Chapter 241

‘I need to handle this matter quickly and move on to the next task.’

Throughout their conversation, Bedok’s sharp, gleaming eyes darted constantly, searching for any crack in Theo’s defenses. If he had found a weakness, he would have attacked without hesitation. Negotiating with someone like him for an extended period was a losing game. Treating him as a negotiation partner was tantamount to bowing down.

“It’s fine. Even if we show weakness, they’re nothing more than scavengers, hyenas waiting to sink their teeth into our throats.”

Theo scoffed lightly as he spoke.

“And in a long-term game, it’s not them but us who hold the advantage. They need to know their place before attempting to make any deals.”

Considering the current state of the Eight Eunuchs of the Wolf Fang Sect, secretly manipulated by the Mad Dragon, it was clear they were in dire straits and likely sought an alliance with Ragnar. If not that, they might want to mediate or intervene in the coming disputes between the prince-electors to secure their own interests.

However, Theo had no intention of giving them anything. His priority was to tame them first, making it crystal clear who held the power and who didn’t.

“Well, if that’s what the Young Patriarch thinks,” Lezé said with a shrug, letting the matter drop. She had no particular desire to side with their enemies either.

“More importantly, we’re nearing the Forest of Naga. Let’s hear the current situation. Scout, what have you learned?”

The scout, who had been silently waiting for his chance to report, bowed deeply before speaking.

“Currently, there are four factions that have already entered the Forest of Naga, with six others monitoring the situation from the periphery.”

“Already inside?” Theo’s expression darkened.

“Yes. The Tower, the Beastfolk Vanguard, the Priestly Union, and Mulligan.”

Theo’s eyes gleamed coldly.

“Familiar names.”

“They were the ones who sided with Troyban during the Northern War,” Julius said with a shrug.

Theo nodded. He hadn’t asked because he didn’t know; the sheer audacity of their presence had left him incredulous.

“They must be desperate to recover what they lost back then. Or perhaps… they intend to obstruct our plans.”

During the Northern War, the prince-electors who had allied with Troyban to suppress Ragnar had been driven into ruin. Under the mediation of the Sea Trade Union, they had been forced to relinquish significant assets before withdrawing from the North. Further resistance would have only branded them eternal enemies of Ragnar, which had already consolidated its dominance over the North and East.

Yet here they were, once again.

Theo couldn’t let their proactive interference slide. What’s more, Mulligan had familial ties to the Narcio clan. As Wellington’s maternal relatives, their involvement was impossible to interpret as anything but hostile.

“How far have they advanced?”

“They’ve deployed specialized units, but none have penetrated deeply yet.”

“Are the Naga resisting fiercely?”

“No. The Naga, under Hilda’s coercion, seem to be waiting eagerly for the liberation army to arrive.”

“Then what’s the hold-up?”

“The entire forest has been cursed.”

“A curse…?” Theo’s eyes widened.

The Maehwa Palace Lord interjected. “Explain in detail.”

The scout delivered a succinct explanation.

The Sublimation Ritual

was performed once already.

However, the ritual failed, resulting in a curse that has spread throughout the forest.

Now, the dead rise, wandering the forest freely. Even in the ancestral burial grounds maintained by the Naga, undead armies have emerged, causing chaos.

The prince-electors who initially engaged in combat have since forbidden further fighting after witnessing their fallen comrades rise as undead.

In short, the failed Sublimation Ritual had drastically altered the forest’s environment.

No one could predict the direction this rampant phenomenon would take—not even Theo, despite his knowledge from a previous life. This was something he had never encountered.

‘Could it be…?’

Theo had a suspicion.

“What about the whereabouts of the former clan head… no, Hilda Ragnar?”

“After failing the ritual, Hilda Ragnar has gone into hiding. She is believed to be recovering her strength in a secret location.”

‘Perhaps this is the result of her giving me Garuda’s Heart.’

In his previous life, Hilda had repeatedly attempted the Sublimation Ritual using the Heart of Garuda. As a symbol of resurrection, the artifact had allowed her to quickly recover her depleted vitality after each failure.

But now, her circumstances were different.

With fewer opportunities to attempt the ritual, Hilda’s actions had been more cautious, and rumors about her condition had spread widely.

“With Hilda weakened, this chaos presents an opportunity to claim the Mystic. However, the rampant forces in the forest make it nearly impossible to approach. Understood. You may leave.”

“By your command.”

As the scout bowed and was about to withdraw, another soldier approached.

“Young Patriarch, representatives from the ‘Silk Road Brotherhood’ and the ‘Native Protection League’ have sent envoys. What should we do?”

These two groups were among the six factions monitoring the situation from the forest’s outskirts. The sight of Ragnar leading an army of tens of thousands had likely unnerved them, especially since their forces numbered only a few thousand at most.

“Tell them I am too weary from my travels to entertain guests at the moment.”

“By your command.”

Theo had no intention of negotiating or cooperating with any other faction during this mission. His sole goal was to demonstrate Ragnar’s overwhelming might.

