The Regressed Blood Knight’s Strategy - Chapter 138

Chapter 138

Blata’s eyes gleamed with demonic energy as he chewed down on the material.

[The Ferocious beast, Blata, has consumed the awakening material.]

[Evolution will now begin.]

Blata’s body was enveloped in light.

Just like how Kane had transformed into a 5-star, Blata was changing as well.

His once round body became elongated.

“This is the first time I’ve seen something like this.”

His once cute little claws grew larger, becoming terrifyingly sharp.

When his size reached that of a regular Blood Tiger, the light disappeared.

“Roar! Aren’t I scary now?”

The twist was that only his size had grown.

His voice was still that of a child.

His behavior remained the same too.

It seemed he wanted to show off how cool he had become, striking a pose.

“What are you doing?” Kane asked.

“Aren’t you scared of me?”

“Not at all.”

“Roar, but you should be scared…”

“Your size may have increased, but you’re still the same inside.”

“Then what’s the point of changing?”

Blata sulked.

He pulled his ears back, looking dejected.

Kane wasn’t as impressed as Blata had hoped.

Blata reverted to his previous form.

He became smaller again, but this time, instead of a fat cat-like appearance, he looked like a baby tiger.

Though Kane responded bluntly, he was actually quite surprised on the inside.

‘Judging by the amount of mana, he’s at least an 8th class. There’s hardly any difference between us.’

As Blata returned to his smaller size, the mana within him compressed as well.

It was because of this smaller form that Kane could feel Blata’s mana intensity more clearly.

‘Now I understand why people invest so heavily in Ferocious Species.’

When he was Ray, Kane couldn’t raise Blata, as Dirk had taken it from him.

Recalling that memory, once Kane awoke in his current form, he took what belonged to Dirk.

That was a brilliant move.

The awakened Blata now possessed the strength of a Twelve Star-lord.

Even if Kane left this creature behind at the territory while he traveled, there would be no need to worry about the family.

How could he worry when a creature of Twelve Star lord strength was guarding the estate?

Lifting the downcast Blata up, Kane asked, “That’s not all of your power, is it?”

Among the Ferocious Species, there were some that not even a Twelve Star lord could handle.

Ferocious Species capable of bringing ruin to the continent.

They were known as the Three Calamities.

“Of course not! Only half of my strength has returned.”

“What happens when all of it returns?”

“Destruction.”

“You’ll get destroyed?”

“Nooooo! The continent will be destroyed!”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I’m serious!”

Kane ignored Blata’s tantrum and left the cave.

If he responded, Blata’s pride would skyrocket.

Blata kept trying to convince Kane all the way back, but all he got in return was silence.

As soon as they arrived back at the estate, Kane opened the territory management system and constructed new buildings.

With the growing population, the number of soldiers increased too.

[The Beast Training Ground has been completed.]

[The barracks capacity has increased by +50.]

[The plaza has been expanded.]

[Commerce has increased by +20.]

[The trade port has been completed.]

[Commerce has increased by +30.]

[Housing has been completed.]

[Security has decreased by -1.]

[Housing has been completed.]

[Security has decreased by -1.]

[Housing has been completed.]

[Security has decreased by -1.]

…

…

…

[Housing has been completed.]

[Security has decreased by -1.]

More housing districts were added.

The larger the population, the faster the territory developed.

Despite the size of the territory, its population wasn’t that large.

Rehinar was a border region.

Due to frequent wars and barren lands, people from other territories were reluctant to move there.

But now, things were different.

The region had seen significant commercial growth.

Especially since the Rehinar Military Academy had been established, noble families frequently visited.

Some even went so far as to purchase estates here.

With the sudden population boom, security had slightly worsened.

However, this was only temporary, and the issue would be resolved soon.

Transportation was also well-developed, with waterways allowing private boats to travel to the area.

And now, with the addition of the port, people could travel quickly via trade ships.

After completing the development of the territory, Kane returned to his estate.

* * *

Dirk Hatzfeld had returned to the Hatzfeld kingdom.

He lost both his mentor and the newly formed unit he commanded. He was the only one to return safely.

The nobles didn’t look at him kindly.

Even King Hatzfeld wore a displeased expression.

“Do you expect me to believe that?”

“It’s true. My teacher couldn’t even use his strength and was defeated by Kane Rehinar.”

“And you just stood there watching?”

“I… I lost even before that.”

“Silence! Do you know the magnitude of your crime?”

He had been entrusted with the elite Phoenix Spear Unit, one of the kingdom’s finest.

Yet, he failed to bring even a single member back alive.

Many of the soldiers were sons of nobles, as the Phoenix Spear Unit was an elite force. They even got spear training from Gregor.

That was why King Hatzfeld was scolding him. The nobles’ outrage was too significant to simply overlook.

In order to calm them, Dirk had to be punished.

“I misjudged the enemy’s strength. I sincerely apologize.”

Dirk prostrated himself on the floor, begging for forgiveness.

He gritted his teeth. His fists trembled.

It was humiliating.

To bow his head in front of all the nobles—it was a disgrace to his royal blood.

‘This is all because of Kane Rehinar! I’ll repay this humiliation someday.’

He didn’t tell his father, the king, about the red poison worm he had swallowed.

If they found out he had been poisoned and still came back in defeat, he would be killed on the spot.

“I can’t stand the sight of you. Get out.”

Dirk rose to his feet.

As he bowed his head and was about to leave the throne room, he heard a voice.

“What are you doing here?” Dirk said with a dissatisfied expression.

“Why do you think? The King summoned me,” replied Ray Hatzfeld, who had just returned from contacting the barbarians.

