# Chapter 140
—
Arthur skimmed through the documents Jeannie had handed him.
It was a file that compiled the major incidents that had occurred in Arcane so far, and the contents were vast.
Thanks to that, once he grasped the situation, Arthur let out a gasp of admiration.
*“So that’s how it all happened…”*
Cain Dormund had seized Arcane by using pirates.
He began to control everything in Arcane through a reign of terror.
But the countless citizens of Arcane—and beyond that, the *mercenaries*—were never the sort to stand by and watch in silence.
They, symbols of freedom itself, declared themselves rebels and rose against Cain Dormund.
And the one who had gathered them together was none other than Willet Christol.
Once called a legendary mercenary.
*“As expected of Elder Willet… amazing.”*
To think he’d managed to rally those unruly mercenaries into forming an army.
Just then, Jeannie handed him a cup of coffee she had brewed at some point.
“Oh. Thanks, Jeannie.”
Arthur sipped the coffee in one gulp, then returned the documents he had been holding.
“I think I’ve got a general idea of what’s going on now. So, are the people outside also mercenaries?”
Jeannie nodded.
“That’s right. They’re greenhorns, but they were mercenaries at least.”
“Hm… Then why are they called Mafia if they’re rebels?”
Jeannie scratched her head.
“It just… turned out that way.”
“Turned out that way?”
“Elder Willet’s rebels acted like gentlemen. Our side was… a bit more violent.”
Arthur exclaimed.
“Jeannie, you went around killing search-police officers, didn’t you?”
“…Hearing you say it like that hurts my pride somehow.”
“Why?”
Jeannie didn’t answer.
Arthur only shrugged and his eyes gleamed.
“So, where is Elder Willet now?”
At his question, Jeannie showed an uncomfortable expression.
“You can’t meet him right now.”
“Why not?”
“The situation’s a bit complicated.”
“…?”
While Arthur blinked in puzzlement, Jeannie let out a heavy sigh.
“A few days ago, there was a major clash. Between the rebels and the pirates who had taken over Arcane.”
At her words, Arthur asked,
“Who won?”
“The rebels did win, but we lost the most important thing to the pirates.”
“The most important thing?”
“Elder Willet.”
“…!”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
Jeannie sighed once more.
“Elder Willet was captured by them. And in a few days, his execution will be held.”
—
—
Only a week ago.
There had been a major fight between the rebels and the search-police.
The rebels had secured a great victory in the process.
But most called it a half-victory.
Because the practical leader of the rebels, Willet Christol, had been taken by the search-police.
*“Hmm… so that’s why the pirates were occupying *Manners Make the Man*.”*
Now understanding the situation, Arthur lifted his head.
The empty plaza he had seen earlier came into view.
He had stepped outside for some time alone to think, and the plaza, bustling only moments ago, was now deathly quiet.
Amid the silence he hadn’t felt in a long while, Arthur thought to himself.
*“They must be deliberately choosing to execute Elder Willet instead of killing him right away, right?”*
Most likely, it was meant to serve as a warning.
*“Cain Dormund’s favorite tactic. Greater fear amid chaos.”*
If Elder Willet, seen as the de facto leader, died, the rebels would be shaken to their core.
Arthur clicked his tongue after a moment’s thought.
“Tch… I was planning to head straight back to the Imperial Capital, but this complicates things.”
With Jeannie’s power, he could return to the capital without boarding a train.
*“But it would take a very long time.”*
Yet if he simply left Arcane like this, Elder Willet might suffer a dire fate.
At this crossroads, Arthur recalled what Jeannie had said.
*“Up until a year ago, the letters with Anna said nothing of major trouble, right?”*
Of course, that was a year ago—things could very well have changed by now.
*“According to Jeannie, they’re keeping tabs on the situation, but the inner workings are another matter entirely.”*
Which meant he ought to return to House Bayern as soon as possible—but Willet weighed heavily on his mind.
To him, Willet was both a teacher and the benefactor who had saved his life.
