Berserker – Part 01
At the government office of the Independent Trade City’s Third District, a man was making a report in the mayor’s office.
“Security arrangements for the Knight Guard in each district are complete. Additionally, evacuation routes for citizens have been posted on the bulletin boards. To ensure preparedness, all knights have been sent to check every residence in the city for verification.”
The man, wearing the uniform of the Knight Guard, had a tanned face and sharp features. This was Reginald Drummond, the vice-captain of the Third District Knight Guard.
“With this, the entire Guard is ready for the Bi-Nation-One-City conference.”
Valbanill was considered a top secret of the continental nations. Its very existence, let alone its ecology, was kept hidden from the general public, and only select high-ranking individuals in each nation had knowledge of it. Even during past Valbanill conferences, significant security measures had been in place for the protection of officials, but the public was only told that it was a “conference for the cooperation of the continental nations.”
However, even with all the precautions, there was only so much they could do.
Stronger self-defense measures, cooperation with the Militant Nation, training against Inhumans and demons—preparations for the upcoming days required some degree of information disclosure.
I was right to make him vice-captain, Hannibal Quasar thought as he listened to the report.
It had only been a week since he informed Reginald of the truth behind Valbanill, just the day after his appointment as vice-captain. When he heard the truth, Reginald surprisingly showed little emotional reaction.
“Nothing changes about what we need to protect,” he had said flatly.
Hannibal couldn’t help but chuckle in admiration.
“Thank you for the report, Reginald. Good work,” said a man sitting at the desk.
This was Hugo Housman. Despite holding the highest position in the Independent Trade City as mayor, he was still in his late thirties. However, the weight of his duties made him appear older, and his formal attire looked worn-out. He gave off an overall fatigued impression.
Though he carried the family name Housman, he was not related to the first Housman by blood. It was customary for mayors in the city to adopt the first mayor’s name out of respect, as the first Housman had no known heirs.
“Despite the heightened security this year, you’ve finished ahead of schedule. Excellent work.”
“I’m just doing my job,” Reginald responded matter-of-factly. Hannibal reconsidered his assessment of his subordinate, wondering if he was just blunt rather than especially dutiful.
“So… I hear you need something from me,” Reginald said.
Hugo looked at Hannibal, who scratched his bald head in response.
Hannibal Quasar was the biggest and strongest member of the Knight Guard. He had survived the Proxy Pact War forty-four years ago, fighting on the front lines, and his name was well-known among warriors. Though he held the title of captain in the Third District Knight Guard, he effectively commanded the entire order. This role often led him to be involved in discussions about Valbanill.
Hannibal set a wooden box he had been carrying on the desk and opened it.
Reginald narrowed his eyes when he saw what was inside. “What’s this?”
“An Infernal Blade presented by the Militant Nation,” Hannibal replied.
The young vice-captain gasped. “I’ve heard that the Empire has been aggressively collecting Infernal Blades for some time.”
“That’s correct.”
It was only this year that the Empire’s actions to gather Infernal Blades came to light. The incidents targeting the Infernal Blade Aria had been the catalyst, and after that, events involving Demon Pacts started to occur frequently. Whenever Cecily and her allies interacted with Empire officials, there was always the presence of these cursed swords.
The Infernal Blade Evadne, the Infernal Blade Francisca. Nameless Infernal Blades—a claymore, a rhomphaia, and a ballock knife.
The Empire had been collecting these Infernal Blades, clearly plotting something.
“Their most likely objective at this stage is preparation for the Valbanill Campaign,” Hannibal surmised. “Infernal Blades are effective against Valbanill. This was proven by the Infernal Blade that Cecily’s grandfather—the then-head of the Campbell family—had transformed into. The former Empire, lacking the forging techniques for Sacred Swords, sought to substitute them with Infernal Blades.”
“That said,” Hugo continued, “not all Infernal Blades produce the same effect. The Campbell family Infernal Blade is a unique and unparalleled masterpiece, far beyond ordinary Infernal Blades. It’s an extremely special blade. Additionally, the ritual to artificially create an Infernal Blade was known only to the First, and that method has been lost to time.”
“That’s why the continental nations haven’t focused on Infernal Blades until now—except for Cecily, who carries the First’s modification.”
The decisive factor in the Valbanill Campaign would still be the Sacred Sword. There was no doubt about that.
The intention behind collecting Infernal Blades remained unclear to Hannibal and the others. Were they counting on them as pure military assets, or did the Imperial Federation hold some knowledge about them that they were unaware of? It was impossible to know.
Reginald listened with a frown. He had only recently learned about Cecily being the Sacred Sword’s Sheath, so he must have had his own thoughts on the matter.
His gaze stayed fixed on the wooden box, and he asked, “Why give me this Infernal Blade?”
“To be honest, I didn’t know what to do with it. Accepting it would be like accepting a bribe from the Militant Nation, which goes against our position as a neutral city. I hesitated, but… it’s not a bad idea to manage what the Imperial Federation are after right under our noses. Besides, the more weapons we have to protect the city, the better.”
“Therefore, Reginald, I am assigning you to carry this Infernal Blade,” Hugo said.
“Me?”
“A major battle will definitely occur in the near future.”
Reginald’s face tightened. He had surely heard of the tensions between the Imperial Federation, formed from the merging of the Empire and most of the Crowd Powers, and the Independent Trade City and the Militant Nation.
Hannibal gave the wooden box a light tap with his fist and smiled at his subordinate. “When that time comes, you will defend the city with all you’ve got.”
“That goes without saying,” Reginald answered firmly, without a shred of hesitation. “That’s my job.”
To anyone unfamiliar with him, it might sound like a casual statement, but Hannibal understood its true meaning. Reginald Drummond had just declared that defending to the death was his job. That was not something anyone could say lightly.
“We’re invincible.”
I’m really lucky.
Hannibal was blessed to have exceptional subordinates in both Reginald and Cecily.
“By the way,” Reginald said, “I’d like to meet with the blacksmith as well. From what I gather, he’s a VIP. If possible, I’d like to increase the security around him starting today.”
Hannibal and Hugo exchanged looks.
Hannibal scratched the cross-shaped scar on his left cheek and said, “Unfortunately, Luke isn’t in the city right now.”
“He’s not in the city?”
“He left this morning.”
“Where did he go?”
“To the former Crowd Powers.”
A loud bang rattled the mayor’s office. It was the sound of Reginald’s fist slamming onto the desk.
“What were you thinking?! The former Crowd Powers territory is enemy land itself. Sending the most important person on the continent there alone is outrageous!”
“Luke headed for a small nation that hasn’t yet merged with the Empire. There’s little danger. That’s why I allowed it. And he’s not alone. Cecily and Aria are with him. Ewen Benjamin is also accompanying them, I believe.”
“Cecily Campbell too?!”
“She insisted on going with him, and wouldn’t hear otherwise.”
“The conference is just around the corner!”
“It’ll be fine.”
“You’re too casual about this.” Reginald’s anger surged. “I’ve been thinking this for a while now, but Captain, you’re too soft on Cecily Campbell. You’re too optimistic!”
Hugo remained silent and subtly stepped back, while Hannibal scratched the back of his own head awkwardly.
“Do you understand? I’m talking about your crisis awareness.”
Reginald continued his lecture.
I’ve changed my mind, Hannibal thought.
Reginald was an excellent but nagging subordinate.
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