Trash of the Count's Family Book 2: Chapter 380: I'm sure it was not enough (5)

<I’m sure it was not enough (5)>

Next to Alberu, Cale took a seat and peered into the semi-transparent window he had displayed.

“Such a disaster.”

“Dongsaeng, reflect on our actions. How could it not turn into chaos?”

Alberu’s smiling expression revealed his satisfaction.

Feeling uneasy from that grin, Cale turned his gaze away and focused on the screen.

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< Holy shit. The Tournament got fucked! >

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RPOG communities everywhere were in utter turmoil, spanning not only the Lan Kingdom Community Board but the General Community Board too.

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< Hey, hey! The sky above the stadium turned weird right now? What is going on? What’s happening? >

What’s unfolding in the Lan Kingdom at this moment?

Just the sky over the stadium has gone dark red?

Has a hell field appeared or what?

– Holy shit. Not a hell field. I’m fleeing right now.

– What? Give more details.

– The Cooperative Alliance’s leader turned out to be a spy.

– Wow. I win since I was there at the stadium.

– How was it?

– Honestly, I couldn’t see much.

– Why not?

– You had to bolt if you didn’t want to die, lol.

However, Kim Hae-Yi, leader of the Cooperative Alliance… Without doubt, those two are tied to a bigger quest.

Their true aim can’t simply be the Lan Kingdom heir position. This feels like a hint toward a grander storyline.

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Kim Hae-Yi.

That name began gradually appearing on the main community board.

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< The Strongest Under the Heavens Competition must have a hidden scheme! >

< White threads, dark red cloud... What skills are they? >

< Suspicious groups that even the Lan Queen doesn’t know about have appeared! >

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All kinds of sensational titles were emerging.

Yet one in particular drew Cale’s notice.

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< Video up. >

A spectator from the match uploaded it. ‘Wow, holy shit. So this means that guy’s an NPC. How powerful is he?’

‘Can players wield this kind of skill too?’

– Kim Hae-Yi? Who’s that?

– No idea. I figured he was a quest-related NPC at first, but nope. From what I saw, there’s a hidden plot brewing in the Lan Kingdom.

– Is the Cooperative Alliance done for now?

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He selected the video link.

Baaaaang! Baaaaang-

White threads descended, ensnaring the entire stadium.

Ruuuumble-

A dark red cloud formed, but then the user fled the stadium while still recording.

– Holy shit! This is insane.

The user’s remarks overflowed with excitement.

Cale scrolled to the comments underneath.

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– Wow. Amazing job capturing this. Though it seems like bootleg footage to me.

– Yeah, recording the Strongest Under the Heavens Competition is banned.

– Even for those approved by Transparent ©?

– Yup, no official recordings exist.

– Oh, this guy. Everyone else is evacuating, but he lingers to film. Tsk tsk.

– You’re impressive for seeking out such a clip.

– Wanna get wrecked?

– Oo oo.

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“Oh.”

Gazing at the footage, Cale remarked.

“I’m relieved. Neither Choi Han nor my face shows up.”

All spectators had evacuated before masked Cale and Choi Han confronted So Hee.

Only those who stayed with the Queen till the end witnessed Cale, Choi Han, and Alberu.

Moreover, Cale and Choi Han had altered their hair colors already.

Recognition from afar should prove impossible.

“The Heavenly Demon’s face is recognized, but that’s irrelevant since it was public knowledge.”

“And mine?”

Alberu smiled while inquiring, prompting Cale’s reciprocal smile.

“For you, your highness, showing your face occasionally prepares for the future. You’re the sun-endorsed hero to come.”

“…….”

Hero—that term unsettled Alberu visibly.

He clearly still disliked it.

‘Quite unusual.’

He pursued the Emperor’s throne openly yet shunned hero status.

‘I want neither.’

Emperor or hero failed to stir Cale’s heart.

Only—

‘Slacker.’

That single word set Cale’s heart racing fiercely.

