The Reincarnated Assassin Is a Genius Swordsman

Chapter 710 "..." Returning to Zieghart, Glenn clenched his fist as he gazed at the completely crumbled castle walls. His heart ached once again at the sight of those fallen walls, but there were more pressing matters to attend to. Glenn took a cold breath and stepped over the ruined walls. "L-Lord!" "We greet the Head of House!" Chad, the Shadow Agents' Leader, and Illiune, the External Commander, who were overseeing the restoration work inside the walls, bowed their heads to Glenn. "Skip the greetings. Report on the situation first." Glenn gestured for Illiune and Chad to follow him as he walked along the main road leading to the main building. "Thanks to our prior preparations, the damage to the outer castle is minimal. There are no civilian casualties." Illiune nodded, stating that the damage was relatively small considering the number of attackers. "What about the inner castle?" Glenn turned his gaze to Chad. "We successfully defended most of it, but the Council of Elders guarding the main building suffered heavy losses. The majority of the casualties are concentrated there." He sighed, expressing his regret. "The Council of Elders?" Glenn furrowed his brow as he looked at the distant main building. The Council of Elders was the strongest among Zieghart's martial forces. It was incomprehensible that they, with strength surpassing even the Heavenly Blade Division, had suffered the most damage. "Wasn't Denier there as well?" "Yes, he was. Half of the Wise Martial Palace and the Council of Elders remained there." Chad nodded, explaining that half of the Council of Elders were in the outer castle and half in the main building. "They say it was difficult to fend off the simultaneous attack by apostle-level Blood Demons in black robes and masked Eden executives." "Black robes..." The mention of black robes reminded Glenn of the Blood Demon who had pursued them relentlessly when they entered the White Blood Religion Headquarters. Though not an apostle, it possessed strength comparable to one. It seemed those creatures had launched the attack. "The White Blood Religion, Eden, and even assassins all came at us as if we were mortal enemies. If the Light Wind Division Leader hadn't warned us to prepare in advance, the damage would have been much worse." Illiune smiled, saying that many lives were saved thanks to Raon. "But where is Lord Raon..." Chad looked around behind Glenn, tilting his head in confusion. The situation at the Lable River had developed so rapidly that he hadn't yet grasped what had transpired. "...I'll call a grand meeting. Summon all remaining executives." Glenn gave the order to convene a meeting without answering Chad and Illiune's questions. "A-Alright..." Chad trembled, sensing the heavy atmosphere emanating from Glenn's feet. Glenn continued walking without stopping until he reached the main building. As he was about to enter the Lord's Manor, Alice waved her hand from the right. "Father!" Alice grabbed Sylvia's wrist and ran towards Glenn. "Where's Raon?" She smiled confidently, seemingly not even considering the possibility of Raon's defeat. "Head of House. Raon won, didn't he?" Sylvia also showed unwavering eyes, as if she believed in Raon. "..." Glenn bit his lip as he looked at Sylvia, who was clasping her hands together. When he met Sylvia's kind gaze, focused solely on her son, he felt a pain as if his heart was being torn out. "You two..." Suppressing the trembling in his fingertips, he opened his mouth. "Come to the audience chamber." "Huh? Why so suddenly..." "What audience chamber! Where's Raon, I asked!" "..." Glenn entered the Lord's Manor without answering, ignoring the questioning and worried gazes behind him. As he walked towards the audience chamber, he noticed Karoon standing like a statue. "Karoon?" "I apologize." Karoon knelt down, placing his hand on his chest. "I disobeyed the order given by the Head of House. I will accept any punishment." He bowed his head without making any excuses. "That guy helped fend off the Second Apostle who attacked the annex building." Alice, who had followed behind, waved her hand as she looked at Karoon. Glenn nodded, already aware of this from the images shown by the man in the blue dragon helmet. "Karoon. You come in too." Glenn gestured to the kneeling Karoon and opened the door to the audience chamber himself. He had originally intended to praise Karoon, but now was not the time. 