Chapter 256

Chapter 256 – Even More Not That

Once Pola regained his composure, I guided him away from the institution.

“Where exactly are we going?” he inquired.

“Just stick close to me for the moment,” I replied.

Our destination turned out to be the Second Black-White Slums.

If it seems strange to visit the Second Black-White Slums during such a critical moment, the decision stemmed entirely from a prior discussion I had with Parun.

• You’ve arrived? So you’ve committed to this path after all.

• Indeed. Could you take a look at this and break down its properties?

• This object is…

The item I handed to Parun for inspection was the magical tool used to monitor whether the leader of the Kalia Mercenary Corps was still among the living. I suspected that devices tracking vitality possessed inherent vulnerabilities that could be weaponized for location tracking. It appeared Parun shared this line of thinking and had already conducted some research.

• I had my doubts initially since it’s the genuine article, but this is a Life Gem.

• A Life Gem…

• Unfamiliar with it? It gained significant notoriety during the historical conflicts. High-born ladies frequently gifted them to their betrothed as charms to ensure a safe return home.

The term sparked a recollection.

A Life Gem, frequently referred to as a Death Sign.

The origin of that ominous title—essentially meaning an omen of mortality—carried a dark history.

During those ancient conflicts, the tracking methodology leaked to opposing factions, who twisted its original purpose. Consequently, a token intended to safeguard a partner’s survival inadvertently provided enemies with a beacon to hunt them down. Because of this flaw, presenting such jewels to soldiers departing for the battlefield became an absolute taboo—a dark legacy known as the Life Gem incident.

While it was a historical disaster, it served as excellent news for our current predicament.

It handed us a viable method to locate the stubborn Kalia Mercenary Captain.

However, it wasn’t going to be entirely straightforward.

An obstacle remained.

• The knowledge is largely forgotten today, but the empire itself engineered the tracking system and exploited it during the war. Once the conflict concluded, they systematically wiped out all documentation regarding the process.

Unearthing even this scant amount of history was solely possible because Parun held a faculty position at Jenion Academy, an institution deeply aligned with imperial interests.

To put it briefly: locating the target was theoretically feasible, but the practical means had been thoroughly erased. Parun mentioned he might uncover the archived data given enough time, but time was a luxury we lacked. Examining the magical object itself would also consume too many precious hours.

So what was the alternative? Searching blindly across the land? Absolutely not.

The primary motivation for bringing us to the Second Black-White Slums was the presence of an individual here who might possess the secret to locating a Life Gem.

Not long ago, I had stepped abruptly into the principal’s office of the newly established orphanage.

“Senior Rihaym, have you been faring well lately?”

He appeared to be in the middle of reviewing some texts. Startled by my sudden appearance, Rihaym adjusted his spectacles and blinked in surprise before addressing me.

“…Tower Lord?”

“Indeed, it is I.”

“What prompts this unannounced arrival at such an hour? And with a companion, no less.”

I immediately bypassed any pleasantries. “Are you familiar with the mechanics of Life Gems?”

“Life Gems?”

“Yes, the Death Signs. They were widely used tools during the historic wars, and I require some information regarding them.”

My logic was straightforward: if the imperial forces had extensively exploited these items, then Rihaym, given his background, would be the most likely person to hold the specific details. While the headmaster might also possess such knowledge, this specific area fell directly into Rihaym’s expertise. As the Muspellun Grand Duke and a prominent figure in the empire’s magical infrastructure during that era, he was bound to have firsthand awareness.

My intuition proved accurate.

“…I am well aware of them. Unquestionably so.”

There was no doubt now. Rihaym understood the methodology required to track a Life Gem. His expression clouded over, resembling a wrongdoer forced to confront a deeply buried misdeed from the past.

“What causes you to inquire about them now?”

Rather than digging into his personal history, I succinctly outlined the crisis involving Pola. After hearing the explanation, Rihaym closed his eyes, silently organizing his thoughts before speaking a few moments later.

“So the past catches up with us after all?”

His tone resonated with a quiet melancholy.

“I possess the tracking knowledge… It would be impossible for me not to, considering I spearheaded the initial development and research into Life Gems.”

“Does that mean…”

Rihaym gave a firm nod, answering the frantic prompt in Pola’s voice.

“I will share the method with you. Since a life hangs in the balance, I cannot refuse. However, assembling the necessary components will require a brief window of time.”

“How much time do you need?”

“Until the morning breaks. Will that suffice?”

I signaled my agreement. It was more than acceptable, requiring no second thoughts.

Leaving the Life Gem in Rihaym’s custody, I escorted Pola to the lounge area of the orphanage. With the locating dilemma resolved for the moment, our remaining task was to wait for Rihaym to conclude his preparations before setting off immediately. First, however, we had to review the logistical details.

“Where is the current location of the Kalia Mercenary Corps recovery team?”

The recovery group referred to the personnel who had bypassed the Ro.De War to remain at headquarters. Upon discovering that their leader still lived, they had swiftly gathered their gear and departed.

“They have reportedly made landfall in the Homoru Territory,” Pola explained.

“The Homoru Territory?”

“Yes. Every single transit gateway near the battlefront has been deactivated, forcing them to redirect to the closest accessible point.”

That explained their arrival in Homoru Territory.

“What is their intended course of action from that position?”

