The Sword Emperor Transmigrates-Chapter 235

Knock, knock.

Gordon Haywood, drenched in sweat and unable to recall the last time he had run this hard, knocked on the door with trembling fingers.

Of course, his hands were not shaking solely because he was out of breath. As a Class 8 Archmage, he could sense the overwhelming aura of the monstrous entities lurking behind the door. These were not mere mortals; they were Demigod Tier powerhouses.

It was truly terrifying to know that behind the door stood several supreme entities—beings who had ascended to the absolute peak of humanity.

Not only the knight commanders of the Cardenas family but even the Grand Magi from the Wickeline family’s Arcane Society? This isn’t great for a heart of my age...

Thankfully, the voice from beyond the door was not unfamiliar. It was Leonard, the young man he had once sided with during the Moby Dick crisis.

“Councilman Gordon?”

“Y-yes, that’s me.”

“You may come in.”

Gordon checked his appearance one last time before cautiously gripping the doorknob. Even the creak of the turning handle grated on his nerves. Since becoming one of the heads of the Council of Atlantis, he rarely had to pay attention to the power dynamics around him.

But now, suddenly reduced to a subordinate position, he felt awfully uncomfortable. Standing before him were people far beyond his control, both in terms of strength and authority.

“Ahem, excuse me,” he said tentatively.

Turning the doorknob, he prayed the door would not actually open, but he could no longer ignore the reality in front of him. Upon stepping into the hall, five figures immediately caught his eye—the knight commanders of the Cardenas family and the Wickeline family’s Grand Magi.

Leonard was among them, and the realization nearly made Gordon’s eyes widen to the point of tearing. He had always known geniuses could grow at astonishing rates, but this was beyond anything he could have imagined.

For a moment, his mind fixated on the Demigod Tier individuals, whose presence was so overwhelming that he nearly lost himself. Then, he noticed the thirty knights behind them, each clad in full golden plate armor—an army of absurd power.

I don’t stand a chance, even against just one of them...! Although I’ve been away from the frontlines, I’m still a Class 8 Archmage... How the hell did they find thirty people who could easily overpower someone like me?

Though his confidence had been shattered, Gordon felt slightly better. If they had come to conquer Atlantis, a single Demigod Tier knight would have sufficed. But to bring five, along with over thirty elite knights? Clearly, they were not here to confront the Atlantis Maritime Alliance.

And as if to confirm his suspicions, Leonard addressed him, “It’s been a while, Councilman Gordon. Have you been well?”

“Yes, quite well, though I haven’t achieved anything near as monumental as you have, Commander Leonard.”

Identifying more as a politician than a mage, Gordon quickly understood his position and responded with humility.

Having expected Gordon’s deference, Leonard went on, “I imagine our sudden arrival may have startled you, but there’s no need for concern. The Empire has detected anomalies in the southern seas, specifically in the Sixth Sea District.”

“Anomalies, you say?”

“It’s the cult that worships Charybdis, the Outer God. We believe they were responsible for the Moby Dick incident and even the disaster that befell the Aquamarine team in the past.”

Hearing this, Gordon felt his head begin to boil over. He had already been troubled by the frequent flooding in the Sixth Sea District, and hearing that an Outer God’s cult was behind it suddenly made everything click into place. Even Pablo, an incomplete apostle, had posed a significant threat to Atlantis. If the entire cult was now baring its fangs, the stakes were vastly higher.

As Gordon processed the situation, Leonard continued, “While we gather a fleet to enter the Sixth Sea District, we’ll need lodging and information from Bermuda and the Atlantis Mage Tower. This matter requires mobilization across the whole alliance.”

Without missing a beat, Leonard introduced his companions, a subtle but unyielding assertion of pressure.

“Oh, it seems I’m late with introductions. Let me introduce my companions—Sir Demian and Sir Corbin, commanders of the White Dragon Order and Light Dragon Order respectively. Over there are Lady Cruella and Sir Nicholas from the Arcane Society.”

