Chapter 120

Chapter 120
Chapter 120
Silent War (2)

“Ugh…!”

His slipping awareness suddenly snapped back into place.

His flattened lungs mended themselves, his breathing passage cleared, and his heart pounded furiously, driving blood throughout his frame.

His physical form steadily reclaimed its power as his catastrophic wounds began fusing back together through “Super Recovery”.

‘…I was on the brink of death…!’

He would have truly perished if it hadn’t been for “Instant Death Immunity”, the special benefit Hans secured after earning the ‘Immortal King’ title.

However, given how devastating his injuries were, it appeared that achieving a full restoration would require a lengthy period.

It was a stroke of luck that his internal organs, which had been utterly pulverized, were reshaping themselves as though reality were reversing, though their overall state remained precarious.

“Master! Take this potion!”

“We’ll get you to the temple this very second! Just hold on!”

Hubert levelheadedly assessed the circumstances with his accelerated cognitive speed, observing the mercenaries frantically pouring medical draughts past his lips and preparing to move him toward the temple.

‘The attacker was a vampire, but one I’ve never laid eyes on before.’

Furthermore, that individual possessed an incredibly advanced level, seeing as he managed to slip past his defenses and launch a surprise assault completely undetected.

This implied that he had eluded the mercenaries’ protective detail as well as the tracking net of the Brokoslack Clan.

‘Hubert’s own sensory capabilities are somewhat lacking, preventing him from properly analyzing the adversary, but for an intrusion like this to succeed, the assailant must be at least a Pureblood.’

And within that rank, he would need to be among the elite, possessing traits specifically tailored for assassination.

Yet…

‘Why would an entity of that caliber set his sights on Hubert, who is nothing more than a merchant?’

Potential figures who might have commissioned the hit raced across his mind as his thoughts spun rapidly.

Rival traders who had crossed paths with him during the enterprise’s growth, aristocrats casting greedy glances at the firm, and even street syndicates that were being squeezed out by his operations.

…The list was far too extensive to isolate a lone suspect.

He took satisfaction in having expanded the firm through ethical means, but when wealth is on the line, generating adversaries is inevitable.

‘But why employ a vampire? Could it be mere happenstance?… Blast it, my data is far too limited. It looks like my first priority must be uncovering the true identity of this mystery vampire.’

He dismissed any notion that the Brokoslack Clan had turned on him.

They were bound to Heinz the Second through “Refined Blood Essence”, making it utterly impossible for them to violate the directive to provide Hubert with absolute backing.

‘The most efficient approach to understanding this mess would be deploying the clan via Heinz, but he is currently unreachable… And the teleportation matrix is locked in recovery since I already dispatched Howard.’

Regrettably, straightening out this predicament did not look like it would be a simple task.

Nonetheless, the most pressing matter at this exact moment lay elsewhere.

“Cough! Hold on…”

Hubert raised a hand to halt his protectors, who were attempting to drench him in potions and rush his body toward the temple sanctuary, and delivered his instructions without allowing room for debate.

He informed them that he would slip away to a secure hideout for the time being to mend his body before making his return.

‘If that assassin discovers I survived, he will undoubtedly return to finish what he started.’

The killer had departed under the assumption that he had snuffed him out, but there was no telling when the fellow might circle back.

Vacating this location with utmost urgency was the wisest course of action, particularly since “Instant Death Immunity” could no longer be counted on for protection.

“…I possess a method to establish direct contact with Howard myself, so until that happens, I will… Whew, I will pass along the operational directives. Make sure the firm is briefed as well…”

“W-what? But in what manner do you intend to conceal yourself…”

He had no more time to waste.

The moment he determined that his message had been properly communicated, Hubert instantly evaporated from the location utilizing ‘Dismiss’.

Naturally, there remained the question of whether those sellswords could be fully relied upon, but he couldn’t afford to lose sleep over that right now.

‘They came recommended by the three southern warriors, so they ought to be dependable to a certain degree. Then again, one can never truly peer into another person’s motives… ’

Should things go sideways, he could simply orchestrate a retaliation using every asset at his disposal, including Harley and Brokoslack, to force them to pay a steep price.

