The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 353

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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 353

Raon straightened his posture, meeting the gaze of Adis Sepia, the master of the Sepia Trading Company, whose aura radiated stern authority.

“May I ask how you discovered my identity?”

I had not made a single move that would reveal my identity since arriving at the Sepia Trading Company.
I had concealed the golden hair and crimson eyes that were the most distinctive features of Raon Zigheart, along with my two swords, yet I had been exposed in merely five hours.

“Do you know what increases the more one conducts business?”

Adis Sepia tapped his desk with a finger whose nails were meticulously groomed.

“The eye for reading people. And as one grows older, what increases is also the eye for reading people.”

His gaze settled with quiet composure.

“Having lived as a merchant at this age, I am quite confident in my ability to read people.”
“Since you are the father of a colleague, you need not speak so formally. And….”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he regarded Adis.

“That is not a proper answer.”

Adis’s words were vague and evasive, lacking any genuine explanation.
No matter how exceptional one’s eye for reading people might be, it made no sense to discern his identity at a glance.

“The Vice-Commander of the Gwangpung Unit, the White Sword Dragon, would know better than anyone that the Gwangpung Unit is currently the most talked-about military organization on the Continent.”

Adis did not relent in his words, as meticulous as his outward demeanor suggested.

“Both champions of the Six Emperors duel tournament held in the Owen Kingdom belonged to the Gwangpung Unit, so it is only natural. As a merchant, it is essential to gather information on such prominent figures.”

He continued speaking in the same composed tone as before, unchanged.

“I investigated all the swordsmen of the Gwangpung Unit, including the Unit Commander, Baek Geom Yong, Squad Leader Nachel Geom of the First Squad, Squad Leader Cheongyeol Geom of the Second Squad, and Squad Leader Seonpung Geom of the Third Squad, and discovered that fellow was among them.”
“You mean you investigated not just the squad leaders, but all the unit members?”
“Indeed. I gathered all information on the swordsmen belonging to the Gwangpung Unit. Their appearance, personality, preferences, and relationships.”
“Hmm….”

I swallowed hard as I watched Adis Sepia speak with such composure.

‘Impressive. Is that why he’s the master of one of the Five Major Trading Companies? No, that’s precisely how he became the master of one of the Five Major Trading Companies.’

The Gwangpung Unit had certainly become famous, but not to the extent that the Sepia Trading Company would pay such attention. We had simply won a promising talent tournament, nothing more.
What astounded me was that he had investigated everything to even slightly increase the possibility of future transactions that might come someday.

“I don’t know what Dorian did, but I heard he spends the most time with the Unit Commander and is close to him. So I thought if this child came here, given your personality, he would come along. You changed your hair and eye color, but you couldn’t hide your height and facial features. That’s how I was able to recognize you.”
“…You’re quite remarkable.”

Pure admiration flowed from my lips.

‘They’re similar.’

There were similarities between assassins who investigated everything about their targets to kill them and merchants who investigated everything about their targets to make deals.

-That old geezer seems to have stalker tendencies too.

Wrath clicked his tongue as he looked at Adis Sepia.

-I don’t understand why there are so many strange things on this Continent!
‘He’s right. It does feel like stalking.’

That’s what was strange.

There was a significant difference between Adis Sepia’s emotionless gaze now and the slight trembling of his hands when he first saw Dorian.

‘Should I probe a bit?’

I shifted my gaze to Dorian, who seemed at a loss.

“The reason I spend time with Dorian and came all the way here is nothing special. It’s because he’s a trustworthy comrade. The world may think I’ve resolved many missions alone, but I’ve received his help more times than I can count.”

At those words, Dorian’s shoulders lifted slightly.

“The reason I could be rescued from Eden was thanks to Dorian’s courage. However, because of that, Dorian was kidnapped as well. I apologize for putting you in danger.”

I bowed respectfully to Adis Sepia.

“Since it was a choice he made himself, there is no reason for me to accept your apology. Rise.”