'Raon...' He took heavy steps, thinking of his grandson who had gone missing without even a proper embrace. * * * In the middle of the night, all of Zieghart's executives gathered in the audience chamber. The only ones absent were Raon and the Heavenly Blade Division Leader, Light Wind Division Leader, and Warring Steel Leader who had remained at the Lable River to search for him. "Now that pig is here too. Can you finally tell us what's going on!" Alice frowned, pointing at Balder who had just returned from external reconnaissance. "What's this all about, calling everyone without explaining anything!" She maintained her stern expression, sensing the heavy atmosphere emanating from Glenn. "Umm..." Sylvia also trembled, unable to shake off her ominous thoughts. "Did Raon lose? That's impossible!" Balder shook his head, saying it couldn't be true. "...Raon won." Glenn slowly closed and opened his eyes before moving his lips. "I knew it!" Alice clapped her hands, her contorted expression relaxing. "I'll finally be called aunt! So where's Raon now? Is the Saint treating his injuries?" She nodded, thinking Raon couldn't return due to his injuries. "..." Glenn looked not at Alice, but at Sylvia. He gritted his teeth as he watched his youngest daughter still trembling with anxiety. "I'll explain." Roenn, who hadn't spoken a word since returning to the family, stepped forward. "As the Head of House said, Young Master Raon was victorious in the life-and-death battle against Axe King Roman. The Axe King even acknowledged his own defeat. But after that..." Roenn explained to Zieghart's executives everything that had happened after the life-and-death battle. "Ah..." "M-Missing, you say?" "If he was stabbed by the sword and then took a direct hit from an Astral Ring..." "Damn it!" Although they knew the Five Demons would move, Raon's disappearance was beyond their imagination, causing all the officials to widen their eyes. "Aah..." Sylvia sat down, her complexion as pale as a sheet of paper. She trembled, as if all strength had left her body. With a thunderous crash, Alice couldn't contain herself and punched the pillar behind her. The thick pillar crumbled into white dust. "These cowardly bastards!" She raised a fierce aura as if ready to storm the South-North Union right away. "How lightly must they have regarded Zieghart..." Karoon bit his lip until it bled. He showed deep anger not at Raon's possible death, but at the disrespect shown to Zieghart. "Let's go right now!" Balder stepped forward, stomping his feet. "I won't be able to sleep until we wipe out those thieves completely!" He raised a dry killing intent, saying he couldn't bear it either. "South-North Union..." "Those rootless bastards dare!" "Just like thieves, they only choose to do despicable things." Serena, the Void Sword Division Leader, and other executives gritted their teeth audibly. The angry aura emanating from the swordsmen enveloped the entire audience chamber, suppressing the cold dawn air. "Father. What are you doing!" Alice's eyes glimmered with a murky light. "We should go kill those bastards! Isn't that why you called this meeting?" She placed her hand on her sword hilt, urging immediate action. "We can't!" Denier stepped forward, shaking his head. "Zieghart has suffered significant damage from this incident. Given the unfavorable situation, we should first complete our reorganization and then consider..." "Until when!" Alice lowered her eyebrows as she looked at Denier. "We're not the only ones who suffered damage from this incident! The South-North Union, Eden, and the White Blood Religion are all in disarray! If we don't strike now, when will we?" She stepped forward, insisting that this was the greatest opportunity. "Besides, it's partly your fault that we suffered such heavy losses! Why did so many of the Council of Elders die?" "That... I'm sorry." Denier paused and let out a low sigh. "The Blood Demons in black robes all had Master-level strength or above. While I was focused on the children of the Wise Martial Palace, I was late in helping the Council of Elders." He bowed his head, expressing his shame. "However, we need to think deeply about this matter. If we move rashly, we'll only incur more damage." Denier