Chapter 181

“The assassination of Torkel.”

After all the meetings concluded, Theo was lost in deep thought as he made his way back to his quarters.

“Why didn’t anything like this happen in my past life? Or… was it happening, and I just didn’t know?”

In his previous life, Torkel, who was hailed as an unprecedented genius, ultimately failed in the competition for the throne.

The official cause of death was reported as a death in battle.

It was widely believed that he had died during a skirmish with the Holy Demon Church. However, it seemed that wasn’t the truth.

The Black Dragon hadn’t explained why Torkel needed to be assassinated.

But for someone whose obsession with the Ragnar Clan surpassed even that of the Patriarch, there must have been a compelling reason for such a decision.

Perhaps Torkel was colluding with the Holy Demon Church.

Or maybe… there was something else entirely.

“As if dealing with Evelyn chasing after Lodbrok wasn’t enough, now this? What exactly is happening to this clan?”

Theo sighed heavily, feeling an oppressive weight settle over him.

The family, which appeared so grand and powerful on the surface, was riddled with unseen fractures that made it seem like it could collapse at any moment.

Could he really resolve all of this?

Could he mend these cracks and transform the clan into something greater?

How?

His thoughts grew tangled and complicated.

Still, there was one thing he was certain of:

He had to succeed.

That was the weight of destiny he bore as the one who had been given a second chance at life.

The moment Theo entered the barracks of Squad Five, he was greeted by cheers and congratulatory remarks from his squadmates, including Selford and Arin.

“Congratulations, Captain!”

“Congrats!”

“Wow! It feels like just yesterday you became the youngest practical swordsman, and now you’re already a senior examiner and a squad captain? How far are you planning to go?”

Pop! Pop-pop!

Fireworks burst in front of him, catching Theo off guard.

He scratched his cheek awkwardly with his index finger, clearly unprepared for such a reception.

The long dining table was laden with an assortment of food and alcohol, making him wonder when and how they’d managed to prepare all of this.

“Tada!”

Selford, whom Theo suspected to be the mastermind behind the event, walked up with Arin, holding a cake. They even plopped a party hat on Theo’s head.

“…What is this?” Theo asked, bewildered.

“What do you think? It’s a crown! And it suits you perfectly, doesn’t it?” Selford replied with a playful wink and a thumbs-up.

Theo exhaled a deep sigh.

Meanwhile, Hulcus, clapping along with the other squad members, urgently tugged on Erika’s arm.

“Hey! Erika! Hey, hey, hey!”

Annoyed, Erika shrugged him off. “I’m listening, so just let go and talk, will you?”

“What do we do? What am I supposed to do?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“What are you even talking about?”

“My spot as the second blade! It’s about to be taken—what should I do?”

“I thought you were aiming for the first blade?”

“Well, that’s out of reach, so I gave up. But what about the second blade? What do I do about that?”

“That’s simple.”

“Simple? What is it?”

“Go beat Ray.”

“…Damn it!”

Hulcus’ face turned bright red as he recalled how he had recklessly challenged Ray, only to be utterly crushed.

Erika snorted lightly but kept her gaze fixed on Theo. Ray’s words about Theo, forged through countless brushes with death, echoed in her mind.

Ray, standing silently, was also observing Theo.

“Alright! Let’s hear a few words from our new Captain, Theo Ragnar!”

Selford handed Theo a makeshift microphone with a flourish.

Theo let out a faint laugh and asked, “What is all this?”

“What do you mean? It’s a party, of course! What’s a joyous occasion without a party? Isn’t that right, everyone?”

“Right on!”

“Absolutely!”

“Finally got rid of those annoying bastards—feels damn good!”

“Haha! Exactly! You should’ve seen their faces when the tower was completely conquered at the end—ugh, so satisfying!”

“I felt like my heart finally cleared!”

“By the way, where did all those dragons even come from? That was amazing!”

The squad buzzed with excitement, recalling Theo’s display of divine power.

They’d already acknowledged Theo as captain material, even before his promotion had been made official.

“What are you waiting for? My arm’s getting tired. Say something already!”

Under Selford’s persistent urging, Theo gave a wry smile and finally spoke.

“I’m Theo Ragnar, and I’ll be serving as your interim squad captain for the time being.”

The room fell silent as his voice took on a serious tone.

“Their gazes are sharp—just as I expected.”

Though they all wore faint smiles, their expressions were grave, their eyes intense.

Theo adjusted his stance, understanding why these individuals were part of the White Armor Vanguard, and continued.

“For the sake of issuing commands more efficiently, I’ll dispense with formalities starting at midnight. This is my first time as a captain, so I understand if you’re concerned. I’ll do my best to lead you. I won’t ask for much in return. There’s just one thing I want: trust.”

A captain under the age of twenty.

One might expect skepticism about his abilities, yet their eyes showed no such doubt.

“If you trust me, I’ll repay that trust. And I’ll deliver victory into your hands. However, if anyone disobeys my orders, I’ll handle it with immediate consequences.”

Selford watched Theo, now commanding the room, with a satisfied smile.

“This kid… he’s got talent for this.”

Though calling his superior a “kid” was inappropriate, Selford couldn’t help but admire the younger man who inspired both respect and camaraderie.

“That being said, I’m sorry to spoil the mood, but I’m issuing my first order. This party will be postponed to the same time tomorrow.”

The room collectively froze, shocked by Theo’s abrupt command.

After all, they had gone to great lengths to prepare the celebration despite their exhaustion from the earlier conflict with the Black Iron Brigade.

“Early tomorrow morning, at 4 AM, the White Armor Vanguard and the Black Iron Brigade will conduct a joint operation. Our objective is to dismantle the Holy Demon Church’s altar installed in Troiban’s camp. This is a direct order from above.”

