Chapter 73: Imperial Summit (2)
“Are you really getting off here?”
“There’s sowhere I absolutely need to stop by today.”
Giving an appropriate excuse, I got off the carriage before it reached the lodging.
Through the main avenue, I could clearly see the fortress walls that led to the Imperial Palace in the distance.
The carriage I had been riding in had already vanished from sight.
‘No one tried to stop . That’s unexpected.’
Well, it felt more like they hesitated, read the mood, and had no choice but to let go.
They didn’t have the leisure to keep their eyes on forever anyway.
The Empire was filled with countless powers and factions, and the Imperial Summit was the grand event where all of them gathered.
In Carvena, I might appear to be an important figure.
But across the entire Ribenia Empire, my significance probably wouldn’t even reach A-rank.
‘That’s exactly why it has to be now.’
Once I beca a key figure of the Empire, it would likely beco impossible to move around alone.
The conference would officially open tomorrow, and after that, I wouldn’t be able to leave the palace grounds.
When returning, I’d have to ride the carriage back with the group as well, so acting separately would be difficult in every sense.
If those Abattoir bastards hadn’t ambushed , I would’ve simply waited and observed the situation until the next chance arose.
But since this opportunity ca to , there was no reason to waste it.
‘I should at least make good use of this to gather information.’
So I headed toward the 5th district.
The district considered the most isolated even within the capital, Arpe.
Recalling the scenes from my mory as best I could, I turned through the twisting alleys.
Old stone buildings stood in stark contrast to the well-paved boulevards I had just left behind.
Bottles and filth were scattered everywhere, and the stench of urine filled the air. Holess n and won lay sprawled across the filthy ground.
It was morning, so few of them were even conscious.
Ignoring them completely, I walked for quite so ti before a familiar mark caught my eye.
“……”
A faint emblem—three triangles overlapping at different angles—was carved into the outer wall.
It was the secret symbol of one of the Empire’s most infamous clandestine organizations, Platinum Dawn.
Ever since I entered this world and beca Eugene Carter, the Incurable Curse had remained an unsolved burden.
By forming a contract with Clina White, I managed to devise a technique to temporarily lift my limiter.
But this last battle revealed the full extent of that strategy’s limitations.
‘It’s fine for short-term combat, but too fragile for drawn-out fights…’
My body was slowly adapting, so the ti limit was gradually extending—but even then, thirty minutes would be the most I could sustain.
If it were a skill I could freely switch ON and OFF, that would be different, but it carried too many restrictions… even with perfect efficiency, I could only maintain full power for about an hour at best.
And that’s not even accounting for the complete energy drain afterward.
Even considering all of that, I could still produce acceptable results for now.
But this condition wasn’t sustainable.
If I didn’t resolve the root cause, there was no way I could survive a head-on clash with the stronger foes yet to co.
The problem was…
There was far too little information about the Incurable Curse.
‘Sabnac itself is one of those unheard-of S-rank Beasts, after all.’
In any ga, the more difficult the enemy, the more attention it drew.
Monsters like Mastema, Aporia, and Azidahaka—the SS-rank beasts—or the S -rank but notoriously troubleso Asmodeus were examples of such cases.
Unfortunately, Sabnac’s rank was high but its strategy simple. Its appearances were rare as well.
Since even the creature itself was treated so lightly, it was only natural that there was little data on the curse it left behind.
So the conclusion I ca to… was to find those who dealt in information.
And in the Empire, none were more fitting for that than Platinum Dawn.
A secret organization founded about two hundred years ago, during the Empire’s golden age—its goal: the collapse of the Imperial Court.
Despite its long history, its actual activity was limited, to the point that so treated it as an ancient myth. Yet, it undeniably still existed today.
The difference from the past… was that unlike its early years, countless internal factions now existed within it.
‘Which ans there’s room to slip in.’
Once, they had all shared a single obsession—killing anyone of Imperial blood. But now, things were entirely different.
Even among those who used the sa symbol and codes, many held entirely different stances.
“Among them, especially the Black Magic Research Circle…”
I held the Book of Bones close to the emblem and released mana into it.
Instantly, an ominous crimson glow rose from the symbol.
A narrow passageway opened at the edge of the wall.
“…Let’s see where this leads.”
After one last glance around, I stepped inside without hesitation.
For a mont, the world flipped upside down—then only a pitch-black iron door stood before .
Clang—
I forced open the stiff handle with a rough push.
Inside, I saw display cases, tables, and carpets cluttered with all kinds of magical devices.
In the empty spaces, variously shaped magic circles had been drawn.
“……”
Maybe it was because I’d just co from the Magic Tower, but everything here looked so blatantly amateurish.
Barely arranged for appearance’s sake, really.
‘Well, it’s not like I ca here to buy magical devices anyway.’
I kept walking.
Beyond the lobby, I stepped into a space resembling a bar.
Four or five tables lined each side, and a D-shaped counter stood at the far end.
Only three people were present.
Two slumped over a table to the left, fast asleep.
The last one—
I walked up to the man wiping glasses behind the counter.
He didn’t even glance at , continuing to polish the glassware in silence.
