Imu's Vessel, Part One

Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 59.

Several days had passed since the world-shaking war.

The coating and commercial districts were now left with nothing but craters, broken trees, and building wreckage—

The Marines had already completed their initial cleanup and lockdown.

As night deepened, the ruins became even more desolate.

Yet many lights had been lit within this battlefield site, which had been designated a maximum-security zone.

Under the lights stood a group of figures clad in ornate armor.

By the glow, one could make out arrogant faces belonging to Celestial Dragons.

"Why does our dignified Manmayer Family have to do this sort of—cleanup-the-battlefield-and-search-for-clues grunt work?"

A somewhat young voice complained as he kicked aside a charred piece of rubble by his feet.

"That damned bug ran off ages ago without a trace! Even the Five Elders couldn't find him, so what could we possibly discover here?"

"Shut up, Korla."

A Celestial Dragon walking at the front barked sharply.

"It is precisely because you always have such a half-hearted attitude that you have never been able to pass the final trial of God's Blades."

At the mention of "God's Blades," the complaining Korla fell silent for a moment, but soon could not help speaking again. "But, Brother, the Figarland Family has been drawing far too much attention lately."

"I heard that another member of their family has earned Lord Imu's favor and was even permitted to come into contact with a deeper level of the contract—"

"At this rate, they may really become the foremost family."

"That only means their people are more capable." The leader, a Manmayer Family member named Alfonso, did not seem to care.

"How could Lord Imu's will be something we are qualified to speculate about? Doing our duties well and securing our family's standing within the Blades