Ranker's Return

Chapter 921

“What is going on?”

Edward greeted Alexander in a haggard manner. They didn’t have a relationship close enough to smile, so it was a natural attitude.

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

Alexander smiled brightly when he saw Edward like this. It didn’t matter why Edward was like this. It was enough as long as the purpose of his visit was achieved.

“A favor? What is it?”

Edward wasn’t angry any longer. He could only sigh as a series of insurmountable misfortunes hit him.

“I want to shoot a video.”

Edward’s eyes grew wider when he heard Alexander’s words. The haggard expression disappeared and he gave a strange look.

“A video? What does that mean?”

They were incomprehensible words.

A video. Why film it with Edward? He was a figure who shouldn’t be revealed to the empire.

“I’ll show it to that guy.”

“That guy? Who is that guy? Don’t tell me... Gang Hyeonu? Are you talking about him?”

Edward thought for a moment after hearing Alexander’s words. Then he soon called out someone’s name.

“That’s right, it is Gang Hyeonu. He is my favorite duke and at the same time, an adventurer who can take responsibility for the next generation of the empire.” Alexander nodded.

“Are you going to shoot a video to send to him? You? What are you thinking?” Edward didn’t express it, but his eyes looked like they were staring at a madman.

“I need the right bait to move the fox.”

“Move the fox? Bait? You are just saying things I can’t understand. Did you lose your mind after becoming emperor...?”

Edward still didn’t know Alexander’s intentions. He noticed that the fox meant Gang Hyeonu, but he didn’t understand the words ‘bait’ and ‘move.’

“So are you going to help?” Alexander approached Edward and asked again.

“Describe it accurately first, Alexander.” Edward didn’t easily accept. He asked for a detailed explanation.

“It is as you heard. I need bait to move Duke Gang Hyeonu.”

“Bait to make him move? Do you mean to pretend to be hurt on purpose?”

This was the only thing Edward could think of. Alexander wanted to pretend to be injured and would make Hyeonu move based on it.

‘The duke will move to avenge the emperor? If this is the case, there is no need to do something like this, right? Can’t he just give an order?’

It was full of things he couldn’t understand. Edward wanted Alexander to answer his questions quickly.

“That’s right, I am trying to pretend I am hurt. That is how I will make him move.”

“Why do you have to go this far? Won’t an adventurer just move as he is told? Moreover, he is a noble of the empire, so he can’t possibly disobey the emperor’s orders,” Edward breathlessly released all the questions that filled his mind.

“It isn’t something he can do because I told him to. That is why I don’t mind doing such a cumbersome thing.” Alexander laughed and took a step closer to Edward.

“You don’t know. How much weight the position of emperor has.”

Alexander didn’t hesitate to say words that would make Edward burn with anger when he heard them.

“Weight? You shouldn’t have climbed to that position if you couldn’t handle it.”

However, Edward didn’t become angry. Rather, he maintained his composure and sneered at Alexander. He had grown mentally, unlike before.

“If you were better than me, I wouldn’t have climbed it,” Alexander responded lightly. It was Alexander who dealt with the snake-like nobles. He wouldn’t become angry at this.

“That is enough of this talk. So what is your purpose? What are you aiming for?”

Edward refocused on the conversation that had gone off topic.

“Rebellion,” Alexander replied with a smile. It was a really short word, but it was more shocking than the content that contained flowing, elegant modifiers.

“Rebellion?!” Edward reflexively yelled. It was a natural reaction. He was bound to be sensitive to the word ‘rebellion,’ no matter whether it was his current position as chief of the ran tribe, or the past when he was the 2nd Imperial Prince of the empire. It was because it meant losing what one had.

“Why are you giving the throne to an adventurer who doesn’t know the fundamentals rather than your child? Have you finally gone crazy? If you were going to do this, you should’ve handed it over to me. I’ll use it well,” Edward couldn’t withstand his surge of anger and shot back at Alexander.

“It might’ve been you if you had come to your senses five years earlier. I’m glad you have come to your senses now, but...”

Alexander clicked his tongue. Edward was too late. It might be different if he had shown his current appearance just one year ago. However, now there was too much effort involved. 90% of the hurdles had been crossed. There were only the finishing touches left.

“That is why I kept you alive. I once let you live because I felt pity for you. Now you are spared because you are acting like a person. It is the cold northern part of the continent, but you have risen to power.”

Edward remained silent despite Alexander’s continued remarks. He had nothing to say. He knew that what he thought was survival was actually because he was spared.

“So be satisfied here and help me.”

“What should I do?”

“Call all the guardians. Was it said that there were five? I am going to fight them.”

“Five? Are you going to fight all five?”

Edward cocked his head.

Five guardians—they could not be handled unless there was a truly out of the standard monster, like Callioraks.

