Chapter 484

Episode 135. Brotherly Unity (1)

"Hmm! So you thought from the beginning that Balchas would win, but you told me
to bet on Mary? You even lied that you had no choice but to do so after seeing
Mary's sword skills...?"

Thud! Kashimir put down his drink and spoke. Murakan and Balchas giggled as
they patted his back.

"I haven't been with the Tikchan group for long, so I thought I should make a good
impression on Murakan. Haha, please understand."

"Anyway, that guy is secretly a bit dumb, isn't he? Hey, and we should always bet
on the kid, even if we think we'll lose. Is it okay to just hand over two thousand
gold coins when you think the other party is going to win?"

Hahaha, Kashimir furrowed his brow as he watched the two laughing people.

"No, didn't Murakan order Balchas and me to bet on Mary!?"

"Oh, you're just making noise now. Are you crazy? Are you doing this because you
don't want to give up the money now that you lost the bet? You, the second richest
man in Tikchan?"

"When did I make a fuss like that, and it's not about the money!"

"Just now, just now. This won't do, this dumb guy. Hey, are you avoiding it? You
can't avoid it! Come here! Hey!"

As Murakan and Kashimir started playing a goofy game of tag, laughter erupted
from all around.

"It's a harmonious scene."

Mary, who had been watching, commented.

After the duel and Cosmos-style award ceremony, Jin and his friends, as well as
Mary and the pirates, were having a light after-party to celebrate Jin's victory.

Jin was sitting next to her, still flipping through the manual written by Shiron
himself. His expression remained just as bewildered as when he first received it.

'It seems Father really had a lot of interest in Mary.'

He couldn't imagine it at all. The cold and huge man writing a book for someone.
Even when he tried to picture it, he could barely see the man's back.

"Is Tikchan usually like this?"

"It seems so."

"It's really different from the gloomy Sword Garden. Anyway, you can't take your
eyes off it. Do you like it that much?"

When Jin turned his head and smiled, Mary couldn't help but let out a laugh.

"I never thought my cold-hearted brother could make such a dumb expression. I
thought your only charm was getting angry like a madman, but this is quite nice
too."

Jin, who was carefully putting the manual in his pocket, asked with a composed
expression.

"If you want me to, I can do more. What kind of expression would you like?"

"It's no fun when you suddenly speak so dryly. It's more exciting when you're
embarrassed."

Clink, the two clinked their glasses together.

"Younger brother."

"Yes, sister."
"The giant forces that haven't gone to the Gaipa military region are now gathering
in a desert called Sotara. Have you heard of it?"

Mary was talking about the secret technique she had promised to reveal if Jin
defeated her.

"Meow!"

Before Jin could reply, Shuri, who had been lying between Mary and Jin
(summoned because Mary wanted to see him), let out a cry.

Signaling that shehe knew the location, Shuri stretched and drew the location of
the Sotara Desert on the floor with his front paw. Mary exclaimed in admiration.

"Wow, every time I see herim, she's such a tempting creature. That's right, Shuri.
It's the desert located near the center of the Lutero Magic Federation."

Not only was the Sotara Desert located in the center of the Lutero Magic
Federation, but so was Drakka, the capital of the federation and the home of the
Zifl.

The first armies of the three major powers were gathered nearby.

"What's happening in that desert?"

"New Kozakszjeks are being built."

It was an issue Jin had somewhat anticipated since Mary first mentioned the
word "Zippefl."

'It must be the ship Midor summoned with Myuron using the cube.'

The notable point was the use of the term "Kozaksjeks" instead of just one
"Kozakjek."

"…So they're building facilities in the Sotara Desert and mass-producing giant
flying warships like the Kozakjek."

"Yeah, who would have ever imagined they could mass-produce those?"
"So we have to destroy their production facility."

"That's right."

It was an extraordinary mission of the highest priority.

Attacking a secret facility in the heart of enemy territory, close to their main base,
and only being able to deploy a very small number of returnable personnel was a
natural course of action.

Jin immediately thought of all sorts of calculations for attacking the production
facility.

The answers he got were so bad that he could only grit his teeth.

"When did our family find out that Zippefl was operating a flying warship
shipyard?"

"It seems they've known about the shipyard operation for a while. However, they
only discovered the exact location shortly after you destroyed the Heukwangsan
Mine."

"You just said that not only our family, but also Kinzjello and the Royal Family are
likely waiting in the Sotara Desert. Then, did our family get the information later
than them?"

"That's not it. They also obtained the information around the same time, so they
sent their top officials to the Sotara Desert instead of the Gaipa military region in
a hurry. And it's certain for Kinzjello, but not for the Royal Family. They might not
have sent anyone to Sotara."

"Runecandel, Kinzjello, and the Royal Family got the same information at a similar
time. This is... a clear trap."

Jin was certain of it.

The shipyard in the Sota Desert was intentionally leaked by Zippefl. Otherwise, it
would be impossible for the Runcandel, Kinzello, and the Royal Family to send
people at the same time.

"You're saying the same thing as Diephus."

