[Translator - Night][Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 200: Traitors (1)
Inside a Luxurious Room
The room was adorned with famous paintings anyone could recognize at a glance, and the chandelier hanging from the ceiling cast a radiant glow.
It resembled a high-end hotel suite, but one peculiar aspect set it apart:
There was no door.
No matter where you looked on the walls, there wasn’t a single door or even a window.
In the center of the room was a round table with three empty chairs.
Vwooong.
Light began emanating from one of the chairs.
Along with it, a hologram formed in mid-air.
The owner of the translucent holographic face was someone everyone on the continent would instantly recognize.
The current No. 2 in the Hero Rankings.
The hero who governed the Holy Kingdom, Pope Marianne.
Wearing a leisurely smile, she glanced around the empty room.
[Hmm. It seems not everyone is here yet?]
Vwooong.
From another chair, light poured out.
A new face appeared, an elderly man with a serene expression.
The current No. 3 in the Hero Rankings.
The "Thunder God," Lionel Ryu.
Marianne bowed her head slightly toward Lionel.
[It’s been a while, Principal Lionel.]
[Apologies for being late.]
[Oh, I just arrived as well.]
Marianne’s lips curved into a benevolent smile.
[Thank you for accommodating the candidates from our academy during the recent field trip.]
[Oh, it’s only natural to invest in the future heroes who will one day lead the continent.]
Marianne shrugged her shoulders casually in response, and Lionel gave her an awkward smile.
[By the way, I heard one of our candidates caused a bit of a stir….]
[Ah, if you’re referring to that, there’s no need to worry. The investigation confirmed there was no damage to the Holy Mother’s tomb.]
[I see. My apologies.]
[Hehe, it’s fine.]
The two exchanged light-hearted conversation.
[That aside….]
Lionel frowned slightly and glanced at the third empty chair.
[They’re late again.]
[Oh my, isn’t that always the case?]
[Sigh.]
Lionel let out a small sigh.
At that moment—
Vwooong. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Light began to radiate from the last remaining chair.
[Speak of the tiger.]
[Hmm, the tiger, you say….]
A languid voice echoed through the room.
Though the voice sounded almost too lazy, it carried an overwhelming charisma and authority that made one instinctively want to kneel.
[Are you comparing me to a mere beast?]
The woman who appeared had dazzling platinum blonde hair.
She was clad in a sheer nightgown-like dress that revealed her silhouette, reclining on her chair as if it were a lounge chair.
Though her laid-back demeanor resembled that of a lazy freeloader, the sheer charisma and unique aura she exuded obliterated any such impression.
The current No. 1 in the Hero Rankings,
“The Empress,” Camellia Padsha.
The imperial ruler and the undisputed pinnacle of heroes.
[A mere beast? Are you unaware that tigers are revered as divine creatures in the Republic?]
[I’m aware. However….]
Camellia turned her languid gaze to Lionel, her eyes heavy with sleep.
[Before me, all living things are mere beasts.]
[…You haven’t changed a bit.]
Lionel shook his head with an exasperated expression.
Camellia turned her attention to Marianne and continued.
[So, what were the results of this test?]
[They were astonishing.]
[Oh?]
When Marianne activated a magical device, a video appeared in the center of the table.
The footage showed a blond young man ferociously wielding his sword against members of the Seven-Star Knights.
[A child of the Helios family.]
Camellia nodded, recognizing the face.
She yawned while watching the young man’s swordplay.
[My, aren’t you surprised? This is a mere cadet who hasn’t even graduated yet, handling members of the Seven-Star Knights like children.]
[I’ve long heard that Yuren Helios possesses exceptional talent. However….]
Her half-closed eyes focused intently on Yuren’s swordplay.
[He has made significant progress since I last saw him.]
[Oh, that’s rare praise from you.]
[Heh. It’s not that I’m stingy with compliments.]
[Really? Then why does your face look so unimpressed?]
[Even if he’s improved, he’s still just a fledgling, isn’t he?]
Camellia shrugged her shoulders as she continued to watch the footage.
[Still… there are some rough gems among this batch of candidates.]
The video shifted to show Iris, Camilla, Berald, Sophia, and Lanez.
At that moment—
[…Hm?]
Camellia’s eyes, which had been drowsy moments ago, sharpened with interest.
[Pause it for a moment.]
[Why?]
The paused image showed a candidate with dark gray hair.
The candidate wielded a blade wreathed in ashen flames, effortlessly subduing a member of the Seven-Star Knights.
[Oh, that candidate….]
[Do you know them?]
[They caused a bit of a stir during the recent field trip.]
[A stir?]
[It wasn’t anything major….]
