NEC Chapter 53: The Pursuers from Zircon Domain

The Greenspine Kingdom, situated in the central region of the continent, was once part of the Resting Moon Dynasty.

All nations that splintered from the Resting Moon Dynasty shared a distinct trait: a martial culture! After all, during its peak, the Resting Moon Dynasty was a colossal empire that swept across half of the Starry Continent.

If not for the dynasty’s decline, when overly indulgent nobles sparked a rebellion from within—ranging from their own clergy and peasants to elves, dwarves, border barbarians, orcs, and even gnomes and goblins joining the fray, leading to widespread chaos and the dynasty’s collapse—Chen Mo wouldn’t have to deal with the headache of crossing the North Foothill River only to encounter a new language zone.

The Greenspine Kingdom, Mirror Lake Kingdom, Emerald Duchy, and Crescent Moon Federation were the four southern nations born from the Resting Moon Dynasty’s dissolution. They shared a common primary language and similar customs, maintaining close interactions but remaining wary of one another.

In the past, facing the orthodox pressure of the northern Resting Moon Dynasty, these four nations stood united, supporting each other through extensive intermarriages and hostage exchanges among their nobility, forming a de facto military alliance that thwarted the dynasty’s attempts to reclaim the south.

However, in recent years, as the Resting Moon Dynasty entered a full-scale standoff with the Mistmoon Divine Court, external threats to the four nations diminished, and friction among them began to escalate.

Interests, after all, are never evenly divided—there’s always a struggle.

Thus, the Zircon Family initially had no intention of sending their direct retainers across borders to deal with a lowly servant who dared offend their nobility. A simple underground bounty would suffice!

But events spiraled far beyond the family leader’s expectations.

The elimination of the Mountain Vine Squad was, in Whitestone City’s mercenary circles, merely the routine disappearance of an underground black adventurer team. No one mourned them, and no one bothered to collect their bodies.

In the wilds, wolves and rats would soon erase all traces of their existence, just like the tens of thousands of people who vanish in the federation each year, leaving not a ripple.

For the Zircon Family of the Greenspine Kingdom, however, this was a resounding slap in the face.

As a marquis of the kingdom, the head of the Zircon Family owned vast territories. Under the kingdom’s feudal system, his domain was practically an independent realm. A marquis, swamped with countless military and administrative duties, wouldn’t personally bother with a trivial matter like dealing with Chen Mo.

Yet tasks issued from the marquis’ estate, even underground ones, were regularly tracked. The failure to eliminate Chen Mo quickly caught the attention of those with ulterior motives.

At a grand ball held for the marquis’ youngest daughter, a guest casually remarked, “I heard the nineteenth young master was exceptionally gifted in necromantic summoning, progressing at an astonishing pace. My own boy’s hit a dead end on the warrior path and wants to try summoning magic. Could the nineteenth young master offer an introduction?”

“What? He was harmed by a villain? What a tragedy!”

“I must pay my respects properly! Surely the villain’s head has been placed before the nineteenth young master’s tomb, right?”

The conversation grew quieter, but the news spread wider.

By the end of the ball, the rumor that a mere apprentice had killed a child of the Zircon Family and was still at large swept through the marquis’ domain.

Sensing the shifting winds, the eldest son and primary heir of the Zircon Family, Haisen Zircon, immediately launched an investigation.

“Young Master, the matter’s been mostly clarified!” a subordinate reported. “It was a rival of the foreign affairs steward who overheard the incident and saw a chance to trip him up and take his position. They deliberately leaked the story.”

“Blame that fool for getting drunk and blabbering, boasting about pocketing a commission from it…”

Bang!

A dull thud echoed as a metal gauntlet struck the secretary’s forehead, leaving a shocking dent. Blood streamed down his face.

“Overheard by chance? Deliberately leaked? That’s your investigation’s conclusion?”

“You idiot, can’t you see these vermin are coming for me?”

“They’re after my inheritance, don’t you get it?!”

The secretary knelt motionless, blood pooling beneath him.

“Was it the second son? The fourth? Or are those fools teaming up?”

“Before Father holds me accountable, this mess better be cleaned up!”

No wonder Haisen was furious. Great houses had their blessings and their burdens.

As the chief heir to the Zircon Family, which controlled seven cities, Haisen was like a porcupine bristling with spines, constantly guarding his territory.

After all, his father had too many children, but there was only one marquis’ seat.

To secure his inheritance, Haisen needed two things: his father’s favor and sufficient strength.

The heir to the marquis’ domain could not be a weakling.

Though everyone in the domain knew Haisen was a prodigy among warriors, already a Silver Armor Warrior on the cusp of advancing, he knew it was a hollow prosperity built on vast wealth and potions, even involving some unsavory methods.

To truly advance, he’d need even more resources.

Many of these expenses couldn’t be revealed to his father, or why else would he bother meddling over a mere few dozen gold coins?

Now that someone had exposed the matter, it appeared to target the foolish foreign affairs steward, but Haisen, like a startled bird, sensed an ominous undercurrent.

Whether someone deliberately stirred this to undermine him or it was merely collateral damage from targeting the steward, Haisen could not tolerate it.

As the acting lord of Radiance City, Haisen had built a capable team. Under the guidance of his steward and secretary, he acted decisively to cut through the chaos.

First, the foreign affairs steward left a confession and took his own life.

In the confession, the steward admitted that the forty-gold-coin bounty was too tempting, and in his greed, he embezzled most of it, betraying the marquis’ trust and cultivation. Death was his only atonement.

In truth, if the steward hadn’t died, Haisen’s troubles would’ve been far greater. As part of the estate’s staff, the steward primarily answered to Haisen but ultimately belonged to the marquis. Any action against him required the marquis’approval.

Otherwise, it would be a severe overstep, crossing the marquis’ red line.

After all, if you dare kill my steward today, will you sleep with my concubine tomorrow?

And what might happen the day after that? Who knows?

Now, with the steward dead, shouldering all the blame and embezzlement, some sighed in relief, others beat their chests in frustration, and some schemes fell apart entirely.

Haisen could finally breathe easier.

Of course, he still had to handle this matter thoroughly and flawlessly, delivering a clean resolution to the marquis.

That little apprentice was as good as dead!

>>> NEXT CHAPTER