emphasized his opinion, not backing down even in the face of Alice's killing intent. "He does have a point..." “And if the Five Demons intervene, the situation will escalate.” "Sigh, it's complicated." Some executives nodded in agreement with Denier's opinion, rubbing their chins. "It's certainly an issue that requires deep consideration." Glenn met Denier's gaze and placed his hand on the armrest of the throne. "Thank you for understanding." "Father!" Denier let out a sigh of relief, while Alice glared at Glenn as if ready to grab his collar. But Glenn hadn't finished speaking. "That's what I would have said before this life-and-death battle." "H-Head of House?" "This time, even I can't hold back." As Glenn rose, the golden throne crumbled to dust. A solemn anger rose from beneath his feet, silencing everyone. “I cannot let that child go like this.” "Ah..." Only then did Sylvia raise her head. The tears that had been welling up in her eyes fell onto the red carpet. "Shadow Agents' Leader. Declare war on the South-North Union." Glenn gestured to Chad, having already made his decision. "Tell them Zieghart will annihilate the South-North Union." He clenched his fist until his veins bulged, instructing to prevent other forces from interfering. "Understood." Chad beat his chest as if to say "trust me" and left the audience chamber. "May I go too?" Karoon raised his hand. "I'm willing to accept any punishment, even if it's extended. I want to eliminate those trash with my own hands." He clenched his fist, saying he didn't mind if he could never leave Zieghart for the rest of his life. "Me too..." Sylvia stood up, staggering. "Take me with you too." Her eyes no longer shed tears. What filled her red eyes was not sorrow, but intense flames of vengeance. Glenn couldn't meet Sylvia's gaze and turned away. In his current state, he had no right to stop his youngest daughter who was showing both despair and anger. "...Do as you wish." * * * The next day. "Union Leader!" A middle-aged man wearing dark glasses rushed into the Red Hall, dimly lit by soft lighting. He fell as he ran in haste but crawled on his knees to stand before the platform. "U-Union Leader! There's a big problem..." "White Fan Leader. We have a guest. Mind your manners." Dranos, the South-North Union Leader, sitting on the red platform and raising a pipe, waved his hand lightly. "Huk!" The middle-aged man called the White Fan Leader followed Dranos' hand with his gaze. He swallowed hard when he saw The Fallen wearing a young man's mask. "I-I'm sorry. It's an urgent matter..." "What is it?" Dranos nodded slightly, as if telling him to speak. "Zieghart has declared war. They say they'll attack tomorrow!" The White Fan Leader trembled, saying they needed to prepare for war immediately. "The news is late." Dranos chuckled and blew out smoke. "This friend here told me first." He pointed at The Fallen with a slight smile. "The war declaration came much faster than expected. It seems they truly cherished Raon Zieghart, just as that dragon head said." Dranos put the pipe in his mouth, recalling Glenn's enraged eyes. "How much support will you provide this time? I'd like it if you could mobilize people like the Twin-Headed Demon or the Severing Sword." "Those two are with the Heavenly Demon. I can't guarantee they'll listen to me. But beyond that..." The Fallen narrowed his eyes as he looked at Dranos. "I'm afraid I won't be able to help this time." "What... do you mean?" Dranos furrowed his brow and leaned forward. "Zieghart has rejected help from many groups angered by Raon Zieghart's death and declared war solely in their own name." The Fallen raised his hand, unmarred by any wounds. “Interfering while Zieghart is not accepting support from the other Six Kings would undermine the authority of the Five Demons.” "Even so..." "In fact, the bigger issue is the other Six Kings." A continent map with a blue tinge appeared above his fingers. “If the Five Demons move, the Owen Kingdom and Balkar will also join the war. Chamber and Lecross declared under the name of the Six Kings.” The Fallen twisted his lips as he pointed to an area filled with forests. "Since Raon Zieghart was also friendly with the elves, even Sepia might move." (E/N: World War) "Ugh..." "The Holy Sword Alliance and the Black Tower have said they'll stay out of this matter, so