Chapter 1098
“Ahem!”
Chad, the Shadow Agents Division Leader, cleared his throat and paused before announcing the name of the fifth successor candidate.
‘Who is it?’
Raon narrowed his eyes, watching Chad’s slightly trembling lips.
》”Could it be someone from the Light Wind Palace?”
Wrath looked at Chad with anticipation.
‘It’s definitely not Runaan.’
Since Runaan had followed Evelyn to Stehrin Mountain, she simply hadn’t had enough time to collect the Gold Badges.
》”Then maybe Eyeball or the Beef Girl?”
‘It’s possible.’
Burren had been eager to catch up to Karoon, and Martha had shown great passion for the successor test to protect the Black Tortoise Palace she was temporarily leading. Since both were Grand Masters, it wouldn’t be strange for them to become the fifth candidate if they had been lucky with their assignments.
‘It could be Trevin.’
Trevin had built up a significant record by completing various missions after taking charge of the Iron Division, making him even more likely than Burren or Martha.
‘However, I think it’s someone else.’
While Burren, Martha, and Trevin were all possibilities, there was someone more sincere about the position of Head Of House than those three.
》”Who are you talking about?”
Wrath waved his hand, urging him to speak.
‘That person is the Public Sword Palace—’
“The fifth successor candidate is Public Sword Palace Lord Serena.”
Just as Raon was about to tell Wrath, Chad spoke first.
“It may come as a surprise to Lord Raon, but Lady Serena has truly run a hard race.”
Chad clicked his tongue, admitting that even watching her had been exhausting.
“From what I felt, her efforts were almost comparable to Lord Karoon’s….”
“I know.”
Raon shook his head calmly.
“I suspected it was the Public Sword Palace Lord even before you mentioned it.”
Wrath had hoped that Burren or Martha, who were close to him, would become candidates, but because those two had been under his command, they hadn’t been able to accumulate as many badges as he thought.
On the other hand, Serena had been managing the Public Sword Palace for a long time, collecting badges, and had been so busy traveling that she wasn’t even in the family when Raon returned. It was more realistic for her to take the fifth spot.
“You knew?”
Chad’s eyes widened in surprise.
“How did you…?”
“She declared her intention to become the Head Of House since I was a trainee.”
Her determination regarding the position was different from others.
During the Selection Ceremony, Serena had proposed that they walk together, stating that her goal was to become the Zieghart Head Of House. Raon had thought she was extraordinary from the moment an outsider claimed they would become the Head Of House, but in the end, she had actually climbed to the position of successor candidate. “Amazing” was an understatement.
“Ah, I see!”
Chad nodded as if he finally understood.
“She certainly is someone with immense self-esteem and confidence.”
He nodded, admitting that he had seen Serena in a new light this time.
“Then, I shall repeat the names. Lord Karoon, Lord Raon, Lord Balder, Lady Aris, and Lady Serena are the five successor candidates.”
Chad listed the names again and lowered his gaze slightly.
“Lord Raon, are you confident that you can be first among those five?”
“That will depend on what the second test is.”
Raon gave a faint smile and shook his head.
‘It won’t be a duel.’
If only two people remained, perhaps. But with five candidates, there was no way they would simply pit them against each other in a duel. There was surely another test prepared.
“I suppose so. Though you do seem confident.”
Chad smiled thinly and stood up.
“Since I have delivered the message, I shall take my leave.”
He bowed, asking Raon to come to the Audience Chamber tomorrow.
“Ah, please tell the True Martial Palace Lord my congratulations.”
Raon smiled and waved his hand.
“Eh? To the True Martial Palace Lord?”
Chad blinked, wondering why Raon was saying that to him.
“You can stop pretending now, Shadow Agents Division Leader.”
Raon gave a mischievous grin and nodded.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about….”
Chad tilted his head, still acting as if he didn’t understand.
“You might have changed your mind now, but you were constantly pushing for the True Martial Palace Lord.”
Raon nodded, signaling that he knew everything.
‘It was obvious.’
Chad had frequently visited and flattered Raon under Karoon’s instructions to extract information. Since he didn’t seem to follow Karoon as he once did, Raon brought up the past.
(T/N: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA)
“W-what on earth are you talking about!”
Chad shouted in horror.
“When did I ever take the True Martial Palace Lord’s side! I only helped Lord Raon!”
He shook his head violently, wondering why this was happening.
“Eh? You didn’t?”
“Of course not! I may have leaked information from the True Martial Palace to you, but I never once spread information about the Annex!”
Chad beat his chest, feeling unfairly accused.
“Then why did you help me even when I had achieved nothing?”
Raon blinked blankly.
“Because I believed in the future of Lord Raon that the Head Of House and Lord Rimmer spoke of!”
Chad spread his hands, explaining that he had believed in Raon’s future through the conversations between Glenn and Rimmer and had tried to align himself early.
“I kept giving you gifts! I kept sending high-level information!”
He practically threw himself on the floor in frustration.
“Weren’t those all gifts to make me let my guard down?”
Raon’s eyes wavered slightly.
