CHAPTER 251

The Zipfel Clan were now only focused on killing Vamel and restoring the family's prestige.

They had already put aside their fallen image.

Vamel had made the world aware of too many of their evil deeds.

If they were unable to eliminate Vamel, then their prestige as the world's greatest would inevitably fall like their image had.

Of course, if Jin chose not to reveal his identity, then the Zipfel Clan could use Kal's death as an excuse to save face.

"I'll become an official flag-bearer soon, so as long as I can stay hidden until then, it'll be okay. There's also a place where I can definitely hide."

Jin looked at Kashimir and shrugged.

"Anyway, that bastard patriarch of the Zipfel Clan. Isn't he being too harsh on his own son? Not only did he send him to his death after falsely accusing him, but he even sent assassins after him to try and find out your identity? How immoral can you get?"

"It's to the point where it almost makes me believe they've used a fake made by Bouvard Gaston."

"It's probably the real Kal, Sir Kashimir. If they used a fake, then Kinzelo would be in hot water the moment that fact was revealed during the interrogation. They also have no reason to do that since they're on bad terms with Zipfel."

The pinnacle of coldhearted and dirty magic.

That's how Jin would describe Kelliark.

But though they were negative adjectives, he was still the pinnacle.

An opponent that Jin couldn't handle yet, and one that even Cyron didn't carelessly attack.

The thought that he would soon discover his identity made Jin feel a chill run down his spine.

Had the land Zipfel messed with not been the 'Holy Kingdom of Vankella', Jin would not have revealed his identity.

Because if he had, then before Jin could reach safe territory, he would've been caught and beheaded by Kelliark.

On the other hand, he looked forward to it.

How restless would the world be if they were to discover that Runcandel's provisional flag-bearer won against Kelliark in their first face off.

* * *

Zipfel did not provide any sort of explanation to the holy kingdom after Kal's death.

Even though Rani, her loyalists, and her subjects knew that Zipfel was the culprit who ruined the country, they were powerless to punish them.

As the investigation of the truth continued to be delayed, the curiosity of the international media was slowly subsiding.

Meanwhile, the Lutero Magic Federation pumped out articles favoring Zipfel every day.

Of course, the Huphester Alliance responded with articles disparaging Zipfel, but it didn't amount to much.

Although they were not of the holy kingdom, it was known that the two families waged war on every surface of the earth, including their own lands. They regarded one another as heinous villains. 

The interest from the outsiders was like a firework, quickly fading away after an intense display.

In particular, nobles from each country no longer appeared in the square where Rani and her subjects were.

They decided there was no merit in getting the attention of Zipfel for no reason.

Of course, it was absurd that the Zipfel Clan killed Kal to restore honor to their family.

But large powers had the strength to make an absurd situation even more absurd.

If they wanted to, they could erase the voices of weak victims and even punish those who secretly sympathized.

Those that were neutral knew of this fact.

These were the kinds of factors that those who were neutral were taking into account.

This incident in the holy kingdom would become a major page in the dark history of the Zipfel Clan, but of course every large power slipped up here and there. 

Especially since once things quieted down, the Zipfels would hand out bribes to fatten the pockets and shut the mouths of the neutral forces.

Look the other way, and be rewarded.

Whenever something happened, that was how Zipfel always appeased the neutral forces.

On the other hand, the Runcandel Clan always handled politics using fear.

As the two families had different tendencies, there was a big difference in the way they controlled the world, and Zipfel's method was clearly more effective concerning the incident within the holy kingdom.

Zipfel's ships, loaded with gold, were entering the territorial waters of the holy kingdom.

This was to be compensation for Kal Zipfel's actions as well as the internal conflict caused by 'those who followed him'.

The size of the compensation was far beyond imagination.

If the holy kingdom were to accept, they wouldn't need to worry about their national budget for the next thirty years.

However, Rani obviously refused, and the loyalists shed bloody tears with gnashed teeth.

"Those sons of bitches. What do you see the holy kingdom, no, what do you see humans as…?!"

The subjects also expressed their anger, their blood boiling with rage.

Zipfel paid no attention to their reactions and silently placed the gold on the holy kingdom's port.

As if it didn't matter who took the gold. As if they were telling people to stare at the gold. As if asking for someone to steal the gold.

And as proof, they didn't have a single person guarding the gold.

Gold bars piled up like a castle in the center of the port were shining brightly.

An enormous amount of gold that ordinary people… No, it was an amount that even a country's king wouldn't see in their lifetime. Even so, it didn't arouse desire, but rather gave off a sense of intimidation.

Even if the holy kingdom didn't take the gold bars, Zipfel would not come back for them.

"They're really showing off their money, huh."

Jin examined the gold bars with his arms crossed.

He could see it.

He could see what would happen to the holy kingdom in the future if they didn't receive those gold bars.

"It would be difficult to find a stash of gold bars like that even in the cave of yellow dragons, who're crazy for gold. Woah, with all that, how much manhwa would I be able to buy?"

"You lunatic, what did you just say? Manhwa? How can you even think of that?"

