The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 275

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 275. A Staged Performance (3)
The name written in the montage’s name field.
[Haofeng Laza]
Elowin’s head tilted involuntarily.
Had she misread it?
She rubbed her eyes, but nothing changed.
Then Haofeng Laza.
Did this name actually exist?
Elowin lifted her head and questioned the Aide.
“This person named Haofeng Laza here.”
“Yes.”
“Is there any record in the personnel database?”
“…There is not.”
The Aide shook his head firmly.
In other words, it wasn’t merely an oversight.
This person had never been recorded in the Empire’s personnel registry.
And that meant.
This person had never existed anywhere on The Continent.
…It made sense.
There was no way someone with such a name could exist on The Continent.
No matter how much it was merely a matter of pronunciation now, who in their right mind would name a person like that?
Elowin furrowed her brow.
She simply could not comprehend it.
Barelto, this bastard—.
No, what on earth was he thinking when he gave such an absurd testimony?
Perhaps that was why.
‘Barelto.’
The possibility that this entire incident might be his staged performance flashed through Elowin’s mind.
But she did not jump to conclusions.
Hasty judgments become poison.
Elowin calmly suppressed her emotions.
She gazed at the montage again and analyzed the situation coldly.
If Barelto’s testimony were true.
Then the perpetrator of this incident was ‘Haofeng Laza’.
It was such a ridiculous combination that one could only shake their head.
“No identity, no records, no existence….”
A false identity?
Or.
Someone whose very existence had been concealed?
She could not yet determine which.
Yet there were similarities.
Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound.
From that absurd name to the way he left no personal records whatsoever—the parallels were too striking.
Therefore, the most obvious suspect was Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound.
‘According to Barelto’s testimony, the attacker used a sword.’
In other words, a warrior who wielded aura.
But Kim Fujiwara was a mage.
A brilliant intellect who had come to understand that aura—that force—could not exist in the first place.
‘The likelihood that Kim Fujiwara is the culprit is extremely low.’
Besides, Kim Fujiwara had been under Elowin’s rigorous surveillance.
At the very moment the incident occurred, Kim Fujiwara was simply staring blankly at the sky, passing the time.
There was no gap in his timeline whatsoever.
Kim Fujiwara’s alibi was airtight.
Therefore, it was not Kim Fujiwara.
‘At least not the direct perpetrator.’
The direct perpetrator of this incident was someone else entirely.
And that direct perpetrator had to satisfy the following conditions.
1. Skilled enough to breach the Empire’s surveillance network.
2. An exceptional aura user capable of overwhelming Barelto.
3. Possessing absurd logistical manipulation abilities to make fifty thousand tons of Runesteel vanish from the heart of the Empire.
Yet somehow.
Each condition alone was utterly unreasonable.
Elowin’s eyes narrowed.
Finding even a single individual who satisfied just one of these conditions would warrant a threat level of 10.
And threat level 10 was no joke.
Across the entire Continent, it was a rank bestowed only upon those few whose names would be recorded in history.
But to satisfy all three conditions?
That was no longer level 10.
Threat level 11 or beyond.
An ‘Irregular Grade (EX)’—one capable of overturning the order and civilization of the entire Continent itself.
To date, only seven cases had been assigned the EX grade.
Originally, there had been six.
But recently, the Whitewolf Territory had been added as the seventh entry on the list.
And now there was another?
“….”
Elowin’s expression froze cold.
Her gray eyes cast downward.
No matter how much I turned it over in my mind.
‘Barelto.’
The possibility that this was his own staged performance kept brushing through my thoughts.
* * *
Kai’s cover identity came through briefly.
But what was that name again?
“Haofeng Laza…?”
“That’s correct.”
Kai nodded curtly.
I asked him on a hunch.
“Don’t tell me it’s a name from the Adlern family?”
“It is.”
“Why would you—. No, why did you choose such a name?”
“I didn’t give it much thought.”
“….”
“Did you have some special reason for choosing Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound, Adrian?”
“…I didn’t really think much about it either.”
To be precise, I had simply recalled a name that existed nowhere in any records and had no documented history.
It seemed Kai had gone through a similar thought process.
But this was troubling.
‘I wonder if this will end up drawing unwanted attention from Adlern later.’
Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound.
Haofeng Laza.
The worst shadow mastermind commanding two people?
Something along those lines, I suppose.
‘How did things end up like this?’
…I had no idea myself.
But there was no turning back now.
‘It’ll work out somehow.’
I swallowed a sigh.
With a light sense of resignation, I began planning how to utilize Kai in this operation.
But before I could formulate a strategy, there was something I needed to confirm.
“What about Seraphia? Has she awakened?”
“She hasn’t awakened yet.”
“…Still not?”
I looked at Kai.
His expression was surprisingly composed.
It wasn’t the face of someone three seconds before humanity’s extinction.
