Chapter 218

“So, the important question is: where is the Light Dragon Emperor’s connection leading?”

Theo narrowed his eyes as he studied Kincarnon.

“Could it be… the head of the Gardner family?”

Kincarnon’s eyes clenched shut.

The Ancient Dragon Artifact was said to hold countless incomprehensible mysteries, beyond what the ordinary mind could grasp.

Having the ability to discern truth from falsehood was not surprising in the least.

And, as expected—

“That’s all I needed to know.”

Theo slowly rose to his feet.

With this, his next target was clear.

Boom!

As Theo left, the cell door slammed shut, and darkness descended once more.

Kincarnon remained frozen, unable to move from where he sat.

That oppressive darkness and silence seemed to reflect the state of his life—a man who had lost everything and fallen into the abyss.

***

The White Steel Vanguard had received their orders.

-The Gardner family has been confirmed as an active participant in the recent coup, in collaboration with remnants of Troyban. They are hereby declared enemies of the state. Extermination orders have been issued.

Extermination.

In the North, the word carried a heavy weight.

It wasn’t just about defeating enemies—it meant leaving no trace behind. Not a single blade of grass or person connected to the offenders would be spared.

In the worst-case scenario, it could mean the complete eradication of the Gardner name from the Six Noble Houses, a realization that sent everyone into a frenzy of preparation.

Screeeeeech!

“Let’s move out!”

The wyverns, clad in armor, shrieked as they soared into the sky.

Amore led the charge, with other members forming neat formations behind her. It was a breathtaking sight, a perfect example of martial discipline.

“Oh my goodness, what’s happening now?”

“I heard Kincarnon was the mastermind behind the coup. They say evidence even points to the Gardner family!”

“What is going on? The war with Troyban only ended recently…”

As over a hundred wyverns filled the skies, civilians on the ground could only watch, desperately hoping no further calamities would unfold.

Bang! Bang!

While the extermination forces deployed, Theo found himself at the Bask Workshop instead of joining the main operation.

“…What’s this now?”

Kirsone, pipe in hand, froze mid-puff as she noticed the greatsword Theo had quietly placed before her. Her face scrunched in frustration.

“It’s exactly what it looks like.”

“Do you have any idea how much work I put into making this thing?”

Kirsone grabbed the back of her head, as though to physically restrain her rising anger.

“This—this is because of the coup, isn’t it?”

She gestured toward the commotion in the sky, referring to the unfolding aftermath of Kincarnon’s failed coup.

Theo scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“Well… yeah. So, why not save your anger for the culprits I’m about to catch?”

“You really have a way with words, don’t you?”

Kirsone grumbled as she picked up the broken Drake Blade, inspecting it carefully. Her scowl deepened.

“This is insane. It’s practically impossible to fix! No matter how much I try to piece it back together, it’ll never function like it did before.”

The Drake Blade wasn’t just made from Lesser Drake materials—it also included rare and invaluable components Kirsone had poured into its creation.

Repairing it wasn’t just difficult—it was outright impossible. At best, it could be melted down and reforged into something entirely new.

But then—

“Would this help make the repairs any easier?”

Theo revealed a new material, causing Kirsone to gasp audibly.

“This—this is…!”

Her anger evaporated as her eyes widened in awe. She grabbed the material with trembling hands, cradling it like a precious treasure.

The texture, the density, the perfection—she could hardly believe what she was holding.

“Where did you get something like this?!”

Kirsone’s tone turned reverent as she traced the material’s surface, her voice trembling.

‘Tell that filthy elf to back off before she drools all over it!’

Lodbrok’s voice rang urgently in Theo’s mind.

“Fascinating… simply fascinating…”

‘Now! Get her away from it immediately!’

Lodbrok’s panic rose as Kirsone, looking utterly enthralled, began to hug the material closer, caressing it like a lovestruck maniac.

The material in question? A piece of Lodbrok’s rib, painstakingly carved out the previous night.

‘I went through so much pain to extract that!’

‘You only scraped the surface of your rib, didn’t you?’

‘And that didn’t hurt? It did! And don’t forget who enchanted and reinforced it with advanced magic—me! You’ve been working me like a slave!’

Theo had convinced Lodbrok to turn the rib into a near-perfect artifact by pestering him relentlessly, even using guilt as a weapon.

“If I get hurt because you refuse, it’ll delay your recovery too,” Theo had said more than once. The manipulation had driven Lodbrok to the brink of madness.

“Incredible… simply incredible… Where did you even find this?”

Kirsone finally snapped out of her trance, though her eyes still sparkled greedily.

“I can’t say much, but let’s just call it a privilege of being the Young Lord.”

“How much of this do you have?”

“Hm…”

‘None! That was the last of it!’

“Enough to meet your needs.”

‘You little…!’

Kirsone’s eyes practically turned into money signs.

“Really? Really?”

“Not an endless supply, though. But I also have other materials.”

“What? There’s more?”

