Chapter 238

Chapter 238 – Another Wyvern

Once the Second Troubleshooter Training Center was thoroughly cleared, I signaled Hazen’s waiting associates down below.

The underlings, who had already corralled the wandering vagrants from the Black-White Slums, climbed up to the facility and began sorting out the aftermath with practiced ease.

“You guys handle this like it’s a daily routine.”

I initiated a chat with a passing underling, who swept his eyes around before leaning in to whisper.

“We run illicit smuggling operations on the side.”

“I see.”

That explained it.

No wonder their crowd-control skills were top-tier.

As it turned out, these men were part of Hazen’s personal, covertly maintained inner circle. It was moments like this that made me highly inquisitive about the identity hidden beneath Hazen’s mask.

Regardless, putting that matter aside.

“……”

I positioned myself near the main entrance outside the facility, quietly observing the ongoing cleanup.

‘Was No. 2 stationed here during this period as well?’

No. 2—better known as Lucifer among our close group.

Chancing upon Lucifer within the Second Training Center was entirely unexpected.

And with good reason, given my knowledge that the rest of my allies had enlisted as Troubleshooters long after I did.

To clarify, by “allies” I am referring to a select few of the Single Numbers from the period preceding my regression.

Yet, after pondering the timeline, I recalled that Lucifer occupied a rather distinct position.

‘Come to think of it, Lucifer held the rank of No. 2 before I ever climbed into the Single Numbers.’

The remaining crew had attained their Single Number status well after my arrival.

Why was I reflecting on this now?

Because following my rebirth, I had been quite relaxed about tracking down my old allies, assuming there was plenty of time—and now I wondered if that complacency was a mistake.

Fortunately, it wasn’t.

‘I wonder what the rest of the gang is up to.’

Encountering Lucifer brought back a wave of old memories, but I quickly shook away the sentimentality.

‘There is no urgent need to seek them out.’

The Troubleshooter training centers were destined for destruction regardless, and Lortel had committed to managing the subsequent logistics.

This meant my future allies would not fall back into Decullan’s grasp.

Barring an accidental reunion, I had no intentions of hunting down individuals who were likely managing fine on their own.

Granted, scraping by as vagrants wasn’t a lavish lifestyle, but they weren’t the sort to starve to death, no matter where they landed.

The real anomaly was No. 2, Lucifer.

A faint grin slipped out as I watched Lucifer—massive, awkward, and blinking in confusion—docilely following the instructions of the underlings.

“……That dimwitted expression is exactly the same.”

Truthfully, until moments ago, I had been weighing several dilemmas.

The Magic Tower was desperate for manpower, and Lucifer’s innate capabilities were undeniable.

Granted, he never managed to surpass the standard limits of a Troubleshooter in our past life, but that was merely because my own progression was anomalous.

I had been debating whether to recruit him into the Magic Tower, but observing that blank, slow gaze instantly cleared my doubts.

‘He’ll survive on his own merits, whatever happens.’

Would interfering with Lucifer’s trajectory truly grant him genuine autonomy? If this were the pre-regression version of him, he would have barked back, “Keep your hollow philosophy to yourself.”

Just as I settled my thoughts regarding Lucifer, the communication orb resting in my pocket began to vibrate.

It was Shine.

[Our side is clear.]

“Any complications?”

[Just annoying pests. Per your directives, I broke their necks before they could send out a distress signal.]

“Good.”

That marked the neutralization of the Third Training Center.

I relayed a few swift directives regarding the cleanup to Shine and disconnected, only for the artifact to immediately vibrate once more.

[Task completed. Did I keep you waiting? Heh.]

“Not at all, sir. Given your advanced age, that was exceptionally swift.”

[When the Reaper calls, seniority doesn’t grant a delay.]

Senior Myselrn offered a witty retort before shifting to the core update.

[The local arrays are blocked, preventing any alerts from reaching Decullan. Not a single runner escaped.]

The Fourth Training Center was evidently secured as well.

Mirroring my call with Shine, I provided a few brief pointers and cut the connection.

Let us evaluate the current status.

‘Of the four primary facilities, three have been completely eradicated… leaving only the First?’

Demolishing one final outpost would permanently dissolve the Troubleshooter training network.

Naturally, this wouldn’t cause the active, field-deployed Troubleshooters to vanish into thin air.

