Chapter 84

"Ki..."

Karon swallowed hard as he saw the flames enveloping Laon's sword.

'He really did reach the lower Expert level?'

Strangely, it was difficult to gauge Laon's level. He had thought Laon was around the upper Aura User level, but he didn't expect him to be able to use sword ki, a hallmark of Experts.

Using sword ki at the age of 15, he was undoubtedly a genius or a monster in the history of the continent.

'But even if he is an Expert, he can't stand up to a Blood Fiend.'

While Experts are certainly strong, they are not particularly remarkable on a continental scale.

"No matter how high you've reached as an Expert, the Blood Fiend's power is at the Master level. You can't withstand it at your level. The same goes for capturing the Green Blood Fiend! Tell the truth..."

"Father."

Baren, who had been lying behind Laon, stepped forward.

"I saw it. Laon cut down the Green Blood Fiend and, even with one arm injured, stood alone to block the Blood Fiend to give us and the villagers time to escape."

"That's right."

Runan also stepped forward, nodding. Her gaze was directed at her father, Lokan Slieron.

"I didn't give you permission to speak!"

Karon glared at Baren as if he were a trained beast.

"Well, if you don't believe your son, what are you going to do? You're completely stuck. You don't even know where you eat or where you defecate."

"Shut up, Rimer."

Karon glared at Rimer, who shrugged.

"What you did is the biggest problem. Capturing a Blood Fiend with that broken body... unless you cheated..."

"Then how about we have a go? I haven't seen the power of a Heavy Weapon Master in a long time."

"Fine. I'll cut off that thin neck right now..."

"Enough."

A heavy, authoritative voice cut through the air, silencing both Rimer and Karon.

"Ah!"

"Ugh..."

"Grh..."

The presence of that massive figure made everyone in the audience chamber stiffen.

"Chief Trainee Laon Zighardt. And all the trainees of the 5th Training Ground, listen."

Glen lifted his chin from his hand and looked down at everyone.

"Excellent."

"Huh?"

"Father?"

"Head of the House..."

The unexpected praise from Glen left the heads of the houses, the elders of the Fengshen family, and the trainees all speechless.

Everyone in the audience chamber stared at Glen with wide-eyed disbelief.

It was understandable.

Glen Zighardt was known for his stinginess with praise and his ruthless nature.

Even for completing difficult tasks, he would only say "good job," and it had been over a decade since he last said "excellent."

"I received the first report from Rimer, the second from the branch manager who investigated the area, and the third from you, and all the reports are consistent."

Glen raised his right hand, which had been resting on his chin.

"First, you noticed the enemy and didn't act rashly."

He folded his index finger.

"Second, when you returned, you didn't rush in but tried to assess the enemy."

This time, he folded his middle finger.

"Third, you waited for the optimal moment, weakened the enemy with a single ambush, and then finished off the Green Blood Fiend with a hidden strike."

As Glen folded his fingers, the eyes of the heads of the houses grew wider.

"Fourth, when you encountered an enemy you couldn't defeat, you stood in front of them to give your comrades and civilians time to escape."

He folded the four raised fingers and his red eyes gleamed.

"Each of your judgments was appropriate, like those of an experienced warrior. No one died among the trainees and the villagers because of your accurate judgment. And..."

Glen looked at the trainees behind Laon.

"You also showed the demeanor of a Zighardt swordsman. Zighardt stands here because of the people who support from below."

"Hmm..."

"Head of the House..."

Roan and Rimer nodded vigorously as they listened to Glen.

"We are not a kingdom, but we rule the north. Therefore, we must protect and safeguard the people living on this land. If we don't, no one will follow us. Everyone, well done."

"Thank you!"

"Thank you!"

Baren, Runan, Martha, and the trainees all bowed their heads to the floor and shouted loudly.

"Ah!"

"Head of the House!"

The trainees trembled at the praise, especially Baren, whose eyes welled up with tears.

"I will bestow a bronze badge on all of you."

"Thank you!"

The trainees bowed so deeply that blood almost gushed from their foreheads.