Cale reclined against the couch.

“Our details should reach the Five Colors Bloods by now.”

Alberu responded knowingly.

“The video’s gone.”

“Already?”

“Transparents must’ve removed it.”

The Transparent © had deleted the video.

The implication was straightforward.

“Transparent Bloods will hunt for us.”

“They’ll prioritize the Heavenly Demon most, given his known face. Your thoughts?”

To Cale’s query, the lotus-positioned Heavenly Demon replied.

“It’s irrelevant.”

Be it Transparent Bloods or wanderers… The Heavenly Demon cared little about pursuers.

“No intention to linger here long-term.”

As a mid-level NPC, the Heavenly Demon would vanish from the Lan Kingdom post-resolution.

“Need to verify something at the Demon Cult.”

He aimed to return, stabilize his newfound strength, and train.

By his next New World appearance, the Heavenly Demon would be far mightier.

‘The Demon Cult too.’

The Demon Cult, raging fiercer beneath their domain, would stand beside him.

“Mm. Heavenly Demon-nim?”

Alberu called awkwardly toward the Heavenly Demon.

“Yes, sir?”

The Heavenly Demon responded respectfully, with formal tone toward Alberu.

Alberu beamed at the closed-eyed Heavenly Demon.

“Should I establish an Empire here, how about basing the Demon Cult in my lands?”

The Heavenly Demon gradually opened his eyes.

“…….”

He eyed the grinning Alberu and let out a chuckle.

“As expected from Kim Hae-il’s hyung-nim.”

Then he shut his eyes again.

“I’ll consider it.”

“Hope your considerations lean positive.”

Cale glanced between Alberu and the Heavenly Demon, then shook his head.

Incredible how neither doubted Alberu’s Empire-building potential.

“What’s wrong?”

Alberu’s elegant, joyful smile prompted Cale’s smile in return.

“Nothing at all, your highness. Just admiring the beautiful bond between you two.”

“Tsk.”

Alberu and the Heavenly Demon both tsked and averted their gazes from Cale.

Knock knock knock.

A knock sounded, and Choi Han answered the door.

He promptly updated Cale.

“The Martial Scholar is here.”

Choi Han, donning the bamboo hat once more, prompted the trio to rise.

They divided into pairs.

“Choi Han.”

Cale joined Choi Han’s side, with the Heavenly Demon beside him.

“Handle it.”

The Heavenly Demon laughed in response.

“Interrogation’s my forte. Yet you’re not assigning it to me?

Ah.”

He realized suddenly and addressed Choi Han calmly.

“Keep her alive till I question her. Death would be inconvenient.”

Smile.

Heavenly Demon smiled, while Choi Han shook his head awkwardly.

“Naturally.”

He met Cale’s eyes directly.

“Rest easy, Cale-nim. I’ll extract everything possible.”

The Heavenly Demon and Choi Han…

These two headed to the Lan Kingdom’s deepest underground prison to confront So Hee.

They ought to excel at drawing info from her.

Queen’s instructor Cha Run spoke.

“Follow this attendant.”

The attendant bowed to Choi Han and Heavenly Demon.

The trio departed, and Cale signaled to Alberu, now naturally at his side, before speaking to Cha Run.

“Please guide us.”

“Yes. This way.”

Cha Run led toward a palace area discreet for reasons unlike the prison.

* * *

“Thanks for sparing time amid the chaos.”

Cale smiled, sipping his tea.

The rich, flavorful taste refreshed his palate.

“Yes, things are hectic now. Hasn’t been this lively since I took the throne.”

Queen Tamahi sipped her tea, replying gladly.

The Lan Kingdom capital buzzed wildly.

Rumors swirled from the stadium incident.

The heir-deciding Strongest Under the Heavens Competition stood paused.

The Cooperative Alliance, biggest among five major forces with most martial artists, couldn’t overcome the royals.

Worse, the other four forces allied with the royals.

