Mardinal: The Assassin's Adventure
Chapter 26: Romie and Luan
The tone of the rancid voice had not been heard by Uncle Rom for a long time, still seemed very laughable and annoying.
“So...” Across the call there, Luan fanned herself gracefully. “This is the only reason you called me? We ‘kan friends, love... greetings are more friendly, so.”
While holding back his annoyance, Uncle Rom spoke through the call, “Listen, yes. We haven't had any relationship since our contract as a Provisional Member in your Guild has expired. Why else would you bother with Mardin's long-dead father? Let alone bring Mardin in this matter.”
In a phone call, a brief ruckus sounded from Luan as if she thought Uncle Rom's words were funny.
“Hehee…. You're too naive, man. Our planet is not as friendly as your home planet.”
Uncle Rom was a little stunned when Luan brought up his home planet. Yeah, Uncle Rom isn't actually a native of Planet Urdalin. He used to be a former military soldier of the Orbit Force unit which was then tasked with carrying out an expedition to Planet Urdalin.
Unfortunately, he is unable to return to the home planet as his teammates are slaughtered to the ground by a group of assassins. From that problem, Uncle Rom met the Demon Beast who coincidentally helped him from a monster attack in the middle of the forest when he thought he would soon die.
“Now, I have no more purpose, Sir. Let me come with you. I promise to always serve you.”
“I don't need anyone! Get you out of front of me!”
Uncle Rom insisted on going with the Devil because he had no direction to live. At first the Devil refused, but in the end he let Uncle Rom go with him.
Later on, they can get along well and become best friends, adventuring together to become Rogue who does not rely on any Killer Guild, killing other assassins in order to survive.
Remembering those times, made Uncle Rom long for the past of his friendship.
From that call, Luan continued, “Before, I will explain. At first, I believed that the Beast Devil had died ten years ago. But, recently we got word from a spy that I sent him that he's alive. More precisely half dead, half alive.”
“He was deliberately left in such a ill-fated state so that his Ru Energy could be absorbed using the series of Ru Energy absorbing machines. He was Ruzan, so their side utilized his Ru Energy to propagate into the five Midra Seals. You know the Midra Seal, don't you? As told in old-fashioned fairy tales.”
Uncle Rom was confused as to who was the one holding the Devil. For a moment he patted his own eel, only to realize that he had forgotten to ask Mardin. Uncle Rom just focused on telling me about the Yatshuhama Guild and answered the young man's question without asking what really happened to the Devil in more detail.
“Who's the party sealing it?”
“Guild Alliance Haxona.” Luan gave a thin grin. “Yap! The main mastermind behind the rumors of the slain Demon Beast.”
Hearing Luan's reply, Uncle Rom's spontaneous hands clenched tightly restraining anger. He remembered very well when the news of the death of the Devil reached his ears. He was saddened and furious to learn that the one who had killed his best friend was a member of the five Guilds of the Haxona Alliance.
But what is power. Uncle Rom was just a Rogue, had no fellow assassins, and was not as strong as the Devil, unable to do anything. All he could do was take care of Mardin, the 7-year-old son of the Devil at the time.
Unexpectedly, other than killing the Devil, they had also exploited him.
“I remember very well when I heard the news that the alliance used his wife as a bait. I did not expect, they deliberately provoked the Devil in such a whimper way, continue to play the roar of one alliance,” Luan's trivial comments when remembering rumors in the past.
Uncle Rom also remembered the news. He himself heard the bad news from the mouth of the Devil before finally deciding to leave. That was the last time Uncle Rom met his best friend.
When he saw the cute face of little Mardin when he asked the news of his father and mother, Uncle Rom's heart was very sick. He did not expect, such a small child had to accept the harsh reality that both parents were victims of large groups of killers.
There was a sigh from Luan for a moment. “…. If it's like this, of course we have to involve his son to save his own father. Mardin is a Ruzan, he has a parasitic plant strong enough to ward off the power of the Midra Seal. If you expect the help of another Ruzan, certainly can not. Their numbers are very rare, hard to find. Even once you meet, it will definitely be more anarchist than wild Rogue, can not be invited to work together.”
“So, do not try to prevent the actions of Mardin for reasons of his safety. He was already a big man, already destined to be a murderous monster like his father. Besides, if you prevent it, you're banning the act of a child from trying to be filial to his father.”
“I don't forbid it.”