“Sigh, what an unexpected nightmare.”

Wooong—

A radiant circle of illumination materialized within the chamber, sinking directly into the form of the individual resting upon the ground.

I was currently employing “Individual Projection” to assume the guise of Heinrich, channeling divine energy into Hubert, whom I had recalled back to Earth.

‘He managed to pull through because of “Instant Death Immunity”, but… ’

The effect had done nothing more than preserve his spark of life, meaning a swift recuperation was out of the question.

Even with Heinrich being acknowledged as a Saint, his particular talents were geared toward battle.

This was hardly surprising, given his lack of any divine favors tied to mending and convalescence.

‘Still, simply flooding him with raw divine energy via “Auterica Holy Magic” is producing a decent effect.’

Combined with the universal trait “Super Recovery”, it appeared he would regain enough strength to move about after a handful of days spent resting.

Yet, that wasn’t the primary concern currently weighing on me.

‘This complicates things. I have no idea where the gears ground to a halt.’

He lacked the necessary intelligence to determine whether the threat stemmed from the commercial enterprise, the vampire factions, or perhaps even Harley.

He had been attempting to construct an informational apparatus to safeguard against precisely this sort of crisis, but the blow fell precisely while Heinz was traveling.

“Whew— Well, there is no sense crying over spilled milk. The critical factor now is our counterstrategy.”

Fortunately, he possessed an alternative intelligence web.

Granted, it wasn’t perfectly tailored for a scenario of this nature…

‘Still, it serves its purpose. Their operational style is a bit unconventional, but they will do just fine when it comes to assessing the baseline situation.’

While they were somewhat deficient in deciphering human politics and intricate conspiracies, they excelled vastly in other areas.

‘Time to issue the commands so they can initiate their sweep immediately. I remain ignorant of who those fools are, but they picked a fight with the wrong target.’

With that decided, Olivia, who directed the espionage forces of the undying legion serving Immortal King Hans, along with an infinite horde of phantoms,

Began taking action to unearth the truth surrounding the hit placed upon a simple businessman.

—

A chamber saturated with the metallic scent of gore.

Visque Ufersh, a vampire distinguished by his snowy locks and pale irises, inhaled deeply before breaking the silence in a soft tone.

“What is the status of our arrangements?”

“Everything is moving forward without a hitch. Our forces are assembling in accordance with the mobilization order, and we are establishing several Blood Gates along the path leading toward the Talia Kingdom.”

A silhouette blending into the shadows softly responded to his inquiry.

Blood Gates functioned as temporary transit hubs utilized by the Ufersh Clan, a distinct form of hemomancy that granted them the ability to project force across the entire mainland.

The system suffered from the restriction of being unable to span massive spans in a single leap, alongside demanding a massive quantity of life fluid to anchor, but such drawbacks were trivial when weighed against the tactical advantage.

“We are directing our destination toward Raffella City, situated a few days’ march prior, to prevent any suspicion that might arise from targeting Talaria straight away. From there, we can slip into the capital in under half a day.”

“Hmm— Excellent.”

Visque gave an approving nod.

“Additionally, word just arrived confirming that our objective within Tarak of the Tulk Kingdom has been executed.”

“Hmm? What business did we have there?”

He cocked his head slightly, keeping his gaze fixed on the shadow while settling further back into his seat.

He had instructed them to commit their entire focus toward dominating Brokoslack within the Talia Kingdom, so why was this territory suddenly being brought up?

“…We intercepted data indicating that Brokoslack intended to broaden their reach in that sector by forging an alliance with a mercantile house based in Tarak. Consequently, I authorized the elimination of that enterprise’s leader to muddy the waters.”

“Ah— Quite right. I paid it no mind since it was such an insignificant detail.”

Visque finally offered a nod, lightly scratching his jawline.

The survival or demise of a lone mortal was of zero consequence to him, accounting for his indifferent demeanor.

“It appears Klein successfully erased the head of that merchant house alongside a handful of vampires attached to Brokoslack. Given his personal execution of the assignment, you can rest assured no evidence remains.”

“Klein, I recall the name. He proved to be quite an effective asset for a Pureblood. Few can match his talent for managing affairs quietly and without complications.”

