Three weeks before the infiltration.
"Huh?"
Dorian jumped up from his chair in shock.
"You're going to infiltrate the religious organization that Derus Robert created? And personally?"
He trembled his lips as if asking what nonsense this was.
"I-I didn't mishear that, did I?"
Dorian turned his gaze to Evelyn, hoping that something was wrong with his ears and he had misheard.
"You heard correctly."
Evelyn calmly waved her hand.
"I had a feeling this might happen, and I was right. I thought he'd just charge straight at Derus Robert, but thankfully that's not the case."
She nodded, saying she was satisfied just by the fact that Raon wasn't charging straight at Derus Robert.
"Will you be alright?"
Burren uncrossed his arms and stepped forward.
"It seems very dangerous."
He narrowed his eyes slightly with concern.
"I'd normally encourage you to do it, but this seems too much like gambling."
Martha frowned and clenched her jaw.
"You say you'll join the religious organization, but ultimately the goal is to infiltrate Derus Robert's forces."
She let out a heavy sigh, saying that Derus was such a cunning person that he would likely see through it immediately.
"..."
Runaan said nothing and watched Raon with her violet eyes gleaming. It seemed no one could tell what she was thinking.
"That's the best method."
Raon clasped his hands together and let out a gentle smile.
"When it comes to hiding my martial prowess, I'm more confident than anyone else in this world."
Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier are different from ordinary aura, making them extremely difficult to detect, and the Ring of Fire and the demon kings' authority are embedded in the soul, so others can never discover them unless he brings them out himself.
"In this aspect, I won't lose even to the Head of House."
It wasn't a lie. Even judging coldly, if it came purely to hiding one's identity, he could stand above Glenn, the strongest on the continent.
-Well, this king agrees with that.
Wrath rubbed his chin as if acknowledging it.
-Your cunning is something even greedy bastards like Greed can't match!
He added confidence, saying it would be dangerous but was a well-suited operation.
"I agree as well."
Denning Rose calmly raised her hand.
"If it's you, Raon, you'll be able to infiltrate more safely than our agents."
She showed quiet eyes that seemed to trust Raon deeply.
"So what exactly are you going to do?"
Martha leaned back in her chair as if telling him to explain the plan now.
"As I said, I plan to enter the religious organization Derus created and infiltrate their headquarters. However, that will require a lot of preparation."
Raon raised his finger.
"First, I need an artifact that can completely erase my aura. I could probably fool most transcendents, but the opponents are Derus Robert and an archangel."
He could suppress Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier as much as possible and act like an ordinary person without aura, but just in case, it would be better to use an artifact as well.
"Evelyn. Could you work with Encia to create an artifact that erases aura?"
Raon looked at Evelyn, saying he was asking for a favor.
"Of course! If I design it and that airhead makes it, it'll definitely succeed!"
Evelyn nodded as if telling him not to worry.
"Just wait exactly one week!"
She thumped her chest, saying it would be completed in a week.
"Lady Denning Rose."
After hearing Evelyn's confirmation, Raon called to Denning Rose.
"Could you send my instructions to the agents spread across the continent?"
"What instructions?"
Denning Rose nodded with warm eyes as if telling him to say whatever it was.
"I'd like them to show anxiety about the possibility of war breaking out soon, distrust toward the Five Kings who currently rule the continent, and dependence on wanting to rely on religion. Of course, if they do all of this simultaneously, it might raise suspicion, so please set the order randomly."
Raon clasped his hands, saying he was asking for a favor.
"Ah!"
Denning Rose let out a short exclamation.
"You want the believers of the religion Derus Robert created to approach on their own!"
She nodded as if she had grasped the full intention through Raon's words.
"That's correct."
Raon smiled and nodded.
"Looking at how they left words about going to heaven, most of the missing people were probably tired of reality. I believe there's a high possibility that Derus's believers, hearing them express their hardships to those around them, tempted them."
They'd need to investigate precisely to know for sure, but most of the missing people likely had their own troubles, and Derus's believers certainly targeted those aspects to take them away.
"That seems right."
Denning Rose looked at Raon and licked her lips thinly with her tongue as if excited.
"I-I'll investigate properly in that direction."
Her usually relaxed eyes trembled, saying she should carefully investigate what kind of people the missing persons usually were.
"Hmph."
Evelyn briefly wrinkled the bridge of her nose as if she didn't like Denning Rose's expression.
"If any of the agents following my instructions hears talk about heaven, please let me know. I'll switch places with that person immediately that day."
Raon nodded, saying he would immediately disguise himself as an agent and begin acting.
"I'll infiltrate personally and drag the underground tunnel where Derus Robert is hiding up to the surface."
He clenched his fist, vowing to destroy everything Derus Robert was preparing.
"A-acting?"
"Even if it's you, can you do that right away?"
Burren and Martha tilted their heads with concern.
"He can! He definitely can!"
Dorian lowered his chin vigorously. He raised his voice with conviction since he knew Raon's acting ability better than anyone.
"I understand. I'll do that."
Denning Rose nodded.
"However, it will take some time."
She said time was needed since they had to approach as carefully and naturally as possible.
"Yes. I can wait as long as needed."
Raon placed his hand on his sword, meaning he would wait here while cultivating.
-Ha! It's only been an hour since you received the information, but really, no one can match you when it comes to using your brain...