Marianne explained to Camellia the incident involving unauthorized access to the tomb.
[Hmm.]
Camellia sat up straight in her chair, her gaze fixed on the paused footage.
[Is this really something to be so surprised about?]
Lionel tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand.
[It''s true that Candidate Dale subdued a member of the Seven Stars Knights, but wasn’t Candidate Yuren the same?]
If anything, the one who displayed more impressive skills was Yuren, not Dale.
While Dale had only taken down a single knight, Yuren had held his ground against nearly ten members of the Seven Stars Knights simultaneously.
[Doesn’t it seem odd?]
[What’s supposed to be odd about it?]
[The wall breaking.]
Camellia slowly raised her hand, pointing to the spot where a Seven Stars Knight had been thrown by Dale''s strike.
The wall where the knight had crashed was cracked and partially shattered.
[What’s the issue with that?]
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Lionel furrowed his brows, still not understanding.
For ordinary people, creating enough force to crack a wall would be difficult, but such things were commonplace in battles between heroes.
In fact, for a fight of this caliber, a wall sustaining only minor cracks was relatively insignificant.
[Ah.]
Marianne widened her eyes as if realizing something.
[H-how…?]
Her voice trembled faintly.
[Marianne, even you? What’s the matter?]
[Hmm. You still haven’t figured it out?]
Tsk.
Camellia clicked her tongue.
[That ruin is protected by a powerful barrier.]
The ruins where the test took place served as a passageway to Grace’s tomb.
If the ruins were to collapse, Grace’s tomb underneath would be damaged.
That was why a powerful protective barrier enveloped the entire ruin.
However, in the footage, the Seven Stars Knight’s body clearly cracked the ruin’s wall.
[In other words.]
Camellia continued in a low, solemn voice.
[It means the protective barrier covering the entire ruin was breached.]
[...That doesn’t sound possible.]
Given the Sanctum’s focus on support-type abilities, their protective barriers were of the highest caliber among the three nations.
Above all, this barrier was…
[Are we saying an ordinary candidate broke the barrier Marianne created?]
The current Rank 2 hero.
A barrier created by Pope Marianne herself, using a tremendous amount of holy relics.
[This… it seems further investigation is needed.]
Marianne nodded firmly, her expression hardening.
Meanwhile, Camellia’s eyes gleamed with interest as she gazed at Dale in the footage.
[Hmm. This candidate’s name is Dale Han… was it?]
[Yes, that’s correct.]
[He’s intriguing.]
Crossing her alabaster legs sensually, Camellia folded her arms and spoke in her characteristic relaxed tone, addressing Lionel.
[Lionel, send me this candidate’s information.]
[...Releasing a candidate’s personal information to external parties is strictly prohibited.]
[Don’t worry about that. My words are law, after all.]
[...]
Lionel sighed deeply at Camellia’s brazen demand for the candidate’s private information.
[Whether you give it to me or not, the information will end up in my hands soon enough. Why make things needlessly complicated?]
True to her word, if Camellia desired information on Dale, she would obtain it by any means necessary.
That was the way of Camellia, the current Rank 1 hero, the “Empress.”
[Haah.]
With another deep sigh, Lionel transmitted Dale’s file to her.
[Hmm, wise choice.]
Camellia smirked leisurely as she caressed the golden bracelet on her wrist.
Soon, a holographic display projected Dale’s profile.
[Now, let’s see… Hm?]
Her eyes narrowed as she skimmed through the document.
[...Bottom rank? Bottom rank, seriously?]
Camellia turned to Lionel with a skeptical expression.
Lionel responded with a faint smile and a nod.
[The information is accurate.]
[If you’re trying to mock me, prepare yourself for the consequences.]
[Mock you? Knowing your temperament, why would I do something so foolish?]
[...Then, this information is correct?]
[That’s right.]
Lionel nodded as he elaborated.
[For reference, Candidate Dale is currently under suspension and awaiting disciplinary committee review for another incident.]
[...]
Camellia let out a chuckle of disbelief.
[Someone with enough power to break Marianne’s barrier is hiding that strength, is that it…]
Her eyes gleamed with intrigue.
[This… might prove useful.]
[Useful?]
[You’re aware of the “traitors” infiltrating Valhalla City, aren’t you?]
[...]
Lionel’s expression stiffened.
Camellia continued in her unhurried tone.
[I think this boy is the perfect fit.]
A formidable force whose abilities were scarcely known to the public.
There were few candidates as suitable for a “hunting dog.”
One to track down and tear apart those traitors.
[What do you think?]
Camellia asked, her lips curling into a deep smile as she looked at Principal Lionel.
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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