He couldn’t just turn his back on him.
Lost in that thought, Arthur’s eyes suddenly glimmered.
*“No. When I think about it, isn’t it simple?”*
Even if he relied on Jeannie’s power to return, without the train it would take a long time.
*“At the very least, it would take over a month. But if I wipe out Dormund and the pirates who’ve occupied Arcane?”*
Depending on how it went, a week.
At best, even a single day might be enough.
If the pirates vanished, the Arcane train they had seized would move again.
Realizing this, Arthur let out a laugh.
*“Oh… not bad. That way I get everything I want.”*
Save Elder Willet.
Destroy the Dormund faction that had taken Arcane.
And reach the Imperial Capital faster.
*“That’s what they call killing two birds with one stone… no, three birds.”*
Arthur’s lips curved into a faint grin.
And at once, the tangled situation straightened into a clear path forward.
All that remained was to prove he had the right to walk it.
*“Can I truly save this city from the pirates and Dormund?”*
With that thought, Arthur closed his eyes.
Thump—!
A rough heartbeat pulsed in his chest.
Six rings.
They spun violently, radiating light.
At the age of twenty-four, to have forged six rings was an achievement even his past life had not attained.
But Arthur could only smack his lips.
*Tch… Though I’ve grasped the Sword Master’s enlightenment, my rings remain as they are.*
It was only natural, in a way.
*“After all, Whitebeard’s curse trapped only my mind.”*
Though he had obtained enlightenment, his mana couldn’t keep up with that spirit.
Troubled, Arthur murmured.
*“But does that mean I can’t manifest sword force?”*
He raised his hand.
His empty hand curved as though holding a sword.
And with that, he lightly swung.
Whoosh—!
A gust rose, splitting the air.
At the same time, something surged up his hand.
His lips curved into an arc.
“It works.”
Sword Force.
The most exalted blade longed for by every swordsman flickered faintly before him.
Not perfect, of course.
With only six rings, the flow of mana was unstable.
*“Keeping this up won’t be possible.”*
But for now, it was more than enough.
Nodding, Arthur pulled out the Beast he had received from Jeannie.
“The Beast has returned, too… If only I had the Gnome and Undine, it’d be perfect.”
Strangely, the two spirits still gave no response.
Yet Jeannie had summoned Sylph without difficulty.
*“That means the problem is with me… Did Whitebeard’s curse sever the contracts?”*
Arthur judged it plausible.
Whitebeard’s curse was a foreign magic that touched not only the mind but the soul itself.
Thinking this far, Arthur turned his head.
A small flowerpot in the corner of the plaza caught his eye.
He hesitated, then approached and stirred Jeannie’s bloodline power.
Bzzz—!
Heat flushed through his body as he quietly called,
“Gnome?”
No answer.
Arthur roused the bloodline more strongly.
And at once, a nameless wilted flower, starved of sunlight, bloomed brightly.
Watching the change, Arthur spoke again.
“Can’t you hear me, Gnome?”
\[…]
“Hm… Still nothing. The bloodline is clearly awakened, so why?”
Scratching his head, Arthur stood.
*“Or maybe it’s the location? The first time I summoned them, it was at the Empire’s largest lake.”*
As he was mulling over various possibilities, Jeannie’s voice called from afar.
“Arthur! Come here quickly!”
At her call, he rose and walked away.
Once the plaza was empty again, a figure appeared behind the flowerpot.
\[…What is this?]
The higher spirit of earth.
It was Gnome.
Having descended to the mortal realm for the first time in a long while, Gnome gulped as he stared at Arthur’s retreating figure.
*\[Th-that madman has come back?]*
—
—
Jeannie had found Arthur by coincidence.
Through a spy planted in the Arcane Police Bureau, she had caught word of a mysterious massacre at Willet’s tailor shop.
Though the bureau had now become the pirates’ headquarters, not everyone there was openly hostile to them.
*“With Dormund backing them, no one dares show it…”*
Amid such times, a mysterious massacre had occurred.