Wrath let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.
-If I were to make you an enemy, killing you immediately would be the best option.
He shook his head, saying that the moment he let him slip away, the fight would become extremely long and tiresome.
'You want to make me an enemy?'
Raon raised his shoulder and poked Wrath.
'I have absolutely no intention of fighting a friend?'
-Y-you, why would I make someone as weak as you an enemy! This king will just go easy on you!
Wrath seemed pleased by the word "friend" and awkwardly waved his hand with his face slightly reddened.
"Then what should we do...?"
Ruran raised her head, asking them to tell her what they should do. She blinked her innocent eyes as if she would follow whatever instructions Raon gave.
"Cultivation."
Raon raised his index finger like a sword toward Runaan, Martha, and Burren.
"The war won't happen in a year, but soon. Prepare for that day by training the swordsmen."
He turned his back, saying he was entrusting the Light Wind Palace to them while he was away.
"Of course, you should also work to overcome your walls."
He nodded, hoping the three would overcome their walls and reach transcendence.
"Yeah..."
Runaan nodded with serious eyes as if she would definitely accomplish it.
"Right. With all this, we've got to make it happen."
Martha stomped her foot hard as if telling him to trust her.
"...I'll do my best to educate them."
Burren, who still didn't seem fully confident in himself, only said he would definitely train the swordsmen thoroughly.
"Good."
Raon quietly nodded and looked at the distant annex building.
"Now it's time to ask for permission one last time."
***
"No!"
Sylvia shook her head vigorously.
"Why do you have to go to such a dangerous place at a time like this!"
Her hands placed on her knees trembled, saying she absolutely couldn't allow it.
"I have the same thoughts as your mother."
Edgar held Sylvia's trembling shoulders and turned his gaze.
"Derus Robert is too dangerous. The Heavenly Demon might be stronger, but if I had to pick one person I'd want to avoid, it would definitely be Derus Robert. Especially since he knows you too well. If you get caught by mistake, the problem becomes too big."
He let out a short sigh.
"The Five Kings all owe you a debt of gratitude, and there are many young martial artists and magicians who follow you, so if you get caught, our side's fighting spirit might collapse."
Unlike his usual self who made pointless remarks, Edgar drove only precise facts into Raon's ears with a serious tone.
"If mom and that old man are against it, then I'm against it too."
Sia placed her hands on her hips and lifted her chin.
"O-old man...?"
Edgar, who had spoken well, collapsed with his mouth agape in shock at being called an old man by Sia.
"I-it's okay."
Raon swallowed dry saliva and raised his hand.
"I've become strong now, so I won't be easily defeated. Besides, I need to infiltrate so that we can properly pave the way for the Five Kings to enter."
He honestly explained the reason he had to go, not to avoid this situation.
"Raon..."
Sylvia pressed her forehead lightly and raised her eyes.
"Can't you ask the Black Market agents to handle the infiltration? They're more specialized in that kind of work. I don't want to hear stories about you disappearing or dying anymore..."
She trembled her dried lips thinly as if recalling the two times in the past when news of him had been cut off.
"Father..."
Sylvia reddened her eyes as if requesting help from Glenn.
"Hmm."
Glenn also didn't seem to think it was good for Raon to personally infiltrate Derus Robert's forces, frowning with his arms crossed.
"Sigh..."
Raon held his head while looking at the table emanating cold energy.
'How did it come to this?'
Originally, he had planned to call only Glenn aside to bring up the topic, but he had told him to speak where everyone was present, making things this chaotic. If he proceeded with the operation like this, it seemed there would be an uproar.
'It's not that I don't understand mom's position.'
He had been kidnapped by Eden and nearly became their puppet, and after the duel with the Axe King at the South-North Union, he was reported dead, so it was natural for Sylvia, as his mother, to worry and oppose this. But this time, he had to go. For anyone else, infiltration itself would obviously be impossible.
"Mom. I'm sorry, but I have to do this."
For the first time in a long while, Raon called Sylvia "mom" instead of "mother" and took her hand.
"Derus Robert is the most cunning and suspicious person in the world. Even experienced agents from the Black Market and Shadow Agents would inevitably be caught."
This was certain. Derus Robert had surely prepared questions, magic, or barriers that could identify spies. Since there was only one chance, he absolutely had to go himself.
"That's exactly why you can't! It's too dangerous! Like you said, Derus Robert knows you well!"
"No, that's exactly why I have to go."
Raon calmly shook his head.
"Just as he knows me well, I know him well too."
He continued speaking while holding Sylvia's trembling hand more firmly.
"What does that..."
"Please. Let me go."
Raon closed his eyes, then opened them and slowly exhaled.
"But, Raon..."
"Sylvia."
When Sylvia was about to continue opposing, Glenn's mouth opened for the first time. He called Sylvia's name first, not Raon's.
"Your worry is natural. This matter is extremely dangerous."
Glenn nodded calmly as if trying to take Sylvia's side rather than Raon's.
"Father understands too!"
With Glenn also taking her side, Sylvia clenched her fist as if there was nothing more to hold back.
"So this isn't the time to be sitting around. Raon. Come out right now."
Glenn roughly stood up and beckoned to Raon.
"I'll make you stronger than you are now so your mother won't need to worry."