Chapter 90

# Chapter 90: <It is a gift, after all>

“I ended up like this somehow.”

Ron’s feigned gentle smile remained, but his complexion was pale, and his face was covered in small wounds. The closer one got to him, the stronger the stench of decay became.

Part of his left shoulder and the place where his left arm should have been were empty.

“Hans.”

“Yes.”

“Go out.”

“Pardon?”

Kael looked not only at Hans but also at the earl’s hired men and his father, Duke Dert’s subordinates.

“Everyone, go out. Vicross and Han stay.”

Hans hesitated for a moment but, seeing Kael’s expression, quickly took the people Kael had not named and left the room. On and Hong, who had caught Kael’s gaze, also quietly stepped back.

Meow.

Meow.

The kittens On and Hong, with very confused expressions, looked at Ron several times before leaving the bedroom.

With the people gone, the spacious bedroom seemed even wider.

“Do you have the strength to speak?”

Kael’s calm question was directed at Ron. Ron smiled softly, not looking like he was in pain at all.

“Yes, young master.”

“Then explain. Why did someone who went fox hunting end up like this?”

Ron turned his gaze from Kael to his son, Vicross. Vicross was kneeling by the bed, looking at his father’s empty left shoulder.

‘Maybe I shouldn’t have come.’

But this was the only place he could think of. If he was going to die anyway, he wanted to see his son and a few others before he went.

“I came from the Eastern Continent when Vicross was very young.”

Ron began his story. He needed a place to leave his son.

“As you know, I am an assassin. There are five famous assassin families in the underworld of the Eastern Continent. I was the successor of the Mollan family.”

“Father.”

Vicross called out to Ron.

“Our family was destroyed by an organization called ‘Darkness.’ To escape them, I brought my son to this Western Continent and lived in hiding.”

Sigh. Ron took a deep breath. His complexion was pale.

“This is because the organization called ‘Darkness’ only ruled the underworld but was a subordinate group. The real center was elsewhere, and I felt fear at the magnitude of power I couldn’t grasp. So, I ended up being a useless servant.”

Deep wrinkles formed on Ron’s forehead.

“Then, after several decades, I caught their scent again.”

Vicross flinched. Ron’s gaze turned to behind Kael. There stood Han, twisted but good, with a look of disbelief.

“When Han came to this castle. I smelled ‘Darkness’ from him.”

Han’s pupils wavered.

“...Could the people I killed in Harris Village be...?”

“Yes, the probability is high that they were from Darkness.”

Han looked at Kael. Ron continued.

“I went to the capital to investigate and found out they had influence in this Western Continent as well. I decided to take action. It wasn’t a fox hunt but more like a stray dog entering a tiger’s den.”

What confidence had he had to take such a risk? Despite this thought, Ron knew he would have done the same again. He had to find out what they were planning.

“Then I encountered one of their attack squads and learned what they were doing.”

In the end, he eliminated one of their attack squads and achieved a small victory.

“But somehow, I lost my left arm and barely escaped alive.”

Ron smiled bitterly. He felt ridiculous, being so old and in this state. For someone who used dual daggers, it was a significant injury.

At that moment, Kael, who had been listening silently, spoke.

“Have you still not found the true identity of the organization called ‘Darkness’?”

“No, unfortunately.”

Ron had still not gotten close to the truth.

“Ron.”

Ron looked at Kael. Kael’s aura had grown even stronger since the last time he saw him. There was a sense of intimidation that made one want to bow before him.

“Who cut off your arm?”

“...A young mage. He cut off the arms of everyone he saw.”

Han shuddered and looked at Kael.

“Fucking bastard.”

A rough word slipped out of Kael’s mouth.

Darkness. The organization was likely the secret group Kael knew.

Harris Village, the incident where the viscount’s family handed over Laon, the terrorist attack in the capital square, the attack on the Blue Wolf tribe.

All these were their doing.

He also seemed to know who had cut off Ron’s arm. Han likely knew as well.

The mage who had directed the terrorist attack in the capital square.

The bloodthirsty mage, Redicail, was the most probable.

