NABC Chapter 275:
Chapter 275:
Chapter 275:
C275 - Congratulations Delegation, An Unexpected Encounter (1)
"I only greeted you after the clan members offended you. I should have been more present." Rosa spoke as she set down her teacup.
She was in Jin's room after receiving the report from the guardian knights.
"Yes, you should have been more present. Don't you think you and your husband should have greeted me when I woke up and came to the Garden of Swords? But the Patriarch left without acknowledging me, and the servants were rude. It made me feel upset in more ways than one."
"I will take measures to ensure that everyone in the Garden of Swords treats you on par with the great elders from now on, Lord Murakan."
Murakan's eyebrows furrowed at the mention of being on par with the great elders.
He was annoyed that he was only treated as a great elder. But Murakan decided not to dwell on the good old times. Not only had he not fully recovered his powers from his prime, but also a thousand years had passed since Temar's death.
When Temar founded the Runcandel clan, Murakan was closer to the heart of the clan than anyone else.
But now, he was almost a stranger. In fact, he was clearly on hostile terms with Rosa, who wielded most of the clan's power.
"Everything is different from a thousand years ago, not just the landscape but also the people. Temar, I miss you, old friend."
Murakan suddenly laughed. "The Runcandels sure have changed."
"It is natural for one to progress with the flow of time."
"Progress, you say. If the Runcandels achieved such progress, the Zipples would no longer exist on Earth. After losing magic, the clan has only lost its power over the course of a thousand years."
"I am but a mortal and can only catch a glimpse of the power of the ancient Runcandels through records. I cannot dare to boast for myself how powerful the Runcandels of old were, so I can only adhere to the traditions and laws of the clan."
"And are you not aware that those same traditions and laws stemmed from the humiliating pact we have made with the Zipples?"
"Yes, I am aware of that."
"Then why does the majority of the clan try to exclude the one being who can shatter the pact, namely your youngest son?"
Rosa stared into Murakan's eyes for a long while.
"The elders seem hesitant to pass down the final techniques to Jin, and I have been told that you have assigned him an impossible mission from the start. I hope you have an explanation that I can accept," she said.
"Lord Murakan. First of all, to say that Jin is the only person who can break the pact is not true. If someone had enough power to subdue the Zipples, they could always nullify the pact."
"There is a curse in the blood of the Runcandels. The curse seals all mana, and no spell or divine power can neutralize it except for Solderet's power."
"If Solderet is so all-powerful, why has he abandoned us for the past thousand years? In fact, he had been the guardian of the Zipples."
Murakan had nothing to say to that.
What made a god a god? One only answered to the definition of a god if they protected the humans who served them or did things that were beyond the powers of humans.
In that sense, Solderet had never been a god to the Runcandels after Temar's death.
"Isn't that why he made a contract with his youngest son?"
"A contract may help Jin grow his personal strength, but I wouldn't say it means much for the greater perspective of the entire clan, unless he intends to descend upon us to rid us of the curse. In fact, it's only more likely that we will be pressured by the Zipples for breaking the pact or that we will cause chaos within the clan by undermining our legitimacy."
"It's curious that you mention legitimacy before me."
Rosa touched her teacup.
"That is why the elders hesitated to instruct Jin in the final techniques. Additionally, I believe there is a misunderstanding. I have never given Jin an impossible task to accomplish."
"Continue," Murakan said.
"Assassinating the Black Knight spy will not solely fall on Jin's shoulders. As it is of utmost priority, another competent flagbearer will join him. The Patriarch has revealed his intentions, so I do not wish for the harm to fall solely on Jin. I am also aware of Jin's exceptional abilities."
"For some reason, it seems like you want to utilize those exceptional abilities before discarding him."
"In any case, Jin is in a position where he has to constantly create surprises and shocks. If he cannot, he will never be accepted in the Runcandel clan, even if he is already a flagbearer. Does this explain enough?"
"I had to go through mana bomb fields just to retrieve it from Mary. I even seriously considered killing Mary at one point."
"I believe young Lady Mary will become a strong ally by your side, Young Master. And also, Elder Jed sent a message earlier. He wants you to come after the congratulatory delegations leave, Young Master."
"Alright."
After that day, Jin focused on private training without getting involved in any particular activities. Upon returning to the clan, he caused a series of controversial events, so he felt the need to lay low for a while.
Meanwhile, the rumor that Jin had defeated Mary spread throughout the Garden of Swords, and the news of him becoming a flagbearer also circulated in the world.
It was natural for the Garden of Swords and the world to be stirred up once again.
Deano followed Jin's instructions to the letter when writing his articles, while Kuzan and Yulian made sure that Jack Glow, the rabid dog, and Firok, the apostate knight, guided them to the snow-covered ridges in the southeast of the Mytell Kingdom.
Like the eye of the storm, Jin was the only one whose life remained calm.
It was February 15, 1799.
Delegations to congratulate Jin began to arrive at the Garden of Swords. The flagbearers sent to encourage the clans under his control had not yet returned.
Many groups sent delegations, from the martial clans of Hughester to all kinds of neutral factions and even the Vimenth, but Jin refused to receive most of his visitors. In fact, he committed the rudeness of sending them back after accepting their gifts.
"Young Master, are you sure we can continue sending them back?"
Jin nodded in response to Petrow's question.
"I have no urgent need to win favors from those who judge me based on such trivial actions, and those who show generosity despite my rudeness will understand my worth regardless. Above all, I have nothing to give them at this moment. Unnecessarily approaching someone will only accumulate unnecessary debts at this time."
Owing a favor when he himself had nothing to offer meant ending up with great interests to repay.
"I will personally only respond to the delegations from the Delki Kingdom, the McLoran clan, the Bill clan from the Jian Kingdom, and the Holy Queen. Send the rest back after receiving their gifts."
"Understood, sir. I will also make a list of others who show special favor."
"Oh! And let me know if the Volta clan ever sends a delegation. I will also meet with them."
"The Volta clan, sir?"
The Volta clan was one of the poorest noble clans in Hughester. And to say that a clan was poor in Hughester meant that there were no notable martial artists in the clan at all.
Petrow found it difficult to understand why Jin would receive a delegation from such a destitute clan after sending back delegations from powerful and influential clans.
Oh no. I mentioned the Volta clan too randomly. Jin discreetly looked around while Petrow tilted his head in confusion.
Luckily, Gilly and Murakan were busy talking among themselves and didn't hear what he said.
I'll have to come up with a good excuse to tell them if those two ever ask why I was looking after the Volta clan.
Jin cared about the Volta clan because of memories from his past life.
But unlike Murakan and Gilly, Petrow wasn't a companion. He was Jin's subordinate in the clan, and Jin was a flagbearer, which meant he didn't have to persuade him in detail or explain the reasons behind an order.
'I needed Jet to use the memories from my past life in Arkhin, and Sir Kashmir's help benefited me afterward. But now I don't have to do that anymore.'
Jin smiled as he realized it.
"Understood, Young Master. I will inform you immediately when the Volta clan's delegation arrives."
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