"He probably also said that it's a trap we have no choice but to fall into."

Mary nods.

A trap they had no choice but to fall into, that's exactly what it was.

'Attacking a shipyard in a desert right next to Drakka is insane. Even if we pour

our best resources and succeed in returning, the only benefit that our family and
other forces will gain is consuming Zippefl's resources and slightly delaying the
mass production of the Kojec.'

Of course, constructing an airship would involve astronomical resources and

manpower, but it wasn't worth risking the lives of each faction's top forces,
excluding Zippefl.

As long as the technology wasn't lost, they could simply build another shipyard.

However, they couldn't just let the mass production of Kozakjec ships happen. So,
from the very beginning of this event, Zippefl had virtually won against the other
forces.

If they had already lost, they had to find the best way to lose. That way, they
wouldn't fall for it next time.

Or, even if the family loses, they had to create a structure that maximizes their
own benefit.

That way, when the family eventually becomes theirs, they can use those benefits.

'What does Zippefl want? Why did they suddenly leak information about the
shipyard at this time? To lure the top forces of each faction into the heart of the
LRuteero Magic Federation and deal with them one by one? No, that would violate
the premise that there will be no full-scale war as long as my father is around.'
If the top forces were to die at the shipyard, it would be an issue that could lead to
a full-scale war.

'Also, if they really wanted to fight, they would have secretly built ships and
launched a surprise attack instead of revealing the shipyard's location.'

So, what's their intention?

Suddenly, a word crossed his mind.

Verification.

'Could they be trying to verify the extent of the power held by the representative
forces of each faction who attacked the shipyard, or the special abilities they
possess?'

The Sota Desert is near the federal capital Drakka, which is located in the center
of the federation.

For the past thousand years, Drakka has been attacked by external forces but
has never been exposed to terror.

It's because it's almost impossible, even for Runcandel, to create an infiltration
plan that could penetrate all the security networks leading to Drakka.

'The same should apply to attacking the secret shipyard next to it. If one of
Runcandel, Kinzello, or the Royal Family succeeds in infiltrating the shipyard, it's
like Zippefl is checking the capabilities of external forces.'

Kinzello has the Captain and Bubar, the Royal Family has Main and its creators,
and Runcandel has Jin, Murakan, and Joshua's Prophet.

Among them, the only one Zippefl might not be aware of is the Prophet.

A sharp intuition pierced his mind.

'Zippefl has learned that Joshua has a collaborator with special abilities and
wants to know their power...!'
So they sprinkled a sweet poison that the enemies couldn't help but swallow, even
knowing it. They set a trap that couldn't be bypassed without stepping on it.

Of course, it could be a leap of logic.

However, if that wasn't the case, Jin couldn't think of any other reason why
Zippelephyr would leak the location of the secret shipyard.

'And there's a high probability that I don't exist in Zippelephyr's calculations.

Instead of infiltrating the shipyard in the Sota Desert, I went to find the Gaipa
Highway. Besides, they would have judged that it's impossible for Joshua and me,
who have a hostile relationship, to carry out the mission together.'

Finally, a faint smile appeared on Jin's dark face throughout.

His role this time was also a variable.

"But sister."

"Why?"

"Why are you not going to the Sota Desert yourself and passing it on to me? Is it
because of the training you mentioned earlier?"

"That's part of it, but if I had won this duel, I would have gone myself. Having a
stronger person go would increase the probability of Diphus Orabeni not getting
hurt."

Joshua and Diphus were currently infiltrating and waiting in the Sota Desert
among the current riders.

Mary finished her last drink and stood up.

"It's time for the loser to leave. This is a letter from Diphus Orabeni. The
infiltration route is marked, so you can just follow it. Please take good care of him
and make sure nothing happens to that man."

"Sister, wait a minute."

"Huh? Oh, what. Are you thanking the secretary? Hehe, try it five times."

"No, it's not that. Oh, of course, I'm very grateful. Please take a look at this."

What caught the slightly tilted gaze of Mary was a green rose with two buds
twisted together.

"Actually, just before you arrived, Sister Yona was in Tikchan. She confirmed that
you were boarding the ship, but she was too busy to meet you and asked me to
give you this instead."

At the somewhat kind lie, Mary's eyes sparkled.

"Oh, really? Yona, that girl?"

"Yes."

"Hahaha! I didn't know Yona had such a cute and lovely side! It wasn't because
she was busy, but she was shy, right? Alright, I like it. I'll respond to her kindness,
and the next challenge is Samil!"

"Mary, sister?"

"Cosmos!"

Mary ran to the railing and shouted the pirate's name.

"Aye, Captain!"

"Raise the anchor! We just decided on our next destination!"

As she said that, pirates scattered all over the deck immediately started raising
the anchor and preparing for the voyage.

Mary put on her black eyepatch again, stepped on the railing, and just before
jumping, she turned around and shouted.

"Come back without getting hurt with Diphus Orabeni. Make sure you do! Got it?!"
Jin smiled and nodded his head.

*
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