Chapter 284: Dogs And Wolves (9)

In a vast palace, past the hallways lined with the taxidermized hides of various demonic beasts, lay a wide, barren hall so devoid of decoration that it almost felt desolate. At its center sat a lonely, empty throne. Beside it stood a man with black hair and a rough, imposing presence, silently gazing at the vacant seat.

A young man entered the hall and mockingly said, “Isn’t it about time you finally took that throne?”

His thin and high-pitched tone made it sound as if he were deliberately mimicking a woman.

The man said nothing and turned his back to the young man.

“

Hmph

. Are you ignoring me again?” The young man pulled out powder from his robe and dabbed it on his face.

His bright red lips looked as if he had just devoured a rat, and his violet eye makeup gave him a ghostly pale complexion that looked as though it were sculpted from plaster. His appearance gave off a grotesque unease.

The young man fondled the black horn that jutted from his forehead and asked, “How’s the war prep going?”

“Fine,” the man replied curtly, stiff as stone.

“

Hmph

. Can’t you be a little more specific?”

“I did as I was told.”

The young man’s expression slightly twisted. “

Haa

. Lord Horus, you know it’s a problem when you’re this uncooperative.”

“I only followed orders.”

As always, he swallowed the rest of his words and clenched his fist.

“Ah, come to think of it, have you heard? The Silver Mane Tribe has been acting a bit suspicious lately.”

Horus’s shoulders slightly flinched.

“They’re irrelevant.”

“Irrelevant? The Silver Mane Tribe is still beastkin, aren’t they?” The youth continued in ridicule. “We should be uniting them under the name of Khan.”

“I’m not Khan.”

“Oh, here we go again. It’s been over a hundred years since the last Khan died, so how much longer are you going to leave the throne empty?”

“I’ll say it again.” Horus locked eyes with the young man. “I am not Khan.”

The young man’s gaze narrowed. He pulled out a tube of red lipstick and angrily reapplied it.

“Well, whether you’re Khan or not doesn’t matter. The kingdom already belongs to us demonkin anyway.” His lips turned up into a garish, crimson grin. “In any case, rally the Silver Mane Tribe as troops. If they can’t be used as soldiers...”

From the horn on his forehead, black smoke began to curl and writhe.

“Kill them all.” The young man burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking with delight. “That’s the Lord Heavenly Demon’s command, you know?”

Horus silently looked away as thick veins bulged from his clenched fists.

“My, are you about to hit me?” The young man snickered. “But don’t worry, I’ve taken special precautions to make sure you don’t have to kill any of the Silver Manes yourself.”

“What are you planning?”

“

Hmm?

Isn’t that what I should be asking you?” The young man grinned. He playfully leaned in close, but whispered poisonously, “Lord Horus, don’t forget. You’re just a loyal dog who obeys any order we give.”

𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The young man’s laughter echoed throughout the great empty hall.

***

“Horus is protecting the Silver Mane Tribe?” Kwon Oh-Jin frowned, still unconvinced.

It couldn’t be out of a desire to protect his power. Protecting the Silver Manes would only weaken him and strengthen them.

“Could it be out of guilt?” Vega asked.

“Guilt?”

Vega nodded slightly as she fluttered over to perch on Kwon Oh-Jin’s shoulder. “He betrayed the Silver Mane Tribe, who fought against the demonkin until the end, and surrendered to them.”

“I guess that could be it.” Kwon Oh-Jin’s eyes shifted to Riarc, standing silently deep in thought.

Riarc’s eyes carried a storm of sorrow, regret, and rage all at once. The traitor who had once cast his own kin into the depths of despair was now the only shield protecting them. Who knew how much that truth weighed on him?

Kwon Oh-Jin didn’t know what to say to Riarc, who stood there with his head hanging.

“Well, that’s enough about Horus for now.” Kwon Oh-Jin changed the subject and turned to Song Ha-Eun. “Did you find anything?”

“

Hmm...

Not really.” She scratched her head. “The only thing I got is that the atmosphere around here is kinda sketchy? There are a bunch of jerks who pick fights even if you’ve got black fur.”

“I also got the impression that public safety in general is pretty bad,” Isabella added with a nod and flipped through her densely written papers. “I think the main reason for it is due to the mass absence of the demonkin.”

Song Ha-Eun’s eyes widened in surprise. “

Huh?

That’s what caused it?”

“Yes. When the demonkin started leaving in large numbers, tensions broke out between pro-demonkin and anti-demonkin factions.”

“There are only five demonkin left now, right?”

“That’s right, unnie.”

Kwon Oh-Jin had researched the demonkin the most. He took out a map and spread it open. “These are the locations of the mansions where the remaining demonkin are living.”

The massive and luxurious mansions felt out of place, which made them easy to investigate.

“But there are only four here?” Isabella pointed out.

