Chapter 952: Behind the Calm
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“I understand.”
After a long pause, Merlin replied impa.s.sively. Merlin’s reaction stunned Bartamanth. Merlin was Count Stanwin’s only son, yet his reaction was not at all like a person who had just received his father’s death notice.
Nevertheless, Bartamanth was just a messenger. Now that Merlin had acknowledged the news, Bartamanth did not linger and left the manor.
“Master, the Honorable Count…”
The butler trembled all over. Count Stanwin was dead. This was equivalent to the collapse of the entire clan. Whether or not this manor could continue to be maintained, it was difficult to say.
“Prepare the carriage, I’m heading out.”
Merlin’s expression remained calm. Even his tone did not show the slightest inflection. However, those from the Void Zone who knew Merlin well would know that this was his most terrifying state.
The butler was about to say something but stopped. Finally, he did not say anything and went to prepare a carriage for Merlin. Merlin shrugged on a coat, climbed into the carriage, and headed directly for Phantom Headquarters.
“Father…”
Inside the carriage, Merlin whispered. He thought about Old Wilson and various memories of Count Stanwin. Count Stanwin and Old Wilson were very similar to one another. The only difference was Count Stanwin was more powerful than Old Wilson, and also showed more love for Merlin.
Merlin did not bother asking Bartamanth who had killed Count Stanwin. For a matter of such gravity, Merlin was certain that Phantom, the intelligence agency of the Holy Dragon royal family, would know more details. Therefore, Merlin immediately headed directly for Phantom Headquarters.
The carriage soon arrived at Phantom Headquarters. Merlin went to the Logistic Team. Belle was slightly surprised as she asked, “Leon, why did you come today?”
Today was Leon’s rest day, so he did not have to come to Phantom Headquarters. Compared to the other departments, only the Logistic Team had such a rotation system. For this reason, many of the other Teams were extremely envious of them.
“I want to check on some intelligence, should I ask the Investigation Team?”
Merlin replied briefly.
“Check on some intelligence?”
Belle looked up and was about to ask for more details when she saw the murderous glint behind Merlin’s deceptively calm eyes. Suddenly, this genial-looking young man seemed terrifying.
“You can ask for Linda from the Investigation Team. She and I are very close. As long as the information isn’t too confidential, it should be fine.”
Belle’s voice seemed to tremble slightly. She did not know why this usually genial-looking young man would undergo such a major change today.
Merlin hesitated and then nodded. “Thank you.”
Thus, Belle accompanied Merlin to the Investigation Team. Here, there were all sorts of information from the entire Holy Dragon Empire. Although the Investigation Team was small, their intelligence covered the entire Holy Dragon Empire. For the royal family to know what was going on everywhere, they relied almost fully on the Investigation Team.
Naturally, the Investigation Team was filled with people. Fortunately, with Belle’s help, they had located a woman who was dressed very provocatively. Nonetheless, she was quite good-looking, so her choice of dressing was not revolting.
“Linda, this is Leon from the Logistics Team. He would like to check on some intelligence.”
Linda looked up. When she spotted Belle and Merlin, the corners of her lips tugged into a faint smile. “Of course, Sister Belle. The next time your Logistics Team receive something good, you must tell me.”
“Of course.”
Belle paused and said to Merlin, “What do you want to check on, ask away.”
Merlin’s eyes narrowed to almost a thin line while his expression turned incredibly severe. Calmly, he said, “Some time ago, the Deinosuchus Mercenary Group founded by Count Stanwin was escorting a group of merchants but the entire group perished. I need details, every last one, and the more detailed, the better!”
Merlin’s tone was not at all agitated, and the speed of his speech was very laid back as though he was talking about something insignificant that had nothing to do with him.
“Count Stanwin? Leon, that’s your…”
Beside him, Belle’s eyes widened. As a member of the Logistics Team and as a member of Phantom, no one was a simpleton. Merlin knew that even the weakest Logistics Team was composed of elites. Placed anywhere, these people would be considered prodigies or icons, and were perhaps even n.o.bler than some of the aristocrats.
This was the Phantom Organization. The most feared faction under the Holy Dragon royal family’s control.
Therefore, Belle also knew Merlin’s ident.i.ty, which was Count Stanwin’s son. However, she did not know how Merlin had managed to form connections with Deputy Commander Heroult and was ultimately arranged to join the Logistics Team by Deputy Commander Heroult.
“Can you find it?”
Merlin waved his hand without allowing Belle to continue her sentence. Nevertheless, Belle finally understood why Merlin came to the headquarters today and the reason for the scary glint in his eyes.
His father was dead. He was killed. Belle could not imagine how Merlin could remain so calm. However, the calmer he was, the more intimidating he appeared.
“Of course, this isn’t considered a trivial matter. After all, Count Stanwin is a peak fourth-form contender with a mid-tier almighty beast bloodline. They went to Cedar City and encountered the Python Army. The leader of this Python Army is called Orsato. Orsato has the Python bloodline and he is slightly more powerful than Count Stanwin. He had already invaded Cedar City a long time ago but deceived the merchant group to enter the city. Finally, the merchant group was besieged and annihilated.”
Linda gave all the details of Count Stanwin’s death to Merlin. The information was so detailed that it was as if she was present on the battlefield. This also caused a jolt in Merlin’s heart. The royal family’s most mysterious faction, Phantom, was truly extraordinary. Since he was in the Logistics Team, he was still far away from the core groups such as the Investigation Team and the Combat Team. Hence, he did not know how fearsome Phantom was.
Now, seeing the detailed information that had been gathered by Phantom in just a few days, he finally witnessed Phantom’s incredible prowess.
“Python Army, Orsato, I got it! Belle, let’s go to the Mission Hall.”
Merlin nodded to Linda in appreciation, and walked directly toward the Mission Hall.
“Mission Hall? Leon, have you gone crazy? That is a place that only the Investigation Team and the Combat Team would go. Those missions aren’t simple. In fact, how many missions issued by Phantom would be simple?”
Belle was stunned. She did not expect that Merlin would want to go to the Mission Hall. That was a place reserved for crazy people like the Investigation Team and the Combat Team.
Merlin did not explain nor did his footsteps faltered. He headed directly toward the Mission Hall ahead.
“Leon, you…”
Belle stomped her foot but finally followed him. She wanted to see what mission would Merlin accept in the Mission Hall. She did not believe that Merlin had gone crazy.