Secretly, I desired to liberate every single operating Troubleshooter across the land, but I chose to suppress that excessive ambition.

You don’t have to carry the weight of the world. Not the academy, not the populace, not… any of it.

Shine’s parting words lingered in my thoughts, prompting me to utilize Lortel’s administrative leverage for the remaining variables.

Right on schedule, a shadow knight marched toward me.

“Tower Master, our window for departure is closing.”

The leader of the shadow knights… his designation was…

“Sir Aden? Let us proceed.”

“……I never disclosed my identity to you. Nor do I intend to.”

An incredibly rigid individual.

I could have easily overpowered him on the spot if I wished, but given the massive logistical backing Lortel provided for this campaign, I exercised restraint.

Regardless of how isolated these facilities were from core Decullan lands, without Lortel drawing away scrutiny by maneuvering her private forces, we might have successfully demolished the structures but lacked the breathing room to evacuate the captives.

“Diverting the main estate’s attention buys us a mere ten days. If we delay our march to the First Training Center, we jeopardize the schedule.”

“Understood.”

I offered a composed, authoritative nod.

However, before departing.

I propelled myself upward, landing gracefully atop the wooden palisade to survey the interior of the outpost.

Among the crude timber barracks lay a wide courtyard where dozens of captives stood in formation, directed by the underlings.

Their features were blank, incapable of fully processing their sudden liberation, so I snapped my fingers to command their focus.

Snap!

The sharp noise reverberated through the open air.

With their collective attention fixed upon me, I spoke.

“I began my journey as nothing more than a vagrant in the Black-White Slums. I possessed nothing—no garments, no sustenance, no education. Yet, against all odds, I ascended to this position.”

My gaze locked onto No. 2, Lucifer.

“This was achieved through the guidance of countless individuals.”

In reality, I never possessed a formal mentor.

Nevertheless, many had educated me through various means, intentionally or otherwise.

Furthermore, the primary driver was my own unparalleled genius, but a dramatic narrative is necessary for moments such as this, isn’t it?

“Therefore…”

I tore my eyes away from Lucifer, scanning the entirety of the crowd.

“Within the liberty you have received, pursue knowledge without end. Commit to that, and you may eventually claim the identical prestige, affluence, and grand luxuries that I enjoy.”

I omitted any righteous monologues regarding global peace or the sanctity of existence.

For desperate souls like us, it was the raw pursuit of prestige, affluence, and luxury that fueled the drive to survive.

Yet, pursuing worldly desires did not equate to being vulgar.

That was my firm belief.

No. 2, Lucifer, silently tracked Aster’s departing figure after those concluding remarks.

For a titan capable of annihilating demonic wardens and elite sorcerers, it was a remarkably simple declaration. Nevertheless, those precise words struck a deep chord within Lucifer’s soul.

‘Possessed nothing—no garments, no sustenance… no education.’

In that instant, it became clear to him.

The true object of his desire.

Concurrently, a fresh spark of intrigue ignited within his thoughts.

— I began my journey as nothing more than a vagrant in the Black-White Slums.

To achieve such heights, what disciplines must one master?

Deep within the soul of the Troubleshooter who had previously awaited a grim demise in a freezing cellar, stripped of his vital energy, an expansive horizon named freedom now unveiled itself.

And across that boundless horizon, a winged creature stretched its wings to soar.

……Though currently small and immature, it was, without a doubt, a wyvern.

Intelligence regarding the utter decimation of the Troubleshooter training facilities failed to reach Decullan until several days after Aster thoroughly leveled the First outpost.

The initial revelation occurred by mere chance.

A logistical driver transporting rations happened upon the ruined site.

“W-what in the world…?”

The panicked driver immediately sounded the alarm.

Decullan acted swiftly to investigate the perimeter, discovering identical ruin across the alternate locations.

“The state of the First and Second Training Centers points to a single assailant. The evidence suggests a sorcerer specializing in high-tier lightning magic…”

“The third site presents an anomaly. The lacerations suggest an extraordinary blade technique. The casualties exhibit no signs of prolonged suffering, indicating instantaneous expiration—the hallmark of an elite executioner…”

“The fourth outpost displays signs of a master spiritualist’s intervention. The utilized components include wind, earth, and water elements…”

The scouts deployed by Decullan transmitted their assessments continuously.

