I Can Copy And Evolve Talents

Chapter 1416: Expendable Pawn

Northern really couldn’t believe these people. Of all people to accuse of being a monster, it was Revant? Surely the eyes could easily be deceived.

Annette also couldn’t believe Northern right now.

’Is he blind?’ she thought to herself.

She shrugged a moment later.

’Then again, he’s never been the discerning type. In fact, he lacked discernment to a concerning length.’

From her experience, Northern had chosen only the worst of people and things to befriend.

She shoved all of that away from her head. Meanwhile, Revant stood there indifferent, as though they weren’t just talking about him.

He was so obedient and calm that Annette glanced at him twice, finding herself in doubt before she shoved it all away again and focused on Northern.

”So... fine, you want us to bring down the gate without causing harm to civilians... great. How many troops are you assigning to us?”

Northern gave her a harmless smile.

And the smile got slightly on Annette’s nerves, so she eyed him.

”What? Why are you smiling like that?”

”What do you mean... troops?”

Northern gestured at the three of them at the table.

”I trust you three more than I can trust any... troops.”

Annette opened her mouth and it refused to close. She belatedly managed to close it and shook her head vehemently.

”No, no, Northboy, you don’t understand what’s going on here. You want us to besiege the Empire. And you want just three of us...”

She pointed to all three, looking appalled.

”...to do it?”

Northern’s smile remained gentle and pleasant.

”Two actually, but since Vida volunteered, I think she’ll be a great asset to this battle.”

Annette’s face paled in disbelief.

”She’s a Savant.”

”One that was bred in the horror of the Dark Continent, like you... and me.”

Annette shook her head slightly.

”This is a death mission.”

Northern’s eyes were straight on Annette’s, his expression cold.

”Since when has it never been?”

The look on Annette’s face cooled for a moment, then she exhaled.

”You’re right. But fighting monsters is different from fighting humans, more so ones we have absolutely no idea about.”

Northern’s voice came out with a confused mixture of cold and warmth.

”But you’re different, you grew up there.”

Annette’s eyes went rigid and she raised them to Northern.

”So that’s what this is about? You’re picking me because I came from there?”

Northern dismissed the notion with a scoff.

”What would be my gain in doing that? I simply think it would benefit you more than anyone here. More so, the nature of the attack is simply destruction, which your talent is best suited for. You don’t have to engage in any unnecessary assault, just destroy the gate and pull back. Revant would be there to provide you with an emergency exit.”

Annette stared down at the table, absolutely silent.

She leaned away from it and straightened.

”Alright then, I will do so but only on one condition.”

Northern raised his brows subtly.

”Which will be?”

”I see you have been crafting something for a lot of people recently... for the longest time, I have been unable to find a satisfying weapon, one that can withstand my flames. I want you to forge me a gauntlet that can channel my flames.”

Northern was silent, looking at her with a slightly disappointed expression.

Annette gave a protective scowl.

”What? It’ll be important to the mission! And you can forge one for Vida too. She needs it, you know, her knuckles are filled with bruises from breaking the impregnable husks of monsters.”

Vida, who had been invisible throughout, silently tugged at Annette from behind, whispering:

”It’s really okay, Master. I can manage just fine.”

At the same time, she was stealing glances at Northern, her eyes wondering what his answer was going to be.

He sighed.

”Consider it done... of all the favors you could have asked of me, it just had to be my favorite?”

Vida was surprised. She lowered her head and hid her warm smile.

Meanwhile, Annette tilted her head.

”Oh, then let me throw in a few more.”

Northern closed his eyes and walked away.

”No. You only had one trial.”

”Damnit! Hey, you better make it of high rank. I’m taking nothing lesser than the Heroic rank!”

Northern dismissed her with his hand, shaking his head in disappointment as he stepped out.

***

Through the cleaves between the canyon, Pyrrhus had managed to slip away along with a few of his retainers. From there, they journeyed into the jagged plain of rocks that extended forth like trees, taking shelter from cave after cave, though they had little rest.

Pyrrhus knew he couldn’t be caught. Ryugan would make a big fool of him. His house back in Reimgard might only be a barony, but a Baron from the Empire was far more superior than some mountain king.

”I hate them, all of them, curse them. And the king and his sellsword, I will tear out their bones and use their skins to make carpets, and I will make children stool on them... those wretched vermin.”

”Oweeee... you’re going to make a carpet out of my flesh? Innovative. How come I’ve never thought of that one?”

Pyrrhus shot his face up, eyes darting frantically. He was sitting beside a fire but crawled back, overridden by intense fear.

The flames that were burning in front of him had transitioned to ghostly blue.

”You! How did you get here?! Themi! Shank!”

The white-haired boy sitting before him stared into the flames with hollow blue eyes, its ghostly light casting an ominous shadow over his face.

”They’re not going to answer you, Pyrrhus... no one will.”

He tore his gaze away and fixed it on Pyrrhus.

”You want to run away? Is that all that the man who strolled into another king’s palace and spoke down on him could think of? Really? This is the best that a vassal house of the Empire could amount to?”

Pyrrhus looked at the boy with confusion, then suddenly laughed out loud, his shoulders shaking. His head fell and he covered his face with his palm. Later, he lifted his gaze, shaking his head.

”Vassal house to the throne? What? That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard anyone say to me.”

He shrugged.

”Well, it was my goal... I allowed myself to be foolishly used because I was too ambitious.”

He looked at the dancing ghost flame with a somber light dimming his eyes.

”In the end, I was only an expendable pawn.”