fast as we can. We can’t stay long.”
Spellcasters and Peccatums have strong immunity to corruption, but it only goes so far. They are not completely immune. A normal human would be infected in less than half a day.
The search team hurriedly got out of the car. After about three minutes, Kim realized that something was amiss.
“It’s too quiet.”
“Yes. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a beastly parasite in this environment.”
Westcreek is right. A rift is a monster wave. All living things in the vicinity are contaminated and eggs are spawned, creating countless parasites.
‘No matter how early in the process….’
That’s when the smell of blood hit my nose.
For a moment, Westcreek’s head snapped around. Kim followed his gaze. Deep in the shadowy forest, the silhouette of a hooded woman stood.
Tududuk.
A drop of blood drips from the tip of the dangling knife.
“Carmen, protect Leila!”
Kim crafted a shield as he spoke. Westcreek, who had been deploying his spell, quickly assumed a combat stance. The blades glinted in the cold air.
What seemed like a long way away shrinks in an instant.
He was almost in front of him when a heavy sword slashed down. With a violent crash, sparks scattered. The impact, like being hit by a moving car, knocked Kim Yi Hyun backward.
“Holy shit.
It’s heavier than Snowfield’s blade, and in the old days, I would never have been able to withstand it. You’d have to search the entire continent to find someone this strong.
Westcreek took advantage of the opening and thrust his sword. His timing was precise, even though he hadn’t practiced. But the blade only pierced his collar.
His evasive movements were dynamic. In a move that completely defied inertia, he decelerated sharply and leapt backward. Pink hair fluttered out of his hood.
Heavy sword, aggression, supreme prowess, hair color.
I could guess his identity without seeing his face.
“Ha, what’s this.
A 6-star character popped out of nowhere.