Chapter 84

# Chapter 84: <Meeting Again?>

It was only natural for the person with the most questions to start the conversation. Odeus took the initiative.

"I never would have guessed that the two of you knew each other."

"Are you very curious about that?"

In response to Kael's question, Odeus answered as if it were obvious.

"No."

Kael also took his answer as a matter of course. Someone like Odeus would have to figure out the reason for such a friendship himself. Where would you find a seller who gets information from a client?

"Odeus, when will Benion visit?"

Five years. During that time, Odeus learned that there was someone obstructing his expansion of power. However, he couldn't find the background of this person.

It was only recently that the information Kael provided revealed the truth.

"The back alley, I see."

Benion's visit to the back alley was something Odeus already knew.

Of course, Kael was merely stating the information about Odeus from 'The Birth of a Hero' in his own way.

The dark side of the Sten Viscount's territory was commonly referred to as the back alley. Gambling, alcohol, usury, black market trading, illegal auctions, slavery, and violence—all these dirty deeds were commonplace there.

However, Odeus didn't use slavery or violence and had set up a system to ensure that the parties involved in transactions were protected. That's why Kael sought him out.

Taylor, the eldest son of the Sten Viscount, would likely have the same thoughts.

Of course, there was a slight difference.

Taylor knew that Benion was the culprit who crippled his legs, but he couldn't gauge his strength. Benion had been moving in secret, and that was also a sign of Taylor's incompetence.

However, this time, the nature of Benion's power was revealed through Kael's contact.

And that information was quite significant.

It came from the lips of the excommunicated priest, Cage.

"Lord Taylor wishes to know everything about the Sten Viscount's territory and the northwest region."

Cage and Odeus's gazes met. After receiving Kael's message, Taylor and Cage immediately asked Odeus to set up a meeting.

"Lord Taylor, as a noble and a member of a family that governs a territory, dislikes the underworld."

"That's right. I don't like it either."

Kael openly stated his dislike, but Odeus nodded.

"That's right. A noble who cares for his people and the residents of his territory should do so. The Hennitus territory doesn't have an underworld, does it?"

That's true. The Hennitus territory had only a few ruffians and thugs, but no underworld trading system. Although Lord Dert was an ordinary and unremarkable viscount, he was a principled noble. At the very least, he was a responsible person and had enough wealth to never allow such things.

And this place wasn't central enough to form such a market.

"Then Lord Taylor must want to eliminate the underworld?"

"Yes."

Cage's firm answer brought a smile to Odeus's lips. He turned his gaze to Kael.

"Lord Taylor is a true noble."

The added comment was important.

"He doesn't want to lose his justification."

In 'The Birth of a Hero,' the Sten Viscount's downfall at the end of the second volume had various causes. One was getting entangled with Chae Han and provoking him, leading to a series of events that caused the family's collapse. Another was the black dragon's rampage.

Additionally, Odeus had an impact. He had stopped Benion Sten, who was trying to dominate the northwest underworld, by revealing his true identity, thus destroying the Sten Viscount's justification.

The family, which was considered the most noble, had been tormenting the residents of their territory by violating the honor of the nobility.

Of course, to reveal this, Odeus had to come out into the open. That's why he became quite dangerous. Chae Han knew about him through the Lycan race incident but couldn't help him.

But this time, it wasn't necessary.

Kael neatly summarized their conversation.

"Let's settle the common enemy first, and we can fight each other later."

Odeus was puzzled by this. Cage felt the same way.

Why would Kael Hennitus have a reason to hate Benion? It was a shared doubt between the two.

"Did Benion do something to you?"

Odeus trailed off, looking at Kael. Unlike him, Kael was resolute.

"Kill him."

"That's difficult-!"

The mad priest Cage, startled, instinctively tried to stop Kael. But Kael continued.

"Or something worse?"

"…What?"

She repeated the question in a daze, slowly digesting Kael's words.

Kill him.

Or something worse?

Suddenly, she felt a chill and looked at Kael. He still seemed calm. But she knew the side of Kael who had lent her money and brought her to the capital, while making her swear an oath of secrecy.

He was a man who kept his word.

"Haha-"

Odeus burst into laughter and nodded.

"Indeed, there are many things more terrifying than death."

"Hmm."

Cage swallowed and spoke.

"Then how do you plan to do it?"

Instead of answering, Kael turned his gaze to where Odeus had gone. The black dragon Raon, who had been transparent, was calmly sitting on the railing, looking down.

Kael gently patted the black dragon's head.

