LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 69
Chapter 69
In the eastern lands, the trainees faced their second trial: gathering intelligence on the ‘Plateau of the Dead,’ where the undead naturally emerged.
“A place where one could easily pass if they dug up useful information, unlike the north or south,” the chief instructor clicked his tongue in disdain.
“But in such an easy place, over eighty people went missing. Useless fools. Under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t even be worth rescuing. However, since His Highness the Crown Prince has requested it, you’ll need to exert some effort.”
Yan’s cheeks twitched once.
‘Requested by His Highness the Crown Prince?’
The chief instructor and the Crown Prince were like cats and dogs to each other.
Or rather, was it more like the Crown Prince extending a hand while the chief instructor sought to take advantage of the opportunity for his own gain?
Yan saw through the chief instructor’s true intentions.
‘Using the prince’s request as a pretext to showcase a striking achievement during this opportunity.’
The dazzling success Yan had created in the north.
If he could achieve even half of that in the east, it would surely be mentioned at the upcoming ‘Grand Council of State Affairs.’
With high nobles and bureaucrats in attendance, just the mention of Yan’s name would amplify the chief instructor’s influence.
After all, every noble would think it was the chief instructor who had groomed Yan.
And this could be an opportunity to gain the upper hand in the political strife with the special mission commander.
‘His mind is still as sharp as ever.’
Contrary to his thoughts, Yan asked with a serious face.
“How long is the deadline?”
“Fifteen days. A fortnight.”
“That’s quite generous, isn’t it?”
“As long as you rescue them within the period of the second trial.”
“You do realize if they’re all dead before I even arrive, there’s nothing I can do?”
“Do you think I lack such flexibility?”
The chief instructor pulled out a badge and tossed it to Yan.
Clack.
Yan caught the flying badge and examined its front.
It read:
[Special Mission Unit – Special Investigations Division Chief]
“Division Chief?”
A look of surprise flashed in Yan’s eyes.
This revealed how serious the chief instructor was about this eastern expedition.
“Return it immediately once you’re back.”
Even as the second-in-command of the special mission unit, one couldn’t casually hand over such a position.
Even if it was just a temporary post for a mere fifteen days.
“With this badge, even a count will follow your lead. I trust you’ll handle it well, but with this, there should be no problem reaching them before they all die, right?”
The chief instructor intended to use this badge to prevent anyone from picking a fight with Yan.
‘A position that could corner even a marquis, depending on how it’s used.’
The special mission unit operated in the shadows, dealing with escort, assassination, abduction, subjugation, interrogation, and more. It was one of the few positions that operated in the public eye.
Along with the ‘Inspection Bureau,’ it was one of the few positions with the authority to directly investigate nobles.
In some ways, it was even more feared than the Inspection Bureau.
While the Inspection Bureau mainly pursued corruption, dereliction of duty, and bribery, one could still save their life if caught.
However, the special investigations division of the special mission unit investigated those threatening the empire’s existence, employing cruel methods like torture.
Moreover, it was not influenced by rank, so even high nobles couldn’t escape.
Even merely maintaining a close relationship with the suspect could lead to arrest.
Thus, it was a department that could make investigated nobles as docile as lambs.
If the special investigations division had a purpose in visiting a noble’s domain, they had no choice but to tremble in fear.
A department that could bring down even birds in flight, that was the special investigations division of the special mission unit.
Yan held the badge preciously, a sly smile on his face.
“This will be more than sufficient.”
“You seem to know how valuable this is?”
“I’ve read about it in books.”
“You’ve learned a lot from books. Maybe I should have read some too?”
The chief instructor said, engaging in trivial conversation with Yan before waving his hand tiredly, issuing a dismissal.
Yan obediently headed out but paused to glance back.
“Chief Instructor, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“The tattoo on your chest. Does it have a meaning?”
The chief instructor’s face momentarily hardened at Yan’s question.
“Why?”
“Just curious.”
Yan’s expression seemed genuinely inquisitive.
The chief instructor chuckled and replied.
“It’s just for style, for style. It’s cool, isn’t it? A blazing flame.”
“Oh, is that so? To me, it seems rather… Anyway, I’ll take my leave.”
“Alright.”
Creak.
Yan left, the chief instructor’s piercing gaze on the back of his head as he opened the door and stepped out.
‘Just for style?’
Yan twisted his lips.
The chief instructor’s face had noticeably stiffened at his response.
He quickly regained composure, but Yan didn’t miss that brief moment.
‘If that snake-like chief instructor values it that much… what could it be?’
For a moment, ‘The Unquenchable Flame,’ one of the three great calamities, flickered through Yan’s mind.
