Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 140

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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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A café operated by the heir to the Dark Guild.
Chapter 140
In the end, Cayden drained the last drop right before my eyes, then grimaced as though in pain.
“I’ll ask Grandfather to make more.”
“As for improving the taste… I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I’m already grateful for your thoughtfulness.”
“Where are you going?”
Cayden turned toward the shop, muttering to himself, but then glanced back at me with an expression that asked why I would ask such a thing.
“Inside. Even though the weather’s warmed up considerably, it’s still chilly. You’ll catch cold if you stay out too long.”
“Didn’t you say you had urgent business at the Temple?”
“I just finished.”
His brazenness was so blatant that I was left speechless.
“Come on in.”
“…Sure.”
I followed Cayden through the open door into the café.
***
At the same moment.
Cough, cough.
Isaac, the head of Sloofan, leaned back in his chair, coughing repeatedly.
His face bore the visible pallor of sickness, afflicted by countless ailments born of age.
“Your tea, sir.”
Isaac accepted the tea from his secretary with wrinkled hands while muttering.
“Growing old is truly sorrowful. Cough, cough. No matter what I try, the illness only deepens—I’m nothing but a useless body.”
“That is not so. You still hold power enough to make even birds fall from the sky.”
“Perhaps. But when an orphan with no backing dares to defy our house, I suppose it’s all finished. Cough.”
Isaac clicked his tongue as he recalled his younger days, when few nobles dared even meet his gaze.
Isaac had always been a man of pride and charisma, but now, past seventy, even sitting upright in a chair had become difficult.
Knock, knock.
At the sound, Isaac’s gaze turned slowly toward the door.
“Master Isaac. I am entering.”
It was Robin, the knight Clione had sent to the house to seek aid.
He approached Isaac, knelt before him, and made his appeal exactly as he had days before.
“Several days have passed now. I know this is presumptuous, but please, I beg you to lend your strength to Her Majesty. She has no one but the house. Surely you know this.”
“I know well. But if I shelter Clione, and Arthur becomes entangled in this… cough, it will only bring disaster.”
“Master Isaac…….”
Seeing Robin’s desperate face, displeasure flickered across Isaac’s features.
“Hide your emotions. Did I not tell you never to let them show?”
“My apologies.”
“Tsk. When dawn breaks tomorrow, I shall depart for the Imperial Palace.”
“Truly, sir? Thank you! I’ll send word at once by Messenger Bird!!”
Robin’s face brightened at the affirmative answer.
As he hurried out in excitement, the secretary spoke with concern.
“Your health is not sound enough for such a journey. You cannot even use a Teleportation Magic Stone… I must object.”
“What can be done? Clione’s usefulness has not yet expired. She must remain a reliable support until Arthur becomes emperor. And should the truth of this matter ever come to light… we need someone to take the blame.”
Isaac’s eyes glinted ominously as he sipped his tea to suppress an eruption of coughing.
“Biedler—that man will become a serious threat if left unchecked. I shall go and suppress him myself.”
“If that is your wish, I understand. I shall make the arrangements.”
“I should take Juliano as well. Where is he now?”
“These days, I believe he is constantly in the Detached House. He is absorbed in his paintings and does not leave….”
“Useless fellow. Still prattling on about that pathetic art? If Juliano had inherited even half of Clione’s talent, I would have no worries. What a shame, what a shame.”
“Yet since that incident ten years ago, he has lived quietly, has he not?”
“Of course he must! Do you know how difficult it was to clean up that mess? Tsk, tsk. That boy was always peculiar from childhood. I cannot fathom whose blood runs through him….”
Isaac shook his head, his expression bitter as he recalled Juliano.
Juliano, who was supposedly in the Detached House, was in fact holding a secret gathering in the Cave connected to it.
Deep within the Cave, before an Altar, Juliano and his followers sat, while a single man lay sprawled on the stone floor.
Beneath him was inscribed a Magical Formation written in an alien script.
Juliano, gripping a Dagger embedded with a black Magical Stone, turned to his followers and cried out in ringing tones.
“Watch carefully, all of you. Rom is now being born anew!”
“We believe!”
“Uooooh!”
Amid the cheers of his followers, Juliano drove the Dagger deep into the heart of the man lying before him.
Though the blade sank to the hilt—pain enough to cry out—the man’s face remained calm and serene.
From the Dagger embedded in his heart, blue energy flowed forth in waves.
