Black Cloud Knight Order (1)
Gregory headed for the nearby hill, searching for where Ernest was likely to be. Ernest, too, was a knight filled with loyalty to the Ar Kingdom.
He would never think of defecting or giving up the knight order.
The very idea that Ernest would make such an extre choice just because he didn't agree with his commander didn't suit him.
Based on these facts, Gregory narrowed down the possible places where Ernest might be, and set off without hesitation.
"What are you doing?"
At the edge of the hill, Gregory spotted Ernest watching the setting sun.
Ernest, deep in thought, was startled and turned around as soon as he heard Gregory's voice.
He also realized, before the conversation was even finished, that it had been wrong to storm off in anger and take refuge here—so he turned his head with a hint of reluctance.
"Well, what else would I be doing? I was trying to figure out how to win the war."
Gregory sensed that Ernest's tone had softened, and felt there was room for conversation.
"It was the best option I had. There was an insider traitor, you see."
With the appearances of Garneth and Seria, suspicion had beco certainty. Upon hearing this, Ernest finally understood why Gregory had been so cautious, even at the cost of missing a good opportunity.
He, too, like the other comrades, had thought Gregory would never make such a choice, but lacked any concrete reasoning.
But now, with the reason Gregory told him, everything made sense. To catch the traitor, they had set up a false operation, and it was likely that a series of seemingly pointless incidents had occurred as a result.
Ernest reproached himself in reflection.
"So, it was my fault after all."
Gregory hesitated briefly before answering.
"Not necessarily. The truth is, I did things that could be misunderstood. Do you know what one of the most important things is in war? Trust between each other. If you lose judgnt because you're blinded by imdiate gain, you end up an enemy."
"That's true. Sotis that applies even in everyday life."
"So don't beat yourself up. I'm not too concerned. How could people always be on the sa page? Sotis, when you disagree, you clash and try to understand each other, that's all."
Hearing Gregory's words, Ernest fell silent.
"..."
"So what I an is, you did well. That probably took courage, too. The confidence to call out injustice for what it is. Actually, everyone else just kept quiet, didn't they?"
Listening to Gregory, Ernest suddenly hit the heart of the matter.
"Gregory, I honestly never realized you were this thoughtful. To , you always just looked like soone floundering around in his room, trying to survive day by day."
Flustered, Gregory wondered if his true identity had been discovered. Normally, he never stamred, but now he broke out in a cold sweat.
"Well, that's how I was back then. I used to whine, too."
Gregory tried to brush it off with sothing Magnus, the butler, had once said, and Ernest let out a deep sigh as he replied.
"Hoo... I just think you're admirable. It's rare to find a knight this devoted to the kingdom. You seem to have designed everything taking the situation into full account. It's just... so different from when you were with the family."
"Mm..."
Ernest glanced at Gregory, noticing his unenthusiastic reaction. Worried that he might have said sothing to upset him, Ernest quickly changed the subject.
"So, what will you do about the traitor from now on?"
"I don't have any definitive plans. Usually in such cases, you root it out from the source—but the problem is, we don't even know where that root begins. I might have to keep running more fake operations in the future."
Gregory couldn't give Ernest a concrete answer. Back at the Dawn Order's hideout, he needed to co up with a new plan to catch the traitors for sure.
It was also so that he wouldn't confuse Ernest further by sharing incorrect information.
"We're short on ti, so why don't we talk as we head back?"
He also planned to tell Ernest about Seria and Garneth. Since Ernest hadn't been there, he needed to be brought up to speed on what had happened and what actions they should take.
***
The comrades, except for Gregory and Ernest, returned first to the Dawn Order.
Walter, too, gladly welcod Garneth and Seria, since it had been so long since they had last t.
"It's good to see you again. I trust neither of you is injured?"
"Commander, have you been well?"
"Commander Walter, it's been a while!"
Overjoyed, Walter wasn't shy with his jokes.
"If we go on one more long journey, I'll probably forget what you look like."
Garneth, as if used to it, retorted jokingly.
"Hahahah! I guess I was being oblivious. Are you telling us to go on another journey?"
"You haven't left yet...?"
"That joke's a bit much."
"By the way, where are Ernest and Gregory?"
Walter glanced behind the knight order mbers but couldn't see the two.
Normally, either Ernest or Gregory would relay updates.
Everyone fidgeted awkwardly since both were absent.
"Actually, this happened."
During the silence, Elisabeth stepped forward. She calmly explained why Gregory and Ernest hadn't yet returned.
Walter seed to understand their situation, and, as if on cue, Gregory and Ernest soon returned to the Dawn Order's hideout.
"Have you been well, commander?"
Gregory and Ernest bowed sharply in greeting, and Walter accepted their salute.
"Yes, you've all worked hard. The operation was a success, I trust?"
At those words, Gregory, looking grave, briefed Walter on all that had happened.
Walter, listening quietly, generously understood Gregory's unilateral actions. He himself had only just received a ssage from Parsei.
That was also why he wasn't surprised to see Garneth and Seria together with Gregory's comrades.
Walter thought Gregory had handled things well, so he only expressed mild regret.
Gregory's operation had undoubtedly been a golden opportunity to wipe out the traitors and enemies at once.
However, Walter believed that being too caught up in the past could swiftly beco shackles that would bind him.
"Hm... It's a sha, but it's best not to dwell on what's over. And if there truly are traitors within, then we need to deal with them promptly."
Walter quickly looked over his comrades' faces before continuing.
"With our strength alone, we can't catch all the traitors within the Ar Kingdom. We'll need to convene a swift, close eting on this matter."
Just as the ssage from Parsei had said, Walter believed that the Blandi Kingdom's reckless confidence likely had behind-the-scenes help from traitors as well.
To win the war, handling the traitors was the first priority. War had not yet officially broken out, but it was close. The enemies' movents were so clearly headed in one direction that a crisis was imminent.
Therefore, it was best to solve the certain problems first. In warti, traitors could cause inside sabotage—so by thoroughly dealing with them, they hoped to block that in advance.
Gregory asked Walter carefully,
"Then, what would you like to do, commander? Do you already have a plan to handle all the traitors?"
Walter deliberated for a mont before replying.
"As I said, we can't possibly do it ourselves. Everyone here knows that other knight orders are on their way, correct?"
Walter intended, as the first step, to borrow the strength of the other knight orders in handling the traitors. They would have information on all the knight order mbers under the Radiant Order.
Everyone nodded in response.
"Yes, that's right."
Gregory asked Walter again,
"May I take that to an you'll be asking for help from another knight order?"
"As sharp as ever. That's exactly what I an."
"The Black Cloud Knight Order?"
"That's right."
The Black Cloud Knight Order—that group took care of the kingdom's dirty work. In other words, they rooted out corruption and, under the higher-ups' orders, even carried out assassinations.
Normally, they might well refuse, but with things spiraling towards disaster, they were unlikely to reject a request for aid now. In fact, it was highly likely that the whole traitor problem had arisen because the Black Cloud Knight Order hadn't handled things cleanly enough in the first place.
'In other words, they have no choice but to help.'
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