“Looks like you’ve been through the wringer. You’ve even got blood on your forehead from bowing so much. Here, use this.”

Ray offered him a handkerchief.

He was smiling.

Seeing his half-brother’s face, Dirk’s anger flared.

He was mocking him.

It was as if Ray was giving him a taste of his own medicine, watching Dirk with a smug, condescending expression.

“I don’t need it!”

Dirk slapped the handkerchief away.

He shoved Ray aside and stormed off to his room.

“Arghhhh!” Dirk screamed in frustration.

There was only one reason their father had summoned Ray.

To give him the task that Dirk had failed.

A task of great importance.

This meant that the bastard half-blood was now on equal footing with him.

While Dirk had failed to overthrow the Empire of Fresia, the half-blood bastard had succeeded in persuading the barbarians.

He no longer had any strong allies to support him.

Gregor, the priest of the Lycera Theocracy and his mentor, was dead.

Now, Dirk had to rise by his own power.

His anxiety grew stronger.

“I can’t let that bastard take everything.”

When everyone he could trust had died, Dirk’s sanity began to unravel.

As he anxiously bit his nails, Kane Rehinar’s words suddenly came to mind.

[Report everything you find about Ray Hatzfeld’s movements to me.]

“Right, there was that monster, wasn’t there?”

For some reason, Kane Rehinar had requested information on that half-blood bastard, Ray—not information about the Hatzfelds.

“I should pit that monster against the bastard. What a brilliant idea,” Dirk thought, chuckling darkly.

Cornered as he was, the idea felt like a stroke of genius.

If anyone could easily take the bastard’s head, it would be the monster Kane.

His heart filled with anticipation.

“Hey, is there anyone out there?” he called.

A servant opened the door and entered.

“How long has it been since that bastard Ray returned to the kingdom?”

“About three or four days, sir. But why do you ask?”

“Send servants to watch him. Report every single move he makes, no matter how small. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

After the servant left, a wicked grin spread across Dirk’s face.

“Let’s see if you can survive an encounter with that monster,” he muttered with a sinister laugh.

Dirk faithfully carried out Kane’s orders.

He carefully observed Ray’s every move and sent detailed reports.

For a royal prince to send classified information about his own kingdom to a foreign power—it was akin to betraying the nation.

But Dirk had no hesitation in doing so if it meant getting rid of the half-blood who dared challenge him.

An explosive rumor spread across the continent.

It was said that the Magical Robe of Temu, a legendary magical garment, was located on Medi Island.

The Robe of Temu was said to possess power comparable to that of a god.

Even an ordinary person who wore the robe could instantly attain strength of an 8th-class mage.

It was an artifact that could elevate its wearer to the level of the Twelve Star Lords in an instant.

This rumor had already reached Rehinar as well.

“Have you heard? They say the Robe of Temu is on Medi Island.”

“Every merchant getting off the ships is talking about it.”

“Whew, who wouldn’t go crazy for that? Just wearing it would give you the same power as our Guardian Lord.”

“They say all kinds of people are heading to Medi Island to see for themselves.”

“I’m even thinking of going myself.”

“Aren’t you curious to see who will end up with the Robe of Temu?”

For a whole week, all anyone could talk about was the Robe of Temu.

Thanks to the rumor, the taverns were bustling with people well into the early hours.

At Kane’s residence, he was reviewing the event he had been waiting for.

[Part 3 has begun.]

[Some of the locked characters are now available.]

Main Quest – [Temptation of the Magical Robe of Temu!]

Grade: S+

Description: A rumor has shaken the continent: the legendary Robe of Temu is said to be stored in Medi Island, located between the neutral Orchid Kingdom and the Lycera Theocracy. Many lives are about to be sacrificed as part of a bloody conspiracy to engulf the continent in war. As a Blood Knight, you are destined to stand against “them.”

Objective: Save those who have been lured by the temptation of the Robe of Temu.

Reward for success: 5-Star Character Housing Permit, 10 Blood Star Shards

Penalty for failure: Death+100% (Guaranteed)

—

Failure would mean certain death. Kane mused over the situation.

“Far more people than I expected are heading toward Medi Island,” he remarked.

Even the residents of Rehinar’s territory were among those preparing to make the journey.

“I should depart soon as well.”

“Going on a trip?” Blata asked.

“Yes.”

“Hehe! It’s been a while since we traveled!”

“We’re not going for leisure.”

“I know! But I get the feeling this trip’s going to smell a lot like blood.”

Blata’s instincts were rarely wrong.

“Have you decided who to take with you?”

“I’m only taking Mikhail.”

Camilla was still too weak for an event of this magnitude. Her skills weren’t developed enough.

But Mikhail was different.

He had been promoted to a 5-star character through the Flame emperor’s spear, rising from 6th-class to 7th-class in one leap. Furthermore, he had advanced to become a Blood Knight of the True Dragon, completely transforming his abilities. Mikhail was now so strong that Kane felt confident sending him on solo missions without worry.

“Mikhail should already be waiting by the western gate. Let’s head there,” Kane said.

Just as they were about to leave the room, the magic communication device on the table lit up.

The light was red.

A red light meant urgency—a signal from someone desperate to make contact.

“Who could it be?” Kane wondered aloud.

“Best not to answer,” Blata said, shaking his head.

“Why?”

“Blata’s intuition says it’s bad news. Something feels… off.”

Blata shook his head again, a bit more emphatically this time. However, ignoring an urgent signal didn’t seem wise either.

Despite Blata’s warnings, Kane activated the device.

Mana surged from the communicator, forming a floating image in the air.

An all-too-familiar face emerged from within the light.

“Bzzzzzzt!”

It was Isaac, Crown Prince of the Fresia Empire.

———-