Ch.200Chapter 200: The Kingdom of Duron (6).

# Chapter 200: The Kingdom of Duron (6)

“We depart in 30 minutes!”

With Valt’s resolute command, Lamrpo’s secret hideout broke its momentary silence and bustled with activity once more.

Professor Liman accepted the communication crystal that Lamrpo handed over, almost in tears, and began a brief but forceful communication with some security department in the royal palace. Meanwhile, Lamrpo frantically worked with his secretaries to prepare transportation and establish emergency communication networks.

The remaining members of Valt’s group performed final checks on their equipment.

Solpin and Irene meticulously examined their swords and armor, while Lati and Liris gathered various attack, defense, and support magic scrolls and potions.

Yuria smiled with satisfaction as she alternately inspected her sharp claws.

Her eyes gleamed like those of a predator facing its prey.

Valt checked Franz’s mirror once more and, as a precaution, selected and equipped what appeared to be the most powerful mana amplifier from those Lamrpo had intended to gift him.

His golden pupils reflected his solemn determination.

Exactly 30 minutes later, three heavily armored magitek vehicles waited at the designated underground tunnel entrance, emitting a blue magical glow.

Professor Liman and Lamrpo had apparently managed to secure permission to use them after some wrangling.

“Tch, they only gave us three of these old junkers! Those Duron bastards still haven’t come to their senses!”

Liman grumbled, but this was the best they could get for now.

Valt’s group quickly boarded the vehicles.

Naturally, Lamrpo joined Valt and Liman in the central vehicle.

His face was deathly pale, and he clutched a magic incense candle with calming effects tightly in his hand.

The vehicles silently and smoothly exited the underground tunnel and began speeding toward the massive industrial complex on the outskirts of the capital city Siduron, where the blue hue of dawn still lingered.

Through the windows, against the backdrop of the precise and cold magitek engineering cityscape, the group silently prepared for their first battle ahead.

***

The 3rd Cryogenic Research Workshop.

It was the most heavily guarded facility in the massive magitek industrial complex on the outskirts of Siduron.

Despite its name, its scale was closer to that of a small fortress, with thick cryogenic insulation and multiple layers of magical barriers covering the entire building, emanating a blue chill.

Automatic defense turrets placed at regular intervals, combat golems on patrol, and royal magitek knight forces—seemingly twice their normal number—surrounded the workshop like an iron wall.

The air was filled with a biting chill and a palpable tension, as if something could explode at any moment.

“…The atmosphere is like walking on thin ice.”

Solpin remarked as he keenly observed the situation through the vehicle’s special bulletproof glass.

“This goes beyond heightened security—it’s almost martial law. Have they caught on to something?”

Valt’s group had discreetly parked their vehicles behind an abandoned building several hundred meters from the workshop’s main gate to assess the situation.

At the main entrance, someone who appeared to be the knight order’s highest commander and the workshop’s chief of security were gathered, continuously issuing orders with grave expressions. The movements of the soldiers also seemed very urgent and anxious.

“The royal knights strengthening security to this extent means… the Black Council’s activities might have gone beyond mere intelligence gathering,” Liman clicked his tongue. “Breaking through the main gate is impossible. We need to find another route…”

Just then!

KWAAAAAANG—!!!

Before Liman could finish speaking, an enormous explosion beyond imagination occurred at the northern outer wall of the workshop, at what had appeared to be the most heavily guarded point.

Multiple layers of thick magical barriers were torn apart like paper, with dark red flames and debris flying in all directions, and the ground shook with the impact! Simultaneously, alarm sirens like screams began to blare madly throughout the complex.

“Wh-what is that?!”

“Good heavens!”

“The northern wall has been breached!”

With the knights’ shouts, tremendous chaos ensued.

Most of the forces frantically rushed toward the explosion in the north, and the workshop’s entire defense system seemed temporarily paralyzed, spewing out noisy error messages.

“Damn it! It’s the Black Council! Did they know we were coming?!”

Valt exclaimed through gritted teeth. This was no simple infiltration or interference. It was a frontal assault.

“They beat us to the punch. But this might actually save us time.”

Valt’s eyes flashed.

“We’ll use this chaos to enter through the shortest route! Our target is the cryogenic storage on the fifth basement level.”

According to Lamrpo, receiving the components would be a time-consuming process.

Valt intended to simply extract the components amid this confusion.

“Everyone, move out!”

With Professor Liman’s shout, Valt’s group swiftly exited the vehicles.

Thanks to the commotion in the north, security at the main gate and other outer walls had instantly become lax.

“Professor Liman and I will break through the center! We’ll handle the remaining guards at the main gate and clear a path!”

Valt shouted.