we're at a significant disadvantage in terms of both military strength and justification." He erased the continent map, saying it would be best for the South-North Union and Zieghart to wage war alone. "But it's not like we have no chance of winning. Since Glenn Zieghart has suffered internal injuries, he won't be able to display the near-invincible strength he had before." "Even if Glenn is injured and the South-North Union is a natural fortress, it's too much to stop Zieghart!" Dranos threw away his pipe, saying the South-North Union alone couldn't stop Zieghart. "That's right. It will be difficult to win. However..." The Fallen rolled his transparent eyes. "Don't we have someone who can move without revealing themselves?" "That guy can't even be contacted..." "Don't worry. Reading the heaven's flow, I see the largest star falling soon." He smiled faintly as he looked at the stars shining above the ceiling. "Under the name of Dranos, the great star called Glenn Zieghart will sink." "Under my name..." As Dranos heard The Fallen's low voice, a color of desire rose in his eyes. * * * Upstream of the Lable River. Dozens of warships advance through the river, with artillery at the front. Dranos, the South-North Union Leader, appears on the bow of the Blue Wolf, the South-North Union's flagship leading the fleet. On the opposite bank, ten warships and one pirate ship emerge. Glenn Zieghart, standing on the deck of the pirate ship, places his hand on the Heavenly Tremor. "Do we really have to do this?" Dranos shook his head as if regretful. "Isn't there a way to resolve this through words?" "You bastards are the ones who crossed the line." Glenn exhaled a heated breath as he drew the Heavenly Tremor. "I'll erase the very existence of the South-North Union." "You've picked the wrong fight. You've been terribly deceived." Dranos furrowed his brow and stretched out his hand. The ancient weapon Sea Dragon Spear, formed from gathered river water, grasped in his hand. With a roar, Glenn swung down the Heavenly Tremor. A single, tranquil line split the sky and river. It was a grand sword strike aimed at tearing apart all of the South-North Union's warships with a single blow. With a piercing sound, Dranos grasped the end of the spear shaft and swung the Sea Dragon Spear upward. Like ink being drawn by a brush, the energy imbued in the spear strike summoned a massive tidal wave. With a thunderous crash, Glenn's sword strike and Dranos' spear strike collided, causing the river and land to flip and rise. As if nature itself was enraged, an aura storm raged from all directions. "Kill the hypocrites of Zieghart!" "Fire the cannons and arrows to prevent them from approaching!" "This river and these mountains belong to the South-North Union!" The South-North Union's martial artists launched cannons, arrows, and harpoons towards the Zieghart swordsmen. "Kill those rootless thieves!" "Don't retreat no matter what!" "Avenge the Light Wind Division Leader!" The Zieghart swordsmen charged forward, disregarding the incoming cannons and arrows. Their intention was to engage in close combat rather than the naval battle that favored the enemy. As the swordsmen were about to move from the deck and river to the South-North Union's warships, a golden flash skimmed the river surface. With a whoosh! A golden-haired swordswoman advanced at a speed that even the wind couldn't catch, boarding the leftmost warship. With a sizzle, the sea-colored aura blazing from her sword spread like a wave, simultaneously slitting the throats of over a dozen Water Demons standing on the deck. "Out of my way! I'll handle this!" Rukan, the River Fan Leader and owner of the warship, grasped his axe and charged at the swordswoman. Crimson river energy erupted like lava over his axe. With a boom! The swordswoman didn't retreat but plunged into the flames of river energy and swung her sword. The river energy imbued in her sword strike condensed into an Astral Ring and caused a massive explosion. With a thunderous roar! The warship's deck completely collapsed, and the Water Demons riding it fell, spitting blood. With a rumble, the warship itself split in half and began to sink. "Where are you..." The golden-haired swordswoman, Sylvia Zieghart, exhaled a chilling breath and turned her gaze. "Beorn!" Her eyes, searching for her enemy, flashed blood-red.