Swordmaster's Youngest Son Chapter 807

Chapter 807

The Vermont Imperial Family remained in deep concealment on a deserted island, which housed a gateway to the subterranean realm known as the “Middle Layer.”

This path did not lead to the true hell of the underworld, but rather served as a bridge to the Middle Layer—a space occupied by entities like Ameris that emerged after the world was severed in two.

Neither the current administrators of the island, the Lutero Federation, nor the imperial family were responsible for the passage's construction.

In truth, it was a relic of the Blue Legend Tribe, built during the height of the ancient “War for the Sun God.”

Such gateways, established by the various dominant factions of that era, remained hidden across the globe.

Among the powers on the surface, the imperial family alone held the secret of these routes.

Ameris, however, had lost all memory of these passages due to the mental erosion caused by the seal.

“It is a relief that the catastrophe we anticipated following the Great Serpent’s revival did not occur. Had the Great Serpent’s power and recollections been fully restored, every sealed race within the Middle Layer would have been annihilated.”

Airan offered a smile and spoke once Bibol had departed.

Observing the Red Legend Tribe’s chaotic movements in the mortal realm, Airan felt certain about Ameris’s current condition.

Her strength, skills, and memories were fractured and incomplete.

The Red Legend Tribe suffered from the same limitations.

While it was undeniable that Jin’s martial Cultivation placed him at the apex of the human world, he would not have overwhelmed them so easily if Rakiman and the Red Fleet had been at their full ancient strength.

At the very least, they would have been capable of a counterattack.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. It is a stroke of luck for us that the Red Legend Tribe was backed into a corner immediately upon their return. Even those malicious and prideful beings are in no position to reject the alliance we offer.”

“Once we secure the Red Legend Tribe’s advanced technology through this pact, the goal of cloning it will be within our grasp. Furthermore, if we begin excavating the ruins of the Blue Legend Tribe now, we can also revive Eltiot… The Empire shall rise once more! It will become a perpetual dominion that no force can dismantle!”

The members of the imperial family could not suppress their fervor.

For countless ages, from the ancient era to the present, they had endured an eternity of shame just to survive and wait for an opening.

Throughout those long centuries, they were never the world’s true masters.

In the ancient past, they were looked down upon as mere pests by the Red and Blue Legend Tribes.

Even after the “Great Seal,” while civilizations rose and fell on the surface, they barely clung to life on the brink of extinction.

Eventually, they founded Vermont.

Yet, as modern history shows, Vermont never truly attained a status worthy of being called an “Empire.”

This was due to the existence of titans like Runcandel and Zipple.

Zipple’s rise immediately jeopardized the empire’s survival, and just as they reached their limit, Runcandel emerged.

For the millennium that followed, the empire walked a precarious tightrope, monitoring the friction between the two clans, while the ancient core of the imperial family remained in hiding.

Consequently, the Vermont Imperial Family harbored only one burning desire.

Absolute and permanent survival.

The strength to rule the world alone was simply the tool required to reach that end.

They had zero interest in the Sun God’s return.

In fact, they viewed such an event as something to be prevented at all costs.

Should the Sun God return, they would be reduced to insects once more, trapped by a predetermined destiny.

“The moment Bibol returns, the search for the Blue Legend Tribe’s remains must commence. Inspect every regional gateway. Our rivals, specifically Runcandel, will likely discover the existence of these remains soon, given their ties to Ameris and the Record Magician. We must claim them first.”

“As you command, Your Majesty!”

“The surface world will shift violently once our deal with the Red Legend Tribe is set. They will begin a frantic expansion… but through this upheaval, we will remain the focal point until the end. After all, surviving is what we do best.”

As the others withdrew, Airan stayed in the chamber alone, staring out at the window as a cold wind gusted through.

***

October 8th, 1803.

A full week had passed since Jin drove off the Red Legend Tribe during their assault on Kinzelo’s third branch.

Since that encounter, the Red Legend Tribe had vanished from public view.

Or so the Vamel Alliance and Zipple believed.

In reality, the Red Legend Tribe had already finalized their pact with Airan, who had met personally with Rakiman and Shimat.

They had merely stopped their public slaughter; everything else was moving forward.

Both the imperial family and the Red Legend Tribe had already reaped massive rewards from their cooperation.

By consuming human blood and the ancient artifacts provided by Airan, the Red Legend Tribe had rapidly activated their second fortress. Meanwhile, the imperial family had begun developing weapons using the tribe’s technology.

This entire exchange occurred right under the noses of the world's superpowers.

It was the unique advantage of those who commanded the Middle Layer.

“Beradin is taking some remarkably aggressive steps now that he is the Patriarch.”

