Chapter 70

Reincarnated as a Sword Emperor in the Sword Saint's Family (70)

—Marian is already in a state where the necessary cultivation and enlightenment for a breakthrough in her realm are sufficient. It's probably just that she hasn't been able to obtain the spirit stones or spirit medicines needed for the breakthrough.

The financial situation of the Aquamarine Adventure Guild wasn't that good.

They had to make long-distance voyages each time to maintain their B-rank status, and the cost of fuel alone was considerable.

Even if they were short of money, they couldn't dismantle and sell the ship, which is the heart of the adventure guild. Moreover, since Marian, who could earn money independently, couldn't leave Francis's side, it was also impossible for her to take on a side job.

Since that day eight years ago, she had continued her sword training with the resolve to strip her bones and dry her blood, but she couldn't create non-existent spirit stones and spirit medicines.

Then Leonard took out a golden fruit from his bosom.

—Take this spirit medicine.

‘This is... isn't this a high-quality, commercial-grade spirit medicine! I, of course, and even Miss, don't have the means to pay for it—.’

Leonard cut off her words and urged her again.

—This fruit grew by absorbing the energy when I broke through to the External Force Realm, so it has little effect on me. But for someone with a different energy, it would have a significant effect.

Still, Marian couldn't easily accept it.

‘Even if you don't eat it, can't you sell it through Bermuda or the Magic Tower? You could get 10,000 gold coins for it.’

—We don't have the time or the luxury for that. After seizing this opportunity, we can think about it. To avoid exposing my existence and raising his guard, this is the only way.

Even if it was burdensome, he said she should eat it not for herself, but for Aquamarine and Francis.

Marian eventually consumed the golden fruit and immediately broke through two levels in her realm, reaching the 8th stage of the External Force Realm. She even mastered techniques that could threaten Conrad, who was much stronger than her.

The most important thing was that it only reached the level of 'threat.'

"An opportunist like Conrad naturally avoids people stronger than himself, but that man is also cunning. If he were provoked from a clearly weaker position, he would likely try to probe the other person's intentions rather than accept the challenge."

Francis had anticipated everything Conrad might do to her before coming here.

Provoking her with insulting words, or pushing her with force or killing intent. It was rare for someone to completely hide their true feelings even in the face of a threat to their life.

But Francis was one of those rare people.

"Regulating the flow of blood to pretend to be overwhelmed by killing intent, and Marian stepping in to stop it—this scene was quite convincing. Conrad would have no choice but to fall for it."

"Would a weakling who is described as cunning fall for it so easily?"

"Cunning doesn't mean wisdom. People who think they are smart become the biggest fools when they are convinced they have seen through the other person's trick."

Because they are too confident in their intelligence, they don't doubt their own judgment. If Francis had proposed it without any pretense, he wouldn't have fallen into this trap.

If Aquamarine had been offered 'ownership' instead of the 'right to purchase,' if Marian's aura didn't feel threatening at all, if Conrad instinctively felt fear upon seeing Leonard.

If even one small detail had raised his guard, this wager duel wouldn't have been possible.

"I won."

Francis smiled.

"Marian."

"Yes?"

"What should you do in a gambling game where victory is already certain?"

Puzzled by her sudden question, Marian thought for a moment before answering.

"Bet... the money, I guess?"

"Exactly!"

Francis reached into her bosom and threw her a spatial bag, which Marian caught in a hurry.

It contained all the remaining funds of the Aquamarine Adventure Guild.

"Give it all to Esther and ask her to bet on us. The parties involved in the wager duel can't bet on either side."

"Isn't proxy betting against the rules?"

"Bermuda has enough flexibility. Even if they want to make an issue of it, they can't touch the chief elder's direct disciple."

Considering the known balance between 'Aquamarine' and 'Santa Maria,' and between 'Marian' and 'Conrad,' the odds would go wild.

Conrad's odds wouldn't exceed 1.1, but even that 10% would be significant. It's rare for someone to pass up a chance to make money.

And in a game where the outcome seems obvious, the moment for the underdog to turn everything around will come.

"Not only a return to A-rank, but also a chance to solve our guild's financial difficulties in one go!"

Francis threw the dice with all her might.

* * *

If the most secure and impenetrable area in the Atlantis Maritime Alliance is not Bermuda or the Magic Tower, it must be the Council of the Alliance.

A towering spire that only the 13 councilors can enter at will, reaching beyond the clouds, is the place.

Even outside of the quarterly meetings, councilors gather in the upper floors of the tower or look down at the maritime alliance's landscape below, feeling a sense of superiority.

And even the councilors of the Council of the Alliance cannot escape the clutches of factions.

"——Councilor Pablo."

A tense voice echoed in the room.

The complete darkness, without a single light, proved that today's meeting was not held normally.