“Solpin, Yuria! Infiltrate through the crack in the left wall near the explosion site and create as much distraction as possible to draw the enemy’s attention! Irene, Lati! Circle around from the right and provide aerial reconnaissance and rear support! Liris! You’re with me! Lamrpo, don’t leave my aura range no matter what happens!”

“Yes!”

“Got it!”

“Kukukuk, finally hunting time!”

“Yes!”

“I’ll keep that in mind!”

As his companions dispersed in perfect coordination, Valt followed Professor Liman toward the main gate with Liris and Lamrpo.

“Halt! Intruders!”

Several guards desperately aimed their spears, but Professor Liman’s sword flashed through the air.

He hadn’t even drawn his blade. The sharp sword pressure generated just by swinging the sheathed sword tore through the guards’ armor and knocked them unconscious.

“W-wait! Professor! Killing is…!”

Lamrpo was horrified, but—

“Shut up! I didn’t kill them, you idiot!”

Liman dismissed him and swung his sheathed sword again toward the workshop’s firmly closed inner iron door.

KWANG! With a tremendous boom, the thick iron door bent like taffy and flew away. The Master’s power was beyond imagination.

The interior of the workshop was already in chaos.

Black-robed Council agents appeared like flashes of light, engaged in fierce combat with knight forces and workshop security golems, while flesh-searing cold air spewed from broken cryogenic pipes, freezing the floor.

Explosions and flashes of light erupted continuously as magic and sword strikes collided throughout the area.

“Damn it! They really were after the core! Or were they actually waiting for us?!”

Valt shouted as he blasted away a Council agent blocking their path with Wind Fist.

“It doesn’t matter either way! Our target is the fifth basement level! The innermost cryogenic storage! Hurry!”

Liman shouted, easily deflecting two daggers from a Council assassin with his sheath, then striking the assassin’s solar plexus with his elbow, taking advantage of the opening.

His movements were completely devoid of any waste.

Lamrpo, though pale with fear and trembling, desperately led the way through the familiar internal passages.

“Th-this way! There’s an emergency passage!”

Valt’s group sprinted toward the depths of the workshop, avoiding incoming attacks, explosions, and frozen floors. From the left came Solpin’s heavy battle cries and Yuria’s beast-like roars, while from the upper right, Lati’s support magic and Irene’s sharp sword energy kept the Council agents at bay.

Finally, they reached the fifth basement level, the innermost cryogenic storage area where all walls and doors were made of special alloys emanating extreme cold.

But what greeted them were several high-ranking Council agents who had nearly destroyed the storage’s final security door, and at their center, a figure emanating an ominous and overwhelming aura.

He wore a peculiar robe adorned with stars and darkness, different from the other agents, and his eyes behind the mask were as deep and cold as an abyss.

“Hmm, you arrived faster than expected.”

The voice flowing from behind the mask was cold and inhuman, like ice shards colliding.

His gaze swept over Valt and Liman alternately.

“A stinking ‘half-breed of Gerungtu’ and the washed-up ‘Sword of Counterattack.’ And even that stupid pig himself has graced us with his presence, Lamrpo.”

His voice contained explicit mockery and killing intent. Valt stepped forward and asked:

“How did you know we were coming? What’s your real purpose in attacking this workshop?”

The masked figure snickered. The sound of his laughter was chillingly eerie.

“Kukuku… Did you think we wouldn’t know? We’ve long known that pig Lamrpo was gathering ‘Life Spring Storage Core’ components to take to Kwan in the south. From the very beginning, that contract information from the Duron royal family passed through our ‘Black Council’s’ hands.”

“…!”

Valt and Liman’s eyes widened. They knew everything.

“Foolish merchant. How dare you try to interfere with our grand ‘purification’ and empower those southern barbarians. Naturally, we must end your miserable life here.”

The masked figure raised a bizarre orb imbued with darkness.

“And of course, you meddlers will join him.”

He added leisurely. His voice carried absolute conviction.

“Don’t worry. This is just the beginning. Our comrades have prepared quite a ‘warm welcome’ for you at the other four workshops and locations. No matter where you flee or which component you target first, only destruction awaits you!”

The Black Council knew everything and had set deadly traps at every path, waiting for them.

Professor Liman exclaimed through gritted teeth:

“Damn it all! We’ve walked right into it!”

Lamrpo had already collapsed in terror.

Valt tightened his grip on Franz’s mirror.

Time was short, and the enemy was strong. And this was merely the beginning.

He took a deep breath, glared at the powerful enemy before him, and commanded in a low voice:

“…Everyone, prepare for battle.”

His father’s errand, which had to be completed within six days—from the very first step, they had encountered an unavoidable trap.