Nor was it—
the face of someone who thought the world would end tomorrow.
He simply relayed the facts as they were, his tone matter-of-fact.
“Her condition hasn’t deteriorated, then?”
“No. She continues to improve.”
As expected.
There was a reason Kai’s expression looked fine.
Come to think of it, the very fact that Kai was here was evidence that Seraphia’s condition was acceptable.
If Seraphia’s condition had been poor?
My orders or whatever else—
He would have been glued to her side.
The fact that he left her side meant there was no need for such concern.
‘It seems Yggdrasil is taking good care of Seraphia.’
Sephiroth really does have it easy.
“Then that’s settled.”
In any case, it wasn’t a situation worth worrying about.
That much was sufficient.
“Is there anything else happening in the Territory?”
“There’s nothing related to the Territory, but…”
Kai paused for a moment before speaking.
“Iliana has returned to Langritd Magic Tower.”
“…She did?”
The conversation faltered for a moment.
Langritd Magic Tower had intervened in the Territory under the pretext of Iliana.
In the current circumstances, Iliana returning to the Tower wasn’t exactly a good choice.
“Did she send word?”
“She left a letter before departing.”
“A letter?”
“Yes.”
“Let me see it.”
“I left it in the Territory.”
The conversation faltered again.
Well, of course.
There’s no way he’d bring something like a letter while executing an operation.
And unlike me, Kai doesn’t have an inventory either.
“…What did it say?”
“I didn’t read it.”
The conversation faltered once more.
Well, of course.
It would be strange for him to casually read a letter left for me.
“Kai, did she say anything to you specifically?”
“She apologized for causing trouble.”
“I see.”
I gathered my thoughts and spoke.
“Has the Tower made any separate contact with the Territory?”
“There’s nothing confirmed.”
“Hmm.”
If Iliana had returned of her own volition, there would be no major problem.
But if she’d been summoned instead?
‘I need to verify this.’
Conveniently, I was currently operating as Kim Fujiwara.
I’d made quite a bit of money too.
I could shake down the Council of Elders—
No, I’d need to extract information from them to find out.
“Anything else besides that?”
“Broombar, the Dwarf Chieftain, has also returned to Feractrum.”
“…?”
“He said there was internal business to settle in Feractrum.”
The Dwarves’ current home was no longer the Whitewolf Territory.
Feractrum existed—built of iron, fire, and stone.
Broombar was the Dwarf Chieftain, the leader who symbolized all Dwarves.
The fact that he’d remained in the Whitewolf Territory for so long was itself an exceptional circumstance.
“What about the other Dwarves?”
“Srandel and the other Dwarves have all remained in the Whitewolf Territory.”
So only Broombar had left.
Well then.
He’d simply returned due to his duties as Chieftain.
So the Whitewolf Territory was currently somewhat depleted.
‘But Rielin is there.’
There was no major cause for concern.
Still, I needed to prepare for unforeseen circumstances.
‘I never expected the Immortal Lord to attack like that.’
Rielin had recovered her peak power through resonance with Yggdrasil, but she was far from a match for the Lord—especially not one who could neutralize spirits.
The Immortal Lord was precisely such a threat.
‘I should send Kai back.’
It was reassuring to have a reliable force stationed in the Whitewolf Territory.
That way, my mind would be at ease.
Besides, I was capable of handling this operation alone anyway.
“You’ve done well. I’ll handle the rest myself, so head back to the Whitewolf Territory immediately.”
“Understood.”
Kai nodded without complaint.
“But don’t move right now.”
“…?”
“The security net is far more stringent than when you infiltrated.”
The entire Empire was in upheaval over the Runesteel incident.
In other words, the entire Empire is obsessed with catching the culprit.
Add The Emperor’s wrath on top of that?
“Even for you, it will be difficult to escape unscathed.”
“Then when should I move?”
“I’ll create an opportunity for you soon.”
“An opportunity, you say….”
“I’m going to shake The Empire up good and proper.”
“….”
“I plan to cause enough chaos so you can slip out without trouble. Until then, stay hidden.”
Kai’s expression hardened for a moment.
He looked skeptical—as though he couldn’t believe I would actually cause chaos against The Empire.
And who could blame him?
Causing chaos in The Empire itself, of all places.
But soon Kai’s gaze settled into composure.
He didn’t understand, but he would trust me.
“Understood.”
Kai nodded silently in agreement.
“Is there anything else you need to report to me?”
“Nothing particularly urgent to report, but….”
Kai paused for a moment before speaking.
“When will you return to Whitewolf Territory, Adrian?”
“Me? I’m not sure.”
I had to install Marzen as Chancellor.
Find Ian’s whereabouts.
Keep watch on the movements of the Magic Tower and the Council of Elders, and so on….
“About a month, I’d say?”
“You’ll return after a month?”
“If no other problems arise.”