It was a deliberate, if straightforward, show of power, but with such formidable figures, a direct approach almost always led to victory. Recognizing the pair from the Arcane Society, Gordon muttered to himself their titles, “Lady” and “Librarian.” As a politician and mage alike, Gordon saw no option but to cooperate fully.

“...I am merely an old man serving as a councilman for the Atlantis Maritime Alliance,” Gordon replied while bowing deeply at a ninety-degree angle. “Whatever you require, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll promptly take care of everything you mentioned, Commander Leonard.”

“We’re counting on your expertise, Councilman Gordon,” Leonard replied, his words laced with both trust and a hint of warning.

After that, Gordon cautiously left the room, swallowing dry. As his footsteps faded away, the faint sensation of a teleportation spell activating reached them.

Having seen the exchange—too one-sided to be called a negotiation but too polite to be considered a threat—Demian chuckled. “He didn’t seem like a stranger. Wasn’t that a bit too cold? The guy had a shrewd look, but he wouldn’t dare try anything against us.”

“An acquaintance, yes, but not a friend,” Leonard replied. “Our interests simply aligned on a past occasion.”

“Keeping him at a distance makes him more efficient, I take it?”

Demian caught the drift and smiled. He had suspected Leonard to be overly cautious, but seeing him so meticulously guarded was an underestimation, albeit a welcome one. Ever since Leonard had subdued the Order of the Golden Dragon with little effort, Demian had sensed he left no room for complacency.

Then Corbin, who had watched in silence, spoke up, “Commander Leonard, what’s our next move?”

Lodging and local alliances were trivial, given the strength of their expeditionary force. Leonard was well aware of that.

“To enter the Sixth Sea District, we need ships. However, ordinary vessels can’t even navigate the waters of the Fourth and Fifth Sea Districts, and to conduct actual operations, we’ll need ships crafted with magic engineering.”

“Ships crafted with magic engineering, huh? If we had more time, we could have requested them from the Jehoia family.”

“A ship on par with an Aeroship would’ve certainly been useful, but it should’ve been prepared ahead of time.”

Though the Jehoya family was incredibly skilled, timing was crucial. Having encountered fragments of Outer Gods on the Spriggan Frontier, Leonard understood that taking the time to prepare thoroughly would also allow the enemy to play their hand. By then, regardless of whether they were fully prepared or not, their defeat would be as good as confirmed.

Speed was the key. Taking swift, decisive action to sever the enemy’s reach was the best approach when dealing with something as unpredictable as an Outer God’s cult.

“First, we’ll head to Bermuda and recruit an exploration team,” Leonard argued first.

The subsequent reactions varied. Cruella and Nicholas were the first to decline.

“Bermuda is like a guild that manages adventurers, right? Sounds like a place full of grimy people, so I’ll pass,” Cruella said dismissively.

“I’ll stay here and check our scrolls and artifacts in case of a naval battle. It might also be useful to familiarize myself with the magic energy in this area, so I’ll visit the local mage tower,” Nicholas added.

Corbin stood up, yawning before looking around with an unreadable expression. “I’ll be operating solo for now. There may be those within this city who are colluding with the enemy. If you need me, don’t hesitate to call.” He then sank into his own shadow and disappeared.

Corbin’s movements and stealth techniques were so flawless that not even a Demigod Tier knight would be able to track him down.

After glancing at Corbin’s technique with a hint of admiration, Demian wasted no time in standing up as well.

“Ha! Let the bookworms and gloomy folks do as they please. Having me as your companion will be more than enough,” he said.

“You’re coming to Bermuda with me?” Leonard asked to confirm.

“That’s right. I don’t come to the southern seas often, so let’s call it a sightseeing trip.”

Having confirmed Demian’s intentions, Leonard turned to the Golden Dragon Order and issued his orders.

