REAPER SCANS
Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan
[Translator – Mr.Ghost]
[Proofreader – Harley]
Chapter 108 - Cold Winter (3)
Clop, clop, clop, clop—
A carriage entered a desolate village.
The place looked like an abandoned warzone. There were no fully intact buildings, and all the crops were a mess.
The carriage came to a stop, and Ed Troivan stepped out. He let out a small sigh.
A voice called out to him from a short distance away, “How is the first taste of fresh air in a while?”
Ed turned toward the voice and bowed.
The bearded old man looked like a sage, wearing silk clothes popular in the Orient. He walked toward Ed with two tall bodyguards at his side.
“Father,” Ed greeted.
“I’m curious as to what you’re thinking.”
“It was... a mess.”
“And?”
“It feels like something big is about to occur. It’s like a completely different world,” Ed recollected the villages he passed through after leaving the North and crossing into the East.
Most of them looked like the ghost village—a world full of failed crops and wandering, vagrant villagers.
“Is everywhere like this?”
“That’s right,” the old man, Granada Troivan, gave a heavy nod, “Recently, natural disasters have been occurring all over the world, destroying everything. The rise in sea level has completely flooded low-altitude regions. Melting snow caps have buried valley villages in landslides. Sudden frost has frozen the Southern planes while a locust invasion has destroyed the crops planted in the spring here in the East.”
Ed remembered the reports regarding the status of the Empire while at the intelligence agency.
“The shift in ocean currents has negatively impacted the flourishing maritime trade, and an epidemic has even wiped out a city of over a hundred thousand people. Yet the Empire...” Granada’s tone sounded nonchalant.
However, Ed did not miss the thick rage underlying his voice.
“The so-called emperor surrounds himself with sycophants, worsening the administrative system. As a result, many locations are ripe for an uprising while more ambitious groups are even aiming for independence.”
“That must be how the Holy Demon Church has been quickly expanding.”
“In turbulent times, there is no better place for people to take refuge in than religion.”
Though Ed had joined forces with the Holy Demon Church out of necessity, he secretly despised them.
“Soon there will be a great war,” said Granada.
A great war. This single phrase pressed down on Ed.
Granada continued, “And soon after, a large wave will come that no one can defy... From the North.”
“......”
“We have the duty and responsibility to correct that. The Ragnars, who have fallen behind the times, must vanish. This is why we the Troivans must rise,” Granada spoke with a sinister shine in his eyes. “And the key for that is the Relics of the Primordial Dragon. The mystics of the ancient times that the foolish Ragnars have failed to solve. Have you brought it with you?”
“Here it is, Father.”
Ed gave the signal and his subordinate quickly placed down the chest and opened it wide. Inside was a long broadsword wrapped in chains.
Granada’s eyes lit up.
“This is the Dragon Savior Ghost Sword,” Ed presented.
“So this is it.”
“I’ve seen many relics in my time, and I can say with absolute certainty that none of them compares to this one.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that you were robbed of all the relics you had collected.”
“......”
“Not to mention, you failed to obtain the relics of the Rose Palace, which were as necessary as this relic. I would say that was a poor trade for Aimil’s life.”
“...My apologies, Father,” Ed lowered his head.
“‘Tis fine. Dwelling on the past will not change what has happened,” Granada responded.
He then lightly waved his hands in the air.
Ch-ching!
The chains shattered apart and the sword floated up. Granada then pulled out a blue key from his sleeve.
Ed’s eyes lit up. ‘That’s the Master Key said to be capable of unlocking the seals of relics...! Given to Father by that person!’
Ba-thump, ba-thump!
Ed became excited at the thought of finally seeing the mystical powers of the relic, something he had not been able to achieve so far.
“The Dragon Slayer Demon Sword... Will it truly return here?” asked Granada.
Ed answered by slowly nodding his head, “I can guarantee it with my name. That child is this generation’s «Chosen One».”
“Is that so? That person will be very pleased,” a smile appeared on Granada’s lips for the first time. “Now let’s begin.”
Granada brought the blue key close to the sword.
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator – Mr.Ghost]
[Proofreader – Harley]
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
* * *
After Kyle gathered the Nine Dragons, Julius looked exhausted.
There was simply far too much work to do: Preparing for war against the Troivan Clan, strategizing how to distribute the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry’s forces, cleaning up after the conflict with the council, etc.
There was one thing that pleased him, which was the announcement from the council yesterday.
The council will stop all operations for one year, and all of the councilors will step down from their positions, stand on equal ranks as combat swordsmen, and fully dedicate themselves to the war against the Troivan Clan.
It was essentially a declaration of their surrender. A last-ditch effort for the council to hold onto a shred of respect.
“I was happy I had finally made a dent in my workload...” Julius frowned as he stared at the file in his hand.
The file was titled as such:
Solo Mission Proposal
“Here you go, giving me another pile of work,” Julius glared over at Theo, who was standing in the at ease pose.
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“Are you actually sorry? Because I see the smirk on your face.”
“My mistake, sir. I’ll correct it, sir.”
“...I shouldn’t have put you under Evelyn. You were so earnest, but she went and corrupted you in just a few months.” Julius then tossed the file onto his table before asking, “I’m sick of reading right now, so briefly explain it to me. What is this solo mission you want to conduct?”
“Have you heard of ‘Venotta’?
“Are you referring to the maritime alliance located in the Autonomous Territory of the Northwestern Floating Archipelago?”
“More specifically, it refers to the free city operated by the three great merchant clans of the maritime alliance. Spinola, Grimal, and Romelin.”
“Technicalities aside, what about it?”