“Precisely. He stands as the prime contender to ascend to the status of a True Blood among our current Purebloods.”

“Very well, then he undoubtedly handled it flawlessly. What transpires in that region matters little to our grander goals regardless.”

Visque dismissed the topic with a casual flick of his wrist, confident that the sheer weight of his family’s military power was more than sufficient to fulfill their designs.

He wasn’t criticizing his subordinates who were applying themselves diligently, but he held the absolute certainty that he could obliterate their opposition entirely on his own.

He was merely biding his time in accordance with the schedule because his ultimate prize involved far more than a simple execution.

“Tell me, when will our preparations reach completion?”

“We are attempting to conclude the logistical arrangements with maximum discretion, meaning it will require roughly a week…”

“That spans too long. Accelerate the timeline.”

“…We can compress the assembly window by applying pressure to our ranks, but accelerating the anchoring of the Blood Gates introduces a vulnerability to detection…”

“A week… you can shave off at least two days from that estimate. Wrap it up within five days.”

“…Understood, Lord. Your commands shall be carried out.”

The silhouette refrained from offering further resistance, simply dipping his head as Visque brought a decisive end to the discussion.

When a command issued from the Sacred Blood fell upon them, compliance was the solitary option.

“I eagerly anticipate our encounter. By what method did he manage to seize control of that clan’s hierarchy? Seeing as they share the exact same ancestry… It remains quite a puzzle to me.”

Visque Ufersh flashed a chilling smirk, looking forward to unraveling this mystery in the coming days.

—

“Much obliged! Do have a wonderful afternoon!”

“Yes, yes~ Goodness, what an exceptional young lady. If only my boy possessed a fraction of your charm. Ohoho~”

Diana adjusted her posture and unbent her spine after offering a parting smile to the matron exiting the food market.

With the sun dipping below the horizon, it was time to close up the storefront.

“Splendid effort today, Diana. You really needn’t push yourself to help out, aren’t you buried in your schoolwork?”

“Think nothing of it, Uncle. Gaining hands-on experience like this is incredibly educational. My instructor always emphasizes that relying strictly on texts results in stagnant knowledge!”

Diana, the young girl who had journeyed all the way from Azantu to Raffella alongside Heinz, explained with a cheerful grin.

She had completely mastered basic literacy and mathematics at the learning facility and was currently unlocking the nuances of bookkeeping and trade regulations under the guidance of a specialist she met there.

To be sure, the instructional fees were quite substantial, but this presented no real barrier since the funds provided by Heinz were more than generous.

‘Our ability to enjoy this standard of living is entirely due to him, so I want to make myself useful to his endeavors in any way possible.’

Unfortunately, the avenues through which Diana could offer meaningful assistance to Heinz were severely restricted.

Her physical stamina was quite frail and she lacked martial talents, meaning her intellect was her sole weapon. Gratefully, she possessed an incredible aptitude for mental tasks.

Even the specialist tasked with her education had openly marveled at her sharp wit on numerous occasions.

‘While individuals capable of tracking funds are common enough, finding someone who pairs high capability with absolute loyalty is exceedingly rare!’

She remained in the dark regarding the specific nature of Heinz’s ventures, but she figured a capable wealth strategist would prove invaluable across any sector.

Though she was still developing, a commitment to rigorous effort would eventually transform her into a cornerstone asset for him.

As Diana bolstered her inner resolve regarding these grand aspirations while tidying the premises,

Sniff—

A particular aroma struck her senses from an indeterminate source.

‘Not again… ’

It was the distinct metallic tang of blood, a scent she had already detected multiple times throughout the day.

While it wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to her past experiences, the occurrence had grown noticeably more common of late.

‘Furthermore, the essence I am picking up these days feels unfamiliar.’

The trace of unrecognized vampires was multiplying, drowning out the familiar presences she had grown accustomed to recognizing.

‘I can only pray that trouble isn’t brewing… ’

Diana knit her brows, swiftly concluding her chores before stepping inside the residence.

She resolved that it was imperative to voice another caution to her sibling Aaron and to Rafi.

And in this manner,

A hidden conflict was drawing near.