“I want to rip open my stomach to show you my sincerity! I knew something felt off! I felt like we weren’t communicating on the important parts!”
Chad nodded, finally solving the mystery of his relationship with Raon.
“N-now that I think about it, maybe that was the case….”
Looking back, Chad’s words sounded correct.
“Sit down right now! I’ll explain everything!”
Chad slapped the ground with his palm, wondering why Raon was so clueless compared to his swordsmanship.
“Ah, yes….”
For the first time, Raon shrank back and bowed his head before Chad.
》”See that!”
Wrath gestured toward the sky, looking at the shrunken Raon.
》”System! No matter how much you look after this moron, he doesn’t even remember it and instead suspects you!”
He shouted at the system to stop taking care of Raon.
》”Just follow this King as before….”
Just as Wrath puffed out his chest, telling the system to follow him.
[You have shown a purity unbecoming of a martial artist with overwhelming power and a cold-hearted scheme.]
[All ability stats increase.]
The system, finding this side of Raon cute, increased his stats.
‘Ah!’
Raon nodded as he saw the message appear before his eyes.
‘Come to think of it, I didn’t check the rewards. I should look at them later.’
He gestured to Wrath, thanking him.
》”Aaaaaagh!”
Wrath screamed, clutching his head.
》”Why only that guy!”
===
The next day at noon.
Raon went to the Head Of House’s hall after being summoned by Glenn.
The interior of the Audience Chamber was heating up like a desert due to the Energy Waves emanating from the Zieghart executives.
Whoosh!
Raon lightly pushed aside the stinging Energy Waves of the sword masters and took his place among the Palace Lords in front of the pillars.
“……”
Raon scanned the Great Leaders and Palace Lords standing opposite him, his gaze stopping on Serena.
“Phew.”
Serena seemed unaware that she had become a successor candidate, breathing deeply with a nervous expression.
Seeing the tremor in her eyes, Raon could feel how much effort she had put in, and a smile unconsciously formed on his lips.
“Nephew!”
Balder approached and draped an arm over his shoulder.
“How is your condition?”
“It’s good.”
Raon nodded, saying he had slept well.
“That’s how it should be! Today is the day you become a successor candidate!”
Balder laughed loudly, offering his congratulations.
“By the way.”
He lowered his voice slightly, leaning in.
“Don’t you think it’s time to keep our promise?”
Balder licked his lips, saying he had been waiting.
“Of course I remember.”
Raon nodded with a smile.
“If you tell me which martial study you want, I’ll try to create it in my own way.”
He bowed, telling Balder not to worry.
“Kyahaha! That’s my nephew! I’ll visit the Annex soon!”
Just as Balder was patting Raon’s back in anticipation.
Smack!
Aris swung her palm violently and smacked the back of Balder’s head.
“Aaaagh! Why did you hit me!”
Balder screamed, turning to Aris.
“Cut the crap! Now you’re shaking down your nephew for martial studies?”
Aris gnashed her teeth, telling him to behave.
“I-it’s not a shake-down, it’s a contract between us!”
Balder shouted, wondering how he could possibly be threatening Raon.
“Is that true?”
Aris blinked, looking at Raon.
“It’s true. There was something I asked of him.”
Raon nodded with a faint smile.
“Hmph, I guess not.”
Aris licked her lips and stepped back.
“A-aren’t you going to apologize? You hit my head and you’re just leaving?”
Balder glared, bewildered.
“People make mistakes.”
Aris waved her hand, telling him to let it go.
“I can’t let it go! Why should I!”
Balder raised his fist, threatening to hit her back.
“How dare you to your noona!”
“Hieek!”
As Aris frowned and raised her palm, Balder gasped and hurriedly scrambled backward.
Seeing that even that massive body was terrified, Raon realized once again how frightening repeated learning could be.
“Be quiet.”
Karoon shook his head, looking at the empty Jade Throne.
“The Head Of House is coming.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the right door opened, and Glenn, Sheryl, and Roenn walked out.
“I greet the Head Of House.”
“I greet the Head Of House!”
Starting with Karoon, all the Zieghart executives in the Audience Chamber knelt and bowed their heads.
“Hmm.”
Glenn nodded calmly, stepped onto the platform, and sat upon the golden Jade Throne.
“Everyone, rise.”
At his gesture, the executives were raised not by their own legs, but by a heavy, rising energy.
“As of this moment, I declare the first successor test closed.”
Glenn nodded, thanking everyone for their hard work.
“Phew….”
“It’s finally over.”
“I knew it would be hard, but I still hoped… it really was tough.”
“Still, we grew a bit. That’s something.”
“It’s thanks to the Light Wind Palace Lord insisting we participate. If not for that, I would have just played and eaten.”
The sword masters looked at Glenn and Raon, who had allowed them to grow, remarking that it had been a good time.
“As I stated at the beginning, five candidates will be selected through the first test. Among them, the first, who accumulated the most points….”
Glenn’s gaze shifted toward the pillars.
“Karoon Zieghart. Step forward.”
“Yes!”
