Bloodhound’s Regression Instinct

Chapter 84



Chapter 84

Not long after Yan and his companions crossed the warp gate…

Swish.

A figure emerged.

Shrouded in dark cloth from head to toe was an enigmatic stranger.

“So tiresome, so tiresome,” the stranger muttered, meandering across the plateau with a languid stride.

“Eamon has vanished… How did they manage that? The Eastern Duke still shows no sign of appearing… Ah, forget it, too tiresome to ponder.”

After a while, the stranger halted abruptly.

Scraping the ground with his foot, he unearthed something.

“Fortunate, they haven’t found this?”

In the stranger’s grasp was a jet-black ring. At its center, a tiny demon forged of gold, with the word ‘Greed’ inscribed.

“Ah, to think a temporary apostle of the Seven Deadly Sins would fade away so futilely. The mere thought of electing another is already wearisome.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, a fierce wind blew from nowhere.

Whoosh.

Where the wind passed, the stranger’s form was nowhere to be seen.

* * *

As Yan and his companions burst through the blue haze, a familiar chaos unfolded before them.

“This place is still a mess,” Roman grumbled, his tongue clicking in disapproval at the lack of discipline around.

They had returned from a war-like battle on the highlands, yet this place seemed oblivious to it all.

The front lines had clearly neglected their essential duties of reconnaissance and exploration.

“Let’s just go,” Yan said, patting Roman on the back as he passed by.

With a scowl of discontent, Roman followed, trailing behind Yan.

“If only we had received timely support, it wouldn’t have been so hard.”

Kasa glared at the knights and nobles playing cards in front of the command tent.

Thankfully, there were no casualties, but had there been even one, the trainees would have lost their morale and fallen prey to the undead without a fight.

“No one died, so it’s fine.”

“But…”

Yan didn’t listen to Kasa’s words and looked around instead.

“Still, something definitely feels off.”

Lorena, too, sensed the unease and scanned the surroundings with Yan.

With a heavy gaze, she spoke, “If the trainees had arrived, there should be some sign of them, but there’s nothing.”

“Right. We confirmed that the trainees headed this way.”

Kasa frowned.

“Could the warp gate we used have malfunctioned?”

“No. If that were the case, we would have been transported somewhere else too.”

“That’s true.”

In fact.

Yan had a hunch about why the trainees had disappeared.

More precisely, someone had hidden them.

‘Count Jeren.’

That pig must have stirred up trouble.

Even when Yan had announced his rescue mission, Jeren had provided no support, thinking they were already dead.

He must have been anxious upon seeing the trainees return unscathed, without a single casualty.

And that wasn’t all.

There had been many chances to conduct a rescue operation before.

Yet, Count Jeren had remained inactive and ignored the missing trainees.

When the presumed dead trainees returned alive, Jeren must have realized.

This… could cost me my head.

If suspicions arose that the Eastern Front’s commander had neglected his duties, investigations would follow.

And then, all the corruption he had committed would come to light.

Perhaps the only way to prevent that was to eliminate the trainees.

Had Count Jeren dealt with the returned trainees?

A smirk.

‘Count Jeren doesn’t have the guts for that.’

At most, he would have imprisoned them somewhere and been busy making calls about the matter.

Yan observed his companions.

Their gait, physical changes, breathing.

They conversed casually among themselves as they moved on, but…

‘They’re exhausted. It would be a burden to act with them now.’

Yan spoke after gathering his thoughts.

“For now, worrying won’t solve anything, so let’s rest today.”

Kasa, flaring up, blocked Yan’s path.

“The kids have disappeared, and you want to rest?”

“And with that body, you plan to scout the area?”

Kasa shivered as if struck by the truth.

“Your left arm and leg. They’re shaking.”

Yan pointed out Kasa’s trembling left arm and lower body.

Indeed, they were quivering.

It was perhaps inevitable after the previous day’s exertions.

Yan turned to the others.

“It’s the same for all of you. None of you are in perfect shape.”

Cruel groaned, while Lorena and Roman nodded in agreement.

Yan patted Kasa on the shoulder.

“I know you’re worried, but it’s okay to rest and search later. There won’t be any problems.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Yan shrugged.

“Because it’s me?”

At that, Kasa stared at Yan with a dazed expression.

Self-praise has its limits, but that was almost pathological.

After all, this was no ordinary situation.

The trainees’ lives were at stake in a grave matter.

“Are you out of your mind…!”

As Kasa spoke, someone grabbed him.

“Cruel?”

“That guy may be rude, but he’s not exactly wrong, is he?”

“…”

Kasa hung his head low.

Yan’s words were the hard truth.

Roman agreed with Cruel’s statement.

“Indeed, it’s more efficient to rest now and search for the trainees later.”

Lorena nodded as well.

And so, Yan and his companions decided to take a day’s rest at the inn before resuming their search for the trainees.

* * *

In the Inn Room

“There are only two beds?”

“I’m taking one for myself.”