Uncle Rom did allow Mardin to accept the Yatshuhama Guild's offer to save the Devil, it was also because the parasite in Mardin's body had convinced the young man to prefer to save the Devil because the Midra Seal was considered dangerous.
In addition, Uncle Rom also still remembered that the Yatshuhama Guild was known for their good reputation. The proof is that they have built an advanced civilization in four cities of power, and the lives of the people there are also prosperous.
Uncle Rom continued, “I absolutely do not forbid it. I believe the boy is able to overcome all the problems that confront him. I only suspect that your Guild will take a certain chance by taking advantage of this child and father problem.”
Luan slammed her body on the back of the chair, kneeling her own temple upon hearing Uncle Rom's accusations.
In a flat tone, Luan replied, “Every incident there must be an opportunity that we can take, right?”
Gotchas. It is true what Uncle Rom is. However, he still did not know the intent of this Beta Guild Yatshuhama. Are they really good or bad?
“Take a chance from every event. That's how every living thing survives the anguish of a world as hard as Planet Urdalin. Whether it's by fair means, or cowardly though.”
Luan changed her sitting position with both legs slightly straddling and the body slightly bent.
“Because I know you well, then I will answer honestly.” Luan also spoke more seriously, “Kuadui, Our Guild can take many opportunities from Mardin's duty in saving his own father. But I assure you, neither Mardin nor his father felt harmed. We helped Mardin as well for intending for the Devil to survive. In any case, he has contributed a lot to our Guild.”
Luan's right. At the time when the Yatshuhama Guild asked the Devil for help, they felt greatly helped by the actions of the Devil who had managed to snatch their three power cities from other Guilds. They feel indebted to him.
“More precisely, we intend to establish mutualism relationship with Mardin, mutual benefit.” Luan again explained, “In addition, the Devil indeed must be immediately released from the Midra Seal. This is closely related to the rottenness of the Haxona.” Guild Alliance
If this part, Uncle Rom did not know it at all, even Mardin seemed to know nothing about this one problem. Therefore, he would listen better to Luan's explanation.
“Explain, what kind of rottenness does this alliance have other than killing the Devil in a cowardly manner?” ask Uncle Rom and say sarcasm.
Luan also spoke through their call, “Actually, this information still needs to be dug deeper. But little do we know, there is another reason behind sealing the Devil apart from absorbing his Ru Energy.”
Uncle Rom raised his eyebrows. “Reason?”
“Treasure. It seems, the Devil knows the treasure information that contains a lot of Material Ru that has been processed, as well as advanced formulas from the Dremara and Fona dimensional civilizations. This one was as boasting as the Ru Energy Sucking machine and Midra Seal. But in fact, the existence of the energy-sucking machine and the Midra Seal did indeed exist. That means, this treasure that is considered a booze is also real and is being targeted by the Haxona.” Alliance
“Do you never know about this treasure? Maybe the Devil could have told you.”
Uncle Rom tried to remember. The devil did not tell me anything about the treasure in question. Even though they were friends, the Beast Devil still kept many mysteries that he did not want to reveal. Maybe because of the nature of the Devil who does not easily believe in others, especially when it comes to treasure.
Who is not tempted by treasure? Many lives were willing to be sacrificed in order to obtain such a collection of precious objects.
The life of others is not important, satisfaction comes first.
“No.” Uncle Rom replied, “He didn't discuss anything about treasure.”
“Ah, okay. I understand.” Luan could smile lightly. “That's all I can explain to you, Romie. When it comes to treasure and the Haxona Guild Alliance we still need to investigate. Mardin was focused enough to save his father.”
“Good. I also do not demand any more answers to you if you guarantee both are not harmed.” Uncle Rom spruced up some files on the desk. “But I warned you, Luan. If you mess with Mardin, he won't stay idle to harvest the organs of your Guild members,” he used to.
Behind the phone call, Luan smirked back. “I know, Romie. I know.”
….
The call between Uncle Rom and Luan ended. Luan's hand just put her phone on the table. The two eyes behind the shadow were staring straight at the city view from the upper floors of the building. Start thinking about something.
“Mardin has a great chance to become a killing machine like his father.” Luan propped up her chin on the arm of the sofa. “I also still need to dig deeper information about movements such as what else the next Haxona Alliance will do. Wait for Mardin to carry out the first task, then we will immediately take the next step.”
A task like this is no joke. If Mardin was tasked with saving his own father, then the Yatshuhama Guild had another purpose. And this goal was influenced by all the actions Mardin took to save his father.
Luan hoped, Mardin accepted his request.
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