“So—care to explain the situation, sir?”

Queen Tamahi showed some deference to Cale.

Her smile masked an underlying chill.

“Mm.”

Cale pondered briefly, shrugging, then eyed the Queen.

“Know of the Blood Demon?”

“…….”

Queen stayed silent.

But Cale caught her trembling pupils.

“Ah, perhaps as Bluey here?”

The Blood Demon led the Blue Bloods.

RPOG’s fourth-ranked player, Bluey.

“Mm.”

The Queen groaned softly.

“Who was the heir candidate prior to this tournament?”

Queen Tamahi offered a weary smile at Cale’s follow-up.

“You seem aware. Why inquire?”

This confirmed Blood Demon as prior heir.

Cale stated casually.

“Bluey vanished, correct?”

“…That—”

“We eliminated her.”

“!”

Queen’s teacup trembled.

“You’re aware of wanderers, right?”

Cale pressed with more questions.

Queen met his gaze, squeezing her eyes shut.

“So Hee was unknown to me.”

“Yet other wanderers you know. Were they coercing you?”

“I was merely a puppet.”

Short exchange, yet the tale emerged clear.

Sufficient for Cale.

Thus, his next query.

“Seeking escape from their control?”

“That’s the goal. But challenging.”

Cale regarded the sorrowful Queen Tamahi.

“Due to the Prince Consort?”

“!”

Tamahi’s shock surfaced unmistakably.

“That—”

“Prince Consort follows a certain god.”

“-!”

“And collaborates with wanderers.”

“Ho-”

To the stunned Queen, Cale spoke directly.

“I desire a meeting with the Prince Consort.”

“…So the heir role truly held no interest.”

“Indeed, your majesty. We joined to encounter the Prince Consort.”

“…What then, upon meeting him?”

Cale smiled at Tamahi’s question.

“Whatever occurs, it promises gain for his Royal Highness.”

She sipped tea, bypassing reply.

Composure first.

Blood Demon.

Wanderers.

Prince Consort.

Unforeseen from this man’s lips.

Thoughts needed sorting.

Hence, her priority query.

“Who exactly are you?”

These people’s origins.

Even that eluded her.

“We—”

Cale glanced at tea-sipping Alberu beside him, then faced the Queen.

“We form an alliance.”

“…An alliance?”

“I hail from the Kingdom of Darkness.”

Cale gestured to Alberu.

“This gentleman will rule as king elsewhere.”

Well, Emperor rather than king…

And no territory secured yet…

Still, destined Emperor.

“W-what do you mean?”

Queen Tamahi stuttered in rare shock.

“Haha, precisely as stated, your Majesty.”

Cale beamed innocently.

Alberu, observing tea in hand, mused internally.

‘Best stay silent.’

No downside when dongsaeng handled such.

And—

‘Benefits me.’

Alberu concealed truth as Cale elevated him to king.

Raon might deem them alike, but Cale and Alberu took it gravely.

Their earnest demeanor coaxed Queen Tamahi’s words.

“…Kingdom of Darkness… And this man a King…?”

“Yes, your majesty. Spot on!”

Cale replied brightly before his ask.

“Let’s detail after Prince Consort meeting first. Ah, but know this much, your Majesty!”

Prince Consort—meeting Queen’s spouse hastened quest completion.

Wanderers.

They’d assume God of Chaos subordinates per So Hee’s intel.

Cale required Saint’s power for ‘Arm’ activation.

Choi Jung Gun’s rescue too.

“…Something to know?”

“Yes, your majesty. Crucial knowledge!”

Cale spoke briskly, cheerfully.

“We ally with New World’s sun hero savior! Kingdom of Darkness acts to rescue this world! Haha!”

“Pfffft-”

Alberu, savoring tea gracefully, sprayed it out.

Soon after, Cale accompanied the bewildered Queen Tamahi to the palace depths for Prince Consort encounter.

Naturally ignoring stunned Alberu’s stare.

—