Chapter 564. Master Key (2)

Translator: Boko

Kang Oh had fought with the orcs before, so he remembered Mumugul's face.

"Mr. Mumugul..." Kang Oh said carefully.

He assumed that Mumugul would feel some hostility towards him; after all, the Orc Chieftain, Asuka, had purportedly been killed by humans.

However, Mumugul responded a lot differently than he'd expected.

"Oh, ancestors. To think I'd meet Mr. Kang Oh here! Thank you so much." Mumugul raised his hands over his head. "Hero of Kasten, please help us."

"Excuse me?"

Kang Oh tilted his head. 'Hmm, what's really going on here?'

Then, Kuharap joined in. "I'd like to ask for your help too. Find the true culprit behind my sworn brother's death. You, who killed Talastrum's Demon, should be able to do so."

Following Vladi's death, Kuharap led his tribe back home to the Ruman Mountains. However, the Ruman Orcs had already staked their claim over the mountains.

The two tribes almost went to war.

That's when Asuka intervened, and negotiated with Kuharap.

He wanted them to coexist, and was even willing to give up a portion of their land. Kuharap was impressed by Asuka's courage and wisdom, so the two became sworn brothers. Afterwards, the orcs and the Tuslam agreed to live in peace.

That's how the Tuslam Champion and the Orc Great Chieftain became blood brothers.

Then, Asuka was killed.

Kuharap couldn't just sit idly by. He planned on killing the humans, who were responsible for his brother's demise.

However, Mumugul stopped him. He explained that there were several facets that didn't make sense.

Thus, Kuharap ordered his men to discreetly investigate the circumstances surrounding Asuka's death. In the course of their investigation, they discovered several suspicious objects and reported them back to him.

Then, Kuharap notified Mumugul of his findings, believing that there was some sort of conspiracy behind Asuka's untimely demise. The two had gathered here to discuss their future plans.

That's when Kang Oh had appeared before them like a true problem solver.

"There's definitely something behind the chieftain's death," Mumugul said.

"What specifically are you referring to?" Kang Oh asked.

"Asuka's kidnapping. He was taken too easily. We're talking about Asuka here; he's called the Orc Hero. There's no way to kidnap him without the help of a traitor," Kuharap said.

He was right.

Kang Oh nodded his head.

"There's no way this traitor would suddenly appear out of nowhere. This must have been planned for a long time. Which means that there's a separate party out there," Mumugul continued.

"I'm sure there is."

"I don't know who the traitor is, nor do I know the identity of the third party. At least for now. But I do know that we're doing exactly what they want us to do," Mumugul said.

"As if killing Asuka wasn't enough, they used his death to get what they wanted. I won't forgive them," Kuharap said.

"Hmm." Kang Oh was locked in thought.

Han Seol believed this was the Empire's doing.

Taking into consideration the information Balduk had provided him with, as well as Mumugul and Kuharap's discoveries, there was a 100% chance that there was a conspiracy going on...

"It's probably Jegal."

The Scheming Master, Jegal!

There was no one else who'd do this. He had a habit of using his intellect for terrible deeds.

"Jegal? Did you just say Jegal? Who is that?" Mumugul looked shocked.

"He's the Arabas Empire's advisor, as well as the vice-captain of the Empire Guild. He's called the Scheming Master. Do you know him?"

"There's an orc that occasionally says, 'Be careful of Jegal!'. Do you think he's the person you're referring to?"

"Be careful of Jegal? Which orc said that? No, when did he start spreading that around?"

"He's a wandering orc that appeared a few months ago. His name is Gejla. He comes and goes, giving us precious gifts and telling us what's happening on the outside. I'm not sure when exactly he started coming, but... I'm certain that he's the one who said it."

Mumugul had heard it directly from Gejla's mouth, so he was absolutely sure.

"The Wandering Orc, Gejla..." Kang Oh repeated.

'He's the one who spread that around? And it was a long time before this conspiracy happened? Does he have the ability to look into the future? No, there's no way. After all, Arth is ultimately just a game world.'

NPCs weren't people; they were limited in what they could do.

'If that's the case, then...'

There was only one answer.

Gejla and Jegal were connected in some way. In other words, Gejla was the traitor they were looking for.

But how could a wandering orc help them kidnap someone like Asuka? And why would the traitor tell people to beware of Jegal?

Then...

It was like a light bulb went off in his head.

'He's not a traitor; he's the one who came up with this!'

Kang Oh wrote the letters 'Gejla' in the air.

Gejla!

When he switched the first three letters...

Jegal!

What a simple anagram.

'It is you! I've caught you, you rat bastard!'

Kang Oh grinned.

'Now that I've figured out it's him, how should I deal with him?'

Several plans passed through Kang Oh's head.

* * *

Touch gathered the Orc Commanders.

Mumugul, as well as the Wandering Orc, Gejla, took part. Strictly speaking, Gejla was clearly not a Ruman Orc.

"We're still not done with our revenge," Touch said brutally. Then, he threw a letter onto the ground.

Rapuly's signature was at the bottom of the letter. Of course, this signature was obviously a forgery.

"Rapuly's behind all of this. I won't forgive him."

"He's located in Krampal's municipal building," Gejla added.

"Did you hear that? We're going to attack Krampal, and take Rapuly's head."

"Chieftain, that may force us into a war with the humans," an Orc Commander said carefully.