Jin remarked while reviewing the latest intelligence.

Reports arrived daily, detailing Beradin’s ascension, the truth behind Kelliark’s coup, the mysteries of the underworld, and the emergence of Ameris and the Red Legend Tribe—along with Jin’s role in their awakening.

These events were becoming common knowledge.

“Zipple’s media outlets are working overtime to paint a picture of the Young Master as a threat to global stability for waking those underworld entities,” Kashmir noted.

Jin nodded, understanding the strategy.

“It seems they are building a justification for war. They want to claim that because I endangered the world first, Zipple’s moves against Runcandel and the Vamel Alliance are merely defensive measures.”

“They must have a hidden trump card to be this confident, even after seeing your power, the God of Battle, and our combined strength. It likely involves the Demon God Orb or the secrets within Zipple’s holy land.”

Jin naturally wanted to stall the outbreak of war. He needed time to finish the Golden Fleet, rescue his siblings from Lafrarosa, and wait for Murakan’s return.

Ideally, he hoped to initiate the conflict only after reaching the rank of Genesis Knight.

A war fought under those circumstances would be decisive and avoid unnecessary carnage and insanity.

If he could achieve total dominance, he could reshape the world without widespread slaughter.

He wanted to fight while protecting the lives of the innocent as much as possible.

At the moment, that was a luxury he didn't have, and he was forced to prepare for a very difficult struggle.

The Vamel Alliance was the only faction that truly considered the welfare of civilians, whether on the surface or below.

“Beradin knows my greatest weakness: the loss of my friends and the death of innocents. If this war breaks out too soon, the cost will be immense, regardless of who wins.”

Jin was haunted by the memories of the evil god war from his past life.

A clash between the current major powers would likely result in even greater devastation.

The whole world would be scorched, and the winners would inherit nothing but a wasteland.

This realization weighed heavily on him.

It was the burden of a regressor.

Jin thought back to the final message Ron had sent through Dante.

— You have done nothing wrong. That is what he wanted us both to know.

‘True… even if this isn't my fault, I cannot simply ignore it. I have to keep moving forward and do what must be done. I have to become the strongest in the world.’

The pursuit of ultimate strength was the only thing that could drown out the mental torment of his past life.

Shaking off the grim thoughts, Jin composed himself and looked at his allies.

“Conflict is imminent. Whether it is a total war or a series of major skirmishes, it’s coming. Even if Beradin doesn't act, the Red Legend Tribe will likely become more violent once they regroup. Valeria’s investigation into Kinzelo’s branch showed that agents from both Zipple and the imperial remnants were poking around.”

“There are reports that Zipple is actively hunting for the imperial family’s survivors,” Quikantel added.

“We’ve been tracking them since the fake Yona incident as well,” Jin said, pointing to the documents. “We’ve used every resource, including Valeria’s Record Magic. Yet, we haven't found a single lead. It’s highly probable they are hiding somewhere other than the surface.”

“I agree, Miss Quikantel. Those practitioners must have some hidden tricks. If they have connections to the underworld, it gives them a massive advantage.”

“I wasn't aware of any such secrets in the imperial line… but then again, seeing how Airan Vermont took the throne so suddenly after Amir’s passing, it’s possible the previous emperor was merely a figurehead for a deeper power.”

Beyond Zipple and the empire, Kinzelo remained a wildcard.

[Zephyrin, that Demon Dragon, is almost certainly one of my former heads. When she eventually fully awakens, she will likely recover her old memories and power. It won't be a perfect restoration, but her true self will return. At the very least, she wasn't one of the heads trying to stop the Sun God’s return.]

“We can only hope she regains her old self, or that her current state has nothing to do with Ameris.”

[The latter would be ideal, but we shouldn't count on it.]

As Ameris finished speaking, the communication device in the room began to glow with a pulsing blue light.

{Young Patriarch! This is an emergency!}

Jin answered immediately, hearing Lueth’s frantic voice.

“Report, Chief Butler.”

{The Red Legend Tribe has launched an assault on Zipple.}

“…What? Not Kinzelo, but Zipple?”

{Six hours ago, the Red Legend Tribe’s fleet bombarded Zipple’s second-class Magic Tower in Ramatan. Zipple has officially entered a state of war.}

Runcandel and the Vamel Alliance had assumed Kinzelo would be the first target when the tribe resurfaced.

This bold strike against Zipple was a development that caught everyone—except the imperial family—completely off guard.

“They returned to action far faster than expected… they must be receiving outside support.”

Jin spoke, his eyes narrowing in thought.

If this wasn't an internal Zipple conspiracy, then the imperial family survivors were the most likely culprits.