When Juliano withdrew the blade, not red blood but blue adorned its tip.
At the sight, someone wept openly, and all prostrated themselves, muttering words that could not be understood.
“Did you all see? The blade pierced his heart, yet he lives. Who could doubt such power?”
With that, he helped the man called Rom to his feet. The wound from the Dagger had sealed instantly, leaving no trace.
“How do you feel?”
“My entire body is full of strength. I feel such confidence that I can do anything. Ah—am I running right now?”
“You are. Your legs are moving.”
“Everyone…. As you know, I have lived my whole life as a cripple. But look at this! My legs are healed! Haha, truly it is a miracle! A miracle!”
Rom wept profusely and bounced up and down in place.
“From this day forward, I am truly reborn. Sob, sob.”
“This is the fruit of faith. The Blessing of that one. When that one’s Seal is lifted, we shall gain power far beyond what we possess now.”
“We believe!!”
“I—Rom—we all have been chosen. Everyone here will share equally in this power!”
The fervent belief of the followers caused the air of the Cave to grow hot.
While in the Cave, the followers gradually became intoxicated with the miasma, their eyes bloodshot crimson. Yet, blinded by their excitement, none perceived their own condition.
Then the Cave began to tremble.
Realizing someone had entered, Juliano leaped to the side—into an adjoining chamber. There, a masked follower had just arrived.
“I have returned.”
Seeing the follower’s empty hands, Juliano could not hide his disappointment as he asked.
“What happened to the Sacred Object?”
“…I apologize. I have failed.”
“Why? We had them completely within our grasp.”
For days now, after losing the Sacred Object, he had been searching with no success.
Juliano grew steadily more anxious.
“After the Beast’s trail was cut off, we cannot track them. No matter how often we use the device you gave us last time, there is no response.”
“Only one remains, and of all things, to face such failure with the most crucial Sacred Object in reach….”
Juliano sighed, glancing sideways at the wall where the Altar lay beyond.
“The device cannot be broken. Find the reason and continue attempting.”
“Understood.”
“And now we should begin gathering the rabble. It is time to assemble the people needed for the Ritual. The more, the better.”
The gazes of the masked follower and Juliano crossed in the emptiness.
The follower bowed deeply and left. Juliano returned to the adjoining chamber where the Altar stood.
‘This time, I cannot fail. I must… find all five objects and set that one free.’
His heart churned with conflict, yet he smiled broadly to encourage his followers.
***
Several days had passed since Obelia’s departure.
In that time, Raven had located a new headquarters and begun reorganization.
Sophia and I shared updates each night before sleep through our Communication Device.
“Rosia, do you remember the Black Rose Guild?”
“Yeah. They’re a large Dark Guild, even if they’ve always been second-rate.”
“That guild has vanished entirely.”
“What?”
I sat up from where I lay, focusing on Sophia’s voice.
“I found out by chance while investigating the source of this incident. But for about half a year now, there’s been no activity record at all. They’re not appearing in competitive auctions or anything.”
“That is strange, but… does it relate to this incident?”
“Their last job was cracking the vault of one of the Five Great Families. One of their members got drunk and let it slip—I only found out with great difficulty.”
“…!! Black Rose was famous for theft, that’s true. But it’s odd to call them the ones behind the attack on Raven. They can’t possibly handle Beasts.”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out. Whether Black Rose was also targeted, or if there’s a larger power behind this.”
“Is there anything I can help with?”
“There is!”
Sophia cried out loudly, as though she had been waiting for the question.
“Go to the Mine with Meyson. The supply of Magical Stones has dried up lately. Aside from selling them, we have none left to use ourselves—we’ve nearly run out and really need them.”
“Got it.”
“Using the Map might be dangerous, so stay close to Meyson the whole time!”
After that, I received the location of our new information branch. Sophia ended the call, mentioning that she would pause external missions for a while and focus on internal recovery and tracking.
“I think Bongrod was part of Black Rose. Should I try to find him?”
Having been with the guild for so long, I knew the faces of most—not close, but familiar.
I was thinking of Bongrod, who always hung around me, when suddenly a Communication Device—Biedler’s—flashed brightly.
I was startled; it was the first contact since we last saw each other at the Imperial Palace.
“You scared me.”
I calmed my racing heart and tapped the Communication Device.
“It’s me. Rosia.”
A pleasant baritone voice flowed softly from within.

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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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