Adis Sepia gestured for me to stand. From the calm tone of his voice, it seemed he already knew about Dorian’s kidnapping.

“You knew about it.”
“….”
“Of course, it seems you take quite an interest in your son.”

Indirect words wouldn’t work on such a seasoned opponent. I decided to strike directly with my blade.

“Hmm.”

Without even glancing at Dorian, Adis Sepia moistened his lips with water from his cup.

‘Is he organizing his thoughts?’

Until now, he had answered every question without hesitation. Seeing him delay for the first time made it clear that something was on his mind.

“Since you’ve taken something precious, shouldn’t I at least know where you died?”

Adis Sepia’s gaze fell upon Dorian’s stomach pouch. His response was cynical, beyond mere indifference.

“Ugh….”

Dorian let out an anxious groan as he touched his stomach pouch.

“I’ve heard many rumors about the Gwangpung Unit, but I’ve never once heard Dorian’s name mentioned among them. You must have conducted extensive investigations, gathering small and trivial information to piece together the situation.”
“Think as you wish.”

Adis Sepia shook his head with an emotionless gaze.

‘How evasive.’

He was a cunning man. It seemed I would need more information and time to understand what lay beneath his surface.

I stepped back to allow Dorian and Adis Sepia to converse.

Adis Sepia understood my intention and locked eyes with Dorian.

“I said I would grant the position of successor to the Sepia Trading Company to whoever brings me the greatest treasure. What have you accomplished in all this time?”
“Well….”

Dorian’s hand moved toward his ship pouch before stopping. Instead, he gripped the sword sheath fastened at his waist.

“I have trained with the blade.”
“What treasure did you obtain by training with the sword?”

A chilling presence bloomed in Adis Sepia’s eyes—not an aura, but the atmosphere of the man himself.

“I… I chose this path because I wanted to live independent of the Trading Company.”

Dorian spoke his childhood thoughts honestly, though his voice trembled noticeably.

“A life independent of the Trading Company, you say….”

Adis Sepia nodded without surprise this time either.

“Do you still hold that belief?”
“Sigh….”

Dorian did not answer immediately, exhaling slowly instead.

“No, not exactly. I’ve developed a small desire to try my hand at commerce.”

He conveyed his current thoughts in a trembling voice.

“A swordsman who has only wielded a blade until now wants to engage in the Trading Company’s work? And only a little at that? Do you mock commerce itself!”

Adis Sepia slammed his desk, his eyes blazing with ferocity.

“Even now, countless souls stake their lives on commerce. Your words insult them all!”
“No, I’m not mocking commerce. I simply thought I could do it because there are people who believe in me!”

Dorian waved his hands urgently.

“Even when I became a Zigheart trainee, I thought I’d never qualify as a proper inspector. But thanks to the people around me who gave me courage and helped me, I was able to reach this position.”

His gaze turned toward Raon.

“Commerce is certainly very difficult as well, but I thought that if I steel my resolve and receive help from those around me, I could do it. That’s all.”

Dorian finished speaking in a voice that trembled like a plucked rubber band.

“At least you’ve learned one thing—that asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of.”

The coldness that had dwelt in Adis Sepia’s eyes seemed to fade slightly. He closed his eyes and tapped the desk lightly once more.

“Now that your brothers have all returned, I’ll administer a test soon. Participate when the time comes.”

He waved his hand, indicating he had nothing more to say.

“Go now.”
“Yes, understood!”

Dorian bowed his head.

I observed the gleam in both Adis Sepia’s and Dorian’s eyes in turn, then smacked my lips.

‘He hasn’t abandoned him entirely.’

The fact that Adis Sepia was giving Dorian an opportunity despite his complete neglect of trading company affairs and his focus solely on swordplay, combined with his rebuke of Dorian’s shortcomings, made it clear that Adis Sepia was considering him as a successor candidate.

‘If he takes the test, I’ll be able to tell.’