The one who had lost his left eye and left arm to Han. How he could cast spells with one hand and cut off others’ arms was unknown, but Redicail was the most probable.

“What, how could this happen?”

Han clenched his fists tightly, confused. But Kael had one more thing to confirm.

Ron was strong, with skills in assassination and stealth. He was stronger than Redicail. There must have been a reason why he had to flee after losing his arm.

“What is this stench?”

The stench of decay filled the bedroom. He needed to identify its source.

It was the smell of rotting flesh.

Ron smiled gently instead of answering. This smile irritated Kael. He immediately approached and pulled away the blanket covering Ron’s body.

“Ah.”

Han’s sigh was heard, and Vicross’s face contorted horribly.

“I was slightly poisoned.”

Part of Ron’s thigh and side were blackened from the poison. A sticky liquid clung to the area, a mixture of potion and some unknown substance. Han had never seen it before.

But Kael had.

“Mermaid poison.”

Ron looked at Kael.

“...The ones who helped the mermaids were them.”

A sigh escaped Kael’s lips as he spoke. He covered his eyes with one hand.

In fact, he had suspected it.

When he first met the whale tribe and heard about the Dark Forest from them. And when he learned that the mermaids had grown stronger from the materials found in the swamp of the Dark Forest.

He had wondered if the secret organization might be involved. But he hadn’t pursued it.

It was too troublesome.

And he didn’t want to get involved. If he found out their true identity, he would have to tell Han, and things would get complicated.

So, he had let it go, thinking it was none of his business.

“Damn.”

But that didn’t mean they could invade his territory.

Ron, the assassin.

This sinister old man was suspicious. But seeing him in this state, Kael realized that Ron was under his protection.

Kael, Kim Roksu, was very protective of the well-being of those within his sphere. That’s why he had survived and thrived.

Vicross, Ron, and Han were speechless at Kael’s expression, which they had never seen before. Kael covered Ron’s body with the blanket again.

“The sea?”

“It’s an island.”

Between the Eastern and Western Continents, there were many islands, some very small.

“Han.”

“Yes.”

Kael looked at Han. Han couldn’t take his eyes off Ron’s arm, thinking about the bloodthirsty mage Redicail and the reason why Redicail had cut off his arm because of what Han had done to him. Han was in pain.

“What are you doing?”

A calm voice asked. Han turned to look at Kael.

“Don’t think about useless things. Go bring Mueller now.”

Useless thoughts. Han realized Kael had noticed what he was thinking and bit his lip.

“Should I bring Mr. Mueller?”

“Yes. Tell him to bring the ship design and come immediately.”

Kael wasn’t angry at all. He just gave orders without hesitation.

But Han left the bedroom more quickly and quietly than ever.

Ron was puzzled by Kael’s sudden talk about ships.

“Young master?”

Kael looked at Ron and said indifferently.

“You’re coming with me. Just know that.”

With a calm face, he grumbled.

“What are you going to do with an injured assassin?”

“I’m still alive, after all.”

Kael recalled the content of the letters Ron had always sent.

<Still alive. Still alive, right?>

Kael chuckled.

“Your mouth is definitely not dead. Vicross.”

“...Yes.”

Kael firmly grabbed Vicross’s shoulder, who answered weakly.

“Go pack your things quickly. Gather everyone.”

Vicross turned to look at Kael in a hurry.

“Shouldn’t we remove the mermaid poison?”

The dark attribute. The most lethal mermaid poison to humans. There was no known cure. Vicross, who was well-versed in torture and assassination, knew this better than anyone.

Ron was the same. That’s why he had come to see his son before he died, to see his second home.

Thanks to Ron’s poison resistance and the constant application of the highest-quality potions to the affected area, the poison had not spread. The pain had also decreased, and he could maintain his strength, thanks to the wealth of the Hennitus family.

“Is there a cure?”

Vicross, uncharacteristically, stuttered. Kael gave him a clear order.

“Move quickly.”

It was a method discovered by the mage Rosalyn, which Kael had used once to save a whale hybrid.

“Don’t worry. Your father will live a long life.”

The words sounded light, but they didn’t feel that way.

Kael’s expression