‘If it is at the level I saw a little while ago... they will disappear in one breath...’

There was a great difference between the Callioraks in Ragand’s memory and the Callioraks that he actually experienced. It was hard to even breathe properly.

‘Alexander isn’t that strong...’

Meanwhile, the Alexander in front of him hadn’t reached that point. It was a bit vague to say this since it was the difference between showing their aura and hiding it. However, Edward had a discerning eye because he learned some of the secret arts. It was enough to recognize things that couldn’t be hidden, no matter how much they tried to hide it.

“This is the only way that guy will believe it.”

Alexander nodded. There had to be all five unconditionally. Hyeonu had a lot of experience and good senses. He would never be fooled by half-hearted means.

“It isn’t a fight to win.”

Edward finally nodded. He realized once again that he wasn’t truly fighting Alexander.

“What are you going to do after this? How are you going to put that video into his hands?”

“I can go through the adventurers you are commanding.”

“The adventurers I am commanding? How do you know about this? Did he tell you?” Edward asked with a startled expression. He never dreamed that Alexander would even know about the existence of the Venom Guild.

“He didn’t say it.”

“Then how did you know?”

“I know even if he didn’t tell me. That is the strength of the empire. You don’t know this.”

The corner of Alexander’s lips curled up to one side. Edward bit his lip at the sight.

Alexander smiled and continued, “After a reasonable amount of time, I will move north. Of course, a lot of people will follow.”

“That is natural. The emperor is moving, so people should follow.”

“We will take back the lost cities one by one. Of course, the guardians won’t be present.”

“Then there will be rumors among the adventurers. The guardians are gone. They are probably on the iceberg.”

Alexander and Edward talked back and forth and continued the conversation. The conversation was filled with a willingness to test how much information the other person knew.

“I will disappear while leaving behind the note that I am leaving alone for the iceberg. Then traces of a fierce battle will be found on the iceberg.”

“The traces will be found by adventurers. You would’ve brought them for that reason.”

“After a while, rumors will circulate throughout the empire. The emperor has returned to the palace injured. The injury is more serious than expected. One arm isn’t normal. Rumors like this will spread.”

“Such rumors will be spread simultaneously by multiple parties? Isn’t that too suspicious?”

Edward shifted positions. Alexander’s plan seemed too contrived.

“I have already done several experiments. Rather, adventurers trust rumors spread like this.”

“Then I have nothing to say.”

“At this point, he will come out. He will have nothing to lose by verifying the authenticity of the rumors. He will go to Lebron first. Lebron is probably the best person to verify the authenticity of the rumor.”

“Lebron will naturally say what you tell him to. The rumors are correct. You have your arm, but it has virtually lost its function. Is that how you will roughly do it?”

Alexander smiled. He was making a face that said, ‘Now you understand.’

“It is only after leaving Lebron that he will approach the adventurers beneath you. He will tell them to check it. Then the adventurers will approach you and you just have to show them the video like you don’t know anything.”

“Then those adventurers will pass it onto him. Is that what you mean?”

“The guy who checked everything and saw the possibilities will come to me. After that, I will use him as the acting emperor. It is a prize for solving the problem well.”

Edward got goosebumps when he heard all of Alexander’s explanation.

‘I would unconditionally be caught.’

It was a net that was too dense. If he was the one caught in this type of net, he would never be able to get out of it.

‘By the way, is there a problem with the throne? I don’t know the reason...’

In Edward’s memory, the emperor was omnipotent. He did what he wanted to do. There was nothing to be worried about.

‘He is handing over that position? In this way?’

It might be the acting emperor, but it was just like the emperor unless Alexander was present. It was the same as holding the empire in his hands.

“Are you not going to tell me the reason to the end?” Edward asked with a stiff expression.

“Didn’t I already tell you? The emperor’s seat is now a bit heavy.”

Alexander smiled slightly.

“Then call the guardians. I don’t have much time,” Alexander removed his smile and urged Edward. He had sneaked out of the palace, so he had to finish all his work within a few hours. It would take no time to return due to the artifact created by Suped, the empire’s great magician, but he didn’t know what was going to happen. It was best to go back as early as possible.

“Understood.”

Edward nodded, focused on his magic power, and recalled the face of a guardian. It was the guardian who used magic as its organs. Only this guardian could take the other guardians back to the iceberg without wasting much time.

‘By the way... temporarily giving up the position of emperor… is that possible with this guy’s personality?’ Edward cocked his head. The Alexander he knew was never so kind. No, he wasn’t good-natured.

“Are you really just going to give him that position when he comes to you?”

“Just? Didn’t I say that the last test remains? I have to see if he is qualified for the position.” The corners of Alexander’s mouth curled up and his teeth shone white in the sunlight.