But he quickly shook his head, scattering the thought.
‘That’s too far-fetched. Why would anyone tattoo a calamity on themselves?’
And it wasn’t something he could solve in the current situation.
What he needed to consider now was the ‘personal information sheet’ the chief instructor had briefly mentioned.
It likely contained details about his own identity.
Yan’s eyes quietly gleamed.
“Looks like I have some business to attend to before heading east.”
* * *
The next day.
The trainees who passed the second exam, excluding those from the east, gathered in the central auditorium.
“Still alive, I see?”
Yan greeted a burly trainee with a smirk.
It was Roman.
Yet, Roman ignored Yan’s friendly greeting, focusing instead on the chief instructor ascending the stage.
‘Tsk, still holding onto past grudges?’
Yan recalled the day he had rejected Roman’s offer to join forces.
Back then, Roman was just a big guy, naive about the ways of the world, but now he seemed to carry a certain weighty presence.
Behind Roman were trainees who had returned from the west, glaring at Yan.
Their eyes were filled with anger and annoyance.
They seemed uncomfortable with Yan speaking so freely to Roman, whom they followed.
It meant Roman had successfully pulled all those who went west into his faction.
Then it happened.
“The top rank will undoubtedly go to Edmund!”
“Why state the obvious? He took down one of the fleets led by the ‘Pirate Empress’!”
Yan’s ears perked up at the noisy chatter nearby.
‘He defeated a fleet led by the Pirate Empress?’
The Pirate Empress was a figure who would be considered one of the empire’s five calamities alongside Vila in the future.
Even now, she was strong enough to crush Vila with a flick of her finger.
Moreover, her fleet was powerful enough to annihilate a noble house in an instant.
If it were a naval battle, they could even challenge a duke’s house.
Yan looked at the trainee named Edmund.
He had been ranked fourth until Roman began to stand out.
He seemed talented and sharp-witted, but…
‘That seems to be all there is.’
He lacked experience and his skills were not yet refined.
Barely at the beginner level of Grade 6.
At that level, he would struggle to face even a single pirate, let alone a fleet.
Thud, thud.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the noisy auditorium.
The chatter ceased, and heads turned towards the stage.
It was the chief instructor’s entrance.
“Everyone returned safely, I see? Apart from the south, there seem to be hardly any casualties. The north has returned in full, all passing.”
The chief instructor surveyed the trainees with a scrutinizing gaze, as if appraising goods.
After inspecting everyone, he grinned.
“Shall we start with the results then?”
With those words, the trainees from the west and south lit up with anticipation.
They were confident their names would be at the top this time.
The test topic for those who went west involved capturing or collecting bizarre monsters and plants, while the south dealt with subduing pirates attempting to land ashore.
Snap!
With a flick of his finger, the instructors posted a long list of grades on the wall.
These grades would significantly impact future placements in other institutions, special missions, or knight orders.
That’s why they were all the more important.
The trainees checked the list with tense faces, then their expressions turned blank in disbelief.
“Have you all seen it?”
At the chief instructor’s calm tone, rage and confusion rose among the trainees.
“What in the world is this!”
“This makes no sense!”
“Why are only those from the north in the top ranks?”
“Did they bribe someone?”
A commotion began among the trainees.
Though they had never complained about the chief instructor’s oppressive announcements before, at this moment, they raised their voices without hesitation.
“What was Roman’s hard work in the west for? He even got injured on behalf of others!”
“This is a scam!”
Trainees who had taken the test in the west questioned Roman’s grades.
“Be quiet.”
At Roman’s deep voice, the trainees in his faction fell silent.
However, they couldn’t hide their dissatisfaction.
The problem was with those who had taken the test in the south.
“How can this be reasonable? Edmund ranked 32nd!”
“There must have been some foul play.”
“It must be the work of the Beowulf family.”
Most of those who passed the second exam in the south were at the very bottom of the grade list.
Cruel chuckled mockingly at them.
“If you barely passed by catching some pirate riffraff, you should be prostrating in gratitude.”
Lorena and Charl simply nodded at the grade list, as if it was to be expected, adding no further comment.
1st place. No. 974 Yan
2nd place. No. 1 Lorena Beowulf
3rd place. No. 2 Cruel Dwight
4th place. No. 143 Charl
5th place. No. 12 Roman
.
.
.
32nd place. No. 5 Edmund Denver
Upon seeing his rank, Edmund trembled with rage, his face turning red.
And then…
“This is invalid! It’s void!”
He committed the outrageous act of pointing and shouting at the chief instructor.