‘Two knocks an a headquarters visit, three for mbership, four for information purchase…’
I lightly sat on a stool and tapped the counter four tis.
Once I initiated the signal, the man finally spoke.
“Do you have the coin?”
It was the code phrase aning, Show your assigned mark.
The “code” referred to a permanent imprint—a unique magic mark that only the original bestower could lift.
Of course, there was no way I’d have Platinum Dawn’s code.
So, I chose a different form of proof.
“I don’t have the coin, but I did bring a gift.”
Saying so, I took out the Book of Bones, Oste, and placed it on the counter.
The man imdiately flicked his fingers.
In that instant, the sides of the room turned hazy—and my vision flipped as though a curtain had been pulled away.
The two n who had been slumped over in deep sleep, along with the rows of tables that had filled the room, had all vanished.
The two n who had been slumped over in deep sleep, along with the rows of tables that had filled the room, had all vanished.
Instead, masked magicians were pointing their wands straight at .
“…Quite an impressive illusion spell.”
“That’s enough, gentlen. You may disperse.”
At the man’s signal, the group of magicians scattered in all directions and disappeared.
“So, what kind of information do you wish to purchase?”
He got straight to the point.
‘Well, I can appreciate soone who doesn’t waste ti with small talk.’
So I did the sa.
“I need two pieces of information… First, who was the original owner of this grimoire?”
And the other one—
I looked the man straight in the eyes for the first ti and continued.
“I want to know about the Incurable Curse.”
The man’s expression didn’t change, though a faint flicker in his pupils betrayed a mont of surprise.
Setting down the glass he had been polishing, he spoke quietly.
“That’s quite an expensive request.”
“……”
“What can you offer in return?”
These people weren’t after money.
Nor would they care about social standing or identity.
I could’ve used Clina White—contracting her alone was enough to make a valuable bargaining chip.
But with no trust in these people, I had no intention of revealing sothing that crucial.
‘That would be far too dangerous in the Empire.’
So, my answer was already decided.
“Information should be traded for information, don’t you think?”
“…A fair point.”
“Then one question and one answer each. Two for two.”
“Very well.”
He spread two fingers before .
“The first—about the Marksman of Magic Bullets. The second—about Wind Magic.”
“The Marksman of Magic Bullets and Wind Magic, huh…”
“Can you answer those?”
I thought he’d ask sothing more difficult. This was unexpectedly simple.
Nodding, I extended my hand.
“Let’s start with the easier one. Who was the original owner of the Book of Bones?”
The mont I asked, ominous mana began leaking from the man’s entire body, and a six-pointed magic circle appeared in his eyes.
Fixing his gaze on the air, he began spouting information in a trance.
“Count Ricola, year 1034, 16 Berkshire Street, ossification, Skeleton Sword, nightmare of Colin Bomr, demon worship, cursed arm, ‘If you wish to host the demon, offer your most beloved child as sacrifice,’ year 1419, palace bombing, division, youngest son of the Flos family, enlisted in the army, missing, last sighting in year 44, cri syndicate, Abattoir…”
After that, I couldn’t understand a single thing he was saying.
Not that the earlier words made much more sense, either.
‘I’ll need so ti to sort this out.’
It wasn’t urgent, and with the Summit ongoing, I’d have plenty of ti to analyze it later.
Quickly, I took out my pen and notebook, jotting down every word without missing a single syllable.
For nearly a minute, the man continued to ramble like one possessed, before wiping the drool from his chin and exhaling heavily.
“…That’s all the record left in Ain Kabbalah.”
“I see.”
“Now it’s your turn, Eugene Carter.”
“…So you knew after all.”
“Reading one’s identity is a specialty of black magicians.”
He said that confidently, though clearly hadn’t sensed Clina’s presence.
— I thought it better to stay hidden since you didn’t want noticed. Was that wrong?
‘No. Stay hidden.’
If he had refused the deal, maybe it would’ve been different, but revealing her now would ruin everything.
Anyway, I began sharing information about the Marksman of Magic Bullets.
About twenty percent of the full picture—focused mostly on Lieutenant General Alvin of the Special Task Force.
When I finished, the man nodded with a satisfied grin.
“You know quite a lot about your superior.”
“I don’t see why you’d want to know about the Marksman of Magic Bullets, though.”
“There’s no need for us to exchange motives, is there?”
That was true enough.
Platinum Dawn’s sub-faction, Ain Kabbalah.
Even among the secret societies that thrived in the shadows, black magic researchers were particularly taboo.
They were dood the mont they stepped into the light—hence, exchanges like this could occur without fear.
In any case, the first trade concluded smoothly.
Now, it was ti for the real business.
Perhaps realizing what I wanted, the man shrugged lightly and spoke.
“I can take a look into it… but don’t you already know enough about the Incurable Curse yourself?”
“Unfortunately, my mory’s a bit muddled on that.”
“…I see.”
“Well, if that’s the case.”
The man released his mana the sa way as before.
But what followed—
—was completely different this ti.
“Gahk…!”
Blood began to gush from his eyes and mouth.
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