Jeannie couldn’t help but suspect.
There weren’t many in this world capable of such madness.
And her guess had been exactly right.
Arthur Bayern, who had suddenly vanished from the train seven years ago, was now standing before her.
Even now, after all this time, Jeannie still struggled to believe it.
Which left her uncertain how to proceed.
*“Should I keep him with me? Or send him back to House Bayern?”*
She could still vividly recall Anna’s tearful face when Arthur had vanished seven years ago.
Common sense said she ought to return him.
But deep down, she didn’t want to let him go.
*“We’ve only just met again… and already another farewell?”*
And if they parted now, they might never meet again.
Arthur Bayern was the heir to a ducal house.
She, whatever her reasons, was the leader of a crime syndicate.
There was no way someone like her could remain by his side.
As she wrestled with that thought, the door opened and Arthur entered.
Coming back to herself, Jeannie asked,
“Finished… deciding?”
At her words, Arthur’s eyes widened.
“You’re using honorifics again, Jeannie?”
Jeannie shrugged.
“If I talk down to the heir of a ducal house, what if I get dragged to prison later?”
Arthur chuckled.
Jeannie, watching that smile, asked,
“So, have you decided what to do?”
This time, Arthur shrugged.
“Wasn’t the answer already obvious?”
“…And what answer is that?”
“First, we save Elder Willet.”
Unconsciously, Jeannie’s lips twitched upward.
“I could arrange a carriage to send you back to House Bayern.”
“Wouldn’t that take about two months by carriage? If it comes to that, I’d rather just kill the Dormund lot and take the train.”
Jeannie blinked.
“Kill the Dormunds and take the train?”
“Yes.”
“…Are you serious, young master?”
“Of course I’m serious. I need to return to House Bayern quickly.”
Her jaw fell open.
*“He… he wants to kill the Dormunds occupying Arcane just to ride the train?”*
What kind of mind could even come up with that?
Amid the rare sense of bewilderment, Jeannie let out a laugh.
“…That’s just like you.”
“What do you mean, Jeannie?”
“It’s just… you being you. So, does this mean you’ll fight alongside us?”
Arthur grinned.
“Of course. Does this mean we’re working together again after seven years, Jeannie?”
Jeannie started to reply, then paused.
*“Oh?”*
She had forgotten for a moment, but the man before her wasn’t just the heir of House Bayern.
He was the legendary mercenary who had once turned Arcane upside down.
The man who had stood alone against pirates and the Seven Lords.
Who had outmaneuvered Dormund and faced the Princess of the Black Cross.
Who had completed impossible commissions in succession.
That very man had returned after seven years.
And he declared he would save Arcane.
Jeannie felt a strange excitement as she answered,
“…Looks that way. Since you’re back after seven years.”
“Feels different, doesn’t it?”
“It does… Hm. In that case, no more wasting time. Let’s move immediately.”
“Where to?”
“At present, Arcane’s underground forces are divided into three factions.”
“…?”
Arthur tilted his head.
Jeannie explained.
“The first is us—the \[Big Ears] faction I lead. Another is a group made up of Arcane University professors and the city’s intellectuals.”
“…!”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
*“A faction of Arcane University professors and intellectuals?”*
That meant perhaps Professor Chizzy or Professor Norse might be among them.
As he marveled at the thought, Jeannie continued.
“The last faction is the mercenaries of Arcane, originally led by Elder Willet. Their current leader is someone you know well.”
Arthur blinked.
“Someone I know?”
“Yes. Someone who probably searched for you even harder than I did.”
Searched harder than Jeannie?
Who could that be?
As Arthur tilted his head in confusion, an unexpected name came forth.
“Julie Prosky. The new leader of the rebels.”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
*“Julie? Could it be the Julie I know?”*
Just then, Jeannie rose from her seat, putting on a black coat.
“Today, we’re scheduled to meet Julie Prosky. A meeting to plan Elder Willet’s rescue.”