“Claws, scales, toenails, hair—you name it. I can probably get my hands on most Ancient Dragon materials.”

‘Are you out of your mind?!’

Lodbrok’s ghostly figure glared at Theo, who responded with a cheeky grin.

“So, uh, could I… maybe… take a look at those too?” Kirsone stammered, her hands trembling in excitement.

“After you finish the repairs.”

“Of course! Of course!”

“How soon can you have it done?”

“A week! Just a week!”

“Can you do it in less?”

“What?! Do you want me to work myself to death?”

Kirsone started to yell but froze under Theo’s pleasant, unyielding smile.

“…Fine. Five days!”

“Three.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“…Hahahaha! Sure, three days! Of course!”

“Oh, and the Dragonfire Blade too.”

“Great. Twice the work. Fantastic!”

Theo laughed quietly.

‘Kirsone really is easy to work with.’

‘Isn’t that just called manipulation?’

Lodbrok grumbled from the side, but Theo ignored him entirely.

***

Three days later, the Dragonfire Blade and the Drake Blade returned, fully restored.

It was also the day the White Steel Vanguard returned after completing the Gardner extermination campaign.

The head of the Gardner patriarch, Algon, was impaled on a tall pike and displayed at Winterer’s gates, a grim warning to the enemies of Ragnar.

Then came the cascade of official announcements:

-For treason, Gardner Patriarch Algon and his vassals are sentenced to death.

-Selford Gardner is appointed as the new head of the Gardner family.

-As a penalty, half of Gardner’s previously granted privileges are revoked.

-Additionally, Gardner is demoted to sixth rank among the Six Noble Houses, and a one-month Hierarchy Contest is declared.

The Hierarchy Contest.

Being one of the Six Noble Houses didn’t just mean serving Ragnar closely. It was also a position of power and privilege, granting rights to collect taxes and manage Northern territories.

It was only natural that many families coveted such a position.

The announcement was simple:

-Your father made this mess, Selford. Now it’s up to you to clean it up.

Selford, who had never once thought of Algon as a father, felt an overwhelming urge to throw everything away.

“Here, take this.”

“What’s this?”

“What else? A letter from your new liege.”

Selford clenched his fist tightly around the letter Amore handed him.

For now, hold on as best you can.

The letter was short but clear—a command, the first directive from Theo as his lord.

It was a plea for Selford to endure and carry the weight.

“You can’t expect any help from the White Steel Vanguard, can you?”

“Hierarchy Contests prohibit involvement from major clans. You know that, so why ask?”

“I know… I just needed to vent.”

The Gardner family was in shambles.

Nearly all key figures had been executed. Mid-level officers were in disarray, with nearly 40% of them removed, leaving lower-ranking retainers uneasy.

The only reason the family hadn’t completely collapsed was Selford’s reputation among the retainers and the rumor that he was Theo’s right hand.

Still, the question loomed: how long could they hold out with what little remained?

Though Theo had reduced the contest period to a month instead of the usual year, Selford could already feel the pressure mounting at the thought of facing wave after wave of challengers.

“But don’t worry too much. Your lord left you a little gift.”

“…A gift?”

Confused, Selford furrowed his brow.

Amore only gave a cryptic smile and left with the White Steel Vanguard.

Fortunately, the nature of Theo’s “gift” became clear the next day.

“It’s been a long time since I last came here… what, ten years?”

Hundreds of swordsmen suddenly appeared, setting up camp outside the Gardner estate.

At first, the retainers feared that the Hierarchy Contest had already begun, leaving them scrambling to prepare.

But as soon as a few retainers identified the flag flying over the camp, they paled and screamed.

“It’s Ranke!”

“Bracken Ranke is here for revenge!”

How many could view the arrival of Bracken Ranke, long an adversary of Algon Gardner, as a welcome sight?

But the situation grew more complicated when another faction appeared soon after.

“Bacchus! The Bacchus family has arrived!”

“Navan Bacchus himself has come…!”

“They’ve been eager to reclaim some of the privileges they lost during the last incident. Could they be here to claim Gardner’s place?”

The Bacchus family, another of the Six Noble Houses, had also sent forces.

Surprisingly, Bracken Ranke and Navan Bacchus, despite meeting for the first time, exchanged cordial greetings.

And then,

Creeeak.

The gates of the Gardner estate opened, and Selford stepped out to meet them.

The retainers watched nervously, fearing Bracken and Navan might harm their new lord.

Yet, they were equally stunned by Selford’s calm and confident demeanor as he faced the two powerful patriarchs.

Then, something unprecedented occurred.

“So, this is the gift Theo mentioned. Thank you for coming to the Gardner family’s aid.”

“Indeed. It’s good to see you again. Allow me to introduce myself properly—Bracken Ranke.”

“A pleasure. Navan Bacchus. My men are exhausted from the journey, but might we find some rest here?”

“Of course.”

Selford shook hands with both men.

Thus, the first official meeting of what would later be known as the Theo Alliance took place.