Seeing the changed Dorian would allow me to draw out his true reaction.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

As I lowered my head and turned to go, Adis Sepia raised his hand.

“Commander of the Gale Wind Squad.”
“Yes.”
“I’d appreciate it if you’d stop the disguise. I’m concerned the younger members of the trading company might commit rudeness.”
“Hmm….”

He came in this form to commit that offense, but it seemed he was trying to block it in advance. Truly, the master of one of the Five Major Trading Companies. He was no ordinary person.

“Understood.”

I bowed my head and followed Dorian out of Adis Sepia’s office.

“Haaaaah….”

Dorian gripped the railing on the staircase and released a long, weary sigh.

“I nearly died from the tension.”
“You did fine, though.”

I patted Dorian’s shoulder and let out a soft chuckle.

“Fine? My heart was pounding so hard I couldn’t speak properly.”

Dorian shook his head as he descended the stairs. True to his words, his legs trembled slightly.

“Is he always so reserved?”
“My memories from childhood are hazy, but he feels a bit colder than before. Perhaps it’s because it’s been so long since I visited….”

That made sense. His son had come to see him for the first time in nine years, so it was understandable that he might feel some resentment.

-This brat seems more shriveled than usual.

Wrath frowned as he observed Dorian with hunched shoulders.

‘It can’t be helped. He’s only ever known mistreatment from birth until the day he left.’

If you bind a young elephant’s legs with chains so it cannot escape, even when it becomes an adult, it will never think to break free from those thin chains.

Dorian, despite his growing power and status, felt himself regress the moment he arrived here—returning to that intimidated child who had only ever known mistreatment.

‘I need to break him free from that.’

I nodded and narrowed my eyes as I descended further.

‘The aura below….’

It was the presence of someone who had arrived before I could meet Adis Sepia.

‘I never told him to drop his disguise.’

I chuckled and raised my voice.

“That’s our Dorian! I was impressed when you boldly told the Merchant Guild Master you were interested in the Trading Company!”

I called out loudly toward the bottom of the stairs.

“N-no, I never said that. I just mentioned I was interested….”
“Dorian!”

As Dorian tilted his head in confusion, Pallen, his third sister who had visited the Waiting Room, came rushing up with a fierce expression.

“Come with me right now.”

She snapped her fingers and furrowed her brow.

“I’m going to show you that all your years meant nothing.”

Seeing his reaction hadn’t changed, it was clear he still hadn’t heard his true identity.

“Sister? W-why all of a sudden….”

Dorian gripped the railing tightly, his lips trembling.

“Shut your mouth and follow me.”
“Ugh….”

Dorian turned his gaze toward me. Tears seemed ready to spill from his large eyes.

“What on earth is going on….”
“Good timing. I wasn’t planning to leave you alone anyway!”

At those words, the sound of Pallen grinding her teeth echoed.

“Let’s go quickly.”

Raon muttered for Dorian to show his strength as he tapped the latter’s shoulder.

-Hah!

Wrath exhaled in disbelief at the absurdity of it all.

-You really are….

*

*

*

I followed Pallen out of the Sepia Commerce Headquarters, with Dorian stumbling behind me like a prisoner being dragged to the gallows.

“Uh, where are we going….”
“I told you to keep quiet and follow me.”

After a long walk, Pallen entered what appeared to be a Training Ground where the company’s martial artists trained.
Despite the late hour, the lights were on, and three warriors with formidable auras stood waiting.

Gulp.

Dorian swallowed hard enough for the person beside him to hear.

“What is this….”
“I told you. I’m going to show you that all the time you’ve accumulated means nothing.”

At Pallen’s gesture, the youngest-looking swordmaster in his twenties stepped to her side.

“Are you sure it’s okay to touch him? Isn’t he the Merchant Guild Master’s son?”

The young swordmaster tilted his head as he examined Dorian.

“He’s a bastard son. And one the Guild Master has no interest in whatsoever.”