"I just…?"

Jin shook his head.

"It's a rough estimate, but that gold is an amount that could cover the budget of the holy kingdom for thirty years, and if used well, fifty."

"I guess so."

"The meaning behind it is… If you don't take this money, we'll starve you out of money for the next half-century."

If the holy kingdom were to accept, and cover up the incident themselves, then ZIpfel would make them rich.

Otherwise, they'd completely cut off the kingdom's source of funds.

As Jin said, that was what the gold bars placed at the port meant.

"If they let go of their pride and revenge, it will lead to a wealthy life. But if rejected, it will be the end, and that gold will go to a neutral power. Zipfel will make sure they regret not taking that money while hindering the commerce of the holy kingdom."

Right now, public sentiment toward Zipfel was at its lowest point.

But how long would that last?

Most of the ordinary citizens didn't have faith as strong as Rani or Vitura.

To them, life was about working, and the fruits of that labor that let them live on and pursue small bits of happiness.

When a country becomes poor, its people also become poor.

In a case where even if they worked hard, their salary was cut, and work became more intense with no sign of their quality of life improving, then…

Would the people really be able to defend the choices Rani and her loyalists made today?

That was impossible.

Responsibility for the poor lives of its subjects would ultimately fall on the shoulders of the holy kingdom's leaders rather than Zipfel, who were crippling them economically.

And it was obvious that Zipfel would do everything they could to make sure that happened as quickly as possible.

It would be difficult for Rani and her loyalists to find the right move, and they would eventually either become tyrants or be remembered as incompetent leaders.

"I didn't want to think about all that frustrating stuff so I thought about manhwa."

"That's no surprise."

Of course, there were also the Runcandels.

There's no way the Runcandel would just sit by and watch while that was happening to the holy kingdom.

But would they spend as much money as Zipfel in order to stabilize the country?

There simply wasn't enough justification for that.

There were already lands that were poor within the Huphester Alliance, so it was impossible to take care of the holy kingdom before them.

It was an issue that could easily lead to internal division.

In the end, in a battle of economic power, it was the Runcandels who would tire faster.

"Let's go and stop this bullshit."

* * *

December 24, 1797.

Rani held a requiem for the holy king and the victims of the Living Golem incident.

Even though the trial was not over yet, the requiem could not be delayed any longer.

The body of the fake holy king, which the priests maintained with their sacred power, eventually began to decompose, and the body of Vitura, who was declared dead, was completely rotten.

Additionally, the requiem had to be completed before all the neutral media left.

And the fact that the trial for the holy king hadn't ended was actually the greatest safety measure for Jin.

The requiem was scheduled to last three hours.

Of course, Rani decided to recite a prayer for them herself.

"Everyone, please take your seats."

Rani spoke as she rose to the podium.

Although she spoke softly, everyone in the square knelt down on the floor and closed their eyes.

"Ayula, I, your most faithful daughter, Rani Salome, stand here for the unjustly murdered Holy King McLan and his subjects. Please answer my prayer, so that in your voice, we can remember their last days…"

The royal requiem of the holy kingdom was often called the 'Milky Way Prayer'.

This was because the sacred powers of those who gathered for the requiem were united and shining.

Only during this time, with the resonance of the prayer, could even those with low divine power be able to emit a unique golden light.

The brightness of the golden light that illuminated those gathered was determined by the strength of the divine power belonging to the person representing the prayer.

That's why Jin and Murakan couldn't help but be amazed once again.

'Rani Salome, I knew that you had great divine power because you protected Murakan in that noxious land…'

The entire square was shining with a bright glow.

As Rani recited the prayer, her body trembled and infused divine power into the bodies of thousands of subjects.

Just as the people put it, it felt as if the milky way was flowing across the ground.

Reporters thought this was the last scoop they could get from the holy kingdom.

In recent times, there had never been such a grand requiem held in the holy kingdom.

"…So, today, the children of Ayula hope that they can safely return to your arms. I hope that this light will reach you and that their eternal life will be filled with blessings."

As soon as the prayer was over, Rani stumbled dangerously and grabbed the platform.

A truly perfect requiem.

However, the people did not know about the fact that Rani's requiem was beyond perfection, even causing a miracle.

The fact was that Vitura's body, which had already rotted away and was buried in the ground, had been restored to its original state.

This was a secret that not even Rani knew. Only Ayula and the soul of the dead Vitura would know of this.

Huff, huff…

Rani took a moment to catch her breath and looked at the crowd.

"The requiem is over. And today, I, Rani Salome, would like to introduce to you, my subjects, a foreigner who sacrificed himself for our holy kingdom."

The subjects looked up at Rani in confusion.

After the requiem, it was customary to say thanks to those who gathered and then step down from the podium.

It was then the reporters caught a whiff of something.

The scent of a scoop concerning Vamel.

"Friend, please come forward."

While the subjects were looking around, Jin slowly stepped forward.

He removed his hood, revealing his hair that had been dyed gold.

Jin spoke with no hesitation.

"I am Jin Runcandel."