"Don't, human!"

Despite his words, Raon remained still but glared fiercely at Kael.

"Today, the weak human will stay out of it."

"Sure, sure. I'll just watch."

"Watch carefully!"

"Sure."

Satisfied with the answer, Raon spread his wings. The black wings moved, and Raon slowly rose into the air. Chae Han, On, and Hong also moved.

"On, I leave it to you."

"I excel in this environment!"

On's tail wagged as he disappeared into the fog. Hong looked at Kael.

"I need to spread poison?"

"Uh-huh."

Hong nodded and approached Raon, who slightly descended. Hong tapped the dragon's body and smiled before disappearing into the fog.

"I'll go too."

Chae Han silently moved to another building's rooftop.

Raon flew to Kael's side and hovered in the air.

"Raon."

"What is it?"

"Do as much as you want."

The black dragon's eyes narrowed. The dragon smiled and replied.

"Don't ask the obvious."

Raon disappeared into the fog. Kael, with his arms crossed, leisurely looked down from the rooftop. And the 70% probability came true.

Three people, their figures hidden by robes, entered the alley. Benion would be among them. Kael leaned against the railing and watched.

Unaware of the gaze, Benion Sten quickened his pace.

'Fucking brat.'

He was inwardly cursing with coarse language, unbecoming of a noble. Yesterday, Taylor Sten, his crippled brother, had made a crazy statement.

"I won't kill my bloodline. I just want to dominate them."

Taylor's words had caused a significant stir, and the viscount's household had been noisy ever since. Thanks to this, Benion could come here at dawn today.

Taylor's power was growing too much, and he needed to suppress it. Normally, he wouldn't have come himself, but his subordinate in the back alley reported that the most influential black merchant in the northwest underworld was constantly clashing with him, making it difficult to move freely.

'One way or another, these useless things keep interfering.'

Benion clicked his tongue and quickly pushed through the fog. He was grateful for the thick morning fog, which would reduce the chances of others seeing him.

'The weather is on my side.'

The fog grew thicker, and Benion was satisfied. Two subordinates followed him.

They were unaware of something Benion missed due to the deep hood of his robe.

The fog above their heads was gradually turning black.

Meow.

"Tsk."

Benion clicked his tongue at the cat's cry in the early morning. Indeed, this back alley was full of useless people and stray cats. Such things needed to be educated or eliminated.

Meow.

Again, a chilling cat's cry echoed. It reminded Benion of a certain being, the root of all his problems.

'I should have killed him.'

Benion's expression twisted.

The black dragon. He should have killed it. If he had, none of this would have happened. The fuss over raising it had only led to trouble.

Frustration rose. Then, the cat's cry sounded again.

Meow.

"Shut up."

Just as Benion muttered in annoyance, a sound of someone breathing heavily came from behind him. Thud. Something hit the ground.

"Y-Your Highness-"

A subordinate's voice followed. Benion quickly turned around.

"What!"

One of his subordinates was on the ground, clutching his throat. The subordinate who had called out to him staggered and slowly fell.

"Gasp, gasp!"

The subordinate's face turned pale as he fell forward. His hood touched Benion's shoe. Benion's brows furrowed deeply, and panic filled his eyes.

It was a situation he had never anticipated.

Meow.

At that moment, Benion realized a new fact.

The cat's cry was getting closer.

Meow.

Above!

A sound came from above!

Benion looked up. Only then did he see it.

"Huh?"

The fog around him was white, but when he looked up, he saw black and red fog. It looked ominous. Benion involuntarily took a step back. At that moment,

Thud. Something touched Benion's back.

Benion paused, then grabbed the hilt of his sword at his waist and quickly turned around.

But all he saw was transparent fog.

"What, what is this?"

He spoke without realizing it. Behind him, his subordinates groaned in pain.

"Ugh-"

"Kuh, ugh!"

A small wind sound came through the groans.

Whoosh.

Just as Benion instinctively tried to turn his head, a voice sounded.

"Hello?"

The voice came again. Benion looked forward. There was nothing.

No, it was just that he couldn't see it.

A black presence slowly began to appear before Benion's eyes.

The presence gradually, very gradually, revealed itself.

"Wh-What-"

Benion involuntarily took a step back. Thud. But his step was blocked by a fallen subordinate. Finally, the black presence revealed itself.

Eyes that stared directly at Benion.

It was a presence he hadn't seen in a long time.

"Meeting again?"

The black dragon appeared before him.

The dragon, Raon, was smiling.