My Uncle is the Strongest Dark Mage

Chapter 54

Located at the eastern end of the Elemental Kingdom, the border region of Kaien County.

Governing the border zone with the Hwan Empire, the Border Earl Family, though a frontier family, held a status within the country that was as prestigious as any central noble family.

A family that demonstrated its high status mainly in military matters rather than in politics.

Despite the constant provocations from the Hwan Empire, home to the mad fighters known as the Twin Ghosts, the Kaien Baron Family had never once allowed a direct invasion. Their past achievements were so well-known among the citizens of the Elemental Kingdom that they were published in numerous books.

"You didn't need to come all this way."

Henri Kaien, the eldest son of such a Kaien Baron Family, spoke with a smile to someone.

"Well, it's a two-bird-one-stone situation. I had some business in the eastern region, so I stopped by on my way."

The man across from him shrugged playfully in response to his words.

Henri narrowed his eyes in disbelief at the ridiculous excuse of his dearest friend and the crown prince of this country, Mikhail Raymond.

"Liar. You make up work just to come to my birthday every year."

The distance from Capital Raymond to Kaien County was quite considerable.

Even if one took the magic train directly, it would take over half a day.

Even using the faster airship, it would take several hours to cover that vast distance.

Henri had always told him not to bother coming such a long way, as it was not necessary, but the crown prince ignored his words and came every year, even amidst his busy schedule, to celebrate Henri's birthday.

"Don't come next year. We can meet up when we both have time later."

Henri was deeply grateful for this, yet also felt guilty, so he grumbled at Mikhail, though he didn't mean it.

But Mikhail scoffed as if it was out of the question.

"No way. A birthday party without me? Do you think I'd let that happen?"

"It's not supposed to be such a grand party anyway."

It was more like a small gathering where they just invited a few close nobles or family retainers to enjoy some good food.

Unlike the always peaceful northern border zone with no threat of war, the south facing the vast nature and this eastern region adjacent to the Hwan Empire were never a day without trouble.

There was never time or leisure for parties or extravagance, so it was more like a chance to unwind under the guise of a family member's birthday.

Yes, that's how it should have been originally.

It was the same for the birthdays of other family members.

'But why only me...'

But his birthday had long strayed from its original purpose.

All because of the overly outstanding friend in front of him.

Every year, with the crown prince attending his birthday, numerous nobles sent their intentions to attend to forge connections with him.

Although the Kaien Baron Family wielded significant influence, they did not show direct interest in central politics and silently guarded the border regions, so nobles who felt the need to curry favor with the Earl of Kaien were rare.

There was no benefit to be gained by trying to please them, so it was more a case of not wanting to get on their bad side.

But the friend in front of him was different.

Just getting their attention meant gaining connections in the central political sphere, so all the surrounding nobles knocked on the door of the Kaien Baron Family.

Especially since Mikhail, unlike Henri, had no fiancée or girlfriend, they were even more eager to curry favor.

'But I can't just turn away people who come under the pretext of celebrating my birthday.'

As a result, Henri felt guilty seeing the servants bustling about with no time to rest as his birthday approached.

'Looking back, hasn't his visit caused nothing but trouble?'

As he thought this, his gratitude and guilt towards his friend who traveled such a long distance began to fade.

"If you don't come, we won't have a party."

"Then I must attend all the more. I can't just let my best friend's birthday pass by."

"Is it my birthday or your blind date?"

"Why do you think that's just about me?"

"No way. I have someone."

How dare you suggest I play the field?

You know how jealous he is.

Who are you telling to get beaten to death?

Even after inheriting the title, he couldn't dream of taking a concubine.

"Still tied down, I see."

"Of course. In love, the one who falls first loses."

But contrary to his words, a smile filled Henri's face.

It was clear how much he cherished his lover.

"Well, as long as you're happy, that's what matters."

Perhaps because Mikhail had witnessed how Henri had followed Rosalyn around during their academy days.

Mikhail smirked and shrugged at the sight of Henri looking happy.

"Why the magic train? Why not just take the airship like usual? You have plenty of money."

"I wanted to, but my schedule suddenly got busier."

A deal with the Dark District was finalized right after he left the capital.

He was shocked when he heard the news over the phone, but even more so when he received his new mission right after.

Not only was his schedule packed, but he had planned to take some time off and had already made travel arrangements, only for such a dangerous task to be assigned to him.

Though his father loved both his son and daughter, there was a clear difference in how he treated them in such matters.

Even if safety was guaranteed, he would never assign such a task to Maril.

'No, if he had assigned such a task to Maril, I would have deposed him right away.'

He could never put Maril in even the slightest danger.

If a father who would assign such a task to Maril was in his right mind, he would have to step down from the throne for the good of the country.

Mikhail nodded firmly, getting worked up by his own thoughts.

Henri looked at him strangely for a moment, then was startled by the announcement that the train was about to depart and hurriedly said his final goodbye.