"We're already at war with the humans. Once they killed my father, they became our enemies; either they go, or we go."

"But..."

"Are you telling me not to get revenge for the chieftain's death?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying."

"The humans are so busy fighting amongst themselves that they won't have the strength to fight us. This is our best chance at getting revenge for our fallen chieftain. Isn't that right?" Touch stared at Gejla.

"Indeed." Gejla smiled wickedly.

One of the Orc Commanders furrowed his brow.

"Gejla! You're not one of us. How can a mere wanderer be involved in our matters?"

"He can stay. Henceforth, he's one of us, and my right arm!" Touch declared. He was the chieftain's right arm, so he was basically second in command.

"Chieftain!"

"We already have Mr. Mumugul, so how can you..."

The Orc Commanders yelled in shock, and then watched how Mumugul reacted to the news.

Mumugul was their true number 2. He shouldn't have to lose his position to someone like Gejla.

His expression stiffened. He slowly opened his mouth and said, "Chieftain."

"Mumugul, I'm truly grateful for everything you've done for the tribe. Thus, I give you command over the elders. Become an elder and watch closely as Gejla and I bring the orcs to greatness."

Mumugul was in his prime right now, so there was no reason for him to become an elder. He was being cast aside, plain and simple. It was like he was being stationed in the suburbs.

"Chieftain!"

"You can't do that!"

The orcs respected Mumugul. Thus, the Orc Commanders feverishly made their disagreements known.

However, Mumugul calmed them all down.

"Enough! I will do as you ask."

"As expected. You truly are wise." Touch grinned.

"But I have a favor to ask."

"Which is?"

"The deceased chieftain's sworn brother, Kuharap, wants to enact vengeance on the humans too. Please allow them to join us and conquer the humans together!"

"The Tuslam? Those barbarians?" Touch said, sporting a reluctant expression.

At that moment...

Gejla intervened.

"Mr. Mumugul, you truly are an Orc Hero. Chieftain, the Tuslam will be a huge help in the war. Please use them to your heart's content."

The Tuslam were renowned for having the strength of 100 men. If they joined the orcs, then they would cause even more damage to the Alliance.

"Fine. Mumugul, inform Kuharap of my decision."

"Understood."

Kuharap led 5,000 of his warriors, and joined up with the orc army.

However, there were two men amongst them that were far smaller than the norm.

One man wore bearskin over his head, while the other wore wolf fur over their body, so no one could tell who they were.

* * *

After getting the elders' approval, Touch became the Orc Chieftain, and opened a banquet in his honor in Kuwang.

Touch opened Kuwang's cellars, and the warriors ate and drank to their heart's content.

The elders, commanders, Gejla, and Kuharap were invited into the main castle.

The two men, who wore bearskin and wolf fur, stood beside Kuharap. They were introduced as Tuslam Shamans.

The Tuslam were warriors, and didn't actually have any shamans. However, Touch regarded them as barbarians, so he looked down on them and their history, so he had no idea.

Jegal didn't have a deeper insight into their culture either.

"Don't think and just drink as much as you want today!" Touch yelled, raising a glass made of a water buffalo's horn.

"For the new chieftain!"

"For the prosperity of the Ruman Orcs!"

Thus began the drinking party.

Then, Kuharap raised his voice. "Hey, bring out the Blood Wine!"

"Yes, sir."

Two warriors brought out a giant barrel. A liquid of some sort sloshed around from within.

"Chieftain, we made this wine using a secret method. A single drink of this will make you as courageous as Asuka himself. I'll give everyone here a glass of this wine."

Kuharap opened the lid, releasing a bewitching smell that spread throughout the banquet hall.

"Ooh, thank you, Kuharap." Touch, who was drunk off the smell, smiled widely.

He could tell how high quality the wine was just by the smell alone. He really wanted to have a taste of it.

"Give everyone a glass!"

Everyone in attendance was given a full glass of Blood Wine.

Blood Wine was an expensive-looking red liquid that glittered like rubies.

"This is precious wine. I won't forgive you if you waste even a single drop. Isn't that right, Chieftain?"

"Indeed. You can't waste this wine. Drink it all." Touch looked around, sporting a joyous expression. Then, his eyes stopped at Gejla.

Jegal hadn't drunk a single drop of alcohol thus far. However, it would look strange if he didn't at least drink this.

He was also curious as to what it'd taste like, as its smell was so bewitching.

"For Asuka!" Kuharap yelled, and gulped it down first.

"For the chieftain!"

The rest of them drank it down simultaneously. Jegal did too.

"Kuha!"

"It's amazing."

"Ooh, I feel my strength rising."

Orcs voiced their awe all across the banquet hall.

It was truly amazing alcohol.

"This is great! Great I say!" Touch stomped on the floor.

Jegal slightly furrowed his brow. The alcohol was a lot stronger than he thought.

'Why do they drink this?'

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

He extended his hand in order to grab a nearby snack.

However...!

"Heop!" Jegal gasped.

His short, thick orc arm, which was covered in green skin, began to change.

It was beginning to turn white.

Jegal quickly groped his body. It was getting smaller.

'No! My transformation's being released!'

Jegal quickly stood up. He had to get out of here.

Then...

"Are you feeling unwell somewhere?" A man wearing bearskin walked over.

All he could see on the man's face was his lips, which curled upwards into a grin.