“Accompany these two to the lodgings arranged by Councilman Gordon and await my return. Avoid conflict with any locals or outsiders, and prepare your minds and bodies for a potential battle with the Outer God’s cult.”

“Yes, Commander!” came the unified response.

“Alright, we’re off.”

Leonard and Demian then soared from Gordon Haywood’s estate, with Leonard leading the way to Bermuda as he was familiar with the location. The waters sparkled beneath them, seemingly welcoming Leonard’s return.

* * *

One of the key organizations supporting the Atlantis Maritime Alliance was Bermuda, whose name carried a certain gravitas at its helm.

Bermuda’s leader was a man of remarkable history. Once a Rank A adventurer, he had earned the respect of Njord of Aquamarine, inheriting that legacy. Despite his refusal to engage in factional strife, he had gained the trust of other adventurers through his honest dealings. Eventually, his undeniable competence had forced even the corrupt higher-ups to grant him a position in the upper ranks.

Not only was he close to the captain of Aquamarine, the top adventurer team in Atlantis, but he was also great at getting along with people, as he would casually drink with the leader of the Council of Atlantis, Gordon.

“It’s been a while, Benjamin. Or should I call you Councilman Benjamin?” Leonard greeted with a slight smile.

“Oh, no! With all the support I’ve received from Aquamarine and yourself, Leonard, please address me as you always have!” replied Benjamin, nervously waving his hands.

Indeed, Benjamin had risen through collaboration with Frances.

He doesn’t even know my title yet, nor can he sense my power or Commander Demian’s. His humility must be genuine, Leonard observed.

Overall, Benjamin was a reliable man. After the Moby Dick incident put him in charge of Bermuda, he proved his worth with sheer sincerity. Had his success been mere luck, he would’ve only managed to grab onto something that was overflowing before inevitably being forced to let go.

Francis’ judgment was indeed amazing.

Satisfied with Benjamin’s first impression, Leonard got straight to the point. “I’ve come to you directly, Benjamin, not through Bermuda’s channels. There’s a matter I must address with you personally, as a representative of the Cardenas family rather than a member of Aquamarine.”

“So... there’s something big enough that Cardenas would require our assistance at sea.”

“Indeed. We need an adventurer team to accompany us on an expedition in the Sixth Sea District. The vessel and the navigational expertise are crucial. If you could give us someone who has a Masterpiece ship, like Aquamarine, Zaratan, or Wild Hunt, we’re prepared to pay generously.”

“The Sixth Sea District...! That area is incredibly dangerous!” Benjamin gasped.

“And if left unchecked, it will become even more dangerous. I’m sure you remember the rampage of Moby Dick, so I won’t need to elaborate.”

Leonard paused, then flashed a grin. “Cardenas—no, the Arcadian Empire—isn’t taking the Sixth Sea District lightly. We have enough firepower to break through the Corroded Realm head-on. All we need is a ship.”

“Pardon me, but could you clarify...?” Benjamin asked cautiously.

“Three knight commanders at the Demigod Tier,” Leonard answered.

“...!!”

Hearing this, Benjamin gasped in disbelief, but Leonard wasn’t finished.

“And two Grand Magi from the Arcane Society, both at Class 9.”

Benjamin’s jaw dropped as he struggled to process the information. Amused by his reaction, Leonard delivered the final blow.

“And there’s the Order of the Golden Dragon. Thirty-six knights, each an expert at the peak of the Transcendence Tier. They’re more than prepared to crush multiple apostles of the Outer God’s cult head-on if they do descend. You reckon this will do?”

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With his mouth hanging open, Benjamin finally managed a few nods. He stretched out a hand toward the communication orb linked to all of Bermuda, relaying Atlantis’s most urgent notice in history.

“————!! ——!”

“——?! —————!”

“————! ———!?”

In mere seconds, employees who had been anticipating a peaceful afternoon sprang into chaotic action, completely thrown off by the news.