"Take care. We'll keep in touch. Though I guess I'll see you again soon for your birthday."

"Do you really need to come all that way? A text message saying 'happy birthday' would suffice."

"Isn't that what I just said?"

"It's a royal command."

"A royal command from a mere prince?"

"..."

He doesn't even listen to my words.

Just watch. I'll make time somehow and go up to the capital.

Mikhail burst into laughter at Henri Kaien's determined vow of revenge.

"Well, I should be going."

After shaking hands with Henri one last time, Mikhail turned his back and entered the magic train.

Henri watched his retreating figure with his entourage until he disappeared, then turned away.

Henri then vanished into the crowd.

"..."

There was one pair of eyes quietly observing them.

As soon as Crown Prince Mikhail Raymond disappeared into the train, the man scribbled on a small notebook the size of his palm.

-Target has boarded the train as planned.

As soon as he finished writing, the man tore out the page and put it in his mouth.

"The target has boarded the train."

And at the far end of the train, in the cargo hold.

A man in the darkness smiled slyly as he received the information sent by the external agent.

A magic tool that projected the written words onto a linked notebook.

Though less convenient and efficient than a smartphone, it had the advantage of leaving less evidence.

It didn't leave electronic records, and if the paper was torn and eaten or burned, the evidence disappeared completely.

Like the external agent, the man tore out a page of the notebook and put it in his mouth.

Then he quietly spoke to the subordinates around him.

"You there. What's our mission today?"

He began the procedure to check if his subordinates remembered the mission details before starting.

An important process to minimize errors during the mission by reviewing the details.

From the way he acted, it was clear he was a professional, and the subordinate who was pointed out answered without any hesitation, as if it was routine.

"Assassinate Crown Prince Mikhail Raymond of the Elemental Kingdom!"

"Good. And you, what do we need to be careful about?"

If they stumbled even a little, they would be hit for not knowing the mission details well enough.

That fist, larger than an average adult man's head, was a lethal weapon just by its existence.

"The Royal Mage Corps guarding the Crown Prince. Especially 'Lucian Philoden,' the current leader of the guard unit, who is a 7th-class magician and will be our biggest obstacle in assassinating the Crown Prince."

"Good. Next, you. Usually, the leader of the Crown Prince's Guard Unit is a 6th-class magician. But why did a 7th-class magician suddenly join the guard unit in the middle of the Crown Prince's schedule?"

"It seems our movements have been partially exposed. They might have detected our entry into the kingdom."

"Next, you. Who is the culprit who exposed our location?"

"The Dark District. Someone from the Dark District probably sold the information about our entry to the Royal Palace."

The Dark District is under the command of the Absolute, the Death King.

A place of absolute loyalty to the Death King alone.

But aside from the Death King, it is nothing more than a lawless zone with no permanent allies or enemies.

Thus, it's only natural that there is an informant who sold their information to the Royal Palace, just as there was a broker who helped us enter.

"However, that's all they know. The presence of a 7th-class magician by the Crown Prince's side is a precaution in case something happens to the Crown Prince in the Border Zone. If they knew our members or our exact target, they would have deployed more personnel."

"Avoid unnecessary elaboration."

The man's rough fist clenched and then relaxed.

For a moment, death flashed by swiftly.

Before the subordinate, who nearly went back to hell, could take a deep breath and utter more unnecessary words, he quickly covered his mouth.

"Always prepare for the worst. Assume that the enemy knows all our movements."

"Yes, I will keep that in mind."

"Now, next, you. Why didn't we cancel our operation even though our movements were detected by the enemy?"

"Because our forces are superior to those of the enemy."

The man nodded in satisfaction at the subordinate's answer.

"All correct."

The enemy has a 7th-class magician.

A being who has only one step left to reach the realm of an 8th Class Transcendent.

Someone capable of turning a metropolis into ruins single-handedly if they so desire.

It would be foolish to recklessly attack such a presence.

But that doesn't apply to us.

Because we also have a 7th-class Ability User.

And not just one, but two 7th-class Martial Artists who have the upper hand in close combat compared to magicians.

"All for the sake of world chaos."

The Magic Train begins to move.

As it moves, sunlight seeping through the cracks in the door reveals the man's silhouette.

A giant man reminiscent of an Ogre.

His bronzed skin is marred by hideous scars all over his body.

The man with a physique that could tear a tiger apart in one go flashed a smile on his scar-covered face.

"Sacrifice your life once more for the Twin Ghosts. Our actions will bring war to the continent."

For that purpose alone, we, the Twin Ghosts Guardians, have crawled back from hell.

"Drench the interior of this train in blood. Make it so foul that our intentions reach the distant Twin Ghosts."

"Yes!"

Everyone at the scene bowed and prostrated themselves at the growling man's command.

All for the Twin Ghosts.

Uniting with just one heart and mind.