“One of them is the kingdom’s chancellor, so he lives in the royal castle.”

“He’s most likely there to keep an eye on things,” Vega added.

“Yeah, probably.”

In fact, the chancellor probably held the highest authority and not Horus.

“The chancellor’s name is Kalike.” Kwon Oh-Jin pulled out a portrait.

Since the man rarely left the castle, it was difficult to see him in person. However, Kwon Oh-Jin managed to acquire a portrait from a beastkin who knew him.

“

Ugh

, what the hell is this guy?” Song Ha-Eun scowled the moment she saw the portrait. It showed a man wearing makeup so heavy that he looked borderline grotesque. “What is this, kabuki? What’s up with the clown makeup?”

Sure, men also wore makeup these days, but this wasn’t just about gender. It was unsettlingly excessive.

“Apparently, he’s notorious for his bizarre looks,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

“Are all demonkins like this?” Song Ha-Eun asked.

“I don’t think so.” Kwon Oh-Jin had collected portraits of a few others, but none of them stood out like Kalike.

If they shared one thing in common, it was the black horns protruding from their foreheads.

“Anyway, this guy is the highest ranking among the demonkins still in the kingdom.”

Kalike had ruled as chancellor for the past hundred years, serving as the actual ruler of the kingdom.

“Oh, and according to Riarc, the rest of the demonkins still here aren’t all that strong,” Kwon Oh-Jin explained.

“So exactly how strong?” Song Ha-Eun asked.

“They’re around the level of a new nine-star Awakener.”

Song Ha-Eun dryly laughed. “That’s considered not strong?”

Nine stars was still considered a high-ranking Awakener. Saying that wasn’t strong felt absurd.

“Compared to the average demonkins, apparently being a nine-star isn't considered that powerful.”

Song Ha-Eun shook her head in disbelief. “What a ridiculous race.”

“Well, regardless, they’re not opponents we can’t handle at our current level.”

“So, that Kalike guy is a nine-star too?”

“He’s probably a bit above that.”

After all, he was the highest-ranking among the remaining demonkins. It only made sense that he would be above nine stars.

“Still, he shouldn’t be someone we can’t take down,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

“I agree.” Isabella nodded as she scanned the portraits of the demonkin.

Kwon Oh-Jin, Isabella, and Song Ha-Eun were all among the highest-ranking Awakeners. They would manage somehow even though the full extent of the enemies’ power granted by the Heavenly Demon remained unclear.

“Are you planning to deal with the demonkin before confronting that beastkin, Horus?” Vega asked.

“Yeah.”

Since the demonkin essentially ruled the kingdom, taking them down first would likely be more beneficial.

“Let’s start by capturing the ones living in the mansions,” Kwon Oh-Jin suggested.

“That would be better than going straight to the castle,” Isabella agreed.

The more they chipped away at the demonkin’s power, the more the anti-demonkin faction would flourish and give them greater freedom to act.

“Alright, let’s get moving.”

There was no point in hesitating since the decision had been made.

“Okay, Mr. Oh-Jin.”

Song Ha-Eun grinned as she stood up. “We just have to roast those bastards alive, right?”

The group headed for the nearest demonkin mansion.

“I shall slip in first and scout it out,” Vega said.

Vega was ideal for infiltration. Being small and made of mana rather than a physical body meant she had no scent. She was perfect for sneaking past beastkin with heightened senses. Even if they did catch her, she could simply retreat to the Sanctum without any risks.

“I’m counting on you,” Kwon Oh-Jin said.

“

Hmph!

Just sit tight and leave it to me!” Placing her hands on her hips, Vega confidently puffed out her chest.

With a flutter, she soared over the high walls and slipped into the mansion. After about ten minutes, Vega returned with a disappointed look.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Kwon Oh-Jin asked.

“There was no one there.”

“

Huh?

Inside the mansion?”

“There wasn’t even a single ant outside the mansion either.”

Kwon Oh-Jin frowned. Just a few days ago, he had confirmed that the demonkin lived there.

“Did we miss the timing somehow?”

“

Tsk.

Lucky bastard.” Song Ha-Eun clicked her tongue.

“Should we try heading somewhere else for now?” Isabella suggested.

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

Kwon Oh-Jin’s group headed to the next mansion.

“There’s no one here either,” Vega said.

Kwon Oh-Jin narrowed his eyes as if he couldn’t understand what was going on. No matter how one looked at it, two demonkins wouldn’t leave their mansions at the same time.

“Something isn’t right.” He folded his arms and tried to make sense of the situation when a deafening explosion thundered in the distance.

Booooom!

Black smoke billowed into the sky as if a bomb had gone off.

Isabella’s face hardened. “Mr. Oh-Jin, that’s...?”

Smoke rose from the heart of the Khan Kingdom, a place that could be called its very core, the royal castle.