"Francis Ler von Oceano used 'Aquamarine' as bait to reel in Conrad. It seems she plans to have a wager duel with the mad dog Marian. Have you heard the story?"

"Of course."

A man with a large and muscular build, visible even in the dim room.

Pablo, the captain of 'Moby Dick,' answered with a deep, resonant voice, his eyes glowing red. The oppressive aura was enough to make a normal person's heart stop.

Pablo El Orlando Peterson.

A powerful figure who reached the Transcendent Realm through mana cultivation, and the owner of Moby Dick, one of the top three A-rank adventure guilds.

"I find it admirable that she's struggling, but it's pitiful that she's making a self-destructive move."

"Self-destructive move?"

"Yes."

Pablo stated firmly without moving a single eyebrow.

"The only person that child can truly trust is Marian. She must have secretly invested all the money from the legacy and exploration missions to break through her realm."

"But?"

"Marian's talent was undoubtedly outstanding, but it wasn't enough to break through to the Transcendent Realm. At best, she would be at the 9th stage of the External Force Realm, or at most the 10th stage."

However, Pablo continued.

"Conrad is a waste, but his talent was a few levels above Marian's. Her chances of winning don't exceed 5%."

"Is Christopher Conrad that talented? I thought he lived in the pleasure quarters after fulfilling his quota."

"If he hadn't been lazy in honing himself, he might have already broken through to the Transcendent Realm."

Pablo tilted his wine glass on the table and muttered to himself.

"But a rotten nature can't be changed, so it's a meaningless assumption."

At that moment,

"Are you talking about your bastard, Luciano? I heard he almost became a cripple this time."

"——Gordon."

A terrifying killing intent swept through the room like a small storm.

Gordon, the man who mocked Pablo from the darkness, stared at the distorted air and snapped his fingers. It was a very brief gesture for someone facing a Transcendent Realm opponent.

But Pablo's aura couldn't hold up and was pushed back, revealing the superiority of their powers.

An 8th-rank Archmage.

Gordon Hayward, the second-in-command of the Council of the Alliance, who outranked even the head of the Atlantis Magic Tower, was not someone Pablo could overpower.

"It seems you're misunderstanding. We didn't call you here because we're worried about the princess winning. The problem is that a rat like Conrad dares to rise to our level without understanding his place."

Gordon Hayward shot a cold, icy glare.

"Aquamarine is one of the four masterpieces that can't be replicated in Atlantis. It's a problem that it's in a situation where it might fall into Conrad's hands, and you're just sitting there lamenting a self-destructive move."

"Even if it falls into Conrad's hands, it's a treasure beyond his worth. There are many ways to retrieve it."

"Ridiculous! Even that trash knows the value of Aquamarine. No matter how much we offer, he won't give it up and will even demand a seat in the Council of the Alliance!"

Pablo, unable to refute Gordon's words, closed his eyes.

In fact, from Pablo's perspective, this situation was impossible to handle. Suddenly, a wager duel over Aquamarine was proposed, and the official contract was already signed, making it impossible to cancel or interfere.

While Bermuda and the Council of the Alliance had some connections, there were still areas they couldn't touch.

"……There is a way to control Conrad."

So Pablo had to reveal one of his trump cards.

"Conrad still wants to impress us. He also knows that the Council of the Alliance is wary of Aquamarine. I will use this to put a leash on him."

Gordon Hayward asked with a displeased look.

"A leash? On someone almost at the Master level? Even with a soul oath, he wouldn't agree."

"No problem. If I use this elixir."

Pablo opened a box he took from his bosom, revealing a dark red, bead-like object.

The councilors, who couldn't identify it, showed curiosity.

Even Gordon, an 8th-rank Archmage, didn't know what the bead was.

"An elixir? I can feel a sinister power emanating from it."

"If this is consumed, the person can temporarily exert power a few levels above their current realm. Conrad could become a Sword Master, even if just for a moment. It won't be a proper realm, though."

"Ah, so that's not the end of it."

Pablo twisted his lips in agreement.

"If someone who hasn't reached the Master realm consumes this elixir and amplifies their power, they will owe me their life. I will swear to hand over control of him to the Council of the Alliance, or rather, to this faction. I want to make up for my mistake this way."

The councilors, who had been murmuring in the darkness, soon fell silent as if they had reached a conclusion.

Naturally, Gordon stepped forward as their representative.

"Very satisfactory, Pablo. With this elixir, our long-held wish is not far off. Isn't that right?"

"…I will cooperate actively."

"I believe you will."

With the cold laughter of Gordon and Pablo, the secret meeting at the top of the tower came to an end.

In the highest and darkest place in the Atlantis Maritime Alliance,

The hidden face of the Council of the Alliance cast a giant shadow over the entire city.