"And to Laon Zighardt, who created and resolved all the situations, I will bestow a silver badge."

"Thank you."

Laon also knelt and bowed his head, following the other trainees.

"Tsk."

"Tsk."

Some of the heads of the houses were displeased with Laon receiving the silver badge, but no one dared to speak out because Glen himself had moved.

"Roan."

"Yes."

Roan picked up a large board from the table on the right and carried it to the dais where Glen was seated.

When Glen removed the cloth covering the board, 42 bronze badges and one silver badge were revealed.

"Baren Zighardt, come up."

"Ah, yes! I understand!"

Baren bit his tongue as he answered but managed to hide it as he climbed the dais.

"Stepping forward to protect those we must protect was the right action. However..."

Baren's lips tightened at the word "however."

"Rushing in without assessing the enemy's strength is no different from that of a beast. Broaden your perspective and look at the situation on a larger scale."

Glen continued, addressing not only Baren but all the trainees standing behind him.

"I'm speaking to all of you."

"Yes!"

After giving the bronze badges to Runan, Martha, and all the trainees, Glen looked at Laon last.

"Laon Zighardt, come up."

"Yes."

Laon bowed deeply and then stood up to climb the dais.

'I can feel their gazes.'

The gazes from behind, filled with resentment, pierced his heart like daggers. They were from Karon and other heads of the houses from the collateral line.

However, Baren, Karon's son, and the collateral line trainees watched proudly, which was enough.

"Laon Zighardt."

Glen's gaze was still cold and dry, like a frozen field in winter.

But there was a clear difference from before.

Like a flower blooming on a snow-covered field, a small light flickered in his eyes.

I'm not sure if it's good or bad yet.

"Many people survived thanks to you. I recognize your contribution and bestow upon you a silver badge. Continue to focus on physical and mental training."

"May I have a moment, please?"

Laon stopped and did not take the silver badge Glen was holding.

"What is it?"

"I have something to say."

"Something to say?"

"Yes. About Eden's purpose."

"Hmm?"

One of Glen's eyebrows raised slightly.

"The reason they came to Sebu Village and what they are currently after, I know."

"How dare you spout such lies in this place!"

A voice filled with anger came from behind. It was Karon's.

"The ghosts of Eden are stubborn bastards who won't talk even under torture. How could someone like you know?"

"Hmm..."

"Indeed..."

"They are the kind who don't talk even under torture."

The other heads of the houses nodded in agreement with Karon.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. However..."

Laon turned slightly and met the burning gaze of Karon.

"I don't want to reveal the truth in front of those who doubt me."

"What, what!"

"You arrogant brat!"

"A mere trainee who hasn't even earned the title of swordsman, how dare you!"

The heads of the houses who followed Karon emitted a strong aura, but Laon did not flinch.

In my previous life, I was weaker than them, but I achieved greater things.

"Am I wrong?"

This moment is a setup by Rimer and Glen. A setup to increase the value of the mission. I can't let any troublemakers interfere.

"Shut up! Do you know where you are...?"

"Karon Zighardt."

The heavy voice from the dais made Karon clamp his mouth shut.

"I told you to shut up."

"Ah!"

It's chilling.

Even though the aura wasn't directed at him, he felt as if his entire body was frozen.

"Ah, Father?"

"Leave. All of you who were just shouting."

Glen didn't even look at Karon. He was as ruthless to his son, who held a significant position in the family, as he was to anyone else.

"Ugh..."

Karon and the five heads of the houses who had been shouting bit their lips. They glared at Laon and left the audience chamber.

"Now, speak. What did you see there?"

The followers of Eden are notorious for not talking even under torture. If Laon claimed to know Eden's purpose, not only the heads of the houses but Glen himself was eager to hear.

"The Blood Fiend thought they could kill me and massacre the other trainees, so they revealed their purpose."

"Purpose?"

"Eden is after the mana stones of monsters."

Laon took out the mana stone of the Goblin King from his pocket. The red, hot light illuminated the dim audience chamber.

"Not just any mana stone, but one from a named monster