Pallen scoffed and fixed Dorian with a cold stare.

“P-Pallen?”
“You were so confident about defeating me, so I prepared accordingly.”

Pallen pointed to the young swordsman standing beside her.

“Toten Robel, the Sword Saint. He’s made quite a name for himself in the Southwestern Region as a martial artist, and he’s around your age too. Perfect opponent.”

I studied the man called Toten Robel, my lips curling slightly.

‘The Sword Saint, huh….’

I’d heard that epithet before.

At the banquet hall where the Six Emperors’ martial artists gathered, he was the swordsman who had reached the peak of Expert rank at a young age and was considered a promising prospect among the Six Emperors.

“W-Wait, you’re asking me to spar with that person?”

Dorian’s jaw dropped.

“That’s right. You said you’d defeat me—prove it here and now.”

Pallen thrust her face close to Dorian’s, grinding her teeth.

“I-I never said anything like that….”
“We’ll start in ten minutes. Get ready.”

Pallen turned away without listening to Dorian’s protests.

“I hear you’re with the Gwangpung Unit. Looking forward to this.”

Toten Robel waved his hand and stepped back.

“H-How strong is that person, exactly?”

Dorian rushed over to me and grabbed my sleeve urgently.

“Peak Expert rank. Certainly impressive for his age.”

He wasn’t quite at the level of Burren, Martha, or Lunan, but for someone in his early twenties, his skill was exceptional.

“An… an Expert-rank peak? Aaaaaahhhhh!”

Dorian clutched his head and let out a scream.

“What are we supposed to do about this! You’re saying strange things and now I’m going to get beaten up!”
“You’ll be fine. You can win this.”

I smiled faintly and waved my hand dismissively.

“I’m only Advanced-rank now, so how am I supposed to beat an Expert-rank peak?!”
“It’s possible.”
“It’s impossible! Everything’s ruined!”
“Ahem.”

Rather than respond to Dorian’s wails, I cleared my throat and turned toward Pallen and Toten Robel.

“W-what are you about to do…?”
“What? You think you can brush off an opponent of that caliber without even warming up? The heart of the Gale Wind Squad is truly Dorian!”

I raised my voice so that everyone in the Training Ground could hear me.

“That bastard again…”
“What?”

Pallen and Toten Robel turned around and glared at me. Not just Pallen—even Toten’s gaze, which had seemed so carefree, now carried a blade-like chill.

“Aaaaaah…”
Tears welled up in Dorian’s eyes. Foam began to bubble around his mouth like a crab’s.

“W-why are you doing this? There has to be a reason for this!”
“What? An opponent of that level doesn’t even need preparation time?”

I grinned and gave Dorian’s back a gentle push. Of course, that gentle push contained an explosive force exceeding 300 in raw strength.

“I never said such a thing—gaaaaahhhhh!”

Unable to overcome that brute force, Dorian screamed and rushed toward the center of the Training Ground where the match would take place.

“I-I can’t control this….”
“You said you couldn’t wait to fight, and now look at you charging in! Dorian, hang in there!”

I raised my clenched fist toward Dorian.

“Just break him lightly and shut your sister up!”

I laughed cheerfully, as if I knew nothing of what was happening.

“Ha!”

Toten Robel approached Dorian with a hollow laugh.

“Even for the Zigheart Storm Wind Group, your arrogance pierces the heavens. It’s been a long time since I’ve been insulted like this.”

A chilling aura, thick as murderous intent, emanated from his entire body.

“A bastard who doesn’t know his place….”

Pallen also glared at Dorian with killing intent.

“Ehehe….”

Dorian grinned at the two of them. His pupils were glazed over like the eyes of a rotting fish. He seemed half-conscious.

I smirked, feeling the scorching heat radiating through the Training Ground.

‘This is the perfect atmosphere.’

Children are meant to be raised strong, after all.

-Ah….

Wrath clicked his teeth at me, his face pale with fear.

-Are you even human?

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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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