Julius was a man who was only interested in the North, the homeground of the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry. He had zero interest in any other regions.
This was an attitude shared by the majority of Northerners.
The unique temperament of the Northerners was so distinct from other imperial citizens that they were regarded as having established a separate civilization and kingdom within the empire.
“The Black Snow has shared intel that the source of the funds that flowed into Black Skull originated from Venotta.”
“What?” Julius finally showed some interest.
The Black Skull was the terrorist organization that cost the lives of multiple members of Platoon 5.
“I’d like to personally conduct an investigation, sir.”
“...Investigation is the domain of the Black Snow.”
“I already got approval from the intel director.”
‘That geezer,’ Julius ground his teeth. He was upset that the Black Dragon once again had a secret rendezvous with Theo.
“But that’s all the information we have so far, is it not? Not only is it too dangerous, it’s too far. We can’t come to your assistance if you happen to need it. Wait until the Black Snow has gathered more intel.”
“It is to my knowledge that the central duties of Platoon 5 are special missions. Soldiers are allowed to go on solo missions starting with the rank of combat swordsman, are they not, sir?”
“That is only when the commander has judged the mission to have a chance of success.”
“Commander.”
“No. It’s too dangerous. Take this back,” Julius said, pushing the file towards Theo. “The Floating Archipelagos is outside our area of influence. They are so affluent, it’s like they have swept up all the money in the world. But it’s also a lawless land full of exilees and runaway slaves. They are madmen that hire pirates, labeling them marines.”
“......”
“We have also yet to fully uncover the true identity of the Black Skulls. Their true forces are likely greater than what we have seen so far. What do you think you can possibly accomplish by yourself there?” Julius’s eyes looked like they were ready to ignite. “Of all people, I know that you are capable of figuring it out. I bet you even have a plan you haven’t shared with me. However, that doesn’t make it any less dangerous.”
Theo could read the true sentiments hiding beneath Julius’s yelling: worry. Julius genuinely cared for Theo as his subordinate, disciple, and son.
‘But that’s even more reason as to why I have to do it,’ thought Theo.
After finding out that the funding source of Black Snow came from Venotta, Theo remembered some information from his previous life related to the maritime alliance.
The Holy Demon Church’s funding source.
The center of uprisings across various regions.
The mastermind behind the Great War.
‘Is it merely a coincidence that the Black Skull, a terrorist organization, is linked to Venotta?’ thought Theo. ‘Let’s say the Black Skull is one of Venotta's hidden weapons. Then why did the Black Skull and the Troivan Clan join forces in the Great War when they were mortal enemies even before the Fort Blanqui incident?’
There had to be a secret plot that he didn’t know about.
‘If I can figure it out, I'll find myself at an even greater advantage.’
This was why Theo had spent the last few days pulling all-nighters, writing up this solo mission proposal.
‘And I’ll be able to unravel the secret behind the Dragon Slayer Sword.’
Finding the Black Skull was now of the utmost priority for Theo.
“I need to do this, Commander.”
“......” Julius clammed under Theo’s gaze.
“I can’t tell you with 100% confidence, but I have a strong feeling the Troivans are connected to this as well. Please let me go on this mission.”
Julius remained silent.
“This mission will be the first block in building my own foundation.”
“......!”
Julius finally opened his mouth.
He spoke with a deep sigh, “...Fine. If you insist, guess I have no choice. I will approve this specific mission. However, you will have to work closely with the Black Snow considering how much information is still unknown.”
“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind, sir.”
Julius clicked his tongue, feeling that he was serving up Theo to the Black Dragon with his own hands. But what could he do other than give his permission when his disciple was begging him for it?
The idea of seating Theo as the next clan head was already firmly planted within Julius’s mind. So, Julius stamped his seal of approval on the file.
Slam!
“I will also assign you superior officers as reinforcement.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“I can’t assign you too many. We lost some forces in our last mission.”
“I’m still very grateful. Have a great day, sir.”
Theo grabbed the file, bowed, and left the office.
Creak—
Julius turned around in his chair and looked out the window. Snowflakes were descending from the sky.
“It’s almost the new year. He’ll be sixteen by the time he returns.”
Excited at how much Theo might grow, Julius unknowingly smiled.
* * *
Theo quickly made his preparations.
‘If Venotta really is the mastermind behind the Black Skull, there must be some sort of conspiracy that made Venotta side with the Troivan Clan.’
He felt like he didn’t have much time left.
‘With the Troivans making their move sooner than in the previous timeline, the conspiracy against Venotta might have already started. I need to put a stop to the conspiracy, and if possible, recruit Venotta over to my side.’
It did worry him that there was no way to know how the butterfly effect might have impacted everything, but he was confident he could think quickly on his feet and figure it out.
“Are you already heading out? What a shame. My store’s opening is soon, and the new year is almost upon us,” Cecilia looked at Theo with a disappointed expression on her face.
Theo gave a bitter smile.
After the incident at Daffodil Palace, a flood of orders came in for the formal suit worn by Theo along with the dresses worn by Cecilia and Evelyn. To ride the hype, Cecilia pushed up the opening of her boutique far sooner than she had originally planned.
Unfortunately, Theo’s mission had to start right away.
“I’ll be back soon,” Theo assured her.
“I know. Just like I have my work, you have work of your own that must be done. I’m sorry for worrying you before your long journey,” Cecilia gave Theo a tight hug, “Never forget that this is your home. You can return whenever things are hard.”
“I know,” Theo answered.
He stood there for a solid minute as Cecilia gently caressed the back of his head, appreciating the warmth.
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