“The plan is to link up with Lortel’s primary forces, secure official authorization to conduct a search, and advance into the field without delay.”

Pola’s countenance remained grim as he relayed this information. It sounded plausible on paper, but he recognized how minuscule their chances of success truly were. Traveling from Homoru Territory to merge with the main army and then proceeding to the location of the disappearance would drain an immense amount of time. The recovery team itself was likely moving forward out of sheer desperation rather than certain conviction.

As I weighed these factors, a quiet stillness enveloped the room. After a lengthy silence, I broke the quiet.

“Pola, you will not be participating in this tracking mission.”

“What? Why would you…”

Pola stumbled over his words in astonishment, but the reality of the situation was absolute to me.

“You traveled to the Second Black-White Slums as a client seeking answers. Beyond this point, your involvement ends.”

The reasoning was simple: Pola would inevitably become an impediment. He would slow down our pace, and navigating through Decullan territory carried unpredictable hazards.

“I am entirely capable of holding my own…”

“Do you truly believe you won’t be a liability out there?”

“…”

Pola went silent, unable to offer a rebuttal.

Deep down, he understood that forcing his way along would only burden the team. Frustrated by his own limitations, his hands trembled as he balled them into tight fists. I watched him quietly, fully recognizing the emotional weight he carried. He must have been utterly desperate to seek out Parun, grasping at any shred of possibility that an academy academic might offer a solution, despite knowing how slim the chances were.

Nevertheless, sentimentality could not dictate our actions.

“You must remain behind.”

“…”

Pola lowered his gaze at my firm directive. Though he seemed consumed by irritation at his own helplessness, I maintained a measured, steady tone.

“You have already contributed more than enough.”

This sentiment was completely genuine. Under normal circumstances, saving the leader of the Kalia Mercenary Corps would have been a statistical impossibility. With the gateways near the front sealed, no ordinary individual from Hazen city could ever hope to reach the conflict zone in time. Furthermore, the surveillance operations conducted by Decullan were incredibly thorough. Even with miraculous luck to evade capture, logistics would prove fatal. A standard unit wouldn’t carry excessive provisions, and spatial storage items possessed definitive thresholds. If the leader were entirely isolated, survival might be possible, but otherwise, the situation was catastrophic. Faced with a dwindling food supply, a commander would eventually be forced to make a desperate, final gambit while they still possessed the strength to move.

Therefore, the rescue was a lost cause—had Pola not approached Parun in the first place. If the Magic Tower formally requested access, the youthful leader of Lortel’s faction would willingly permit the use of a regulated warp gate, drastically shortening the timeline for the search.

“You have done your part, so stay put.”

Though the outlook remained perilous, the near-impossible odds had shifted into our favor solely because of Pola’s actions. Sensing the truth in my words, Pola relented as tears began to spill across his hands.

“I implore you, please save him.”

I offered a reassuring nod. “I understand. At the very least, I will ensure his remains are recovered.”

Honoring his spirit was the most concrete pledge I could offer at that moment.

As the first light of morning appeared, Rihaym entered the lounge.

“The arrangements are complete. Take hold of the Life Gem first. Do you perceive its resonance?”

“I do.”

As I clasped the jewel, a faint trace of magical energy resonated within my awareness.

“With specialized laboratory machinery, we could amplify this trace to determine an exact position, but under current conditions, this is the maximum output achievable. It should suffice for your purposes, correct?”

“Yes, it provides more than enough direction.”

The magical pulse was so minute that I had to push my perceptual capabilities to their absolute limit, yet it served perfectly well as a directional guide toward the Kalia Mercenary Captain. Rihaym then outlined a few critical aspects concerning the artifact that I needed to keep in mind.

With the technical explanation concluded, Rihaym cast a glance toward Pola.

“On another note… is he accompanying you on this venture?”

He clearly harbored reservations about bringing the youth into an active combat zone.

“Absolutely not.”

Rihaym let out a breath of relief at my answer and turned to Pola. “Rest easy. His temperament leaves much to be desired, but his magical capabilities are indisputable.”

“Thank you…” Pola managed an awkward reply to the attempt at levity.

With our business concluded, I prepared to depart.

“I shall take my leave then.”

“Travel safely.”

“I place my trust in you.”

“Of course.”

After saying our goodbyes to Rihaym and Pola, I stepped away from the orphanage. As I walked out, a distinct detail caught my eye: Pola’s palm was stained with dried blood. He had clenched his hand so fiercely that his rough skin had split open, leaving deep lacerations.

‘An unwelcome sign,’ I thought, turning away to continue my stride.

Despite promising to recover his remains at minimum, my internal resolve was different: I would bring him back alive, regardless of the difficulty.

My motivation wasn’t driven by sympathy for Pola or some lingering attachment to a former acquaintance. It was entirely pragmatic: saving him was the key to securing the territory of Arapurugin. It was as straightforward as that.

Later that night.

A radiant burst of light erupted from the active transit gateway situated within the region occupied by Lortel’s forces. Cloaked in full battle armor, the young patriarch Sion offered a welcoming smile to the traveler materializing from the portal.

“Welcome, Tower Lord. I trust you have been well?”

The grand conflict of the Ro.De War was shifting. The supreme leader of the Magic Tower had officially entered the theater of war.