“For now, we must fully assess the situation within the forest. We need to pinpoint Hilda’s exact location and determine the state of the rampaging Mystic.”

“Young Patriarch, you don’t mean…”

“I will personally lead the vanguard into the forest.”

***

“Alright, alright. I get it. Time is tight, and we need to move quickly to match the pace,” Lezé grumbled as she walked beside Theo, who was calmly packing his light travel gear.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“But why are we so few in number? What’s the point of bringing so many troops if you’re only taking this small group?”

Lezé wasn’t the only one complaining. Rey, Erika, Holcus, and even Kincarnon were present, their faces reflecting similar sentiments. These were people Theo had worked with during the last two years in the East.

“The situation has changed.”

“What?”

“Initially, the goal was to counter the interference of the other prince-electors. But now, having a large force would actually be a disadvantage. The objective is to strike quickly and withdraw just as fast. That’s why I’ve only selected an elite team who can perfectly synchronize with me.”

“Or just people you can push around easily?”

“I can’t deny that’s part of it.”

“Ugh, you’re insufferable…!”

Lezé gave Theo a conflicted look. Despite his impossible position as the Heavenly Dragon, he still chose to lead from the front. She considered trying to stop him, knowing the danger, but quickly dismissed the thought. Theo would never listen.

Theo had an almost obsessive conviction: when it came to dangerous tasks, he had to take them on himself. Lezé didn’t know the reason behind it, but she couldn’t fully criticize him for it either.

“Alright, let’s move out.”

At the crack of dawn, the team of six swordsmen quietly slipped out of the Ragnar camp. Waiting for them at the rendezvous point were two unexpected figures.

“Huh? Why are they here?” Lezé asked, startled.

“I asked them to join us,” Theo replied nonchalantly.

“What!?” Lezé practically shouted.

The two figures waiting were none other than Julius and the Maehwa Palace Lord.

“I’m not sure if this is the right call, but…” Julius began, his tone carrying a mixture of reluctance and amusement.

“Still, it’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to work in the field, and it’s a refreshing change,” added the Maehwa Palace Lord with a light smile.

They had agreed to Theo’s request to join the vanguard for this mission. This small-scale operation now involved no less than four of the Nine Dragons. Rey, Erika, and Holcus looked visibly pale, wondering how they could possibly keep up with such legendary figures.

「You never mentioned that they’d be joining us!」 Erika hissed telepathically.

「I’m mentioning it now, aren’t I?」 Theo replied with a sly grin.

「You lunatic!!」

Erika shut her eyes tightly in frustration, while Holcus, in contrast, could barely contain his excitement. He radiated enthusiasm, unable to hide his exhilaration.

“You should’ve seen how devastated the Black Dragon was when he realized he couldn’t participate in this mission,” Holcus said, his voice brimming with admiration.

Unlike Julius and the Maehwa Palace Lord, who both had capable deputies to act in their stead, the Black Dragon did not. As the head of Ragnar’s intelligence agency, he had no successor due to fears of internal corruption, which left him sidelined. It seemed to be a sore point for him.

“I should bring back a gift to console him on the way back,” Theo said with a small chuckle.

And with that, the operation began.

***

“Acting based on vague information from my past life could lead to disaster.”

The moment Theo stepped into the Forest of Naga, he came to this conclusion.

A dense aura of death pervaded the forest, pricking his skin like countless needles. Even breathing felt suffocating. To make matters worse, the mana stream connected to Theo wavered unsteadily in this oppressive environment.

It was a place where ordinary people could never survive—a realm of death. Whatever had run rampant here, it had transformed the area into something so alien that understanding the cause seemed impossible.

“This... doesn’t feel like a simple curse. Hard to believe this was once the home of the wise Naga.”

Even Kincarnon, who had been mostly silent, frowned deeply as he muttered those words. If even someone like him felt uneasy, it was clear this mission would not be easy.

“Something’s coming.”

It was then that Theo turned his head, following the vibration of the mana stream. The rest of the vanguard instinctively held their breath.

But…

‘It’s not just one or two.’

Theo quickly signaled the group to retreat into the shadows. Just as their concealment techniques took effect, they appeared.

Rustle!

Clatter, clatter—

With the sound of footsteps crunching through the grass, skeleton soldiers began to emerge one by one. But these were no ordinary undead.

Among them were skeletons bearing shields, others armed with spears and swords, and even some beating war drums on either side of the formation.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The sound of bone striking drumskin wasn’t particularly loud, yet the dark energy it emanated resonated powerfully through the forest.

A legion.

A full battalion made entirely of skeletal soldiers was enough to make anyone’s skin crawl just at the sight.

Yet, the vanguard’s attention wasn’t focused on the skeletal soldiers themselves.

What caught their eyes were the tattered banners fluttering above the undead formation.

Covered in grime and decay, the banners bore a symbol all too familiar to Theo and his companions.

Mulligan.

It was the insignia of a prominent noble family from the southern regions.