Concurrently, back at the ancestral manor, leadership scrambled forces to trace the missing captives, but Aster and his cohorts had already crossed beyond the borders of Decullan territory.

Decullan concluded the inquiry with zero leads, ensuring those tied to the operation of the outposts faced sleepless nights.

‘Even though we breathe… this cannot be considered living.’

‘Through what channel did our security breach occur?’

A brutal internal cleansing had only recently concluded regarding leaks to Lortel concerning Decullan’s involvement in the collapse of the Empire.

The factions implicated in the imperial downfall maintained their innocence, yet Decullan’s retribution remained absolute.

Even lacking definitive verification from Lortel, they had executed suspected turncoats without hesitation.

Consequently, the retainers associated with the training network assumed an identical execution awaited them.

Yet, reality defied expectations.

What they received was not a swift death sentence.

“The Patriarch mandates the immediate containment of this situation. Dismantle all components, including the logistical networks associated with the Troubleshooters.”

Certain individuals feared their executions were merely delayed until the consolidation concluded, yet historical precedents suggested otherwise.

Ultimately, a liquidation of this nature could be executed while preserving a mere handful of functionaries.

There was no logical purpose in granting amnesty to everyone.

The retainers accepted the Patriarch’s baffling decree with bewildered appreciation. Amidst the general confusion, one individual—

Holland observed the developments with deep suspicion.

‘…What strategy are you employing?’

Remaining blind to the identity of the internal spy, yet permitting the entire collective to operate unpunished.

Holland traditionally viewed analyzing the Patriarch’s hidden motives as an act of defiance, yet on this occasion, he found it unavoidable.

The scenario was simply too anomalous.

Thus, skepticism permeated the ranks of the family.

Deep within the restricted quarters of Decullan, inside a specific detached pavilion.

“……”

Pahren stepped inside unaccompanied, eschewing any servants, and systematically inspected the interior.

Rarity after rarity rested upon the display cases, and Pahren scrutinized each item meticulously as he walked the perimeter.

An immense duration passed in silence.

Upon completing his circuit of the pavilion, Pahren halted.

“It has vanished.”

Though rumors circulated that Decullan possessed a duo of legendary texts, reality dictated the existence of a third.

A corrupted tome inherited solely by the ruling Patriarchs.

And yet.

“It is definitively missing. Such an event is entirely unprecedented.”

The corrupted tome operated outside conventional natural laws, possessing the capability to displace itself, yet it had never exited this pavilion across multiple eras.

To be precise, the founding Patriarch of Decullan had anchored it within these walls.

In truth, the surrounding historical wealth served as a mere distraction to conceal the otherwise unremarkable appearance of the tome.

The genuine anchor of this pavilion was that very volume…

“Hmm.”

Pahren remained motionless, trapped in deep contemplation.

‘Has it selected a bearer?’

Yet, the innate properties of the text should not have allowed it to bypass the pavilion’s restrictions independently.

A multitude of theories raced through his mind.

Nevertheless, Pahren promptly set aside the unanswerable dilemmas.

The critical variable was the departure of the tome—and after eras of rejecting all candidates, it had finally chosen an individual.

Who, then, was the recipient?

The primary suspect was readily apparent.

Pahren’s initial journey to this chamber was born out of profound doubt.

The concealed sorcerer who had claimed Karahen’s life. The Tower Master who had wrested the Infinite Chain from Lortel’s possession. Based on situational indicators, they were one and the same.

Working from that premise.

Suppose the Tower Master was intertwined with the anomalies of the Trial’s Chamber as well.

……No, it transcended mere supposition.

Pahren possessed absolute certainty that the Tower Master was directly woven into the sequence of events surrounding the Heavenly Origin Art.

And currently… even this localized strike on the Troubleshooter infrastructure.

Synthesize the data.

An abrupt, overwhelming adversary alongside the disappearance of the family heirloom.

Could this truly be dismissed as mere happenstance?

The Tower Master’s direct hand in this localized assault lacked formal verification, yet Pahren required no such validation.

His expression darkened significantly.

‘……I must verify this personally.’

……Tower Master. That specific entity became permanently stamped into the consciousness of the Decullan Patriarch.