Karoon stepped onto the platform as if he had been waiting. Looking at his noble posture, it seemed that deep jealousy and stubbornness had been replaced by a firm sense of self-pride.
“Woooh!”
“As expected of Lord Karoon!”
“Even though the Light Wind Palace Lord received six Gold Badges at once, Lord Karoon is still first?”
“Palace Lord! I believed in you!”
The executives erupted in cheers, shouting Karoon’s name.
“Second, Raon Zieghart; third, Balder Zieghart; fourth, Aris Zieghart. Step forward as well.”
Unlike with Karoon, Glenn called the second, third, and fourth candidates all at once.
“Yes.”
“Ehehe! I made it!”
“I got so absorbed that I ended up fourth.”
Raon, Balder, and Aris also climbed the platform and stood beside Karoon.
“Exactly the rankings I expected!”
“Right. This doesn’t change.”
“It’s only natural for the direct lineage, especially those of Palace Lord rank, to be at the top.”
The sword masters cheered, saying they had predicted Raon, Balder, and Aris as well.
“And finally….”
For the first time, Glenn’s gaze turned the opposite way.
“Serena Calvin. Step forward.”
He called Serena’s name with a voice more benevolent than when he called his son, daughter, or grandson.
“S-Serena?”
“The Public Sword Palace Lord is a successor candidate?”
“T-this is impossible!”
“The Public Sword Palace Lord might be the head of the Martial Force Unit, but she’s an outsider! She’s not even collateral lineage!”
The executives’ jaws dropped, as they had never imagined Serena’s name would be called.
“……”
Serena bit her lip, as if she had expected this reaction to some extent. A thick vein popped on her jaw.
“Head Of House! Please reconsider!”
“No matter if she is a Great Leader, she is an outsider!”
“Even if she isn’t direct lineage, at least her surname should be Zieghart!”
The executives bowed before the platform, pleading for him to reconsider. They seemed to be intentionally blocking the path for Serena to climb the platform.
“I clearly stated that the opportunity is open to anyone.”
Glenn cast a piercing gaze upon the direct lineage sword masters who were raising their voices.
“While you all slept comfortably in the family, the Public Sword Palace Lord worked her way through the mud to resolve critical missions. She is more suited to be the Head Of House than those of you who simply carry the Zieghart name by virtue of birth.”
As he lowered his hand, the executives blocking the path were pushed aside like pieces of paper fluttering in the wind.
“If you wish to speak such foolishness, do so after stripping away the Zieghart name.”
Karoon narrowed his eyes at the executives who had blocked the way.
“If you wanted to push the Public Sword Palace Lord out, you should have worked harder, as the Head Of House suggested.”
Raon clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“I left home because of people like that, and they’re still the same.”
Aris sighed, saying she would have to educate them soon.
“Serena. Come up.”
Glenn called Serena again with a warm gaze.
“Yes!”
Serena took a deep breath, exhaled, and climbed the platform to take the fifth spot.
Her eyes seemed to shine more brilliantly than the Jade Throne of the Head Of House.
“These five are not my choices, but those who rose to be successor candidates through their own abilities. Everyone, applaud.”
Glenn clapped first, calling it a magnificent achievement.
“Waaaaah!”
“Long live Zieghart!”
The executives cheered for the successor candidates, clapping so loudly their palms nearly burst.
“……”
“Khehehe!”
Karoon accepted the congratulations calmly, while Balder enjoyed the cheers with his arms wide open.
“……”
However, Serena’s eyes welled up with tears, as if recalling her past memories.
‘She must have suffered a lot.’
Because she dreamed of becoming the head of this massive family as an outsider, she must have faced countless criticisms and ridicule.
Having overcome those hardships to reach this position, Raon could understand her feelings.
“Now, I shall begin the second successor test.”
Glenn’s lips curled, as if he intended to announce the second test immediately.
“Starting right now?”
Balder’s eyes widened, thinking there would be a break.
“I do not know when this peaceful time will end, so the successor must be decided before then.”
Glenn nodded, saying there might not be much time.
“True. Tell us!”
Aris grinned, liking the efficiency.
“Phew….”
Karoon revealed a burning gaze, determined not to miss a single word from Glenn.
“The second successor test is to gain supporters who can solidify your own foundation.”
As Glenn spread his fingers, a blue, shimmering continent map appeared behind him.
“I will select the two people who bring in the highest number of heads of organizations that support them.”
He smiled, noting that this test would be more difficult than the first.
“Collecting support tokens?”
“Indeed, gaining the support of subordinates is a virtue of the Head Of House!”
“It’s nothing new, but it’s absolutely necessary.”
The sword masters began to chatter so excitedly that the Audience Chamber seemed to shake.
》”Eh? Ehhh!”
Wrath looked at Raon with eyes full of shock.
“Hmm?”
Raon reached into the inner pocket of his formal attire. He pulled out a token shaped like a white holy wall and curled his lips into a smile.
‘Off to a great start, isn’t it?’
》”Seriously, why is this brat so lucky!”
》”Is the world playing a prank on me?!”