The squad members reacted differently—some with surprise, others with wariness—but one thing was consistent: their eyes grew steely.

Selford hesitated before voicing their shared concern. “Captain, the Black Iron Brigade…”

“Yes, our conflict with them was only a few hours ago. But the orders remain unchanged.”

“…Hrm.”

“Ugh…”

Grumbles of frustration echoed throughout the room. The tension was palpable as they wrestled with whether they could truly trust their former rivals.

“And…”

This part was crucial. Theo switched to telepathic communication, his voice resonating in their minds.

“This is the official directive for the White Armor Vanguard. However, our squad’s true mission is different. Amid the chaos, we are to assassinate the Black Iron Brigade’s captain.”

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

Though the squad members struggled to mask their shock, their expressions betrayed them.

“Ensure no issues arise during the operation. To maintain confidentiality, all external activities are prohibited starting immediately. That’s all.”

The air in the barracks grew heavy, charged with tension.

***

Squad Five moved with urgency.

With only three or four hours left until the mission began, there was barely enough time to prepare.

They had countless tasks to complete—gathering equipment, feeding their wyverns until they were full, and more.

“...I have no idea what’s going on anymore.”

Keeeeak!

Selford tugged hard at the reins clamped to his partner wyvern’s jaw as it thrashed about.

Arin, who had been trying to distract the wyvern to keep it calm, tilted her head curiously.

“What don’t you understand?”

“This mission.”

“There’s nothing wrong with it, is there?”

“There isn’t. We’re just soldiers doing what we’re told, after all. But…”

Selford paused, organizing his thoughts before speaking again.

“Doesn’t it feel like the clan’s been in chaos lately?”

“Chaos?”

“You don’t feel it? Is it just me?”

Arin stared at Selford quietly.

Despite his cheerful personality, Selford had a keen sense for reading the room—likely due to his origins as an illegitimate child, which had forced him to be hyperaware of his surroundings.

Because of this, he often picked up on things that hadn’t yet been shared with the squad.

This time was no different, which made Arin uneasy.

“Explain what you mean properly.”

“Well, think about it. Evelyn, who was supposed to be preparing for the Dragon Gate Swordmaster promotion exam, suddenly went on a solo mission. Then, Theo immediately took her spot. And now this mission…”

Arin, having served in the White Armor Vanguard for a long time, was well aware of the Black Iron Brigade’s devotion to Torkel.

Those soldiers would willingly live or die at Torkel’s command.

An assassination order was essentially a declaration of war against the entire Black Iron Brigade.

“This mission must be incredibly important if the Black Dragon brought it up and the Patriarch approved it. But does this really feel like the usual Ragnar way of doing things?”

“In the past… they would have just dragged Torkel out in the open.”

“Exactly. This is different. It feels like there’s some unseen schemer at work—something entirely uncharacteristic of the Ragnar Clan.”

For a clan where top-down orders were absolute, the nature of this operation hinted at a significant shift in how decisions were being made.

It was only then that Arin fully grasped the gravity of the situation.

“From the Patriarch to the Nine Dragons… it feels like they’re all being chased by something.”

“...”

“Well, I guess it’s only natural. They’re calling this a battle for survival—one that won’t end until one side is completely crushed. But… I don’t think this is the end of it.”

“What do you mean? That there’s more to come after this?”

“Who knows?”

Arin fell into contemplative silence.

If there was something beyond Torkel’s assassination, she couldn’t even begin to guess what it might be.

“Why are you taking it so seriously? I’m just speculating here. Anyway, keep your focus. We’re not getting any sleep tonight, that’s for sure.”

With a loud laugh, Selford finished his preparations and left to tackle the remaining tasks.

As the squad worked tirelessly to get ready, Theo was receiving unexpected visitors.

“At last, we meet. Gatekeeper. The new one.”

“An honor. A blessing for the tribe. You are ours!”

Despite the late hour, a group of dust-covered figures had arrived.

These were the indigenous people who had long protected the White Tower.

Feeling pity for their battered appearances, Theo suggested they meet after their injuries had been treated.

However, their fervor left no room for argument.

“It’s fine. Even if we are broken. The Gatekeeper must be seen. Even by the ancestors!”

Lodbrok chuckled.

“They don’t seem capable of holding a coherent conversation, do they?”

“But we can’t just ignore them.”

“Heh. They could easily be mistaken for some cult. Don’t you think?”

“Please refrain from saying such grim things.”

Theo was at a loss for how to handle the starry-eyed tribespeople when, suddenly, someone stepped forward and raised both hands.

As if on cue, the chaos subsided.

The newcomer was a young woman with long, silk-like hair that shimmered even in the dim light.

Her attire was distinctly different from the rest of the tribespeople, from its color to its craftsmanship.

“Is she their leader? There’s a familiar aura about her.”

“Familiar? In what way?”

“She doesn’t seem like an ordinary human.”

While Theo’s eyes widened in surprise, the woman spoke soothingly to the tribespeople in an unfamiliar language before turning to him.

“I apologize for the sudden intrusion. I am the Dangol of the White Tower tribe, known as the ‘Black and Blue Bird.’”

Her Imperial Common was fluent and refined, unlike the broken speech of the others.

“This woman… she’s a Dragonian.”

“...!”

“It is an honor to finally meet the Gatekeeper.”

Her obsidian eyes locked onto Theo, drawing him in completely.

There was something strangely familiar about her face.

“Lodbrok.”

“Yes. I see it too. Her face… her aura… it’s uncanny. It’s almost as if someone copied me.”