Lorena’s gaze was firm, leaving no room for negotiation as she looked at her companions.

Cruel laughed incredulously.

“What are you going to do about it? Did you pay for it?”

It was Yan who had paid for the lodging.

Lorena looked at Yan with pleading eyes.

Yan just shrugged his shoulders.

“Everyone wants to rest comfortably, right?”

“Then let’s decide fairly with rock-paper-scissors,” Kasa suggested, stepping forward.

The others agreed and extended their hands to play.

At that moment, Cruel exclaimed loudly.

“Are you serious! Not removing the mana from your eyes?!”

All eyes turned to one person.

“Tch.”

Lorena clicked her tongue and obediently removed the mana from her eyes.

She had intended to enhance her vision, but the mana-sensitive Cruel caught her immediately.

“Yan! Aren’t you playing?”

Cruel asked Yan, who was sharpening his dagger on the sofa.

“I’m good. I don’t mind sleeping on the floor, so you guys figure out who gets the beds.”

With one less competitor, Lorena’s face brightened.

“Alright then? Happy?”

“Just shut up and shout it out.”

“Okay. Rock! Paper…”

Yan watched his companions battle for the beds and then turned away.

It was a matter of no consequence to him.

Night fell.

Yan quietly opened his eyes and surveyed the surroundings.

Lorena and Roman were sound asleep in the beds, while Cruel and Kasa were sprawled on the floor.

Swoosh.

Seeing no one stirring, he stealthily slipped outside.

Yan closed the door quietly behind him and smirked.

He had never intended to search for the trainees with his companions in the first place.

* * *

Yan moved stealthily, avoiding the gazes of soldiers and knights.

As he swiftly traversed rooftops and tents, a grand lord’s castle came into view.

The criminal, Count Jeren, has usurped Count Geva’s castle using his title as the Eastern Front Commander.

According to records from a past life, Count Jeren was not at the command tent but residing in the lord’s castle.

Yan kicked off the roof and chanted a spell simultaneously.

“Fly.”

His form soared rapidly towards the lord’s castle.

Thud!

Yan landed on a balcony connected to the lord’s bedroom and carefully opened the window to avoid noise.

Creak.

As the door opened, Count Jeren was found snoring loudly.

To any observer, he seemed deeply asleep, but his uneven breathing and anxious expression betrayed his wakefulness.

“It was a trap,” Yan realized.

Whoosh!

The room brightened as the bedroom door flung open and knights rushed in.

“Who are you?”

“Kneel immediately!”

“Lord Count, are you alright?!”

At the knights’ inquiry, the lying Count Jeren slowly opened his eyes and rose, a sly smile on his lips.

“He’s here to assassinate me. No need to capture him alive; kill him on sight!”

At Count Jeren’s command, the knights drew their swords fiercely, and the soldiers gripped their spears.

Yan shook his head in dismay.

The situation had become more troublesome than anticipated, but he had prepared for such an event.

Swish.

Yan reached into his cloak and pulled out a round badge, then shouted at the knights.

“Are you saying that you’re obstructing the special mission of the Special Investigation Division?”

“Special, Special Investigation Division?”

“What is that place, exactly?”

“…If it’s the Special Task Force.”

One knight, recognizing the name, began to sweat profusely.

The other knights realized Yan’s identity was no ordinary one.

“As a direct organization under His Imperial Majesty, I’ve come to investigate the dereliction of duty by the Eastern Front Commander, Count Jeren. Please lay down your weapons.”

Yan used a stern tone to pressure the knights further, and their faces turned pale with fear.

At that moment, a panic-stricken Count Jeren shouted at the knights.

“If I’m captured, do you think you’ll be safe? You’ll be executed too!”

The knights turned to look at Count Jeren.

Count Jeren continued rapidly.

“Was I the only one taking bribes? No! You all partook as well! Not to mention neglecting military discipline and toying with the commoners! If I’m taken, do you think you’ll keep quiet?”

Conflict flickered across the knights’ faces.

But the moment was brief, and the knights gripped their swords with resolve.

Yan asked incredulously.

“Can you really handle the consequences?”

Count Jeren laughed maliciously, though his eyes betrayed his anxiety.

Yan shook his head and grasped his sword, Ascalon.

He hadn’t expected to be surrounded by such fools.

‘Do I have no choice but to eliminate them?’

Just as Yan’s eyes flashed with murderous intent, something unexpected happened.

“What the—?”

“My body won’t move!”

“What is this…?”

Shadows flowed into the room from outside, wrapping around the knights’ bodies.

They were bound in an instant, spewing confusion and twisting in vain to escape the shadows’ grasp.

Yan looked towards the direction from which they had entered with a sense of futility.

The bedroom door.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Someone clapped their hands as they entered the bedroom.

Yan asked, as if deflated.

“How long have you been watching?”

“Hmm… since you realized it was a trap?”

“So you knew from the beginning.”

The intruder was none other than the Chief Instructor.


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