“If problems do arise, it could take longer?”
“Probably.”
“….”
“Why?”
“I wanted to ask for a sparring match.”
“A sparring match? With me?”
“Yes.”
Kai nodded.
It seemed his body was restless as his cultivation level rose.
It wasn’t instruction in that sense.
A sparring match.
He wanted to confirm how far he had climbed.
“It’s impossible right now.”
“…I understand.”
“If you’re really itching for a fight, try asking Rielin.”
“I’ve considered that, but…”
Kai lowered his gaze as he continued.
“I cannot go all out against Rielin.”
“…?”
Cannot go all out?
In other words, that means—
“Rielin is weak?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then?”
“She simply lacks the capacity to withstand my full power.”
That’s the same thing, you bastard.
I swallowed a bitter laugh.
The Spirit Summoner of the Celestial Realm.
Currently, Rielin was comparable to her prime.
In some ways, one could say she had even surpassed her past self—
‘Yet she’s still insufficient for Kai, who’s touched the level of a Lord.’
It wasn’t that Rielin was weak.
As the saying goes, Kai was a madman—
No, Kai’s level had simply become too high.
“Currently, the only one who can withstand my full power is Adrian.”
But the same applied to me.
My current physical capabilities.
The numerous transcendent abilities I possessed.
The vast energy of Rilcelium.
Who could endure all of this?
Perfect Immortality.
Only Kai, who could not die by any means or method except through Seraphia’s death.
In that sense, I also needed this.
‘I need to improve my control over my strength.’
I was excessively powerful right now.
I was so strong that I couldn’t control myself—strong enough to kill even the Inspection Bureau Chief Arce unintentionally.
And uncontrolled power was no different from a calamity.
I needed to develop the ability to control my own strength.
‘But they die if I so much as poke them.’
Therefore, an opponent I could face with full power without fear of killing them.
A sparring match with Kai was necessary for me as well.
But not now.
“Yes. Once you return to the Whitewolf Territory, I’ll give you a proper match worthy of all your preparations.”
“Thank you.”
Kai bowed his head.
Then he turned to leave.
His departing figure moved with unmistakable excitement.
…Just like Haofeng Laza.
* * *
After Haofeng Laza….
No, after Kai departed with that eager stride.
I finished storing the remaining Runesteel into my inventory.
‘Now all hell will break loose.’
Fifty thousand tons of Runesteel had simply vanished.
And that wasn’t all.
An astronomical sum of 3.1 trillion had also evaporated.
For the Empire, it was a bolt from the blue.
No—a meteor crashing from a clear sky.
Precisely, a meteor I had thrown.
In any case.
I hadn’t even received the final payment of 800 billion.
So the Empire now owed me 800 billion, but.
‘They won’t think of repaying it.’
They were complete thugs, even among thugs.
With the Runesteel lost, there was no way they’d gracefully pay back 800 billion.
Instead, they’d likely threaten me to disgorge the 2.3 trillion they’d already given.
And then they’d sever my neck.
They’d obviously try to silence me that way.
‘That’s why I made my move first.’
An additional Runesteel transaction.
I’d dangled the bait that more Runesteel was available for trade.
Through that, I could draw the Empire back into the game, but.
‘Whether The Emperor himself will act remains uncertain.’
It was clear the matter held his interest.
But was it significant enough for him to move personally?
On that question, I was uncertain.
It remained unclear.
‘Perhaps The Emperor merely cast a passing glance.’
Whether actual intervention had occurred.
Whether he’d shown anger toward the current situation.
Or.
Perhaps only the upper echelons had been thrown into emergency mode.
Perhaps The Emperor had merely cast his gaze upon me for a moment before sinking back into his natural silence.
‘If that’s the case, then any additional transaction right now would be meaningless.’
A transaction conducted without The Emperor’s attention was nothing more than a game of money.
What I was truly after was not catastrophic financial damage.
Nor was it chaos within The Empire.
Imperial Palace access.
To enter the Imperial Palace directly and face The Emperor in person.
To use Predator’s Instinct [S] to uncover The Emperor’s true identity and purpose.
To drag him down into the realm of the predictable.
That was the true objective of this operation.
Therefore, the fact that The Emperor had moved was a signal that I could proceed to the next phase of this operation.
‘But information regarding the Imperial Palace remains completely sealed off.’
This was why I absolutely had to place Marzen in the position of Grand Chancellor.
However, that was impossible for now.
In the end, no circumstances had revealed themselves clearly.
Then.
There was only one method.
If The Emperor would not respond to Runesteel as a lure.
‘I would have to cast out a decisive bait.’
A lure so compelling that he could not help but move himself.
The most sensitive trigger for The Emperor.
The most exquisite stimulus.
The only variable capable of clouding even The Emperor’s judgment.
‘First, I would locate Ian.’
Ian—that supreme bait.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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